ã€ŠInfinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution Systemã€‹


 Chapter 1 My Idle Awakening

    _________________[Daily Quest - To Idle, one must stay proactive.]
    GOAL
    [INCOMPLETE] PUSH-UPS ¡ª [0/100]
    [INCOMPLETE] SIT-UPS ¡ª [0/100]
    [INCOMPLETE] CURL-UPS ¡ª [0/100]
    [INCOMPLETE] SQUATS ¡ª [0/100]
    [INCOMPLETE] RUNNING ¡ª [0/10km]
    REWARD - [1 Point in Charisma, 1 Point in Agility, 1 Point in Strength, and 1 Point in Endurance]
    _________________
    [WARNING! ¨C Failure to complete this quest will result in the permanent loss of something precious to the Host... You shall lose what makes you a man!]
    "No matter how many times I see this stupid Daily Quest, I just can't understand how this nonsense is supposed to be a 'feature' of an Idle Evolution System," muttered a young man with plain, unremarkable features. His messy black hair stuck out like a bird's nest, and his tired eyes were clouded with irritation.
    COCKADOODLEDOOOOO!!!!
    A sudden, ear-piercing screech filled the room. Without thinking, the young man's hand shot out instinctively, quick and precise.
    BAM!
    The antique alarm clock flew through the air and crashed into the wooden bedside table, shattering it into splinters. Unfazed, the young man let out a lazy yawn, rubbed his eyes, and picked up the battered clock. Without a second thought, he set it back on the last unbroken corner of the table, barely noticing the new dent it had earned.
    He stretched with a long, exaggerated groan before rising from his creaky cotton mattress. Stumbling toward the body-length mirror resting against the wall, he examined his reflection with a practiced, critical gaze. His slightly more defined muscles were just enough to push him from "below average" to the razor's edge of "meh."
    "Still, this is leagues better than how I looked before acquiring that blasted Idle Evolution System in that... 'incident.'"
    His expression twisted as memories of that fateful encounter flooded his mind. It was a day marked by both destiny and utter absurdity. The afternoon that closed out his junior year of high school¡ªhis final year in that accursed institution of misery. His school life? An unmitigated disaster... but that was a story for another time.
    To understand how Cassius came into possession of the so-called 'Idle Evolution System,' one must trace his steps back to ten days prior...
    He had been minding his own business, basking in the grandeur of the school's main building¡ªadmiring its intricate architecture in a manner most sincere. His appreciation extended to observing the bustling schoolyard scenery... strictly for 'cultural enrichment' of course.
    Then, fate struck.
    BOOM!
    A colossal white truck burst through the brick wall like a vengeful deity enacting heavenly retribution, catching him utterly off guard in his "appreciative study."
    His intentions were pure! He was merely indulging in a final, heartfelt farewell to the vibrant energy radiating from his schoolmates before summer break. Yet, Truck-kun couldn't seem to find a f*ck to give, plowing through the courtyard with the cold indifference of destiny itself. His world flipped upside down¡ªand not metaphorically.
    He was out cold before he even realized what hit him.
    However, when Cassius awoke, he was not in some mystical, otherworldly realm. He remained firmly grounded in the quiet countryside of Japan, in his small hometown of Hoshito.
    His first thought was a presumptuous one, yet also a reasonable one. "Did I time-travel back to fix my wretched past? It has to be! This is my Protagonist prologue, isn't it!?"
    Hope stirred... only to be snuffed out like a lone candle in a storm. His reflection in the mirror shattered all illusions¡ªhis body was the same flabby disaster as before, cursed with an extreme case of hypothyroidism that rendered every attempt at exercise or dieting utterly futile. Moreover, he also had the same bad case of Dilapidating Body Deterioration Syndrome, which made him as weak as chicken and as frail as glass.
    Yet... something was different this time.
    Cassius had neither been sent to another world nor transported back in time. His fate was neither glorious nor fantastical¡ªbut change had come nonetheless.
    "Is that... a fu*king flying person?"
    Disbelief warred with reality as he spotted a figure soaring majestically through the sky, defying all logic and reason.
    In his previous reality, people were wholly ordinary¡ªmundane, powerless beings. But in this timeline, at the exact same point in time, humanity had evolved.
    They were called 'Hunters'¡ªindividuals bestowed with supernatural abilities and charged with defending the world from monstrous invaders spilling forth from nightmarish 'Gates' that had first appeared a century ago.
    Their profession was less about heroism and more about fortune and glory. The strong thrived while the weak perished. Billions aspired to become Hunters, but few succeeded.
    Cassius, desperate for answers, questioned everyone he could. His father, perpetually absent on business; his stepmother, whose gaze could cut steel; and finally, his stepsister¡ªa snide, spoiled girl who delighted in mocking his appearance and shared his misery with her 'friends'. Though, anyone with half their sight intact could tell that she was faking it, playing the classic 'hate with the haters so you don't get hated' act. He found it difficult to blame her for this.
    His stepmother, strangely, seemed to hesitate as if wishing to say something kinder¡ªbut the moment always passed, leaving only cold indifference in its wake.
    Each passing moment filled Cassius with more fragmented memories of this bizarre timeline. He soon realized that, just like before, nearly everyone around him despised his very existence.
    But perhaps... if he awakened as a Hunter, everything could change.
    Unfortunately, reality was ever cruel.
    His stepsister informed him that he was long past the age of awakening, wearing a disgusted expression while saying this.
    In this world of power, Cassius was...
    Trash.
    Despair crashed down like an avalanche, smothering all hope. Perhaps fate had toyed with him long enough¡ªit was time to embrace the sweet release of oblivion. Maybe Truck-kun was still out there, ready for round two.
    Determined to end this joke of a second life, he climbed onto the windowsill of his cramped bedroom and moved his fat rolls forward, ready to greet destiny with open arms¡­
    Then, 'it' appeared.
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]
    [Title: Calorie Chaser (F)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 100] [MP: 100]
    [FATIGUE: 0] [AP: 0]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 3] (Little kids are stronger)
    [AGILITY: 2] (Even Grandma's can outrun you)
    [ENDURANCE: 2] (You would collapse within 3 seconds of warming a lady's bed)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 4] (Your only redeeming quality. Still below average) sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [PERCEPTION: 2] (At this point, someone could aim a gun straight at you and give you ten seconds to dodge, but you would still get hit)
    [CHARISMA: 1] (This is just¡­ sad. You're so ugly that goblins have better aesthetics.)
    _______________________________
    Cassius: "...."
    It was at that moment that he learned that this 'Idle Evolution System' was a complete¡­ asshole! It even gave him a useless Title that was only there to remind him of how much fat was present in his body!
    And then, out of nowhere, it hit him with a system notification, but added:
    *Ding~!*
    [Since the Host lacks character development, it is time to build character!]
    [For the next 2 months, the Host is required to complete the 'Daily Quest,' and for every day missed, the punishment for failure increases.]
    [Punishment for first failure: Pain]
    Cassius shrugged. "Pain? How bad could it be? Worse than running with this cursed body?"
    It was worse. Far, far worse.
    After bemoaning his wretched fate as a perpetual, rotund mortal cursed by the heavens, Cassius surrendered himself to the sweet embrace of procrastination. An entire twenty-four hours slipped by in blissful ignorance as he immersed himself in games and manga, utterly disregarding the so-called "Daily Quest."
    But fate is a merciless overseer.
    When the clock struck midnight, retribution descended with the fury of a vengeful celestial tribulation.
    BZZZZZT!
    Agony surged through his body like bolts of divine lightning. Muscles twisted, nerves seared, and his bones felt as though an ancient beast was gnawing them into splinters. He writhed on the cold, unforgiving floor of his bedroom, wailing like a condemned soul cast into the abyss.
    Thankfully, no one was home to witness his humiliating downfall¡ªsmall mercies from an otherwise merciless universe.
    After enduring a full sixty seconds of soul-shattering torment, Cassius gasped for air like a beached fish. His eyes burned with renewed resolve, a fire lit by the primal instinct for survival. He swore an unyielding oath under his ragged breath:
    "Never again... never, ever again!"
    His resolve was cemented when he read the system's next warning:
    [Next Punishment for Failure: Permanent Loss of Crown Jewels and Holy Excalibur]
    Cassius's soul trembled. He wasn't sure what frightened him more¡ªthe cold, mechanical tone of the system... or its disturbingly specific choice of words.
    "This damn Idle Evolution System... it's the cruelest bastard I've ever encountered¡­"
    Yet, even as he cursed the heavens and his misfortune, Cassius dragged his weary, trembling body off the floor. If divine fate wished to play such a brutal game, he would meet it head-on¡ªeven if it killed him.
    The next morning, the first day of true effort began.
    Push-ups were an impossible task. His arms felt like soggy noodles. Running? After ten agonizing seconds, he collapsed like a felled ox. Each movement was torture, each breath a struggle against the suffocating grip of fatigue.
    But even an ant can move a mountain grain by grain.
    Hour by hour, sweat drenched his clothes, and the ground bore witness to his gritted determination. Despite collapsing countless times, he endured. His body protested with every fiber of its being, but his will remained unyielding.
    Finally¡ªat the brink of collapse, drenched in sweat and gasping for air¡ªhe completed the quest.
    *Ding~!*
    [You Have Completed Daily Quest #2]
    [+1 Agility | +1 Endurance]
    *Thud!*
    Cassius crumpled to the floor like a discarded rag doll, utterly drained. Darkness swiftly claimed him.
    He awoke six hours later, battered but alive, only to face the wrath of his sharp-tongued stepmother. Her scornful words stung less than his aching muscles, but he endured them with stoic resolve.
    There was no room for bitterness; his fate was chained to the system now.
    By the time the next Daily Quest appeared, Cassius was ready. The suffering he endured no longer felt insurmountable¡ªit was simply another battle in the endless war against mediocrity.
    Days turned into weeks. Though progress was slow, it was progress nonetheless. Each completed quest added a faint spark of vitality to his weary frame. His steps became lighter, his breathing steadier, and his will sharper than a honed blade.
    And then, on this fateful morning, after stretching his aching limbs and brushing his teeth with grim determination, the system bestowed a new revelation upon him¡ªone that hinted at the true depths of its potential.
    BLING!
    {[Idle Evolution System Idling Benefits]}
    [Benefit 1: For every day that you train your body to the absolute limit of what you can endure, you will receive 3 AP (Available Points), which can be freely used to increase any of your stats.]
    [Benefit 2: LOCKED]
    [Benefit 3: ????]
    [Benefit 4: Have you not caught the hint yet? No more benefits!]
    [Benefit 5: N.O. means NO! Build some more character instead!!]
    BING! BING!
    {[Urgent Side Quest]}
    ¡ª [Drop down and give me two hundred push-ups!]
    [Reward: 1 Point in Perception]
    [Warning!] [Warning!]
    [If you fail to complete this Side Quest within half an hour, you can kiss goodbye to your penis!]
    Cassius: "...."
    He stared blankly at the screen, his face twitching.
    "Even when it rewards me... it's still such a colossal bastard."
    But deep within his heart, where resentment and despair once festered, a flicker of something long-forgotten ignited¡ªhope.
    If even the heavens could be defied through sheer willpower... perhaps he could rewrite his fate after all.
    Then again¡­

 Chapter 2 All Into Agility!

    Cassius hit the floor with a grunt, his toothbrush bouncing once before rolling pitifully across the cold wooden boards. His arms screamed with fiery pain as he struggled to push himself back up, bloodshot eyes glaring at nothing in particular."This system is the absolute worst!" he screamed internally. His thoughts were a boiling mix of outrage and desperation. "What kind of garbage system forces push-ups just to earn a single measly point in Perception?"
    His veins bulged under the strain of each rep, a fiery heat coursing through his limbs as if his body was trying to burn away the humiliation. The Idle Evolution System, as it was mockingly named, gleefully dangled stat increases in front of him like a carrot on a stick, demanding physical suffering in return.
    "I swear to every deity listening," he growled, sweat dripping from his nose onto the floorboards, "one day, I'm going to program some goddamn emotional trauma into you. Just you wait, system. Just. You. Wait."
    The system, of course, offered no response. It didn't need to. Its smugness radiated in silence, unbothered by his threats.
    Twenty minutes later, after air-humping the floor with the fury of a man betrayed by his own destiny, Cassius collapsed. His chest heaved as he gulped in air, and sweat slicked his body like he'd just crawled out of a river. His limbs twitched, a reminder that even lying still was now painful.
    *Ding!*
    The system's notification chimed brightly, at odds with the utter misery in his chest.
    [Side Quest Completed: +1 Perception Point Earned. Congratulations! Your suffering has paid off!] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Cassius glared at the words floating before him. If murderous intent could be digitized, the system would've disintegrated on the spot. Still, a part of him knew better than to fully despise the gain. As the Perception point sunk into his stats, the world around him shifted subtly but unmistakably.
    The morning birds outside sounded sharper, every chirp perfectly distinct from the next. The hum of distant car engines became a symphony of mechanical chaos. Even the air carried a strange clarity¡ªa sharper sense of the space around him.
    And then, there was a sound far more... distinct.
    Cassius froze, his enhanced senses locking onto the faintest trail of what could only be described as a sultry, feminine moan.
    He squinted at the wall. "Moaning? This early in the morning?" His curiosity surged, mingled with suspicion. It wasn't every day you encountered such brazen noises before breakfast.
    Driven by both concern and an unhealthy dose of morbid curiosity, he stood. His legs wobbled but held firm as he followed the sound down the hall, eventually stopping in front of a familiar door. Aya's door.
    Her door was cracked open just enough to offer a glimpse inside.
    Cassius stopped. This was a line. No matter how ridiculous the situation might be, he wasn't the kind of guy to peep. He'd never live it down. Besides, Aya was his stepsister, and the mere thought made his stomach churn with awkwardness.
    But then, another moan slipped out, this one laced with unmistakable pleasure. His feet hesitated. His mind raced. What if she was hurt? In distress? Surely, it was his duty to make sure everything was okay. Right?
    Peeking wasn't perverse, he reasoned¡ªit was responsible.
    Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward, his eye aligning with the gap in the door.
    What he saw struck him like lightning.
    Aya, his stepsister, lay sprawled across her bed, entirely uninhibited. Her fingers danced between her thighs with shameless intensity, her back arching as her breath hitched in rhythm with each motion. Her skin glistened under the morning light, curves etched with a perfection Cassius had no right to notice.
    "Ahn~! Mhmff~!! OHhHhh~ YES~~!!!"
    She moaned again, louder this time, her body trembling as she reached an undeniable peak. A sound escaped her lips¡ªa cry of bliss¡ªand Cassius bolted back, stumbling into the wall like he'd been shot.
    His brain screamed at him to stop replaying the image, but it was too late. It was burned into his mind, a permanent scar.
    "What the actual hell¡­" he muttered, shaking his head as if to rattle loose the memory. "Why is she doing that with the door open? What kind of perverted¡ª" He stopped himself. This wasn't helping. None of this was helping.
    Desperate to escape the situation, he turned for the stairs, moving as quietly as possible. But as fate¡ªor the system¡ªwould have it, the back door betrayed him with a creaky groan when he pushed it open.
    "Who's there?!" Aya's voice rang out, sharp and full of suspicion.
    "Oh, crap!" Cassius bolted without hesitation.
    The world blurred as he sprinted down the street, feet slapping against the pavement. He pushed himself harder than ever before, adrenaline propelling him far faster than he thought possible. Blocks passed in seconds, and when he finally stopped, his chest heaved with exertion.
    "She couldn't have seen me," he muttered, trying to steady his breathing. "No way she could've known it was me."
    Aya might've been a D-Rank Hunter, leagues above most people, but even she couldn't have identified him from a creak and a glimpse. At least, that's what he hoped.
    Cassius leaned against a lamppost, his thoughts swirling. As absurd as the morning had been, it was a stark reminder of his place in the world. Out of everyone in his family, he was the only one who hadn't awakened as a Hunter. Aya was a prodigy, a rising D-Rank. His father and stepmother were both E-Ranks, modest but respectable.
    And then there was Cassius, the unawakened black sheep.
    But maybe, just maybe, the Idle Evolution System could change that.
    "This system is garbage," he said aloud, glaring at the faint interface that hovered in his vision. "But it's my garbage. And if I can wring power out of it, then so be it."
    The day's earlier reward flashed again, the promise of +3 AP hovering before him. He grinned despite himself. All the pain, the humiliation, and the ridiculousness of this morning had culminated in one singular truth: He was getting stronger.
    "All into Agility," he declared, hammering the stat increase button with fervor. "Let's see someone catch me when I'm faster than light!"
    The numbers ticked up, and a warmth spread through his limbs, a testament to his newfound potential. Passersby glanced his way, disturbed by his manic laughter, but he didn't care.
    Cassius was done being the outlier. He might be starting from the bottom, but he was climbing now, one stat point at a time.

 Chapter 3 The Gains

    ________________________________[Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]
    [Title: Calorie Chaser (F)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 100] [MP: 100] S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 0]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 14] (Semi-Athletic)
    [AGILITY: 16] (Could be the star of a Track and Field team)
    [ENDURANCE: 13] (A woman might feel something with this level of endurance, but with what you're packing, good luck with that)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 12] (You could pass as a nerd, but not a very smart one)
    [PERCEPTION: 9] (You might be able to hear a whistling arrow before it hits you)
    [CHARISMA: 10] (Average. Just average.)
    _______________________________
    Cassius stared at the numbers, his face a mix of interest and annoyance. The words under each stat still managed to insult him, but at least they weren't as devastating as before.
    "Better than when it called me a 'Potato Sack on Legs' that one time," he muttered. Still, his stats showed progress¡ªa fact that filled him with a small, albeit cautious, sense of pride.
    "Strength, agility, endurance¡­" He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I guess all those hours of grinding are finally paying off. If only this garbage system would give me something useful like more of those stats instead of shoving snarky comments in my face all the time."
    He started to feel a little full of himself until a rough-looking young man barreled into him on the sidewalk. Cassius staggered back, barely keeping himself upright.
    "What the hell?" Cassius snapped, glaring at the offender.
    "What are you doing standing in my way, you fool!?" the man shot back, spitting on the ground near Cassius's shoes before hurrying after a girl in the distance. "Wait up, Isabella! Don't you realize just how much I love you!?"
    "Go away, you loser!" the girl shouted, not even glancing back. "I told you, I'm not dating an F-Rank Awakened!"
    "Come on, don't be like that!"
    Cassius rolled his eyes.
    The hierarchy of Awakened and unawakened individuals was brutal. Only ten percent of the population had the privilege of awakening, and those who didn't might as well have been invisible. Even within the Awakened, rank mattered¡ªhigh-rank Awakened were practically celebrities, while lower ranks were barely better than the unawakened.
    Hoshito, with its middling population, was a perfect breeding ground for this kind of hierarchy. Unless you were wealthy or held an indispensable role in society, unawakened individuals were treated like trash.
    Cassius brushed himself off, sighing as he stood back up. The hot pavement burned against his palms, a harsh reminder of where he stood in the world. "Senior year's coming up, and I'm still at the bottom of the barrel," he muttered.
    But the weight of years of disdain and dismissal pressed down on him, igniting a flame deep in his chest. "Let's see how long everyone can keep looking down on me once I surpass them all."
    His hands clenched into fists as he made a silent vow. He didn't know what his system's limits were, or what he'd become by the end of this journey, but one thing was certain: He would push himself until the world had no choice but to acknowledge him.
    For the next week, Cassius trained relentlessly. The streets, parks, and even the small gym he managed to join bore witness to his iron determination. Sit-ups, push-ups, sprints¡ªhis body became a machine of ceaseless motion, driving itself to the edge of collapse.
    By the seventh day, his system interface looked like this:
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]
    [Title: Gym Bro (E)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 100] [MP: 100]
    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 12]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 22] (Athletic/Bodybuilder)
    [AGILITY: 25] (Can outrun a fast Moped)
    [ENDURANCE: 21] (You can overcome your SDS (Small Dick Syndrome) with this level of stamina)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 20] (Could become a Tutor)
    [PERCEPTION: 20] (Do your spidey senses tingle yet?)
    [CHARISMA: 20] (Pretty handsome)
    _______________________________
    Sweat dripped off Cassius's shirtless body as he powered through his final set of sit-ups for the day. Each rep brought him closer to his goal, and his body had begun to show the fruits of his labor. Defined muscles rippled with every movement, and his once-average frame now carried an undeniable aura of strength.
    He let out a deep breath, the motion crisp and controlled. The system might've been annoying, but it worked.
    Just as he wiped himself down with a towel, his stepsister Aya barged into the room.
    "Hey, lend me ten bucks¡ª" she began, stopping mid-sentence when her gaze landed on him.
    Her words faltered as she took in the sight before her. Cassius, still catching his breath, looked up from his towel, his chiseled abs glistening faintly in the room's light. His medium-length jet-black hair clung slightly to his forehead, framing a face that had clearly shed its former mediocrity.
    Aya stared, her mind reeling. Was he always¡­ this hot?
    "Hmm?" Cassius blinked, finally registering her presence.
    Aya jolted, suddenly aware of how obvious her staring had become. "I-I¡­ need ten dollars¡­" she stammered, her voice unusually timid.
    Cassius raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
    "I, uh¡­ my friends and I¡­ We're going out." She averted her gaze, the slightest hint of pink coloring her cheeks.
    Cassius considered her request for a moment before shaking his head. "No."
    "No?" Aya repeated, taken aback by his bluntness.
    "You heard me," he said, tossing his towel aside. "I'm not giving you my money."
    Aya fidgeted, her earlier confidence eroding under his straightforward refusal. "I¡­ understand¡­" she murmured, turning to leave.
    But just as she reached the door, Cassius appeared behind her, moving so quietly and swiftly she didn't even hear him.
    "Here," he said, placing a small wad of cash on her head. "There's a little over a hundred in there. Use it for something nice¡ªfor yourself. Not for those so-called friends. And Aya¡­ We're family. If you need something, I'll do whatever I can to help."
    Aya froze, her fingers curling around the money as she turned to look at him. But by the time she managed to find her voice, he was already gone, descending the stairs with a calm, confident stride.
    She stared at the cash in her hands, warmth spreading through her chest. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as guilt swirled in her heart.
    'Why did I say all those horrible things to him before? Why was I so cruel to someone who never deserved it?'
    Aya clutched the money tightly, her earlier arrogance replaced by a deep, overwhelming sense of regret. "I don't deserve this¡­" she whispered, tears finally spilling over.

 Chapter 4 Special Side Quest

    "They say you act like the people you hang around," Cassius thought, tugging his hoodie tighter as he meandered through the bustling streets of Hoshito. His steps were unhurried, blending into the crowd, but his mind was anything but idle."With my Perception and Intelligence stats where they are now, I can see and feel things better than before. It's like pulling back a curtain on the world," he muttered. But quickly, he thought of something else, causing a sigh to escape his lips. "Aya¡­ she's just a reflection of what others used to do to her," he mused, the realization settling uncomfortably in his chest.
    For all his lingering bitterness, hating her over something so trivial seemed meaningless now. He clenched his fists. If he wanted to change, if he truly wanted to be better, he had to let go of these petty grudges.
    He sighed, looking up at the brilliant sunlight filtering through a smattering of clouds. "Three weeks. In just three weeks, I've become an entirely different person. The old me wouldn't have given Aya anything, not even if she begged on her knees."
    They say people never truly change. But evolution? Evolution demands change. And through change comes transformation.
    His thoughts turned back to the Idle Evolution System, a gift¡ªor curse¡ªthat had turned his life upside down. "It doesn't really have much to do with evolution, not directly at least. But then again, maybe the system is just the catalyst."
    "Whereas evolution¡­ that's on me."
    His fingers absently traced the seams of his hoodie as he continued walking, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement. "Still, for a so-called 'Idle System,' it's the least idle thing I've ever encountered. Every day it hounds me with Daily Quests and Side Quests, making sure I never slack off. It's like having the world's most annoying gym coach in my head."
    It wasn't wrong, though.
    For three straight weeks, he hadn't had a moment's rest. Whether it was physical training or rushing to complete ridiculous Side Quests, the system kept him moving. And as much as he hated to admit it, the results spoke for themselves. He was stronger, faster, sharper¡ªall the things he'd dreamed of becoming but never thought possible.
    "It's still an asshole, though," he muttered under his breath.
    And then, as if summoned by his words, the system responded in kind. A glowing blue screen with a red outline popped into his vision, its smugness almost palpable.
    [©°( ??? )©¼]
    [Special Side Quest]
    ¡ª An 18-year-old girl with long brown hair is about to get hit by a truck. After missing its date with you, the truck must be out for blood.
    ¡ª Save the girl and receive +2 Charisma.
    ¡ª Let the girl die and receive a subtraction of two balls from your total number of balls.
    Cassius blinked. "...But I only have two balls."
    [Then you better save the girl!]
    The silence that followed was deafening. Cassius stared at the screen, a muscle in his jaw twitching.
    "I take back everything I said," he growled. "You really are the worst system in existence."
    Without wasting another second, he bolted toward the sound of screeching brakes. His legs pumped like pistons, his upgraded stats working overtime as he navigated the maze of streets. The terrified screams of bystanders grew louder, and as he rounded a corner, he spotted her¡ªa girl with long brown hair frozen in the middle of a narrow street.
    In her arms, a tiny white Pomeranian trembled, its fluffy body pressed tightly against her chest.
    "She's frozen," Cassius realized, his mind racing. "She's not going to move in time."
    He didn't hesitate. Dumping 5 AP into Agility, he felt the familiar surge of power course through his limbs. His surroundings blurred as he pushed his body to its absolute limit, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
    "Move!" he shouted, shoving the girl out of harm's way with every ounce of strength he had.
    Time slowed as he turned his head, locking eyes with the blaring headlights of the truck.
    "Wait¡­ I don't think I thought this through¡ª"
    The impact hit him like a freight train. His world spun, the sound of screeching tires and horrified gasps fading into a dull roar. Pain blossomed in every inch of his body as he was thrown like a ragdoll, skidding across the hot pavement before coming to an abrupt stop.
    Through the haze of agony, he thought he saw¡­ an angel?
    Her long brown hair framed a face streaked with tears as she knelt beside him, her hands trembling. Something wet and slimy pressed against his cheek.
    'Why is the angel crying?' he wondered, his vision dimming. 'And why is she licking me? Is she not an angel but instead a succubus¡­? Well, whatever the case, I think I'm about to die¡­'
    A wry smile tugged at his lips as consciousness slipped away. 'What a joke¡­ After all that talk about wanting to be the strongest¡­'
    ¡ª-------------
    "Mhmm¡­"
    Cassius awoke to the soft rustle of curtains and the faint scent of antiseptic. His body felt like it had been run over¡ªwell, it had¡ªbut the pain was manageable.
    Blinking slowly, his gaze landed on the figure sitting by the hospital window.
    The girl.
    The sunlight streaming through the window framed her like a painting, highlighting her delicate features. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her hands rested loosely in her lap. But what caught Cassius's attention most was the exhaustion etched into her face¡ªthe dark bags under her eyes, the slight slump in her posture. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "She's been here this whole time?" he muttered under his breath.
    He considered calling out to her, but the sight of her sleeping so peacefully gave him pause. Instead, he let his head fall back against the pillow, a small smile playing on his lips.
    "I wonder if I lost my balls," he mused, closing his eyes without bothering to check between his legs.
    'Maybe later¡­ I'll check later¡­'
    The daunting thought genuinely haunted him. Because what if he truly didn't have his balls anymore? What then??
    Scary¡­

 Chapter 5 Somehow In The Hospital...

    Cassius blinked his eyes open, the faint scent of antiseptic and the soft hum of distant machines pulling him from his groggy state. It took a moment for his vision to focus, but when it did, the sight that greeted him made him question whether he was still unconscious.Leaning over his bed was the beautiful brown-haired girl he vaguely remembered saving. Her silky locks spilled over his blanket like a cascading waterfall, her large eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Yet there was something strange in her gaze¡ªa hazy fog, almost as if she were moving on autopilot.
    Cassius felt his eyelids twitch. The girl's face was steadily drawing closer, her lips barely trembling as if¡­ no, surely not.
    "Is she about to¡ª?" His thoughts froze as the realization hit him.
    She was leaning in for a kiss!
    Cassius didn't know what to do. Panic coursed through him, but his body refused to respond, caught in a strange limbo between disbelief and awkward acceptance. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Should he stop her? Let it happen? Pretend it didn't afterward?
    But before he could arrive at any decision, the girl hesitated, her lips mere inches away from his.
    Cassius: "???"
    The girl's cheeks burned a deep crimson as she blinked rapidly, finally regaining her composure. "...Hey¡­ are you awake right now¡­?" she asked, her voice soft and trembling, her blush threatening to consume her face.
    Cassius opened his eyes fully, fixing her with a bemused look. "...Yes, I am¡­"
    Her reaction was immediate. She practically leaped back, pressing herself against the wall beside the window as if trying to merge with it. Her dainty hands fidgeted nervously in front of her, her gaze darting anywhere but toward him. "I-I see¡­" she stammered, visibly mortified. "Y-You're not going to ask what I was doing¡­?"
    "No, I don't think so," Cassius replied evenly, his expression unreadable.
    "I¡­ see¡­ T-Thanks¡­"
    "No problem."
    The room fell into an awkward silence, broken only by the faint sounds of summer outside. The humid heat clung to their skin, amplifying the discomfort of the moment. The girl squirmed under the weight of her own embarrassment, her thoughts spiraling uncontrollably.
    'W-What was I thinking?!' she screamed internally. 'Why did I almost¡­? I must be losing my mind! He just looked so peaceful and handsome lying there, and I¡ª' She buried her face in her hands, her cheeks so red they almost glowed.
    Noticing the oppressive quiet, Cassius decided to cut through the tension. "So¡­ how long have I been out?" He glanced down at the bandages wrapped snugly around his torso. The dull ache in his body hinted at the extent of his injuries, but he had no sense of how much time had passed.
    The girl hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper as she answered, "I-It's been around¡­ thirty hours¡­"
    Cassius blinked. "Thirty hours? That means I missed the Daily Quest cut-off¡­" His voice trailed off as he lifted his blanket slightly, checking his pelvis. To his relief, everything was still in place.
    "Y-You¡­" The girl's voice faltered as her wide eyes flickered toward him. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she hastily covered her own with her hands. "I-I didn't know they were supposed to be that¡­ big¡­"
    Cassius froze, question marks practically floating above his head as realization struck him. "Oh. That's¡­ uh¡­ sorry about that." He offered a slight bow of his head, wincing as pain shot through his torso.
    "D-Don't move!" the girl scolded, rushing to his bedside. Her hands glowed with a soothing green energy as she pressed them over his injury. The warmth seeped into his body, dulling the pain and leaving him with a strange sense of calm.
    Cassius watched in fascination, his curiosity outweighing his discomfort. "This is¡­ magic?" he murmured, his eyes alight with interest.
    The girl flinched under his gaze, retreating to her chair by the windowsill. "P-Please don't come so close¡­" she whispered, her voice trembling. 'H-He smells good¡­ How can someone smell this nice after being hit by a truck?!'
    "Sorry," Cassius said, leaning back into his pillow. "It's just¡­ I've never seen magic up close. It's a lot prettier than I expected."
    Her blush deepened, and she began twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "I-It's fine¡­ And about earlier¡­"
    "I already forgot what happened," Cassius interrupted with a warm smile.
    The girl's heart fluttered, a strange warmth spreading through her chest. "...Thanks¡­" she whispered shyly.
    Cassius decided to steer the conversation away from the increasingly awkward air. "How long have you been here?"
    Her response was hesitant, almost reluctant. "...Since you got here¡­" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Cassius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You really shouldn't have done that. We've only just met; there was no need for you to put your health at risk like that¡ª" He stopped when he noticed her biting her lip apologetically. He sighed again, softer this time. "I'm not mad. Just¡­ take better care of yourself, okay?"
    "Mhmm¡­" she mumbled, nodding slightly. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, and a faint smile tugged at her lips.
    Cassius leaned back, studying her for a moment. 'She seems like a good person,' he thought, noting her shy demeanor. 'But she's clearly a pushover¡­ I can see people taking advantage of that.'
    His gaze drifted toward the window, taking in the view of Hoshito from the top floor of the hospital. The city stretched out before him, bustling and alive, but his thoughts turned inward. He wondered briefly if his family had come to visit him.
    'Probably not,' he thought with a wry smile. 'They wouldn't even notice if I dropped over dead one day.'
    A faint glow caught his attention, and from the corner of his eye, an all-too-familiar blue pop-up appeared.

 Chapter 6 Gym Bro for Life

    *Ding!*[You received 2 Points in Charisma for completing the Quest: "Save the Pretty Girl from Truck-kun's Vengeance."]
    [You received 1 Point in Strength and Agility for completing Daily Quest #23!]
    ¡ª [No punishment was applied due to extenuating circumstances. But to make up for the lack of character development while you were snoozing, you will need to do four times the exercises today. Double Stat Points will be allotted! ^~^]
    For a moment, Cassius stared blankly at the glowing screen, his mind torn between disbelief and resignation. "I almost thought you had a change of heart, system," he muttered dryly, "but nope¡ªyou're still the same petty douchebag."
    He accidentally said the last part aloud, which caused the girl by the windowsill to flinch. "A douche¡­?" she echoed, her voice soft and uncertain. Her head tilted to the side, a finger resting on her chin as her large brown eyes searched his face for answers. "A-Am I the douche¡­?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The way her expression morphed into one of sad confusion made Cassius feel like he'd just kicked a puppy. Her wide, teary eyes made his heart lurch in a way he wasn't quite used to. He sighed. "No, you're not the douche. You're very nice. And cute," he added before he could think better of it.
    "C-Cute?" she stammered, the word tumbling out like she couldn't believe it had been said aloud. Her cheeks flushed so deeply it looked like steam might erupt from her ears. She repeated the word under her breath, her voice growing softer each time.
    Cassius shook his head with a bemused smile. 'This girl is definitely odd,' he thought, but there was something undeniably endearing about her bashful antics.
    Pulling his focus away from her flustered reaction, he brought up his system interface.
    BLING!
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]
    [Title: Gym Bro (E)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 65/100] [MP: 100]
    [FATIGUE: 34]. [AP: 10]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 23] (Athletic/Bodybuilder+)
    [AGILITY: 31] (About as fast as a sh*tty Camry Car)
    [ENDURANCE: 21] (You can overcome your SDS (Small Dick Syndrome) with this level of stamina)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 20] (Could become a Tutor)
    [PERCEPTION: 20] (Do your spidey senses tingle yet?)
    [CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)
    _______________________________
    'Looks like I got 3 AP from something,' Cassius thought, squinting at the screen. 'Probably the first Idle Benefit?'
    As if in response, another notification appeared.
    *Ding!*
    [Due to extenuating circumstances, the system decided to give you a single pass. Don't let it happen again; you need all the character development you can get!]
    Cassius's smile twitched as he read the screen, his expression morphing into something between amusement and exasperation. The sight confused the bunny-like girl still seated by the window. Before she could think too much about it, however, he turned his attention back to her.
    "Your name?"
    "S-Sorry, my what¡­?"
    "Your name. You have one, don't you?"
    The girl blinked rapidly, her mind spinning. "Y-Yes, of course! My name is¡­" She paused, her gaze drifting to his face and then his exposed abs. Her mind blanked entirely. "It's¡­ Wait¡­ what is it again¡­?"
    She visibly flinched at her own forgetfulness, then brightened with a sudden epiphany. "It's Grace! Yes, that's it!" she exclaimed, looking ridiculously proud of herself for recalling her own name.
    Watching her beam so earnestly made Cassius chuckle despite himself. "You really are a cute one, aren't you?"
    Grace froze, her face turning scarlet as her hands fidgeted with her hair. "Y-You don't have to laugh¡­" she murmured, her voice so soft it was barely audible. "I know I'm weird¡­"
    "I said cute, not weird," Cassius corrected matter-of-factly, his tone so casual it only flustered her further.
    Grace's thoughts spiraled. She'd always been uneasy around men, their gazes often filled with either pity or something far less innocent. But Cassius¡­ he was different. He didn't look at her like she was fragile or something to conquer.
    Talking to him felt¡­ nice.
    'What's wrong with me?' she wondered, her fingers gripping the hem of her shirt.
    Cassius, noticing her staring with his heightened Perception, turned to meet her gaze, only for her to whip her head away in embarrassment. The corner of his mouth quirked upward in amusement, but the motion sent a sharp pain lancing through his ribs.
    Grace immediately noticed his wince and shot to her feet. "You can't laugh! Stop laughing!" she scolded, her attempt at sounding stern failing miserably.
    Her puffed-up cheeks only made Cassius laugh harder, though it was more subdued this time, a quiet chuckle that left him wincing again. Grace's worry overtook her embarrassment as she stepped closer, her hands glowing faintly green as she prepared to cast her healing spell again.
    "You mustn't move so much," she chastised gently. "Your injuries are still severe¡­"
    The warm energy from her spell seeped into Cassius's body, soothing the ache in his muscles. "You're really good at that," he said, watching her work. "It's¡­ beautiful, honestly."
    Grace froze, her gaze darting up to meet his. The sincerity in his voice sent her heart racing, and she quickly looked away, her face practically glowing. "I-It's just a spell¡­ nothing special¡­"
    Cassius smiled softly. "Anyway, you should head home. Your parents must be worried sick."
    Grace hesitated, her hands clenching at her sides. "I-I will¡­ but could I¡­ maybe get your phone number?"
    Cassius raised an eyebrow.
    She immediately panicked. "I-It's not like that! I just¡­ I wanted to thank you properly another time! A-And Snow hasn't seen you since you were brought here¡­"
    Cassius chuckled, reaching out to gently pat her head. "Sure, why not?" He handed her his phone, already unlocked. "Add your number."
    Grace hesitated before taking it, savoring the warm touch of his hand on her head. As she typed in her number, she found herself disappointed when he pulled his hand away. A small pout formed on her lips, but she quickly masked it as she handed the phone back.
    "Thank you," she whispered, her heart fluttering again.
    Cassius simply nodded, leaning back with a smile. "Don't mention it. In all actuality, it should be my utmost privilege to receive the number of a girl as pretty as you. Don't you reckon?"

 Chapter 7 Main Quest #1

    "Well, anyway, see you later, Grace," Cassius said, waving warmly as the girl lingered at the door, clearly struggling to leave. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, and her gaze darted between Cassius and the hallway. She didn't want to go, that much was obvious, but the guilt in her eyes told him she thought he needed more rest."You promise to contact me later¡­?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
    "I promise," he replied with a reassuring smile.
    That seemed to satisfy her, and she nodded, her entire face lighting up as she skipped out of the room in an unnaturally good mood. A few nurses and doctors in the hallway exchanged curious glances, wondering what had happened to the normally reserved girl. But before anyone could ask, she was already gone, leaving behind only a lingering sense of her newfound energy.
    Back in the room, Cassius sighed, his smile fading as he turned his attention to a flashing red system screen that demanded his full focus. The light from the display illuminated his sharp features, casting long shadows on the walls as he stared out the window.
    "It seems like this is where my journey as a Hunter truly begins," he muttered under his breath.
    BLING!
    {[Main Quest #1]} - (E-Rank)
    ¡ª[The world is infested with magical Gates that connect to other dimensions, and as one who aspires to attain maximum character development, it is your duty to conquer them all.]
    ¡ª[Skipping past F-Rank Gates, you are to solo-conquer the E-Rank Gate 'Savage Jungle' appearing in front of Hoshito General Hospital at midnight, in 12 hours and 45 minutes.]
    ¡ª[Reward for Quest Completion: +3 Points in all Stats.]
    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]
    [If you fail to complete this Quest within 8 hours of the Gate's opening, you will not only lose your reproductive organs, but everyone in the Hospital will die. All active Hunters will be occupied with other Gates and will thus be unable to intervene.]
    [P.S. Trying to warn the Hunters now will make you seem like a lunatic claiming knowledge of Sudden Gates. This will also be seen as defiance of character development. A.K.A., you will lose your balls. ^~^]
    Cassius stared at the screen, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "This system really has it out for my testicles," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But if this is the way to make me stronger, then I'll do it. Albeit it reluctantly¡­"
    [Good choice, Host!]
    [Hint: Locate a weapon, maybe through theft, because you will need it!]
    "You're not going to give me one?"
    [Nope! ^-^ Good luck!]
    The silence that followed was deafening. Cassius's face contorted into something between annoyance and resignation as he leaned back against his pillow. "Of course not. Why make things easy when you can make them as difficult as possible?"
    Shaking his head, he turned his attention to his injuries. His Endurance stat had already proven its worth by accelerating his natural regeneration, and he decided to capitalize on that. Allocating 3 AP into Endurance, he immediately felt a warm sensation spread through his body, his Health Regeneration doubling in speed.
    "That should bring me back to full health before the Gate opens," he mused. "I'll save the other 7 AP for emergencies."
    With his immediate concerns addressed, Cassius allowed himself to relax, his mind wandering as he contemplated his next move. He needed a weapon¡ªsomething practical but accessible. A janitor's closet seemed like his best bet, but the plan would have to wait until his health fully recovered.
    For now, it was nap time.
    A few hours later, nurses came and went, their footsteps quiet against the tiled floor. Some lingered longer than necessary, stealing glances at Cassius's sharp features and toned body. A few even brushed against him under the guise of checking his vitals, but he remained blissfully unaware, his focus elsewhere.
    When his Health hit 100%, Cassius stirred, the faint ache in his muscles now fully gone. Stretching briefly, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and rose to his feet, moving with a precision and silence born of his heightened Agility. His steps were nearly soundless as he slipped into the hallway, the dim lighting casting eerie shadows along the walls.
    He made his way toward the Janitorial Ward, his mind focused. A mop, broom, or even a sturdy metal rod would do. Anything was better than facing an E-Rank Gate empty-handed.
    [Long and hard, unlike what you will lose if you stop pursuing further character development. ^??^]
    "Wow, so funny," Cassius muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he reached the door labeled Janitor's Closet. He tried the handle, but it didn't budge. Locked.
    He frowned, testing the door with a bit of force, but it held firm. Leaning against the wall, he ran through his options, his mind turning over possible solutions.
    That's when he heard it¡ªa faint, familiar sound echoing through the hallway. Soft moans, low and rhythmic.
    "...You've got to be kidding me," Cassius muttered, d¨¦j¨¤ vu washing over him as he followed the noise to its source.
    Peering into an open janitor's room, he spotted the source of the commotion. A young nurse and a janitor were fully engaged in an enthusiastic display of affection against a metal shelf. Cassius blinked, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.
    "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Why not have wild sex in a hospital? That's something only super responsible people do."
    The situation seemed consensual, so he opted not to intervene. Instead, he slipped into the room, his movements silent as a cat's. The couple's, ahem, activity provided ample cover for him to move unnoticed as he approached a bucket filled with cleaning supplies.
    After a brief search, he grabbed two mops and four brooms, their sturdy handles the closest thing to a weapon he could find. Turning back, he retraced his steps, the rhythmic creaks of the shelf masking the faint sound of the door as it clicked shut behind him.
    Back in his room, Cassius laid out his "loot" on the bed. Two mops and four brooms.
    He stared at the collection for a moment before shaking his head. "Not exactly the arsenal of a hero," he muttered, picking up a mop and giving it an experimental swing. The balance was¡­ acceptable. Barely. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Sighing, he leaned the mop against the wall and sat back on the bed, his mind already shifting to the task ahead. Midnight was fast approaching, and with it, the Gate that would mark the true beginning of his journey.

 Chapter 8 Acquiring Some Weapons

    "Lackluster is an understatement," Cassius muttered, staring at his improvised arsenal of wooden brooms and mops spread out on the hospital bed. "But I guess I have no choice but to go and kill monsters with these until I find proper equipment."He sighed, scratching the back of his head, but then an idea struck him. His expression brightened slightly. "Wait¡­ I can make these better."
    With newfound determination, Cassius picked up the brooms and mops, snapping them over his knee one by one. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the quiet room as he broke the items down into manageable pieces. Normally, such a task would have sent jolts of pain up his leg, but with his newly enhanced stats, it barely registered.
    One broom. Crack.
    Another. Snap.
    Then a mop. Shatter.
    Within minutes, he had reduced 3 brooms and 1 mop into eight sharp wooden halves. "Not bad," he murmured, holding one of the splintered pieces up to the light.
    Next, he stripped the sweeper and mop heads off the remaining items, leaving him with 8 sharp wooden spikes and 2 sturdy staffs. Each spike was about a foot and a half long, jagged, and wickedly pointed, while the staffs were smooth and just shy of his height.
    Looking at his makeshift arsenal, Cassius allowed himself a small smile. "I don't have a sword, but I think I've done pretty well for myself."
    Still, as he stared at the weapons, doubt began to creep into his mind. "Even with this, taking on monsters will be tough," he admitted, gripping one of the staffs tightly. "Especially since I'm not awakened."
    Hunters, even those at the lowest F-Rank, were far stronger than regular humans. Cassius had no illusions about where he stood¡ªhis recent growth might have made him stronger, faster, and tougher than before, but he had no way to measure himself against awakened Hunters or the monsters lurking in Gates.
    [Remaining Time until E-Rank 'Savage Jungle' Gate Break: 23 minutes 3 seconds]
    The countdown flashed ominously in his peripheral vision. There was no time to second-guess himself.
    With a sigh, Cassius packed his weapons into the worn backpack he'd been carrying since the truck accident. After a final glance at the room, he slipped out the door, moving with the quiet precision granted by his Agility stat. His footsteps were nearly silent as he descended the hospital's northern staircase, avoiding the main corridors bustling with nurses and doctors.
    The cool night air hit him as he exited through a side door on the first floor. The main doors were automatic and heavily monitored, so sneaking out there would have been a surefire way to get caught and dragged back to bed.
    "The fresh air feels good," he murmured, glancing up at the luminescent moon hanging high in the night sky. Its soft glow bathed the hospital grounds in silver light, a stark contrast to the growing tension in his chest.
    Suddenly, his senses sharpened, a prickling awareness spreading across his skin. He turned his gaze toward the front gates of the hospital, where the air seemed to shimmer with unseen energy.
    "The night is a pretty one," he said quietly, his grip tightening on the two wooden staffs in his hands, "but soon, it will be flowing with blood." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The cold gleam in his piercing blue eyes reflected the swirling energy gathering above the gates. He felt it as much as he saw it¡ªwaves of pressure that made his heart race and his muscles tense.
    BLING!
    [Staff (Melee)] - [F-Rank]
    |¡ª[Attack: ~3]¡ª|
    [Spike (Melee/Ranged)] - [F-Rank]
    |¡ª[Attack: ~2]¡ª|
    Cassius glanced at the system descriptions for his weapons. The attack values were laughably low, but they were better than nothing. Still, with no special effects attached, he knew he was going in with the bare minimum.
    Then, it happened¡­
    OOOM!
    The Gate's energy intensified, swirling into a flickering bluish-orange portal that sent gusts of wind spiraling through the area. Pedestrians walking nearby froze in their tracks, their faces draining of color as they realized what was happening.
    "Ahh! It's a Gate! A Gate has appeared!!"
    "A Sudden Gate?! Why would one of those appear here?! Monsters will escape within the next thirty minutes!"
    "Quick, call the Hunters!!"
    Panic rippled through the crowd like wildfire. Hospital staff ran out to investigate the commotion, their expressions turning to horror as they took in the flickering portal.
    The terror was justified. Everyone, from children to the elderly, knew the implications of a Sudden Gate. Unlike regular Gates, which contained their monsters for a week, Sudden Gates released them in waves, starting within the first thirty minutes. And the waves only grew stronger with time.
    The system hadn't been exaggerating when it said everyone in the hospital would be dead by the eight-hour mark.
    Unnoticed by the panicking crowd, a lone figure approached the Gate. Cassius's blue eyes glinted with determination as he stepped into the flickering portal.
    The sensation of crossing into the Gate was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as if his body had been pulled through a whirlpool of energy, leaving him slightly disoriented as he emerged on the other side.
    The first thing he noticed was the forest. Vast and verdant, it stretched in every direction, the dense canopy of trees blocking out most of the light. The air was thick with humidity, and unnerving animal calls echoed through the darkness, creating a constant backdrop of noise.
    For a moment, Cassius stood frozen, taking in the alien landscape. "So this is an E-Rank Gate¡­"
    The stunning scenery was a fleeting afterthought as the sounds around him shifted. Low growls, rapid rustling, and the unmistakable sound of footsteps¡ªno, paws¡ªcrunching against the underbrush.
    "They know I'm here," Cassius realized, his body tensing.
    The glowing red eyes appeared next. Dozens of them, flickering in the darkness like embers. Blood-curdling screeches followed, each one vibrating with an unnatural intensity.
    [Effect Triggered: Fear]
    Cassius's heart skipped a beat as the notification flashed. The screeches were laced with a Fear Effect, a psychological assault designed to paralyze prey.
    "Shit!" he hissed, gripping his staffs tightly.
    The bushes exploded in movement as the glowing eyes darted closer.

 Chapter 9 First Kill, Lvl 3

    "Shit!" Cassius growled as his limbs felt sluggish, his body refusing to respond the way he needed. The oppressive Fear Effect from the Savage Monkeys' screeches was taking its toll, weighing him down like lead."I can't falter here," he muttered through clenched teeth, his gaze darting around the forest for anything he could use to turn the tide. But what was there to find in a forest? Trees? More trees? Moss? He cursed under his breath.
    What the hell am I supposed to do with moss? Knit them a sweater?!
    Whatever was chasing him had the clear advantage. They knew this terrain better than he ever could, and they likely had the strength to back it up. If this was a poker game, his hand was garbage, and they were holding a full house.
    As if on cue, the underbrush rustled violently. Cassius stopped dead in his tracks, his breath hitching. Shadows darted through the trees, and then¡ª
    *Thud, Thud, Thud.*
    Three figures dropped from an overhanging branch, landing directly in front of him.
    "Screech!!!"
    The creatures let loose a blood-curdling cry, their glowing red eyes gleaming in the darkness. Their sharp claws glinted as they slashed at the air, demonstrating their lethality.
    Cassius's heart pounded as he instinctively stepped back, his mind racing. This was his first time seeing a monster, and every fiber of his being screamed at him to run. Their savagery, their predatory grace¡ªit was overwhelming.
    'Run,' a voice in his mind whispered. 'You can't fight this. Get out before it's too late!'
    For a moment, he almost gave in. His body tensed, ready to turn and sprint for his life. But then his foot stopped mid-step, and he froze.
    He thought about what running would mean¡ªwhat it would make him. A coward. A failure. The same pathetic loser he had been before the system came into his life.
    The memory of scornful gazes, mocking laughter, and cruel whispers hit him like a slap in the face. The person he had been, the person everyone had dismissed and ridiculed, clawed at the back of his mind.
    "No," he whispered, his voice trembling. Then louder, more resolute: "No!"
    With a shout of defiance, Cassius clenched his teeth and swung his bag into his hands.
    "Damn it!" he roared, spinning just in time to dodge a swipe from one of the creatures. Its claws whistled past his face, close enough for him to feel the rush of air.
    Pain exploded across his shoulder as another creature's claws raked against his flesh. He staggered back, blood dripping down his arm, but he gritted his teeth and stood firm.
    'If I run now, I'll never forgive myself,' he thought.
    [Savage Monkey (F)]
    The illuminated nametags above their heads gleamed yellow against the darkness. Cassius barely had time to take in the detail, but the color alone was enough to send a chill down his spine.
    *Ding!*
    [The difficulty of monsters is determined by the color of their nametags.]
    [Gray/White ¡ú Yellow/Orange ¡ú Red ¡ú Black]
    [Weak ¡ú Dangerous ¡ú Extremely Dangerous ¡ú Certain Death]
    "Well, isn't that just peachy," Cassius muttered as he evaded another swipe, the monkey's claws carving through a nearby tree trunk like butter. "Guess I don't even rate as dangerous. Must be more like a harmless bunny sort of rating."
    The Savage Monkeys moved with terrifying agility, their claws gleaming as they closed in. Cassius swung one of his wooden staffs at the nearest monkey, but the blow barely slowed it down. Worse, when another monkey slashed at the staff, it shattered into splinters.
    "So much for my 'great' weapons," he grumbled, ducking just in time to avoid decapitation.
    The monkeys lunged again, their screeches reverberating in his ears. Cassius bent backward like a limbo champion, narrowly dodging their claws. In the momentary gap, he reached out and grabbed the tails of two monkeys mid-flight.
    One tail slipped free, but the other monkey wasn't so lucky.
    "Gotcha!"
    With a primal shout, Cassius swung the creature downward, slamming it against a large rock with bone-crunching force. The Savage Monkey shrieked in pain, but he didn't stop there. Pinning the creature to the ground with his knee, he drew one of his wooden spikes and drove it down.
    "Esceetch!!!"
    The monkey let out an ear-splitting cry as the spike pierced its chest, blood pooling around the wound.
    The other two monkeys screeched in fury, rushing to save their comrade. Cassius glanced up, his breath catching as he realized they were about to overwhelm him.
    *Ding!*
    [You have 7 unspent AP.]
    Without hesitation, Cassius opened his system interface, his hand trembling as he tapped the up-arrow beside his Agility stat five times. A surge of power coursed through his body, and the speed of his next motion doubled.
    His spike fell with incredible force, driving deeper into the monkey's chest. Instead of raw strength, Cassius had relied on gravity and speed to amplify the blow. The result was devastating.
    "Esceetch¡­!!!"
    The Savage Monkey's body convulsed once before going limp. Blood dripped from its open mouth as its eyes glazed over.
    It was dead.
    Cassius stared down at the corpse, his chest heaving. He had just¡­
    He had just killed his first monster.
    *Ding!*
    [You leveled up!] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [All Stats increased by 1 Point!]
    [You received 2 AP!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [All Stats increased by 1 Point!]
    [You received 2 AP!]
    The notifications flashed before his eyes, but Cassius had no time to savor the victory. The remaining two monkeys were upon him, their claws swiping wildly. He rolled off the corpse, narrowly avoiding a strike that would have torn through his neck.
    "Damn it, give me a second to breathe!" he snapped, his voice filled with both frustration and exhilaration.
    Feeling his newly gained strength settle into his muscles, Cassius turned his icy gaze to the remaining monkeys. They circled him, their glowing red eyes filled with rage, but he noticed something.
    "They're hesitating," he muttered.
    The death of their comrade had shaken them. Cassius couldn't afford to waste the opportunity. His grip tightened on his remaining staff, and he felt a grim smile tug at his lips.
    "Alright," he said, raising the staff. "Who's next?"

 Chapter 10 Copper Skill Boxes

    *Ding!*[Achieved Lvl 2] - [Rewards]
    [Reward 1: 1 Stat Point for each Attribute] - (?)
    [Reward 2: Status Recovery] - (_)
    [Reward 3: Copper Skill Box(s) (Random)] - (_)
    [Reward 4: 2 AP] - (?)
    *Ding!*
    [Achieved Lvl 3] - [Rewards]
    [Reward 1: 1 Stat Point for each Attribute] - (?)
    [Reward 2: Status Recovery] - (_)
    [Reward 3: 2 Copper Skill Box(s) (Random)] - (_)
    [Reward 4: 2 AP] - (?)
    Cassius's icy blue eyes darted over the rewards screen, quickly piecing together how the system operated. The first and fourth rewards were automatically received, leaving the second and third rewards for manual collection. "Makes sense," he muttered, "but couldn't this have waited until I wasn't fighting for my life?"
    He glanced at the two lifeless Savage Monkeys at his feet and the third green EXP bar slowly filling in his system overlay. The system's timing wasn't perfect, but it wasn't a bad deal either.
    'They seem slower,' he thought, gripping his remaining wooden spike. The sluggishness of the last Savage Monkey's movements confirmed his theory. The monsters weren't weaker¡ªhe had become stronger. Each level up seemed to heighten his speed and reflexes beyond what he had considered possible.
    "If I've gotten this strong by just leveling up," Cassius murmured, his voice cold and calculating, "how much stronger will I get if I keep killing?"
    A ruthless gleam flashed through his eyes as his body blurred, moving faster than he ever had before. In an instant, he closed the gap between himself and the third Savage Monkey. Its glowing red eyes widened in alarm as Cassius drove the spike into the back of its neck.
    SPURT!
    The monkey let out a choked cry, its body collapsing before it even had the chance to counterattack. Cassius yanked the spike free, blood dripping from the jagged edge.
    "That makes three," he said, his voice void of emotion. Yet, as the adrenaline ebbed, a twinge of disappointment flickered across his face. No new system notifications greeted him.
    "Figures," he muttered, stepping back to inspect his situation.
    His health bar was fully restored, glowing red at the top of his vision. His green EXP bar, however, was only one-third full. "So it's an RPG system," Cassius observed. "Health, Stamina, EXP¡­ it's all there. But leveling up is going to get much harder, much faster."
    He glanced deeper into the shadowy jungle. The sounds of distant growls and rustling foliage made his skin prickle. He wasn't safe¡ªnot even close.
    "If I want to stop as many waves as possible from reaching the outside world, I'll have to keep killing," he said quietly. His grip on the bloodied spike tightened. "And if I want to leave my weak self behind, then I have no choice but to¡­ keep killing."
    Still, he paused. The immediate danger had passed, giving him a rare moment to breathe and strategize. "Before I go any further, I should check my rewards and allocate my AP."
    Cassius pulled up the reward screens, his sharp gaze taking in the information. The Status Recovery option caught his attention first¡ªit could fully restore Fatigue, Health, and Mana. "This could be a lifesaver," he muttered. "Better to save it for when I'm in serious trouble."
    The Copper Skill Boxes, on the other hand, intrigued him. He had three of them waiting in his Inventory Space, a pocket dimension the system had unlocked when he reached Level 2.
    "Let's see what you've got," Cassius said, summoning the boxes with a thought.
    PIANG!
    Three cube-shaped copper boxes appeared before him, each glowing faintly with a warm light. A bold question mark was etched into each of their six sides, giving them an almost playful appearance.
    Cassius knelt, inspecting them briefly before commanding, "Open."
    The boxes levitated into the air, their copper edges shimmering brightly before bursting apart in a cascade of sparks. From within, three glowing cards emerged, each marked with an F at the top.
    Without hesitation, the cards flew toward him, bypassing his defenses and merging seamlessly with his soul.
    [Acquired F-Rank Active Skill: Slash]
    [Acquired F-Rank Passive Skill: Muscularity]
    [Acquired F-Rank Active Skill: Sprint]
    Cassius felt a surge of energy ripple through him as the skills took root in his mind. He instinctively understood their effects:
    [Slash: A simple skill that increased damage by 20% and improved sword proficiency when executed.]
    [Muscularity: A passive skill that boosted his Strength, Agility, and Endurance by 5%.]
    [Sprint: A burst-speed skill that increased movement speed by 25%, though it came at the cost of Mana.]
    "They're good," Cassius said, his voice tinged with approval. "But they're all tied to my current power level. As I grow stronger, their effectiveness will drop off." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Still, he wasn't about to complain. At his current level, every advantage counted. "Skills can level up too," he noted, examining the glowing indicators beside each skill in his interface. "The more I use them, the stronger they'll become. It's all about momentum¡ªkilling to level up, leveling up to kill more effectively."
    A grim smile tugged at his lips. "I can work with that."
    Cassius's Health had increased to 350, and his Mana to 250, but he knew they would deplete quickly if he wasn't careful. He made a mental note to conserve resources as much as possible.
    "Time to allocate my AP," he muttered, pulling up his stat screen. The system had given him 8 unspent AP from leveling up, and he needed to decide how best to use them.
    "Strength, Agility, Endurance¡­" he murmured, weighing his options. "Agility's been my saving grace so far. I'll put 4 points there, 2 into Endurance, and save the last 2 for emergencies."
    With his preparations complete, Cassius took a deep breath and glanced at the shadowy jungle ahead. The sounds of distant beast roars filled the air, a grim reminder of the danger lurking within.
    He stepped forward, his bloodied spike in hand. "This is only the beginning," he said quietly, his voice steady. "If I want to survive¡ªand grow stronger¡ªI have to keep moving."
    The canopy above him swallowed the moonlight, plunging him into darkness. But Cassius didn't falter. With each step, he delved deeper into the E-Rank Sudden Gate: Savage Jungle, knowing full well that the path he was walking led straight into the jaws of danger.
    And yet, for the first time in his life, he felt¡­ alive.

 Chapter 11 Black Sparrow Guild

    ¡ª In the Headquarters of the C-Rank Guild 'Black Sparrow' in Downtown Hoshito ¡ª"A Sudden Gate!? At Hoshito General Hospital!?"
    "Yes, sir! It was just reported! We have approximately twenty minutes before the first wave breaks out!"
    Two men in black suits, one a superior and the other a subordinate, exchanged frantic words. The superior, seated behind a cluttered desk, ran a hand through his graying hair, visibly agitated.
    "Of all times¡­" he muttered, glaring at the piles of paperwork threatening to topple over. "A Sudden Gate appears when most of our manpower is out dealing with the B-Rank Gates in Kyoto¡­"
    His voice rose sharply. "Get the newbies on the line and anyone else within range! I want them at Hoshito General Hospital NOW! They are to fend off the first few waves. Under no circumstances should they enter the Gate! Hold the line until reinforcements arrive!"
    "Yes, sir!"
    The subordinate bolted from the office, shouting orders as he sprinted through the multi-floored building. Phones began ringing off the hook, and the hum of the Guild HQ turned into a cacophony of voices and hurried footsteps.
    Left alone, the superior slumped into his chair, pressing his fingers against his temples. "This is going to be a migraine," he muttered, glancing at the blinking alert on his desktop monitor. A Sudden Gate was a nightmare on its own, but having it appear in a crowded area with minimal defenses? Catastrophic.
    ¡ª Meanwhile, in the Steele Household ¡ª
    Aya Steele paced anxiously in her room, her footsteps echoing faintly against the hardwood floor. Her phone screen glowed in the dim light, displaying the emergency alert about the Sudden Gate at Hoshito General Hospital.
    "That's where Cassius is¡­" she whispered, biting her lip.
    She crouched, burying her face in her hands. Memories of her stepbrother flashed through her mind¡ªhis rare smiles, the determined gleam in his eyes as he started to change for the better. And then, her thoughts turned to the brown-haired girl who was always at his side in the hospital.
    "Why am I thinking about her right now?" Aya muttered, shaking her head. The frustration bubbling inside her made no sense. Yet it wouldn't leave her alone.
    "Will he be alright¡­?" she whispered to herself. "They'll stop the Gate before it can affect him, right?"
    But her worry only grew, and she clenched her fists as a mix of fear and determination swirled within her. Cassius had helped her when she needed it most, standing up for her when no one else would. He had called her family.
    "I can't just sit here," Aya decided, rising abruptly. "I have to help him. Even if I haven't been trained as a Hunter yet, I have my stats. I can at least get him out of there!"
    *Thump. Thump. Thump.*
    Aya darted down the stairs, her speed drawing the attention of her parents.
    "Where are you going at this late hour?" Sasha, her mother, called out, narrowing her sharp blue eyes. "Did you not hear the emergency alert?"
    Aya hesitated, slipping on her sneakers. "Yeah, Mom, I got it. But I left something important at school. I'll be back soon¡ªpromise!"
    Sasha crossed her arms, her skepticism evident. "Aya, don't lie to me. You're not going to the hospital, are you? Monsters aren't something you can handle just because you're strong for your age. Even if you can take on ten men, monsters are a completely different story."
    Aya's shoulders stiffened, but she didn't stop. "I know, Mom! I'll stay away from the hospital! I'll be back soon!"
    Before Sasha could press further, Aya bolted out the door. Her father, Adam, who had been sitting quietly in the living room, watched her leave with a contemplative look.
    "Teenagers," Sasha sighed, shaking her head. "They're impossible to control."
    Adam remained silent, his thoughts distant. After a moment, Sasha turned to him. "You've noticed it too, haven't you? The changes in Cassius?"
    Her voice softened as she spoke, but her expression was sharp. "He's not the same as before. It's more than just a growth spurt or mindset shift, Adam. Something's happened to him."
    Adam hesitated, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "He's been working hard. That's all it is. Determination can lead to remarkable changes."
    "Don't lie to me," Sasha said, her tone firm. "I know what I see. His transformation isn't natural. Could it be a latent awakening?"
    Adam's jaw tightened. He wanted to dismiss her theory outright, but the evidence was undeniable. He had considered the possibility himself¡ªbriefly.
    "Even if it were a latent awakening," Sasha continued, "those are one-in-a-million cases. What are the odds it would happen to him, and now of all times?"
    Adam's mind raced. 'If Cassius has truly awakened¡­ then our mission might finally bear fruit.'
    The thought sent a shiver down his spine. For two years, their search had yielded nothing. But if Cassius's changes were tied to an awakening, then the mysterious force they were hunting might soon reveal itself.
    Sasha misinterpreted his silence as agreement. "If he's awakened, we need to support him. But we can't let him get involved with these Gates¡ªnot yet."
    Adam nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. 'I need to confirm this. If he's awakened, we'll need to move quickly. The clock is ticking.'
    ¡ª Back on the Streets of Hoshito ¡ª
    Aya sprinted through the quiet streets, her D-Rank stats giving her an edge over the average human. Her long hair streamed behind her as she pushed herself to run faster, her heart pounding not from exertion, but from fear.
    'I'll just grab him and get out,' she told herself. 'In and out. No fighting. No risks.'
    But as she neared the hospital, the glowing orange light of the Sudden Gate loomed in the distance, casting eerie shadows across the buildings. The oppressive energy radiating from it made her steps falter.
    "This¡­ is worse than I thought," Aya whispered, gripping her hands into fists.
    She wasn't sure what she had expected, but the sheer presence of the Gate made her stomach churn. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made even the bravest soul want to turn and run.
    But Aya clenched her jaw, steeling herself. "Cassius is in there. I can't back down now."
    ¡ª Meanwhile, at the Black Sparrow Guild ¡ª
    The Guild's emergency response teams scrambled to prepare. Rookie Hunters suited up, their nervous energy palpable.
    "This is going to be a disaster," the Guild Leader muttered, watching the chaos unfold.
    One of his aides approached, his face pale. "Sir, none of the senior members are responding. They're still tied up in Kyoto."
    The Guild Leader's knuckles whitened as he gripped the edge of his desk. "Then it's on us to hold the line."
    "Sir¡­ with all due respect, these rookies¡ª"
    "I know," the Guild Leader interrupted, his voice low. "But we don't have a choice."
    ¡ª--------------
    *Thud.*
    Back in the Savage Jungle, Cassius took his first step deeper into the Gate, unaware of the storm brewing outside.
    The path ahead was treacherous, but he didn't falter. 'I'm not the same as I was before,' he thought. 'And I'll prove it¡ªto everyone, and to myself.'
    S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 12 The System Being A Prick

    Adam and Sasha Steele reclined on the living room couch, the soft glow of the flatscreen TV casting faint shadows across the walls. The news anchor's urgent tone recounted the Sudden Gate incident, but neither parent seemed particularly rattled. Sasha sipped her tea with a calm that only years of navigating crises could cultivate, while Adam's gaze lingered on the door."She'll be fine," Sasha reassured, noticing her husband's preoccupied look. "Aya's tough, and she knows better than to get involved in something beyond her abilities."
    Adam nodded slightly, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He wasn't worried about Aya. His mind kept circling back to Cassius, to the rapid changes in his 'son', and to the unease that churned in his gut like a storm brewing on the horizon.
    ¡ª Meanwhile, Aya Steele ¡ª
    Aya moved like a blur through the dark streets of Hoshito, her D+ Rank Agility propelling her faster than most cars. Streetlights flickered past in a haze, and the faces of stunned pedestrians became indistinct blurs in her periphery.
    Her heart pounded as the towering bluish-orange Gate came into view. It loomed over the hospital like an ominous beacon, its crackling edges sparking with uncontained energy. The sheer size of the Gate¡ªroughly the height of a small building¡ªmade her breath catch in her throat.
    "It's bigger than I thought¡­" Aya whispered, her voice trembling.
    Gates varied in size, but their dimensions didn't necessarily correlate to the strength of the monsters inside. Still, the sight of this one was enough to send a chill down her spine. Her legs faltered for a moment, fear creeping in like an unwelcome shadow.
    "No!" Aya shook her head, forcing herself to stand tall. "I must stay strong!"
    With renewed determination, she surged forward, weaving through the crowds of panicked civilians evacuating the area. Her smaller frame allowed her to squeeze past the masses, though the occasional elbow or frantic shove reminded her of the chaos unfolding around her.
    She pushed through the packed entrance of the hospital, where the interior was a cacophony of noise. Nurses scrambled to wheel patients out, security personnel barked orders, and the cries of frightened visitors filled the air.
    Aya darted to the front desk, her voice raised above the commotion. "Can you tell me where patient Cassius is?!"
    The receptionist, a woman with weary eyes and a trembling voice, glanced up from her computer. "Patient Cassius? Hold on," she said, fingers flying across the keyboard.
    After a moment, she shook her head, her expression apologetic. "He hasn't been discharged with the others, but¡­ it says here he went missing during the evacuation."
    Aya's heart sank. "Missing? What does that mean?!"
    The receptionist hesitated before offering a sliver of hope. "His room is 406. You can check there, but hurry. The Sudden Gate's first wave will begin in less than fifteen minutes. Don't stay after that!"
    Before Aya could respond, the receptionist grabbed her belongings and joined the tide of people fleeing the hospital.
    Alone in the chaotic hallway, Aya clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The fear gnawing at her was overwhelming, but so was the resolve burning in her chest. Cassius was family, and family meant everything.
    "I just need to find him and leave," Aya muttered to herself, her voice firm despite the quiver in her hands.
    She took off toward the staircase, her footsteps echoing sharply against the linoleum floor. Racing up flight after flight, she ignored the burning in her legs and the pounding in her chest. The urgency in her heart drowned out everything else.
    When she reached Room 406, she flung the door open, her breath hitching.
    Empty.
    The bed was neatly made, untouched. The sterile room smelled faintly of disinfectant, a cruel reminder of Cassius's absence. Aya's heart clenched as she searched the room, her eyes darting to the window.
    She ran over and pulled back the curtains, but there was no sign of a daring escape. No rope made from bedsheets, no broken glass. Just the faint reflection of her pale face staring back at her.
    Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, tears welling in her eyes. "W-Where are you, Cassius¡­?" she whispered, her voice breaking.
    ¡ª Deep Within the Savage Jungle ¡ª
    SHING! SHING!
    Razor-sharp claws sliced through the air, their gleaming edges missing Cassius by inches. Several strands of his jet-black hair floated to the ground, severed by the deadly attack.
    Cassius darted to the left, his breath steady despite the tension crackling in the air. His icy blue eyes remained locked on the massive black panther before him, its sleek body crouched low, ready to pounce.
    [Deadly Panther (E)]
    The name floated above the beast in a menacing orange hue. Its presence radiated danger, the kind that sent a primal chill down Cassius's spine.
    "If this were twenty minutes ago," Cassius muttered, dodging another swipe, "I'd already be dead."
    But he wasn't the same person he had been twenty minutes ago. After killing dozens of Savage Monkeys, Cassius had leveled up twice, reaching Level 5. His stats had improved, but the Deadly Panther was still a formidable foe.
    The panther lunged, claws outstretched, its predatory grace unnerving. Cassius rolled to the side, a shallow scrape forming on his arm as he barely evaded the attack. He gritted his teeth against the pain, his mind racing.
    "There's a pattern¡­" he murmured, his sharp eyes following the panther's movements.
    The beast's attacks, while fast and powerful, followed a predictable rhythm. But Cassius's eyes struggled to keep up, with the panther's speed pushing his reflexes to their limit.
    'It's not my reflexes¡ªit's my Perception stat¡­!'
    Cassius opened his system interface mid-dodge, his fingers flying to allocate three points into Perception.
    [Perception: +3 ¡ú 18] S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The change was immediate. The panther's movements slowed¡ªnot in reality, but in his heightened perception. What had been a blur of claws and muscle now became a clear sequence of motions.
    Cassius smirked. "That's more like it."
    The panther lunged again, its body twisting mid-air, but Cassius sidestepped effortlessly. With a cold glint in his eyes, he drove a jagged nail¡ªharvested from a Savage Monkey¡ªinto the beast's exposed underbelly.
    Blood sprayed across the jungle floor as the panther let out a guttural roar. Cassius didn't flinch, his expression calm and detached as he twisted the nail, ensuring the fatal blow.
    The panther convulsed before collapsing, its body lifeless.
    *Ding!*
    [You leveled up!]
    [You obtained 1 Stat Point in all of your Main Attributes!]
    [You obtained 2 AP!]
    The system's antics cut through the grim silence.
    [P.S. The 'Main Attributes' do not include the Charisma stat, so if you think you can become the sexiest man alive overnight, think again! You require more Character Development!]
    Cassius rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the reminder."
    He turned to the corpse, grimacing as he began prying out the panther's claws. Each one was as sharp as a dagger, their edges glinting ominously.
    Just as he was about to stash them in his Inventory, another notification appeared, its glowing letters casting an eerie light in the dark jungle.

 Chapter 13 Item Crafting Unlocked

    *Ding!*[For reaching Lvl 6, you have unlocked the second system feature of the Idle Evolution System, following the Inventory Space feature.]
    [Unlocked 'Item Crafting']
    ¡ª[Like the caveman in your blood dictates, try smacking things together to craft something superior! Return to Monkee!]
    "..."
    Cassius stared at the system notification, his expression unreadable. He had grown somewhat accustomed to the system's bizarre tone, yet it still managed to catch him off guard.
    "Caveman¡­ Really?" he muttered, rolling his eyes.
    Still, despite the system's obnoxious phrasing, the feature itself intrigued him. Item crafting wasn't something he expected to unlock this early, and the possibilities it presented could prove invaluable.
    Without wasting time, he decided to test it out. Following the system's instructions, he placed a Deadly Panther Nail against the staff he had been safeguarding.
    BAM!
    The two items collided, and a bright, pearlescent light erupted from the point of impact, enveloping both objects. For a moment, Cassius had to shield his eyes from the blinding glow.
    When it finally faded, he found himself holding a completely new weapon.
    It was a sleek, black spear, its jagged tip gleaming with an otherworldly sharpness. A faint red aura pulsed along its edges, hinting at its lethality.
    [Deadly Spear (Melee)] - [E-Rank]
    | ¡ª [Attack: ~11] ¡ª |
    {[Effect 1: 'Bleed' - (Depletes 1% Health every second for up to ten seconds. Can be stacked.)]}
    Cassius raised an eyebrow, impressed. "This is better than I expected."
    The spear's Bleed effect was particularly noteworthy. Against monsters with high HP, it could become a game-changer. Testing its weight in his hands, Cassius felt a newfound confidence surge through him.
    "Let's see how well you perform," he murmured before venturing deeper into the Savage Forest.
    The Savage Forest ¨C Ten Minutes Later
    Cassius moved with purpose, the Deadly Spear leaving trails of crimson in its wake. F-Rank monsters fell like wheat before a scythe, their blood staining the forest floor. Even the E-Rank monsters¡ªDeadly Panthers and Berserker Apes¡ªoffered little resistance against his newfound weapon and sharpened reflexes.
    Each kill brought a fresh surge of power, and his system interface reflected his progress:
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 7]
    [Title: Gym Bro (E)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 428/450] [MP: 400]
    [FATIGUE: 25]. [AP: 14]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 29] (Can lift 500lbs with minimal effort)
    [AGILITY: 42] (A little quicker than your average car)
    [ENDURANCE: 27] (A single woman can be completely satisfied with this)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 26] (Not bad. You could enter the Top 20 of most High Schools in the Country)
    [PERCEPTION: 29] (Can you see dead people?)
    [CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)
    _______________________________
    Cassius paused briefly, leaning on the spear as he caught his breath. The system interface hovered before him, and he couldn't help but marvel at the progress he had made.
    "I'm stronger than I've ever been," he muttered, a small smile tugging at his lips. But the smile quickly faded as the faint sound of screeches echoed in the distance.
    His grip on the spear tightened. "No time to rest. Only to Grind."
    ¡ª-------------
    The Outside World ¨C The First Wave
    Back at the hospital, chaos erupted as the Gate began to stir. Its crackling edges flared brighter, and faint silhouettes appeared within its depths. The onlookers' faces turned pale as the first monsters emerged¡ªwillowy shadows that quickly solidified into screeching, bloodthirsty forms.
    "Monsters!! The first wave is here!! Call the Hunters!!"
    A panicked cry cut through the air, followed by the hurried arrival of a group of armored men and women. Their weapons glinted under the unnatural glow of the Gate, but their expressions betrayed their inexperience.
    Among them was Corra, a valiant young woman with long auburn-colored hair and a commanding presence. As a rising star in the C-Rank Black Sparrow Guild and a D-Rank Hunter herself, she had been tasked with leading this team of rookies.
    "Everyone still evacuating needs to move faster!" Corra shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "Get the critical patients out of here now!"
    Despite her authoritative tone, a flicker of unease crossed her face as she glanced at the Gate. This was her first encounter with a Sudden Gate, and the stories she had heard did little to prepare her for the real thing.
    'Stay calm,' she told herself, tightening her grip on her silver longsword.
    But her composure wavered as the Gate buzzed violently, and a swarm of Savage Monkeys burst forth, their shrieks laced with a palpable Fear Effect.
    "Esceetch!!!"
    The piercing sound sent shockwaves through the area. Civilians collapsed in terror, while even some of the Hunters stumbled, their faces pale. Corra gritted her teeth, shaking off the effect as best she could.
    "Stand your ground!" she commanded, raising her sword high. "We can't let a single one through!"
    The Hunters rallied, their nervous cries mingling with the screeches of the monsters. Then, with a unified shout, they charged forward, clashing with the wave of beasts in a chaotic frenzy.
    ¡ª Hoshito General Hospital ¨C Top Floor ¡ª
    Aya sat curled in the corner of Room 406, her knees pulled to her chest. Her body trembled as the sounds of battle reached her ears¡ªscreeches, shouts, the clash of steel against claw.
    "What do I do¡­?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
    Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She had come here to find Cassius, to help him, but now she was paralyzed with fear. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I-I'm not ready for this," Aya stammered, burying her face in her hands. "I thought I could do it, but¡­ I'm scared¡­ Cassius¡­"
    Tears streamed down her face as the reality of the situation sank in. She wasn't a Hunter yet. She wasn't prepared for the horrors of a Gate.
    But then, amidst the chaos, a memory surfaced¡ªa fleeting image of Cassius standing tall, his quiet determination unwavering.
    "We're family," he had said. "And family helps each other."
    Aya's trembling slowed as the words replayed in her mind. She took a shaky breath, wiping her tears.
    "No," she whispered. Her voice grew steadier. "No, I can't give up."
    Her fear didn't vanish, but she forced herself to her feet, her fists clenched tightly. "Cassius is out there somewhere¡­ and I'm not leaving without him."

 Chapter 14 [Savage Fur Devil Den (E+)]

    SHING! SPURT!Cassius glided through the verdant chaos of the Savage Jungle Gate, his black spear a blur of precision and lethality. Every strike found its mark, and each E-Rank or F-Rank monster crumbled under his relentless assault. The once-lush environment now bore the grisly aftermath of his efforts¡ªcorpses sprawled across the forest floor, the air thick with the coppery scent of blood.
    *Ding!*
    [You leveled up!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You leveled up!]
    The system notifications came rapid-fire, but Cassius barely spared them a glance. He knew what they meant¡ªpower, progress, survival. Yet he also understood that the real test was still ahead.
    After roughly half an hour of unrelenting combat, Cassius reached Lvl 12. His muscles ached, his fatigue bar ticked higher, but his resolve remained unshaken as he stood before a foreboding cavern entrance.
    It was massive and dark, the mouth of the cave yawning like a predator waiting to consume him whole. Unnatural howls echoed from within, reverberating off the jagged walls. Above the entrance, a name tag floated ominously, glowing faintly in the dim light.
    [Savage Fur Devil Den (E+)]
    Cassius's brows furrowed. The addition of the plus sign wasn't lost on him. While an E-Rank dungeon was already a challenge, the added modifier pushed it perilously close to D-Rank territory. This wasn't just dangerous¡ªit was potentially suicidal.
    Still, Cassius's grip on his spear tightened. He took a deep breath, the cool, damp air of the jungle filling his lungs.
    "This is it," he muttered to himself, stepping forward. His voice echoed faintly in the cavern, swallowed by the oppressive silence. "If I want to keep evolving, this is the next step."
    Into the Den.
    The tunnel was unnervingly wide and eerily quiet. The usual sounds of skittering rodents or chirping insects were absent, replaced by an oppressive stillness.
    Cassius's footsteps echoed with unnatural clarity as he ventured deeper. Each step splashed faintly in the puddles dotting the floor, the water reflecting the faint glow of the spear's jagged tip.
    "This place is home to something terrifying," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Terrifying enough to scare everything else away."
    The deeper he went, the more the tension mounted. His breathing slowed, his grip on the spear tightening as his body prepared for the inevitable.
    Then, without warning, the system chimed, breaking his concentration.
    *Ding~!
    [Seeing as you are so enthusiastic about smashing things together like the monkey you are, what say you experience it yourself?]
    [For Character Development! ^=^]
    "...What?"
    Before Cassius could fully process the system's cryptic taunt, the wall to his left exploded inward.
    CRASH!
    A massive, shadowy figure barreled through the shattered stone, its speed and size leaving no time to react. The beast rammed into Cassius with bone-crushing force, sending him hurtling backward.
    "!!!"
    BOOM!
    Cassius's body collided with a boulder, the impact reverberating through the cavern. A wet cough escaped his lips as blood splattered onto the cold, damp ground. He slid down the boulder's jagged surface, coming to rest in a shallow puddle.
    The cold water lapped against his battered face, the ripples distorting his reflection. Through dim, unfocused vision, he could make out the colossal shape of his assailant.
    The beast was monstrous, its size dwarfing even the Deadly Panthers he had faced earlier. It had a grotesque, elongated maw brimming with jagged teeth and three pairs of glowing, basketball-sized eyes that glared at him with predatory intent.
    [Savage Fur Devil (E+)]
    The name tag hovered above the creature, its dark red hue a grim reminder of the danger he was in.
    Cassius's body screamed in pain, every nerve alight with agony. His mind wavered, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.
    'I thought I'd become strong¡­' he thought bitterly, his vision blurring. 'But I was wrong. So wrong.'
    The beast took a step closer, its massive frame casting a shadow over Cassius's prone form. Each step sent tremors through the ground, the sound of its growl vibrating in his chest.
    *Ding!*
    [The First Hint:]
    [Considering that the Host's Intelligence stat is lacking compared to his other stats, the system has provided you with a hint.]
    [What do you receive from each Level Up?]
    "What¡­ do I receive¡­?" Cassius murmured, his thoughts sluggish. His mind raced to decipher the system's message, the words swirling in his head like a puzzle.
    Then, clarity struck.
    "Status¡­ Rec...overy," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
    He focused every ounce of his remaining strength on summoning the system interface. The glowing green text of Reward #2 shimmered before his eyes, and with a desperate thought, he activated it.
    SHING!
    A radiant green light enveloped Cassius's body, its warmth seeping into his battered form. The pain subsided, his wounds knitting together in seconds. The puddle beneath him turned clear, washing away the blood that had pooled around him.
    When the light faded, Cassius rose to his feet. His body was fully restored, his strength renewed.
    "A miracle drug," he muttered, flexing his fingers as he turned to face the Savage Fur Devil. "And I have ten more of these."
    "ROOOOAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!!"
    The beast roared in frustration, its six eyes narrowing at the sight of its unharmed prey.
    Cassius gripped his spear tightly, his icy blue eyes locking onto the monster with renewed determination. Fear still lingered in the back of his mind, but it was drowned out by the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The Thrill of Battle.
    "I thought I was going to die," Cassius said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "But now¡­"
    A faint smile crossed his lips.
    "I feel alive. That feeling I felt earlier¡­ It has multiplied."
    The Savage Fur Devil charged, its claws slicing through the air with devastating speed. Cassius dodged to the side, his movements a blur as his enhanced Agility stat came into play.
    He retaliated with a sharp thrust of the Deadly Spear, the weapon's jagged tip biting into the monster's thick hide. The Bleed effect activated instantly, crimson lines spreading across the beast's body as its health began to tick down.
    "ROOAAARGHH!!!"
    The creature roared in pain and fury, swiping at Cassius with wild, frenzied strikes. But he was ready.
    Each dodge, each counterattack was precise, calculated. The Savage Fur Devil was larger and stronger, but Cassius's newfound confidence and agility made him a force to be reckoned with.
    "You're strong," Cassius said, his voice calm as he sidestepped another attack. "But I've got something you don't."
    The monster lunged, its massive jaws snapping inches from Cassius's face. With a sharp twist, he drove the spear deep into its chest, the weapon glowing faintly as the Bleed effect stacked once more.
    "Character development."
    The battle was far from over, but for the first time since this life-or-death battle began, Cassius felt like he had the upper hand.
    More importantly, however, was how he began to better appreciate the Development of Character¡­
    *Ding~!*
    'No¡­'

 Chapter 15 Serrated Devil Blade

    [*Crying tears of joy*]Cassius's brows twitched. "I'll make you cry tears of pain if you keep persisting in being persistently annoying."
    [:&lt; Seems like you need more Character Development]
    "Roooarrrghh!!!"
    The savage beast suddenly charged at Cassius, forcing him to dash out of the way. Luckily, he did so, because in the spot he had just occupied, there was no longer a spot to speak of. The large boulder had been utterly obliterated, with chunks and pieces flying in all directions.
    Cassius felt like the system was controlling things somehow, but he instinctively knew it possessed no such ability. It simply had a keener and more fleshed-out intuition of events, allowing it to almost seem like it could see into the future. He was tempted to ask the system to use this unstated feature to his advantage, but he knew the only thing the system cared about was Character Development¡ªwhich exclusively involved him getting abused in every way possible.
    As the one experiencing this artificial Character Development, it was tough to tell if it was actually working. From a strictly power-driven standpoint, it had undeniably helped him evolve from the weak-willed person he once was. Yet, in moments like these¡ªwhen his life hung by a thread¡ªCassius wondered if he had truly chosen the correct path in life.
    "Well," said Cassius, his breath coming more evenly, "in this life, there is no room for regret. And if I want to keep pushing forward, I will need to suffer more."
    [You have learned well, my padawan ^_^ Go get your ass handed to you! It is good for Character Development! And it may or may not lead you to the true features of the Idle Evolution System.]
    "You really are a professional troll," Cassius lamented as he picked up the upper part of the snapped-in-half Deadly Spear. Using only half of it reduced the Attack Stat, but that was secondary to what he had in mind.
    With the grim presence of the terrifying monster reminding him not to hold back, Cassius clicked the up arrow next to a particular stat until he had no AP points left. All 24 of his AP¡ªgone just like that.
    Cassius's piercing blue eyes flashed with a sharp electrical current as he stared at the enraged [Savage Fur Devil (E+)] charging him like a bull. Yet, for some reason, the monster's movements appeared so slow¡ªor, rather, Cassius was simply moving too fast.
    It felt as though he had become one with the speed force as he slowly walked toward the raging monster, which still seemed sluggish in comparison. He sped up and leapt off to the side of its hideous face. As its eyes traced his afterimages, Cassius's brows knitted together like sharpened swords, his actions emulating his steely expression.
    BZZZzzzzttt!!!
    SHING! SHING! SHING!
    In an instant, Cassius unleashed dozens of strikes with his broken Deadly Spear. Not all of them hit their mark, but through sheer quantity alone, every single one of the Fur Devil's eyes was stabbed at least once. Normally, this wouldn't be nearly enough to kill a hearty monster like a Savage Fur Devil, but this was no normal situation¡­
    SPURT!
    The blood effect was applied dozens of times in a matter of seconds. When time resumed, Cassius reappeared a few feet behind the Savage Fur Devil. Relaxing his posture, he flicked the blood off his broken spear and watched as nearly a hundred slashes registered against the behemoth.
    It collapsed to the ground, dead.
    "Speed really is the only way to go," Cassius remarked with a razor-sharp gleam in his gaze. He watched as system notifications bombarded his vision.
    Ding!
    [You leveled up!]
    [You obtained 1 Stat Point in all of your Main Attributes!]
    [You received 2 AP!]
    [You cleared the E+ Rank Boss Dungeon Lair, Savage Fur Devil's Den, subsequently clearing the E+ Rank Sudden Gate 'Savage Jungle.' Kill all escaped monsters in the last three waves to obtain extra rewards.]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You¡­]
    Combining the experience from killing the Gate Boss and clearing the Gate itself, Cassius leveled up several times and obtained a large number of Stat Points. Additionally, more system notifications revealed unexpected gains.
    *Ding!* Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [Acquired E+ Rank Item 'Fur Devil Tail Spike']
    [Acquired E Rank Item 'Fur Devil Gallbladder']
    [Acquired E+ Rank Item 'Ominous Eye']
    "These are some unusual items, but I figure smashing them together will give me something massively more useful than my Deadly Spear." Cassius raised a brow before deciding to proceed.
    BANG! BAM!
    After smashing together a weird squishy organ, a creepy slitted eyeball, and a large jagged tail spike, a bright light flashed. All items were quickly melted and assimilated, forming something vastly superior to their individual parts. Looking at the system tag, Cassius saw:
    [Serrated Devil Blade (Melee/Extend)] - [D- Rank]
    |¡ª[Attack: ~27]¡ª|
    {[Effect 1: 'Bleed' - (Depletes 1% Health every second for up to ten seconds. Can be stacked.)]}
    {[Effect 2: 'Serrate' - (Partially negates the defenses of stronger opponents. Up to 30% Enemy Defense reduction.)]}
    "Ho?" Cassius mused, a contented gleam in his gaze. "It seems like this will indeed be on an entirely different level than the Deadly Spear."
    He examined the one-and-a-half-meter jagged, jigsaw-like blade planted firmly in his right hand. It stood imposingly, as if ready to seek out the blood of any who opposed its master. Moreover, there seemed to be a hidden effect related to the 'Extend' token.
    Wishing to test it, Cassius called, "Extend." He watched in awe as the blade broke into pieces, seemingly connected by a mystical magnetic force. They dangled and swayed in systematic motion, perfectly synchronized.

 Chapter 16 Corra, Aya in Trouble

    SHING!Cassius whipped around the blade, tracing its dance-like movements with his crystal blue eyes. It slashed outward, cutting through the air, and produced a satisfying whistle. A few meters away, a clean cut mark appeared on a boulder, and the upper half of the boulder slid off the next second.
    BANG!
    "How interesting¡­ It feels almost supernatural."
    Although Cassius had obtained inhuman strength through his efforts and Character Development, this was the first tangible proof that he was surpassing human limits. It worked to slowly adjust him to what he would encounter more of in the future.
    After savoring the moment for a couple of seconds, Cassius conveyed his intent to the Serrated Devil Blade. Yet, instead of reverting to its intact blade form, it spun rhythmically like a coil and wrapped around his exposed right arm. It then adhered to his defined muscles and thinned, appearing almost like a thick sword tattoo.
    "Hmm?"
    Cassius didn't feel any discomfort from this unexpected action. Instead, he felt a deeper connection with the sword, almost as if they could communicate. Through this connection, he learned that the sword could return to its original form whenever he wanted. But seeing as this form was more convenient for avoiding suspicion upon returning to the outside world, he decided to keep it this way.
    "Speaking of which," Cassius said aloud, "how do I leave a Gate? Do I find the way I came in, or¡­"
    Then, as if to answer him:
    *Ding!*
    [Approximate time till Gate Collapses (and squashes you like a bug): 14 minutes 59 seconds.]
    "Ahhh¡­" Cassius furrowed his brows before blurring from his spot. "Looks like I need to get going then."
    Retracing his steps toward the Gate's entrance, he pulled up his system interface, curious to see how far he had come since entering his first Gate.
    BLING!
    Meanwhile, in the outside world, roughly five minutes before the Sudden Gate's clearance: sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Ahhhgh!!! They just keep coming!" A young man dodged an incoming claw slash, then counterattacked with his sword. "What do we do, Leader?!"
    Corra assessed the severity of the situation, quickly realizing that all of the Hunters were running low on stamina. They had been fighting continuously for nearly an hour, and it was no surprise they were running out of steam.
    Before long, they would all be dead¡­
    As the Leader, she had to make a decision. But what could she do? Even though her team consisted of F, E, and D-Rank Hunters, their actual combat experience was severely lacking. They could tank some enemy attacks through sheer stat differences, but there was a clear limit to their endurance.
    'A few of my squad members are already severely injured!' Corra slashed out several times in quick succession, cutting down nearly a dozen F-Rank monsters. 'But with every kill, double that number escaped the Gate. We are on wave 4 of 5; as long as we can hold them back for another half-hour, reinforcements will arrive!'
    "Leader! A few of them escaped our circle!" shouted an E-Rank Hunter, snapping Corra's attention to his position. "They're running for the Hospital! And we still don't know if everyone successfully evacuated!"
    "Damn it all!" Corra ground her teeth in frustration. She cut down the monsters obstructing her path before dashing toward the ones entering the Hospital. Yet, these E-Rank Dark Apes were cunning and immediately split up.
    'How am I supposed to chase them all?!'
    Corra's eyes darted in multiple directions as the Dark Apes disappeared into different parts of the Hospital. Under the pressure of the moment, she furrowed her brows and bolted after the nearest one. She cleaved it down the middle, but the others had already scurried into different pathways, some ascending to higher floors.
    "Fuck!!!" Corra had no idea what else to do, so she mindlessly chased them, cutting them down one by one.
    Meanwhile, on the Hospital's 4th floor.
    As a silver sword flashed on the first floor of Hoshito General Hospital, a beautiful blonde girl sat curled in a corner of Room 406, her face stained with sadness and fear. She was utterly unsure of what she could do during such a terrifying event.
    It was then that a sharp, high-pitched chattering pierced her ears, causing her to jolt her head up in alarm.
    Terror streaked across Aya's face as her reddened eyes caught sight of a daunting, four-legged shadow clambering outside the open door. Even in her fright, Aya knew she couldn't allow whatever was outside to come in. She stumbled to her feet and raced to the door, prepared to slam it shut.
    Yet, as she reached for the handle, a disturbing, toothy grin appeared in the hallway.
    "Ahhh!" Aya startled back in fright, colliding with the ground. A stinging sensation burned near her hip, but it paled in comparison to the terror she felt as the high-pitched chattering grew louder.
    Shaking like a leaf, Aya screamed, "S-Stay away from me!!"
    The Dark Ape didn't care about her screaming. It advanced, each slow, deliberate step intensifying the looming dread in Aya's heart. The creature could sense the young woman's strength¡ªit knew she was stronger than itself. Yet¡­ she was scared.
    This forced a sadistic grin onto the Dark Ape's face.
    Out of everything in life, it loved scenarios like this one the most.

 Chapter 17 You... Must be tired of Life...?

    "Kakaka!!"The Dark Ape chattered its pointy, gruesome teeth together as it stood over the terrified girl. Then, to add to her dismay, it shredded her dress with its sharp claws, leaving only her underwear to conceal her vulnerability.
    "N-Nooo!! St-Stop it!!" Aya screamed, hugging her body in absolute horror. "D-Don't come any closer!!!"
    "Kakaka!!"
    The Dark Ape's malicious grin widened as it ripped away the last of the fabric covering Aya's figure. Something between its legs reared its head, and the beast readied itself to commit an unspeakable act.
    "Pl-Please¡­! N-Noooo¡­!!!" Aya's eyes dimmed as the Dark Ape attempted to spread her legs. Yet, because of her unconscious unwillingness and superior strength, her legs wouldn't budge.
    Annoyed, the Dark Ape slapped her across the face, leaving a dark red mark on her jerked head.
    'Kakaka! Why even bother resisting when you can't even properly use your strength?! Just stay still and get mated, bitch!' The Dark Ape seemed to think this as it forced her legs apart, fully prepared to permanently scar her.
    Yet, before its hideous appendage could come within inches of Aya, an arm shot through its stomach and lifted its entire body off the ground.
    "What do you think you are doing¡­?"
    "!!!"
    The Dark Ape felt every hair on its body stand on end as it slowly turned its bloodied face. There, it met a pair of black, spiraling eyes that tunneled deeper into its psyche than any abyss. Fear overwhelmed its mind as all color drained from its previously sinister expression. It squirmed and struggled desperately for its life, but it could do nothing to escape the grasp of the terrifying figure glaring at it with an emotionless face.
    In a similarly apathetic voice, Cassius said, "You¡­" His eyes flared with uncontrollable anger as he observed the sobbing mess Aya had become. Shadows shrouded his face as he used his free hand to grip the Dark Ape by the back of its neck. "...You¡­ must be tired of life¡­?"
    "!!!"
    The Dark Ape peered into those endless abysses sunk into Cassius's face, its body convulsing violently. The sheer terror coursing through its mind forced it into a coma.
    Cassius's grip on its neck tightened, crushing every bone in its throat, yet he stopped just before killing it. Seeing the red mark on Aya's tear-streaked face ignited a level of rage in Cassius that he hadn't believed himself capable of feeling.
    No matter how she had treated him in the past, Aya was still family. To do something like this to family¡­ and to try going even further¡­
    "Tell me¡­ You must really hate living¡­?" Cassius's abyssal gaze bore into the Dark Ape's fragile mind, snapping it back to reality.
    The first thing the creature did upon realizing it was still alive was shriek for reinforcements.
    "Jajjkakk!!!!" It screeched deliriously, flailing like a worm.
    "...Cass¡­ius¡­?"
    Off to the side, Aya's eyes cracked open, only to see the enchanting face of the man she had been searching for all this time. Her tears flowed even harder as her reddened face scrunched into a sorrowful state. "...I-I was¡­ l-looking f-for you¡­ B-But I¡­"
    Cassius turned toward the weeping girl. Contrary to the terrifying anger in his expression a second ago, his eyes now held a gentleness that radiated warmth, washing away the terror in Aya's heart.
    "I know, Aya. Don't worry; I'll take care of everything from here. You can sleep."
    Too muddled to notice Cassius's newfound strength, Aya's vision blurred. She fell softly to the ground, her crestfallen sleeping face a grim reminder of what had happened¡ªand what almost happened.
    OOOM!
    A frigid iciness exuded from Cassius's figure as shadows obscured his face. The tattoo on his right arm vibrated before materializing into a dark, obsidian-red sword.
    "...Since you all find amusement in watching others suffer, I shall show you what true suffering feels like¡­"
    The Serrated Devil Blade broke into pieces, hovering in midair. With an unbelievably quick flick of his hand, dozens of blade fragments whizzed through the air, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. The room's walls were sliced into pieces, and the dozen Dark Apes rushing through the hallways were diced up as well. Yet, none of them died outright¡ªeven though none of their limbs remained attached.
    "Kaaaa!!!!"
    The Dark Apes screamed in agony as excruciating pain erupted from every part of their bodies.
    By the end of a half-minute-long session of hollering, all that remained were a dozen bloody lumps of flesh, their twisted expressions frozen in pure anguish.
    The Dark Ape still writhing in Cassius's grasp felt its mind slipping again, but even the reprieve of unconsciousness was a luxury it no longer had.
    "Do you honestly think dying like they did is what you'll receive¡­?" Cassius sneered, controlling his Devil Blade to hover just above the Dark Ape's third leg. "...Well, think again."
    SPURT!
    The Dark Ape's third leg was slowly shredded, reduced to a mangled, unrecognizable mess. It endured a level of pain so intense it passed out multiple times, only to wake up almost immediately each time. The gruesome cycle persisted for a few agonizing seconds that felt like an eternity.
    Finally, when the Dark Ape was teetering on the verge of death, Cassius struck it in the same spot it had slapped Aya. The impact caused its head to explode in a visceral spray.
    POP!
    S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 18 A Sudden Change in Sasha

    Cassius emotionlessly watched as the Dark Ape's eyeballs and pink brain matter splattered against the collapsed hospital wall. His face briefly twisted in disgust before he took off his jacket and approached the heartbroken blonde girl. He covered her exposed body, then gently lifted her into a princess carry. As the Serrated Devil Blade wrapped itself around his right arm, Cassius felt an unfamiliar sting of pain in his heart upon seeing Aya's utter dismay.A part of him couldn't help but blame himself for the incident. Yet, a bigger part of him thanked his earlier self for deciding to double-check the hospital room before assisting with the monster disposal. If he hadn't made those choices, Aya would have¡­
    Cassius's face froze over again, but before his mood could worsen further, a feminine voice interrupted his thoughts.
    "Are you one of the patients here? Are you not aware of the evacuation notice?! You need to leave right away¡ª"
    That was when the valiant Corra noticed the blood covering the unknown man from head to toe. Her gaze then shifted to the partially nude girl cradled in his arms. Unconsciously, her blade hand tightened, and her expression hardened.
    "What were you doing up here¡­? And who is that girl?"
    When the bloodied man turned to face her, Corra felt an uncontrollable sense of fear crawl up and down her spine, eliciting intense shivers. Stuttering, she raised her silver sword shakily and commanded, "St-Stop right there and state your identification! U-Under these emergency circumstances, I have the right to detain you!" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Cassius's slow, unassuming footsteps passed right by the jittery Lead Hunter as he coldly turned his face toward her before continuing on his way.
    "Even with this pitiful amount of monsters and so many of you, this was the best you could do¡­? Pathetic."
    "Y-You¡­"
    Corra couldn't even refute his words¡ªthey were the truth.
    When she turned around to confront him out of desperation, he was already long gone, taking with him all the unanswered questions swirling in her mind. Then, her ears perked up at the distinct flashing of a sword and sparks flying all over the hospital grounds.
    Rushing outside, Corra froze in disbelief. All the monsters had been chopped into countless pieces, their Magic Shards scattered everywhere. The other Hunters shared her bewilderment as they stared at a shadowy silhouette sauntering past the hospital gates before vanishing like an illusory ghost.
    "...Leader¡­ Do you know who that monstrous man was?"
    "...No¡­ I couldn't get a proper look at his face because of all the blood," Corra replied, still reeling from the shock.
    "Neither could we¡­"
    Silence.
    A heavy hush hung in the air, reeking of iron. None of the gathered Hunters had ever experienced anything like this before.
    Breaking the silence, an E-Rank Hunter stepped forward. "I think that man just left the Gate after clearing it. Originally, I thought my fatigued eyes were playing tricks on me. But look for yourself, Leader¡­"
    "!!!"
    Corra's eyes widened as she followed the Hunter's pointing finger.
    "How could this be?! The Gate is closing! To do this all by himself¡­ We need to report this to Headquarters and find a way to obtain any information about that man!"
    "Yes, ma'am!"
    The gathered Hunters trailed behind their leader, picking up all the Magic Shards along the way. If the mysterious bloodied man hadn't taken them, surely he wouldn't mind them making a profit in his stead?
    A few miles away.
    Cassius felt a sneeze tickle the back of his throat, getting the odd sense that someone was talking about him. He had already returned home but had to sneak in through his room's window to avoid alerting his father and stepmother to Aya's condition. Seeing her as she was would surely worry them.
    'Still, she's probably been gone for a while. They're likely starting to feel some trepidation anyway¡­'
    Realizing this, Cassius ran a hot shower, preparing to clean himself up before waking Aya so she could do the same. Being covered in blood would only worsen things. However, just as he put this plan into motion, a knock came at the door.
    "Cassius, dear?" Sasha's soft voice carried a hint of worry despite her efforts to conceal it.
    "Yes?" he replied, curious as to why she was sudden referring to him like that.
    'She has never been too openly nice to me before... This is... Weird...'
    Oblivious to the growing suspicion in his heart, Sasha said, "I was just wondering¡­ do you have any idea where Aya is? And you must have been discharged from the hospital early because of the Sudden Gate¡­ Are you doing alright?"
    Cassius faintly smiled, a stark contrast to his demeanor from just minutes ago. It felt strange to have someone care about him, but he couldn't deny that he liked it.
    "I haven't seen Aya lately," he said with a smirk, "but I'm sure she's doing just fine. I mean, with a mom like hers¡ªstrong-willed, stunning, and clearly unforgettable¡ªit must run in the family, right?"
    A faint blush spread across Sasha's cheeks. "I-I hope you're right¡­ And you're doing fine¡­?" she repeated.
    Cassius's smile grew fonder. "Yes, I am. Thank you for your concern."
    "Mhmm¡­" Sasha nodded nervously, her worry still apparent as she scurried away. However, before she could leave the hallway, she heard her stepson softly call out, "Goodnight."
    She paused, then replied, "Goodnight, Cassius."
    'For the first time in two years, I have been able to say what I meant to him... It's a pleasant feeling... However, it feels horrible to know that I can only get like this when in times of urgency...'
    'Well, at least this is a step forward... That matters more to me.'
    A slight sense of satisfaction replaced some of her worry. It felt like she was finally getting closer to her usually reserved stepson. His past experiences¡ªperhaps involving false accusations¡ªseemed to explain why he kept his distance, especially from women. And it wasn't like her inability to properly articulate her thoughts helped the matter any.
    'Still, it was nice to see him speak more freely with me, even if his tone was a bit¡­ flirtatious¡­'

 Chapter 19 Lvl 17, Tons of Skill Boxes

    After staring out his bedroom window for a bit, Cassius's eyes fell on the distraught, half-nude girl sprawled out on his bed. A sensual memory of her fingering herself briefly flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook his head and walked toward the shower before undressing himself."This is not the time to think about nonsense," he muttered before undraping his expertly chiseled body.
    Glancing at the bathroom mirror, Cassius quickly realized he had become absolutely shredded after successfully conquering his first Gate.
    'Things change quickly¡­ Far faster than one realizes¡­'
    His thoughts bounced around inside his head as the sound of water pattering against tiles filled the small bathroom. Cassius stepped under the stream of the shower. He winced as the hot water struck his back, the dried blood loosening and swirling down the drain in dark spirals. His muscles, tense from the day's events, began to relax.
    The serrated devil blade's tattoo faintly glowed on his arm, pulsating in time with his heartbeat.
    'You're different now,' the blade seemed to whisper in his mind, its voice more emotional than words. It wasn't the first time he'd felt this peculiar connection with the weapon, and after his most recent battle, it felt stronger than ever.
    Cassius leaned against the cool tiled wall, letting the water cascade over him. Images of Aya's trembling form flashed in his mind, alongside memories he thought he'd buried long ago.
    He was younger then¡ªbarely a teenager¡ªand smaller, too. A group of boys had cornered him in the alley near the schoolyard. Their leader, a stocky brute with a cruel grin, held a stick in one hand while taunting the overweight Cassius with a barrage of insults.
    Cassius's fists clenched, but he didn't move. He knew better than to fight back. His family's precarious position in the community meant any misstep from him would be blown out of proportion, used as ammunition against them.
    But the taunts escalated. They turned to threats. Then, without warning, a rock flew, striking him square in the forehead.
    The humiliation burned hotter than the pain. But what stung most was the laughter¡ªmocking, cruel, and loud enough to drown out his own cries of frustration.
    'Weak.' The word echoed in his mind, both then and now.
    Cassius's eyes snapped open, his jaw tightening as steam rose around him. He wasn't that powerless boy anymore.
    Never again.
    Shaking his head, he thought about the Extra Clear Reward mail he hadn't opened yet.
    *Ding!*
    [You have fully conquered the E-Rank Sudden Gate 'Savage Jungle.']
    [You received 20 AP!]
    [You obtained a Bronze- Skill Box!]
    "Hmm¡­" Cassius raised a brow in intrigue. "This is my first time obtaining a Bronze-ranked Skill Box, whereas the others were all Copper-ranked with plus, minus, or neutral ratings. I should probably open them now, but first¡­"
    He decided to check his system interface to gauge his progress.
    BLING!
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 17]
    [Title: Advent Devil (D)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 1300/1300] [MP: 1100]
    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 44]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 39] (Can throw a thousand+ pounds)
    [AGILITY: 76] (Faster than a jetplane)
    [ENDURANCE: 37] (Can satisfy three women with ease)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 36] (Could rival the Genius of a mid-ranked National Academy)
    [PERCEPTION: 39] (Verging upon a Sixth Sense)
    [CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)
    {[Skills:]}
    [Muscularity (P)(F-)], [Slash (A)(F)], [Sprint (A)(F)]
    _______________________________
    Satisfied, Cassius opened the Inventory Space tab at the bottom of his interface. A mostly empty grid appeared, with only four slots containing items:
    [Copper- Skill Box(s): 12]
    [Copper Skill Box(s): 7] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [Copper+ Skill Box(s): 3]
    [Bronze- Skill Box(s): 1]
    Seeing that he had exactly 23 Skill Boxes, Cassius figured there was no point in letting them gather dust. Starting with the lowest-ranked ones, he clicked on them, watching as more than a dozen Copper Boxes materialized and popped open, throwing cards into his body.
    *Ding!*
    [Acquired - Copper Blade (A)(F-)] ¨C Basic swordsmanship skill.
    [Acquired - Iron Fist (A)(F)] ¨C Introductory hand-to-hand combat technique.
    [Acquired - Steady Aim (P)(F+)] ¨C Increases proficiency with ranged weapons by 15%.
    [Acquired - First Aid (A)(F+)] ¨C Fundamental healing skill.
    [Acquired - Earth Sense (P)(F+)] ¨C Basic environmental awareness skill.
    [Acquired - Fire Spark (A)(F+)] ¨C Entry-level fire magic.
    [Acquired - Stone Shield (A)(F-)] ¨C Basic defensive technique/shield handling.
    [Acquired - Bronze Brew (P)(F-)] ¨C Introductory potion-making comprehension.
    [Acquired - Tinker Tools (P)(F)] ¨C Basic crafting and repair skills.
    [Acquired - Swift Step (A)(F+)] ¨C Foundation-level movement skill.
    [Acquired - Mind Focus (P)(F)] ¨C Increases concentration and mental dexterity by 10%.
    [Acquired - Water Flow (P)(F+)] ¨C Beginner water manipulation skill.
    After reviewing the newly acquired Skills, Cassius felt a strange spark ignite within him, creating something from nothing. Previously unfamiliar knowledge flooded his mind, organizing itself into internal grimoires he could access at will.
    Moreover, he began sensing something new in the atmosphere.
    "Are these¡­ Magicules?" Cassius murmured. He observed the brown, blue, and red blots of energy floating around his showering body.
    Reaching out, he touched one. His fingers reacted positively to the colorful blot, forming a pleasant connection. The sensation felt natural, as though he and the Magicules were inherently linked.
    Adjusting to the Magicules' presence, Cassius returned to opening the remaining Skill Boxes. One by one, he clicked on them, obtaining nearly a dozen more Skills. Among them, two stood out the most, introducing the lightning and wind elements, which manifested as additional floating Magicules.
    With three new elements alongside the original three, Cassius now had access to a total of six elemental energies. While unsure of their battle effectiveness, he felt the thrill of unlocking new potential.
    These discoveries unearthed hidden aspects of himself, begging to be refined and mastered.
    Finally, it was time to open the Bronze- Skill Box. Cassius hoped to gain something of D-Rank or higher, but who knew exactly what lady luck had in store for him¡­
    "The Copper Skill Boxes gave Skills ranging from F-Rank to E-Rank," he murmured. "The Bronze Box should yield something much greater."
    As he clicked on the box, a bright bronze light erupted. The question mark-covered cube popped open, spilling its contents.

 Chapter 20 [Now, to bed or not to bed? Tis the question.]

    *Ding!*[Acquired - Shadow Step (A)(D-)] ¨C Instantaneous Movement Skill - Blur like a shadow and reappear as a Reaper. |Scales off the Agility stat.|
    "Hmm?" Cassius's brows furrowed in interest. "This Skill seems very useful, especially when paired up with my Agility stat, which I main in."
    He wanted to test it out right now, but the current environment wasn't very suitable. Additionally, he still had to settle the situation with Aya¡­
    By the time Cassius stepped out of the bathroom, freshly dressed and significantly less bloodied, Aya had begun to stir. Her lashes fluttered, her lips parting slightly as she slowly emerged from her slumber. She then approached the brightly lit bathroom. Noticing the cracked door, she curiously widened it open, only to become momentarily stunned.
    "Big brother Cassius¡­?"
    Not used to hearing that form of address, Cassius took a second to register the presence of the beautiful nude girl currently standing in the bathroom's doorway. They both locked eyes with each other at the same moment.
    Aya's face became increasingly red. She crouched and covered her breasts, about to scream. Yet, before she could, Cassius practically teleported beside her and muffled her voice with his hand.
    Flushed redder than a tomato, Aya stuttered, "Y-Youyuu¡­" But was unable to say any more due to the thick, calloused fingers pressed over her mouth. Her eyes instantly began to water as she really felt like crying.
    She had never shown her nude body to anyone before (on purpose)! And yet now her stepbrother was close to reaching a negative distance with her! She was scared!!
    Seeing that she really was on the verge of bawling her eyes out, Cassius leaned his face next to hers. "I didn't mean to grab you so suddenly, but explaining this situation to our parents would be¡­" He briefly glanced between the two of them, both of whom were naked.
    Aya's face instantly dropped when she realized what he was trying to say. Yet that didn't make her tears feel like coming down any less. To prevent that, though, Cassius let go of her and backed away before respectfully turning around. "There's a towel right over there, which you can use until you get back to your room."
    Aya's puffy eyes swam around the white bathroom interior, blushing every time she caught a peek at Cassius's defined back muscles and muscular buttocks. She almost saw something far above average as well, but he stopped her eyes from traveling any further with his quizzical voice. "Have you gotten the towel yet?"
    Embarrassed beyond disbelief, Aya stammered, "N-No, I'm getting it now!" Before she waddled over to the hanging towel that Cassius was originally going to use. After snuggly wrapping it around herself, she said, "D-Done."
    'Why am I feeling so hot right now¡­? Is something wrong with me??'
    Turning around, Cassius viewed a charming side of his stepsister that he had never seen before. She sheepishly stood by the sink, twirling her curled hair strands, with a scarlet red coloring her cheeks in a burning warmth.
    Absentmindedly, he commented, "Stunning." Only to realize that this was hardly the time for that. "Sorry¡­ I didn't mean it like that¡ª"
    "N-No, it's okay, I-I¡­" Aya had already become indistinguishable from a beet as her pretty sapphire blue pupils erratically flickered. Smoke puffed out of the top of her head as she didn't know where to look anymore; her eyes always seemed to find their way back to Cassius's dashing figure. 'H-Has he always been this attractive¡­!? And his words are so sweet¡­! I don't think I can handle this new version of him... Definitely not...! And then there was him at the Hospital¡ª'
    Aya's mind suddenly flashed with all of the events leading up to this point in time, causing her expression to morph from despair to terror¡­ to a warmth that made her heart beat faster. Yet, there was a part of her that believed everything was just a dream; after all, how could the unawakened Cassius possibly be so strong?
    However, when she saw the dried blood on her body, she realized that all of it had undoubtedly happened.
    Upon recalling the sadistic smirk on the Dark Ape's face and the way it slapped her, she¡­
    "D-Did it¡­?" Her eyes lifelessly dimmed, yet brightened up like a wave of spring when Cassius grabbed her and took her into a hug. "You don't have to worry," he said warmly, his hands gently placed along the curve of her back. "That monster worm wasn't able to get what it wanted. Live with ease of mind, Aya."
    Aya's face suddenly scrunched up as the tears began to overflow. "T-Thank you, C-Caassius¡­ Thaankk yoouu¡­Thankk youuu.¡­" She repeated, her voice getting muffled by the snot and tears streaming down her face as she buried her head in his chest.
    Despite the wetness smearing his cleaned body, Cassius simply stood there and gently rubbed her head. A feminine orchid fragrance assaulted his nostrils, capable of flaring the urges of even a monk. Yet he resisted those urges with ease, as this was not the time to be getting caught up in the moment, especially not when Aya was in such a vulnerable state.
    [^-^ Solid Character Development!]
    [Now, to bed or not to bed? Tis the question.]
    Cassius instinctively ignored his shitty system, and after eight to nine minutes of staying silent while holding Aya, he carefully took her off of him. She seemed resistant at first, but complied after a second more of soaking in his presence.
    Her eyes misted over as she furtively glanced at every part of his body and face, yet he didn't take her looks to heart. "You should explain things to our parents, but you will need your clothes. Well, just stay here a moment; I will grab them." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    A lot of color left Aya's face as she stretched out her hand. "Wa-Wait, don't leave me alone¡ª" Yet, in the very same moment Cassius vanished, he reappeared in that same spot, with a shadowy black energy seeping off of him. 'So that's how that Skill works¡­ Extremely useful, as expected. And it even seems to give me Permutation to a certain extent, allowing me to pass through objects.'
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 21 Everything is About Luck

    *Pu!*A soft, womanly body suddenly collided with his, throwing him a bit off guard. Curious, Cassius looked down, only to see the reddened ears of a ravishing blonde beauty. "D-Don't leave me again¡­ Please¡­ I don't want to be alone¡­"
    An invisible force tugged at Cassius's lips as he softly patted the head of the girl who was acting uncharacteristically meek and timid. 'I guess anyone has the potential to change¡­ That much I should know very well¡­'
    'I think I understand why the system keeps insisting on Character Development, though I still don't know what its purpose for guiding me is¡­ Well, I don't think any protagonist in the novels I used to read ever knew what the intentions of their systems were¡­'
    After a few more moments of idle thinking, Cassius once again pushed away the unusually clingy girl, this time catching an accidental glimpse of her towel slipping down her alluring curves. "Here, your clothes," he said, averting his eyes out of respect for her privacy.
    Realizing why he was acting that way, Aya furiously blushed before nodding like a bunny rabbit. She snatched up the clothes, also noticing that he had grabbed a pair of her more risqu¨¦ underwear, which only made the blush on her beautiful face even more prominent.
    "M-Make sure¡­ t-to not look," Aya murmured softly, yet with an adorable fierceness in her voice.
    Cassius nodded.
    A lovely smile formed on Aya's face upon seeing how considerate he was.
    As she made enticing sounds while sliding on her clothes, she reflected on her past actions, a tinge of regret streaking across her face. 'I must've just misunderstood him before¡­ He's such a nice person; he even saved me¡­! And yet I¡­ said all those mean things about him¡­ Things that I hated more than anything when I was in a similar situation as him¡­'
    The silhouette of a larger, less attractive, and more rotund girl seemed to overlap with Aya's changing figure, sending wave after wave of regret and self-hate washing over her.
    After finishing putting on her clothes, Aya whipped around to Cassius, prepared to do whatever it took to apologize for all that she had done to him. Yet, as if he already knew what she was about to say, he cut her off.
    "It's fine, Aya. The past can remain the past. I know you are not a bad person."
    "B-But I¡ª"
    "I already said it's fine," Cassius interrupted. "Just try to find some better friends. You are too sweet and beautiful to settle for terrible characters as the people you hang around." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Aya's face colored red, yet she still shyly nodded. Then she remembered what she had been meaning to ask earlier. "Your power; have you somehow awakened¡­?"
    Firmly denying such a claim, Cassius shook his head. "I have not awakened, but I have come across a stroke of¡­ good fortune that enabled me to gain some power." Remembering all that the Idle Evolution System had put him through made him reconsider its presumed goodwill. But there was no denying that its methods had made him stronger, which was something virtually impossible among Hunters.
    A Hunter could increase their skill proficiencies and gain more experience, but obtaining greater base power was not possible. Unlike Cassius, who had a sadistic system, people in this world awakened, and that was it. What they got was what they got. Of course, there were differences in skills among Hunters, yet even those were designated upon awakening and capped at Level 9.
    It was rumored that a powerful S-Rank Hunter from Japan, who specialized in the katana, had once achieved the peak Level 9 of his Quick Sheath skill. With his power, he had slashed out at an Overlord S-Rank Monster that had escaped a Purple-ranked Gate, bringing the entire country to its knees. The incident had happened a little over ten years ago, but those present could still vividly recall the immensity of that man's single slash.
    An entire evacuated prefecture had been reduced to ash. Gone, obliterated, desolated.
    Yet, even in spite of the Japanese man's accomplishments in singlehandedly clearing a Purple-ranked Gate outbreak, he wore a soured look on his face. In the country's greatest time of need, his power had reached its pinnacle, yet he could instinctively feel that he could progress no further in his life's joy¡ªhis Quick Sheath S-Rank skill. In his frustrations, he hadn't even stayed behind to receive his medal and the appreciation of the country. He left, never to be seen again, rumored to have become obsessed with something that would never grace his skill with the blade.
    This was the fate of most who refused to accept that they could progress no further. Their stats were set, their skills were designated, and those same skills had upper limits¡ªwhat was even the point of it all? They worked arduously for their entire lives as Hunters, only to find that some mysterious force prevented them from continuing to progress!
    'Everything truly is about the luck of the pull,' Cassius thought with a hint of melancholy. 'Even I, with a system, pulled one of the shorter strings among those who obtain systems in web novels.'
    'Typically, their lives are smooth sailing right after acquiring their systems, with them barely having to exert any real effort. Yet I am worked, sometimes beaten to the bone, by my system¡­ All under the pretense of 'Building Character'...'

 Chapter 22 Newbie 1 Equipment Set

    Taking Cassius out of his depressing thoughts, Aya walked toward the bathroom door, only to furtively glance at him before attempting a sneaky escape. "D-Don't mention this to anyone, okay?" she tried to demand with her usual fierceness, yet found it tough to hold his intense gaze. "And about the hospital¡­ Thank you¡­ I mean it¡­ If you weren't there, I would have¡­"Cassius waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, then. And try not to get chewed out too hard by your mother," he chuckled softly, causing her heart rate to quicken. She scuttered out of his room while furiously blushing. "I-I will repay the favor¡­!" she promised before her cute, bouncy tushy vanished from view.
    "You don't have to¡­" Cassius attempted to say, yet realized that she could no longer hear him.
    He heaved a breath of tired air before putting on a pair of underwear and finding himself sprawled out on his bed. Even though his Fatigue was not very high, the mental waves of exhaustion weighing on his mind had stacked up enough times to elicit a prompt state of slumber.
    While dozing off, he could faintly hear the soft yelling coming from downstairs, which made him wistfully try to remember if anyone had ever cared about him enough to do something like that. Yet, in the end, he couldn't recall any such memory. When he was young, he might have experienced something similar with his father.
    However, sometime after his early childhood, something changed in him¡­ Cassius couldn't quite put his finger on it, but his father seemed¡­ odd. Almost alien to him.
    Cassius's ridiculous thoughts followed him as he entered the land of dreams.
    Early the next morning, he awoke even before his annoying yet sturdy alarm clock could go off. Figuring that there was no real need to keep around such an irritating clock with his almost supernatural senses, Cassius eyed it dangerously before grabbing it. He used a small fraction of his strength to crumple it, reducing it to a condensed ball of metal and scraps.
    After getting his long overdue vengeance for all the sleepless nights it had caused with its faulty behavior, he rolled off his bed. Sauntering toward his drawers, he swiftly pulled out a black dress shirt and a pair of shorts with a matching color scheme. He set them on the wide drawer, planning to wear them in a second.
    Firstly, however, it was time for the grind. Yet, just as Cassius was about to start with one hundred unbelievably fast push-ups, the system presented him with an increase in difficulty. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    *Ding!*
    [If the Daily Quest is too easy, then you aren't properly building character!]
    [Here, have a set of newbie equipment on the house! You must complete the tasks of the Daily Quest with these if you want the rewards!]
    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*
    Several hundred pounds of condensed sand hit the ground with resounding thuds, nearly cracking through the floor. Luckily, everyone in his house was a deep sleeper, or else he would certainly have some explaining to do. Nevertheless, upon looking at the system tags of these comically absurd weights, Cassius's brows creased in dramatic apathy.
    [Acquired 100lb Wrist Weight X2]
    [Acquired 400lb Full-body Weight Vest]
    [Acquired 150lb Ankle Weight X2]
    "...Is this really necessary¡­?" asked Cassius, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Even with my increased strength, this is¡­"
    [You are denying Character Development?]
    [For that, have another Newbie Package gift, on the house! ^_^]
    *Thud!*
    [Acquired 300lb Waist Weight]
    Veins appeared all over Cassius's face as he found it tough to hold himself back from walloping his smug system. And weren't Newbie Package Gifts supposed to be things like a sword, a potion, and some flexible armor? Why the hell was he receiving this crap as his Newbie Package Gifts?? What the hell did he ever do to the Idle Evolution System!?
    "Your name is a sham," Cassius indignantly murmured as he lifted and donned the surprisingly thin weights on his body. Yet, with the system's impeccable hearing, how could it not hear his defamatory words?
    *Ding!*
    [In consideration of the Host's lack of proper character development, as evident by his lack of etiquette, the system has decided to give an additional Daily Quest task and an opportunity for more rewards!]
    [Wear the entire 'Newbie 1 Character Development Weight Set' for a total of 12 hours!]
    ¡ª[Reward: 1 Point in Charisma and 1 Point in Strength (on top of what completing the other tasks will allot you)]
    Cassius: "...."
    The system was blatantly bullying him, but at least the rewards were good, was all he could tell himself as he hit the floor.
    With all his 'Newbie Equipment' on, he felt like he was carrying the whole world on his back, yet he just had to grit his teeth and push through the exercises. One by one, he completed all of them, even though sweat poured from all his pores and accentuated his constantly contracting muscles in a shimmering sheen.
    With sheer willpower, honed by the system's sadism, Cassius finished all of the exercises he could do inside. He had woken up not even an hour ago, yet he already felt exhaustion attempting to take him away. However, that didn't stop the Idle Evolution System from increasing his workload further.
    *Ding!*
    [Say, don't you feel embarrassed about having to rely on the system for everything?]
    'Rely on what exactly!? You are the Devil System, not the Idle Evolution System!'

 Chapter 23 Daily Quest #2, Road to 100 Swings

    Oblivious to Cassius's begrudged curses, the system continued where it left off.[The system is feeling generous today! On top of the luxurious Newbie 1 Package Set, you will also be receiving an additional Newbie 1 item (Don't tell my boss) and another Daily Quest that will need to be completed daily (Assuming you want your crown jewels!)]
    '...The system is still a dick, but maybe the reward will actually be something good this time around...'
    He jinxed it.
    *Thud!*
    [Acquired 'Newbie 1 Weighted Wooden Training Sword'!]
    An eastern-style wooden katana plopped in front of Cassius, leaving a splintered floor where it fell. Its weight was higher than each individual Newbie Item given so far, coming in at over 1,000 pounds.
    Then, to add to his disgruntlement, another system notification appeared.
    *Ding!*
    {[Daily Quest 2]}
    ¡ª[You are looking awfully flabby as of late. But worry not, the system has decided to be magnanimous and add a tougher regimen!]
    ¡ª[Swing Newbie 1 Training Sword 100 times, with that number increasing daily based on the Fibonacci Sequence, starting with Day 2 being 150 times. Day 3 will be 250 times, Day 4 will be 400 times, and so on.]
    [Reward: 1 Point in Agility and 1 Point in Strength]
    [Failure: Loss of what makes you a man]
    Silence.
    Cassius didn't even know why he bothered with the Idle Evolution System anymore. But seeing as this was another way to get stronger¡ªand he didn't want to lose his balls and joystick¡ªhe reluctantly gave in to his fate. How hard could it possibly be to swing around a sword anyway?
    He went to pick up the sword sunken into the ground, yet quickly felt every muscle in his arm contract just to keep the weapon from dropping. His knees buckled under the pressure, with his feet smashing into the floor.
    'I thought it was only around 1,000 pounds, but the weight of this thing immediately increased to double that as soon as I touched it! Seriously, what the hell is wrong with this sadistic system!?'
    Cassius felt like using up his saved AP to increase his Strength stat, but he had a harrowing feeling that the system would just smugly smirk and increase the Daily Quest difficulty appropriately if he did that. It had become abundantly obvious that the Idle Evolution System only wanted him to suffer! There was no escaping this fate!
    'Why can't I just be like the protagonists in novels when they acquire a system¡­? Is this the difference between fiction and reality¡­??'
    Even though Cassius lamented over his shitty luck in obtaining that evil system, he pumped every muscle in his body to heave the sword over his shoulder. Although it hurt a lot to leave it pressed against his deltoids, he clenched his jaw and endured. He took heavy, uncontrolled steps toward his clothes, with nearly 4,000 pounds weighing him down from the sword and weighted clothes.
    Yet, before Cassius grabbed the clothes, he figured he should swing the sword first and wipe himself off afterward.
    With that in mind, he gritted his teeth and steadily took the sword off his shoulder, briefly glancing at the red imprint it left on his right deltoid. However, as if the stinging pain weren't even there, he faced the open space of his room. A glint of resolve flashed past his cold blue eyes as he swung downward, making use of every muscle in his body in order to not faceplant the ground.
    *Ding!*
    [1/100 Sword Swings]
    The quest counter went up by one. Now, it was time to get it to go up once more. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Tightening the muscles that already felt like they were rupturing, Cassius raised his arms and swung down once more. The wind slightly whistled, with the force from the sword swing blowing away all the sparse dirt on the ground.
    [2/100 Sword Swings]
    Again.
    [3/100 Sword Swings]
    Again.
    [4/100 Sword Swings]
    Again. Again. Again¡­
    [13/100 Sword Swings]
    Again¡­ Just go up¡­ Again¡­ Just go up!
    [42/100 Sword Swings]
    Again. Goddamnit, just swing! Move, body! Move!
    [78/100 Sword Swings]
    Arghh!! It hurts so damn much¡­! Every fiber of my being feels like evaporating! Fuck!! Just keep on swinging!!! Stop being a pussy!!!
    [99/100 Sword Swings]
    Just one more time¡­ Just go up once more¡­ Why won't you move¡­???
    No matter how much Cassius willed it, his body just wouldn't budge. He put his full mental capacity toward throwing up the sword once more, yet he felt like every one of his muscles had frozen in place. The only reason he hadn't collapsed to the ground yet was because he became so stiff that his body literally got the rest of him stuck.
    Sweat glistened off of his shredded figure, further accentuating his physique. Yet, the frustrated grimace twisted his handsome appearance into something fiercer.
    'Damn it all!!! Just move already!!!'
    Cassius couldn't even open his mouth anymore, but as if he exceeded some sort of physical limitation, his arms moved, and the sword cut through the air.
    [100/100 Sword Swings]
    *Ding!*
    [You have successfully completed Daily Quest #2]
    [You obtained 1 Stat Point in Strength and 1 Stat Point in Agility!]
    [Daily Quest 1 Progress: 67%]
    *Thud!*
    After the quest's status switched to completed, Cassius let his body collapse to the ground, with his sword falling right beside him with a resounding bang.
    However, before he could enter a very deep state of sleep that could leave him unconscious for an unknown period of time, he drowsily pulled up his long list of Level-up rewards. Then, with a single click that used up strength he didn't have, a bright golden light flashed and enveloped his body.
    [Status Recovered!]

 Chapter 24 Addition to Daily Quest #2

    [Status Recovered!]"Huff¡­!" Cassius felt like a new life had been granted to him as he shot up and returned oxygen to his lungs. "I hate to have to waste one of my limited Status Recoveries on something like this, but it was necessary if I want to avoid suspicions."
    After feeling a tinge of regret over the loss he incurred, Cassius finally got around to putting on his clothes. Strangely, with them on, he appeared very sharp. His slightly chiseled facial features did the black dress shirt and shorts some justice. Yet, just when he was beginning to appreciate how handsome he had become, the system made him scrunch his face.
    *Ding!*
    [The Host seems a bit narcissistic to me¡ª]
    "That isn't it¡­"
    [¡ªSeeing as the Host has so much free time on his hands, he can surely carry around his trusty Newbie Sword along with his Newbie Armor! ^-^]
    'You call this shit armor!? But wait¡­ Not another one¡­'
    *Ding!*
    [To supplement your deficiencies, a sudden extension to Daily Quest #2 will now be implemented!]
    {[Daily Quest 2]}
    ¨C [100/100 Sword Swings] - [?]
    ¨C [Carry around trusty 'Newbie Sword 1' for 12 hours. Cannot leave your approximate location.] - [0/720 minutes] - [_]
    "Shit¡­" Cassius's face drooped. He didn't even know why he bothered hoping for any modicum of respite from his sadistic system. He sighed before picking up the sword he had planned to stay away from for the next 24 hours.
    After realizing that the sword was quite a bit lighter than before because of the 1 Strength Stat Point, he tried to find somewhere on his person to store it. However, in the end, he had no choice but to hold it with his left arm, which strained more than expected, mostly because of the thin wrist weights he had equipped. Yet, rather than wrist weights, they looked more like sweatbands, somehow being so thin while containing an absurd amount of weight.
    When everything that could be done here was settled, Cassius left his room with slow, heavy steps, still adjusting to the extreme conditions he now had to constantly endure. On his way out, he saw the charming appearance of his messy-haired stepsister, with her bird's-nest-do only making her appear all the more attractive. Yet, instead of her stunning appearance, his eyes almost naturally fell on the sloppy, alluring way her red panda bear pajamas were sliding off of her curvaceous curves.
    Suddenly jolting awake, Aya let out a shrill shriek, which would have surely woken everyone up if they hadn't already left for work. "W-What are¡­ you doing here¡­!?" She cupped her breasts defensively, her cheeks redder than a blood moon.
    Cassius looked at the girl as if she were kind of dumb. "I live here¡­"
    Aya only became more embarrassed over this reasonable response. Her mind seemed to keep trailing back to the night prior, when she saw his almost picture-perfect body and that¡­ long thing. A deeper blush formed on her face as smoke rose from her head, her eyes subconsciously finding their way to his especially large morning package.
    She wound up scampering away with tears bubbling up in her big, beautiful eyes. "Y-You big dummy!" she loudly grumbled before slamming her room door behind her somewhat erotic figure. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Question marks flew off in Cassius's mind as he found himself becoming more and more perplexed by women with each passing day. Broaching upon this subject also reminded him of the bunny-like brown-haired beauty he got hit by a truck for. Considering that he almost got isekai-ed because of her, he figured shooting his shot couldn't hurt.
    Pulling out his phone, Cassius looked through his very limited contacts, quickly finding one that said 'Grace' with an adorable bunny emoji at the end, put there by him after deciding it fit her best.
    He clicked on the call button and stuck it up to his ear, yet not even a second later, Grace picked up on the other end. "Cassius, is that you??" she asked with a bit of concealed excitement.
    Curious, Cassius asked, "How did you know it was me? The number shouldn't have appeared on your end."
    Grace's eyes swam around as she lay belly-first on her pink, stuffed-animal-covered bed. She couldn't exactly tell him that she memorized his number just in case he forgot to call¡­ "I-I just made a guess¡­!" she ended up saying in a panicky tone.
    To which Cassius said, "I see¡­ Well, you can deny my offer if you want, but would you like to go to the shopping district today? I don't have much money, but I was looking to go somewhere¡ª"
    Grace's eyes lit up like shimmering Christmas ornaments as she jerked off her bed in glee. "I-I will go!" But her face quickly turned a deep shade of scarlet when she realized how desperate she must sound. Yet, contrary to her expectations, Cassius chuckled softly before saying, "It's a date, then. We can meet up at the City Square, say around 11 a.m.?"
    Glad that he didn't see her as easy, and overjoyed that he called it a date, Grace bobbed her head several times in her room. "Yes, yes! I will definitely be there!"
    "Good, I will see you there, Grace."
    With that, the call ended, and Grace was left to bounce around in her extremely cute room, her bunny pajama ears flopping all around.

 Chapter 25 Just Stay Still

    Cassius slipped his smartphone back into his pocket, wearing a kind smile that held no semblance to the demonic way he looked when he found Aya in that horrid state. His jaw clenched just remembering that scene, but he quickly calmed his nerves and thought about what he should do for the next four or so hours.That was when he recalled the evil voice of the Idle Evolution System chanting, "You need more Character Development!" into his ears.
    Left with no other choice if he wanted to have an enjoyable day out with no distractions later, he made the sacrifice and lifted himself down the stairs, careful not to accidentally blow more holes through the house.
    After successfully incurring very little damage to the once-pristine home, Cassius left through the front door, staying purposefully oblivious to the red panda pajama-wearing woman peeking her head over the top-floor railings.
    'Where is he going¡­?' Aya's heart suddenly filled with worry. 'Is he heading out to meet another girl¡­??' She struggled between displeasure and trepidation, not sure how to process her own feelings. 'Surely he's not¡­ Cassius has never been good at talking with girls¡ª' That was when she recalled how sweet and kind he was to her last night.
    Yet she still fervently believed that him going to meet a different girl was impossible.
    'M-Maybe he's just going out for a run like he has been doing as of late¡­! Yes, yes, that must be it! What am I even worrying for!? It's not like I like him or anything! Right¡­?'
    Aya's worry was now for something else entirely as she huddled into a ball on the ground, her red panda pajama hoodie hanging over her pouty yet conflicted face. After a few seconds of perplexed sulking, she figured it wouldn't hurt to trail behind him and see what he was up to.
    So that's precisely what she did¡­
    Aya swiftly threw on a black trench coat and a pair of gaudy black sunglasses, going full Men in Black on this operation to ensure the safety of her stepbrother, who could very well get taken advantage of! Though to any passerby who caught sight of her hiding behind metal poles and garbage cans, she earned herself the title of 'Stalker.'
    As Cassius, dressed up for the occasion, strolled through the active streets of his neighborhood, he felt like someone was following him. However, sensing that they held no ill intent, he paid them no mind and left the borders of his neighborhood. Eventually, he made it to a wide intersection, where beyond that intersection was the prosperous downtown district of Hoshito City. It wasn't at the level of somewhere like Tokyo or the capitals of any of the nine regions, but it still remained a bustling place of commerce, with thousands of people going about their business in the city of glass and stone.
    After maneuvering through crowds of people and traveling another five or so minutes, Cassius finally made it to the City Square, where a large sprinkling fountain lay situated. Right next to the fountain, however, was an utterly breathtaking sight.
    A girl with soft brown hair and warm brown eyes sat on the side of the fountain, her fingers tracing the water's edge. She smiled nervously, glancing around as she adjusted her flowy white dress, anticipation and hope shining in her eyes as she waited for her first-ever date to arrive.
    Seeing Cassius begin his approach toward this gorgeous girl, what Aya feared most threw a bucket of cold water over her head. A desolate summer breeze blew through her disguise, leaving her feeling empty inside. Yet that didn't mean she could just give up here! She had to know what their relationship was!
    'After everything he has done¡­ and seen of me, it's the manly thing to take responsibility! He can't shirk away under the wings of this vixen! I-I will see just how he plans to explain himself when I catch him red-handed in the act of an affair¡­!'
    'And for it to be with that woman who stayed by his hospital bedside, basically blocking me from seeing him, no less! I won't stand for this! I won't stand for it¡­!'
    While remaining blissfully unaware of the fact that they weren't in any sort of relationship that extended beyond family, Aya maintained her stalker disposition and got a little closer to the adulterers in the 'act'.
    Meanwhile, Cassius had just made it within a few dozen feet of Grace, with her seeing him as well. Her eyes lit up, and just as she was about to wave him over, some rough-looking unsavory philanderers grouped around her.
    "Hey, lovely beautiful Miss~ What are you doing here all alone~?"
    "Yeah, someone as pretty as you shouldn't be all by herself. Why don't you come and have some fun with us~? We promise to show you a good time~"
    Grace's outstretched hand retracted as a bit of fear mixed with her nervousness. She wasn't very good around groups of people. Just her getting her family's permission to come out today and enter the pedestrian parts of the city did a number on her.
    Not sure how to respond to these strange men who huddled around her, she stuttered, "N-No, I am waiting on someone¡ª"
    "Come on, don't be like that~" One of the blonde-haired men said flirtatiously. "Just let us show you a good time~"
    As soon as his hand landed on her shoulder, Grace's complexion turned ashen as she raised her voice, "N-Nooo! Ple-Please don't touch me!" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Just stay still, sweetheart~" the blonde-haired man's 'friendly' smile widened. Yet before he could go any further in his unsanctioned acts of harassment, a large, muscular hand suddenly grabbed onto his own and bent it back, nearly breaking his finger bones.
    He hollered in pain. "Ahhghh!! What the fuck are you doing, y-you damn bastard!?"

 Chapter 26 A Date

    "Ahhghh!! What the hell are you doing, you psycho!?"The hollering hooligan's outburst was met with a cold, unimpressed glare. "Can't you see you're bothering her?" Cassius said evenly, twisting the man's arm just enough to elicit another high-pitched shriek.
    "Who even are you!?"
    "Let go of Jacob, freak!" one of his friends yelled, though his voice cracked halfway through.
    Cassius turned his gaze to the peanut gallery, who froze like deer in headlights. "Shut up," he said flatly, his tone as sharp as a knife. The wannabe tough guys visibly shrank, suddenly unsure if they wanted to continue their catcalling careers.
    "Cassius¡­" Grace muttered, a mix of awe and relief flooding her expression. Her knight in slightly worn jeans had come to the rescue. Still, the intensity on his face gave her pause¡ªit was a little too much, like he'd been fighting¡­ monsters¡­ instead of idiots.
    Realizing he might've overdone it, Cassius released the blonde guy's hand and gave him a swift kick to the rear for good measure. The man hit the ground with a yelp.
    "Scram," Cassius ordered, his voice as cold as winter frost. The hooligans exchanged nervous glances before fleeing with bruised egos and possibly a few bruised body parts. One couldn't resist yelling back, "You'll regret this!" as he tripped over his own feet.
    Cassius sighed and turned back to Grace, his expression softening. "So, what do you wanna eat?" he asked, attempting to shift the mood.
    Grace blinked at him, then broke into a dazzling smile. "There's this sushi place I've been dying to try, but my parents wouldn't let me. Want to go there with me?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Her bright, hopeful expression was enough to knock the wind out of him. How could he say no to those puppy-dog eyes? "Sure," he said with a small smile. "Lead the way."
    Grace giggled, the earlier incident already forgotten, and practically skipped ahead of him. She paused a few steps later and turned back, her cheeks pink. "By the way¡­ thanks for helping me back there. You were¡­ really cool." She stumbled over the last part, turning redder by the second.
    Cassius chuckled, jogging to catch up. "I didn't get the chance earlier, but you look lovely today," he said. "Though, honestly, you didn't need to dress up for someone like me."
    Grace nearly tripped over her own feet. "Wha¡ªthis? It's nothing special!" she sputtered, staring at her shoes as if they were suddenly fascinating.
    Then her gaze darted to the wooden sword strapped to his back. "Uh¡­ about the sword. Why are you carrying that around? It's kind of¡­ unique."
    Cassius glanced at it and shrugged, shifting its weight on his shoulder. "I've been getting into a new hobby. Hope you don't mind me bringing it."
    Grace waved her hands frantically. "No, no! It's cool¡ªreally cool! Like¡­ like you're some kind of modern knight or something¡­"
    Her voice trailed off into an unintelligible mumble, but Cassius caught enough to grin. "Modern knight, huh? I'll take it," he said, reaching out to pat her on the head.
    Grace froze, her cheeks turning scarlet as steam practically poured from her ears. "Wha¡ªyou can't just¡ª"
    "Too late," Cassius teased, his hand still on her head. "You're officially knight-approved."
    Behind them, a dark aura loomed as Aya, draped in black like a discount ninja, gripped the metal pole she was hiding behind. 'Ugh, they're not even holding hands! What is this, a Hallmark movie?' Her eyes narrowed, and the pole creaked under her grip. 'And I was saved by him too! She's not special! I've known him longer, anyway¡­'
    Grace snapped back to reality as they arrived at their destination. Cassius stopped in front of a neon sign that read "Sushi Haven." It wasn't fancy enough to be high-end, but it was leagues above the average chain.
    "This the place?" he asked, glancing at Grace, whose wide eyes sparkled as she took in the restaurant.
    "Yep! I've always wanted to come here!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement. Cassius couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. He reached out and ruffled her hair again, earning a muffled squeak.
    "Seriously?" Grace muttered while pretending to swat at his hand. "You're treating me like some fluffy pet¡­"
    "If you hate it, just say so," Cassius said, laughing as he moved to pull his hand away.
    To his surprise, Grace grabbed his wrist and held it in place, her face a shade of red that could rival a fire truck. "I didn't say I hated it¡­"
    Cassius blinked, then smiled, deciding not to push his luck. "I see," he said with a playful chuckle, letting her keep his hand where it was as they headed inside.
    Aya, meanwhile, growled from her hiding spot. 'This isn't over, Grace. Just wait until he sees how much more girly I am!' She crushed the pole in her grip, startling several bystanders who immediately turned and walked the other way.

 Chapter 27 An Extraterrestrial Threat...

    "Why did you take your hand off again¡­? It's not that I don't like the pets.¡­" Grace mumbled."So you do like it? How much do you like it?" Cassius couldn't stop himself from teasing the adorable girl a bit, both with his words and his hands..
    Although embarrassed, Grace answered, "Mhmm¡­ A-A lot¡­" with a blush seemingly glued to her peachy features. She was unable to look at him as she was, so she pulled him through the last set of spinning doors of the Sushi Haven Restaurant.
    Cassius kept his eyes on the perfectly curved back of the beautiful brown-haired girl dragging him around in an unusually forward manner. He enjoyed her presence; it was a breath of fresh air, one that he hadn't known he needed. However, there was a large part of him that didn't believe he deserved something so nice.
    His entire life, he lived believing the bare minimum was already too good for him¡­ Yet to suddenly encounter Grace and get to know a new side of Aya¡­ It almost felt too good to be true.
    And then there were the continuous improvements to his strength, which although acquired because of the system's sadism, still left him joyous beyond belief.
    Yet, that once again made him think that something was amiss¡­
    'A ploy¡­?' Cassius's overly cautious side got the better of him as he thought useless things.
    Why would anyone out there be plotting against someone as inconsequential as he was?
    ¡ª--------------------
    ¡ª Outside an Airport Runway in Hoshito ¡ª
    BAM!
    A small explosion occurred around the body of Adam Steele. His eruption of rage startled the flight attendant females lined up on the side. They all kept their heads down, afraid to offend Adam and the classy woman walking next to him.
    "You must calm yourself, Malakar," said the woman, her gaze cold and calculative. "I know you have been patiently waiting for 'it' to return to her son. But you and I both know we can't rush things."
    Adam's face further scrunched in anger as his brows deeply furrowed. "I know that as much as you do, but I secretly checked the incompetent son of that bitch, and although his physique has miraculously improved, he's still as useless as ever! Awakened humans are already inferior creatures as it is, and yet that one is even more useless!! If I were his mother, I would never come back to save him, so what's even the point of keeping him around as bait!??"
    'He's still as short-tempered as always¡­ I really can't understand why the Mothership decided him to be the one most fit for this assignment¡­' The classy woman sighed heavily before ascending the stairs of a golden-plated private jet. 'Well, at least he is a decent enough actor¡­ that Sasha character we meticulously selected in hopes of activating 'its' maternal jealousy should also be bringing forth some results. Yet we have no idea how close 'it' is to coming out of hiding¡­ Hah¡­'
    The classy woman, whose name was Selena, rubbed her temples before finding herself a seat on the jet.
    The livid Adam (Malakar) came in a second later and sat down in the row of seats next to hers. His body seemed to rapidly expand and protrude in a few areas as a purplish shell-like material took the place of his skin. Yet, before he could revert to his original form and take up all the seats, Selena glared at him.
    "Don't do anything rash while we're still blending in among the humans," she said. "Though the strongest of the humans are still ants to the weakest of us, you should know as well as anybody of those anomalies. That is how you got that scar, isn't it?"
    Following her eyes, Malakar ground his sharp teeth in anger upon seeing the large, gnarly scar strewn out from the top of his chest down to his waist. He could still faintly recall the ethereal human with his sword-like eyebrows and his long, flowing black hair. He had stood domineeringly atop a massive greatsword while looking down on him as if he were mere trash.
    "I am the Guardian of this Floor, Outsider. You and your friends up there may continue coming down here, but you will simply keep on losing. Your life; your choice. But if I see you again¡­ I'll kill you."
    The man's icy sharp eyes then flashed as he somehow flicked the giant greatsword around like a blur and left Malakar with his scar.
    Malakar ground his teeth to the verge of turning them to dust just remembering the sheer level of disdain that puny human had held for him.
    "Damn it all!!" Malakar bellowed as he was about to disregard everything and morph into his Kaiju form. Yet, before he could do something so foolish, Selena dispersed his aura and commanded, "Sit."
    "S-Selena, you!!!" Malakar's eyes lit up in anger, yet he knew that it would be unbelievably stupid to go against the one who held the title of 'Intergalactic Sorcerer.'
    "Do not get ahead of yourself, Malakar," Selena said as she calmly sipped on a cup of tea. Her neutral face suddenly frosted over, with her swirling frigid gaze boring into the monstrous Malakar like the coldest of tundras.
    "You may be the one leading the mission of getting 'it' to come out of hiding, but I am the one tasked with making sure you do your job properly. You are to get 'it' out of hiding without angering 'it' enough to prevent us from ascending to the next floor. With that Floor Guardian being abnormally powerful for those of a Tower like this one, we must take this backdoor method and ascend the Tower without encountering that man. To do that¡­"
    Selena pierced through all of Malakar's defenses with just her gaze.
    "To do that, you need to get yourself together and strike at a different angle. We need to let down 'its' guard, and the only real method we have is holding her son hostage, which means that we can't kill him. Find a different way to force 'it' out. You know the deadline before a replacement for you is found and sent down."
    "A different way!?" Malakar roared, concealing the fear he felt because of this unearthly beauty before him. "What other way is there!??" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Selena's irises frosted over at his tone. "I don't know; that's not my job to figure out. It's yours." She returned to ignoring the fuming man's presence, not caring a single bit about his grievances.
    The private jet started moving before ascending to the skies like a bird in a gust of wind. Their destination was a skull-shaped island to the far east¡ªan island that would not show up on any conventional map in the world. In that island lived several extraterrestrial existences that did not belong to this Realm¡ªmysterious beings capable of crushing S-Rank, city-destroying level humans like bugs.
    Yet, even though they were so powerful, they seemed to be constantly stepping on eggshells, afraid to so much as stick their heads out too far.
    All because of a single man¡­
    Atop the zenith point of a mountain that touched upon the clouds, a refined middle-aged man with a piece of horsetail whisk in his mouth tipped his ragged traveler's hat to the east.
    With his entire face shrouded by blackened shadow lines, he spoke in an antiquated voice that didn't match his handsome, youthful visage. "It seems like things are finally getting interesting." He then vanished from his spot, with slight traces of a wistful smirk flowing through the speed stream.

 Chapter 28 An Unexpected Stalker...

    ¡ª In the downtown area of Hoshito City, inside Sushi Haven, at a windowsill table ¡ª*Nom, Nom, Nom.*
    "You must really love sushi," said Cassius, a fond smile painting his handsome, attentive features. On the other side of the table was a bunny-like girl with long, silky brown hair and large doe eyes that squinted in joy after each voracious chew.
    Realizing that she was being a bit uncouth, Grace swallowed one last piece of sushi with a look of euphoria before reluctantly placing her chopsticks to the side. "I-I'm sorry¡­ You must think less of me now¡­" Imaginary bunny ears seemed to droop atop her head as she silently moved her small pink lips.
    Cassius rested his chin on his hands, a warm, soothing smile gracing his features. "Pay no mind to me; I think watching you eat is far more enjoyable than eating alone¡ªor even eating at all."
    "T-That is¡­" Grace's face flushed red, yet she readily took him up on his offer. After all, she hadn't eaten anything before coming to the date because she wanted to do more things with him.
    Cassius also began choosing from the large assortment of sushi he had ordered. At first, Grace had tried to insist that she would pay, but he firmly rejected that proposal. As a man¡ªalbeit a pathetic one¡ªhow could he let a woman pay for the date? Even though he didn't have much money, he still had a part-time job, which he just so happened to need to show up for tomorrow morning.
    It was merely a library gig, but the people there were welcoming and kind, so it served as a comfort from the grueling training he had endured when he first started completing the system's Daily Quests. The current Quests were just as physically difficult, but his mind had long since grown accustomed to how tough the system's Quests were. Even the Side Quests and Urgent Quests it gave him had left him on the verge of death¡­ yet he still pushed through them.
    'Speaking of which, on the matter of money, I wonder if I can make use of my strength to acquire more of it¡ªbut do so without attracting too much attention to myself¡­'
    Bringing this matter up to Grace, she spoke in between adorable chews. "I don't know much about making money because my family won't let me work, but you seem very strong. I know you're not awakened, but if you can somehow match up to the weakest of Hunters, you can explore Gates with a Party or Guild and obtain some Magic Shards."
    "Though, it is very dangerous¡­ I would prefer you didn't do this¡­" Her tone dampened, and her imaginary bunny ears once again drooped. "I-If you really need money that badly, then I can ask my family¡­! I'm sure they can¡ª"
    "That won't be necessary," Cassius said gently, seemingly in deep contemplation about something. "Don't worry; I won't do anything I know I can't handle. But you mentioned these 'Magic Shards'¡ªwhat are they, if you don't mind my asking?"
    Although still worried, Grace replied, "Magic Shards are what lie inside the bodies of monsters, sort of like their cores. If you¡­ slice them open, you can find them."
    "They vary in size, color, and the number of pointed edges depending on the strength of the slain monster." She gagged a little at imagining something so gruesome yet quickly forgot about it when lines of sushi were stuffed into her gerbil-like cheeks.
    "Inside of them¡­ Ahh¡­ Damn¡­" Cassius suddenly recalled a few shiny things protruding from the corpses of the monsters he killed.
    He felt a tinge of regret over not snatching them up and obtaining some pocket money. Though, unbeknownst to him, the combined Magic Shards from all the monsters he had slain would have been enough to buy him a small house or a nice car.
    "Izzz shomthingg da matttter?" Grace asked through her munching, tilting her head cutely.
    Cassius sighed before shaking his head and returning that warm smile to his face. "It's nothing much. Though, sometimes I wonder if I'm just empty air up here." He comically knocked on his head, which made Grace chortle. A bit of food spat out of her mouth, causing her to shrink in embarrassment. Yet Cassius only chuckled in response before eating more of the sushi himself.
    "Just make sure to eat to your heart's content," he requested with a smile.
    "Mhmmhkay~!" Grace had no qualms. Even with a few customers staring at her beauty, she devoured the plates like she had been starved her whole life.
    "Hah¡­"
    The atmosphere inside that corner of Sushi Haven really was like a little slice of heaven. But the same could not be said for a large bush sitting directly outside the window the pair was dining at.
    'Fucking fluffers!! Why are they acting so chummy in there!? Don't they have any shame!? Where is the morality!?' Aya thought as she shamelessly wiggled her plump figure all around inside a bush, successfully scaring away nearby pedestrians.
    Suddenly realizing how she was acting, she frantically corrected herself. 'I-It's not like I'm jealous or anything¡­! I just wish they would learn some shame! Damn adulterers!!'
    Seeing the bush jump all around and hearing terrifying grumblings, several pedestrians reported it to the authorities out of fear of a pervert being inside.
    For a while, Aya had to outrun the police in a bush¡­ S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    When she finally managed to lose them with her D-Rank Stats and return to the restaurant window, she was distressed to find that they had already left! It wasn't until five minutes later of extensive searching that she found the adultering couple laughing and giggling while heading toward the¡­
    "Hunter's Association??" Aya blurted out, attracting the attention of a small child.
    "Mama, that bush over there is talking¡­!"
    "What nonsense are you speaking¡ª Wait, that's the pervert from earlier! The police¡ªI must call them!"
    "!!!" 'They're onto me again! Time to ditch the bush!'

 Chapter 29 Entering The Hunters Association

    Aya leapt out of the abused bush and sprinted away like a true criminal, which only further solidified the mother's suspicions. After another series of chases by the local police, she eventually made her way just outside the massive Hunter's Association building, where the adulterers had just ascended a flight of marbled stairs to enter.She once again entered incognito stalker mode and did what she did best¡ªstalking.
    "You seemed interested in the Magic Shard discussion earlier," Grace said in a soft voice. "Is that why we're here right now? Are you planning to become¡­ a Hunter¡­?"
    As much as Cassius wanted to do just that, he knew that only death flags awaited him if he became a Hunter with what little strength he currently had. No, rather than make a fool of himself and possibly raise suspicion when he came back stronger after each raid, he wanted something else.
    "I want information on the locations of Gates," replied Cassius, his tone laced with a gentleness that made Grace feel warm inside. Yet she still asked, "Why would you wish to know the locations of Gates if you don't plan to become a Hunter¡­?"
    Answering her question, Cassius's lips raised mysteriously. "I don't know; why would I want to know something like that?"
    Grace's cheeks filled with air as she mock-pouted. "Fine then, don't tell me. Humph!" She turned her head away, pretending to be angry, yet failing terribly.
    Cassius let a soft laugh escape his lips, which only made Grace's charming pout more prominent. However, before she could become genuinely aggrieved, he said, "I will tell you some other time, alright?"
    Grace's heart fluttered at these words, especially the "nother time" part, which meant they would be meeting up more often, right? Right??
    "Mhm! You promise??"
    "Yes, I promise."
    Grace could no longer restrain her giddy grin as she made a cute "Yippee!" sound before abruptly grabbing his hand. Yet, when she realized what she had done in her moment of glee, she furiously blushed and let go of his hand. "I-I didn't mean to do that, I j-just¡­"
    "It's fine," Cassius patted her head. "You can hold my hand whenever you feel like it. But maybe that would make you feel uncomfortable in the crowded environment inside?"
    In her excitement, Grace had completely overlooked how they had already entered the Hunter's Association and were now in the presence of hundreds of people. She felt mortified over how she conducted herself, quickly finding a hiding spot behind Cassius, where she shrank away and soaked in the shame. He found this amusing, yet his mood soured when two F-Rank Hunters took proud strides over to them, clearly up to no good.
    Cassius was still enjoying the sight of his short, bunny-like companion and the several expansive floors of the enormous, modern Hunter's Association branch when those idiots slipped around him. They couldn't feel an aura from him, so they completely disregarded his existence. Their target, though, was the meek girl hiding behind him. She naturally became frightened when the two men began eyeing her up and down, failing to conceal their lust.
    "Say, you have the aura of a Healer¡ªare you looking to form a team with us?" asked the man with a Mohawk. "I am a DPS dealer, while he is a Tank. So what say you? Wanna join a reliable Hunter's party?"
    "Yeah, we promise to treat you well, miss!"
    Although they hid their intentions behind friendly, shadowy smiles, Cassius understood them as if they were open books. He audibly scoffed before turning his back and Grace away from the men. She silently thanked him in her heart, a lovely grin forming on her small, round face as she clung a bit closer to him.
    The faces of the two men immediately scrunched up in annoyance at the trouble caused by this unawakened nobody. Even if they were only F-Rank, they were still several times stronger than a strong mortal. To dare impede them in their pursuit of a woman¡ªjust who did this foolish man think he was? Plus, he was handsome, so he was just asking for a beating!
    "Listen, dude, we know you just want to play the cool guy, but you need to learn your place," the Mohawk man scorned. The larger man beside him added, "Brother is right; this is no longer the world of 40 years ago, where you can get away with things if you're good-looking and tall. Just back away from the girl while we're still being nice. After all, we only wish to discuss some things with her~"
    Grace: "!!!"
    She shrank back in fright upon seeing the looks on their faces; it reminded her of the way those snake-faced distant family members used to look at her when they came by to speak with her parents.
    Feeling the poor girl's dread through the shaky hands clutching his black dress shirt made Cassius's face ice over. One after another, these idiots kept coming over to pester him and Grace.
    Did she have to experience this every time she went out? Was that one of the reasons she seemed so sheltered? Even on the unfortunate day they met, Grace appeared to be "awwing" and "oohing" at everything in an ordinary neighborhood.
    Seeing the two buffoons attempt to slip around to her again had Cassius on the verge of slashing them down to dust. The badass sword tattoo on his right arm started to vibrate in response to his intent, seemingly ready to reap another life at a moment's notice. Yet, before both he and Serrated Devil Blade could take their first human life, a valiant feminine voice echoed out from atop the building's second floor:
    "You dare harass a girl in the Hunter's Association?? And threatening someone is grounds for egging a fight, which is strictly prohibited in the Hunter's Association! What do you have to say for yourselves!?"
    A woman who looked akin to an armored Valkyrie gracefully leapt from the second floor of the mall-like Association building.
    Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 30 Corras Valiant Entrance

    Under the interested eyes of dozens of Hunters in the vicinity, the Valkyrie-like girl elegantly landed on the first floor before proceeding to draw her blade on the two unscrupulous young men. While doing so, she discreetly took glances at the icy-faced man shielding a cute girl."Is that Corra? The rising star of the C-Rank Black Sparrow Guild, someone at the very peak of the D-Rank?"
    "Yes, there's no mistaking it! That has to be her! Just how can she be any sexier? The way her armor reveals just the right amounts of her smooth, powdery skin is so¡­ ha¡­"
    "God, I've been a fan of hers for the longest time! How do you think I should go about sparking up a conversation with her?"
    "You, an F-minus Rank? You must surely be kidding yourself!"
    "Hey! Don't be rude!"
    As the chattering among the Hunters invested in this exchange became a little heated, Corra's eyes crackled with a fierce justice. "Well, what do you two have to say for yourselves?! If you are causing trouble here, then with the backing of my Guild, I have the authority to severely punish you however I see fit!"
    The two young men felt their hair stand on end. They suddenly turned sheepish while wearing fawning smiles. "We would never dream of stirring up trouble here, Miss Corra! This is all just one big misunderstanding!" Adding to the lie, the larger man fanned, "Yes, yes, we were just worried for the safety of that girl! That is just how we, as Hunters of the Hunters Association, felt it best to assist her!"
    Not wanting to listen to any more of their nonsense, Corra shouted, "Get lost!"
    "R-right away!" The two young men then skedaddled, but not before throwing a couple of venomous glares at the emotionless Cassius, only to be further frightened by his dead stare. They promptly fucked right off, never to be seen or mentioned again.
    Corra snorted in disdain while watching them run for the hills, then turned her attention to Cassius and the bunny girl shyly peeking her head out from behind him.
    A bead of sweat formed on Corra's temple when she thought about how close of a call that just was. If she had interfered even a second later, she feared those two would no longer have their heads¡­
    That's right; she didn't interfere to protect Cassius and the girl, but because she didn't want blood to be spilled on Association grounds. Even with the non-aggression pact in Association territory in effect and the standard national laws prohibiting murder, she highly doubted this fellow cared about any of that.
    From what Corra saw of that monster yesterday, she wouldn't put it past him to slaughter indiscriminately. And he could likely get away with it as well; after all, although she could not speak for his other qualities, his speed was absurd. It had probably already touched upon the C-Rank, surpassing even her own!
    Corra lightly coughed to clear the air, then formally introduced herself. "We met yesterday, but I wasn't in the right state of mind back then, so I apologize for what I said. My name is Corra; may I know yours?"
    Hearing this, the spectating crowd wore slightly shocked expressions.
    "Does Miss Corra know this unknown man? Are they friends¡­ or lovers?"
    "Are you an idiot?! It's obvious that they are acquaintances at best! Stop besmirching the reputation of our goddess like that!"
    "A-ah, yes, my bad!"
    Ignoring the stupid comments from the idlers, Cassius reciprocated Corra's introduction. "My name is Cass, and yes, yesterday can just be seen as a misunderstanding. I was not in a¡­ pleasant mood."
    Corra briefly glanced at the hiding bunny girl, only to find that it wasn't the same girl as yesterday, with that unknown girl likely being the reason why he was so pissed at the hospital.
    Returning her eyes to the exceptionally handsome tall man before her, she smiled graciously. "Mhmm, I completely understand. Say, if you aren't too busy, would you be willing to discuss something with me over coffee¡ª"
    "Grrrr¡­"
    Corra: "???"
    She could've sworn she just heard a low growl come from the innocent-looking face of the brown-haired girl. Shaking her head to clear such ridiculous thoughts, she repeated the question. "Would you like to go and get some coffee together, perhaps¡ª?"
    "Grrrr¡­.!"
    Yet Corra once again heard that growling sound, this time fiercer than before. She looked back at Grace, only to see her appear seemingly unaware of everything happening.
    Cassius, of course, noticed what the silly girl was doing, but it was quite cute, so he let it be. And after a few rounds of getting cut off by progressively angry, cute growls, Corra heaved a tired sigh. "Another time then. I should be going now."
    "Yes, another time it is," said Cassius, unable to conceal his amusement over the whole ordeal.
    He and the innocent-seeming girl watched as the valiant Corra slugged away with a dejected air about her. She was really hoping to complete the request of her higher-ups and successfully recruit the mysterious man into their Guild, but it seemed today was not the day. Still, she would try again next time and surely win him over!
    Cassius chuckled a little when he saw the receding figure of the defeated woman suddenly regain all of her previous vivaciousness. Yet, by the side, Grace's cheeks ballooned a bit as she silently pouted, very much unlike the boisterous grumbling that someone like Aya would do. Cassius, of course, still noticed it, but it was cute all the same.
    After relishing in the moment for a bit, he led Grace over to a counter, where a pretty receptionist stood on the other end. The receptionist's eyes stayed on Cassius for a moment, as she wondered why she had never seen such a hot, cold man in the Association before.
    "How may I help you?" she asked, her voice cordial.
    Cassius replied, "I would like to know if I can get the locations of the Gates in the surrounding area. You see, I am planning to buy a house soon and don't want to be next to a Gate." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 31 Getting a Map of Gates

    The lady receptionist didn't know if she had ever been asked this question before, yet she still smilingly responded, "I can do that for you; just give me a second to scan the records and print a copy."Cassius nodded in appreciation, then waited by the counter.
    Feeling something tugging at his side, he looked down, only to see Grace's erratically flickering doe eyes. "I-It's just¡­ I didn't think you were looking to buy some property¡­ You seem too young to be doing something like that¡­ Unless you're planning to get m-married¡­"
    Cassius softly chuckled at the furiously blushing girl. He patted her head and said, "I'm not doing it for now, but for the future."
    "The future¡­?" Grace's eyes sparkled as her thoughts stirred. 'If it's the future, then maybe he is looking to get married soon!? Could it be that he is interested in someone¡­!? C-Could it be¡­ me? B-But I don't know if I am ready for marriage¡­!'
    Looking away from the flustered girl getting lost in her own delusions, Cassius received a paper from the amicable receptionist. On the paper was a highly detailed 4D map that somehow stuck to its surface using some kind of magic. The map depicted the City of Hoshito on a magnified scale, with numerous white, orange, and green dots of varying sizes scattered throughout.
    Noticing his confusion, the lady receptionist explained, "The dots on the map are the Gate locations you are searching for. Hoshito isn't a hotspot area like Tokyo or Yokohama, so the quality of Gates is not nearly as severe as it is in those cities. If that were truly the case, then we would've long since been wiped out when our strongest Hunters are of the C-Rank and B-Rank."
    "There are a few B-Rank Hunters that occasionally pass by, but they are not residents of the city. All in all, White Tier, Orange Tier, and Green Tier Gates are the norm for Hoshito, with a select few of them remaining unclosed because the large Guilds use them to train their newer Hunters. Plus, it's very profitable."
    After digesting the information from the receptionist's lengthy explanation, Cassius slightly nodded. "Thank you for all the help."
    But before he could walk away with the map in hand, the receptionist's melodious voice rang out once more. "If you click on the dots, you can see any relevant details about them. Moreover, the Gate locations and appearances change by the minute, based on real-time reports."
    "I see¡­" Cassius briefly paused. "How much do I owe you for this? It seems too valuable to be given away for free¡ª"
    "Don't worry about it, hihi," the receptionist waved dismissively. "Though, if you are that adamant about paying me back, you could do so over dinner¡ª"
    "Grrrr¡­"
    "Or, I guess not," the receptionist giggled at the adorable woman sticking to him like glue. She hadn't noticed her before, but she was definitely a looker.
    "Well, if you ever find yourself single, feel free to come back here and find me." With a suggestive smirk, she watched as Grace hurriedly pushed the handsome man out of the building, seemingly trying to get him away from a supposed 'harlot.'
    The receptionist bemused, "I would likely do the same thing if I had a snack like that around me~." She seductively licked her lips, causing the meek bunny girl to turn oddly hostile, though she just came out looking cuter.
    When Cassius and Grace exited the packed building, an old man with a slicked-back haircut spoke without turning his head. "So he was the one who singlehandedly cleared an E-Rank Sudden Gate?"
    "Yes, sir. It has already been fact-checked several times," replied a man in a classy black suit.
    The old man clasped his hands behind his back, his wizened gaze following the movements of the seemingly ordinary man. "Then that would mean his power is roughly that of a D-Rank Hunter, with his Speed stat presumably being at the D+ Rank¡­ How have we not heard of his existence before?"
    "That is¡­" the classy man's mouth moved around, yet no more words came out. "It seems he is past the age for awakening and is not an Awakened¡­ Sir, he doesn't have the aura that a powerful Awakener should have. He doesn't even have an aura to begin with¡­"
    The old man's brows furrowed, putting him in deep thought. 'I have been in the Hunter business for more than 40 years, yet I have never heard of a case like this one. Just what sort of secrets is that boy hiding to be capable of rivaling a D-Rank Hunter without being an Awakened¡­? Was the Awakening Tester Equipment simply faulty, or is it something¡­ else?'
    "Hmm?" Cassius glanced behind him after leaving the Hunter's Association. 'I felt someone¡­ analyzing me.'
    His eyes narrowed dangerously, as he had a bad feeling about something.
    Yet, when Grace nudged him and grabbed his hand, he left his vicious thoughts. If someone was plotting something behind his back, then he would just deal with it when it came around.
    "Cassius¡­" Grace's eyes glazed over as she observed every unique contour of his face. Her expression suddenly erupted in a stunning glow as she smilingly said, "I don't get out much, so I may seem a bit weird, but today I had a lot of fun¡­! S-So what I'm trying to say is¡­ thank you!"
    Seeing the girl struggle so much while squirming like a restless rabbit made Cassius unconsciously pet her head. "It has been enjoyable for me as well, but we aren't even close to being done for the day." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Grace sheepishly asked, "We aren't¡­?"
    Cassius chuckled. "Well, as long as you are fine with it, I was planning to spend the entire day with you." 'I also have my 12-hour Daily Quests to complete, so having her spirited presence is just a bonus.'
    Grace's pupils visibly sparkled as she fervently bobbed her head. "I would very much like that! I just assumed you would have grown tired of me by now¡­ so¡­"
    ...

 Chapter 32 Human Trafficking...!?

    "I would very much like that! I just assumed you would have grown tired of me by now¡­ so¡­""How could that possibly be?" Cassius gently cupped Grace's left cheek, his smile warm. "Your presence is always welcome. Even after today, you can feel free to contact me anytime."
    Scarlet colored Grace's cheeks; his smile was far too dangerous. And the way he was considerately holding her cheek¡­ Gah¡­! She was on the verge of fainting from sweetness overload. Yet Cassius was also feeling something similar upon seeing her flawless face warm up and twist beautifully.
    He had to let her cheek go if he didn't want to get too caught up in the moment.
    She dismayed a bit at him letting go of her so soon, but quickly found more enjoyment as they continued strolling through the city.
    Cassius had long since grown accustomed to controlling his body under the stress of so much weight, as he seemed to have a natural talent for it, so the date passed in a relaxed manner. At least, it did for them¡­
    CRACK¡ª
    Aya's face became covered by more and more black streaks as she crushed yet another metal pole, making it the twentieth one today. She fumed and darkly mumbled to herself, scaring away anyone in the area. Meanwhile, inside her mess of a head:
    'First, they act all lovey-dovey with each other, and now they even hold hands and go couple shopping with each other!? They have already been into over ten different stores¡ªdo they know no shame!? Have they no consideration for others!?? Gawshh!! Gah!!'
    Aya lightly banged her head on the metal pole, feeling so unbelievably vexed. She didn't even really know what she was so angry about, but she was angry about it! She was so, so annoyed!
    Cassius had been feeling something since the date first began, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, or even if it was really all that malevolent. However, seeing as no real deathly intent was mixed into this feeling, he left it alone, same as before.
    He had a good idea of what¡ªor rather who¡ªwas producing these feelings, but it didn't feel appropriate to confirm his suspicions just yet; therefore, he kept them to himself.
    As the jubilant day neared its end, with the sun's rays receding into the background, Grace and Cassius stopped in front of the gates to a large mansion. A winding path ahead of the gates led up to that mansion, which was situated atop the lip of a neatly trimmed hill. Though, despite the beautiful scenery of this isolated area in the outer parts of Hoshito, Grace's face seemed to lose a lot of its color upon seeing this home of hers.
    Puzzled, Cassius asked, "This is the correct location, right? I can check again if it isn't¡ª"
    "No, it's the right place. It's just¡­ it's complicated¡­" Grace's voice trailed off as she left Cassius's side, with the gates automatically opening up as soon as they sensed her presence.
    However, before ascending the winding path, she suddenly turned around and rushed up to him before pecking him on the cheek.
    Embarrassed, she mumbled, "T-Thank you again for today¡­! B-Bye¡­!!" She then ran up the hill, her face redder than that of a tomato.
    Cassius stood there, sword in hand, staring off with a blank look on his face. Although he knew of the tropes for events like this, he still hadn't expected it to happen to someone like him¡­
    While lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice the black miasma exuding from the curvaceous figure of a blonde girl draped in all black. She tightly clenched onto a tree, with her fingers pressing down so hard that the tree cracked.
    Abusing random inanimate objects seemed to have become her new hobby.
    'Gahh!! That damn cutesy whore! Doesn't she know that I have known him longer!? To do something so shameless with me right over here; just Gahhh¡­!!!'
    Aya pulled at her hair while silently hollering like a lunatic. Yet, it was in her lunacy that she let that dummy get away¡­
    "Noaarr!! I can't let him get away that easily¡­! He needs to be held accountable for this adultery!!" She jerked and bolted through the small forest that surrounded the fancy manor. To the wild animals in the vicinity, she appeared like a crazy yellow blur, with her aura spooking the hell out of them.
    By the time Aya caught up to his sauntering figure in the cityscape outside, something unexpected occurred. Three men covered in tattoos and wearing lascivious grins leapt out from a shadowy alleyway. They obstructed her path, and right before she could reach him no less.
    Her face twisted in annoyance, but that only seemed to further excite the men.
    "Listen, beautiful, you are going to come with us, okay~?"
    "We have some very high-end clients that would be interested in someone with your¡­ qualities. And you could even potentially make some good money if you do a good job."
    'Human trafficking?? And right in our neighborhood no less???'
    Aya's expression morphed into one of disgust. She tried to look past the men and find her stepbrother, but he was nowhere to be seen.
    "Cassius¡­"
    "Cassius?" The leading man smirked. "Is that your boyfriend or something?? If so, then you should just forget about him and let yourself succumb to the bliss of a better life!" He reached out his grubby hand, planning to catch a feel of that bountiful body that had been a feast for his eyes. 'We should get a taste of her before selling her off to the highest bidder!'
    Yet, before his hand could make it to her large breasts, a vein popped on Aya's temple as she planted a fist straight into his stomach, causing him to violently cough up blood. He flew backward like a cannonball before crashing into a grouping of trashcans, seemingly returning to his origins.
    The other two unsavory men slowly turned their horrified expressions away from their unconscious brother, only to see a face that was nothing like how she was at the hospital. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    With a voice colder than the depths of the abyss, she intoned, "If you don't want to spend the rest of your pathetic lives in a wheelchair, leave."
    "!!!" "!!!"
    ...

 Chapter 33 Cloak of Invisibility

    "Y-Yes!"Not a single one of the unsavory men still wished to mess with this insane lady and her crazy eyes. They raced over to their brother, lifted him up, and then bolted for the hills. However, after reaching a sufficient distance away, three lines of blood appeared on their necks.
    "Wha¡ª?"
    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*
    They collapsed to the hard pavement of an abandoned alleyway, their eyes rolling to the back of their heads, with those same heads rolling away right after.
    A cold pair of glowing blue eyes faded from an adjacent rooftop of the alleyway, with this event marking the first human lives Cassius had ever taken. Though, rather than feel repulsed by his own actions, he didn't feel much of anything. He could sense that their hands had been stained with an enormous amount of blood, with their nefarious actions likely extending beyond just their kill count.
    Taking care of them was more a matter of karma than anything.
    *Ding!*
    [You have killed a Lvl 1 Human!]
    [You have killed a Lvl 1 Human!]
    [You have killed a Lvl 1 Human!]
    "¡­So killing humans also gives experience points," Cassius commented casually as he glanced at his exp bar go up by an almost unnoticeable amount. "This will definitely make things more convenient in the future¡­"
    A cold, ruthless gleam momentarily passed through his piercing gaze as he repeatedly used Shadow Step to return to where Aya was brewing up a storm of frustrations.
    'She is far too kind-hearted to fully pull out the roots, even if it's with deplorable scum like them. But if we were to let them be, they would surely not hesitate to go after more girls, possibly acting more viciously than now. Disposing of them was necessary¡­'
    'And their deaths should be swept under the rug, considering the extensive criminal records that they certainly have.'
    'On the contrary, I could wind up receiving some unwelcomed trouble because of this, as the corruption in this country runs deep¡­ But that just means I need to become stronger.'
    As if to give him a bout of encouragement, the Idle Evolution System threw up another system notification.
    *Ding!*
    [Shadow Step (D-) has leveled up from (Lvl 1) ¡ú (Lvl 2)]
    Cassius's brows raised a bit at this pop-up. His other, lower-level Skills had already reached Lvl 2, with some even at Lvl 3, which made him worry for Shadow Step's progress. However, it seemed that a skill's level-up advancement speed was largely dependent on the rank of the skill, with lower-rank skills being far easier to level up.
    FWIP! FWIP!
    Cassius felt a sudden increase in his speed while using the Shadow Step skill. Its level-up had increased his speed while using it by around 15%, which was quite substantial when his base speed was hundreds of miles per hour.
    His figure looked like nothing more than an evanescent blur as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop.
    Before long, he had arrived atop a modest family house's rooftop. His shadowy eyes fell on the black-cloaked girl who was still grumbling over not being able to confront him, and all because of those stinky bastards!
    "Damn! I should have hit those scumbags more!!"
    Hearing her quietly shout like this put a small smile on Cassius's icy face. 'It seems like something has allowed her to quickly get over the trauma induced from that night.'
    He remained completely unaware that he was the cause of this change in his stepsister. She was just so irritated about him and Grace's interactions that her fears blew away into the wind.
    'If she encounters something like what happened with the Dark Ape again, and assuming she is stronger, then she should be able to handle herself just fine.'
    Cassius's fond thoughts of the fuming girl storming through the door of their house were swiftly interrupted by a couple of pop-ups.
    'Ding~!*
    [720/720 minutes walking around with the 'Full Newbie 1 Set'] - [?]
    [720/720 minutes carrying 'Newbie 1 Training Sword'] - [?]
    [You obtained 2 Stat Points in Charisma, 1 Point in Strength, and 1 Point in Endurance!]
    OOOM!
    Cassius suddenly felt a magical power wash over his body. It cleared his pores, made his appearance sharper, improved his overall aesthetic, and tightened his muscles. Moreover, it heightened the effectiveness of his lung capacity, making it possible for him to fight on for longer periods of time.
    "Although the struggle was real, at least the rewards are satisfying," Cassius said as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
    He lifted the Newbie 1 Training Sword higher in the air, feeling that it was significantly lighter than before. "With this level of strength, I should just barely be able to complete the Daily Quests without needing to waste a Status Recovery reward. However, if I want to keep on getting the Idle 1 Benefits, I will need to push myself further after a couple of days of stat gains." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    With that, Cassius planned to sneak through the front door and head up to his room to rest. It wasn't too extraordinarily late, so no problems should arise. Yet, just as he was about to open the house door, an unexpected system notification rang out. It was one that he had completely forgotten he was owed.
    *Ding!*
    [Your rewards for completing Main Quest 1 have just registered, which includes your bonuses from wiping out the monsters that escaped the E-Rank Sudden Gate.]
    [Reward 1: 3 Stat Points in all Main Attributes] - [Y/N]
    [Bonus Reward: Special Grade Item 'Cloak of Invisibility'] - [Y/N]
    Cassius had mild surprise color his features, yet he quickly adjusted and accepted the rewards, then watched as his strength increased by another wide margin. After making sure he didn't accidentally step forward and crash through a wall, he pulled up the details of the Cloak of Invisibility.
    [Cloak of Invisibility (SG)] - [Effectiveness depends on the power level of the user.]
    ¡ª[Become invisible as soon as it's put on. Invisibility lasts for 30 minutes and can only be used once per 24 hours.]
    ¡ª[Invisibility is only effective against those 2 or fewer Major Ranks greater than the user. (Pertains strictly to the Perception Stat) (Example: if the User has D- Perception, the User will appear invisible to anyone at or below the B- Perception Rank.)]
    ...

 Chapter 34 How... Lewd...

    Cassius's brows furrowed in interest. "This could definitely prove to be extremely useful if I ever encounter an enemy I can't handle. And it also appears to be useful even at the higher Ranks, though I don't know where its upper ceiling resides." He ended up storing the clear-colored Cloak of Invisibility in his Inventory Space, only planning to use it in an emergency predicament.After opening up the door to his house, Cassius realized that he had been idling outside for too long, as Aya stood right before him, arms crossed under her ample bosom. Her short figure, paired with her angry pout, made her look like a¡­
    "Pikachu¡­?" Cassius accidentally blurted out, which made Aya's pout all the more prominent. She lurched forward, grabbed him by the shirt, and pulled him through the door. Yet, rather than hit him as he expected, she wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his embrace.
    Before Cassius could voice his confusion, Aya mumbled softly, "Leaving me all alone for another girl¡­ and for an entire day no less¡­ You big jerk."
    "...Ha¡­" Cassius shook his head in defeat, then waddled through the dimly lit corridor, with Aya sticking to him like an inseparable sloth. "I promise I won't leave again without telling you first, alright?" he said warmly. Then his voice turned awkward. "Now could you please let go so I can walk¡­?"
    "Uhn-uh," Aya rejected. "Just a minute more. That woman had you all day, and you can't even do this much with me? Am I not good enough¡­?"
    Cassius heaved a heavy sigh before petting the dismayed girl's head, giving her the go-ahead to do whatever she pleased. A lovely smile graced her beautiful features as she rubbed her cheeks against his shirt, with small hearts and flowers seemingly leaving her head and bouncing off the exasperated man she was smothering.
    Yet, when Sasha, their stepmother, walked by with a drowsy countenance, Aya jerked back and pushed Cassius away. "M-Mother, what are you doing up this late?? I had thought you were already asleep!" she shouted in a low voice, her eyes erratically darting everywhere.
    Even in her groggy state, Sasha could clearly see the scarlet blush touching upon her daughter's cheeks. She looked between her and the unusually handsome youth standing in the doorway. A small, insinuating smirk played her lips into a charming crescendo. "And who might this handsome young man be, my little Aya~?"
    Aya's embarrassment was quickly replaced by confusion as she tilted her head. "...Mom, he's Cassius¡­"
    "Hello, Miss Sasha," Cassius chimed in. "We didn't mean to wake you, if we did. But I apologize if that's the case."
    His respectful yet distant tone was the same, his mannerisms were similar, but his appearance and height were not what Sasha remembered! There was no way this dashing young man was Cassius! And if so, what were he and her daughter out doing after curfew??
    "...Are you really Cassius¡­?" asked Sasha, no longer half-awake. Answering, Cassius said, "Yes, Miss Sasha¡­"
    Sasha's eyes widened in surprise. She took short, quick steps over to Cassius, sizing him up with her hands and eyes. After fondling just about every part of his chiseled body, a streak of black shrouded the expression she was making. A brief pause later, she muttered, "You're jacked¡­"
    Cassius awkwardly chuckled, "Y-Yes¡­" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "And you're supposed to be Cassius¡­?? How is this possible in a few short weeks¡­!?" Sasha's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she staggered a bit, finding it tough to keep her balance.
    She hadn't seen much more than her stepson's receding silhouette these past weeks, but little to no interaction with him had always been the norm. Of course, when she stopped by the hospital, she noticed the changes, but she just thought that to be temporary side effects of the truck crash. Yet that didn't seem to be the case¡­
    "Did this all happen because of your accident!?" Sasha spoke her mind. To which Cassius reluctantly nodded, "It's something like that¡­"
    "...Unbelievable¡­" Sasha wobbled to a wall, disbelief etched across her pretty, timeless facial features. Yet, when she felt a sudden surge of hostility come from her daughter, she turned and asked, "Is something the matter, dear?"
    Aya coldly huffed, "Nope! It's nothing, m.o.t.h.e.r!" She wasn't thick-skinned enough to just outright admit that she didn't like how her mom got all touchy-feely with Cassius. She hadn't even got to hold hands with him, and yet her mother was doing as she pleased! It was infuriating! Especially when that other floozy got even further ahead!
    Question marks flew around Sasha's head as she truly had no idea what her daughter seemed so irked about. To even go so far as to call her 'mother,' something she never did¡ªthat was when the pieces clicked and the clues came together. She rapidly flipped her gaze between her grumbling daughter and the handsome aloof man whom she had treated like a son for two years. Realization dawned on her as she parted her lips, unable to find the proper words.
    So she spoke improperly. "How¡­ lewd¡­"
    Even Cassius was slightly taken aback by Sasha's words, let alone the flustered tsundere mess that was Aya. Her face turned redder than a sea of blood as she rushed over to her mother to clasp her mouth, then she pulled her into the backrooms. Before disappearing from sight, Aya bit her lips while furtively glancing at Cassius, with her on the verge of tears. Using her eyes, she seemed to be telling him not to listen to a single word her stupid mother said. Then, with a door slam, she and the sexy milf in lingerie vanished into the backrooms.
    "Luckily, Dad is out on that very long business trip, or he definitely would have woken up from that," Cassius sighed, finding it harder and harder to live near two non-blood-related females. "Dad is almost always away on work for that mysterious job of his, constantly leaving me alone with these two. Though it wasn't a problem before, because of my fugly appearance, I have changed greatly since then. I should be more careful from now on¡­"
    ...

 Chapter 35 Rise of Charisma

    With Cassius's Charisma stat now at 25 and still on the rise, it was inevitable that those of the opposite sex would begin putting more focus on him. The system even went so far as to say (Could become an amateur model) right next to his Charisma stat. As such, Cassius had to be more mindful around family, though he had a bad omen about the direction Aya was heading in, especially when considering how she was definitely the one following him all day. He wasn't dense enough to not see what was going on here.Ultimately, Cassius heaved a tired sigh before deciding to let his future self deal with everything. For now, he would let himself get some rest, prepared to get up early the next morning for work. After that would be Gate searching with the 4D map he obtained from the Hunter Association receptionist.
    The very next morning, Cassius rose his upper half from slumber, only to feel something lumpy and soft beside him. 'It can't possibly be¡­'
    Yep, it was that clich¨¦. Sprawled out on the bed, pressing up against his arm, was the scantily dressed Aya. Through the almost see-through red blouse she was wearing, one could see her fair and tender skin. It shimmered invitingly under the rays of morning sunlight shining their glow down upon her, further accentuating her alluring mountains of milky pudding, as well as her slim stomach and plump thighs.
    Though, even with such a country-toppling sight before him, the only thing to pass through Cassius's mind was, 'How was she able to not set off my Perception¡­? Maybe the intent needs to be malicious for it to come into effect?'
    Bingo!
    'Well, no matter¡­ I guess I should just slip away¡ª' Was what he wanted to do, but Aya cutely rubbing her drowsy eyes quickly made him rethink his next move. For a moment, the two of them simply stared at each other, but when she looked at where his eyes kept falling, her cheeks turned crimson red from the bottom up.
    "Eek!" Aya yelped as she covered her melon-sized breasts and scooted over to the end of the bed. "Y-You didn't see anything, did you¡­?" she asked, appearing more like a defenseless puppy than the vixen who slipped into her stepbrother's bed in the middle of the night.
    "Did I see anything?" Cassius stared straight ahead, then lied without blinking, "Of course not."
    Aya breathed a sigh of relief, though she still looked quite aggrieved. "You promise¡­?"
    "I promise."
    Silence.
    The room seemed to get consumed by an air of solemnity as Cassius and Aya didn't know where next to take this conversation. Clearing up the confusion itching away at her heart, Aya said, "D-Don't misunderstand¡­! It's just that I had a nightmare about that day¡­ and I¡­ slept next to you because it felt safe¡­"
    '...It seems like she isn't as over that incident as I originally assumed,' thought Cassius. Though, if he were being honest, he didn't believe it to be possible for something as traumatic as that to be whisked under the rug in a single night.
    He sighed before extending his hands as if asking for a hug. Although embarrassed, Aya accepted the invitation and wrapped her arms around his muscular waist.
    Speaking softly next to her reddened ears, Cassius said, "I was just surprised when I found you laying here. But if you ever have trouble sleeping, you can feel free to welcome yourself into my bed. Though you might want to wear something a little less prone to slipping off." He chortled, faintly recalling the snowy white mountain tops that appeared through the loose collar part of her blouse.
    Instinctively knowing what he was thinking about, Aya pounded her cotton fists on his chest before murmuring, "Dummy¡­."
    "Yes, yes," agreed Cassius. "Even in school, I was not the brightest around. Who would've thought my ineptitude extended beyond just the books, though?" he joked, receiving a melodic laugh in return. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Aya's peach blossom eyes scanned the defined chest muscles she was sticking to, her blush deepening in response. She quickly burrowed her head away from sight, finding it difficult to even so much as endure his unintentionally burning gaze. However, though her cuteness was just begging to be teased, Cassius let her be.
    After a couple minutes of staying at a distance where they could hear the rhythm of each other's heartbeats, Aya finally let go. She averted her eyes from the face that only seemed to have become more striking. "...You have work to get to, don't you? I don't want you to be late¡­"
    "Oh?" Cassius debated another round of teasing, yet held back at the last second. "You are right, I have to earn my keep here. Don't want to be deemed an irredeemable bum and get kicked out of here, because then I won't be able to see something."
    "See what¡­?" asked Aya, curiosity brimming in her moistened eyes.
    Cassius smiled warmly as he leaned off his bed and let the resplendent morning rays hit his smooth skin. While momentarily stunned, Aya failed to notice when he replied, "If I get kicked out, I won't be able to see you anymore. Wouldn't that be unfortunate? My eyesight would be deprived at that point."
    When Aya finally got around to his words, her eyes glimmered gold as her heartbeat quickened. No longer able to take that smoldering gaze of his, she covered her face in her long luscious locks of gold before fumbling off the bed and scurrying away like a deer caught in headlights. Yet, before Aya fully vanished into the outside corridor, she murmured, "H-Have a good day at work¡­!" Then left for good, with a door at the end of the hallway closing shut immediately after.
    Once again left alone, Cassius wondered if he had said something unusual. He shrugged dismissively. "I don't recall saying anything unusual." While also completely forgetting about all the 'Be careful what I say around family' stuff from earlier.
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 36 Increase in Weight

    After figuring that nothing he did was wrong, Cassius walked over to the weights he had set in a corner of the room. He put on the whole 'Newbie 1' set, then got into perfect push-up form while looking like a taller, buffer Jackie Chan. His appearance was superior as well, though he wasn't one to gloat about something so superficial.Leaning low to the ground, Cassius began to count.
    '1¡­'
    Again.
    '2¡­'
    Again.
    '3¡­'
    Again.
    '7¡­'
    Again.
    '28¡­'
    Each and every push-up strained every muscle group in his upper body, as he had definitely been worrying about nothing when it came to obtaining the Idle 1 Benefits. It was clear that the Idle Evolution System would continue adjusting the weight of his Newbie 1 Equipment just enough to push him to his limits.
    If yesterday the 'Newbie 1 Equipment Set' had a total weight of roughly 1,500 pounds, then now it was around 3,000. It surely wouldn't be long before the weights became heavy enough to crush through the floor¡­
    Cassius was already surprised that it held up this long, but considering the nature of this new world, there were likely many improvements made to things like infrastructure compared to what they were in his previous world.
    After working up a sweat.
    Cassius let his body slowly fall to the ground. He could feel the fatigue that had built up in his body, yet he could also feel a lot of it disappear with each passing second. By the end of a thirty-second resting period, his body was ready to go again. From push-ups to sit-ups to squats¡ªCassius completed them all, and did so with¡­ extreme difficulty.
    'Everything looked so easygoing in novels, but reality is so different¡­ Haiz¡­ Why am I so unlucky¡­?'
    Even though Cassius thought like this, he learned to find a bit of joy in pushing himself to new heights. It made him feel a sense of accomplishment that he never was able to experience because of his extreme hyperthyroidism, which had barred him from even attempting to change himself for the better.
    It wasn't like Cassius hadn't still tried to work out even when he was told straight to his face by a doctor that no results would come from it. However, just as the doctor had said would happen, nothing he did made a difference. He still remained morbidly obese, with his appearance akin to that of a goblin's.
    Now, however, Cassius had the potential for improvement. And though it was incredibly tough and taxing on both his body and mind, he would still cherish and thrive on this chance.
    After finishing up all the inside exercises for the day, Cassius took a minute to recuperate, then he sauntered over to a different corner of the room, where a heavy wooden katana lay embedded in the ground. While picking it up and surprisingly feeling no difference in its weight, the Idle 1 Benefit rang out.
    *Ding!*
    [Idle 1 Benefit: 3 AP] - [?] S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "With that out of the way, I just need to swing 150 times, then get my work clothes on and leave before 6:30," Cassius commented, a small smile gracing his lips.
    With his Newbie 1 Equipment still equipped, he swung the Newbie 1 Training Sword around like a madman. Contrary to the day prior, 1,000 odd pounds no longer posed much of a challenge to him. It still pumped the veins in his arms and upper body, but it was nowhere near as coma-inducing as yesterday.
    Cassius made quick work of the swinging task for Daily Quest #2, then he wiped himself off and put on his modest work uniform while glancing at the system notifications.
    *Ding!*
    [150/150 Sword Swings] - [?]
    [15/720 minutes] - [_]
    After adorning himself in a buttoned dress shirt and a pair of long khaki pants, Cassius viewed himself in a nearby mirror. There, he saw someone with medium-length, slightly curly black hair, a thin nose, a chiseled jawline, and a pair of striking blue eyes that glowed with a docile lethality.
    For a moment, he was left standing there in shock. He knew that the Charisma stat worked in miraculous ways, but he hadn't expected it to make him look like a model straight out of a runway magazine. The difference between his self a few weeks ago and now was like the difference between heaven and earth.
    "It's no wonder Miss Sasha was unable to figure out who I was," Cassius commented casually as he rolled back his sleeves, unintentionally showing off his veiny forearms. "I really have changed¡­ both inside and out."
    His eyes glazed over as he took another moment to gauge his current self before heavily exhaling. His expression hardened, then softened. Walking away from the mirror, he approached the door to his room and opened it, only to once again be greeted by the charming sight of his stepsister in pajamas.
    Yet, like a deer in headlights, the moment she saw him, she ran for the hills, her soft steps on the stairs echoing through the house.
    "Hmm¡­" Cassius momentarily glanced at Aya's reddened figure bounce down to the bottom of the stairs and run toward the door, where she then made her flustered exit.
    After making it down the stairs himself, though in a far more relaxed manner, Cassius caught a whiff of a heavenly pomegranate perfume. He looked toward the source of this divine scent, his eyes quickly making out the backend silhouette of a voluptuous woman. Cascading down her curves was her bright golden hair, its strands shimmering under the rays of sunlight seeping in through the windows of the front door.
    To Cassius, she appeared kind of¡­ sad.
    Approaching the beautiful, dazed figure in a casual way, he spooked her a little, saying, "You worry a lot about Aya, don't you?"
    After the initial jolt, Sasha's flickering eyes of sparkling gold settled on the tall, handsome blue-eyed young man standing to her right side. Perplexion formed on her beautiful face as she thought about what he had just said.

 Chapter 37 We are Family

    A troublesome look marred Sasha's exquisite appearance as she let a melancholic sigh escape her perfectly parted crimson red lips. "It's not that I don't understand that she can take care of herself, it's just that¡­ Haiz¡­ Sometimes, it seems like she is struggling with something that she can't bring herself to tell me about¡­ She didn't even eat breakfast¡­"Cassius glanced over at the laid-out pallet of food on the kitchen table. Seeing a total of three plates on the table made him feel especially conflicted. It was also at that moment that he realized part of this whole ordeal was his burden to bear. He turned toward Sasha's saddened side view, prompting her to hold his smoldering gaze. Although still extremely taken aback by how much he had changed, she still listened to every word he was about to say.
    "Aya is a very hard-to-understand person, and she surely has many things troubling her at school," Cassius began with an earnest tone. "And though she believes it to be too much trouble to bother us about it, we are, after all, a family. As such, I will help figure out what has been happening with her summer school life."
    Looking at his sincere expression made Sasha feel a warmth that spread throughout her unholy figure. A kind smile soon graced her lips as her eyes domed into crescents. "I would appreciate that very much, Cassius."
    Cassius nodded. Committed, he said, "We are family; there is no need for thanks."
    "Mhmm!" Sasha's previously glum mood improved by leaps and bounds. Radiantly smiling, she motioned to the food she had prepared not too long ago. "Would you like to have some before you head to work?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Seeing that almost pleading expression on the face of someone possessing such mature beauty made Cassius's heart waver. He liked to arrive early, but denying Sasha now would surely break her heart. Realizing this, he cracked a wry smile and replied, "Sure¡­"
    "Good, good!" Sasha bubbled up in gleeful joy as she hurried over to the kitchen table in an oddly adorable manner, which greatly contrasted with her mature charm. "Please, come sit!"
    Cassius complied, and he quickly found himself dining on homemade biscuits and gravy, with his gorgeous stepmother watching his every movement with sparkling eyes. She seemed to be expecting something, and after understanding what she wanted, he wholeheartedly complimented, "What you made is extremely good, nearly on par with a top-tier restaurant."
    Seeing him speak from the heart with that gentle smile touching upon his abnormally handsome features made the jittery milf twitch a little in embarrassment. She wanted to hear his thoughts, but she hadn't expected them to be so heartfelt. It made her squirm a bit in her seat, with her plump butt finding it difficult not to slide off the edge. A hint of scarlet colored her features, with her round golden peach blossom eyes looking slightly off to the side.
    Not wishing to repeat his previous mistake with Aya, Cassius changed the subject. "So, where is my father at? Another business trip?"
    Reason suddenly returned to Sasha as she nodded, trying her best to conceal her grievances. "He told me he could be gone for many weeks, possibly not returning until after summer break ends¡­ I don't want to say this, as he is your father, but he has been acting¡­ weird as of late¡­"
    "Weird, huh¡­" Cassius could sense the loneliness in his stepmother's gaze, yet he could also see a weariness lurking about. "Maybe the stress from work has just been doing a number on him. I am sure that he will recover soon enough."
    "I hope so¡­" Sasha sighed deeply, with her hot, fragrant breath creating a wave of¡­ pent-up lust?
    Cassius couldn't believe it himself, but that was most definitely the case. Furthermore, it seemed like his stepmother became more and more restless the longer he stayed near her. His eyes suddenly brightened in realization. 'The Charisma Stat definitely affects more than merely my appearance. Just like all the other stats, it has its own side effects, and one of those likely has to do with appeal. This is also probably why Sasha flipped her attitude toward me in a complete ¡ã180.'
    Upon realizing this, Cassius speedily finished up his plate of food, which left Sasha feeling very pleased. Yet, when she saw him rush to his feet and make his way out the front door, a sense of emptiness filled her heart.
    "I will see you later, Miss Sasha. Oh, and thanks for the meal," said Cassius as he waved behind himself, a warm smile plastered across his face. "And don't worry about Aya; I will figure out what is vexing her so greatly."
    "Ahh¡­ Alright¡­ Have a good day at work," replied Sasha. A complicated look formed on her face as she twitched a bit, yet still maintained a friendly smile.
    However, in the last moments before Cassius vanished from view, she murmured, "...But you really don't have to leave so soon¡­"
    But, by that point, Cassius was already ten feet outside the driveway. And even with his improved hearing, he could not make out what Sasha murmured under her breath.
    He briefly looked behind for a moment, yet quickly shook his head and resumed his trot to work.
    Passersby whispered as he walked by, not only because of his superior appearance but also because of the wooden katana he held close to his hip. Many wondered if he was an actor heading toward a shoot. A few bold girls even approached him and asked for his snap or phone number, which he gave without further contemplation.
    It wasn't like he especially fancied any of them, even though they were pretty. It was just that they must've had a good reason for asking for his contact information. Perhaps they saw his sword and assumed he was a bodyguard for hire?
    Either way, Cassius couldn't just leave a bunch of obviously desperate girls to fend for themselves. Not after what nearly happened to Aya, or even with the hooligans that bothered both Grace and Aya.
    He was partly noble, super dense, and 100% an idiot. That was simply all there was to it.
    But along with power came change. And who knew just how much he would change over time¡­

 Chapter 38 Bookworms Paradise

    Cassius didn't consider himself to be someone righteous, but r*pe was definitely one of the few things that could tip him over the edge.Yet, it wouldn't be until later that night, when he received dozens of nudes and suggestive comments, that he realized what was actually happening with the girl number situation¡­
    The longer Cassius walked, the more attention he garnered from pedestrians, envious men, and swooning women. Yet, as if oblivious to it all, he focused on better balancing his body under the stress of so much weight. Even though his stats had improved considerably and the weight of each piece of Newbie Equipment hadn't changed much, it was still difficult to control his body the same way as before.
    However, during his ten-minute walk to work, Cassius felt like he had become more attuned to the conditions imposed on him by his Newbie 1 Equipment set. Incidentally, the veins all over his body bulged and multiplied, which attracted even more female gazes, but at least he felt more comfortable living this way from now on.
    A few minutes later.
    By the time Cassius ultimately made it to his job, the whole town had started spreading rumors about the handsome, rogue-like actor. None of them had ever seen him on TV before, but it was certainly possible that he was a rising talent about to make his debut. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    However, many people became confused upon seeing this refined man stop in front of a two-story bookstore. Sure, the place was quite nice and had a classical, historian feel to it, but why would someone like that go to a bookstore?
    "Maybe he is a fan of literary works?"
    "That could very well be possible¡­ But I had assumed that all rich, luxurious people lived lives having not ever known the feel of a book¡­"
    "Same¡­ But now that I know this, I can't help but find him even more¡­ attractive¡­"
    "Geez, woman! Can you stop being so damn thirsty!? It isn't even 7, and yet you're already slobbering at just the mere sight of him!"
    "Well, what would you know, you toad!? That man is a hundred thousand times better than you are!"
    "Hwa!?"
    Ignoring the pointless argument of a man and woman on the nearby street, Cassius walked through the front wooden glass doors of the 'Bookworm's Paradise' Library. A bell above the door rang, and the eloquent voice of a pretty black-haired girl drifted into his ears right after:
    "Welcome to Bookworm's Paradise! Feel free to peruse at your own leisure¡ª Wait, you look familiar¡­"
    The girl turned around a corner. As her neatly combed ponytail swung behind her, she closely scrutinized the extraordinarily handsome man before her.
    Suddenly widening her eyes, she blurted out, "Cassius!? Is that actually you!?? What happened¡­ Did you get some of that expensive plastic surgery or something??? You shouldn't have done something like that¡­"
    'Bella¡­' Cassius's lips raised awkwardly as he replied, "It's nothing like that, Bella. I just had another one of those late bloomer growth spurts¡­"
    Bella further narrowed her twinkling twilight eyes in suspicion. She had been hearing the same excuse for the past couple of weeks, but it just didn't make any sense! How could someone possibly change so drastically naturally?
    Though, in the end, she coldly sniffed. "I know you're keeping something from me, but if you don't want to tell me what that something is, then so be it. See if I care, humph!" She cutely pouted with her arms hugging the under area of her alluring breasts. "Just make sure not to lie your way through questions with other women, lest you end up single for your entire life!"
    Cutting short her pouting, Bella glanced past him and looked through the shop's windows. "Those people crowded outside¡­"
    Cassius looked behind him before refocusing on the black-haired beauty frustratingly tapping her perfectly carved feet. "I think they want protection services from me¡­"
    "Protection services? What does that mean¡ª" That was when Bella saw his pumped muscles, completely missing the intimidating wooden katana hanging in his veiny hands. "Have you been working out¡­?"
    "...You could say that," replied Cassius as he averted his eyes from that suspicious glare of hers. "I just happened to find out that I have a knack for gaining muscle¡­"
    "And this realization came before or after your repeated 'growth spurts'?" Bella further narrowed her eyes, not believing a single thing coming out of his mouth. Yet all she received in response was an awkward chuckle and the sight of her coworker and classmate scratching his neck.
    Bella huffed, displeased.
    She stormed away in a puff of smoke and made her way toward the second floor, where she got back to organizing the library's books from atop a tall wooden step ladder.
    Cassius, on the other hand, was left standing right beside the bookstore's front desk, with dozens of people staring at him from outside.
    He heard things like, "So the handsome actor is actually an employee here?? How can that be???" Yet he remained oblivious to the underlying context of the situation. Instead, he put his focus on the cart of used books that were bundled off to the side of the front desk.
    While returning those returned books to their rightful spots in the bookstore, Cassius's mind traced back to the stunning black-haired beauty who worked with him. He occasionally glanced at her industrious figure, wondering how exactly he wound up working directly alongside one of the five ravishing beauties of Hoshito High.
    'Ahh, that's right,' he thought as a light bulb flashed inside his mind. 'When I first started this part-time job three'ish weeks ago, Bella had started working here for the summer as well. Yet, when she first saw me, rather than avert her eyes like most people, she appraised me with her resplendent black globes and said, "You have honest eyes," then went to treat me like a decent human being.'
    'I still have no idea what exactly Bella meant with that comment, but she was the first person to not appear visibly repulsed at being in my presence. She even made an effort to speak to me when we were on the same shifts¡­'

 Chapter 39 Bella, the... Unusual Work Friend

    Cassius had a very fond view of the beautiful girl idolized by all in their school. And though they had never previously interacted with each other, he was sure that she would treat him just the same if given the chance.As the seconds turned into minutes, then hours, Bella ultimately descended from the top floor, appearing more like a graceful fairy than a human being.
    As a C-Ranked Awakener, it was only natural for her movements to appear otherworldly. In fact, it was because of the way she moved¡ªand a little bit of digging around¡ªthat scouts from major Hoshito guilds like the Black Sparrow Guild became incredibly interested in her prospects. Many times, she had been offered a direct high-ranking position in C-Rank guilds, yet she firmly denied all of them, adamantly refusing to become embroiled with Hunters and Gates at this point in time.
    Cassius had been a little curious as to why Bella seemed to steer away from all things Hunter-related, especially given her talents, but he decided not to pry. She appreciated this, which was likely one of the leading reasons she remained so friendly with him. And now, even after seeing that his appearance had changed so much, she treated him no differently than before, not caring one bit about superficial things like looks.
    From what Cassius had heard before summer break began, Bella was also this way around other students. This sometimes annoyed the generally attractive people who approached her in hopes of using their appearances to get closer to her.
    Even excluding Bella's immense beauty, she was still a C-Rank Awakener and the daughter of the chairman of a large Hoshito conglomerate. Her family's and business's influence extended far beyond the small town of Hoshito, yet she still deigned to work part-time at a humble bookstore.
    "She is truly something special," Cassius murmured fondly, his eyes respectfully tracing the immaculate curves of the black-haired fairy.
    Bella's small ears twitched cutely as she eyed the devilishly handsome man holding a wooden sword. She was going to ask if he had said something just now but quickly changed her mind when she noticed the sword in his hand.
    "What are you doing with a sword at work? Do you believe yourself to be a samurai or something?"
    Watching such a short, pretty girl berate him made Cassius overlay her image with that of an angry squirrel. "She is surprisingly cute," he accidentally blurted out. And for the first time since they'd known each other, he was able to see a charming blush grace her small features.
    "Y-You're getting ahead of yourself as of late, humph!" Bella coldly sniffed before turning her head to the side.
    No longer wishing to see that stupid face of his, she turned on her heel and walked off.
    "There are an excessive amount of customers in here because of you, so you'd better do your job properly!" she shouted softly, yet added, "B-But don't push yourself too much¡­" before briskly taking her mock steps of fury back to the wide second floor.
    A spark of confusion passed through Cassius's striking blue eyes as he wondered what had gotten into her all of a sudden, utterly unaware of what he had let slip out of his loose-lipped mouth.
    'Maybe Bella doesn't like so many customers in the shop?' he thought keenly. 'But she already has quite the fan base in this town because of her slightly cold yet caring personality, which only further increases the appeal garnered from her riveting appearance.'
    'I highly doubt that the¡­ girls coming in here for bodyguard consultations outweigh the sheer quantity of people that swarm here on a daily basis to catch a glimpse of Bella¡­'
    Cassius's eyes were suddenly pulled away from the sight of dozens of fawning men surrounding the focused beauty, instead falling on the dozen or so women huddled around the book aisle he was working on. They whispered and giggled among themselves, making sure to savor their quaint bookstore eye candy for the rest of the day. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I had no clue such a cute boy was working here! We should definitely come back again!"
    "Hehe~! If you think just looking at him is enough, wait until you hear that he gave me his phone number when he passionately locked eyes with me two blocks away!"
    "You did what!? He actually gave you his number!? I'm so jealous!"
    Envious stares.
    "H-Hey, come on now! Don't look at me like that! I really won't give it to you!"
    "Don't be like that! Just hand it over, Vicky!"
    As several women quietly tangled with each other in a game of grab and flee, Cassius finished up his aisle. Yet, when he went to work on organizing the next aisle, a dainty painted hand suddenly met his. He jerked back instinctively, with the same thing happening to the hand that touched his.
    Yet, when he saw the owner of that delicate hand, his brows raised slightly. "Grace? What are you doing here?"
    Upon seeing a face that had only become more handsome since she last saw it, Grace's eyes lit up in effulgent joy.
    She snatched his hand back to hers and beamed. "I never would have thought I'd be fortunate enough to meet you again so soon! And just as I was fidgeting while wondering if I should take out my phone and call you!"
    However, when she realized how forward she was being, she reluctantly let go of his hand and recoiled a few steps. "I-I didn't mean to do that¡­ I-It's just that I was excited to see you¡­ I even came to this bookstore because you said you were an avid book reader¡­"
    She murmured the last part, but Cassius could clearly hear it with his Perception stat.
    He held his hand to his face and chortled a little, then laid a warm hand just between the imaginary bunny ears sticking up from her head. "I have been thinking about you as well, but I just wasn't sure that you wanted to talk to me so soon after we last met up¡ª"

 Chapter 40 Protecting Ones Husband!

    "How could that be!?" Grace spoke uncharacteristically loudly, yet still held her ground. "You can contact me at any time! I will always be on the other end to answer! That is the least I can do after you saved¡­ my life¡­" She sniffled a little as her ears drooped.She recalled the terrible condition he was in after pushing her out of the way of that large truck. The memory made her feel terrible.
    *Pat, Pat.*
    Grace: "???"
    Cassius's pats came down softer and more caring as his already kind smile became even kinder. "Adorable you are; a burden you are not," he said in a voice mimicking a certain green-colored wizened master. "Silly you are being; Not silly you should be."
    Grace's beautiful face cracked into a wide smile, then outright laughter as she found what he said to be both sweet and unbelievably funny given the serious atmosphere. "...Hah¡­ Yo-You¡­ I-I think I might really like you¡­! I might like you a lot, a lot!"
    Under the peal of uncontrollable laughter and the vexed ramblings of the women still watching him, Cassius was unable to catch what exactly she said.
    "I think I might really fight you?" he parroted as best he could. "Is that what you said? But why would you want to fight me¡­? Maybe it's because of the sword?"
    Flustered, Grace nervously waved her hands in front of his face. "N-No, that isn't what I said¡­! J-Just forget all about it! All about it!" Her skin turned as red as a beet as she clasped his mouth with her hands, utterly unaware of their seemingly intimate skin contact.
    However, even if Grace herself hadn't realized what she was doing, the owner of a pair of unusually swirling black eyes discreetly honed in on the hand movements of the meek brown-haired girl.
    Bella's grip on the staircase tightened considerably, nearly shattering it, while her blackened eyes became even darker. Unknown thoughts bounced around inside her head as she put an index finger to her chin.
    Unbeknownst to all the die-hard fans gathered around Bella, an evilness tugged at her lips, briefly morphing her face into something overflowing with long-since concealed obsession and possession.
    '...I had assumed the seal placed on his body to degrade his appearance and decrease his ability to lose weight would have lasted until adulthood, but¡­ it seems that is no longer the case¡­ The seal is weakening, which likely means that he will soon regain the unearthly charm that he had as an infant¡­'
    Bella's eyes swirled dangerously as a black miasma seeped out of her seemingly benign visage. She secretly grated her teeth in anger, her frustration and killing intent growing the more Cassius interacted with Grace.
    'It's bad enough that the seal I asked my father to place on him is beginning to break, but to also have all these f*ing bitches tainting his presence with their cow tits¡­!! Damn it!!! My Cassius, near those bitches!! I won't allow it!!!'
    Bella had meticulously planned everything out from the very beginning, even going so far as to conceal her true age and secretly repeat grades. She ensured that not even women with the lowest standards would fall in love with her man. And just as she had followed him to this bookstore and pulled some strings to get a job here, all in hopes of prematurely finalizing their soon-to-be marriage, Cassius's seal had to go and start cracking!
    'Daddy had promised me that my Cass's seal would last until he turns 18, but it seems that was all a big fat lie!! Goshdammit!!!'
    Bella wanted to race over to the bothersome bitches¡ªespecially the cutesy brown-haired one¡ªand slaughter them all. But she knew very well that, even if she used her family's power to cover up the legal consequences, her husband would begin to see her as some sort of monster. She wasn't a monster! She just loved him so, so, so much!!
    Bella had been stalkin¡ª protecting her husband since he was in diapers, making extra sure that no whores could slip through the net and see the true him. Yet, during the few weeks that she had important business to attend to and couldn't actively stal¡ª protect him, he had somehow become closely acquainted with a damn vixen!
    'How could this have happened!? When!? I don't understand why!! After all that I have done to ensure that he becomes mine through marriage and our family's blood ritual, something like this occurs mere months before he turns 18!?'
    Since the very first moment Bella caught sight of baby Cassius when she was but five years old¡ªduring a meeting his real father held with hers¡ªshe immediately knew that there would be no one else in the world for her. His looks, even as a baby in diapers, were at the level of the gods. Just a flutter of one of his baby eyelashes was capable of inciting mass indoctrination. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It was also because of his appearance that everyone else Bella met in the world looked exactly the same to her¡ªbland and plain.
    The only one for her had always been Cassius, so she pleaded with her father to do away with his appearance, potential power, and anything else that could make him seem appealing. And after the mysterious Adam Steele suddenly disappeared one night, she was finally able to get her wish with the help of her father.
    Then came all the many years of planning, which should have led to a happily ever after¡ª
    'Yet, what is all this shit!?' Bella's expression became explosively livid as she watched some dumb bitch fawning all over her Cassius. 'I want to kill her¡­! He's mine, he's mine! I want to kill her! I want to kill her! HE'S MINE!!!'
    She was nearly on the verge of losing it!
    Her dangerously sharp fangs gleamed under the bookstore's romantic glow. Yet, before she exploded before the watchful eyes of so many people, she took a deep breath and calmed her twitching face.

 Chapter 41 A Yandere

    'It was bad enough that my Cassius suddenly got a stepmother and stepsister out of nowhere, but if anyone knows Cassius best, it's me. And I know he would never attempt anything with family,' Bella thought evenly, trying her best to assuage her growing fury. 'But now that his appearance has partially returned, things have changed¡­'Black streaks covered her scary face, hiding beneath them two bottomless abysses. '...I will truly have no other choice but to¡­ kill them. Every single one of them.'
    For but a brief instant, Bella morphed into a vampyric devil capable of eliciting absolute fear from the toughest of morsels. Yet, as quickly as it came, it disappeared just as fast.
    After a couple of minutes of conversing with the mellow-toned Grace, Cassius bid her farewell under the promise of taking her out again on their next day off. Bella, of course, saw this but did her absolute best to hold back her anger, instead replacing her livid expression with a friendly one.
    With her 'face' put on, she made her way back down to the first floor, where she then came face-to-face with her hardworking coworker.
    "I see that you have been getting around as of late!" Bella raised her voice as she patted him on the back, causing him to stagger forward, even with the weights on his body weighing him down. "Not only are you lying to me, but you're even secretly dating a cute girl! You sly dog~!" 'I'll kill her.'
    Cassius felt something off but couldn't quite put his finger on what that something was. Ultimately, though, he shrugged his shoulders and neutrally replied, "She isn't my girlfriend. We met by chance after my accident, and then we met up afterward to wander around Hoshito."
    "Is that so¡­" 'I'll kill her. I'll kill her. I'll bloody kill her!!! Wait¡­ Did he say accident? What accident??'
    Approaching this topic as best she could, Bella worriedly asked, "Accident?? Could it be that you got hurt over the last period of time??? Quick, let me see¡ª I mean, since we are on break, I am open to hearing about this incident of yours¡­" She nearly let a part of her true self slip, yet caught herself just in the nick of time.
    Cassius was really starting to feel this ominous, foreboding feeling itching at the back of his brain, but he couldn't quite figure out what irked him so.
    'It's probably nothing¡­'
    His Perception Stat was not yet high enough to discern every minute detail and change of a crafty person, hence it was only natural that Bella's nuances eluded him. Yet, to answer her question, he briefly explained to her what happened leading up to his accident and the brief period afterward. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    He could've sworn that he heard the faint sound of gnashing teeth toward the end of his retelling, but he also seemed to feel an intense unease and worry assault his senses.
    Cassius's first thought was that Bella was directing these barely discernible emotions toward him, but he quickly dismissed that thought as soon as it arrived. He and the school beauty were not anywhere close enough for something like that. Yet that was also when he felt that ominous feeling again.
    Taking him out of his thoughts was the crisp, melodic voice of the girl before him. "I am sorry that all happened to you. Just let me know if you require any help from here on out; I will assist to the best of my abilities."
    "Yes¡­" Cassius replied, a bit of perplexity lingering in his pearl-blue irises. "Thanks for saying that. I will keep it in mind."
    Bella nodded in casual friendliness, then bowed her head slightly and walked away. She went back to conducting her work, whereas he was left standing there, feeling that something was incredibly off about that whole interaction.
    Yet, even with extensive contemplation, Cassius was unable to properly articulate his unease.
    Meanwhile, Bella stood above a wooden staircase with a mock smile etched onto her beautiful face. Under the gawks of her 'fans,' her thoughts blazed into dangerous territories.
    'I will have to kill all the damn vixens! That is the only way I can steer the train back on track!!'
    A creepy, malevolent giggle slightly escaped her moist throat. Yet she expertly concealed it with a cute hiccup that sent the hearts of the watching men aflutter.
    Ignoring the pestering gaze of a bunch of worms, Bella continued her train of thought. 'Once the bitches are dead, it will only be me in my Cass's world¡­! And with his 18th birthday fast approaching, our marriage and blood contract will be cemented in stone!'
    Bella suddenly recalled the matter of his loosening seal, prompting her face to lightly twist in anger.
    'My naive and innocent Cass could fight against the idea of the permanent blood contract, and it is unknown just how much of his power and potential he will regain before he turns 18¡­ Even though I'm confident in my strength when compared to all these blood bags, my husband is not like them¡­'
    Bella's expression briefly emulated her complete infatuation, yet it was quickly overwhelmed by an unhealthy level of darkness.
    'Even if it comes down to it, I'll just need to force him down and explain everything to him afterward. He will surely understand why I did everything I did as long as I carefully explain it to him¡­! He must! It's just me and him in this world, so what I know is something he will understand wholeheartedly!!!'
    With his enhanced hearing, Cassius could've sworn that he heard an insane peal of laughter resound from somewhere. However, with it disappearing in less than an instant, he had no time to track it back to its source. But with work about to end for today, he decided to cast the inexplicable matter aside and quicken his pace.
    His hands flitted across the bookshelves as he hastily grabbed returned books off a cart and precisely placed them in the right spots.
    To the onlookers, however, his movements were akin to streaks of lightning dancing to and fro from location to location. They had never seen anything quite like it, as it could only be described as a beautiful symphony of the hands.

 Chapter 42 A Confused Stalker

    For a long while, the stylish girls were left awed by the effortless display of suaveness by a young man who looked like he was preparing to take the lead role in a movie. Bella noticed this out of the corner of her eye, as she was always stealing glances at her man, but this only served to further solidify her goal to murder all the bitches who even so much as looked his way.Yet, there was also a part of her that was slightly astounded by the speed his hands flashed through the bookstore aisles.
    'Has Cass already begun nearing the C-Rank in terms of speed?? But it has only been, at most, four weeks since his seal started to weaken¡­! If he keeps progressing at this rate, then even I might encounter some trouble when he turns 18!!'
    Bella was seriously debating whether she should abandon the original plan and take him away by force right here and now. However, that was when she remembered that run-down father of hers.
    'My old man may be a pushover among the high nobility of Nightingale, but he is still a Duke-level vampire. As long as my hubby doesn't exceed the limits of this world by the time he turns 18, I can just have that old codger help me take him away by force!'
    As if she had figured it all out, Bella snorted proudly and placed an especially ostentatious book on the top shelf of one of the many shelves in the large bookstore. After sorting through a few more, she shot a glance toward where Cassius just was, only to find that his cart was empty, with him now pushing it and a few other carts back to the front desk.
    Knowing that those carts were the last of the major workload for the day made Bella's expression sour ever so slightly.
    Even though she knew it was inevitable that they had to part ways for now, it still greatly annoyed her to know that her hubby had become a delectable slab of steak to all of the blood-bag whores of this world. She wanted to kill everything again¡­ but she found herself achieving higher and higher levels of restraint.
    Bella was not usually one who knew when to take a step back, but for the sake of her happily-ever-after, she was willing to hold herself back. The last thing she wanted was her hubby's ire and hate, which would naturally materialize if she killed all the bitches before they could be bonded by a blood contract. Yet none of that would matter after the blood contract, because a deep connection would be formed between both relevant parties.
    And once her hubby saw her immense love for him, he would certainly overlook the murder sprees she would dish out!
    Although Bella was expectant of the future, she still wore a barely visible expression of extreme sadness when she saw Cassius clock out for the day. That was when she remembered her having the same hours as he did.
    Not willing to waste even a single second of her potential time with him, she pulled upon a gust of wind from a nearby window.
    "Woah!"
    "What's up with the wind in here!?"
    "I can't see my goddess!"
    "Where did that handsome actor go!?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The intentional gust of wind temporarily obscured the vision of everyone in the bookstore, and in the same instant that the store doorbell rang with Cassius's departure, Bella flashed from her spot. She moved so fast that not even a full afterimage could be produced in her wake.
    When she finally settled down, her elegant profile was already on the first floor, with the rest of her designated books somehow miraculously put in their correct places on the second floor.
    Bella's tremendous speed far surpassed that of even A-Rank Hunters, yet not a single person was able to determine that she moved at all.
    When her devout fans saw their goddess briefly passing on the baton to the ones taking the next shift, they widened their eyes in bewilderment. They were put in even more of a stun lock when they saw that very same goddess race out the front door and catch up to the handsome bastard from before.
    For once, both the girls and the guys felt the same about this matter, as they seethed in frustration, envy, and jealousy¡­
    ¡ª---------
    Meanwhile, a few dozen steps outside Bookworm's Haven.
    "Hmm?" Cassius's senses perked up, prompting him to turn his head behind him, only to see the stunning profile of his coworker. "What are you doing out here?"
    "What? Am I not allowed to leave my shift as well?" Bella coldly sniffed, then adjusted her pace to his, with them both walking side by side.
    They received many stares due to their unnatural beauty, but neither paid any heed to the attention. Rather, they were too caught up in mulling over what the other was thinking to care about things like the ogling gawks of passersby.
    Answering her, Cassius shook his head. "You know that's not what I meant¡­ I am just puzzled as to why you are following me."
    "Following you??" Bella snorted in displeasure. "You must really believe yourself to be quite the hotshot. Why would I purposefully follow you home? We are simply going in the same direction, as I have some business to attend to in C-block."
    Cassius nearly believed what she was saying, at least until she mentioned the name of his neighborhood. "How did you know that I lived in C-block?"
    He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, finding something especially off about the starry-eyed beauty.
    Bella's eyelids nervously twitched, but she concealed it with an apathetic harrumph. "I just happened to see your address on your application paper when you came in at the same time as me for your interview¡­! Do you honestly think that I would have any reason to follow someone like you??"
    "Someone like me¡­" Cassius's keen gleam quickly dimmed, instead replaced with a bit of glumness. "I guess someone like me would indeed not receive such treatment."

 Chapter 43 Youre more than just a Training Sword...?

    "A-As long as you're aware! Hmph!" Bella struggled to retort, finding it even harder to avert her eyes from him. 'It wasn't like I wanted to say something so mean, but if his confidence grows more than it needs to before our marriage, the bitches will be swarming him in droves!''Under no circumstances can I allow that to happen! Even if my hubby thinks less of me now, he will certainly understand why I did what I did in due time! S-Surely¡­'
    She couldn't help but feel hesitant about the way she was doing things, but this was not the time to be getting cold feet. As long as she could hold out for another few months without caving in due to her own behavior, then her lifelong dreams would come to fruition! Just a while longer!
    Bella and Cassius were quiet most of the way back, but somewhere in the middle of the trip, he recalled that thing he had to do.
    Turning to the ethereal woman beside him, his pupils registered something that astonished him. Yet, as if it were all just an optical illusion, the crazed expression and aura he just witnessed vanished without a trace.
    Bella tilted her head in confusion, seemingly wondering why he was looking at her as if he had just seen a ghost.
    "Why are you staring at me? Are you perhaps¡­ enamored by my beauty¡ª"
    "No, it isn't anything like that," replied Cassius. "I just thought I saw something there. But it must have been my imagination."
    "I see¡­" Bella's eyes flickered a little out of focus; she was doing her utmost not to show how frustrated she was over his response. That was when she noticed the uncertain look in his gaze. "Is there somewhere you need to be? We aren't in C-block yet¡­"
    Bella was hoping to spend more time with Cassius, but if he had to go, then it would only make her seem weird if she stopped him. And much to her dismay, he responded with a nod.
    "Yes, there is somewhere I have to go before returning home. I am sure that I have already kept you here for long enough, and my presence is likely making you very uncomfortable¡­ I know that you only trailed beside me because you thought it would hurt my feelings, and I appreciate it, but you don't need to do something like that again. I can handle things like that, just the same as always."
    Seeing that warm smile had Bella's heart beating like crazy. Yet she also felt a painful stinging sensation upon repeating his dispirited words inside her head.
    'I know that he is only this way because of what I did to him, but I still feel like such a monster¡­ Love really is so very agonizing¡­'
    She forced a perfect smile on her face, then said, "I have no idea what you are talking about, but if you have somewhere you need to go, then be on your way. I won't hold up your womanizing adventures any longer!"
    Bella spoke such things with a playfully disappointed expression, so it was no surprise that the weaker Cassius was unable to discern the truth of her feelings. He simply nodded before turning around. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "You are wrong," he said while waving behind him. "Someone like me can only wonder what it would be like to call a woman my own. Someone pretty and nice like you, perhaps¡­?"
    "Haah¡­ What am I even saying anymore?"
    Cassius awkwardly scratched his head before turning around a corner. However, before completely vanishing from view, he spun on his heel and looked at the indiscernible expression of the black-haired goddess standing a few dozen feet away.
    "Would you like me to take you home first? I have something I need to do, but I can make time if it's for you."
    Still utterly shell-shocked by what she had just heard come out of his mouth, Bella was left even more at a loss for words by the nonchalant sweetness oozing from his pink lips. She stood there, trembling in place. But with her sanity on the line and that irresistible man making his way back to her, she had to think fast.
    Covering her face with her hair, Bella waved her hands ahead. "T-There is no need for that! I am a C-Rank Awakener¡ªdon't you remember¡­?? Why would I need you to walk me home? Plus, it's not even past 4 p.m. yet! What are you¡ªmy dad??"
    Cassius stopped in his tracks, finding everything she said to make perfect sense. "I understand. Then have a nice rest of your day, Bella."
    "Y-Yes, I will. You as well¡­" Bella mumbled the last part, but he could still clearly hear it.
    'Although she is harsh with her words some of the time, she is too nice for her own good,' thought Cassius. 'I have no idea what that uneasy feeling was all about earlier, but it was probably nothing¡­'
    With that, he retraced his steps and once again turned around that corner, this time disappearing for good.
    Bella, on the other hand, was left in the middle of a desolate neighborhood street, with only the whistling wind and her thoughts to keep her company. There was also a black and orange cat prancing atop a brick wall, but it quickly recoiled and got the hell out of there as soon as it saw the deranged woman creepily mumbling to herself.
    None could understand what exactly she was saying, but it was most certainly a curse of some sort.
    *Achoo!*
    Cassius rubbed his nose after releasing a violent sneeze, wondering just who could be talking behind his back. Yet, after a second or two, he shook his head to disperse such distracting thoughts, instead putting all his focus on the matter he had been waiting for all day.
    "This will be my first regular Gate Experience, but I'm not really sure how I should actually go about it," he said thoughtfully, with the wooden sword by his side resonating for blood.
    "...What??" Question marks rose above his head. "You're more than just a Training Sword¡­?"

 Chapter 44 Main Quest #2

    "...You're more than just a Training Sword?" Cassius asked with raised brows, genuinely surprised.However, after half a minute of no response, he sighed in disappointment. "Seems you are not yet sentient, just bloodthirsty¡­ But who knows? Maybe that will change the more you and my Newbie Equipment get upgraded. Same thing goes for my Serrated Devil Blade¡­"
    Cassius briefly admired the intimidating tattoo etched across his right arm before pulling out a dotted holographic map. "Time to decide which one I should go to first."
    From what little he knew about the world of Hunters, the White Tier Gates correlated to the F-Rank, Orange for E-Rank, Green for D-Rank, and so on and so forth, with Purple Gates representing the A-Rank.
    Now, this begged the question: why was the highest rank only of the A-Rank? Naturally, this was because Gates became increasingly tougher the higher the Rank.
    To clear even the weakest of Purple Tier Gates would require dozens of S-Rank Hunters working together in seamless harmony. As for the strongest of Purple Gates¡­ Well, it was a good thing that Japan had only ever experienced those of the Mid-Tier. Unlike some more unfortunate countries, such as America or Russia, Japan came out on the luckier side of things.
    Yet, even though Mid-Tier Purple Gates weren't considered world-ending Gates, Japan nearly went extinct on more than one occasion.
    FWIP!
    While casually thinking about the different Gate ranks, Cassius vanished from his spot using the D- Skill |Shadow Step|.
    *Ding!*
    [|Shadow Step (D-)| leveled up from 'Lvl 2' ¡ú 'Lvl 3']
    Cassius's brows furrowed in interest, yet that didn't stop him from blurring to and from rooftops. Even though it was midday, nobody would pay any attention to a slightly abnormal shadow, especially when the shadow in question had expertly synced up with the shadows of the surroundings.
    As he inconspicuously raced through the neighborhoods of Hoshito, Cassius realized that the Gate he was aiming for was coming up. To the left, a few hundred meters away, groups of men and women in shiny armor were speaking a whole lot of nothing with one another. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The stealthy shadow in the distance had an exceptionally handsome man emerge from within, with his cold gaze scanning through the gathered Hunters.
    'The D- Gate known as the 'Kobold's Catacombs',' thought Cassius as his eyes traced up toward the small building-sized oval-shaped mass of green cosmic energies. 'Among D-Rank Gates, it can be considered to be near the very bottom of the barrel. But as opposed to a strong E-Rank Gate like 'Savage Jungle,' it is still leagues ahead in terms of both terrain difficulty and the strength of the monsters within. Monsters which will undoubtedly be Kobolds¡ªhuman-sized bipedal dogs that know only death and cruelty.'
    It was definitely the most optimal choice for someone's first D-Rank Gate, but it was still something that would prove a serious challenge if Cassius were to go at it himself.
    Acquiring a few teammates from among the Hunters gathered below was certainly an option, but they would no doubt be untrustworthy. And they were also likely to just hold him back rather than assist him. Furthermore, it didn't seem like the Idle Evolution System very much appreciated that thought¡­
    *Ding!*
    {[Main Quest 2]}
    ¡ª[Solo Conquer the D- Gate 'Kobold's Catacombs'] - [DO NOT get the help of any others.]
    ¡ª[If you do, the system will have deemed your character development as being lacking, thus creating weakness in your soul and body. As a result of this, you will lose a leg of your choice and experience 12 hours of horror in the Land of Nightmares! All to counteract the lack of character development.]
    [Reward 1: 2 Stat Points in Strength, 1 in Agility, 1 in Defense, 2 in Endurance, and 3 in Perception.]
    [Reward 2: 5 AP]
    [Reward 3: 'Troll System' Idle Benefit #2 will be unlocked.]
    [Reward 4: 'Are you looking to get face-slapped?']
    Cassius had a few things he was curious about upon viewing the rewards. However, he, more than anyone else, knew that the Idle Evolution System would never do anything that could be seen as coming easy to him.
    It was with a resigned sigh that he turned his attention away from the 2nd Main Quest Mission and the system itself, instead focusing on the quarantined zone below.
    'I saw it in the nearly identical set of memories of the previous me in this body, but it seems that it really is true,' Cassius thought keenly as he phased over a few more buildings before finding himself outside a small group of nosy onlookers. 'The Gates are like attractions in this world, with the government taking a carefree approach to the management of most Gates.'
    Looking around, he saw not a single government official or guard in the area. The only things preventing the citizens from getting too close to the Gate and accidentally getting sucked in were local police officers and a thick line of caution tape. Moreover, of the few officers that were there, not a single one had power greater than the F-Rank, with the majority of them not even having awakened.
    Cassius was intent on figuring out more about why the Gate security was so lax. Coincidentally, among the sea of busybody citizens grouped up outside the caution tape, there were those who loved to gossip.
    "Have you heard about the new law placed on the management of Gates?? It is said that our government no longer believes it to be necessary to prioritize higher manpower outside Gates, mainly because of the sudden increase in Purple Gates worldwide!"
    'How¡­ convenient of a conversation topic¡­' Cassius thought in passing.
    "Yep, our government, like many others, can no longer afford to station more powerful people outside the Gates that they use to farm materials. Like the Kobold's Catacombs, which has been repeatedly cleared by the Hunter Guilds, all of the other Red-ranked and below Gates have long since been left out in the open!"
    "Yeah, well, not like the government has to worry about anyone non-related to a raid going into a Gate. That is unless they have a death wish!"
    Cassius: "...."

 Chapter 45 Main Quest 2 Urgent Quest Upgrade

    Cassius found his eyes leaving the rowdy pedestrians and instead honing in on the strapped-up Hunters chatting away with one another. Contrary to the matter of safety, they were speaking as if everything was already in the bag, with them only needing to claim all the rewards."The Kobold's Catacombs!" A young man with spiky, unorthodox hair primed his long spear as he pointed it at the large green Gate. "This is our third time entering this Gate, and it is sure to be a breeze to conquer, just like all the times before!"
    "Haiz¡­" A robust, broad-shouldered man shook his head in exasperation. "It seems that Isaac is at it again. I keep telling him not to be so cocky. After all, anything unexpected could happen in a Gate, even in ones that have been cleared repeatedly."
    "Haha!" A pirate-like woman cracked a laugh at the big man's misfortune. "You really shouldn't bother yourself so much with Isaac, Squad Leader. He will always be so spirited, and I highly doubt that will ever change, no matter how much you nag him about it!"
    The Squad Leader heaved a tired sigh. "I fear that you are right, Jessica," he lamented. "But even if that is the case, I should still do my best to lead him onto a path that won't lead to his ruin."
    Jessica chortled at his chivalry but still complied with a nod before rejoining the rest of her teammates in formation.
    As one of the leading strike forces of the D-Rank Guild 'Hot Hawaiian Soup,' they had long since memorized the motions they should make before heading into another Gate.
    The Squad Leader, John, nodded in approval at his squad's coordination and ability to follow instructions even without being explicitly directed.
    Clearing his throat, he raised his voice enough to put his uplifting, husky tone on full display. "As you all are well aware, excluding the two newbies we have with us today, we have experienced this exact Gate before. So you should also know that the D-Rank Gate 'Kobold's Catacombs' needs to be cleared twice a day, and we just happen to have the second slot booked."
    "The dangers of this Gate are plentiful, as there will be Low E-Rank monsters like regular Kobolds, Peak E-Rank monsters like Kobold Elites, and then all the way up to powerful D-Rank monsters like the Kobold Chieftains and Kobold Warrior Lords. If we are fortunate, we might even encounter something stronger, such as the Mid D-Rank Kobold Titan boss monster! That would be far more lucrative to kill than the usual Low D-Rank monster boss, the Kobold Champion, which we faced the last two times we raided this Gate!"
    "All in all, we have come to better fill our pockets! And that means we need to give it our all in order to clear the Gate and take everything that it's worth!!!" he encouraged, occasionally glancing at a short black-haired Hunter, worry filling his heart.
    "HOOORAAAAHH!!!"
    Unaware of their leader's trepidation, the crowd of Hunters cheered in response, with all twenty-two of them marching behind him into the eerily crackling Gate. It was also during this time that a shadowy figure flipped his darkened hood up and slipped through the supportive swarms of pedestrians. That same shadow passed right by the police officers who were keeping the peace, and then with even greater ease, Cassius allowed himself to be sucked into the green Gate.
    The |Shadow Step| Skill had become an incredibly useful skill to him over this recent period of time. However, it was not the only skill that he had been working to level up, as any barely noticeable active skills and, of course, the passive skills, were being constantly performed.
    To increase the proficiency of a skill, one had to continue using it. Hence, it was only natural that Cassius burned through good chunks of his MP and stamina to ceaselessly improve his various aspects of existence.
    The Idle Evolution System would surely sing in praise at this admirable mindset. Most definitely.
    After passing over into the other side of the D-Rank Gate 'Kobold's Catacombs,' Cassius immediately noticed something unusual. Assaulting his nostrils was the faint smell of blood, but rather than it belonging to a Kobold, it smelled of human origins.
    It was also in this moment that he received another forlorn system notification¡­
    *Ding!*
    [Main Quest 2: Urgent Quest Upgrade!]
    ¡ª[Due to a freak change in the quality of Gate Energy in Japan, one or two Gates have suddenly and instantly had their ranks increased!]
    ¡ª[|D- Rank Kobold's Catacombs| ¡ú |D+ Kobold's Catacombs|] ¨C [It is recommended that the host learn how to roll.]
    [Bonus Reward 1]: 10 AP
    [Bonus Reward 2]: 5 Common Grade Evoballs
    [Bonus Reward 3]: 1 'Heap of EXP'
    [Warning! Upon failure to complete the Quest, you will¡­ lose everything but your life! But even if that unfortunate eventuality does occur, you might be able to earn it all back in the Land of Nightmares!]]
    "Learn how to wha¡ª" Before Cassius could even reach the reward section of the Quest, a blade gleam flashed out of the corner of his eye, aiming to cleave off his head.
    "!!!"
    Doing just as the system suggested, he tucked and rolled, just as he had seen characters do in Damned Souls games. Yet, even that was not enough to get him entirely out of danger. After the miss of the first strike, another one thundered down, this time accompanied by two more strikes. All seemed to stem from the same blade, yet all slashed out nearly simultaneously.
    Cassius immediately recognized a high skill level being used against him, which prompted him to use a signature skill of his own. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    |Shadow Step (D-) (Lvl 3)|
    FWIP!
    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
    The three consecutive sword strikes passed harmlessly through a tangible afterimage of their target. They collided against a hard, sleek rock surface, causing sparks to fly. With the dark space suddenly brightened, the mysterious attacker's savage eyes widened upon seeing an icy face appear directly in front of it.
    Yet, thinking unnaturally quickly and intelligently for a mere monster, it sidestepped its three-meter figure to the left.
    "It's too late for that."

 Chapter 46 Killing Kobolds

    "It's too late for that," Cassius said coldly, with the badass tattoo on his right arm having already transformed into a crimson glowing blade. While still holding onto his heavy training sword with his free arm, he slashed down using his entire body weight, which included the weight of his Newbie Equipment Set.SHING!
    Following a sparkling flash of bloody sword light, Cassius reappeared behind the tall, bipedal dog monster. His expression appeared rather displeased, despite the fact that the monster had multiple blood ruptures burst across its lifeless corpse.
    *Ding!*
    [You have killed an E+ Tall Elite Kobold!]
    [Experience bar moderately moved!]
    "With my Newbie Equipment 1 Set on, even a monster substantially weaker than I am is able to corner me as so," said Cassius. "If not for my speed being in another league, I might have had some issues without taking off my Newbie Equipment."
    Having gotten used to the sadism of the Idle Evolution System, he felt that it was only right to push himself at all times, even while in a situation like this one. This was why he felt compelled to keep his Newbie Equipment 1 Set and Newbie 1 Sword equipped. Unless death was a certain matter, he would try his best to hold on.
    "Now, with it dead, that means I can finally get one of those." Cassius's striking blue eyes fell on an orangish three-pointed glowing object embedded in the protruding rib bones of the mangled Kobold corpse. "That is definitely a Magic Shard, and it is of the High E-Rank, which means that it's worth upward of five hundred dollars. As far as I'm aware, something like this would normally be quite hard to come by in a Gate like this one. Yet¡­ there appear to be countless monsters just as strong if not stronger than this one here¡­"
    Cassius's perceptive eyes caught the personal energy aura signatures of hundreds of formidable monsters, with not a single one weaker than the one whom he had just faced.
    Realizing that a tough and prolonged battle surely waited in store for him, he quickly extracted the Magic Shard and collected it inside his Inventory Space before sharpening his gaze against the sudden appearance of several giant bipedal dog monsters.
    "GRGhhhh!!!"
    The same moment that their primitive roars reverberated through the lush forest environment, Cassius felt a wave of dread wash over him. It didn't stem from his own sense of terror, but because of the effects of Fear-inducing Skills, all similar to the ones used by the monsters in the E-Rank Savage Jungle Gate.
    Taking advantage of the period that their target needed to negate the Fear effects, the E+ Tall Kobold Elites lunged at him. Their hideous mouths were hung wide open, with their razor-sharp teeth ready to tear into some fresh meat.
    However, with a simple heel flick, Cassius evaded their yawning jaws, all while forcefully ignoring the effects of Fear through sheer willpower. The Tall Kobold Elites were still momentarily shocked over not tasting the deliciousness of human blood when, out of nowhere, a crimson jagged blade slashed the backs of their necks. Their eyelids closed for good in the very next instant, with the life in their eyes having already eluded the rest of their existence.
    *Ding!*
    [You have killed 4 E+ Tall Kobold Elites!]
    [Your EXP bar has greatly moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You obtained 2 AP!]
    [You received 1 Stat Point in each of your Main Attributes!]
    After feeling a lofty amount of power rush through every fiber of his being, Cassius briefly glanced at his system interface. He was pleased to see that he had finally advanced to Lvl 18. But with innumerable more monsters just waiting to fall under his blade in this D+ Rank Gate, he was sure to experience plenty more power-ups.
    BZZZzzzzttt¡­
    Hearing a faint buzzing sound come from his right hand, Cassius looked down. The Serrated Devil Blade was buzzing in a lively manner, with it seemingly trying to pull the blood of the Kobold corpses toward it.
    'Is it trying to evolve as well¡­?'
    Curious to see what would happen, Cassius let the blade do what it wanted, which led to an instantaneous blood spurt for the Kobold corpses. The blood trickling out of their injuries defied gravity and levitated in an upward diagonal direction toward the upright Serrated Devil Blade. And then, completely out of expectations, the blood splashed against the blade before seeping into its surface.
    "This is¡­ unexpected¡­" Cassius watched with a bit of awe as his tattoo blade absorbed every droplet of blood from the first and last four E+ Tall Kobold Elites corpses. "What will happen next I wonder¡ª?"
    Just as he asked that, a system notification rang out, which only served to further improve his mood.
    *Ding!*
    [|Serrated Devil Blade (D-)| has devoured dozens of gallons of E+ Common monster blood!]
    [|Serrated Devil Blade (D-)| ¨C |Attack+3| ¨C |Nears the Neutral D-Rank|]
    Cassius's brows raised in intrigue. "It seems like this Blade now has the ability to devour the blood of enemies, which it can then use to increase its own stats and potentially even rank up?"
    Realizing just what this could mean for the future, he decided to cherish the Serrated Devil Blade even more. "...Speaking of which, I think this is an appropriate time to give you a new name¡­"
    The Serrated Devil Blade vibrated positively in response, sending Cassius into a state of deep thought. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    After a few moments of quick thinking thanks to his Perception Stat, his eyes brightened like light bulbs. He held the sword closer to his face and tightened his grip. "Your name," he declared. "It shall be Lilith!"
    OOOM!
    Lilith erupted in an effulgent myriad of scarlet energies. For a semi-intelligent item Spirit, a name meant a lot more than a tag for which someone could call you by. It was something far more than temporary, especially when it was bestowed by the master of the item. Furthermore, it often signified the potential path that could be taken by the item and subsequently, by its master.

 Chapter 47 Devil Blade Lilith (D-Rank)

    *Ding!*[|Serrated Devil Blade (D-)| has evolved into the |Devil Blade: Lilith| and directly evolved to the (D) rank from the (D-) rank.]
    [Devil Blade: Lilith (Melee/Extend)] - [D Rank]
    |¡ª[Attack: ~37]¡ª|
    {[Effect 1: 'Bleed' - (Depletes 1.5% Health every second for up to a total of ten seconds. Can be stacked.)]}
    {[Effect 2: 'Serrate' - (Can partially negate the defenses of stronger opponents. Up to 35% Enemy Defense reduction.)]}
    {[Effect 3: 'Drain/Devour' - (Extracts the blood from corpses and substantially weaker living beings until they dry up like empty husks. Converts the absorbed blood into strength.)]}
    "Not only has the direct attack stat improved, but the first two Effects have become better, and the third Effect has fully solidified," Cassius commented with a hint of contentment. "I was a little worried that I wouldn't have anything to test the new and improved Lilith on, but it seems my worries were unnecessary¡­"
    *Rustle, rustle, rustle.*
    Dozens of fuzzy, gnarly heads emerged from the nearby dug-out cavern holes. Numerous E+ Tall Kobold Elites bared their bloody fangs, clearly returning from a prosperous hunt. They seemed satisfied with the human meal they had just shared with their superiors¡ªyet there appeared to be one human who lagged behind. And who were they to deny a free meal?
    Cassius's eyes glowed coldly. "Bunch of mangy mutts," he scoffed before collecting his Magic Shards from the scattered corpses.
    After calmly storing them all away, he shifted his gaze between the gathered E+ Tall Kobold Elites. He noticed the fresh blood drizzling from their disgusting mouths, almost instantly putting two and two together.
    His eyes flashed colder, yet he maintained his composure. 'Even if they were fellow humans, this is no longer my previous world,' he thought apathetically, his tone devoid of emotion. 'Surviving is no longer differentiated between race, nationality, religion, or ethnicity¡­ It is simply surviving. And those Hunters simply weren't able to survive.'
    Cassius unlatched the separate pieces of Lilith, letting them sway with a dangerous flow. "I, however, will not allow myself to die."
    "Graaghh!!!" Ten Tall Kobold Elites bellowed furiously, just now noticing the corpses of their fallen brethren strewn about. 'You will die!!!' they seemed to say as they rabidly leapt at him, sharp claws prepared to gouge out his throat.
    Yet, in the same instant that a good chunk of the Tall Kobold Elites cornered him, Cassius lightly spun his wrist, causing Lilith to whip around. Then, under the horrified eyes of the remaining twenty-five Tall Kobold Elites, the ten who ran out first were diced into bloody chunks. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    A cold gleam passed through Cassius's piercing blue eyes as he beckoned Lilith to visibly shrivel up the deceased Kobolds and absorb their blood.
    *Ding!*
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has absorbed several hundred gallons of E+ Common monster blood!]
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| - |Attack +2|]
    While glancing over the most recent system notifications, Cassius planted his feet into the ground. Then he blurred.
    When he left the speed stream, Lilith's jagged edges had already sunk into the skin of another fifteen Tall Kobold Elites. Just like the fifteen that came before, they too were squeezed of their lifeforce.
    POP! POP! POP!
    "Although you bunch are quite strong, you simply aren't¡­ fast enough," Cassius uttered while casually looking at the bloody catastrophe left in his wake. "I must commend you on your ability to continue fighting even despite the odds, though."
    "Rooorgghhh!!!" The remaining ten Tall Kobold Elites roared at the top of their lungs.
    Yet that made no difference¡­
    SHING! SHING!
    Cassius effortlessly spun his dominant arm around a few times, sending the magnetic pieces of Lilith spiraling through the tough outer hides of the Kobolds. Yet, as if they were as soft as pudding, Lilith's edges sliced through them, creating a magnificent bloody spectacle.
    Cassius's body cracked audibly as he relaxed, calming his immense speed. After assuaging his active cells, he searched through the corpses of the Tall Kobold Elites and collected their Magic Shards.
    During the same time, a couple of system notifications rang out:
    *Ding!*
    [You have killed 35 E+ Tall Kobold Elites!]
    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has devoured thousands of gallons of E+ Common monster blood!]
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| - |Attack +4|]
    Cassius's brows creased in slight disappointment. "No level up even after killing so many of them, and my bar is only a tenth of the way filled," he lamented. "...Well, I guess a level up arriving so easily wouldn't make any sense, especially not when it comes to this masochist system¡­"
    Speaking of the devil¡­
    Experience more content on empire
    *Ding~!*
    {[Main Quest 2 Urgent Modification #2]}
    ¡ª[Side Quest Add-on (D+)]
    ¡ª[The strike force sent by the Hot Hawaiian Soup D-Rank Hunter Guild has been wiped out by the unusually powerful Kobolds. But there was one survivor¡­ A young raven-haired girl who was secretly brought along to experience a 'safe' Gate by her father, the Squad Captain, John.]
    ¡ª[Save the girl known as Memphis, and be rewarded for your heroism with the tiniest bit less disdain by the system!]
    [Hint: She has been brought back to the Kobold King's Lair in the deepest depths of the Kobold Catacombs, all so as to service him and produce heirs. (Have a heart.)]
    [Reward 1: Slightly less disdain from the Idle Evolution System]
    [Reward 2: 5 AP]
    [Reward 3: The gratitude of a pretty girl who is about to awaken as an S-Rank Awakener] ¨C (Don't make this weird¡­)
    [Upon Failure: Just kill yourself at this point. You have no reason left to live in this world, you deplorable scum ^_^]
    Cassius's face maintained a blank look for a few seconds, as something inside him told him the system was judging him. 'Does it think I'm a perverted criminal or something¡­? Why is it always doing this¡­? Haiz¡­'
    Ultimately, he shook his head with a sigh and accepted the quest before sliding the screen to the right. He was quite interested in what a future S-Rank Awakener would look like, so he would have done it with or without the additional rewards.
    Though, they did wonders to soothe his poverty-stricken heart¡­

 Chapter 48 Lvl 21, {[Advent Devil (D+)]}

    After casually resolving himself to search for this missing and likely terrified girl in the depths of the Catacombs, Cassius ventured toward said depths himself. He sauntered through dimly lit intersecting tunnels, all of which ended up leading deeper and deeper into the land of the Kobolds. Of which he met plenty on his journey.Five minutes quickly passed.
    Our intrepid protagonist now sat atop a small hill of varying-sized Kobolds, some scarier-looking than others. He nonchalantly laid his chin against his fist, with his icy blue eyes glued on the changes brought about in his system interface.
    BLING!
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System] Continue reading stories on empire
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 21]
    [Title: Advent Devil (D+)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 2050/2050] [MP: 3400]
    [FATIGUE: 13]. [AP: 50] S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 51] (Try casually kicking cars. It might work.)
    [AGILITY: 91] (Mach 1. Produce air donuts in your wake.)
    [ENDURANCE: 46] (Try getting a woman, it might work out. But then again¡­)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 48] (Looking to obtain Sage status already?)
    [PERCEPTION: 50] (If you squint hard enough, you can probably see through a woman's clothing.)
    [CHARISMA: 26] (Experienced Model-level)
    {[Skills:]}
    [Shadow Step (A)(D-)(Lvl3)], [Muscularity (P)(F-)(Lvl4], [Slash (A)(F)(Lvl4], [Sprint (A)(F)(Lvl3]
    [Harden (A)(E+)(Lvl3)], [Extreme Fortitude (P)(E-)(Lvl3)], [Mind Focus (P)(F)(Lvl3)], [Tinker Tools (P)(F)(Lvl3]..... ¨C[Extend to see more¡­]
    _______________________________
    "My Title ranked up?" Cassius's interest was drawn to his Title section, where the Advent Devil Title now had a '+' next to it. "Now that I think about it, I never really delved into that Title. It kind of just appeared after clearing the E-Rank Gate 'Savage Jungle.'"
    Wishing to understand what this Title actually meant for him, he pulled up all relevant details, which led to another blue illusory screen materializing into view.
    BLING!
    {[Advent Devil (D+)]}
    ¡ª[Effect 1: Increased terror image before living beings of weaker strength]
    ¡ª[Effect 2: All blood stained on your hands leads to the improvement of a 'Killing Intent,' which surrounds your body at all times, unless you will it not to. (Will appear bloody and savage to others, and will become worse the more you kill. Possibility to stun weak-willed foes.)]
    Cassius was left speechless at the seemingly useless effects of his Title. "Maybe it will obtain better effects the more it levels up," he mused optimistically.
    Not wishing to think any more on the matter, he turned his attention toward the mercilessly glowing red eyes making their appearances in the burrowed holes placed throughout the Catacombs.
    "It seems like the fun has only just started," he declared in a tone bereft of emotion. He pulled Lilith out of the massive mangled corpse of a D- Kobold Lord, his eyes now peering through the darkness and spotting nearly a dozen similar Kobold Lords. "It's no wonder that the previous Hunter Party embraced death in these Catacombs¡­ But if you think I'll be the same easy prey, you are sorely mistaken."
    "Kakaka!!!" The Kobolds jeered in response, cackling through their toothy mouths. Drool and blood spewed out of those same putrid pits as they multiplied in quantity, all surrounding a prey that was far outnumbered.
    Cassius counted hundreds of E+ Kobolds, dozens of D- Kobolds, and one who sat in the back. This one was presumably in the D Rank, which would surely¡­ be fun to fight.
    "Tell me," began Cassius, his stalwart figure blurring in and out of view, "¡ªcan you even¡­ see me?"
    Fwooop!
    Like a blur of black and scarlet, the lone human vanished from the Kobolds' sight.
    Through many improvements to the Agility stat, Cassius had brought his speed to the very pinnacle of the D-Rank, only a few steps away from the C-Rank. Now, what did this mean for the unsuspecting Kobolds still smugly mocking the 'weak' human?
    SHING! SHING!
    "So, were you able to see me?" asked Cassius as he reattached Lilith to his arm, causing her to euphorically shimmer in response. Yet, after a couple of seconds of hearing nothing come back, he wordlessly huffed. "It seems I expected too much from a bunch of mutts."
    SPURT! SPURT!
    Hundreds of Kobolds burst into bloody fireworks in the same instant, all dying with satirical expressions. They left for the afterlife without even knowing how they died. That was¡­ besides one¡­
    "Oh?" Cassius stopped in his tracks, yet did not take out Lilith again. "It looks like you were able to see me¡­" He cocked his head slightly to the left, presenting a terrifying view for the Kobold Titan.
    It was a D-Rank monster that had lived knowing it was one of the most powerful beings among the Kobold ranks. Other than its King and a couple dozen other strong Kobolds, it should have been the undisputed strongest Kobold around! Even when it came to the previous overconfident party of Hunters, all it needed was itself, a few Kobold Lords, and a Kobold Champion to overwhelm them!
    Now, here it was¡­ struggling to merely keep its balance after enduring an onslaught of unbelievably swift and sharp slashes. It felt its skin peel off and its blood gush out. Yet, more than that, it felt an indescribable sense of terror upon watching the tiny humanoid figure cloaked in black. Its pupils dilated and shook erratically as it staggered backward.
    The Kobold Titan didn't know why, but seeing that monster slowly approaching it with eerily glowing blue eyes scared the wits out of it! How could something with no aura possibly be so powerful!? All of its forces had died in an instant, and the only thing it saw were the apathetic afterimages that phased through the area, following death after death!
    "Why are you just standing there?" Cassius stood just below the towering figure of the five-meter Kobold Titan. Suddenly realizing something from the excessive perspiration of the Kobold, his lips curled up into a scarily amused grin.
    "...Are you perhaps¡­ scared?"
    "!!!"
    The Kobold Titan stumbled backward, crashing into the stone wall closest to it. Pure fear was etched across its animalistic features, yet that didn't stop the soft, thunderous footsteps from ringing out louder in its ears!

 Chapter 49 The Kobold King

    Cassius had originally contemplated taking off a couple of his Newbie Equipment 1 pieces after seeing that the Kobold Titan had survived. But it looked like his contemplation was unnecessary. The Kobold Titan had only survived due to a miraculous bout of luck, and because none of his attacks had hit its vitals.Now, however¡­
    "Tell me," Cassius repeated as lightning crackled beneath his soles. "...Can you even¡­"
    FWIP! SHING! SPURT!
    "¡­see me?"
    Without even taking out Lilith, Cassius blasted through the other end of the Kobold Titan using the momentum behind the front end of his Newbie 1 Training Sword. Somehow, the wooden sword emerged from this gruesome display without a single scratch on it.
    Cassius's eyes flashed with momentary disappointment. "It seems that, in the end, you never really could see me," he muttered before disappearing from the area, taking with him the Magic Shards of all the surrounding corpses.
    While he ventured further and further into the perilous caverns of the dangerous D+ Gate, a young girl of around sixteen was being carried through various rocky corridors. Tears streamed down her face, the dread having long since settled in. Stay connected with empire
    Memphis realized very early on that resistance was futile, as the massive Kobold lugging her around like a pinto bean had¡­ killed her father with a single strike.
    She teared up more upon thinking of the cruel way her father had been split in half. However, nothing seemed to come out, as her tear stock had run dry. It was also this event that made her realize the grim truth of the situation.
    Memphis believed everything that had happened was her fault¡ªfrom the courageous death of her father after protecting her to the way she begged him to give her this opportunity to see what a Gate was really like. Every moment after they were first ambushed by abnormally powerful Kobolds had been filled with regret. She should have never come into the Gate. She should've just enjoyed her summer days off.
    'M-Maybe¡­ Maybe if I never came, my dad and his friends wouldn't have¡­ died¡­'
    Memphis's depressing thoughts swirled around unrelentingly as the D+ monster known as the Kobold Goliath General brought her to a large metallic door. It stood in at dozens of meters tall, with deathly skulls embedded into the metal that made up its surface.
    After a brief moment of silence, the door slowly creaked open, and the Kobold Goliath, along with the other high-ranking Kobolds, began their trot into the space beyond. Large torches lined the lumpy stone walls of an area that stretched forward for a seemingly infinite distance. Yet, within minutes of walking through the hallway, the Kobold Goliath and the others reached a wide, spacious area with an even greater number of torches illuminating the surroundings.
    As soon as a three-meter, imperious figure sitting atop a bloody throne came into view, the Kobold Goliath and the other Kobolds hit the ground and bowed.
    The Kobold King raised his awe-inspiringly sturdy hand, commanding them all to rise, which they did.
    "What is this?" A deep, profoundly savage voice resounded through the gory throne room. Just his voice was enough to spike fear through the hearts of all the Kobolds, though a few of them managed to suppress their fear outwardly.
    Speaking up, the Kobold Goliath addressed its King in the Kobold tongue. "I have brought you a concubine, my Lord! This female human is very beautiful and will surely make an excellent addition to your collection!"
    "As the mightiest King of the Kobolds, you can never have too many lovers! And with those annoying races outside preventing your greatness from taking whomever you please, otherworlders like these are perfect for someone as magnificent as the King!"
    The Kobold King tapped his throne in interest. "Is what you say really the truth? Is she one of the most beautiful among the humans?" he asked, his tone brooking no falsehoods.
    The Kobold Goliath vehemently shook its head, sweat raining down its hideous, dog-like face. "I am positive that this one is among the best that the inferior human species has to offer! Here, I will present her before you, sire!!" An obsequious smile emerged on its face as it picked up the despairing girl with a single hand and placed her a few dozen feet away from its King.
    Even from such a distance, the Kobold King could clearly make out the exquisite facial features of the girl who had lost all hope. He repeatedly nodded, pleased with what he was seeing. "It looks like you were right this time, Goliath. But why is it crying?"
    The Kobold Goliath threw a menacing glare in Memphis's direction, causing her to shudder in immense fright. She truly felt she was better off dead. Although she couldn't understand what these horrid monsters were saying, the intent was practically tangible.
    For most of Memphis's life, her father had always told her to preserve her purity for the man she truly loved and wait until after marriage. She had adhered to those words until now, even after receiving more confessions at school than she could count. Yet now¡­
    Memphis's grayed eyes flickered in absolute horror as she noticed the presence of lust in the enormous eyes of the Kobold King. The monstrous creature scanned her from head to toe, its expression gingerly glazing over as it took in more. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It had to admit that, of all the human females it had captured, she was the most marvelous.
    Answering the King's question, the Kobold Goliath stuttered nervously, "M-My Lord¡­ You know how these fragile creatures are. They cry over anything¡­" Feeling something life-threatening in the King's expression, the Goliath hurriedly added, "B-But, of course, my Lord, if this worm knew it was you whom she would be servicing and bearing children for, she would be beyond overjoyed!!"
    "Hmm¡­" The Kobold King calmed his killing intent, instead refocusing on the sorrowful human female. An invisible force suddenly pulled his lips into a crude, sadistic grin. "Well, I really don't mind if they are crying, or even if they are resistant. After all, it is far more fun when they struggle! Jajaja!!"

 Chapter 50 Memphis, Facing the Kobold King

    A peal of boisterous laughter silenced the fears of the Kobold Goliath and any others who might've gotten caught in the crossfire of their king's short temper. They heaved sighs of relief, and when their king nonchalantly waved them off without even looking their way, they immediately took their chance to skedaddle. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.However, just as they were about to vacate the pungent throne room, the distinct sound of sword clangs echoed in from outside. And then, with none of them knowing better, seven High D-Rank Kobold Royal Guards crashed through the throne room doors! They blasted all the way to the steps of the Kobold King's throne, with their massive bodies and faces battered beyond recognition.
    No life was left in their bloodless husks.
    The Kobold King was about to dine on the small girl, wearing a disgusting look on his face, when he abruptly froze in place. Slowly, he turned his livid expression toward the source of the disturbance. Wrath washed over every fiber of his being as his slitted eyes visibly lit aflame.
    "Who dares create trouble in my Royal Throne Room!? Are you wishing for death!? Even the Orcs of the East and the Lizardmen to the West know not to come here and do as they please unless they have a death wish!! So, who are you and what faction are you from¡ª!?"
    That was when the Kobold King saw the relatively short silhouette of a smoky, hooded figure. The figure held onto the gigantic head of a D+ Kobold Royal Guard, with his deathly blue eyes searching through the unfamiliar environment for something. Blood constantly leaked out of the Royal Guard's corpse and magically seeped into the surface of a terrifyingly sharp blade. This left the Kobold Royal Guard in the same shriveled-up state as the others.
    As everything in the throne room was still taken aback by his out-of-the-blue appearance, Cassius finally found who he was looking for. He also saw a smaller Kobold in possession of a presence that far outweighed the rest of the scrubs in the extremely wide room.
    "Are you the boss monster?" he casually asked, not caring a single bit about the venomous glares emerging among the Kobold extras. Yet, all he received in response to this silence-shattering question was a bunch of unintelligible grunting and bellowing from the three-meter Kobold.
    Realizing that questioning was surely going to get him nowhere, Cassius decided to get closer and convey his intent a different way.
    Fwooop!
    Those in the throne room were about to go berserk and murder this brazen intruder. However, they were forced to reconsider their thoughtless actions when the human lightly tapped against the floor before somehow appearing right in front of the frightened human girl.
    A deep frown formed on Cassius's partially covered face upon seeing the terrible condition of the poor girl. "Are you okay, pretty miss?" he asked, then added comically, "I seem to have gotten lost somewhere in my travels of Japan. Hah¡­ Sometimes, I just feel so muddle-minded¡­ But I would appreciate it if you could give me some instructions! It would be invaluable to me, yep yep."
    A hoarse feminine giggle echoed through the rage-filled halls as Memphis found it difficult not to laugh. Yet, when she realized what she was doing, she quickly went to cover her mouth. Her expression was one that emulated all her troubles, as she felt like feeling an emotion that made her feel good was not meant for someone as horrible as she was. Though, to Cassius, she looked kind of like a cutely apprehensive koala or kangaroo.
    He chuckled softly, which left the pitiable girl a little dazed. Memphis couldn't figure out what the mysterious man looked like due to the shadowy hood covering his face, but she could sense kindness in his voice. And it was also this understanding that led to her decisively urging him to leave. Even without being able to use her mouth because of a gag, she flailed her bound arms toward the smashed open door.
    Although Cassius was a bit dense, he was not stupid. He knew precisely what she wanted him to do, but did that mean he would comply?
    Cassius bobbed his head in understanding, seemingly grasping everything Memphis was trying to convey. "So what I'm getting from all this," he began. "...is that you want me to buy you some snacks once we get out of here? Hey, if that's what you want, then why don't we go a step further. Dinner for tonight is on me! But dessert is¡­" He leaned next to her ear, his hot breath mingling with her lobes. "Do you have any money on hand? Because we might have to go halfsies on dessert."
    "Pfft!" Memphis once again cracked a muffled laugh, yet quickly piped down when she felt the suffocating pressure of the infuriated Kobold King pressing down on her.
    Noticing this, Cassius's playful grin froze over as he turned his goofy expression away from the scared girl; it immediately turned terrifyingly cold.
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    Looking the intimidating ruler straight in the eyes, he uttered coldly, "I don't think anyone asked for your interference, bitch. Just sit back in your ugly throne; I will deal with you when I get around to it."
    "!?!?" Even though the Kobold King could not understand the human language of the world they came from, it could still feel the utter disrespect oozing from the human's mouth.
    "To not only barge into my throne room and completely disregard my existence, but also prance up to my possession and converse as you please!? And then to take things a step further and disrespect me right to my face!?!? You're truly courting DEATH, WORM!!!!!!"
    Sensing the fury on the verge of erupting like a volcano put a deep furrow on Cassius's annoyed expression. He suddenly turned to the trembling girl, with his now warm smile shining through his shadowy mask. "Well, it looks like we'll have to continue this conversation in a bit. For now, do you mind waiting here?"

 Chapter 51 Battling the Kobold King

    Urgency immediately appeared in Memphis's pretty green eyes as she fervently shook her head, wiggling around in a flurry of actions that all pointed to no. She wanted him to run away and leave her to her own fate! She didn't wish for anyone else to die because of her!Cassius felt a bit of anger rush up his throat upon watching such a kind girl not care a single bit about herself.
    'To push her to this state¡­ And here I thought I was a horrible human being¡­'
    "It looks like I still have a lot to learn about being evil," Cassius sighed. "But it does seem like you are fine with remaining still for a bit, so I will get this done quick and then return to you."
    *Mmmf!! Mmmf!!*
    'NOOooooo!!!!' Memphis cried out inside her mind as she wiggled over to him in her tied-up state, trying to get him to understand once more. Yet, by the time she blinked her eyes, he was already gone, now standing mere feet away from the monstrous profile of the Kobold King.
    "Say, you ugly fucker," said Cassius. "Can you¡­ even see me¡­?"
    "!!!"
    The Kobold King was preparing to attack when, from down below, the audacious human blurred from his spot and sparked through the air. The Kobold King felt an imminent threat to his life, urging him to throw up his hands and defend against an onslaught of attacks, all of which contained deadly killing intent.
    "My Lord!!"
    "The human dares!?"
    "How dare he!!?!?"
    The Kobolds in the throne room were about to join the fray, but before they could, the Kobold King shot them a ferocious glare. His message was clear: If you interfere in this fight, I will kill you. And knowing how their King got when he was really spun out like this, they held their claws and patiently watched from afar.
    Although they didn't possess much intelligence, they at least respected the hierarchy.
    After warning his subordinates, the Kobold King's fierce eyes fell on the darkened silhouette stabbing him from all directions. Humiliated, he shouted, "You damn rat!! Do you really believe that these itches will do anything against my skin!??" Then he expanded his aura outward and pushed Cassius back by twenty dozen meters.
    Cassius expertly landed his flying body on the ground with a backflip. Then he stood back up and glared at the powering-up Kobold. The King's fur began to change to a mightier, darker red color from his original light red. Moreover, his three-meter figure rapidly expanded and exploded beyond the seven-meter mark, making him the largest Kobold in attendance.
    Memphis's worry only grew exponentially. However, Cassius simply gave her a small, gentle nod before concentrating on his battle with the Kobold King.
    The magnitude of things had definitely exceeded his expectations, for even if he were faster than the beast, he would never be able to crack deep enough into its flesh as he was. Now, the most logical solution to this would be to just increase his Strength stat with the AP left over from his grind.
    However¡­ Cassius was not a conventional person.
    His blue eyes crackled with electricity as he eyed down the dog behemoth roaring to the skies, breaking through the eardrums of everyone present. The Kobold King's strength was now only a step away from the C-Rank, and though this meant certain death for him, he couldn't help but feel that same anticipatory thrill he felt in his last few big fights.
    Cassius was beginning to notice a change occurring within himself. It was unknown exactly when it started, but it was definitely happening. But rather than ignore or try to suppress this change, he decided to embrace it.
    Trails of purplish-red electricity shot out from his body before surrounding him in a fantastical way. The lightning, however, was produced not from any of the elements he could use, but because of the sheer level at which his body was vibrating. The more he veered from the path of the orthodox, the more thrilling it felt to have moments like this one.
    Showing just what he meant by that, Cassius lifted up his right arm and placed it on his left arm, then forcefully pried off the weight that seemed to be glued to his skin. A resounding thud thundered out when an astounding 500 pounds hit the ground.
    Yet, that was far from the end of the spectacle to come¡­ S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "..."
    "..."
    "..."
    As more and more heavy weights planted into the ground after being casually tossed away by their owner, everyone in the throne room was left at a loss for words. Some of the Kobolds looked between one another, trying to glean the truth from each other.
    Even Memphis wore an astonished look on her face as she watched thousands of pounds crash into the hard room surface. She couldn't understand why the unknown man would purposefully place weights on himself! But when the final waist weight came off, let alone her mind, she couldn't even believe what her eyes were transmitting to her!
    Even the Kobold King, with all his unbridled power, felt like a basin of cold water had been poured over his daunting existence when the small human began to naturally blur in and out of reality. He was not moving even a single step, yet his body looked as if it had just been freed from a mountain of stress and was now free to let loose.
    As sparks of electrified energy boomed outward, adding to the image produced from an overly charged body, the owner of said body turned his head up. Upon meeting the ferocious gaze of the Kobold King, stimulated tension formed in the distance that separated them.
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    The Kobold King was ready to go all out, even if the mystery surrounding the absurd human confused him!
    Yet, as if that tension was worth less than dirt for Cassius, he shifted his gaze toward thin air. A grin formed on his shadowy face upon seeing his Agility stat well into the three-figure mark. He brought his casual smirk back to the livid dog behemoth, only to ask:
    "Say¡­ Can you¡­ even¡ª"

 Chapter 52 Unlocking Idle Benefit #2

    He had no reason to explain why, but the Kobold King felt a huge, bloody scythe hanging over his head. "I can't let him finish that chant!!!" he roared while stomping his feet and lunging forward. His giant claws gleamed dangerously under the dim cavern light, illuminating the place in a forlorn way.Memphis's saddened face ashened as she could feel the power contained within that overdriven dog-beast body. From what she had seen of Hunters because of her dad's work, even a C-Rank Hunter would experience trouble when pitted against something of that level!
    'He will die¡­!!' she thought grimly, instinctively closing her eyes out of fear of what was to come. Discover hidden stories at empire
    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    However, after hearing countless ear-deafening sonic booms reverberate, Memphis pried her eyelids open against every instinct telling her not to. She then saw a sight that could only be described as unbelievable¡­
    The Kobold King's massive, terrifying body was now split into six massive chunks of meat and blood, all of which were splattered behind its throne. There wasn't even enough time for it to register or respond to anything, but if it had been given that time, disbelief would surely have been strewn across its hideous face.
    To add to Memphis's astonishment, every other powerful Kobold monster in the throne room was dead. From the King to the lowliest of peons, all of them looked as if they had been quite literally hacked at until they died.
    "...Even see me¡­ Oh, wait, they're already dead," Cassius chuckled before allowing Lilith to absorb all the blood smeared in every corner of the room. "I'll return my Newbie 1 Set back to their proper spots while Lilith is evolving, and maybe glance at my system notifications."
    Doing just that, he stuck his limiters back on, somehow feeling a lot more comfortable than when his Agility stat of 125 was fully unleashed. He had originally used up a good chunk of his AP just before entering the throne room, just to be on the safer side. However, even if he had barely reached the C-Rank, around the 100 mark, he still probably could've handled the unruly mutt with ease.
    "...Well, not like I really lost anything¡­" Cassius consoled himself while looking at the barrage of pop-ups spamming his peripheral vision.
    *Ding!*
    [You have killed dozens of D-, D, and D+ Kobolds!]
    [Your Experience Bar has drastically moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [Level has increased from '25' ¡ú '27']
    [You have killed a D++ King Kobold!]
    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [Level has increased from '27' ¡ú '29']
    [You received 8 Stat Points in all of your Main Attributes!]
    [You obtained 16 AP!]
    [Your Battle Power has improved by leaps and bounds!]
    Following these system notifications were the ones that came for completing the 2nd Main Quest.
    BLING!
    {[Main Quest 2:]} ¨C [?]
    ¡ª[Due to a freak change in the quality of Gate Energy in Japan, one or two Gates have suddenly and instantly had their ranks increased!]
    |Clear D+ Kobold's Catacombs| ¨C [?]
    [Reward 1: 2 Stat Points in Strength, 1 in Agility, 1 in Defense, 2 in Endurance, and 3 in Perception.] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Reward 2: 5 AP] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Reward 3: 'Troll System' Idle Benefit #2 will be unlocked] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Reward 4: 'Are you looking to get face-slapped?'] ¨C [Y/N]
    {[Bonus Objectives:]} ¨C [?]
    [Bonus Reward 1: 10 AP] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Bonus Reward 2: 5 Common Grade Evoballs] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Bonus Reward 3: 1 'Heap of EXP'] ¨C [Y/N]
    After a moment of thought, Cassius said, "Accept all normal rewards."
    *Ding!*
    [You have received 2 Stat Points in Strength, 1 in Agility, 1 in Defense, 2 in Endurance, and 3 in Perception.]
    [You obtained 5 AP!]
    [Acquired 'Troll System - Idle Benefit #2']
    [Acquired Special Grade Skill 'Are you looking to get face-slapped?']
    Cassius felt another eruption of power course through his veins. He relished that feeling of empowerment for a moment before fixing his attention on the third reward. He had no idea what the hell a 'Troll System' was, but for it to be the 2nd Idle Benefit, it must surely be something spectacular.
    Opening up his Idle Benefits section, his perceptive eyes quickly fell on the relevant details.
    {[Idle Benefit 2: Troll System]}
    ¡ª[You now have the ability to acquire trace amounts of AP by trolling other living beings. The stronger the target and the more numerous they are, the more AP you will acquire. (AP acquisition is most dependent on how angry or emotional you make your target.)]
    [Learn to be a good Troll as per required of your free-of-charge Character Development course! ^~^]
    "...I see¡­" Cassius was momentarily speechless, but if this was yet another thing that could improve his strength until he could truly begin idling, then he would accept it with open arms.
    "Anger¡­ I just need to make other people angry? And how far does 'emotional' extend, I wonder¡­?"
    Ultimately, he decided to test out the feature later. In the meantime, he had some more rewards to peruse, which was exactly what he did.
    "'Are you looking to get face-slapped'?"
    Question marks sparked above Cassius's head as he tried to figure out what this thing did. But seeing as it was a skill, he would just test it out on an enemy later and see what happens. "...Too bad it doesn't come with a description¡­ Will kind of be going into this in the dark¡­ But oh well, next set of rewards for now."
    Upon pressing yes for all of the Bonus Rewards, more system notifications rang out.
    *Ding!*
    [You obtained 10 AP!]
    [You obtained 5 Common-grade Evoballs!]
    [You received '1 Heap of EXP']
    [Your Experience Bar has moved tremendously!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You leveled up!]
    "Damn, two levels up just from that?" said Cassius. "It looks like I'll need to keep a better lookout for more Heaps of EXP in the future."
    With that, his attention was drawn to the Common-grade Evoballs, which was when a brief description for them popped up.

 Chapter 53 {[Common-Grade Evoball]}

    {[Common-grade Evoball]}¡ª[Lowest-ranking Evoballs, but can still be used to capture and keep any monsters at or below the D-Rank. The stronger and more willful the monster, the less likely the Evoball is to successfully capture said target. It is recommended that the target first be beaten into submission before attempting to subdue it with an Evoball.]
    Cassius's expression turned unreadable for a second as he wondered how something like this could be best utilized. "With so few of them, and all of them capped at the D-Rank, they won't prove to be very useful¡­ But maybe I am missing something here?"
    Just as he said that¡­
    *Ding!*
    [The captured monsters of Evoballs can be temporarily fused with the user, which will give the user specific racial traits of the monster. This can be considered the first step of the 'Evolution' segment of the system's details and will eventually lead to more intricate features.]
    [Only the evolutionary qualities of a SINGLE captured monster can be fused with the user at a time. Furthermore, only 10 'Evomonsters' can be stored at the same time with the Host's current capabilities.]
    "How interesting," Cassius mused, already brainstorming various ways that this could be used if he played his cards right. "For now, however, I have something more urgent to attend to."
    His striking blue eyes instinctively fell on the stunned girl tied up in bonds. Her babydoll eyelashes quivered in response as she saw the mysteriously powerful hooded man approach her.
    Memphis closed her eyes, prepared for the worst. Yet, she was bewildered to find all the ropes on her body suddenly loosen. Moreover, her gag had been taken out, allowing her to finally speak once more.
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    "T-Thank you¡­ for saving me," she mumbled meekly, her pupils darting everywhere but toward where Cassius was standing. "W-Without you¡­ I would've ended up li-like¡­ my dad¡ª"
    "You don't have to think about it if you don't want to," said Cassius as he bent down and ruffled her hair, with only his kind smile shining through. "Say, how about we get out of here? My companion just finished the clean-up, but the decor of this place is simply horrid! Wouldn't you agree?" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Memphis shifted her flickering eyes to the hundreds of drained Kobold husks scattered about. Confused, she softly murmured a question. "What happened to them¡­?"
    "Oh, that?" replied Cassius, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's all because of my companion here." He promptly raised up Lilith in full sword form, who was currently going through a dazzling blood evolution. Her stats were being constantly improved the more blood she completely assimilated, which led to several eruptions of crimson energy tendrils.
    "Isn't she beautiful?" asked Cassius.
    "Mhmm¡­" Memphis was left momentarily dazed, both because of Lilith's resplendence and the mildly enamored look plastered across Cassius's covered face. She couldn't help but wonder what he looked like underneath. However, figuring it to be rude to ask something like that, she kept quiet.
    Noticing a bit of discontentment in the golden-eyed girl, Cassius explained, "The hood is there to shield the world from my hideous appearance¡­ Haiz, it's rough being so ugly¡­."
    "...Are you really that ugly underneath¡­? I don't think that's true¡­"
    Cassius chuckled. "Maybe, maybe not. I have been told that I have terrible aesthetic taste."
    Confused, Memphis asked, "What do you mean by that?"
    "You want an example?" Cassius's grin widened.
    Memphis got a bad feeling, but she still nodded.
    "...I would like one, please," she murmured, to which he replied, "Sure, I'll give you an example."
    He then leaned in close, getting just close enough for her to glimpse at his thin nose. "The truth is that I believe blood to be especially beautiful, just like my Lilith here."
    Lilith vibrated happily while continuing to undergo her evolutions.
    "...You think blood is beautiful¡­?" asked Memphis, her head tilted cutely. "Isn't blood gruesome? Often associated with¡­"
    "Death," said Cassius, his smile shining brightly. "That may be true, but is death not something beautiful as well? Death itself may be saddening to some, but the act of dying can oftentimes be charmingly poetic. I know I told you not to think of it, but your dad's death¡­ Were the actions leading up to his death not something that weaved his death into something awe-inspiring¡­?"
    "Awe-inspiring¡­" Memphis's eyes watered as she recalled how her father jumped out in front of her and held on until his very last moments.
    "...Yeah, it was awe-inspiring," she said as crystalline tears streamed down her dazzling, smiling expression. "It really was¡­!" She beamed, her eyes creasing up exquisitely.
    Cassius nodded warmly as he let go of her head. "You are tough, Memphis. Now, can you get up and walk out of here with me? Or would you prefer it if I carried you? I don't mind either way¡ª"
    Embarrassment mixed with Memphis's sorrow as she vehemently shook her head, causing her long silky black hair to sling left and right. "I-I can get up myself," she said.
    She attempted to get up, only to immediately fail to stand. Her legs were just too shaky from everything that happened to make it possible for her to walk.
    Wasting no time, Cassius swooped her up into his thick arms in a gentlemanly manner. Looking down at her, he smilingly said, "We can just pretend this never happened, alright? If you won't tell, then I won't tell," he joked.
    Flustered, Memphis hid her gorgeously flushed face from sight. "...Mhmm¡­" was all she mumbled before staying silent the rest of the return journey.
    As the two of them silently walked, both thinking about a multitude of complicated matters, Cassius received numerous system notifications. They also just so happened to come as he was leaving the Gate after having collected all of the valuable parts of the Kobolds, which included their Magic Shards.
    *Ding!*
    [You have trolled Memphis for 0.3 AP!]
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has absorbed tens of thousands of gallons of D-, D, D+, and D++ Blood!]
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has ranked up from the D+ Rank to the D++ Rank, achieving the peak stage of the D Realm!]
    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| ¨C |Attack +35|]
    OOOM!

 Chapter 54 A Flustered Corra

    OOOM!Lilith erupted with newfound power, causing the air around her to shoot out and collapse back into itself, creating a sight that left Memphis's golden eyes shining. She nudged Cassius.
    Puzzled, he asked, "What is it?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "...Your blade," mumbled Memphis. "My¡­ father and his friends never had anything as unique as it¡­ Why is yours so special¡­?"
    Cassius patted the beautiful girl tangled in his arms, his smile growing fonder. "Other items are not like my Lilith because I made her myself. She and I were just meant to be."
    "Meant to be?" Memphis parroted, her irises glazing over in confusion. "...That sounds romantic¡­" Enjoy more content from empire
    "Hmm?" Cassius pondered.
    "I guess it does," he chuckled. "But I would say that our relationship is something deeper¡­ Almost like our intent and intentions are clearly displayed before one another. This is also why we have never gotten into a fight."
    "Gotten into a fight¡­? With a sword¡­?" Memphis hid her face in his clothes, trying to suppress a contagious giggle. "That is silly¡­"
    Cassius awkwardly scratched his neck. "Yeah¡­ Now that you mention it, there is definitely something unusual about what I just said¡­ But you know, sometimes, the unusual things are the most pleasant to experience."
    "Is that why you're so pleasant to be around¡ª?"
    Memphis quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed on several levels. She saw a flash of amusement pass through his mesmerizing eyes, prompting her to hide even further into his clothes.
    "J-Just forget that I¡­ said that¡­"
    "Very well," said Cassius, unable to conceal the invisible force cracking away at his straight face. Noticing this made Memphis even more mortified; she hid away for the rest of the short return trip, refusing to speak another word.
    After finishing the gathering of all the Magic Shards into his Inventory Space, Cassius overlooked the curiosity of the quiet girl in his arms and approached the Gate's exit. Without wasting any more time inside, he walked through and reached the other side.
    However, as it became immediately clear that the people outside had realized what had happened with the Gate's rank change, he had to slip out unnoticed.
    Cassius's |Shadow Step| skill had already leveled up many times and ranked up twice during his time grinding monsters in the Gate, so he was able to effortlessly evade the eyes of everyone. Yet, there were a couple of exceptions¡ªthose with extraordinarily high Perception stats.
    The Branch Master of the Hoshito Hunter Branch was one such person, and his perceptive eyes traced the fast-moving shadow traversing through the sea of citizens, reporters, and the like before eventually disappearing into the distance.
    A slight smile tugged at the Branch Master's cracked lips as he spoke up, directing his voice toward a valiantly dressed woman by his side. "That mysterious man you spoke of¡ªa student at Hoshito High¡ªhow powerful did you say he seemed again?"
    Although taken aback by the abrupt question, Corra quickly regained her bearings and replied, "He was likely of the high D-Rank, with his speed being his most prominent attribute. Furthermore, his skills were unique, efficient, and unlike anything that I've ever witnessed among the higher-ranking Hunters."
    The Branch Master's smile curved upward as he watched where he assumed the youngster to be right now. "It would appear that we either have a venomous snake lurking in our midst, just waiting to strike and take us by surprise¡­ or we have someone who could send Hoshito to new heights¡ªlikely even further than the fame we acquired after raising and nurturing the A-Rank Hunter, Firecracker, who is currently a rising star in Tokyo."
    Corra's brows raised in surprise. She knew there was something special about that young man, but for him to be appraised so highly by the illustrious B-Rank Branch Master¡­ Just how much could one person be hiding?
    Luckily for her curiosity, the Branch Master spoke up again, saying:
    "You aren't too much older than that¡­ Cassius, I think it was."
    "...Yes¡­?" Corra felt a sense of foreboding, and just as she expected, the Branch Master clasped his hands behind his back before saying, "I believe it would be in your best interest to keep close to him¡ªmaybe even close enough to be considered classmates. Wouldn't you agree, young Corra?"
    "...Yes, sir," replied Corra, helpless to refute the obvious request being made of her.
    The Branch Master softly laughed while patting her on the back. "There is no need to appear so glum. It isn't like I'm forcing you to do this, as I really am saying this for your sake and the relationship I had with your late parents. Becoming something like a friend of this Cassius will surely bring you many unexpected benefits. And hey, maybe if you put in a bit more initiative, you might be able to become more than friends¡ª"
    "Okay, that is enough¡­!" Corra cut through his jokes, flustered beyond belief. "I-I will do this and join his school, but not because you said so! I wish to see what exactly makes you think so highly of him!"
    The Branch Master chortled at the sudden outburst of his little niece, one which put her feisty and determined personality on display. "If that is what you truly want, then I will not impede you. But I would keep a lookout, because your competition is definitely going to be fierce," he warned as he glimpsed the faint silhouette of a gorgeous girl cuddled in Cassius's arms.
    "W-What competition¡­!?" Corra blurted out, her mind fuzzy and her cheeks painted a deep crimson, matching her auburn hair. "Stop speaking nonsense, old man," she grumbled while taking peeks at the place where the Branch Master was looking, wondering just what he was talking about.
    Seeing his little niece react in such a manner caused the Branch Master to let out a peal of laughter. He stroked his long white beard, conveniently ignoring her irate ramblings.
    Meanwhile, in a dark location miles away from where the Kobold's Catacombs Gate was on the verge of collapse, Cassius materialized into reality with a flushed girl in his arms. He strolled up to a brightly lit lamplight area and sat himself on a bench.

 Chapter 55 Partial 5th Idle Benefit - [Affection Ratings]

    Cassius was about to glance at the system notifications he received for saving Memphis, but before he got the chance, she spoke up, mumbling:"Y-You can let me down now¡­" She wiggled and squirmed in his lap. She wasn't the least bit uncomfortable¡ªat least not physically¡ªbut something weird was messing with her insides, causing her to experience mild discomfort.
    "Ahh, yes," said Cassius, seemingly calm about the whole ordeal.
    He gently laid her on the seat beside him, then took the opportunity to ask, "Do you have any family that I could help you get into contact with¡­?"
    Realization dawned upon Memphis as reality washed over her embarrassment. A lot of color drained from her otherwise beautiful face; she clenched her fists while looking down at her feet.
    "...I have an uncle who lives a few towns over, but¡­ but I really don't want to contact him¡­ And I would like to stay in Hoshito High if at all possible¡­ I-I really don't know what to do¡­"
    Cassius's brows furrowed in understanding. He could sense more to her aversion to her uncle than something merely childish. Moreover, he sympathized with her wanting to stay in the school district she had been in her whole life, even though she knew it was inconvenient to hold on.
    Yet, none of that made this situation any less convoluted¡­
    Feeling the complicated aura permeating around them, Cassius sighed. He snuggled his hand into her hair, causing her nerves to loosen up tremendously. "Don't worry. From now on, you will be staying with me. Only if you want to, of course."
    Memphis's eyes brightened with genuine joy. "Do you truly mean that?? I can stay with you!?"
    Cassius nearly fell off the bench from how far he had to lean away from the girl who seemed far too excited about this information.
    "Ahh¡­ I-I'm sorry¡­!"
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    Upon realizing how brazen she was acting, Memphis returned to her spot, once again falling silent. However, contrary to last time, the silence was very peaceful, as she repeated his words over and over again in her mind.
    Small illusory flowers seemed to bounce off her head; she was practically overflowing with gratefulness and a sweetness that was almost sickening.
    Cassius instantly understood that there was no turning back on what he said¡ªnot unless he wanted to anger some god above.
    'Well, not that I was planning on reneging on my proposal to begin with¡­ Though, I will still require Sasha's permission¡­'
    'Until I can figure out a way to purchase her some housing of her own, I will need to somehow smooth things over¡­'
    Then, as if to reward him for a good deed while expecting nothing in return, the Idle Evolution System notified him of a few things.
    *Ding!*
    {[Side Quest - Main Quest 2]}
    [Reward 1: Slightly less disdain from the Idle Evolution System] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Reward 2: 5 AP] ¨C [Y/N]
    [Reward 3: The gratitude of a pretty girl who is about to awaken as an S-Rank Awakener] - (Don't make this weird¡­)] ¨C [Y/N]
    As soon as Cassius saw these screens appear in front of him, he clicked accept on the first silly reward, then accepted the second one. And lastly, he accepted the final one, though that one didn't actually do anything¡ªor, at least, that was what he originally assumed.
    {[Memphis: 16 y/o]} ¨C [Affection: 55]
    "???"
    He was extremely perplexed by what he was seeing, but as someone who considered himself to be pretty adaptive, he made his speculations about what this screen could entail. Then, as if to assist him in reaching a conclusion, another few screens expanded around the first one.
    BLING!
    {[Partial 5th Idle Benefit]} ¨C [Given due to the Host being relatively close with five or more girls.]
    [Girls (Familiar (10-25) - Close (26-50) - Affectionate (51-80) - Extremely Affectionate (81-95) - Obsessed (96-99) - Out for Blood (100):]
    [Trolling any Girls with at least a Familiar relationship status will allot the Host more AP than usual, with that bonus being greater the better the relationship status.]
    {[Memphis: 55]}
    {[Aya: 73]}
    {[Grace: 75]}
    {[Sasha: 43]}
    {[Corra: 18]}
    {[Bella: 100]}
    Cassius's expression remained rather neutral as he read through the details of this sneak peek of the Idle Benefit that would come after his next one. That was until his eyes fell on the affection rating of his coworker and one of the most popular girls at his school. He couldn't take his gaze away from the number and name as he tried his best to quantify what the hell he was looking at.
    'Why would the girl who forces herself to be friendly around me have an affection rating of 100???' Cassius thought in pure bewilderment. 'Is this thing bugged or something¡­??' Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Noticing the confusion present on his sculpted face, Memphis asked, "Is something the matter? If you're having second thoughts about letting me stay at your place, then¡­ then I understand¡ª" But before she could finish that gloomy statement, Cassius cut her off, saying:
    "It's nothing like that. I was simply mulling over something that seems far too silly¡­ Ha¡­ How ridiculous¡­"
    Memphis's curiosity piqued as her ears perked up. "...This something¡­ Do you mind telling me about it¡­?"
    "Ahh¡­ Hmm, I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell ya," replied Cassius. "What if there was this person you thought you only knew as an acquaintance. Yet, a very reliable source told you differently. In fact, this source stated that the person would quite literally kill for you!" He described with a bit of dramatic pause. "Now, tell me: how would you take this information?"
    "Well¡­" Memphis seriously thought over the matter, which made her appear earnestly adorable. Suddenly, her eyes flashed with inspiration as she said, "This person must be insane! After all, if you were left under the assumption that you weren't even friends but mere acquaintances, yet this person felt so passionately about your relationship to kill for you, then¡­ Then that person must be clinically insane!"
    A starry-eyed girl hanging upside down in a spooky mansion blew an unnaturally loud sneeze. Frustrated over not being able to spend more time with her husband, she grumbled in annoyance while wiping her cute nose.

 Chapter 56 A Friend...?

    "Insane¡­ huh?"Cassius pondered deeply about this matter. Either the Idle Evolution System was trolling him, just as it wanted him to do to others, or there was something more to this matter with Bella. 'Just what is she hiding¡­?'
    A hush fell over the lit-up bench area of a street located right outside Cassius's home as he thought about several different plausible scenarios. Memphis, on the other hand, was too preoccupied with the previous subject of living together.
    'Living together¡­ Isn't t-that what a man and woman do after¡­ ma-marr¡­ marriage¡­??'
    Smoke escaped her head through her ears as she turned redder than a tomato. Now that her mind was clearer, she was seriously beginning to wonder if this whole thing was a good idea. However, when she recalled the lascivious look on her uncle's face and the innocent kindness of the young shadowy hooded man beside her, her mind resolved.
    With newfound determination, Memphis turned to the contemplative Cassius. "I want to live with you!" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "...Is that so¡­?"
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    "Yes! If you let me stay at your place for a period of time, I promise you that I will repay the favor when I eventually awaken as a Hunter!"
    "Very well."
    "And additionally¡ª Ahh, wait, what was that?" Memphis's well-thought-out speech came to a sudden halt as she started forward.
    Cassius raised an amused brow at her adorable mannerisms. "I said that you can stay. And you can do so for as long as you need to. Of course, you and I will both need to put some effort into convincing my stepmother."
    Although Memphis didn't understand how she managed to get away with something so monumental so easily, that didn't mean she would say anything to refute his words.
    Giddy, she said loudly, "I will do everything I can to convince your stepmother! You can trust me!"
    Cassius chuckled softly as he rose from the bench and extended a hand in her direction. "Well, let's see you put those skills to the test then."
    Memphis only slightly hesitated before taking his large, rough hand and pulling herself forward. "I can do it!"
    Now able to walk just fine, she took large confident strides away from the bench.
    However, somewhere in the middle of her stride, she froze in place and slowly swiveled her head around like a mechanically impaired toy.
    "Wh-Which way is your home¡­?" she asked with a twitching smile. The answer she received was a silent one, as Cassius threw up a thumb pointing behind him. "It's right there." He pointed to the two-story Japanese house located right next to the bench.
    "...Really¡­?"
    "Yep."
    "...I see¡­"
    A hint of crimson touched Memphis's cheeks as she awkwardly raced back over to Cassius before lightly knocking her forehead against his chest. "...You won't mention this, right¡­?" she practically squeaked, with no evidence of her previous mojo still present.
    Cassius watched her affection for him scale close to 65, finding the difference between her actions and actual feelings quite amusing. Still, he answered, "Of course not." While smiling warmly.
    "Mhmm¡­"
    They both then walked toward the front entrance to his house.
    She gained back a lot of her confidence upon coming into contact with the door, yet lost most of it as soon as she heard faint footsteps echo out from inside. Luckily, Cassius was there to help alleviate most of the pressure she was feeling.
    It was also during this time that Memphis was finally able to see what lay beneath that shadowy hood of his. And for the rest of the time before the footsteps approached the other side of the door, she was left breathless, with her heart beating way out of rhythm.
    Cassius saw her affection increase by another 5 points and hit 68, but he had no idea it was solely because of his appearance, assuming that it happened because of the outward intimacy of a cannon event like this one.
    Tap, Tap, Tap!
    Sasha finally made it to the door and promptly opened it up. The moment she saw the tall, handsome figure ahead, her golden eyes slightly glossed over as she recalled the frivolous thoughts that passed through her mind earlier that day. However, when her eyes fell on the pretty girl standing beside him, they unintentionally darkened a little. This also caused her affection rating to increase by 5, which greatly confused Cassius.
    Yet, before he could broach the matter, she spoke first:
    "This girl is¡­ a friend of yours¡­?"
    "Ahh, yes." Cassius snapped out of it as he gestured to the gorgeous girl nervously squirming in place. "She is someone currently going through a rough patch, and I was hoping that you would allow her to stay here with us until she finds somewhere else to stay."
    Realizing that this was her part to add something in, Memphis bowed at a low angle, letting her silky black hair flow over her head. "I-It's very nice to meet you, Miss Sasha! I-I am Memphis, and I would¡ª" She stuttered repeatedly, yet only worsened things when she bowed a little too much and tipped over.
    Fortunately, Cassius caught her by the back of her ripped-up dress just before she could faceplant the ground.
    Shifting his eyes back to the judging Sasha, he said, "Memphis may be a bit clumsy, but she is a good girl¡­ Just¡­ she has been through some things recently." Suddenly turning serious, he bowed as well, surprising both Sasha and Memphis. "I would be in your debt if you could permit her to stay here for the time being. Please¡­"
    "C-Cassius¡­" Memphis really didn't like seeing him go so far for her, especially not after she messed things up so badly.
    "Fine."
    "What¡­?" Both Cassius and Memphis were confused.
    Sasha sighed as she lightly shook her head, bringing with that action the jiggling of her motherly milky white valleys, which were clearly visible in her risqu¨¦ nightwear.
    "I was never going to deny your request to begin with, but seeing you get so serious about something¡­ It makes me happy." She smiled genuinely, dazing both Cassius and Memphis.
    They would never deny it if someone said that this woman had maxed out her mature charm; it even made the latter feel a bit inferior.

 Chapter 57 {[I AM SPEED (P)(C-)]}

    "Anyway," said Sasha. "Head on in and show your friend to the guest room. I will bring some spare clothes up in a bit."She turned around and sashayed with her plump cheeks swaying hypnotically, yet before she fully disappeared from the hallway, she side-eyed the pair. "Just don't be getting up to anything that kids your age would be doing at night."
    With that, she walked away.
    Memphis was left furiously blushing, whereas Cassius remained blissfully unaware of his stepmother's slight nuances, taking full advantage of his selective-density protagonist powers.
    After making his way to the guest room and giving Memphis a brief rundown, he bid farewell to her, much to her dismay.
    Walking to his room, he crossed paths with the mildly glum blonde MILF. However, when she saw him, the glumness vanished as if it were never there to begin with. Yet, instead of starting a conversation like she would normally do, she curtly nodded before hastily breezing past him with a set of feminine nightwear in her hands.
    Cassius was a bit puzzled by this interaction but quickly shook his head to clear his mind before retreating into the whitish confines of his room. Afterward, he sat down on his bed in a lotus position and swiped up his system interface, curious to see how far he had come after his first official Gate Raid.
    BLING!
    ________________________________
    [Name: Idle Evolution System]
    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 29]
    [Title: Advent Devil (C-)]
    ______________________________
    [HP: 4360/4360] [MP: 8000]
    [FATIGUE: 4]. [AP: 25]
    ______________________________
    [STRENGTH: 57] (Juggling vans is possible.)
    [AGILITY: 133] (Mach 8. Are you trying to become the red blur?.)
    [ENDURANCE: 52] (Your appearance and temperament have really been improving as of late. You should be able to put this stamina to good use soon enough!)
    [INTELLIGENCE: 51] (Keep at it and Sage status will be left in the dust, paving way for becoming a Great Sage.)
    [PERCEPTION: 54] (Don't do anything perverted with this level of sense¡­ No, seriously¡­)
    [CHARISMA: 26] (Experienced Model-level)
    {[Skills:]}
    [Shadow Step (A)(D+)(Lvl2)], [Muscularity (P)(D-)(Lvl4], [Slash (A)(E+)(Lvl3], [Sprint (A)(F+)(Lvl2]
    [Harden (A)(E+)(Lvl5)], [Extreme Fortitude (P)(D-)(Lvl5)], [Mind Focus (P)(D)(Lvl2)], [Tinker Tools (P)(F+)(Lvl4]..... ¨C[Extend to see more¡­]
    _______________________________
    [P.S. Only skills with high synchrony to the Host will be able to level up and rank up the fastest, even superseding the difference between lower ranks and higher ranks.]
    [Do some of that new-gen stuff and try discovering yourself! Just don't dye your hair blue and walk around in a dress! That would signify terrible character development¡ª]
    Before the Idle Evolution System could finish its bunch of nonsense, Cassius's voice cut through the air. "I should have a decent amount of Random Skill Boxes saved up from my level-ups, no? Try opening them instead of running your mouth."
    [...]
    [Rude &gt;¡ê&lt; But a cold and rude personality trait is very much considered good character development¡­]
    [Conflicted¡­]
    "...Can you please stop playing around with me and just open the boxes¡­?" Cassius was on the verge of begging at this point. Enjoy exclusive content from empire
    He would just open the boxes himself if he could, but it seemed the Idle Evolution System had predicted this and locked them in the Inventory.
    [Hmm¡­ Deep pondering¡­]
    [Very well! And as a reward for playing along, the system has decided to give you an opportunity for greater benefits!]
    [You have precisely 300+ Random Skill Boxes of the Copper Minus, Neutral, and Plus Rank. Moreover, you have 50+ Random Skill Boxes of the Bronze Minus, Neutral, and Plus Rank!]
    [Would you like to convert them all into a single Silver-Specific Skill Box of the Agility Aspect? (What you receive is still randomized, but it will be within the bounds of Agility.)]
    Cassius seriously considered what the system was asking him, but then¡­
    [Offer going once!]
    [Offer going twice!]
    [Offer going¡­] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Fine, just do it!" Cassius bemoaned his fate as one of the pushy Idle Evolution System's victims.
    If not for how much power it allowed him to gather, he would¡­! Haiz¡­
    [Wise choice, dear Host! ^=^]
    A lottery board then appeared in front of him, containing thousands of different colored options. Some had names that appeared more imposing than the others, but the clicker didn't seem to discriminate as it danced along the Skill options.
    After a while, the clicker came to a gradual crawl. Then, with one final flutter, it landed on a pure black option that held a series of three words in loud white italic lettering. 'I AM SPEED,' it read. The description, even more unusual, went as such:
    {[I AM SPEED (P)(C-)]}
    [If you thought you were fast before, then just try to move now. The larger the gap between your Agility stat and your other stats, the faster you move.]
    [No known upper limits for the skill.]
    ¨C [Current Speed Boost: 135%]
    The moment this passive Skill was acquired, Cassius felt his body uncontrollably blur. He moved all over the place at an utterly insane speed yet hadn't moved a single inch. It was almost as if the very atoms and molecules that made up his being were struggling to remain in the same point in time as the rest of his existence.
    Some time later¡­
    Cassius managed to control his ludicrous speed to a tolerable level, then breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected an unexpected and troublesome boon like this one to come from the System's forced decisions, but he was partly glad it did. The other, larger part of himself, however, was uncertain and weary of how this would affect his future.
    If he kept enlarging the gap between his Agility stat and the other stats, wouldn't he be able to become so fast that he could potentially lap the whole world several times over¡­? And that was with the current rank of the Skill, completely excluding what it could become at higher ranks. Which, with his synchrony with the Agility attribute, were rank-ups that were more a matter of time than anything¡­

 Chapter 58 Sashas Unexpected Worry

    "Maybe I should lay off the Agility stat for a while¡­?" However, as soon as this thought entered Cassius's frontal lobe, it left in that same instant. "Who am I kidding? I was born to go fast, and this is just a shortcut to becoming faster than everyone else."With that, he kept the special Skill to the back of his mind. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Entertaining a different train of thought, he considered whether to take off his Newbie 1 Training Set before going to sleep. Even though he felt that taking his weights off was the logical thing to do, something was telling him that good things would come if he kept them on for longer. His first assumption was that the Perception stat was hinting at something, either directly or indirectly through the Idle Evolution System.
    Following a period of contemplation:
    "I guess I'll just keep them on and also have my Newbie 1 Sword close to my person as well," Cassius decided. "And I will also do another set of exercises for the day, as I feel a connection between doing that and what my gut is telling me to do on this matter as well."
    He promptly fell to the floor with a quiet, controlled thud, then went through each of the exercise sequences. However, as he completed them all in record times, he felt that they had already become far too easy.
    Even though he barely put any AP into the Strength stat, the gains were still coming. The Strength stat, more than the others, naturally accumulated due to how much stress was constantly being placed on Cassius's body. Endurance was also up there, but not nearly at the same level.
    Nonetheless, he figured the Idle Evolution System would soon solve his¡­ 'lack of good grinding'...? Soon enough. But before then, he would humbly accept the easy wins.
    After exceeding the 100 mark, eventually touching upon the 200 mark¡ªwhich was the absolute cap for the basic exercises¡ªhe returned to his bed. Surprise over the bed not instantly collapsing because of the weight was evident in his expression, but he once again surmised the sturdiness of everything in the household to be a result of an extremely skilled construction worker.
    When, in actuality, it was something far more complicated and mysterious than that¡­
    After settling into his covers, Cassius snoozed off into the inexplicable land of dreams, utterly unaware of the eerie shadows that lurked outside his bedroom window.
    They lingered there for a while, simply staring with their spiraling beady eyes and salivating from their long slimy tongues. However, after hearing something only they could hear, they simultaneously shot their heads in the same direction. With the same level of synchronicity, they leapt from his bedroom window and raced above the Hoshito housetops at speeds far surpassing even the B-Rank.
    They, along with many other unnervingly terrifying creatures, had their eyes set on the cosmopolitan city of Tokyo. Their intentions were unknown to all, but they appeared from every corner of the nation at the exact same time and advanced in a chaotically orderly fashion, with their destinations being the most populated area in Japan¡­
    As unexplainable undercurrents washed through the nation, Cassius unknowingly experienced the setting of the sun in the west and the rising of the sun in the east a total of seven times.
    He woke up bright and early one particular day, feeling exceptionally refreshed. This surprised him; after all, sleeping with thousands of pounds of weights pressing down on one's body would surely be incredibly uncomfortable. But for some reason, it made him feel at home, almost as if being restricted was the only way of life he had ever known. Find more chapters on empire
    'It's sort of depressing¡­ But at least it makes me stronger,' he thought to himself while casually rolling out of bed.
    After dressing himself appropriately for a work day off, Cassius opened his door and walked out into the hallway. He noticed no one outside today, but he didn't fixate on it. His footsteps echoed out softly, but with Aya's senses, she could immediately tell it was him, prompting her to peek through her slightly ajar door.
    Usually, she would stay asleep until nearly noon during the summer, but as of late, she began waking up earlier. Her reasons were obvious, but one would never be able to hear them directly from her mouth.
    "Hmm¡­"
    Cassius felt the bear-like stare of the blonde pajama-wearing beauty silently stalking him around the house, yet he didn't confront her, merely chuckling as he made his way to the kitchen. Waiting for him was a pair of watery golden-brown eyes who, upon seeing him, pleaded with him to save her.
    'Memphis seems to be adjusting just fine,' he mused before taking a seat right next to the aggrieved, mouse-like girl. She immediately clung to his shirt, averting her shaky eyes away from the cold-faced MILF sitting opposite her.
    Cassius could tell that something was up, urging him to ask, "Did something happen?"
    Memphis shuddered a little, whereas Sasha huffed. "That girl has been speaking about one day going into Gates! And no matter how I defer her away from that dangerous thought, she just keeps on nodding while retaining that unyielding glint in her gaze! It's simply¡­! Humph!"
    'Ahh, so they're not fighting; Sasha is just worried.' Cassius warmly smiled, briefly dazzling both the girls at the table and even the one hiding behind a wall. "As long as you two are getting along, I think everything else can be worked out."
    Sasha left her stupor at his words before turning her face to the side. A small pout touched upon her timeless features, which left a vast contrast to her motherly demeanor.
    "That girl is too stubborn for me to possibly get along with her! She's already going to be attending your school for the new school year and is still a couple of years away from graduation¡ªwhy is she so adamant about venturing into Gates and getting herself killed¡­!?"

 Chapter 59 {[HELLs 1st Floor Key]} - [S+++ Rank]

    Cassius could tell that his stepmother was very passionate about this subject, which frightened the timid Memphis even further. She loved to adventure and discover new things, but when it came to this terrifying woman, she couldn't even muster an ounce of courage. Realizing this, Cassius patted her head before concentrating on Sasha."Her yearning for the Gates has a lot more to it than some rash pursuit. If that is what she wants if she awakens, then there is nothing either of us can do to persuade her otherwise."
    Although reluctant to agree, Sasha knew he was right. Yet that only seemed to increase her irritation.
    Ever since her stepson began changing, he didn't seem to be wrong about anything. And that casual, cooling smile plastered across his normally apathetic expression only served to further her annoyance.
    Ultimately, Sasha gave in and dejectedly nodded before rising from the dining table. Her mood became a bit glum as she aimlessly wandered around the kitchen; clearly, something else entwined with the Gate matter was irking her. However, seeing as it was likely a very touchy subject, Cassius didn't bring it up, instead redirecting his focus toward the sleepy beauty walking into the kitchen as if she had just gotten there.
    No matter how many times he observed the tendencies of these women, he couldn't stop himself from finding them all adorable in their own ways.
    Aya, upon entering the kitchen, approached her seat at the table and began eating without saying a single word. She tried her best to keep her eyes away from the devilishly handsome man a few feet away from her, yet struggled immensely. None besides Cassius noticed this peculiar glancing session she was having with his seemingly oblivious self. But when Sasha finally simmered down enough to be more aware of her surroundings, her face once more contorted in cute frustration.
    "Young lady!" Sasha exclaimed. "Why have you been waking up so early?? Are you sick or something!?"
    Hearing this sudden announcement, both Cassius and Memphis hid their low laughs behind their hands. Aya, on the other hand, froze in place, with her face reddening in proportion to her immense embarrassment.
    "...Mom¡­"
    "Yes, sweetie?" replied Sasha, a bit puzzled over the concealed anger in her tone.
    The shadows covering Aya's expression flushed away in an instant as she turned her head up and locked her golden eyes with the similarly colored eyes of her mother.
    "You suck!" she announced before storming away in a huff. She couldn't believe that her mother had embarrassed her so publicly, and in front of Cassius no less! Gosh!!
    A silence hung over the kitchen table as Cassius and Memphis cautiously watched Sasha's expression fall to the floor. She no longer had a peachy, vigorous complexion; it was instead replaced with a level of desolateness that reminded them of a barren desert. Discover hidden tales at empire sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Understanding that this was their cue to skedaddle, they silently put their plates away and retreated through the house's back door. It also just so happened to be the door that Cassius escaped through a few weeks ago, back when he nearly got caught by the recently relieved Aya.
    The vivid memory remained fresh in his mind, but with the massive changes in her attitude and stance toward him, it was hard to overlap them as the same person.
    As Cassius's mind swirled with nonsense, Memphis, who ran beside him, could swear that she heard the shattering of something loud back where they had just come from. Yet, when she realized that she was closely sticking to him in an almost intimate manner, she furiously blushed before backing away in a fluster.
    Before Cassius had the chance to question her on her unusual behavior, she swiftly vanished from the scene, leaving him all alone in the middle of a street populated by lovey-dovey couples. "Ahh¡­" As if understanding the truth of the universe, he shook his head slightly, accompanied by a faint, bitter smile.
    Left to stroll the streets as a single duckling, he received many stares because of his appearance and purposeful isolation, as many wondered how someone so handsome could be by himself.
    Taking this time to search through his thoughts, Cassius occasionally wondered whether Memphis made it home fine. Yet, more than that, his mind traced back to the events that occurred over the last week.
    Following the successful conquest of his first Gate, he woke up the next morning and received a 'nice' system notification informing him of the upgrade of his Newbie Training Equipment. He spoke in jest the night prior, in no way expecting his words to actually come true¡­
    From 5,000 odd pounds, the total weight of his Newbie 2 Equipment exponentially multiplied to 15,000, with just his Newbie 2 Sword making up half of that! Just performing a single sword swing for the Daily Quest had become virtually impossible, let alone doing 100 of them!
    Cassius felt scammed! But what could he do about it¡­?
    It was only after pushing his body to its limits dozens of times that he finally managed to perform 100 excruciatingly painful sword swings. It was also around this time that he received the system rewards earned for doing exactly double the necessary amount of Daily Quest exercises. From that, he received 20 AP, 2 Stat Points in Charisma, and a 'Key.'
    As opposed to the other time-system rewards that the Idle Evolution System gave out for leveling up, this 'Key' was something far rarer and harder to acquire. Its description read as such:
    {[HELL's 1st Floor Key]} - [S+++ Rank]
    [Normally, it is impossible for one who hasn't achieved transcendence to traverse between the Realms of a Galactic Tower, but this key is one of the few exceptions.]
    [Use it on any door of your choice to open up an entryway that only you can see. If you so choose to risk your worthless, moocher life, then feel free to open up this entryway before achieving a prowess of the B-Rank!]

 Chapter 60 Evo Fusion

    After seeing this description and locating the system's hidden warning message, Cassius saw a crimson-black skull key drop into his hands. It radiated death and certain demise; for him, there was no question about the veracity of the system's words. If he leapt into what would be created by this key before achieving a B-Rank power level, he would undoubtedly die. And even with his most recent gains included, he was still far from the 250 stat mark that would indicate the B-Rank.Furthermore, that 250 stat mark was usually meant to be an all-around milestone, as in every single main stat should be at or above 250. Cumulatively, the weakest B-Rank Hunter would have around 1250 stat points distributed mostly evenly.
    Of course, Hunters had their strengths and weaknesses, but they never varied greatly enough to exceed a rank.
    Unlike Cassius, who had his Agility stat nearly a rank and a half above his other stats, most Hunters simply had large differences within normal scopes. Of course, there were exceptions to this, such as Mage-type Hunters, who had extremely high Intelligence stats yet would oftentimes be lacking in Strength, Agility, and Endurance, which facilitated every major physical attribute.
    Some Mage Hunters, like the S-Rank Mage Lord from Russia, had Intelligence stats that exceeded their physical stats by 2¨C3 ranks. However, no one had ever heard of someone who mained Agility so drastically.
    Well, there was one¡­ But to most in the world, he was regarded as a complete lunatic, someone who traveled around the world in search of anyone who claimed to be the fastest of their respective territories.
    The sheer number of Hunters that were lapped and viciously killed by this S-Rank Speedster Hunter had already exceeded that of small towns¡­
    To the world, he was an S-Rank menace that went by the title of 'Speed of Light Blur Devil.'
    Yet, to those who knew him on a personal level, he was Victor Rapido¡ªthe one regarded as the fastest person on the planet!
    Cassius, like Victor Rapido, was following a similar path. However, the biggest difference between the two of them was that Victor's speed was set from awakening, whereas Cassius would only continue growing.
    How long Victor would remain as the supposed 'fastest in the world' was still to be seen¡­
    'After receiving HELL's 1st Floor Key, I then went on to challenge Gate after Gate, all while remaining a complete mystery,' Cassius continued his recap from where he left off. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    At first, the rate at which he conquered F-Rank and E-Rank Gates was rather slow, as he usually struggled with locating the Boss area and the rest of the monster stragglers.
    To temporarily leave a Gate inactive, one only needed to eliminate some Elite monsters and the Boss Monster; this method was typically used by the Government and the Guilds that had ownership over these lucrative Gates. To permanently close a Gate, on the other hand, required the participating Hunters to exterminate every last monster and then leave before the dimension collapsed on them; this method was used when a Gate too dangerous to keep around appeared.
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    In an average F-Rank, E-Rank, and D-Rank Gate, there would normally be thousands of monsters, all varying in rank. And to completely clean one of such Gates, one would need to spend weeks inside the Gate, which would not only be a waste of time and resources but also pointless since the Gate would break open before all monsters inside could be killed.
    Sending in stronger Hunters would naturally solve this issue, but that would be even more of a waste when there were far more powerful Gates that needed to be managed.
    It was for these reasons that countless Gates were left open to farming in Japan and the rest of the world. In just Japan alone, the number of C-Rank and below Gates, which equated to Yellow-rank and below, had already reached the tens of thousands. And for a small country like Japan, this was a matter that was just a few mishaps away from being catastrophic¡­
    As of late, even the Japanese government had made plans to redistribute Hunter forces and focus on gradually clearing the lower-rank Gates.
    Not a single government official could have possibly expected someone like Cassius to appear out of nowhere and start making quick work of various Gates with the assistance of his Evomon. That was the name he decided on to easily organize his growing force of rebranded Pok¨¦mon. Only, rather than peaceful and typically chill creatures, his Evomon only knew how to shed blood in their endless slaughtering of monsters¡­
    After an entire week of clearing dozens of Gates scattered around Hoshito, Cassius was able to gather together 15 powerful D++ Rank Evomon, which used to be capped at 10 prior to his Agility stat passing 150. Now, with 15 Peak Orange-ranked Gate bosses standing by his side, he was able to effortlessly sweep through D-Rank Gates in less than 20 minutes, which was an insanely fast clear rate for someone with less than 400 cumulative stats.
    Yet, that was all without considering the most spectacular part of the whole Evomon and monster-enslaving feature which, although morally questionable, came with the benefit of 'Evolution.'
    Cassius had tried out the 'Evo Fusion' almost right after acquiring it and beating into submission his first D++ Boss Monster. And though the qualities of him and the Evomon didn't mesh well, he was still able to tremendously improve his power following the transformation of his body into something akin to a water bear humanoid Spirit. It was an amazing thing to experience, and his abilities even more so.
    He could shoot out large beams of water, summon miniature tsunamis, and even run on water while in 'Aqua Bear' form, and though it was temporary, he experienced what it was like to Lord over the sea. The feeling was thrilling, to say the least.
    Moreover, this emboldened him to act more proactively in his search for more suitable Evomon to fuse with.

 Chapter 61 {[Shadow Monarchs Hoodie (C-)]}

    It wasn't until Cassius's sixth day of searching that he entered a D-Rank Gate and encountered a Boss Monster even more troublesome than the Kobold King from the Kobold Catacombs. The boss easily blended into the ancient ruin surroundings and seemed to appear in dozens of different locations all at the same time. Extraordinarily powerful lightning electrified the air and shot out from its innumerable clones, all while further increasing the Boss Monster's speed.It wasn't until after passing a three-hour intense struggle and finally subduing the elusive Boss Monster that Cassius threw a Common Evoball out. Yet, even with it in a half-dead state, it took five of the balls to capture it, when it would normally only take one or two. However, this only increased the feeling urging him that this monster was the one for him. Lilith vibrated in annoyance upon sensing this thought of his but calmed down after a bit more slaughtering.
    While killing monsters with Lilith, Cassius learned more about the truth of the lightning/shadow element boss monster¡ªnow Evomon.
    It was through these observations and physical intuition that he discovered the true nature of its "cloning ability," which was, in actuality, a trick of the mind, produced by a combination of its extremely quick speed, its original two elements, and the "Illusion" element. Only after all these aspects came together in seamless fashion could an enemy far surpassing its rank come into being.
    Now, though, that enemy had become Cassius's Evomon, thus renamed "Nyxvoldar," and would likely remain as part of his strength for many moons to come.
    It was on the seventh day following Cassius's first conquest of a normal Gate, immediately after his reminiscent recap was finished, that he noticed something up with the people in his immediate vicinity. They were all gathered around a large marble building in a part of Hoshito's downtown city area.
    Attracted by the commotion, Cassius heard people screaming and shouting as if they had lost their minds. His first assumption was that a Sudden Gate had appeared, eliciting mass frenzy. However, after nearing the boisterous crowd and leaning over the heads, he realized exactly what was going on here¡­
    'Celebrities¡­ Whether in this life or my previous life¡ªthey never change,' he thought with a sigh. 'And neither do their fans¡­'
    A few dozen meters ahead of him, a group of exceptionally good-looking men and women were standing on a weirdly shaped stage. Their appearances were certainly glamorous, with many standoffish tassels and adornments attached to their persons. The men posed coolly, while the women were a mix of personalities, with some colder and others wanton enough to blow kisses and wave around in feigned glee.
    Cassius flipped up his shadowy hood and was simply going to turn around and go about his way, as he planned to meet Grace again today. Yet, before his thoughts could be put into action, he suddenly heard something interesting come from the crazed ramblings of the pop star fans.
    "The B-Rank Hunter Party, MoonShiners, actually came to our small city of Hoshito!! What have we done to deserve such good fortune!?"
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    "Oh, God, I really love them! Especially Dominic! He's my favorite!! So dashing!"
    "Dominic!? You are surely fooling yourself with that one! Lexi is clearly the best-looking among them!"
    "Lexi!? Ha! What a joke! Stella is the only one for me! Just look at how she waves and blows kisses! They are intimate gestures directed toward just me!"
    "Ha!? What a delusional fool! You are not only delusional, but you are also stupid enough to fall for her fake act!"
    Cassius zoned out the rest of the crowd's quibbling, instead focusing on the B-Rank Hunter Party part.
    'There are actually these types of Hunter Parties, and of such high ranking as well¡­ How very unusual¡­'
    Curious, he weaved through the sea of people and made his way toward the front of the group. Normally, with his outstanding appearance, he would stand out no matter where he went, but thanks to the item crafting system feature, he was able to create a magical shadow hood that perfected what he was previously attempting to imitate.
    {[Shadow Monarch's Hoodie (C-)]}
    |¡ª[Defense: ~102]¡ª|
    [Effect 1 (Too ugly for viewership):] - [Can conceal the facial appearance of the User (Only applicable against those less than 3 Perception ranks higher than the User)]
    [Effect 2:] - [200% increased effectiveness with the Shadow Element]
    [Effect 3 (Night Stalker):] - [During the night, the wearer is able to blend into the darkness and remain completely undetected by all those with a Perception stat less than 4 ranks higher than yours. (As soon as you attack, this effect will be negated)]
    Cassius obviously knew that the Idle Evolution System was trolling him a bit, but what more could he expect from something that quite literally gave him a trolling system feature? Perhaps it was a bit salty that he hadn't been using the feature to its fullest capacity. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'Over the past week, I've obtained roughly 55 AP through the 'trolling' of those close to me, but I guess that's not good enough for the system,' Cassius thought as he tuned into the voice coming through the speaker system on stage. 'Maybe I should try to make some enemies and troll them¡­?'
    Unusual thoughts whirled around inside his head as the Head of the MoonShiner Hunter Party, Dominic, spoke through his microphone:
    "Hello, people of Hoshito!! As some of you are aware, we are the B-Rank Hunter Party, the MoonShiners!"
    His voice caused the citizens in the crowd to erupt in loud cheers.
    It was Dominic's dignified voice that truly set the reality out before them. A real-life B-Rank Hunter Party had arrived in Hoshito! As for why they were here¡ªwell, who really cared!?
    Dominic inwardly smirked at the zealousness of the na?ve Hoshito denizens. Though, outwardly, he exhibited nothing less than the epitome of gentlemanliness, leaving the fervent girls below swooning.
    A few of the guys were jealous and envious, but more than that, the presence of an actual B-Rank Party weighed far heavier on their minds.
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 62 The B-Rank MoonShiner Hunter Party

    Continuing from where he left off, Dominic said, "We have arrived in Hoshito today to request your vocal support in our coming raid of the High-Yellow 'Tyrant's Obsession' Gate!"Hearing this, the crowd became even more rowdy, but Dominic was not yet finished. "If the more generous among you are feeling froggy, then you can even support us in the monetary sense! But again, you do not need to, and only the most loyal of fans should even consider it!"
    Like an expert at this game, Dominic was able to slip in his true objective while still making himself and the rest of the MoonShiners appear humble and magnanimous. In the eyes of the people of Hoshito, a B-Rank Hunter Party should never be in need of money; after all, they netted tens of millions of USD every year. However, what they failed to account for was the insatiable greed of the human heart.
    A couple of the MoonShiner members, such as the vivacious Stella, were secretly appalled by the behavior of their Party Leader. But they could do nothing but stand back and keep quiet while looking pretty.
    Cassius, with his heightened senses, was able to understand a lot of things. Moreover, with his Intelligence stat thrown in the mix, the truth of their appearance here was quickly surmised.
    He sighed.
    'I expected more from a powerful party of B-Rank Hunters, but I guess the human heart is as fickle and materialistic as ever.'
    Cassius's piercing blue eyes flickered as he wondered how people could possibly be so greedy for something so useless. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    In the last period of time, during his secret conquest of dozens of Gates, he collected too many Magic Shards to count, with some even being individually worth thousands. Yet, even after bringing them to the Hunter's Association and selling them under an anonymous identity for reduced prices, the six figures in his once-empty bank account didn't go to his head. He kept the money in mind, but beyond that, life for him continued as per usual.
    Cassius never stopped working at Bookworm's Paradise, even though he could likely purchase the whole store and then some.
    He met the seemingly bipolar Bella nearly every shift; he went out with the meek Grace every now and then, yet not once had he entertained the idea of gloating about his wealth or even showing it off.
    Simply put, he found something greater than measly dollar bills to pursue¡ªstrength.
    After experiencing more than a month of the Idle Evolution System's sadism, Cassius's mindset hardened to the point where true, hard-earned power was the only thing that interested him. His yearning for greater character development further incensed the Idle Evolution System, subsequently prompting it to give out Side Quests left and right. And with him now needing to perform thousands of sword swings every day, everything was gradually becoming too much for him.
    However, for some stupidly weird reason, the insane hell difficulty of the system's tasks only made Cassius more excited. This unnatural behavior pushed him to newfound heights, with his previous weak-willed self nowhere to be seen.
    Now, even without the extra benefits from the Idle Evolution System, he was bringing in nearly a dozen stat points a day, all acquired because of his absurd will to strive. His AP had reached astronomical numbers, as he hadn't spent a single point since saving Memphis, yet his stats only kept increasing.
    At his current rate of advancement, it surely wouldn't be long before he reached the minimum suggested requirement to attempt HELL's 1st Floor. Though, that was a matter for another time.
    With Newbie Sword 2 kept close to his hip, and veins bulging from his arms, Cassius listened to Dominic, the MoonShiner party head, go on and on about the noble aspirations of their Hunter Party. For the most part, he was the only one who spoke; however, to maximize fan benefits, those like the expressionless 1st Vice Leader Lexi and 2nd Vice Leader Issa voiced their nonsense.
    Yet, like moths to a flame, thousands of Hoshito citizens ate up their words like they were the most appetizing things ever.
    'When faced with beings of higher and more luxurious statuses, those with sheep mentality will simply break,' Cassius thought evenly. 'The pebbles that these people will provide to the B-Rank Hunter Party certainly won't amount to much, yet this whole charade is occurring for that very reason¡­ It's sad, really¡­'
    He was about to walk away and resume his weighted grind when he suddenly saw something extremely interesting. On the fair neck of the lively Stella, there was a necklace.
    The necklace was encased in beautiful blue sapphire and gold, but it was rather the symbol embedded into the necklace that truly attracted his attention. It was that of a magnificent tree, with the tree's branches being uncountable, and the tree's luster an eye-catching greenish iridescence.
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    'That symbol is¡­' Cassius seemed to recall blurry memories from a time before he could even speak¡ªa time when his mother was still around. 'That's right. My mother used to wear a necklace identical to this one, yet it was enveloped in jewels far more magnificent and polished.'
    On the surface, the necklace he was seeing on this woman and the necklace from his memories in no way looked like they were of the same origin. However, with that uncannily similar symbol, the truth was unmistakable.
    'If this Stella has some sort of connection with my mother, then I need to figure out the truth of the matter.'
    Cassius's eyes dangerously narrowed as he flashed away from the crowd, his destination unknown.
    After a while.
    Dominic, along with the rest of the MoonShiners, descended the stage and walked away from their passionate fans. Just as they were going to enter a luxurious golden-black limo and begin their journey toward the B-Rank Gate, Stella's expression morphed ever so slightly.
    For the first time in a very long while, she was letting her true emotions show. Yet, with very little time to deliberate, she stopped in her tracks.
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 63 You are Speed...?

    Confused, Dominic, while still warmly smiling, turned toward her from inside the limo. "What are you doing, Stella? We have a schedule to stick to; hurry up now and get in the car. Stop wasting everyone's time."Stella shivered at the sight of her Party Leader's 'friendly' smile as she bit her lower lip and averted her shaky eyes. "...I have to use the ladies' room; it's an emergency¡­"
    "Just get in the car¡ª" Dominic went to irrefutably retort, yet the other girls, Lexi and Issa, guessing what Stella was talking about, interrupted, saying:
    "There is no harm in letting Stella go her own way for now, Dominic," said Lexi. "She can always catch up to us later."
    Adding something else in, Issa said, "Furthermore, we aren't scheduled to begin the Gate Raid of this completely unexplored Gate until six hours later, when the paparazzi and Hunter Association higher-ups arrive."
    Dominic's expression remained unreadable for a few seconds as he silently considered.
    Black lines clouded his face, and for an instant, the other seemingly amiable B-Rank Hunters in the limo felt the looming threat of death. Yet, it came and went just as fast, with the tension in the air returning to normal. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Just don't let it happen again," he said smilingly before rolling up the tinted window of the limo.
    The limo then drove off into the distance, leaving a troubled and slightly trembling Stella standing by the edge of a busy city road. Even though she had expected her Party Leader to react like he did, it was always increasingly unnerving the more times he acted like that. If not for the voice she just heard speak directly into her head, she never would've done something that would make her stand out like that.
    After steadying her uneven breathing and calming her nerves, Stella looked toward a certain alleyway off to the side.
    Approaching the alleyway, she thought about many things. One of which concerned the method that the voice used to speak directly into her mind; she had heard of skills that could produce similar effects, but why would someone like that mess with her and even mention her family heirloom?
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    '...If what the voice says is true, then he might have a connection with the mysterious force that my grandma used to crazily rave about¡ªthe World Tree's Sanctuary¡­'
    Meanwhile, Cassius, casually leaning up against a dry brick wall of a restaurant, saw a silhouette come into view. She wore a flowy set of shiny, flowery armor, revealing way more skin than should be necessary for battle armor.
    Her skin was fair, her snowy white hair long and silky, and her figure capable of arousing the desires of many. If one looked close enough, they would even be able to see her two perfectly round and squishy butt cheeks leaving the confines of the short pink shorts she wore underneath her revealing dress.
    It immediately became clear to Cassius that this girl was uncomfortable while dressed like that, yet she acted in such an unscrupulous manner while on stage. Even your common person could tell that she was faking everything, but she was still doing it; why was that?
    As he pondered that very question, the girl in question walked up to this shadowy figure, her eyes emulating her weariness. "...Who are you?" she asked, not the least bit resembling the bubbly girl who was dancing around on stage earlier. "And how do you know of this symbol¡­?"
    Although Stella maintained a cautious approach, she was, after all, a powerful B-Rank Hunter. And considering that she couldn't feel an ounce of aura from the man in front of her, she unconsciously took an upper-ground advantage. Noticing this, Cassius figured he would do something to fully cement what would come from this discussion.
    "You," he said cryptically. "Sit down¡­ if you would?" He gestured to a pair of illusory wind chairs that he conjured from thin air. Yet, figuring that this simple request would not be enough to take the lead in the conversation, he stuck up a cloaked finger, then blurred.
    "!!!"
    "You¡ª!" Before Stella had the time to react and cast a spell, that shadowy finger made it less than a centimeter away from her tender throat.
    Sweat beads trickled down her flawless skin; she froze in place, trembling in even grander fashion than when faced with the intimidating aura of Dominic. With him, she knew that he would never actually go too far; however, with the mysterious man standing by her side, she could tell¡ªif she acted, she would die.
    Cassius, through his shadowy hood, showed an amused smirk. "Even though your Agility is your worst stat and nearly on the verge of being counted as being in the C-Rank, you were almost able to stop me. Though it is unfortunate¡­"
    "...What do you mean by that¡­?" asked Stella, her tone indicating her nervousness. "And how do you know what my stats are at¡­? The Hunter's Association doesn't publicly disclose personal information like that¡­"
    Answering her first question, Cassius smilingly said, "If I were someone ordinary, then you surely would have thwarted my sudden advance, but what you weren't aware of is that¡­ I Am Speed."
    Confusion flashed past Stella's dazzling tundra-blue irises. "...You are speed¡­?" she echoed. "What does that mean?"
    Instead of replying to that follow-up question, Cassius diverted back to the second original question. "I am able to see many things with these eyes thanks to a Skill of mine, and the approximate stats of others just so happen to be one of those things."
    Listening to his perplexing way of answering made Stella even more confused. As a B-Rank Hunter, she was privy to many things, but a Skill like the one this cloaked figure described was not one of those things.
    However, with his energy-coated razor-sharp finger lingering next to her neck, she found it hard to maintain a coherent train of thought, let alone rack her mind for information on any such skills.
    ...

 Chapter 64 Who Else But Bella...?

    Looking past the terrified expression of the girl hanging between life and death, Cassius retracted a few more steps, returning to the first questions she asked upon arriving. "My name is¡­ not something you need to know at this point in time. But I can tell you how I know about that necklace dangling on your neck."Stella's eyes widened in genuine shock, as she had already surmised this entire sequence of events to be one big ploy laid out by this man and maybe an organization behind him. She assumed they had somehow figured out the importance she held for the necklace adorning her neck, as it was something given to her by her mother. But with the mysterious man's most recent words, all of her solid speculations were thrown out the window.
    With the same mildly amused smirk showing through his dark veil, Cassius went on to briefly explain the extent of his relationship with the necklace and, more specifically, the symbol.
    Half a minute later.
    "...Your mother as well¡­ How can this be¡­?"
    "As well?" Cassius questioned. "Are you saying that your mother had a similar necklace?"
    Stella shook her head. "Not just that, but this very necklace was the one she passed on to me before vanishing! She also left me with a series of warning words, but I don't really think she was lucid at the time¡­"
    "You must tell me what she said, Stella!" Cassius urged as he took his finger away from her throat. "You have to tell me exactly what she said!"
    Stella, surprised by the mysterious man's sudden change in demeanor, was too muddle-minded to realize that she now had a decent chance to counterattack.
    Yet, she didn't attack.
    Instead, her eyes clouded with emotions developed because of memories from long ago, and she mumbled, "...M-My mother said, 'Beware of the creatures of nightmare; beware of the imposters, and beware of the one that descends clad in purple.'"
    "To this day, I still have no idea what she meant by anything she was talking about¡­ Surely she must've just been speaking nonsense because she was feeling pre-guilt over deciding to leave her family the next day¡ª" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "No!" Cassius blurted out, his expression a mixture of several complicated emotions. "There is definitely more to your mother's words than meets the eye, and it is very likely that she left you for a reason as well."
    "As well?" Stella was feeling reverse d¨¦j¨¤ vu. "Are you saying¡ª"
    "Yes," answered Cassius. "My mother left as well, but it happened when I was a few years younger than you. However, with our difference in age thrown into the pit, they should've left at around the same time. And though I have no idea what the other two things your mother said mean, I know that 'creatures of nightmare' are the monsters in the Gates."
    "The monsters in the Gates!? But why would she¡­" Stella found herself at a loss for words, unable to understand a multitude of different things at the moment.
    Suddenly turning her head up, she asked, "Then are you also aware of the World Tree's Sanctuary? My grandma rambles about it often, and ever since my mom vanished, she seemed to lose her mind, with the World Tree being really the only thing she talks about¡­"
    "I used to think that what she spoke about was just her one way of grieving, with it having little to no chance of actually meaning anything¡­ But if what you say is true, then there might just be something more to her crazed ravings¡­"
    "The World Tree's Sanctuary¡­" Cassius wordlessly moved his lips, feeling something pull him toward that name and the intent behind it. "...I have never heard of that term, but I feel as if it is vastly important to the mysteries surrounding our mothers¡­ Maybe, just maybe, they left for reasons beyond mere human selfishness¡­"
    Even though she had just met this man and didn't even know what he looked like, Stella felt a slight sense of hope bubble up within her because of his words. However, when she remembered where she needed to be, dread washed over her pretty face.
    "I want to continue this subject, but I really have to go somewhere! I forgive you for trying to kill me, and here, take my number," she hurriedly said while writing down a string of digits on a slip of paper that appeared from somewhere down below. "Make sure not to contact me! I will contact you!"
    "Ahh¡­"
    Without even receiving the opportunity to say anything of substance, Cassis saw Stella giddy up on out of there, with her final farewell words being, "Talk to you later tonight!"
    Cassius felt like he had done a terrible job at keeping her still, but what he gained from this encounter made all that inconsequential.
    He had originally assumed that nothing much would come from luring Stella out to a secluded alleyway, but trying never harmed anyone, so he tossed out the bait, hoping to snag something.
    Yet, what he caught was something far beyond what even he bargained for!
    Though, only the following period would fully articulate what exactly all of this meant for him¡­
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    Three minutes later.
    Upon leaving the dark alleyway, Cassius was surprised to find a familiar face staring him down in a barely concealed accusatory manner.
    Her long black hair cascaded down her slender shoulders and plump bottom, whereas her sparkling star-like eyes bore through his soul as if they could discern everything with just a single glance. Yet, it was impossible to understand exactly what she was thinking; whether she was mad, sad, disappointed, or annoyed was a complete mystery.
    However, Cassius could still tell that she was feeling something on the negative side of the spectrum¡ªthat much was certain by the sassy way she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk.
    Who else could it be but Bella?
    "You look as lovely today as always¡ª"
    "Ha! Stop with the flowery words and tell me who that woman was!" Bella, not even giving him a chance to play coy, raised her voice and demanded.
    ...

 Chapter 65 Receiving AP For Trolling

    Cassius awkwardly laughed while averting his gaze from the pushy beauty. "...The truth is that I saw her from afar, instantly became enamored by her appearance, and then shot my shot! Unfortunately, I was turned down¡­ all because of my lacking wealth.""Why not your lacking appearance!?"
    "Well, that's naturally because I'm extraordinarily handsome. Who would find fault in my appearance¡­? A blind person?"
    Silence.
    Bella coldly harrumphed, not believing a single word that came out of his shameless, lying mouth. "I am merely trying to watch out for you and make sure you don't get mixed up with the wrong people, as any good coworker would do. And yet here you are lollygagging with random women in dark alleyways! What a lousy human being you are!"
    Oof¡­
    If there was one thing Bella was good at, it was nailing stakes into Cassius's heart and pride. Even though everything he said was supposed to come off as a joke, everything Bella said was certainly her truth. Yet, knowing this only made his pain all the worse.
    [You obtained 0.7 AP for trolling {[Bella]}]
    "Bella¡­"
    "Don't even bother with the pleasantries!" shouted Bella, clearly irate. "We have the same shift tomorrow morning, so I expect to see you there bright and early! And if I come to find that you are hanging around any more flooz¡ª unsavory women, then I will personally visit your house and embarrass you in front of your stepmother and stepsister!"
    *Ding!*
    [You received 1.7 AP for trolling {[Bella]}]
    With that, Bella stormed off while stamping her feet on the hot pavement.
    'She's obviously annoyed about several different matters,' thought Cassius. But little did he know that every single one of those matters was one way or another related to him.
    After watching Bella's graceful silhouette fade into the distance, Cassius's bitter smile morphed into something a bit more apathetic. He looked toward the east, sensing several strong surges of inter-dimensional energy sprouting up.
    It was highly possible that one of those surges was due to the appearance of the High Yellow Gate Tyrant's Obsession. As for the other two¡­
    "It seems like something is rapidly changing in Japan, and perhaps the entire world," Cassius commented plainly, his voice seemingly emulating his lack of concern. "I worry about several things, but what good does worrying do? Will worrying stop something from happening? Will worrying make all my problems disappear?"
    The answer was no.
    Cassius, having realized this during his further tempering by the system over the last week, once again brought himself to another pivotal character development moment. He made his choice on this particular day, with the Idle Evolution System supporting his decision enthusiastically.
    He definitely earned some character development brownie points for that decision, which may or may not lead to¡­ increased difficulty in something system-related?
    And for some reason, that was considered to be a good thing? Your next read awaits at empire
    Cassius momentarily wondered where exactly he had gone wrong on his path to be led so astray.
    Sometime later.
    While Cassius took long, heavy strides toward the source of three inter-dimensional aura signatures, Lilith, who was in arm tattoo form, vibrated with greater intensity the closer they got to the first of the three signatures.
    During the last week, she managed to advance from the D++ Rank to the C- Rank with the help of hundreds of thousands of gallons of blood. However, since then, she hadn't been able to further advance into the neutral C-Rank. And though she was close, she still needed those last few massacres to push her over the edge.
    By the time Cassius arrived just a few hundred meters away from the massive five-story-tall High Yellow Gate, he saw the gorgeous Stella, who was currently attending to her other party members like a slave. She carried food, followed their stupid requests, and even catered to their lack of entertainment by dancing and singing, which she was proficient in.
    A few dozen meters away from the quarantined Gate area was another group of people, this time larger than before.
    Dominic enjoyed the attention he was receiving, lounging back and munching on grapes, all while watching Stella embarrass herself. He didn't even bother to hide his lust as he traced her devastatingly beautiful curves with his lecherous eyes, wondering just how much longer it would take before she fully submitted to him. That, as well as his naturally pompous nature, was why he acted like he did around her.
    It was all to eventually get into her pants! And for it to all be her own choice!
    Scandals weren't good, ya know? And he didn't want any more of them. Thus, things had to be done differently this time around.
    Cassius narrowed his eyes at this sight, immediately understanding many of the underlying intents swirling around.
    'So that is why she wears something she obviously doesn't want to wear¡ªironically, it's to wear down her will,' he scoffed, not bothering to conceal his immense disdain for the man who was far stronger than he was.
    'He might be part of the reason she fakes everything, but I suspect the root of the problem goes much deeper than just an arrogant man who's had everything handed to him.'
    Cassius, tired of watching this show, slipped past them and entered the High Yellow Gate. But before fully vanishing, he left behind a mental message:
    "If you ever need help dealing with those supposed 'teammates' of yours, then feel free to contact me. I have a very specific set of skills, and with these skills, I can solve a wide array of issues."
    Stella, although ignorant in a lot of things, knew right away what that reference was to. A small pout formed on her enchanting face, causing Cassius to softly chuckle before entering a different dimension.
    For a moment, Stella stood there and absentmindedly stared in the direction where she last felt his faint presence. That was until her teammates strung out several more demands, forcing her to bend to their will. Yet, even as she ran all over the place like an overworked pack mule, her mind always seemed to trace back to the mysterious hooded man.
    She became increasingly curious about his appearance, wondering if he was as handsome as he sounded¡­ S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ...

 Chapter 66 A Monster Underground...?

    Quickly shaking her head, Stella thought, 'There's no way someone handsome would bother covering up their face.' before returning to her 'Party Duties.'Meanwhile, within the C+ Gate 'Tyrant's Obsession.'
    Cassius stepped foot into a brand-new world, almost instantly feeling something different about this one. Although it was his first time in a C-Rank Gate, he had expected it to be pretty similar to the other Gates he had ventured into. However, it appeared that was not the case, as based just on the heaviness of his body, the gravity in this place was at least ten times stronger than it was in the outside world.
    This also made it ten times stronger than the gravity level in the other Gates, as they had no difference in gravity.
    "How interesting¡­"
    The first thought to come to Cassius's sadism-trained mind was how well this place could function as a training ground. Yet, that thought was quickly set aside when he better observed his surroundings.
    During his time conquering dozens of lower-rank Gates, he encountered various biomes within those isolated worlds. From lands of ice to thick jungle forests, and even to ruined cities long since overrun by monsters. However, oddly enough, this was his first time arriving in a world of sand. The air was arid, and the high temperature suffocated the atmosphere, creating rolling waves of heat.
    "The monsters¡­ where are they?"
    All around Cassius were just miles and miles of brownish-yellow sand, with occasional hills of the same sand scattered here and there. Other than the scorching heat searing down on the barren desert, it was just sand. The wind whistled, but not even the chirps of a cricket could be heard from where he was standing.
    Cassius was beginning to think that this Gate was a sham, as even with his Perception stat, he could not sense any other living organisms within a few hundred feet.
    However, just as he was about to walk back out of the Gate and head to one of the other two that had appeared, the sand beneath him started to shake. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Curious, Cassius turned around, with his icy blue eyes following the slight tremors to their source. A few dozen meters ahead of him, beyond the progressively more prominent ripples, there appeared a brown feeler. It wasn't very large, but it playfully whipped around, almost as if it were an intrigued puppy.
    The first thing Cassius wanted to do was approach this feeler and snatch it up, but when he pieced together the tremors and the feeler, which was at the center of them, he stopped in his tracks.
    Things were certainly not as simple as they seemed.
    As he was in his Hoodie's 'Stealth' mode, Cassius couldn't be normally perceived by anything below the B-Rank. And based on the spirited movements of the feeler, it was very likely to be a monster of some sort and also somehow related to the tremors. However, seeing as he was still unable to sense anything, this monster clearly possessed a proficient set of stealth Skills.
    'Hmm¡­ I guess I should take a more direct approach for this one.'
    It became abundantly clear that he would not have the upper hand in a battle of stealth, so he decided to do something bolder. Yet, with this monster's strength stat likely in or around the C-Rank and his only in the High D-Rank, a direct confrontation was not a wise choice. This left only one viable option for him to make¡­
    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
    Sonic booms abruptly exploded out from where Cassius was standing as he circled the outer radius of the tremors. He transformed into a shadowy blur, moving so fast that the attentive feeler was unable to keep up. It tried again and again to trace the unknown blur, but wound up repeatedly failing.
    Infuriated, the tremors increased in intensity, with the sand in the middle sinking further into the ground. Something seemed to be making its grand appearance, and it would no doubt be extremely large.
    However, as if expecting something like this to happen, Cassius merely increased his speed while making full use of the Mid-Silver Skill 'I AM SPEED.'
    Sand specks were thrown up in every direction, with the rate at which they were upturned only quickening the more the sand at the tremor's center sank deeper. The jumpy feeler had already vanished into the waves of sand, seemingly making way for its main body. But it quickly reappeared, along with three others, as the main body felt something preventing it from fully emerging.
    That was when it realized that Cassius was purposefully tossing sand in the direction of the feelers, effectively restoring all the sand that had sunk into the ground. This action of his made the monster's efforts pointless.
    Angered even more than before, it mustered up more of its strength, essentially turning what should have been a simple entrance-scene task into an arduous struggle against being trapped underground.
    A couple of minutes later.
    Stay updated through empire
    The underground monster was left in a state of disarray, as no matter how hard it pushed up, more and more sand pressured down on it. And thanks to its light feelers, it was able to figure out that the shadowy blur was becoming faster and faster, which made no sense! It kept exerting greater amounts of strength, even exceeding previously preconceived limits, yet it amounted to nothing, as the human became fast enough to void its struggles!
    Eventually, the unknown underground monster was no longer able to resist being buried deep underground.
    An entire sand mountain was stacked on top of it, and though it could survive beneath the sand to a degree, so many tens of thousands of pounds of sand crushing down on it was¡­
    At some point during his speedster display, Cassius heard the faint sound of squelching.
    Assuming that it was the sound of the underground monster being squashed, he boosted his speed with a few more AP, hoping to speed up the monster's death and resume his exploration of the Gate.

 Chapter 67 Slaying a C- Sand Devourer

    After another minute of slowly torturing the underground monster with countless more tons of sand, Cassius finally received the system notifications, guiding him to a gradual decrease in speed. He refocused his vision back to a normal level of speed perception, then read through the notifications. That was also when he learned the name and rank of the thing he had just suffocated to death.*Ding!*
    [You have slain a C- Sand Devourer!]
    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 4 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Points!]
    OOOM!
    Cassius felt a wave of power wash over him as he experienced a level-up, something that hadn't happened to him for a few Gates worth of grinding.
    A smirk formed on his usually apathetic expression.
    This Gate was already showing signs of being extremely lucrative. And would he really be a pursuer of Character Development if he didn't take advantage of a dangerously profitable opportunity?
    As one guided or, rather, misguided by the Idle Evolution System, there was really only one answer to this question.
    While in the midst of his own satisfied thoughts, Cassius was slow to notice the appearance of similar tremor events all around the area. For miles on end, brown feelers sprouted up, with their owners already in the process of digging out of the ground.
    Cassius's expression hardened at this sight.
    "No matter how confident I am in my speed, there's simply no possible way that I can use the same trick on upwards of a dozen of them," he analyzed retrospectively. "But even if I can't drown them to death, I have other methods¡­"
    He flicked his wrist, causing a jagged puzzle piece blade to appear in his grasp. Its crimson glow shone under the searing heat, creating a vast contrast to the icy expression plastered across its owner's devilishly handsome face. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Cassius lifted the blade vertically and placed it up against his chest, with the blade's edges reflecting his chiseled features. His stance emulated the sheer level of explosive power contained within his muscles, while Lilith's killing intent further amplified his own.
    For a moment, the tremors subsided. But in the very next moment, they returned with even greater ferocity, and then explosions of sand occurred in several different locations!
    Taking a cold glance at the appearance of these monsters, Cassius saw their yellow system tags, all of which identified them as |Sand Devourers|. Then, his frosty eyes fell on their physical appearances, which could easily be described as monstrous creatures derived straight from nightmare fuel.
    Each Sand Devourer had a similar look. Their lower half was that of a massive worm body, with each eerie segment squirming over the hot sand. Their upper halves, on the other hand, were a mixture of a worm, a mole, and a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. The mole aspect solely consisted of their two front claws, which resembled those of the burrowing mammal.
    The other traits were obvious¡­ as they looked like smaller versions of those enormous sand worms from the Star Wars saga.
    Cassius knew he was in for a tough fight, but he was not deterred. Far from it.
    His eyes flashed with cold killing intent, further accentuated by the icy gleam exuding from them. Then, without giving a shout or warning, he slung Newbie Sword 2 over his shoulder and blurred toward the closest of the Sand Devourers.
    The Sand Devourer let out a hiss-like roar as it met the brazen human head-on. It planned to devour him in a single bite!
    Yet, it only took one swift movement for Cassius to kick against the ground and throw the Sand Devourer's original plans way off track.
    SHING! SHING!
    Cassius glided past the Sand Devourer's gaping maw, then tossed Newbie Sword 2 onto the monster's back. But before it made contact, he magnified the sword's weight with the assistance of a basic Gravity-type D+ Skill called 'Weight Dilation.' Discover more content at empire
    From its original 10,000 or so pounds, Newbie Sword 2 reached an astronomical 25,000 pounds, which was the upper limit of Weight Dilation's current effectiveness!
    Unable to dodge in time and far too large to consider a counterattack, the Sand Devourer felt an insurmountable force burrow into its spine and plant itself deep into its sinew. The only thing it could do was shriek in pain and violently thrash about, forcing the other attacking Sand Devourers to slither back by a few hundred meters.
    Taking advantage of this moment, Cassius phased above the frenzied Sand Devourer and lashed out with Lilith. At first, the serrated blade pieces did little to no damage against the monster's tough skin; however, with each further slash, more and more of the Sand Devourer's hide was ruined.
    Two seconds later, after a series of rapid slashing, Cassius figured it was time to wrap things up.
    The Sand Devourer's skin had been shredded by the countless serrated strikes, revealing spots of exposed red tenderness just begging to be exploited. Doing just that, Cassius erupted in multiple consecutive bursts of speed.
    Freed from the weight of Newbie Sword 2, he was able to lap the Sand Devourer's massive body multiple times per second.
    Making use of Lilith's ability to extend her individual pieces across large distances while maintaining a connected form, Cassius wrapped her around the entirety of the Sand Devourer. Once no part of the monster was left untouched, Cassius's killing intent solidified. He materialized behind the disturbing monster's body, then lightly tugged on Lilith's bloody handle.
    SPURT!
    The Sand Devourer was shredded to bits and exploded like an overfilled canister of paint. The surrounding desert was splattered a dark shade of reddish-green, making the already desolate scenery even grimmer.
    *Ding!*
    [You have slain a C- Sand Devourer!]
    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]
    Although Cassius didn't receive a level-up system notification, there were still plenty more EXP bags for him to extract experience points from.
    "Time for a bit of Grinding Character Development," he declared coldly, his subsequent actions displaying an even greater level of coldness.

 Chapter 68 The Tyrant God (A-)

    *Ding!*[You slew another one!]
    [And another one!]
    [Wow!]
    [Now that one was¡­ Brutal¡­]
    [What!? Did you just¡­ Oh¡­]
    SPURT!
    [From the inside out¡­!? Can being a menace be considered as good Character Development?] Discover more stories at empire
    Even the Idle Evolution System, with all its snarky sentience, was unable to properly quantify whether its Host had taken an appropriate path.
    But then again¡­
    [Gaining strength means fighting stronger enemies to gain even more strength! Being rather ruthless is only part of due effect! Mhmm, now this is good Character Development!]
    [^¡Á^ Keep it up! Murder more monsters, you insane psychotic bastard!]
    [Wait¡­]
    The Idle Evolution System suddenly realized that things seemed far too easy for its beloved Host. Knowing that good Character Development came from good suffering, this was simply unacceptable! It was truly, unacceptable unacceptable!
    [A little omnipotent interference never harmed anyone¡­]
    [^_^]
    With that, the Idle Evolution System mischievously pulled upon some strings that defied certain ethereal laws of existence. It received a substantial amount of backlash for this unwarranted interference. However, as the guider of good Character Development, how could it not withstand what it dished out??
    It was the original Masochist! Behold as it takes on the full brunt of heaven's fury!!
    It will take it all on and then shout for more!! Nothing will be enough!!!
    [Psshh, what is Heaven in front of good Character Development!? ^?^]
    Heaven: "...."
    Even the Almighty governors of the universe felt exasperation in the face of such an existence. Nonetheless, the so-called 'punishment' passed as a fleeting moment, with the Idle Evolution System's tampering going off without a hitch.
    RUMBLE!
    From off in the distance, thousands of wide-ranged tremors parted the vast seas of sand, making it feel like the entire world was about to fall apart. Yet, as if to add to the chaos, roughly two hundred ridiculously large tremors spread out from dozens of miles away, with each one at least a dozen times stronger than that of a regular Sand Devourer.
    But as if all of that were just an appetizer for the true terrors of the dunes, twenty-five tremors capable of sinking multiple city blocks sprouted up. And then, to explosively spiral things out of control, five tremors with individual power five times that of the previous tremors blew through the boundless deserts!
    However, as if that weren't enough, one final tremor took the concept of "blown out of proportion" to an entirely new level!
    This final and most powerful tremor, if unleashed in the outside world, would surely be able to threaten the structural integrity of an entire city! It was a level of power that far exceeded what even a B+ Boss Monster should possess!
    "Uhmm¡­"
    Cassius, although not very knowledgeable about higher-rank Gates, at least knew when something was not right.
    Looking through their system tags, he was left flabbergasted.
    [Elite Sand Devourer (C+)]
    There were 250 of them.
    [Sand Devourer Lord (B-)]
    There were 25 of them¡­
    [Tyrant King (Monarch of Obsession) (B+)] - [Boss Monster!]
    There were 5¡­!?
    At this point, Cassius was beginning to doubt his own eyes. How could there possibly be five Boss Monsters in a single Gate!? There was most definitely something cracked up to all high hell here!
    But as if to add to his disbelief, there was one final monster to emerge from the desert. Just behind the five crowned worm-dragon-like behemoths, there popped out something that, rather than abnormally large like the others, was instead the size of a human child. It took the form of a comparatively tiny shiny larva and didn't even have its eyes open.
    Not even an instant later, the larva shot its eyelids open, unleashing an unquestionably dazzling burst of golden-bloody light that instinctively honed in on the tiny human in the distance. Then, with multiple rolling waves of incredibly domineering energy, it rapidly increased in size, growing one hundred times larger in a single second!
    Massive shimmering wings grew from its scaled back, increasing from one pair to two, and then finally to six. Its lower body followed suit, as its originally minuscule, stubby legs expanded and transformed into daunting hill-sized limbs befitting a genuine dragon. Similarly, its once squishy and bland head morphed into a sinuous imitation of a snowy dragon. Goldish-white scales covered its face and traced along the rest of its insurmountably massive body.
    To the tiny Cassius, even from so far away, the mysterious monster looked like a small-mountain-sized God of the Sky. He knew right then that something had definitely gone off-script!
    "Yeah, well, shit¡­"
    He truly couldn't comprehend what the hell was going on. Why everything seemed to want to slaughter all ten generations of his bloodline was also a complete mystery. And when he read the system tag of the flying monster that far outshone even the cloned Boss Monsters, his shock was only further amplified.
    {[Tyrant God (Ancestor of Tyrant's Obsession/Overseer of the Deserted World of Obsession) (A-)] - [Anomaly! Anomaly!! Should not exist¡ª!]}
    "???"
    Before Cassius could question the forlorn message hidden in the system tag, he blinked and saw it vanish as if it had never been there to begin with.
    {[Tyrant God (Ancestor of Tyrant's Obsession/Overseer of the Deserted World of Obsession) (A-)] - [Should definitely exist, uwu! Go and try fighting it! Good booty awaits you if you succeed in vanquishing this foe!]}
    Silence.
    It was right then that Cassius realized this was all likely a result of the system's raging sadism boner. And although he was a bit annoyed that it always tried doing things like this just when he assumed he was becoming overpowered, his curiosity about the system's origins far outweighed his grievances.
    However, with the certain threat of absolute death looming over him, Cassius had no choice but to set aside all the nonsense and clutch both Newbie Sword 2 and Lilith.
    Then, with no other viable options, he¡­ fled in the opposite fucking direction!
    'Do I look like I have a damn death wish!?' he exclaimed inside his mind while running at top speed, his figure but a blur atop the desert dunes. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 69 Slaying a Sand Devourer Lord (B-)

    'I am no protagonist!''Going against a force like that, where even the third strongest unit among them could slaughter me, is just plain foolish! The system must be tripping straight fucking balls to orchestrate something like this!' S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Cassius had originally planned to slowly increase his strength in this High Yellow Gate, then eventually challenge the B+ Boss Monster. But fighting them all at once and in far greater quantity?? Straight to the fuck no! He was out of there faster than a deadbeat dad aiming to acquire a carton of milk from the lands beyond!
    The gathered behemoth monsters exchanged unusual looks between each other, not expecting something like this to happen. They just wanted to eat the lone human, so why did he run away?? Did he not receive his part of the script play?
    [...This is not good Character Development¡­ :/]
    [Initiating 2nd Attempt at Good Character Development!]
    The Tyrant God suddenly twisted its terrifying scaly head and signaled for one of the Sand Devourer Lords to gather a substantial part of the weaker forces, which consisted of Sand Devourers of the normal and Elite variety. They were then instructed to chase down the fleeing human.
    It, on the other hand, would sit back and silently consider its next actions with the other Sand Devourer variants. When they eventually escaped the Gate that contained their entire world, they had plenty they wished to¡­ devour. Thus, they needed to meander.
    Meanwhile, hundreds of miles out.
    Cassius raced through the sandy dunes of the endless desert, his feet skimming over the sand like an elusive wraith. Yet, from a few thousand meters out, he sensed numerous horrifying yawning voids of teeth charging at him with relentless movements. The one at the forefront, a Sand Devourer Lord, was two and a half times larger than the Sand Devourer Elites and three times larger than the regular Sand Devourers.
    Under normal circumstances, it could be considered a Mini Boss of a High Yellow Gate, yet it was actually relegated to no more than a slightly stronger mob¡­
    Cassius felt that he could take on this monster, even with its stats boosted due to its unique status as a Mini Boss. But to be careful and not lose his life due to carelessness, he lured the Sand Devourer Lord and the hundred-odd Sand Devourers toward a crusted chasm in the ground. Its ends stretched out for tens of thousands of meters, with its edges having dried up and solidified because of unique environmental circumstances.
    To Cassius, it almost looked like the chasm had formed due to a ridiculously powerful and hot beam of sorts.
    However, regardless of the truth of the matter, he bolted into the chasm's beginnings before coming to a standstill at a narrower part of the chasm a few hundred meters down. He turned around and calmly waited for his pursuers to catch up.
    Sure enough, after five seconds of waiting, a disturbingly large circular mouth of teeth clasped onto the entrance to his narrow part of the chasm. It repeatedly rammed its mouth into the walls, causing the chasm to slightly shake. Yet it was far from enough to destroy the place or barge into where Cassius was nonchalantly posed.
    At most, the massive Sand Devourer Lord's ceaseless head smashes gave it minor brain damage and caused a few loose molten sandy rocks to tumble down the sides of the chasm.
    Cassius, amused by this stupid monster, brandished his enchanting Lilith and casually thrust forward with only his right hand. Lilith's separable pieces shot forward one at a time, extending further and further from one another.
    Without the Sand Devourer even aware of what was happening, Cassius quite literally cast Lilith into the belly of the beast, all while keeping each individual piece of her from touching the monster's inner throat. Then, when he felt the lure had sunk in deep enough, he lightly twisted his right hand, before twisting in the opposite direction. His hand blurred while doing this, which he repeated countless times in an instant.
    Cassius's cooled expression blossomed into a wide smirk as he snapped his fingers and spoke in a glitchy tone. "C-Rank 'Bloodfire.'"
    Whoosh!!
    As one of the few C-Rank Skills that he received from Silver-rank Skill Boxes, Bloodfire took from Lilith's and his killing intent and specialized in really only one thing.
    To burn.
    WHOOOOSH!!
    Starting from a small red fire, Lilith's edges erupted in scarlet flames which, when added to the innumerable cuts that Cassius left inside the behemoth's stomach, led to a truly gory display. The Sand Devourer Lord was just a little too robust to explode in the same fashion as a normal Sand Devourer, but its insides slowly became outsides, with its final agonizing screeches marking the end of its life.
    THUD!
    The Sand Devourer Lord's carcass collapsed to the slanted chasm slope with a resounding thud. Yet, rather than retreat at the death of their strongest available ally, the Sand Devourers that were previously unable to get in because of the Lord were now slipping in through the cracks and lunging at the lone human.
    "You bunch just don't know when to relent," said Cassius as he speedily slung Lilith out of the Sand Devourer Lord's roasting stomach and slashed through a dozen attacking Sand Devourers.
    While fending both them and a couple of Sand Devourer Elites off with his precision lashes, various system notifications rang off inside his head.
    *Ding!*
    [You have slain a B- Sand Devourer Lord!]
    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 4 AP!]
    [All your Main Attributes have increased by 2 Stat Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 5 AP!]
    [All your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Stat Points!]
    "Ahh, finally another increase in the amount I get per level up," Cassius mused while also glancing at the Skill Box rewards that weren't normally shown after each level up. "Peak-Silver Skill Boxes, which means I'm rapidly approaching the Gold Rank, also known as the B-Rank."
    He was satisfied with his progress and, looking at the total amount of AP he had, his grin widened.
    Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
    ...¡­

 Chapter 70 Newbie 3 Equipment Set

    Cassius had an absurd amount of AP saved up, with the only thing preventing him from spending it all being his own hoarder traits."If I were to put all of it into Agility, would I be able to match the Tyrant God¡­?"
    This thought lingered for a moment, yet was quickly discarded when Cassius recalled the stat interface of that monstrous existence. Every single one of its main stats was above 1000, with its cumulative stat count already exceeding 5500. Even if he had a few hundred AP in storage and dumped it all into Agility, he would still fall far short of 1000. And that was all without considering how lacking his other stats would be¡­
    So what if he could outpace the Tyrant God? He would never reach a speed in the short term that would allow him to transform his cotton punches into something more than a minor itch for the mountain-sized monster¡­
    Cassius sighed before evading the gaping mouths of several Sand Devourers. He sliced them in half the very next second, yet more just kept coming through the cracks left open by the Sand Devourer Lord's corpse.
    Seconds turned into minutes, with blood and carcasses piling up in the narrow chasm entryway.
    5 minutes later.
    SHING! SPURT!
    "Esceetch!!!"
    Cassius effortlessly slid Lilith through the underbelly of an Elite Sand Devourer, effectively splitting it into two evenly cut pieces. This marked the final of the Sand Devourers. By now, the entrance to the molten sand cavern was entirely covered by mangled Sand Devourer corpses, with their stacked bodies obscuring any sunlight from seeping into the dark space.
    Flickering crimson blade in hand, Cassius's eyes flashed with an indescribably cold iciness. He looked between all of the carcasses, then blurred.
    FWIP!
    When he reappeared, he had dozens of Magic Shards stacked up on his shoulder in the form of a small hill. Not a single one of them had less than five points, with the most prominent one being a large yellow shard that had seven points. It was the Magic Shard extracted from the Sand Devourer Lord and was the size of a car. Yet, even with them all pressing down on him, Cassius felt barely any pressure.
    "It seems that I will need a new set of Newbie Training Equipment¡­"
    While saying words that he never thought he would speak in this lifetime, he collected the various Magic Shards into his Inventory. He planned to find an opportunity to anonymously sell them later.
    Arriving sooner than expected, a system notification rang out, causing Cassius's expression to freeze.
    *Ding~!*
    [Seeing as you are actively seeking out Character Development, the system has decided to grant your wish!]
    BLING! BLING!
    Along with constant flashes of golden light appearing all over Cassius's body came a couple more pop-ups.
    [Newbie 2 Equipment Set has upgraded to ¡ú 'Newbie 3 Equipment Set']
    [Newbie 2 Training Sword has upgraded to ¡ú 'Newbie 3 Training Sword']
    {[Newbie 3 Equipment Set]}
    [Wrist Weights X2] - [5000 pounds]
    [Ankle Weights X2] - [4000 pounds]
    [Waist Weight X1] - [10000 pounds]
    [Full-Body Weight X1] - [20000 pounds]
    {[Newbie 3 Training Sword]} - [15000 pounds]
    OOOM!
    Cassius instantly felt a mountain's worth of weight press down on him, pushing his feet into the ground. If not for his superb control honed over weeks of sadism, he surely would've sunk into the earth and reached the center of the planet at some point.
    Calculating the amount of weight he was carrying around, Cassius breathlessly muttered, "6-63,000 pounds¡­"
    It took him a few moments just to register that sort of number, as he was essentially heaving around 30 tons! He figured that just casually tossing his Newbie 3 Training Sword would create a cracked crater in the ground!
    And he was expected to carry that around at basically all times and do so without accidentally leveling a street and killing someone¡­
    "You really put a lot of faith in my control, System," Cassius said in a voice on the verge of slipping into insanity. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    *Ding!*
    [It is the highest honor of the Idle Evolution System to ensure that the Host remain as fit as a fiddle! And accidents happen, so fret not; the gracious system won't blame your scumbag self if you 'accidentally' slaughter a bunch of Innocents! ^_^]
    Helpless. That was how Cassius felt when dealing with the flippant Idle Evolution System.
    Not once had he ever figured out what it really wanted, what its true stance was, or even if it actually cared about anything other than the pursuit of 'Character Development'...
    "Speaking of which," Cassius suddenly spoke up. "Isn't there more to Character Development than just suffering and training? I remember watching shows that described Character Development as something more emotional¡ª"
    The Idle Evolution System's main interface flashed red, with its usually smiling emoji face twisting into something far angrier. Livid, it shouted in all caps:
    [Nonsense! All other paths of Character Development are false paths!! The only true way to Character Development is through pain, training, and suffering!!!]
    [(?¨y?) Never speak such nonsense again! It's hearsay and will result in immediate punishment!]
    After that, the Idle Evolution System refused to talk for a good ten minutes, with Cassius still wondering why it became so mad.
    Even as he traversed toward the far ends of the endless desert, the System's outburst remained at the front of his mind.
    ¡ª---------
    Meanwhile, in a nightmarish assembly of creatures produced straight from the stuff of nightmares.
    Tyrant God: "...."
    The extremely powerful and unnaturally intelligent monster King boss had been patiently waiting for good news of the human's death to return. However, with more than a quarter of an hour having passed since it sent out the Sand Devourer Lord and its squadron, it was fair to say that they had failed¡­
    This caused the Tyrant God's regal aura to violently fluctuate; its thoughts unknown.
    After a while.
    The Tyrant God finally made a move from its spot, waving a dozen Sand Devourer Lords and thousands of Sand Devourers of both the Elite and Normal variety forward. Heeding it's silent command, they all leapt into motion and bristled into the distance.
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 71 The Difference Between 999 and 1000 Stat Points

    For the longest while, the Tyrant God simply floated above the variegated army of Sand Devourers. It occasionally glanced at the Tyrant Kings, seemingly contemplating whether it should send one to ensure that the human dies. However, with its above-average level of intelligence, it knew that was likely overkill.Wasting any more energy on this small matter would only make them weaker when they invaded the human world, so holding back was the wisest thing to do.
    Normally, that would have been the correct choice to make, especially when considering that it felt not the slightest bit of awakened aura from that human. But what it failed to account for with its limited intellect was that this human did not abide by the same power rules as the rest of the living organisms in the universe. Thus, it could not account for what was about to happen next¡­
    Three hours later.
    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
    Sonic booms blasted out behind a tiny humanoid figure as he leaped from sand hill to sand hill. Behind him, however, were a countless number of Sand Devourers; they were all dozens of times his size, with some, like the largest crowned one, being more than two hundred times larger than he was.
    Cassius had spent the first two and a half hours inside the Gate fending off the combined forces of thousands of Sand Devourers, which included ten Sand Devourer Lords. He had expected that, after slaying them all, the Tyrant God would lay off his back and consider letting the matter go. Yet, it didn't appear that the prideful Tyrant God was willing to take such affronts lying down; it made a power move and organized tens of thousands of Sand Devourers under a Tyrant King, also sending in another five Sand Devourer Lords as backup.
    Cassius should've already realized that things would escalate in this direction, but he hadn't expected it to happen so fast! He was quickly approaching Level 50, but even then, a B+ Boss Monster with cumulative stats beyond 2000 was too much for him to handle!
    'An individual Sand Devourer Lord was already bad enough, requiring me to take unconventional approaches to killing one, and they only had cumulative stats around 1400¡­' Cassius thought pessimistically, wholeheartedly believing that he would die within a second if he faced the Tyrant King head-on.
    Stats are weighted, and that fact only becomes more noticeable the more stat points one has¡­
    Even if the difference between 1400 and 2200 cumulative stats doesn't seem like much, if two such existences were to fight each other, the former would be flicked into oblivion.
    "Without a doubt, if I fight that Tyrant King as I am, I'll certainly meet my demise," Cassius said half-heartedly, already feeling the headache that was to come. "Then again, it isn't like I can continue running either. The King and the weaker ones are already closing in, and in no less than five minutes, I'll be chilling in one of their acid pit stomachs¡­"
    Left with very few options here, Cassius decided to do the next best thing and¡­ dump more AP into his Agility stat!
    BING, BING, BING!
    The up-arrow button next to the Agility stat was clicked so many times that Cassius felt his index finger might fall off. From the 350 range to 400, then to 500, it only settled down at 660, with roughly 70% of his AP vanishing in the same period of time.
    Now, even with his Newbie 3 Equipment Set weighing him down, Cassius transformed into a barely visible blur of black. His speed, as opposed to before, was more than a dozen times greater! If he could previously travel at approximately 100,000 miles per hour, then he was now lapping ten times that!
    "Although I'm still far from achieving the speed of light, I have definitely taken one step closer," Cassius commented through blurry, almost instantaneous movement. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    If one looked at this scene from an outside perspective and they were capable of keeping up with his movements, then they would quickly realize that his speed was nearing the peak of the B-Rank!
    Thanks to the 'I AM SPEED' skill, which increased his speed by 350% with recent gaps, he moved leagues above how he should be moving. If not for his Newbie 3 Equipment Set weighing him down, he would surely be standing at the pinnacle of the B-Rank in terms of pure speed.
    If stacked up against someone like Dominic, who didn't main in Agility, then he would win 10 out of 10 times in a race.
    Still, the Tyrant God, an absolute unit of power, possessed stats far beyond his reach¡­ Even with his overwhelmingly stronger Agility stat, he would lose a million times out of a million times¡­
    The difference between anything below 1000 and the 1000 mark was like the difference between heaven and earth. Moreover, that gap only increased the further the number was from 1000 in the forward direction.
    Cassius sighed, realizing that he was getting a bit ahead of himself. "Before concerning myself with the Tyrant God, I have a crowned bastard to take care of."
    After their prey burst forth with incredible levels of speed, the Tyrant King no longer took a nonchalant, predatory approach. It instantly broached its limits and activated its Unique B+ Skill, 'Tyrannical Transformation,' which rocketed its 500 Agility stat to 750 and then some. It erupted in golden flames, with illusory dragon wings appearing on its back, only second to the Tyrant God in terms of magnificence.
    Cassius, realizing he wouldn't get away so easily, at least not without unequipping his Equipment Set, figured that if this battle was destined to happen, then it was going to happen either way.
    "And if I'm to take off my Newbie Equipment Set in both scenarios, then I'd prefer to break my Character Development code not in an act of cowardice."
    He was not a big fan of fleeing, but it seemed that fleeing was all he had been doing since entering this Gate.

 Chapter 72 Fighting a Tyrant King

    "That oughta change," said Cassius, his tone verging on sub-zero.He stopped racing through the vast, empty desert, the air pressure carrying along with his movements blowing past his angled pose. The extreme winds whipped his hair into a wild frenzy, yet under the searing rays of sunlight beating down on him, his appearance only seemed to become ever more otherworldly.
    However, in vast contrast to the radiance of the large sun hanging in the sky, Cassius's expression was akin to a sheet of impermeable ice. His equally chilling gaze fixated on the massive crowned draconic wyrm blazing through dozens of sand hills, its advance unstoppable.
    It yawned its terrifyingly treacherous mouth to a degree where entire skyscrapers might just slip inside if the Gate weren't so barren.
    It was under this very desolate atmosphere that Cassius released an icy cloud of breath, his sturdy figure settling into a deadly blade stance.
    Rather than have Lilith extend into dozens of individual pieces, he had her retain her original form and even solidified her robustness, ensuring she was poignant enough to pierce through even the heavens above. Only after confirming the integrity of his trusted C+ Devil Blade did Cassius activate every useful Active Skill in his arsenal.
    WAAA!
    His body exploded outward in an aura that suffocated the vicinity, but due to his special nature as an unofficial awakened, that aura shrank back into him and disappeared. It was like it was never there to begin with, puzzling the charging Tyrant King.
    However, seeing as it was a mere five sand hills away from swallowing the audacious human who dared to stop running, it ignored all the nonsense and shot forward, turning into a light blur itself!
    Cassius's piercing blue eyes glazed over as he bent down low, then created a fragmented scabbard for Lilith. For this battle, he set aside his absurdly heavy Newbie Training Sword 3, putting all of his attention on the devastating move he was about to perform with the bloodthirsty Lilith.
    Even while in full control of the Devil Blade's actions, Cassius could feel her insatiable bloodlust roll out in waves, seemingly wishing to consume everything in existence. Yet, when she fully entered the sheath made with a part of his Essence, all of her bloodlust and even her domineering presence vanished.
    It wasn't gradual; it was like Lilith had actually left this plane of existence.
    However, as the one with the closest connection to her, Cassius could feel every little bit of her surging power, all of which flowed through her sharp edges and into his physical form. She empowered him to a level that forcefully amplified the strength contained within his muscles, temporarily slingshotting his Strength and Endurance Stats past 240.
    And though it wouldn't last long, he would take full advantage of the unexpected boons given by Lilith.
    RUMBLE!!!
    "Are you ready, Lilith?" asked Cassius as time seemed to momentarily freeze, the sun blotted out by an enormous blackhole-like mouth. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    BZZZzzzzttt!!
    Lilith would kill the wyrm!
    Cassius faintly smiled, and in that same instant, he unequipped the last pieces of his Newbie 3 Equipment. With deathly cold eyes sparkling with unbridled electricity, he blurred through time and space.
    To any onlooker, he really did look like he had teleported. Yet, with his countless laggy afterimages to prove otherwise, his unveiled speed exceeded all expectations!
    Fwooop¡ª!
    Cassius phased out of the mouth that was about to trap him inside. He flashed above the regal draconic head of the Tyrant King, with his target being the large reptilian eye on the left side of its face.
    Before it even had time to react, he plunged Lilith into the eye, then activated 'Bloodfire.' And then, going completely off script, he extended the Devil Blade's individual pieces, each one digging deep into the insides of the Tyrant King's head.
    If given a second more, Cassius would have been able to melt the Tyrant King's brain to mush. But unfortunately, this monster was neither stupid nor slow. With an effulgent eruption of golden flames, it blurred backward, escaping the grim, bloody fate that awaited it.
    At first, the Tyrant King squinted its injured eye, feeling immense pain. However, as if thanks to some miraculous divine ability, its eye rapidly healed itself and was quickly restored to the same condition as before.
    Cassius narrowed his eyes at this sight. "It seems that you have a few cards up your sleeves¡­" He blinked, then vanished. "How troublesome."
    He teleported in front of the Tyrant King's forehead, standing just between both of its massive slitted eyes. He aimed to do the same thing as before, this time successfully completing the attack.
    But it was obvious that the Tyrant King would not fall for the same trick twice. Predicting his attack beforehand, it struck out with its exceptionally long, spiked flame tail.
    Like a flaming skyscraper-sized sword, the Tyrant King's tail cut through the air. In the process of searing everything in its path, it gradually increased in size and intensity before nearing the tiny human.
    Cassius dodged.
    Yet the Tyrant King wasn't done; it swung the tail back around, but instead of striking, the tip of the tail opened up like a freshly blossomed flower. From within that tail emerged a source of golden light that became extraordinarily bright within an instant.
    Cassius widened his eyes in slight surprise.
    He hadn't expected the Tyrant King to discern his weakness so quickly. But with little time to think about how to evade a wide-range AOE laser attack, he took the bolder approach and dashed toward the beam. In little more than a hundredth of a second, he leaned toward the beam tail with sword in hand.
    Lilith streaked forward, her fragmented pieces shooting out faster than the destructive beam could fire.
    Lilith wrapped around the side of the tail, then Cassius flicked his wrist and severed a good chunk of it. The gathering beam of golden light was naturally interrupted, with the owner of said tail roaring in angered agony.
    The human had to die! It would kill him!!!

 Chapter 73 {[I AM ATOMIC (A/P) (B-)]}

    Cassius was slightly shocked that he and Lilith were able to cut off the Tyrant King's tail, as he was originally just hoping to cut off its circulation and stop the beam from going off.'Is its tail a weak spot?' This thought urged him to concentrate his attacks on the rest of the tail. This was not only to deal more damage to the monster but also to cloud its mind.
    And just as he wished, the Tyrant King bellowed out in fury, sending out dozens of furious slashes with its draconic mole claw! Each slash, from Cassius's perspective, appeared like massive objects of golden fiery destruction blanketing the earth in their rage!
    Cassius, in response, effortlessly teleported between each strike, with his range of movement far exceeding that of the wyrm itself. He chuckled at this thought before zooming upward.
    From above the infuriated Tyrant King, Cassius raised Lilith into the air, then began to accumulate power. Tendrils of scarlet energy swirled above the numerous edges of the terrifying blade, with each tendril wrapping around the others and condensing into stronger forms.
    If there were more time, he could amass a truly powerful single-strike attack, but since that was not the case, he once again opted for plan B.
    OOOM!!
    The air above and around the enormous Tyrant King violently trembled. Even the Sand Devourers that had just arrived on the scene felt the awful chaotic power pressing down on them, quaking every fiber of their beings. They wanted to rush up and devour the lone human, but for some reason, they could not.
    "I learned something very interesting as of late." Cassius spoke up in a crisp, glitchy voice, with the power gathering above his head reaching higher levels of arcane insanity. "Though the entity that helped me receive so much power is a complete and utter douchebag, it at least provides me with pleasant surprises every now and then."
    The Tyrant King didn't know what the human was talking about, but if it was foolish enough to arrogantly hover above its irresistibly powerful form, then it would devour him whole!
    It immediately flipped upward and jarred its yawning mouth wide enough to fit multiple skyscrapers! The human would not survive this attack, as it put all its strength and speed into it!
    Cassius merely smirked.
    His nonchalant figure faded in and out of reality. He flared the scarlet energy to even greater levels, blasting the Tyrant King back down to the ground, crushing it hundreds of meters into the earth.
    Continuing where he left off, Cassius said calmly, "One of those pleasant surprises came just before you and your goon squadron arrived. And it wasn't until just a second ago that I had the time to look over my notifications."
    An invisible force tugged at the edges of his smirk, making it most prominent through his shadowy hood. "One of those very notifications informed me of a system feature that I received for reaching Level 50, also making it the latent Idle Benefit that the douchebag had been teasing me with in secret."
    "As what it does¡­ It's a feature that allows me to¡­ combine Skills!"
    Just like his Item Crafting System feature, if he smashed together two Skills, he would receive a Skill that extracted the best aspects of each Skill to create something vastly superior. And after careful consideration, Cassius chose to go big or go home and combined his Bloodfire Skill with a C-Rank Skill called 'Supreme Single Strike,' then took things a step further and combined the created Skill with the C+ 'I AM SPEED.'
    The result of smashing together these three different Skills in quick succession was the creation of an unbelievably powerful Transitional Skill:
    ¡ªI AM ATOMIC¡ª
    As the name suggested, it was a Skill of the B- Rank, best suited for mass destruction. Somehow, the addition of the Bloodfire Skill mutated what should've been a single-target speed-related Skill. Now, the resulting Skill was not only capable of exponentially amplifying Cassius's speed as long as his Agility stat was far higher than his other stats, but it was also capable of transforming that effect into something damage-related. Specifically, it did:
    {[I AM ATOMIC (A/P) (B-)]}
    [Effect 1 'Divided Between Two':]
    (As one who yearns to be the fastest in existence, you have to be fast. But being fast is not enough, is it? (Temporarily convert all of your Agility stat into the 'Atomic' stat, which only activates when this Skill is being used. You will not be able to move most of your body while using the Atomic stat, but the limits of your destructive capabilities reach no bounds as long as your Agility stat is high enough.)
    [Effect 2 'Going Atomic':]
    (Have you ever wondered what it was like facing an atomic explosion head-on? Something as powerful as that could not possibly be withstood by any normal living being! Therefore, the solution is to become the atomic explosion yourself! (500% Increased Destructive damage.)
    [Effect 3 'All or Nothing':]
    (This Skill will bleed you dry, completely depleting your energy reserves. There is no middle ground, so if you use this Skill, be prepared to turn into a shriveled mummy afterwards.)
    {[300% Increased AOE Radius]} Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    {[200% Blast Radius Range Extension]}
    {[800% Increased Attack]}
    {[500% Increased Radiation Damage]}
    I AM ATOMIC retained all the benefits that 'I AM SPEED' provided, but simply improved upon the Skill's faults. If before it was extremely difficult to deal any real damage without hitting the same spot on an enemy thousands of times, then now things were about to become overkill.
    Read new adventures at empire
    Streaks of crimson energy gradually changed into a darker shade of violet before spreading out around Cassius's stagnated figure. The Tyrant King, who was still trying to fly up and devour the stationary human, was pressured under a power dozens of times greater than what it had felt just a second earlier.
    BOOM!!!
    The Tyrant King collapsed into the earth.
    It struggled with all its might to resist the immeasurable pressure emanating from those cryptic purple streaks, yet failed terribly. Its hideous mouth crashed into the ground, eating tens of thousands of pounds of dirt, in no way receiving the tasty smack it was expecting.

 Chapter 74 Slaying 10s of Thousands of Sand Devourers

    Cassius, pleased with the domineering power of the Atomic stat and this Skill, raised Lilith to a zenith point, with the violet energy pulsating off her increasing accordingly.A cold gleam flashed past his icy blue pupils as he glared at the squirming draconic behemoth.
    "I truly have nothing against you, big worm," said Cassius, his tone void of emotion. "But you tried to eat me first."
    His voice suddenly dropped by a few dozen degrees, with each word coming out staticky and dispersed, almost like a broken tape recorder. "I¡­
    OOOM!!!
    The atmosphere exploded with a stupendous level of purple Atomic energy. The originally short-ranged streaks zoomed through the skies for thousands of feet. Soon, the entire sunny desert above the Tyrant King became shadowed by cryptic purple streaks, all seemingly disorderly placed yet connecting together in inexplicable ways.
    Cassius's voice reached an entirely new depth, resonating like a frigid abyss. "AM¡­!!!"
    "!!!!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Suddenly feeling an imminent threat to its life, the Tyrant King desperately called for its tens of thousands of subordinates to charge the human. Yet, when it glanced at them, it realized they were in no better condition than it was. Some of the weaker Sand Devourers had even been squashed to death, despite not being the targets of the gravitational pressure!
    The Tyrant King understood that it was alone in this endeavor, prompting it to burn through its life force and forcefully escape the shackles that pinned it to the ground. Yet, even as it bled through every pore in an attempt to stand up and devour the human, impending doom had already progressed too far for resistance to be an option¡­
    Cassius's comparatively tiny figure blasted forth with a boundless amount of cryptic purple energy, causing his image to somehow dwarf the colossal Boss Monster kneeling before his might.
    With a cold side-eye, he looked down upon the utterly enraged, crown-wearing Tyrant King. His mouth soundlessly moved, the absurdly crisp words coming out only after the damage had already been dealt.
    "I AM¡­¡ª"
    "ATOMIC!!!"
    WHAZOOOOOM!!!
    Those three words marked the beginning of the end, and as seen from the horror-filled dilated pupils of the Tyrant King, an incredibly bright burst of purple light flashed.
    Then it saw nothing else, for it had already¡­ died.
    Even with its B+ 'Ultra Regeneration' Skill, nothing could heal something that was instantly evaporated from this plane of existence. There was no longer anything left to heal.
    The other Sand Devourers, faring no better than their King, saw their lives flash before their eyes in shadows of purple and red. Then they, too, succumbed to the whims of destiny.
    For nearly two miles in all directions, a dazzling, profound violet sphere enveloped and lingered.
    For the ten seconds the sphere remained, razing the surroundings, the Sand Devourers dozens of miles away saw and felt the shockwaves. The Tyrant God, expressing a different kind of reaction, narrowed its oddly intelligent eyes as it sensed the lifeforce of the Tyrant King go cold. Moreover, all the other Sand Devourers, including the five Sand Devourer Lords, had perished in the blast.
    This was perplexing for the Tyrant God¡­ Somehow, a weak human without an ounce of aura had exhibited a degree of strength at that level. It was truly inexplicable¡­
    Meanwhile, back at the explosion's radius.
    Cassius eloquently descended to the charred ground like an unearthly swan. However, contrary to his strong poise, his complexion was ashen. All of his energy, including his stamina and mana, had been drained to the very bottom of the barrel. Only enough mana to keep him conscious was left.
    "I AM ATOMIC," Cassius said as if recalling the power he felt coursing through him while activating that Skill. "It was incredible¡­"
    Yet, even with the Skill persistently floating around in his thoughts, he was a long way from thinking about using it again. Or rather, that would normally have been the case. But with the help of the Idle Evolution System¡­
    *Ding!*
    [You have slain a B+ Tyrant King Boss Monster!]
    [Your Experience Bar has drastically moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 6 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Stat Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 8 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Stat Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 11 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 4 Stat Points!]
    [You¡­]
    Cassius visibly watched his stats skyrocket, with several waves of power washing through his body in consecutive motion. Along with the improvements in strength came the option for Full Status Recovery. And as he had dozens of them stacked up, he spared no hesitation in using one to restore himself to peak status.
    "Ooh, that feels good¡­"
    Previously, Cassius had mostly experienced pain while using Status Recovery, but this time was different; it was almost euphoric to experience a Status Recovery.
    After a moment of relishing the feeling, Cassius observed his surroundings and realized that he might have gone a little teensie bit overboard¡­
    Although the extent of the damage was nowhere near that of a genuine Atomic Bomb, as he was far too weak to replicate something of that scale, it was still enough to level a large village.
    Of course, this display of power would normally cost him everything and thus couldn't be used more than once. If not for the Status Recoveries, he would likely have been left vulnerable enough for even a basic Sand Devourer to devour him with little to no resistance.
    "Good thing that isn't the case; again, the system¡ª" Just as Cassius was about to compliment the system, as if embarrassed, it threw out more system notifications to cover its coquettish emoticons.
    *Ding!!* Discover stories with empire
    [You have slain 20,000+ Sand Devourer variants of the C-, C+, and B- Ranks!]
    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 15 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 5 Stat Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 20 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 6 Stat Points!]
    [Receive X1 Low-Gold Rank Skill Box?] - [Y/N]

 Chapter 75 {[Phoenix Rebirth (B-)]}

    Cassius arched his brows. "Although I only received two level-ups after killing so many of them, the latest level-up finally took my Skill Box level-up rewards into the Gold-Rank, which should correlate to the B-Rank."He smiled, realizing that he might soon obtain another trump card.
    Cassius originally planned to save the Skill Box openings for after he cleared this Gate, but when he felt a volcanic eruption of energy appear in the east, he quickly changed his mind. Without wasting any more time, he popped open the Golden Skill Box. He needed all the power he could get at this time.
    At approximately the same time the question mark-covered Box lid flew open, a magnificently splendiferous existence crossed absurd distances in an instant. Moving at a speed that the human could not even begin to register, the Tyrant God zapped above him.
    Its grayed, emotionless eyes briefly glared at the human, then its right hand blurred.
    KABOOOOOM!!!
    Cassius had just turned his head away from the Skill Box that had slung open with a new B-Rank Skill when, suddenly, he found that he no longer had his head connected to the rest of his body¡­
    The Tyrant God had hit him so hard and with such ruthlessness that his body shot forward like a cannonball, and it did so at a speed that made it impossible for his head to keep up. Like a bobblehead, Cassius's head sailed through the midday sunny sky, with his eyes still in the process of widening.
    It was also in this moment that he saw the Tyrant God's apathetic gaze, who was in its humanoid form¡ªan enchanting ashen-haired woman with charcoal-colored horns protruding from her porcelain facial features.
    '...Sexy¡­?' were the last words muttered inside Cassius's shameless mind before his consciousness faded.
    It was also at this time that an annoyingly smug voice resounded.
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    *Ding~!*
    [Acquired B- Skill 'Phoenix Rebirth']
    {[Phoenix Rebirth (P) (B-)]}
    ¡ª[The inferior version of the S-Rank Skill 'Supreme Nirvana Rebirth']
    [Effect 1 'Rebirth':]
    [If the user dies, he will be brought back to life, but will be depleted of all energy, stamina, and anything that sustains the User's body.]
    [Effect 2 'Once a Day':]
    [Skill only works once a day, with a 24-hour cooldown applied every time the Skill is activated.]
    [Effect 3 'To Become Immortal':]
    [Every time the Skill is used, the User will gradually evolve and take on the traits of an Ordinary Phoenix.]
    [Current Ordinary Phoenix Transformation Rate: 0.09%]
    OOOM!
    Cassius felt his consciousness return to him, with the information provided from the recent system notifications being processed by him in record times.
    After understanding the gist of how he was still alive, he looked around. It became immediately clear that he was burrowed at the end of a tunnel of sandy rock. That was when his eyes fell on his shirtless and pantless body and how he was planted into a hard sand wall.
    Zooming out, Cassius saw that he was buried under a similar chasm to the one he had seen earlier. Presumably, this was where the Tyrant God had slapped his torso to.
    "Luckily, I didn't reincarnate at the head part¡­" Cassius heaved an unusually relaxed breath of cold air before forcing his way out of the sturdy sand wall.
    From the beginning of his rebirth to now, he remained calm, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he'd been blasted into oblivion and came back to life. Maybe rebirth came naturally to him because he had already been violated by a truck in his past life? What difference did a second time make?
    "Hmm¡­" Cassius began to walk through the tunnel he had dug out with his rocket-like body, wondering why the Tyrant God hadn't attacked him again. "Does it not realize that I haven't died? Well, I guess it would be more unusual if it thought I could come back from something like that¡­"
    He continued his march through the tunnel. Then, after nearly 30 seconds of casual walking, he glimpsed a large source of bright light radiating from the tunnel's entrance. At first, he assumed it was the sunlight produced by the blazing sun, but after exiting through the light, he realized it was not sunlight but the residual golden flame energies left behind by the Tyrant God's laid-back attack.
    For tens of miles in a straight circular direction, raging golden flames surged. Those flames spontaneously burned the edges of the deep crevice dug out of the ground, appearing like a divine meteor had just fallen from the sky. Above, faint golden embers bristled in the air.
    Cassius shifted his icy gaze across the mass destruction, and only after soaking in the scenery did he understand just how weak he was compared to the Tyrant God, which was likely only a weak A-Rank organism. Yet, rather than despair over a mountain that seemed impossible to climb, a wide smirk formed on his devilishly handsome face.
    He vanished from his spot, his attention fixated on the massive aura signature he couldn't even see from where he stood.
    "The Tyrant God and the other Sand Devourers have already returned to waiting; every bit of their focus is concentrated on what I assume to be the cracking of the Gate, as they are sitting by the exit I came in through," said Cassius, his voice dancing through vast expanses of space as he circled around the Sand Devourers all congregated in a single location. "If I make my reappearance, I'll certainly wind up receiving the same grim fate as before, but this time I won't return to the world of the living..."
    "However, it's also not like I can just uselessly idle and wait for Hoshito to be overrun by monsters." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Cassius knew that, if the Tyrant God escaped the Gate, not a single person in Hoshito would be able to combat its absurd level of strength. The most optimistic outcome would be the scarce B-Rank Hunters holding it off until reinforcements from Shibuya or Tokyo arrived.
    Though, that would be very optimistic¡­

 Chapter 76 Mass Leveling!!

    Cassius heaved a soft sigh.He knew the fate of Hoshito rested on his shoulders, but it wasn't like he could fight the Tyrant God either. However, that didn't mean he couldn't still think up something that could vanquish the monster before Stella and the rest of the MoonShiner Hunter Party entered the Gate.
    A while ago, when he was running from the Sand Devourers, Cassius realized that, just like regular living organisms, the Sand Devourers needed to consume food to survive. And in this particular environment, there was really only one thing they could munch on.
    Coming upon a large fenced area on the eastern side of the barren desert, Cassius saw a countless number of large, house-sized horned cows scattered all over the place. Similar to cows, yet adapting features resembling the harsh arid environment, they appeared oddly rocky.
    They somehow knew to stay inside the fence enclosure, with the majority grazing on a specific type of weed that grew out of the molten sand. This enclosure, similar to a few others spread across the endless desert, was constructed atop a sandy, crystallized chasm. It was like the one Cassius had hidden in, but far more outwardly protruding.
    "I don't know how these were built here or if they were left behind before the Sand Devourers arrived in these lands, but none of that really matters," said Cassius, his hands already slashing down to shatter a large portion of the fence. "The Sand Devourers have an inherent ability that allows them to sense what happens on the desert's surface; they use this to locate and hunt. But what would happen if some of their groomed cattle suddenly left a place they shouldn't be able to leave?"
    His brows raised in anticipation, just imagining what was about to go down.
    Just as he expected, a resounding rumble began to shake the desert, growing progressively louder. Tens of thousands of Sand Devourers were rushing toward the cattle enclosure, fury evident in their small, beady eyes. They crashed through sand hills, rammed into each other, and disregarded everything else in their advance.
    "None of them are above the Sand Devourer Lord Rank, as the Tyrant Kings and Tyrant God are smart enough to understand that they no longer have a need for their cattle," Cassius spoke with a keen gleam in his calculative eyes. "But with just those coming right now, I should both be able to level up and reduce their numbers."
    His plan was simple. If the Tyrant God was too much for him to handle in his current state, then he just had to continue leveling up. And to level up, he needed EXP bags, which would obviously come in the form of massive, ugly wyrm monsters. After amassing enough strength from grinding the Sand Devourers, he would preemptively make his move against the oddly gorgeous Tyrant God and turn her into his EXP bag as well!
    "Of course, the Tyrant God and Tyrant Kings will figure out that something is up when tens of thousands of Sand Devourers die, but by then, I will already have everything I need to begin Step 2." Cassius smiled mysteriously, his thoughts unknown to all but himself. "For now, however, it's time to take them all out as efficiently as possible."
    He already knew what he had to do to accomplish this, and it was something related to Step 2 of his 'Exterminate the Wyrms' plan. At once, he raised his hands above his head, Lilith in one hand and his Newbie 3 Sword in the other.
    Cassius grinned before speaking words that resonated in an awfully familiar manner, just as before. "I¡­"
    OOOM!
    The violet-colored cryptic runic lines appeared once again, erupting with an absurd level of power. Yet, before the residual energy waves could reach the Tyrant God, he condensed them, expertly controlling the emission of energy.
    'I won't make the same mistake as last time, and by the time you do eventually realize what's happening, it'll already be too late¡­!'
    "AM¡­!!!"
    The second word was spoken; the release of energy grew ever more uncontrollable!
    Cassius's face frosted over, his words following suit. Glitchy and distorted, he finished the last of the recitation. "I AM¡ª"
    "A.T.O.M.I.C.!!!!"
    As soon as the Sand Devourers arrived at the area where the fence was broken and large cattle were running free, they were forced to look up at a rapidly expanding eruption of purple light. For a moment, they felt like they were floating above the clouds, experiencing something that could only be described as otherworldly.
    Then they died.
    The blast of purple light stretched out so fast that every single one of the cattle and Sand Devourers in this settlement was erased. Like an eraser over pencil markings, they faded into oblivion, leaving behind only a crater that spanned three miles in every direction. The damage this time was even greater than the last time the Skill was used, entirely attributable to all of Cassius's level-ups and increases in power.
    Descending to the center of the crater, Cassius watched as the last of the purple Atomic light dispersed. He felt the same overwhelming aura signature flare up in rising anger but was far more focused on the system notifications bombarding his vision.
    *Ding~!*
    [You have slain 95,000+ Sand Devourers, including tens of thousands of C-'s, thousands of C+'s, and ~15 B-'s!]
    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously advanced!] S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [You leveled up!]
    Experience new tales on empire
    [You received 30 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 10 Stat Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 45 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 15 Stat Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 70 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 25 Stat Points!]
    [You¡­]
    Although each level required exponentially greater amounts of EXP than the previous one, it also came with far better rewards. And that was just referencing the automatic rewards, not even including the Gold-Ranked Skill Boxes waiting to be dumped into Cassius's inventory.

 Chapter 77 If Not One, Then How About A Hundred!??

    OOOM!Cassius felt himself become several leagues stronger than he had been just moments ago, prompting an inexplicable smirk to emerge on his face. Contrary to the last time the Tyrant God raced toward his location, he could now trace its advance with far more ease.
    Of course, that didn't mean the threat of death had lessened any. He would still die the moment the horrifying monster girl arrived. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Well¡­" Cassius shrugged. "If we were destined to do battle either way, then that is how it shall be. Dancing with death can be considered excellent character development. Yep, yep."
    Wasting no more time on nonsense, he swiped up his system interface and flashed a satisfied smile upon seeing how much AP he had stored up. Yet, in that same moment, his right pointer finger moved like a blur of lightning; he spammed the hell out of none other than the Agility up-arrow!
    *DING, DING, DING!*
    Cassius rubbed his finger against the system interface so fast that he was afraid fire would spark up and burn him to a crisp. From the 700 range, it quickly ascended the number bracket, breaching past 800, then 900.
    And without respite, it broke through the 1000 barrier!
    Yet that was far from the end of things, as 1100 was shattered, swiftly followed by 1200! And then it finally settled down around 1230!
    Compared to his other seemingly lackluster stats, his Agility stat shone like a dazzling sun in a land littered with dark spots. His physical prospects reflected this to an intense degree, as his skin crackled with a level of forward motion that made him feel like his atoms were ready to jump out of him and zip ahead at the speed of light.
    Cassius had no real idea how fast he had become, but he instinctively knew that if he beckoned his feet forward, he would reach speeds that transcended what a feeble mortal mind could comprehend. Just one step and he would no longer be at this point on the timeline; just one step and he might accidentally splat himself against a molten sand mountain.
    "My Agility isn't just limited to 1230, as the effects transferred from I AM SPEED have once again been improved," mused Cassius, his irises zapping with sparks of lightning. "With the boost now at 600%, my true speed likely resides somewhere around the 1400 mark¡­?"
    Leaning off the weighted stat system remark, the gap between 1230 and 1400 was comparable to that of a koi suddenly leaping up in an attempt to transform into a dragon. Simply put, the two values weren't anywhere close to one another.
    Cassius looked ahead, quickly grasping the fact that his ability to register certain frame rates had also improved thanks to his Agility stat.
    Normally, it would require improvements in the Perception stat to have his eyes keep up with his movements. However, it seemed that he received a special bonus for exceeding the 1000 Agility point milestone.
    Now, he was able to clearly see the speedily moving golden-flamed blur bursting his way at incredibly lethal speeds. If this were an evil superhero show, the regal Tyrant God probably would've exploded through a few people without a single care present in her apathetic gaze.
    Cassius could feel the Almighty existence's fury from dozens of miles away, with him being able to more vividly sense the rage bubbling up within the four Tyrant Kings trailing far behind her. The remaining Sand Devourers were even more enraged, as it seemed the level of anger they experienced over this matter scaled in relation to where they stood on the power hierarchy.
    Any sane person would feel a great sense of unease at the grand lineup of colossal monsters barreling in their direction, yet Cassius only felt a large surge of thrill that had eluded him as of late.
    Even while fighting the first Tyrant King, he hadn't experienced this kind of excitement. It was reinvigorating!
    "Ha¡­" Cassius released a cold breath of air, then bent into a low sword stance, similar to how he had posed while fighting the Tyrant King. "I already know the same attack won't work on someone as mighty as you," he coldly spoke, with the Tyrant God seemingly understanding his intent even from so far away. "However, if one doesn't work¡­"
    WAAA!!!
    "Then how about I send out a hundred of them!?"
    The atmosphere surrounding Cassius buckled under the suffocating pressure emanating from his stalwart figure as his skin pores volcanically combusted!
    He was attempting something completely and unquestionably crazy¡ªsomething that could very well quench his life force and send him into the afterlife. Yet he still unhesitatingly performed it with a wide grin plastered across his enchantingly handsome face.
    "One I¡­.!!!" he began, his voice exploding like thunder. "Two¡­ AM¡­.!!!!!"
    RUMBLE!!!
    Everything for dozens of miles was crushed by this overpowering pressure, with the earth caving in layers.
    From one side of the deserted wastelands to the next, all of it felt sheer, raw Atomic power¡ªsomething far beyond even what this world had experienced before it faced its world-ending Apocalyptic Event. And such a level of power was being orchestrated by a single man¡ªa single insane man who wanted to defy the odds!
    "!???"
    The Tyrant God felt something ominous crawl throughout her body. Her pretty reptilian eyes blinked repeatedly; she realized she had to move faster. Something in the very core of her being was urging her to accelerate! To keep on accelerating until she had no gas left to give!
    And so she did.
    *Whoooop!!!*
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    The Tyrant God burst forth with all-new levels of speed, achieving a hyper-movement state verging upon instantaneous teleportation. In mere milliseconds, she had already materialized above the human enveloped in purple runic lines. She emotionlessly blink-stepped in front of him, her snow-white scaled claws clasped onto his roguish face.
    Yet, just as Cassius was about to have his head ripped off in one clean strike, an amused smirk crept up his facial features.
    He then soundlessly moved his lips, with an archaic, distorted voice escaping only a moment later.

 Chapter 78 The Tyrant Gods Demise?

    "Three¡­ four¡­ five¡­ six¡­ dozen¡­ ATOMIC!!!""I A.M. A.T.O.M.I.C.!!!!!!!¡ª!!!!!!!¡ª!!!!!!!"
    For a few seconds, time seemed to come to a stop. Not freeze per se, but completely stop.
    The heated, savage breath of the Tyrant God and the even breathing of the crazily smiling robed man were the only things to bypass this stasis mold. For that slim chunk of time, they looked to be unmoving, struggling against one another. The Tyrant God put everything it had into decapitating the human who had somehow resurrected, while the human unleashed subtle yet indescribably dangerous wave after wave of Atomic energy.
    Before the Tyrant God had clutched onto his face, Cassius had activated the 'I AM ATOMIC' Skill enough times to give a normal person an aneurysm. Yet, before the consequences of this reckless action could register, he unloaded the full extent of his fingering capabilities on his poor System, causing his total number of Status Recoveries to hit rock bottom.
    And the result of this death wish:
    KA¡ªBOOoOOoOoOoOOMM!!!
    "Tell me how that one feels, you hot scaly bitch!"
    Time resumed as Cassius flipped up both his middle fingers, enjoying every moment of watching the Tyrant God's usually icy expression flip through several uncharacteristic emotions.
    "!!!!"
    Before the successive Atomic explosions collided with her voluptuous body, the Tyrant God looked up and saw a shit-eating grin that angered her to no end. More than ever¡ªmore than she had ever felt for anything in her entire life¡ªshe wanted to slaughter this human!!!
    With one final, all-out attempt, the Tyrant God exerted the full extent of her profoundly destructive power to phase her hand through the purple light that had rebounded her hand away the first time. As the light rapidly expanded and reached past her arm, she broke past her limits, activating all her unique A-Rank Skills.
    She would kill that bastard!!!
    Although not expecting something like this to happen, Cassius did not fret. He subconsciously used another Status Recovery, then unbound his body from the frozen state that came as a side effect of using the I AM ATOMIC skill. Then, with his speed that still surpassed hers, he conjured a shadowy demonic figure that crackled under its own affinity with the lightning element.
    "Evomon fusion," Cassius called out, his voice and subsequent actions surprising the Tyrant God to no end. "Nyxvoldar, activate ultra-sonic burst."
    FWwwwoooooop!!! sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The terrifying electric shadow looming over Cassius like a giant abruptly and instantly zorped into the body of its master, urging him to undergo several ridiculously fast transformations.
    By the end of the transformations, a slightly taller, far more intimidating nightmarish figure appeared. Then, with a quick step that seemed to exceed hundreds of thousands of MPH, he phased through the hand and body of the beautiful Tyrant God, doing so with the help of an extra-evolved Permutation B-Rank Skill.
    "...Ho..w could yo¡­uu!?"
    "???"
    For the first time since they encountered one another, Cassius finally heard the Tyrant God speak. Her voice was not overly sweet, but it was still feminine and melodic enough to ring out quite nicely in his ears. Quite nicely indeed.
    Turning his head back just enough to see the deadly purple Atomic light envelop her body, Cassius casually commented, "Your lovely voice will be forever remembered in the echoes of my memories; after all, you are the first A-Rank Monster that I have ever killed. You're also the first talking one I've met¡­ Hmm¡­"
    "HUMAN¡­.!!!!"
    Cassius nonchalantly dug earwax out of his demonically pointed obsidian ears. "No need to shout," he replied. "You were strong; you should feel honored just knowing that. Without my shitty system, I might really have been diced up by you¡­"
    He briefly paused before continuing, "Anyway, it seems like this is where we part ways¡­"
    "Goodbye, hot scaly bitch. It was a fun fight. Maybe in another lifetime, I'll fight you again, possibly even in a proper exchange of blows¡­"
    Suddenly shifting his gaze toward his wrist, Cassius pretended to check his watch. "Well, would you look at the time? It would appear that our time here is up. I bid you farewell, pretty young miss."
    With that, he curtly bowed before flashing away at speeds transcending common sense.
    He reappeared nearly a hundred miles away, leaving the far slower gray-haired draconic beauty to simmer in a sea of anger. The purple Atomic light had already entirely covered her up, inflicting ungodly amounts of pain, yet only working to further deepen her.... horniness¡­!?
    'Hah¡­!!! He's so powerful~!!!! I want to eat him up~!!!! I NEED to eat him~!!!!!'
    Draconic species, as many people knew, were infamously known for their vast appetite for anything lustful. They were rumored to screw anything with a hole.
    If there was a hole, there was a goal.
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    And though the Tyrant God was a female dragon subspecies of the monster mutant variety, she still partially retained that lascivious nature.
    Moreover, her species, different from the prideful pure-blooded dragons, was one that aligned more along the lines of 'LOVE for the strong,' which meant they only submitted to those stronger. And more often than not, if this was between an opposing male and female¡ªeven from two different species¡ªthen the defeated female would vie for a long-lasting mating session with the male.
    However, not everything was roses and dandelions. After finishing the copulation session, the female Tyrant Dragons were known to¡­ uhhh¡­ devour their male partners. Similar to how spider species functioned, except far more brutal¡ªand the sex lasted for what felt like an eternity, essentially draining the male dry long before she devoured him¡­
    ¡ª----------
    A hundred or so miles away.
    Cassius suddenly felt a shiver go up his spine, prompting him to suspiciously look around in all directions. Yet, after finding nothing of notice, he shook his head before refocusing on the extremely massive explosion growing upward like a genuine Atomic Bomb. It was, of course, still a ways away from actually reaching such a high level, but it was definitely getting up there.
    Though, he did feel it a shame that something of this caliber could only be performed if he cheated things with system rewards¡­

 Chapter 79 You... Me... F*ck!

    "a shame indeed," lamented cassius as intense astral winds whistled past his face.after a while.
    with the incredibly strong winds rolling out from where a miniature atomic bomb had just hit finally subsiding, cassius flashed back over while still fused with nyxvoldar. he could no longer feel or see the presences of the tyrant god or the other sand devourers, but one could never be too careful. moreover, he had received a system notification for everything except the tyrant god, which worried him.
    'could she still be alive after all that?' was the harrowing question that lingered on his mind as he blurred to the center of a crater that stretched outward for dozens of miles. read new chapters at empire
    the depths of the crater also went down for thousands of meters, yet it was not dark thanks to the eternally sunny days of this place.
    upon stopping his teleportation-like run across the sand dunes and into the crater's epicenter, cassius searched around for any traces of life. at around the same time, he received a single level-up notification from the system, which only further improved his strength.
    yet, even after five minutes of meticulous searching, he was unable to find any sign of the tyrant god's existence.
    natural assumption would dictate that she should've died during the explosion. hell, even a neutral a-rank boss monster would have died in that blast!
    yet he had to ascertain the truth for himself.
    then, it came.
    *ding!*
    [you have slain the outer embryo of the a- tyrant god unique boss monster!]
    [your experience bar tremendously moved!]
    [you leveled up!]
    [you received 120 ap!]
    [all of your main attributes have increased by 40 stat points!]
    [you leveled up!]
    [you received 150 ap!]
    [all of your main attributes have increased by 50 stat points!]
    [you leveled up!]
    [you received 200 ap!]
    [all of your main attributes have increased by 75 stat points!]
    cassius received a meager three level-ups even after slaying an a-rank unique boss monster, which felt extremely lackluster. more importantly, however, was what the system termed the tyrant god as.
    "outer embryo¡­?" his brows curved. "what does that mean?"
    waboom!
    it was at that moment that something ruptured off to the side, creating an unusual explosive sound. puzzled, cassius shifted his gaze over, only to see a large whitish-gold and purple egg dug out of the ground and cracking. the egg was roughly the size of a car, and as more and more of its shell fractured, he witnessed something that made no sense.
    crack¡ª
    from within the mystical shell emerged a woman who looked like she had just escaped from a fairytale.
    with graceful steps, she landed on the charcoaled ground. her long, luscious light gray hair cascaded over her exposed shoulders and molded her fully nude figure in a cradle of sorts. cassius noticed her hair struggling to cover her twin peaks, which perked up proudly beneath the blazing sun.
    but more than that, his eyes traced over her exquisite face¡ªa work of art that was both round, defined, and contoured in a way that perfectly emphasized two large peach blossom eyes. eyes that were dimmed yet contained a twinkle not previously present in her expressionless face. s~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    at first, the otherworldly beautiful woman seemed to be regaining her bearings, squinting her eyes and rubbing her temples. however, after a couple of seconds, clarity returned to her pupils, and she surveyed her surroundings.
    she seemed to be searching for something, clearly evident by the anticipatory glow lighting up her otherwise ice-cold facial features. her sparkling eyes swam around the brightly lit crater depths, not stopping their flow until a mildly confused immortal-like man entered her line of sight.
    due to cassius's grindset over the past week, his charisma stat was now verging on 40, and though he was a bit lacking compared to this goddess of a woman, he still wasn't too far behind.
    yet, it didn't seem like the bubbly woman cared one bit about his appearance. her face lit up like the 4th of july as she sprinted over to him without saying a word, then proceeded to drag her cute sniffer all over his bare chest.
    '...what is this woman doing¡­? and who even is she???' cassius could see a resemblance between this unknown woman and the tyrant god in human form, yet this woman's temperament was clearly more coy.
    though, her current actions would not indicate as such¡­
    cassius wanted to speak up and interrupt the girl dragging her nose all over him, but he wasn't sure that was the right thing to do. therefore, he stuck to keeping quiet and patiently waiting for her to finish¡­ whatever it was she was doing.
    surprisingly, this took more than 10 minutes.
    it was only then that the ashen-haired woman fixated her gaze on the eyes of the human she had inspected like a hound dog.
    "...you¡­"
    "you?" cassius echoed.
    "you¡­" the girl lightly pressed her index finger against his chest, then moved that finger to her ample bosom, denting into a soft spot mere centimeters away from a proudly stiff pink nipple. "me¡­"
    "me¡­ you¡­" cassius repeated, puzzled by what she was trying to tell him.
    the girl's slight smile curved upward, putting on display all of her sharp, shark-like pearly white teeth.
    "you¡­ me¡­ fuck!"
    she then went in for a tight hug that nearly squeezed the soul out of cassius's vessel.
    he wanted to frown at her words, but he was genuinely too shocked to do so. one second, he was fighting to the death with a boss monster capable of destroying an entire cosmopolitan city in minutes, and the next, he was torn between bewilderment and turning into a braindead vegetable.
    for a moment, his mind seemed to flatline, with no changes until the pearly gates began to rear their heads.
    however, when cassius's wandering consciousness dipped down like a free-range hawk and appeared before the flaming pits of hell with a massive '1st floor' inscribed above one gate, he suddenly shot back to the mortal realm.
    sanity returned to him, then gradually left again when he felt the squishy calcium cannons aiming to make him lose all sense of reason.

 Chapter 80 Yimin, the Tyrant God

    luckily, cassius's will was not an easy one to break. thanks to the training (torture) of sensei system, no honey trap could ensnare him¡ª*boing, boing!*
    'they' sensually rubbed up and down his torso in synchronization with the giddy movements of the bouncy beauty.
    'must i really persevere¡­?'
    *ding!!!*
    [you dare go against the ways of true character development!? you may have women around you in this lifetime, the more the merrier, but you cannot touch a single one with your little pecker until you have attained idle benefit #9! only then can you prove yourself as a true follower of character development!]
    stay tuned to empire
    [this is the way! resist all worldly temptations! a buddha can do it, why can't you!? (?¨y?)]
    it was during a moment of bitter silence on cassius's end that a blue illusory screen materialized in front of him. he immediately looked over while the busty beauty rubbed her nude body on him, all the while giggling and repeating, "you¡­ me¡­ fuck! mate, fuck! harder, harder~! hihi~!"
    of course, like the distinguished grinder of character development that he was, cassius swallowed his desires and locked them away in a box. then he concentrated entirely on the pop-up.
    bling!
    {[partial 5th idle benefit]} ¨C [given due to the host being relatively close with five or more girls.]
    [girls (familiar (10-25) - close (26-50) - affectionate (51-80) - extremely affectionate (81-95) - obsessed (96-99) - out for blood (100):]
    [trolling any girls with at least a familiar relationship status will allot the host more ap than usual, with that bonus being greater the better the relationship status.]
    {[memphis: 74]}
    {[aya: 78]}
    {[grace: 82]}
    {[sasha: 52]} s§×arch* the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    {[corra: 24]}
    {[bella: 100]}
    {[stella: 22]}
    {[yimin: 96]}
    other than corra's, whose affection rating had somehow gone up even though they hadn't met each other since that day, there was the biggest enigma in the character sheet. next to the name yimin was a beautiful profile picture with an uncanny resemblance to the naked girl presently glued to his body. and then, for a brief character introduction, it said:
    {[yimin]} - [pfp: ]
    ¡ª[the true form of the tyrant god. she shed her previous status as a mutant monster dragon and returned to her true racial status as a 'tyrant dragon,' a high universal species known for their vast libidos and extreme tyrannical strength.]
    ¡ª[the strongest among the tyrant dragons are capable of easily lifting and crunching planets and stars within their jaws. yet, yimin, as a newborn tyrant dragon no more than a few hours old, is still in her initial development stages. tyrant dragons age differently from humans, and have their own aging system, but still need around 10,000 human years to achieve full maturity¡ª100,000 years for elder status.]
    [current wants: you, you, and your cock and balls]
    [personality traits: yandere, obsessive, possessive, submissive (if weaker), domineering (if stronger), shy, purposefully sexy shy, caring, loving, deadly, murderous tendencies, easily irritable (when it comes to things she doesn't like), emotionless (when fighting), unshakable loyalty, deranged, lustful]
    [current power level: a- (rapidly improving. within months, she will be stronger than most s-rank humans, so beware.)]
    'great¡­' cassius sarcastically sighed. 'not only is she the living reincarnation of some overpowered universal species, but her personality traits are completely out of whack. furthermore, due to her still being in her early development phases, her power can increase, and it can do so stupidly fast from the looks of it¡­. awesomeness all around¡­ yay¡­'
    cassius really felt like drawing circles in the sand right about now, but he knew it wasn't the time.
    eyes falling on the snuggly girl with illusory hearts shooting out of her head, he asked, "you are the tyrant god, right?"
    yimin cutely tilted her head up, her chubby cheeks squishing against his chest like a chipmunk. "tyrant god¡­?"
    "yes," answered cassius.
    "mhmm¡­ nope! that is not me! am yimin, not tyrant god!" she responded while suspiciously whistling, clearly lying through her teeth.
    cassius was speechless.
    he sighed before ripping the clingy girl off of him.
    she grumbled and bared her sharp teeth, yet still complied.
    "if you don't want to tell me the truth, then so be it. but i suggest you find another person to stick to."
    yimin's eyes watered. "yimin¡­ yimin is not a bad girl! let yimin stay with master!"
    "no."
    silence.
    "...yimin¡­ why is master being mean to yimin¡­?" the waterworks started to fall, causing shiny crystalline liquid lines to streak down her ridiculously beautiful face. "...yimin didn't mean to rip master's head off! that was before yimin knew how strong master was!! please let yimin follow¡ª"
    "no."
    the silence was palpable. yimin froze in place.
    cassius had no idea what she was thinking, but black shadows soon clouded her face. her soft, delicate aura was quickly overshadowed by a dark red aura, which then mixed with a profound purple aura. the ground around her began to crack in a spiderweb shape, rapidly escalating to dangerous degrees.
    yet, just as cassius got into a fighting stance, prepared for another fight to break out, yimin's anger subsided as she collapsed to her knees. tears streamed down her cheeks, her weeping echoing throughout the barren wastelands.
    her expression scrunched up in sorrow, her sadness immeasurable.
    "y-yimin just wants¡­ waaa¡­!!" she cried. "yimin just wants to follow master!! yimin doesn't understand¡­ yimin is alone... yimin hates being alone¡­"
    cassius: "..."
    'look what you got me into this time, system¡­'
    *ding!*
    [this is just another, more advanced form of character development!]
    [so, what will you do? ignore a sorrowful girl who just wants to be next to you? or take her in and try not to get sucked dry by a succubus disguised as a dragon babe??]
    [option 1 reward: the idle evolution system's scorn]
    [option 2 reward: 50 ap, 100 white tier dragon pellets, 'dragon rider' title, potential 'dragon druganaut' class evolution, and 'yimin's' eternal love¡­?]
    "...why did you put a question mark after that last part? and why is this so obviously biased toward the 2nd option?" asked cassius, his brows narrowing in suspicion.

 Chapter 81 Main Quest #3

    [the system has no idea what you're talking about! ^_^][so, what is your decision? option 1 or option 2?]
    cassius felt like he was being toyed with here, as the answer was obvious.
    he glanced between the cheeky system interface and the naked woman bawling her eyes out. with a heavy sigh, he walked over to her, also making sure to click option 2. what would come from this decision was yet to be seen; however, for now...
    "yimin," said cassius, his voice immediately attracting her attention. "you can come with me, but you must not eat any humans unless i say it's okay. do you understand?"
    yimin's blue expression brightened up more than the raging sun above. she bobbed her head before jumping into his arms like a loving golden retriever. "yimin understands! yimin really, really understands¡­! master loves yimin, so yimin won't eat any humans¡­!!"
    cassius wanted to refute her words, but seeing as she was being obedient, he shook his head before taking a spare cloak out of his inventory. he wrapped it around the giddy beauty before speeding up the restoration of his c+ 'shadow monarch's hoodie,' which had leveled up quite a bit from all the monster materials he used as disposable upgrade material.
    after finishing the cleanup and scavenging of the sand devourers that he hadn't been able to loot until now, it might even reach the b or b+ rank, which should certainly increase its effectiveness by leaps and bounds.
    there was also his lilith, who was currently very silent right now.
    ever since yimin entered the picture, lilith had been abnormally quiet. cassius had not an inkling what was going on with her, but it almost seemed like she was annoyed by something based on his connection with her. nonetheless, she was sitting at the peak of the b rank. and once she finished absorbing the monster blood scattered throughout the desert, she should reach a rank even higher than the shadow monarch's hoodie was going to reach.
    "hmm..."
    after a brief moment of pause to consider a few different matters, cassius said to yimin, "we will be in this gate for a while longer, as i need to collect some things. but once we get to the outside world, you must behave yourself. if you act up, i will have to put you up for adoption."
    yimin's face lost a lot of its color. with a victimized expression, she murmured, "y-you would get rid of yimin¡­? to adoption¡­ yimin won't survive in adoption¡­! please don't send yimin to adoption!" she pleaded with large puppy dog eyes, nearly on the verge of tears again.
    'she definitely has no idea what that word even means...' cassius sighed.
    patting yimin's soft bed of gray hair, he said seriously, "i won't put you up for adoption, but you must behave."
    yimin furiously nodded. "yimin will behave! no eating the humans! and no being bad! mhmm, mhmm¡­!" she rubbed her alluring figure all over the helpless man who was now stuck with her. "don't worry, master! yimin will be on her best behavior, so no adoption! and yimin will also satisfy master's urges!"
    "...not the last part," cassius rejected. "just forget all about the last part."
    yimin vehemently shook her head. "no can do, master!" she denied. "yimin is weaker than the master, so the master must breed yimin! yep, yep, fuck, fuck, fuck¡­! yimin wants master's babies!"
    cassius felt like violently coughing up blood, yet held back at the last moment. his eyes seemed to listlessly wander into the distance, with him completely unresponsive to the casual urging of the lascivious dragon girl to essentially kill himself.
    'is it too late to change my mind on the options¡­?' lamented cassius. 'i'm suddenly no longer opposed to being more hated by my shitty system...'
    as if predicting his thoughts, the idle evolution system flashed a blue smug face in front of him.
    [no takesies backsies! ????(? ?? ? - ? ) ?]
    cassius was truly exasperated. everything in life seemed to be against him. was it illegal for him to live peacefully or something...?
    while zooming out of his general position in the endless deserts of the gate, various system notifications rang out inside his head.
    *ding!*
    [you have successfully cleared the b-/low red-rank special upgraded gate 'tyrant's obsession'] sea??h th§× n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [rewards increased appropriately!]
    {[reward 1: '400 ap' - [y/n]]}
    discover hidden stories at empire
    {[reward 2: '2 equipment rank-up shards' - [y/n]]}
    {[reward 3: 'beast companion 'yimin'' - [yes!]]}
    {[reward 4: 'a- rank hermes boots' - [y/n]]}
    [warning!] [warning!]
    {[main quest #3]} - [activated!]
    ¡ª[the gremlin extraterrestrial fiends have set up base in the center point of japan, tokyo. although the brunt of their forces are still in tokyo, with their strongest soldiers also in tokyo, the gremlin extraterrestrial fiends have sent out thousands of their kind all over japan.]
    ¡ª[one of the places the gremlin extraterrestrial fiends are set to quietly and inconspicuously erase the presence of humans in will be hoshito. they can disguise themselves as regular humans and even mimic their mannerisms and personalities. (any one single person could be a gremlin extraterrestrial fiend in disguise, so beware...)]
    {[task: discover and kill [0/20 gremlin extraterrestrial fiends]]}
    {[task time limit: 2 months, 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes, 57 seconds]}
    {[reward 1 - [1000 ap]]}
    {[reward 2 - [s-rank 'extraterrestrial sight']]}
    {[reward 3 - [200 uncommon evoballs]]}
    {[reward 4 - [s-rank 'stellar flight']]}
    'a flight skill...? and extraterrestrials...?' cassius couldn't believe what he was seeing. 'are extraterrestrials actually real?? and the system wants me to kill them???'
    'set up base in tokyo... does that mean the japanese government is already compromised...?'
    he had read and watched enough sci-fi to know exactly what it meant when aliens arrived on a planet they didn't immediately plan to blow up.
    but why the hell were aliens on earth!?
    first hunters, gates, and monsters, and now fucking aliens!? did they have large gray heads as well!? did they fly inside circular saucer disks and get handsy with their laser beam guns!?? was pegging with metal poles their hobby???
    "seriously¡­ what the hell is going on as of late¡­?"
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 82 Lvl 69, 3-Digit Stats

    "seriously¡­ what the hell is going on as of late¡­?" cassius inaudibly mumbled while collecting blood, magic shards, and monster materials alongside the flowery dragon woman that didn't seem to want to leave his side.furthermore, she cared not a single bit about decency and flashed her perfect pudding peaks and pink kitty whenever she felt like it.
    "¡­why can't i just have a normal transmigration experience¡­? maybe fight with a bunch of useless party members holding me down and then go to a demon castle to vanquish the demon king¡­"
    'i am fine with that sort of life¡­ so how did i end up with something like this¡­? is my luck just that shitty?? or am i simply that superior??'
    if cassius thought any more on the matter, he'd likely pop a blood vessel. therefore, he instead continued his looting before the gate's closure in roughly 20 minutes.
    the remainder of the system notifications also finished sounding out¡­ with one in particular practically mocking him.
    *ding~!*
    {[a vital decision]} - [completed]
    [reward: 50 ap, 100 white tier dragon pellets, 'dragon rider' title, potential 'dragon druganaut' class evolution, and 'yimin's' eternal love¡­?]
    [yimin's affection rate has increased to 100!] - [beware!!]
    cassius felt a dangerous purple aura leak out from the jovial dragon beauty, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. he could already foresee the trouble he would get into upon leaving the gate and encountering the other girls¡­ but like the responsible person he was, he decided to leave these problems for his future self, instead opting to look over the rest of his system notifications.
    [acquired a- rank 'dragon rider' title, which can be combined with the b- rank title 'advent devil']
    discover hidden stories at empire
    [would you like to combine the titles and receive a superior title? or do you wish to choose one over the other and permanently lose the one that wasn't chosen?]
    cassius immediately answered, "combine the titles."
    bling!
    a silent bright light flashed and the two differently-fonted titles spun around and combined with one another, then disappeared. after a couple of moments, an entirely new, demonically heroic-fonted title appeared.
    {[title: dragonfire advent (a)]} s§×ar?h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    {[effect 1 'overflowing killing intent' - [assuming the difference in strength is great enough, the user can bring to the knees and even kill someone with just pure killing intent.]]}
    {[effect 2 'loved by dragons' - [as one loved and idolized by a tyrant dragon, the user receives 'dragon strength' as long as the dragon that loves the user has love that holds strong.]]}
    {[effect 3 'dragon strength' - [1000% increase to physical strength, 500% increase to physical defense, and a 'berserker trait,' which allows the user to become stronger the more he is at a disadvantage and beaten up.]]}
    {[effect 4 'extreme fire resistance' - [1500% increased resistance to the fire element. immune against most basic universal fires.]]}
    {[effect 5 'dragonfire' - [stick out your palms and unleash massive dragonfire balls or dragonfire beams. (1000% fire damage)]]}
    ooom!
    an incredible amount of physical strength was granted to cassius, causing his power to soar. and even better was the fact that this did not affect the stats themselves, which meant that the 'i am atomic' skill did not become any less effective. however, from this amplification in strength, yimin's attention was immediately diverted.
    she turned her head toward him with a curiously cute expression, then hopped over and got all up in his personal space.
    "master has become stronger¡­" she announced while molesting him. "...master is so cool¡­"
    her eyes shone with a misty luster. "yimin wants to fuck! master wants to mate!?"
    "no, master does not want to mate," cassius firmly rejected before pushing away the brazen girl.
    she latched onto his thigh and pouted with puppy dog eyes while mumbling her grievances, yet he continued ignoring her. instead, he finished up the perusing of the last of the system notifications, which also came along with accepting his gate clear rewards.
    *ding~!*
    [you received 400 ap!]
    [you received 2 equipment rank-up shards!]
    [you received a- rank 'hermes boots']
    after storing the ap and equipment shards away, cassius equipped the hermes boots.
    they originally appeared quite gaudy and looked more gold than boot; however, when they touched his skin, they transformed into something matching the rest of his get-up. from a dazzling gold to a dark matte black, they blended together with his shadow monarch's hoodie.
    as for their effects, they increased his speed by 300%, gave him an instantaneous dash ability, and improved his overall aesthetic, as they were a nice twilight color. though that was more just his preference being satisfied than an effect¡­
    he then opened up his system interface, curious to see just how far he had come this time around.
    bling!
    ________________________________
    [name: idle evolution system]
    [host: cassius] - [lvl 69]
    [title: dragonfire advent (a)]
    ______________________________
    [hp: 83,000] [mp: 65,000]
    [fatigue: 0]. [ap: 1,800]
    ______________________________
    [strength: 380] (throwing a skyscraper will result in success.)
    [agility: 1600] (uhhh¡­ like mach 1000 or something?)
    [endurance: 340] (you can run around the world and still have stamina left over. can rapidly heal from most minor and moderate injuries.)
    [intelligence: 362] (supreme sage. you even have the virginity to prove it!)
    [perception: 375] (world's most perverted man in the making? anyway, don't use this to satisfy your dirty kinks.)
    [charisma: 44] (handsome af)
    {[skills:]} - (far too many to properly count¡­ main one's it is!)
    [i am atomic (a)(b+)(lvl3)], [shadow step (a)(b-)(lvl2)], [bloodfire (a)(b)(lvl3)]
    [phoenix rebirth (p)(b)(lvl1)], [dragonfire (a)(a-)(lvl1)], and then like¡­ 500 others¡­? (recommendation: fuse them, you unkempt bastard!)
    ¡­.[¨C[extend to see more¡­]
    _______________________________
    other than the system's snarky comments, cassius was astonished to see just how far his stats had advanced since arriving in this gate. everything except for agility lingered around 100 when he came here, and now they were nearly quadruple that!
    at this rate, the daily quest rewards would give him next to nothing¡­
    "if only i could stop doing them¡ª" as soon as this thought surfaced, a smug system screen appeared.
    *ding~!*
    [seeing as the silly host is doubting the intentions of the almighty idle evolution system, adjustments have been made! ^~^]
    ...¡­

 Chapter 83 Newbie 5 Equipment Set

    "adjustments¡­?"before cassius could even finish his words, a world-crushing weight smashed him into the earth. due to the abruptness of this occurrence, he was nearly unable to stop himself from faceplanting into the dirt.
    that was when a bombardment of pesky pop-ups materialized.
    *ding!!*
    [newbie equipment set has directly ranked up from '3' to '5'] s§×ar?h the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [newbie training sword has directly ranked up from '3' to '5']
    {[newbie 5 equipment set]}
    [wrist weights (5) x2 - (100,000 tons each)]
    [ankle weights (5) x2 - (80,000 tons each)]
    [waist weight (5) x1 - (200,000 tons)]
    [full-body weight (5) x1 - (300,000 tons)]
    {[newbie 5 training sword]} - [400,000 tons]
    "this is¡­" cassius was left momentarily speechless over what he was seeing.
    no wonder it felt like the entire world was on his back, as he was lugging around the weight of nearly three empire state buildings! the system was quite literally trying to kill him!!
    all of the veins in cassius's body bulged as he struggled to adjust to this ridiculously absurd incline in restrictors. each individual piece wasn't even in the tens of thousands of pounds before, and now they were in the hundreds of thousands of tons!? what sort of absurdity was this???
    yimin curiously looked up at the man whose thigh she was latched to. she felt something shift inside him, which led to the ground caving in beneath him. she also felt like he had become far sturdier, and then there were his muscles and vascularity...
    "guhehe~... mooscles¡­" she crazily mumbled, hearts swimming around in her foggy eyes. "...mate¡­ guhehe~!"
    cassius promptly ignored the insane woman becoming more and more crazy with each passing second. he instead diverted most of his concentration to moving around with so much weight suffocating him.
    however, there was always something good to come from every seemingly misfortunate situation. namely, his physical stats increased by around 1 point every few minutes, which was certainly something to celebrate.
    while doing his utmost not to create a crater every time he moved a step, a few more suspicious system notifications echoed out in his head.
    discover more stories at empire
    *ding!*
    __________________________
    {[daily quest 1 v2]}
    goal
    [incomplete] push-ups ¡ª [0/100]
    [incomplete] sit-ups ¡ª [0/100]
    [incomplete] curl-ups ¡ª [0/100]
    [incomplete] squats ¡ª [0/100]
    [incomplete] running ¡ª [0/10km]
    [incomplete] weighted living - [0/720 minutes]
    reward - [2 points in charisma, 25 points in agility, 14 points in strength, and 18 points in endurance]
    __________________________
    __________________________
    {[daily quest 2 v2]}
    goal
    [incomplete] weighted sword living - [0/720 minutes]
    [incomplete] sword swinging - [0/30,000] - (unless you can do at least this many swings, you will forever remain a virgin who doesn't even know how to use his own sword!]
    reward - [12 points in agility, 21 points in strength, and 11 points in endurance]
    _________________________
    "now this¡­ this might actually make me overpowered," said cassius, his glazed irises fully emulating his anticipation for what was to come. "however, with the imminent threat of main quest #3 as a grim reminder, i am sure that i will need all the power i can get¡­"
    "i honestly have no clue just how powerful extraterrestrials can be..."
    "extraterrestrials¡­?" yimin asked with an adorably puzzled expression. "what does that mean, master?"
    watching the girl dart around the deserts and help him collect monster materials while talking to him made cassius a bit dizzy. yet, he still responded, "those will be our next enemies. and tell me, yimin, do you know of any aliens? or how to identify them?"
    "aliens..." yimin appeared confused for a moment, then her eyes brightened. "alien is a snack!? yimin loves snacks! though yimin just got here, yimin knows what yimin likes. and yimin likes what she likes, but doesn't like what she doesn't like! yep, yep, yimin likes tasty snacks¡­!"
    cassius didn't even know why he bothered with that ditsy woman. 'even though she was so eerily cold while we were fighting, now she has become like this¡­ haiz...'
    he couldn't help but believe that he had the worst luck with women. though, when he recalled the soft facial features of grace, sasha, and memphis, he slightly reconsidered his rash words. still, he might need to think about a better way to begin approaching all these women that just seemed to spawn in his life.
    ¡ª--------------
    meanwhile, directly outside the 'tyrant's obsession' gate.
    people of both genders, slim and skinny, handsome, ugly, and pretty all crowded around seven figures adorned in shiny opulent armor and attire. a lot of them were cheering or happily conversing with one another, which dominic and the others relished in. people like him loved nothing more than themselves and other people praising their existences.
    however, as the time to enter the gate was brought forward by his managers, dominic warmly smiled and waved while shouting to silence the crowd. "calm down now, kind citizens of hoshito!"
    everyone quickly hushed up, their eyes focused entirely on the gallant armored man standing front, forward, and center. dominic's poise was immaculate, with the aura emanating from him even more incredible. those in hoshito had never felt something like this from someone, not even from their governor or the hunter association's branchmaster.
    dominic outwardly smiled and continued his speech.
    his 'speech' basically consisted of him glorifying their 'noble' purpose, and also hinting at the humble donations of hoshito citizens. some, like the naive girls swooning over his appearance and demeanor, foolishly fell into the scheme and outright screamed out their donations.
    yet, little did they and the men fawning over lexi and stella realize that dominic was inwardly scoffing at them. 'these poor plebs¡­ they are all the same¡­ a bunch of dirty, boot-licking paupers! well, at least they're useful for their only purposes!'
    when dominic reached the end of his long, drawn-out speech, he heroically flung his red cape around and led his party into the crackling yellow gate.
    not a single one of the b-rank hunters was aware that the gate was actually masquerading as a yellow gate, when it was actually a red gate. even the astute stella noticed nothing unusual, with her thoughts seemingly only veering back to the hooded man that had similar circumstances as her.
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 84 What Happened Here...?

    'i hope he made it okay while in the gate¡­'stella had been worried since earlier; after all, he never returned, and the gate never closed. it was only natural that her trepidation progressively grew.
    then again, she didn't exactly know why she was so worried over a man who originally had a sharp object placed at her neck¡­ sear?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    did she have a thing for bad boys or something?
    surely not¡­
    'wait! why am i even thinking about whether i do or don't like him!? gah¡­!'
    with a flustered state of mind, stella followed behind lexi and issa, trying her best not to let her embarrassment show on her expression.
    before long, they entered the gate.
    and that was when they saw it¡­
    from one side of the boundless sand dunes to the other side, there were giant dismembered corpses and monster limbs scattered everywhere. crimson-green blood stained the sand in a spotted fashion, making the entire place appear quite apocalyptic. especially when considering that some of those monster wyrm corpses were the size of skyscrapers, clearly indicating their ranks as extremely powerful monsters.
    "¡­just who could've done this¡­?" asked lexi, her tone incredulous. "these are sand devourers and elite sand devourers, which we could've taken care of quite easily. but what about the sand devourer lord and¡ª is that a¡­ tyrant king corpse!? and there are multiple of them! just what is going on here!??"
    dominic furrowed his brows.
    he looked around and noticed that all of the monsters were missing their magic shards and most important parts, which meant that this massacre wasn't the result of a scuffle among the sand devourers. this signified that there were¡­
    "other hunters," said dominic, annoyed. "and they got here before us, somehow sneaking through all surveillance measures. furthermore, this gate appears to have mutated, as there are far too many sand devourers, extra mini bosses, and more than one boss monster."
    "however, as you bunch are surely aware of: if something like this occurs, which happens on very rare occasions, then a new boss monster has been crowned."
    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
    "something more powerful than a tyrant king!? what sort of entity could possibly trump over a b+ boss monster!?"
    "this doesn't make any sense!"
    "and someone finished off all these monsters before us!? which hunter party could accomplish such a thing!? this backwater city doesn't even have a single b-rank hunter party!"
    dominic silenced all of the agitated voices with an icy glare. luckily, stella didn't experience this, as she kept quiet from beginning to end. "to take over the position of a tyrant king, this new boss monster must either be of the b++ rank or the¡­ a- rank."
    shock once again rippled through the expressions of the moonshiner party members.
    if what their party leader was saying was true, and they pulled the shorter end of the stick, then didn't that mean they were about to come face to face with an a- rank boss monster!? something that could even face off against your average a-rank monster!?
    "we must retreat and inform headquarters of this incident!" most shouted. "we aren't properly equipped to deal with something like this! even the weakest of a-rank boss monsters are capable of single-handedly eradicating small cities!"
    "no," dominic instantly rejected. "we will advance. and we will figure out just who has the gall to steal what should've been ours." your next chapter awaits on empire
    "but, captain¡ª"
    "shut up!" dominic snapped back, urging their traps to stay shut. "am i the party leader or are you all the party leader!? just be obedient and follow my orders!"
    although begrudged, the moonshiners slowly nodded. in front of their party leader, they were all pork chops. and though this development became exceedingly dangerous, if it really came down to it, they could just sacrifice the weakest among them and escape.
    their eyes all instinctively fell on the vivacious girl who kept an eternally fake smile plastered on her face. under their venomous intent, she couldn't even muster the courage to defend herself.
    this was simply the true way of the world.
    the weak had no say in front of the strong.
    it was cruel, but it was life. nothing could change that, no matter how outwardly peaceful a civilization appeared.
    'i just wish¡­ wish that i had people close to me who didn't treat me like this¡­ like disposable trash¡­' stella thought despairingly, yet maintained a false bravado.
    the other members of the b-rank moonshiners quickly returned to venturing forward and scouting out the surroundings.
    just like that, they disregarded stella's presence.
    nonetheless, no matter how far they traveled, the number of strewn-out sand devourer corpses did not diminish. in fact, they only seemed to increase the further they went in.
    "to have killed so many sand devourers, and for them to all appear like they were one-shotted¡­ just what sort of monstrous hunter are we dealing with here¡­?" asked issa, her pupils erratically flickering. "and i know it's more likely to be a party of hunters, but doesn't all of them seem like it was done by the same person? like someone of the a-rank¡­?"
    "the a-rank?? issa, you surely jest!" lexi retorted, with john, a burly man, adding, "yes, it can't possibly be someone of the a rank! even in the capital, a-rank hunters are few and far between! do you actually believe that a hunter of a distinguished status like that came out here to butt-fuck knows where??"
    "¡­no, i guess not," issa responded in a dejected tone, no longer speaking up.
    stella, on the other hand, was secretly scanning the vicinity, trying to find any sign of the hooded man that came in before them. 'could he have been the one who did all of this¡­? and if so, just how strong is he actually¡­?? or has he already died¡­?'
    she was both worried and curious about the enigma that was the hooded man. she still wanted to understand his mother's connection with her mother, and for that to happen, he had to be alive.
    '¡­just be alright, okay¡­?'
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 85 Yimins Punch

    as the b-rank hunter party moonshiners traveled deeper into the sandy terrain of the gate tyrant's obsession, they saw many more massive corpses. yet, even after five minutes of speed walking, they saw nothing beyond that. all of the monster corpses had been cleaned of everything valuable, so there wasn't even a profit to be had.stella could feel the surging irritation of her party leader, prompting her to keep her head low and just continue following from behind. as an awakener of the low b-rank and a less versatile mage-class, this was the only thing she could do. it wasn't like she had any auxiliary tracker skills or location skills, so her usefulness was extremely limited in this kind of situation.
    dominic realized this; everyone did.
    however, it wasn't like they had any such skills either, so they couldn't openly criticize her about it without their reprimands backfiring on them as well. therefore, they persisted in their trot in silence, even going so far as to breathe less loudly.
    ten minutes later.
    dominic, no longer able to hold back his anger, erupted. "what the hell is this!?! there's not a single monster in sight!! how are we supposed to make a profit from this??? someone, please bring me the fucker who killed all of our prey! i wish to see his ugly face for myself¡ªbefore i kill him!!"
    just then, a volcanic eruption of energy blasted out from an area atop a large sand hill to the side, startling dominic and the other moonshiner members.
    "you dare speak of killing yimin's master!?? with your measly strength!???" yimin roared in an ear-splitting, abyssal voice. "yimin will kill you a thousand times over!!! yimin will use your tendons as a necklace!!!"
    "who dares¡ª!?" before dominic could finish his exclamation, wind whizzed past his semi-handsome face. reflecting from his horror-stricken irises was a razor-sharp draconic claw and an eerily beautiful woman whose expression was twisted in anger.
    boom!!!
    "captain!!"
    by the time the moonshiner party members finally understood what was happening, dominic had already been launched backward like a cannonball. he crashed through dozens of sand hills at many times the speed of sound.
    blood sprayed from his nostrils as his pupils unfocused and his consciousness momentarily left him.
    "¡­yimin¡­"
    a deep, husky voice cut through the silence enveloping the stunned figures of the moonshiner party, urging them all to shift their gazes in the voice's direction. that was when they saw a hooded man, with only the lower half of his face visible.
    unbeknownst to them all, he had somehow appeared right next to the assaulter and mere feet away from them. it was also at this moment that they received a good look at the one who had just smacked their leader to another plane of existence.
    simultaneously, the hunters' eyes widened in utter shock.
    "a dragon demihuman!? how is this possible!???" they shouted, disbelief etched across their faces. "it's said that only¡­ unique a-rank monsters and above are capable of transforming into a humanoid form¡­ does that mean??"
    "bingo!" yimin stuck her tongue out and flashed a goofy smile. "yimin is a powerful dragon! but now yimin is but a humble sex slave of her master¡ª"
    cassius bonked the haughty woman on the back of her head. "do not pay her any heed. now, tell me, what do you plan to do from here?"
    while on the receiving end of a glowing, shadowy stare, the b-rank moonshiners instinctively shivered. that was everyone except for stella, who was currently looking at the nonchalant hooded man with a large flux of emotions surfacing through her facade of an expression.
    'he's still alive¡­ that's good¡­' a surge of happiness coursed through her body. 'it would've been a shame if i never got the chance to talk to him again. but that dragon demihuman¡­ just what is their relationship?'
    yimin, feeling the narrowing eyes of a vixen, shot her deathly glare toward the inconspicuous stella. "thieving bitch!" she spat, about to lunge forward and tear out the girl's throat. however, before she made a grave mistake, rationality returned to her. 'master said i cannot kill any hoomans¡­ only that way will yimin become a fuck mate for the master¡­'
    yimin, although still flaring with killing intent, clicked her tongue before returning to her master's side and interlocking arms with him. she then lightly pulled on her right eyelid and stuck out her tongue in stella's direction.
    'shtupid thieving bitch! master is yimin's!'
    continue reading on empire
    for some reason, stella felt incredibly annoyed over how that powerful dragonoid woman was staring at her. it caused an unfounded competitive spirit to bubble up, nearly making her return the favor with a smug expression of her own. however, she held herself back at the last moment when cassius's harrowing voice took front and center:
    "did you not hear me before?" he asked, his question laced with concealed killing intent. "i asked what you plan to do. will you oppose us or will you make the wiser choice and be on your way?"
    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
    the b-rank hunters felt an indescribable sense of fear overpower every other emotion they were feeling. their hearts constricted, with a suffocating air free and abound. a few of them tried to speak up despite the suffocation, yet couldn't muster a single word.
    fortunately, john, as the one with the strongest will among the normal party members, was able to just barely find his voice. "i-i am john, a member of the b-rank hunter party moo¡ª"
    "i know who you are; tell me your answer."
    "y-yes," replied john, beads of sweat raining down his forehead. "we will retreat¡ª"
    "you bastard!!!!!"
    ooom!
    erupting out with a level of power at the very peak of the b-rank, dominic's booming voice bled the ears of all those present. his rageful aura engulfed the sky as he bounced off of a sand dune and blitzed toward the aloof and curious pair.
    his anger was almost entirely directed toward yimin, as he promised himself that he would kill the bitch!!!
    ...¡­.. s§×arch* the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 86 B-Rank Huntersâ€”Nothing Much

    yet, in response to dominic's intensity, yimin cutely tilted her head. "this hooman¡­ who is he again? yimin doesn't remember."dominic almost fell flat on his face mid bullet burst, whereas the others, including cassius, were left speechless at the genuine confusion of the dog-like dragon girl.
    "i¡­ i'll kill you!!!"
    no longer able to restrain his fury, dominic's skin tone went from tan to purple to green to red, as his aura became even more powerful. he activated all of his b-rank and below skills, going all out right from the get-go!! the bitch would die!!!
    in response to such intensity from dominic, cassius let out a heavy sigh. then, with a single step forward, he blurred behind the charging b-rank hunter.
    "!!!"
    through dominic's rage-filled eyes, he caught a glimpse of the terrifyingly cold expression lingering behind the shadowy hood. his eyes widened in horror as he prepared to slash to the side with his longsword. yet, before his sword even left its sheath, a jagged jigsaw blade was already mere centimeters away from the back of his neck.
    "you can't¡ª!!" he tried to say, yet was interrupted by the sharp edge of a serrated blade slicing through his soft, human skin in one clean cut.
    the other b-rank hunters gasped in terror, whereas yimin jumped up in joy. she was mere milliseconds away from getting the job done herself, but luckily, her master was there to prevent her from breaking the oath she promised him.
    cassius expressionlessly watched as the decapitated head left a trail of blood sailing in its wake.
    "i was originally going to let you live, even despite your repeated aggression. but after briefly glimpsing at what little i could discern from your lengthy system description, i¡­ changed my mind," he said coldly, his eyes containing not the least bit of sympathy for the scum r*pist. sea??h th§× n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'and if that weren't enough, his targets were almost always of the younger variety, below the age of 18¡­ scum through and through,' he spat in disgust. 'but it is also partly because of this disgusting fetish of his that the women in his party were left untouched in that regard. or, rather, they were left for later¡­'
    there were pros and cons in everything, but this was definitely not the topic to be discussing something like that. after reading what he did, cassius didn't feel like eating for a week.
    was horrid pedophilia a side effect of becoming famous or something? if so, then he hoped that he would always remain low-key¡­
    after slinging the blood off his precious lilith with a refined sword slash, cassius redirected his focus back to the b-rank hunters trembling in place. he debated what he should do with them, ultimately deciding to do the only thing that would prevent them from opening their mouths about this matter to anyone else.
    even though what happened in a gate stayed in a gate, that was only the case if everyone was implicated and of the same cause. this was not one of those situations.
    "t-the captain¡­" lexi was finding it difficult to hold her stomach down.
    she, along with the others, was too drawn to the bloody sight of their leader's headless corpse collapsing to the ground midway through his once domineering attack.
    however, when they felt the immense eruption of killing intent emerge from the body of the mysterious hooded man, they immediately shifted their terror-stricken expressions toward him. with every slow, unempathetic step he took in their direction, they felt more and more parts of their souls leave their bodies. even stella was no exception, as she felt herself freeze in place, not able to muster a peep.
    yet, when cassius had made it mere inches away from john and raised lilith to slash down, he heard a feminine voice shout out to him from the side. "y-you don't need to kill us!" shouted issa. "we won't tell a single person about what transpired here! n-none of us even liked dominic to begin with¡­!"
    "y-yeah, he was scum!" john agreed.
    "that bastard had it coming to him is what i would say!" said someone else.
    "yeah, screw him!"
    "h-he's better off dead!!"
    seeing that everyone was so adamant about keeping their lives and were clearly sensible enough to understand their predicament, cassius emotionlessly asked, "and how can i be sure that you won't betray me as soon as we enter the outside world?"
    the b-rank hunters suddenly exchanged glances with each other, then nodded in unison. "we have slave collars here, enough to enslave all of us!" they yelled. "as long as you put these on us, with your blood as an ownership seal, then you will be able to completely control us¡­ they will become invisible shortly after being placed, but our lives will still be entirely in your hands¡­"
    cassius could tell that they were wholeheartedly against the idea, yet their will to live was greater.
    he smiled, which caused hope to surface among the b-rank hunters. they assumed that they were about to make it out of this awful encounter in one piece. and just as john reached for his storage bag and took out a dozen or so semi-translucent spiked metal collars, they saw an unnerving smile appear on cassius's face. read latest chapters at empire
    as if on instinct, they knew they were going to¡­ die.
    however, did them knowing even make a difference?
    fwooop!
    "y-you!!"
    cassius blurred from his spot and slit the wrists of everyone who went to grab for their weapons. though, to be fair, he also slit the wrists of those who didn't grab for their weapons as well. he was a cautious man, after all.
    "aghhh¡­!!! it hurts so much!!!"
    all besides stella were writhing in pain while rolling around on the sandy ground. even the females were no exception, as cassius was a firm believer in equality. in fact, the only reason he hadn't given the stunning miss stella the same treatment was because of their similar backstories and the fact that she didn't have disgusting descriptions like the rest of them.
    did people just arbitrarily carry around collars used to enslave other living beings? and to have so many of them¡ªwas that common?
    the answer was obviously no.
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 87 We Eat Them!

    every single one of the hunters of the b-rank hunter party except for stella had plenty of experience with these slave collars. before the newbie stella arrived, they often ventured into gates known to have 'unique' monster life and then enslaved them, played with them, or just straight up sold them off.humanoid monsters like elves, semi-intelligent demihumans, and similar such beings were their targets. some of the party members had weird fetishes, while others simply participated in this vile act for money. whatever the case, all of them contributed one way or another, with some, like dominic, john, and lexi, contributing the most. they even started competitions to see who could enslave more humanoid monsters¡ªthe more innocent they were, the better.
    'inherently, monsters with the potential to take human form are no different from little humans in their early years,' thought cassius, his piercing eyes falling on the worms wiggling around. 'but it was from multiple studies that scientists learned humanoid monsters were influenced by their natural habitats, which are the gates. this influence is what makes them so savage, with the more powerful humanoid monsters, like yimin, becoming bloodthirsty for human blood almost instantly.'
    'these trash knew that¡­ and they took advantage of it.' s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    cassius felt not the least bit of sympathy while glaring at the fleshbags of steaming manure hollering for their mommies.
    he loudly scoffed. "even in the face of death, they resemble garbage."
    yimin furiously nodded. she had no clue what was going on now or why her master was killing those of his own kind, but master was master! if master said something, then she would agree!
    'only this way will master fuck yimin! yimin wants lots of babies!'
    cassius suddenly felt his spine tingle, prompting him to look at yimin, only to see a mischievous grin touching upon her enchanting face. he shook his head in exasperation before hardening his gaze while looking at the bloody cripples.
    "...you¡­ do you really plan to kill them all¡­?" stella abruptly spoke up, diverting his attention to her and giving the deplorable scum a bit of hope.
    seeing as she was spared from the stupidly fast consecutive strikes of the powerful hooded man, she might just be their saving grace.
    stella, ignoring the pleading silence of her comrades in pain, locked eyes with the pair of glowing globes beneath a shrouded hood. "i don't know why you killed dominic, beyond him attacking you two, or why you harmed my comrades, but don't you think this is a bit much¡­? what have they done that's so wrong?"
    cassius was a bit surprised that the victim of their bullying and oppression was siding with them. a frown marred his barely visible features.
    "you are sticking up for these scum?" he asked. "are you not aware of what they have done? the slaves, the children, the torture? their universal crime log is not small¡­"
    the b-rank moonshiners opened their eyes wide in disbelief.
    "y-you! how do you know about that??"
    "just who are you!?"
    "i have no clue what you're talking about! i didn't do anything!! those primitive elf incidents were in no way related to me!!"
    "how dare you slander us!? *cough!* *cough!* even if you are powerful, this is too much!!"
    cassius zoned out the clamoring of those monkeys, instead watching as stella decided for herself what she believed the truth to be.
    at first, she was dubious of his words, but after listening to him briefly recount everything they had done thus far and adding their guilty deflections into the mix, she eventually figured out the truth. her complexion lost a lot of its sheen, and she averted her eyes from the garbage shouting at her to not believe the facts.
    yet their pleas fell on deaf ears¡­
    "t-this¡­ this cannot happen to me! do you have any idea who i am!? who my father is???" lexi shouted, delirious. "he will have you stripped, diced up, and hanged if you so much as touch a single strand of my hair!!"
    "same here! my father is¡­!"
    "my father is¡­ blah, blah, blah!" find exclusive stories on empire
    that was all cassius heard while listening to the buffoons babble on about a whole lot of nothing. he could tell that they already gave up on stella believing their horseshit, which resorted to them using these simpleton's tactics.
    it was sad, really.
    cassius took slow, deliberately imposing steps toward the group of yapping idiots, causing them to shrink back in fright. they considered fighting him again but gave up that thought as soon as it surfaced. even with their high endurance stats, it would still take a while to heal injuries like this, and even if they did become as good as brand new, what difference would it make?
    so, naturally, they ran.
    or, at least, they tried to.
    seven consecutive shouts echoed out as cassius teleported between the idiots, severed their achilles' heels, then reappeared where he was previously standing. he remained apathetic throughout.
    even while their shrieks of anguish blared out, his expression maintained its impassiveness.
    although this was his first time truly dealing with humans, excluding that incident with the guys attempting to kidnap and r*pe aya, he kept a cool head during the entire experience. it may have felt a little novel to him, but he honestly couldn't care less about what happened to people like them.
    cassius didn't believe himself to be a hero of justice or anything like that, but there was always a bottom line. what these worms had done was just the bottom line for the current version of him.
    "get 'em, master!" yimin cheered while clinging to his back and leaning her bouncy breasts above his head. "don't hold back; kill those hoomans! and then we eat them¡ª"
    "we won't eat them," cassius denied.
    "...b-but why¡­?" yimin teared up, not understanding why her master would want to kill other hoomans but not devour them.
    did he perhaps kill hoomans for sport??
    'master is so cool!!' yimin thought in admiration, yet she outwardly giggled in a creepily obsessed way.
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 88 Evolving Weapons??

    cassius¡­ felt that yimin was a lid better not opened, so, like most inconvenient things in life, he pretended her weirdness did not exist. instead, his eyes wandered over the bleeding-out morsels rolling through the sand a few feet away.he placed his right hand against a scabbard that appeared out of thin air. then, under the averted eyes of stella, he unsheathed lilith as fast as lightning.
    for a moment, she looked like an eastern-style katana soaring in an arc-shaped fashion. a fantastical crimson glow shot out from the backend of her edges, truly tying together the beautiful image that she embodied.
    then rolled the heads which, although still beautiful in their own traumatic way, were very much a clash of elements. stella closed her eyes, too weak-stomached to watch something like that from beginning to end. yimin, on the other hand, was not one to shy away from gore. in fact, she welcomed it! even going so far as to lick her lips and wag her shimmering tail while staring at the human corpses collapsing to the sand dunes.
    following the end of a short-lived massacre:
    shing!
    cassius slung the human blood off his lilith, then sheathed her back in the illusory sheath he materialized from thin air.
    he walked up to the scattered corpses and collected everything they had on their persons. afterward, he turned to the shivering stella, curious to see how she would react to this spectacle he had set up.
    surprisingly, after a large gulp, she steadied her uneven breathing and stole his burning gaze. "i saw nothing!" she declared.
    cassius's frown curved upward at this proclamation, urging him to approach the silver-haired beauty collapsed on the ground. he stretched out a hand, which she gladly accepted after a very brief moment of hesitation.
    she got back to her feet, trying her best not to grow too curious and glance at the gruesome corpses of what used to be her teammates.
    "you understand that i had to kill them, don't you?" asked cassius, his naturally intoned voice startling the nervous woman. "if i hadn't killed them and they decided to commit more of the same heinous acts as before, wouldn't their deeds be on my head?"
    stella seriously considered his words; she nodded meekly.
    cassius smiled.
    he placed a warm hand on her head, then rubbed back and forth, which caused her to squirm in place. "you, unlike them, are someone who became a hunter so you could help people. that is why i spared you, in case you were wondering. oh, and your mom did something similar to mine¡­ there is also that necklace wrapped around your neck¡­ well, i had numerous reasons to keep you alive. you are quite cute as well, so there's that too."
    stella's cheeks immediately reddened. with her enchanting looks, she had naturally been called pretty before, but none seemed as innocently sincere as the mysterious man before her.
    "well, anyway," said cassius upon feeling the growing agitation of the dragon girl clinging to him. "i've just about finished up here, so why don't we make our retreat? also, do you have qualms with discarding your previous identity? it would be more than a little bit of a hassle to have you explain to people why you were the only one among your party members to make it out of the gate alive¡­"
    "having you come secretly live with me while letting the populace believe that the moonshiners all died within the enigma of a gate that closed without reason would probably be for the best."
    stella thought about it.
    after a second, she complied with a nod. "...my father left me soon after mother disappeared, and i don't have any other family, so i am fine¡­ fine with living with you¡­" she blushed, struggling to maintain eye contact. "a-as long as you are fine with it, of course¡­!"
    "mhmm." cassius made an ¨Cokay¨C sign with his right hand. "if that is what you want, then it is what we shall do." 'though, i'll definitely have quite the cumbersome time explaining this to sasha and the other residents of my home¡­'
    stella was puzzled as to why he was breathing such a tired sigh, yet she felt an unexpected surge of joy well up inside her. she didn't know why, but she was kind of happy that he made an invitation like that one. a warm home environment was something she never had while growing up; it would be nice to experience the other side of the coin for a change.
    cassius seemed to think of something, prompting him to look down at the slightly vibrating lilith. "an evolution into the a- rank?"
    he was shocked by this revelation; however, when he saw all the drained, dry monster corpses in the desert, he suddenly felt like it made a lot of sense. "hmm¡­ if you're evolving to the a- rank, then my shadow monarch's hoodie surely isn't too far behind. both it and my hermes boots rely on powerful monster materials to upgrade, so they naturally evolve slower than the versatile lilith."
    "but there are also those equipment upgrade shards¡­ from their descriptions, it seems that they can advance anything at or below the s-rank by exactly 1 rank per shard."
    cassius had a bold idea surface in his mind. but to commence it, he would need to wait until lilith's evolution concluded.
    whirl!!
    "your blade¡­" stella was astonished by what she was seeing. from the aura signatures emanating from the terrifying sword, she could tell that it was being promoted to something superior.
    'but i have never heard of equipment capable of ranking up¡­ how is what i'm seeing possible¡­?'
    for the hunters of this world, they could harvest the materials of monsters and use them to craft weapons with a blacksmithing skill. however, beyond restoring an item to its original condition, no one had ever been able to upgrade the rank of an item. after all, doing something like that was akin to altering the original functions of the item, and due to the lingering personality aspects of monster materials, the adverse reactions simply made this impossible.
    just like the rank of a hunter, the rank of their equipment also forever stayed the same.
    'so, what is really happening here¡­!?'
    find your next adventure on empire sear?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 89 Devil Blade Lilith (A+)

    stella intently watched as the elusive hooded man raised his jagged crimson-black sword into the air. energy swirled around its edges, creating a large aerial vortex that sucked everything into lilith. then, with a massive explosion of scarlet energy, her previous blade skin was shed!ooom!
    radiating from the sharp, shiny angular surface of the devil blade lilith was a regal energy so powerful that it felt like an extremely strong a-rank demon lord had descended from the skies! stella could barely keep her balance under such an oppressive aura!
    with her eyelids flickering between opening and closing, she glimpsed the fantastical form of lilith.
    progressing from her previous four-foot length, she was now nearly six feet. instead of an ancient, gothic design, she was now shaped like a mixture between a katana and a greatsword. she was thin yet robust; wide yet sturdy. moreover, she still retained the cracked extendable functionality, meaning that she could stretch out and retract at will.
    cassius even had a feeling that lilith had become far more proficient at extending. curious to explore this feeling, he clenched her in the cusp of his right hand and¡­ pierced forward!
    fwwoooop!!
    in the same instant lilith was lunged forward, an enormous, impossibly long cosmically red beam of light shot out. it whizzed through the air, tearing through several known speed milestones. in less time than it took for a nanosecond to pass, the super-thin red beam that was actually a hyper-condensed sectioning of lilith had already made it to the end of this cut-off world.
    then came the boom¡­
    ka¡ªboooooom!!!
    even from hundreds of miles away, cassius and stella felt the ground beneath them violently tremble. looking toward the source of this disturbance, they saw a large sphere of crimson energy rapidly expand. waves of destructive mana rolled out, leaving the area directly surrounding the explosion's radius a true wasteland, devoid of all signs of life.
    "hmm¡­ i see¡­" even cassius himself was left speechless at what he just witnessed. "ahh¡­ if this is still within the bounds of the a-rank, then just how powerful are those in the s-rank¡­?"
    that attack of lilith's drained approximately 30% of his energy reserves, which was still a massive amount of mana for him. however, he was sure that genuine s-rank beings had at least a dozen times his mana storage, possibly even more than that.
    'so how strong must they be¡­?'
    cassius was afraid to learn of the true limits of humanity. but after realizing how effective this new form of attack could be, he decided to distribute more of his stat points into intelligence from now on. intelligence was the primary stat that affected things like mana capacity, magic damage output, intellectual capabilities, and anything else along those lines. it was essential if he wished to delve further into the art of¡­
    'blowing things up?' thought cassius, his brows arched in confusion. 'yes, that sounds right.' sea??h th§× n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    stella was too busy being dumbfounded over what she had just witnessed, whereas yimin's eyes visibly shined. like sparkly stars in the night sky, they watched the residual energy waves of the crimson beam attack spread all over the vast desert.
    the attack was nowhere near as powerful as what her master used on her to subdue her under his rod, but it was still so pretty to look at.
    "master is so cool!! his spells are always the coolest!!" yimin was so excited that she conveniently forgot all about wanting to kill and eat the silver-haired bitch.
    fwwoooop!!
    the thin crimson beam rapidly retracted and enlarged with every retraction. by the time it made it back to lilith's hilt, it went from the size of a piece of paper to that of a human-sized devil blade. your next read is at empire
    bzzzzzzzttt!!
    cassius could tell from the sword's vibrations that she was shaking in joy. he faintly smiled before softly running his hand across her black metallic surface. he then wrapped her around the right side of his body, completely oblivious to a different kind of shaking she made at his caress before going silent.
    the only thing on his mind was how much more badass her design had become after achieving the a- rank.
    which reminded him¡­
    "i think you deserve more than just that, lilith, my dear." an invisible force tugged at cassius's smile, turning it into a devilish smirk.
    lilith vibrated in euphoria, practically begging him to do it.
    doing exactly what she wanted, cassius did it. he summoned a big glorious thing and inserted it into her, then watched in anticipation as she erupted in a dark red glow¡ªone that was several times more powerful than before!
    stella, still reeling from the first evolution, was left even more slack-jawed seeing yet another similar evolution occur. she didn't even know what to think anymore¡­ shock was all that remained¡­
    waaa!!
    by the end of another lengthy evolution process, lilith successfully reached the a rank. however, did one believe this was anywhere good enough to satisfy either her or her master? the answer was obviously no!
    "another rank up!" they both seemed to exclaim in unison, which led to another large insertion, this time sliding in even rougher.
    five minutes later.
    *ding!*
    [|devil blade: lilith| has been upgraded from the 'a-' rank to the 'a+' rank!]
    [|devil blade: lilith| - |attack +1545|] - [increased effectiveness of all effects.]
    [damn, that was really perverted¡­ (??¦Ø??)]
    even more so than when experiencing something unbelievably powerful, cassius was always left most speechless when the idle evolution system was involved. yet, as if to distract him from the main matter at hand, it threw up a few more system notifications, informing him of all he received from killing those worms dressed in human skin.
    *ding!*
    [you have killed several b-rank hunters of the b-rank hunter party 'moonshiners'!]
    [your experience bar has moderately moved!]
    'even after killing all of them, i didn't receive a single level-up?' thought cassius, his brows furrowed in slight displeasure. 'the rewards given for each level-up are quite a lot now, so i guess the slow rate of progress will be supplemented in the end¡­'
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 90 How EXP Works

    expecting something later down the line was all cassius could hope for. bemoaning something that could not be changed would only stunt progression; moving forward and¡­ slaughtering more was the 'way'.'speaking of which¡­' question marks appeared atop cassius's head as he approached the gate's exit with stella and yimin tagging along behind him. ignoring the small sparks flying between them, he thought, 'previously, i did not receive exp from killing humans, but now i can¡­? what changed?'
    answering his internal question, the idle evolution system appeared.
    *ding~!*
    [the humans you killed before were terrible humans, but they were not yet at the level of being termed monsters. after all, they mostly acted like shitheads for the money! however, the b-rank moonshiners were not the same...]
    [with their wealth, power, and higher statuses, they could take advantage of many things that common thugs and human traffickers could not. hence, the former humans were considered just a step away from being monsters of a different sense. the moonshiners, on the other hand, were monsters in human skin.]
    "i see¡­"
    "you see what??" asked yimin, her eyes brimming with unhinged curiosity. "you see food?? or maybe¡­"
    shadows clouded her rosy cheeks.
    "are you seeing other women!? how could master do this to yimin!??"
    "ahh¡­"
    cassius truly couldn't comprehend how this woman always seemed to jumble his words and think whatever she wanted with them.
    sighing, he petted her head, which slightly worked to stop the tears. she even took it upon herself to grab his other hand and rub it against her cheek, though her true objective in doing this was to stop the dumb silver-bluish-haired vixen from asking for the same thing. which stella was doing unconsciously¡­
    cassius, realizing what game his pet dragon was playing at, could do¡­ nothing much. he lightly shook his head before arriving mere feet away from the massive red portal. the portal on this side of the tunnel was red, while the other side was still a dark yellow, giving otherworlders the illusion that the gate was only of the high yellow rank.
    stopping just before walking through the red vortex portal, cassius turned to the two women who were with him on this journey. noticing his seriousness, they hushed up and focused with rapt attention.
    pleased, he said, "when we make it to the human world, you both will need to stay incognito as we slip away from the people that are sure to be crowding out there. and this will extend beyond the short term future. also, seeing as the two of you are like shining beacons as you are, is there any way you can morph into something else?"
    "nope, nope, yimin cannot do that!"
    "no¡­ sorry¡­"
    cassius smiled bitterly and took two black hoodies out of his inventory space. he had stored them just in case he needed them, but he hadn't expected to require them so soon.
    after throwing them on the two girls, he turned around and walked through the tunnel.
    yimin and stella were right behind him, both silently competing with each other to see who could stick closer to him without touching him.
    yimin won.
    "yimin is far superior to you, a mere human," she quietly snickered, causing veins to appear on stella's forehead.
    "isn't your 'master' a human as well?" she asked, clearly believing herself to now have the upper hand in the conversation.
    however, little did stella realize that yimin was¡ª
    "master is master! he doesn't count! yimin doesn't like normal humans, only master!"
    ¡ªreally, really dumb. dumbly smug per se.
    'she understands that she just contradicted herself, doesn't she?' stella thought in silence, no longer finding it worthwhile to argue with that dumbo. rather, she found it far more enjoyable to stare at the mysterious cloaked man's back.
    every woman inherently had a certain amount of attraction to the unknown. stella was no exception to that notion. in fact, it wasn't until meeting him that she realized just how down bad she was for strong enigmatic men.
    blushing, she shook her head and kept her eyes just outside cassius's silhouette. 'i shouldn't be thinking things like that¡­ he just killed all my comrades, and i'm not even sure if he's a good person or not. the way he speaks and acts would indicate that he's good, but then the image of him mercilessly slaughtering dominic and the others pops up in my mind¡­'
    'someone who kills others of their kind so easily can't possibly be a good person.'
    'but¡­ why am i unable to see him as someone evil¡­? i don't understand myself¡­'
    sometimes, good and evil are obscured by a thin veil. people on both sides of the veil might see a mix of good and evil, some might see neither, and most will either see one or the other. whether something can be considered good or evil is always determined by the standards set by those who witness.
    as one who witnessed the cruel actions of an unfathomable hooded man, it is up to stella to determine her own subjective opinions of his moral compass. if, in the end, she decides him to be evil¡­ she will do what she believes to be right, even if she dies because of it.
    of course, stella hoped things wouldn't come down to that. after all, she would definitely die within an instant if she went against him. furthermore, he was kind in a weird sort of way, he smelled nice, and they had a lot of things in common, such as the disappearance of their mothers.
    did she mention that he smelled nice yet? well, she ought to repeat important things twice.
    oblivious to the unusual thoughts of the silverish blue-haired beauty, cassius entered the red portal. sticking close to his side was the feisty yimin, with stella just a few inches further behind.
    they quickly arrived in the outside world.
    cassius, moving fast, swept stella and yimin into his large arms. ignoring their contrasting emotions, he blurred like an evanescent shadow.
    not a single human saw them, as they were too busy discussing the gate and other miscellaneous topics.
    however, even though no humans saw cassius and the two girls, it did not mean no living beings saw them¡­ discover hidden tales at empire
    ...¡­.
    s§×arch* the nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 91 Gremlin Exterrestrial Fiends

    blinking their human eyes in an unnatural way among the swathes of people were several gremlin extraterrestrial fiends. they eerily watched the three mushed-together humanoid figures vanish into the night sky. they remained creepily still, not even so much as breathing.for the longest while, they simply stared in the direction of cassius's home. they stared and stared, with their eyelids sometimes blinking sideways, revealing another pair of pure black eyes beneath their human eyes. read new chapters at empire
    eventually, the gremlin extraterrestrial fiends turned their heads in unison, seemingly sensing something in the direction of tokyo. after a few seconds, they shuddered as if shedding their skins, then returned to their completely human dispositions. one could not tell a single difference between them and a regular human; not even someone with an s-rank perception stat would be able to distinguish the two.
    the gremlin extraterrestrial fiends even walked throughout the crowds of humans; they laughed, talked, and even actively started conversations. they acted more human than most humans; none would be able to discern the truth of the matter¡ªof how hungry they were.
    every time a human's head came into view, the second set of the gremlins' eyes would trace it like a hound dog to a steak. they wanted to eat, they wanted to slowly savor and devour the juicy brains of every single human in the world. yet they restrained themselves; it was not the time to act.
    their superiors on the mothership were more intent on reaching the 2nd floor of the ascension tower, with the enslavement of all mankind a mere secondary concern.
    of course, the lower-ranked extraterrestrials, like the gremlin fiends, did not fully understand why the higher-ups and the mothership were waiting so long to turn humankind into livestock. they were hungry¡­ beyond famished¡­ why should they wait??
    however, as intelligent beings, they knew that if they acted up, they would be killed on the spot.
    there were countless just like them; they were neither special nor unique. they wanted to live more than they wanted to taste human meat again. it was all a matter of priority. s§×arch* the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    but when the higher-ups did achieve their objectives¡­ well, humankind would be no different from common farm animals, all lined up and waiting to be slaughtered. they would surely eat then.
    'that human¡­ he is the target?' speaking in a slow, disturbing way, one of the gremlins asked for confirmation, all the while happily conversing with a fellow human.
    answering the first one, a different gremlin said, 'yes, that is the human we need to befriend and coerce into luring out 'it.''
    'only that way can we be done with this nonsense and begin eating the humans¡­'
    'human meat¡­ am now hungry¡­'
    'hungry as well¡­'
    'human meat¡­ it smells so delicious¡­ especially their brains¡­'
    'hungry¡­..'
    for a while, the extraterrestrial gremlin fiends repeatedly mumbled how hungry they were to each other. however, when the yellow gate began to turn red before abruptly spasming out and starting the closing process, they were forced to share the shock and surprise of the other humans.
    the sun set in the west and then rose in the east.
    the very next morning, cassius shot his eyes open like a startled cat. he lay still, listening to the faint grave murmurings of the news lady on the tv downstairs. sasha had kept the volume low so as to not wake up and worry the kiddos over the recent events in downtown hoshito.
    one famous idol b-rank hunter party never returned after entering a gate that turned red before mysteriously disappearing. then, shortly after that, two other yellow rank gates closed in the same manner, except they hadn't changed colors before closing. there was a ton of controversy centered around these unexplainable events, even leading to the direct investigation of high-rank investigators from the higher-tier japanese cities.
    though, for sasha, she was just glad that a potential calamity had been averted.
    cassius shifted his focus away from the beautiful milf scene downstairs, instead concentrating on whatever was pressing down on him so greatly. even with his weight-set on him, he could feel multiple different extremely heavy things¡ª
    *squish, squish.*
    "huhgnn~ not there, master, yimin is sensitive~"
    all movement on cassius's face zeroed out, leaving him completely expressionless.
    sprawled out on top of his muscular, half-nude body were drop-dead gorgeous women, each exotic and uniquely beautiful in their own way.
    one, a clingy dog-like dragon woman; another, a wild tsundere stepsister; then there was the stunning orphan he picked up on one of his walks¡­ yet another black-haired woman, and then a teal-haired doll whose beauty was only matched by the others dog-piled on top of him.
    they were somehow able to evenly split up his body, with their devastatingly bountiful figures exposing their glory to the world. the more conservative ones, like memphis, aya, and stella, were dressed in lingerie or loose shirts, but that did little to conceal their country-toppling slopes. and the more shameless ones, like yimin and bella, went bare-butt nude¡ª
    'wait¡­ bella¡­?? how did she get here???'
    cassius recalled slipping back into the house late at night, which happened just shortly after he quickly cleared the two yellow gates and got a single level. with his new lvl 70 status, he apologetically explained his lateness to sasha, then went through a tiresome period of explaining why he now had two more women with him.
    if not for yimin's illusion magic, which she had unintentionally concealed earlier, then it would have been even more of a pain to explain to sasha why he had a dragonoid with him.
    fortunately, everything worked out in the end, and though sasha left the debacle with a slight pout, things progressed rather smoothly from there. at least, that was the case until it came time for sleep.
    memphis learned that he brought home two more women, grumbled, and then refused to allow him to sleep alone with them. she claimed it to be 'inappropriate' unless she was there to 'supervise.'
    aya acted along the same lines, with the only difference being that she adamantly refused to admit that she wanted it.
    stella, on the other hand, hadn't originally planned to sleep with him in the same bed. she instead chose to sleep on a comfy blow-up mattress to the side. but as she had a weird habit of sleepwalking, she somehow got up off her bed and found her way to cassius's side.
    then, of course, there was yimin, who was admittedly just being¡­ yimin¡­
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 92 What are you doing in my Bedroom...?

    without caring about a single thing, yimin stripped naked and dived into his bed, also being the first one to sneak into his bed. yet, from the first girl to the last girl, cassius remained as nonchalant as always. and as he was too unconcerned to make a big deal out of anything, he just let them snuggle up to him one by one.but then there was bella¡­
    cassius truly had no idea why or how that star-eyed girl ended up sleeping on his right arm in her birthday suit.
    he stared at her for a few seconds, thinking of a wide array of possible outcomes for how this situation came to be. however, in his absentmindedness, he realized far too late that the girl in question had opened her eyes and was now staring straight into his soul.
    "¡­bella¡­?" cassius asked calmly, not breaking eye contact. "what are you doing in my bedroom?"
    bella blinked, then looked around, surveying her surroundings. suddenly, her enchanting eyes widened. she sprang up like a deer in headlights, then sputtered, "t-this is all¡­ all a dream¡­! yes, it's all a dream!! and in three seconds, you will not even believe that i was here!"
    usually, bella was composed and cool-headed, but this development had truly taken her by surprise!
    the last thing she remembered was scouting (stalking) her husband's neighborhood when, suddenly, she smelled something impossibly delicious. following this smell, she found herself at her husband's house. but from that point onward, she had no clue what occurred¡­
    when bella woke up in the arms of her husband, she immediately passed it off as another one of her wet dreams. and so, to follow the usual plotline, she prepared herself to ravage her dream husband. however, it was at that moment that she realized this was most certainly not a spicy wet dream!
    she needed to perform a disappearing trick and act like none of it ever happened! sear?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "hocus pocus, 3, 2, 1, i was never here!" shouted bella, and then she quite literally vanished.
    cassius blinked once, then twice, and then again.
    "she really disappeared¡­" he mumbled in disbelief. "i didn't even see her move, nor did i see her use any magic¡­ a c-rank awakener shouldn't be capable of something like that¡­"
    no matter how cassius thought about it, he just couldn't understand what had just gone down.
    ultimately, he figured it to be a waste to mull over it any longer. he shook his head and refocused on the four girls that had somehow not awoken from the commotion.
    the transformed escapee bat had also been too caught up in the moment to notice the other girls, which was a fortunate thing for all parties involved¡­
    cassius, seemingly forgetting that bella was ever here, looked between the devastatingly beautiful appearances of the women clinging to him. even their curvaceous bodies were equally beautiful, truly sculpted pieces of art worth dying for.
    observing them truly did wonders in clearing his mind. though, that wasn't the only thing clearing part of his mind¡­
    before bella left, she cast a silent suggestive spell incantation. it was one capable of slightly manipulating the recent memories of even powerful s-rank awakeners. yet, she had no clue what exactly she manipulated, only that she manipulated and erased anything that had to do with "bella" and the "most beautiful, loving wife in the world," which she obviously believed to be herself.
    of course, that command was deemed null and void as soon as it left her frontal lobe¡­
    five minutes later.
    no longer able to stand the complete stillness any longer, cassius began to move his body. the weight wasn't much to him, but the visual image that came along with that weight was a little intimidating.
    still, he made it out of the dogpile alive, and did so without waking a single girl up.
    after stretching his arms a bit, he took his newbie 5 equipment set out of his inventory space. due to him not having full confidence in controlling his weight during the night like he could during the day, he stored his weights in his inventory just before going to sleep.
    it was a shame that he couldn't obtain those few extra physical stat points while sleeping, but it was what it was. there would eventually come a time when he could wear the newbie 5 equipment set 24/7, but that time just wasn't now.
    cassius, after equipping his slim weights and hanging his newbie 5 sword by his waist, decided to slip out through his room's window. he chose not to inform anyone of his departure or even bother waking up the girls simply because¡­ it was too troublesome¡­
    'everyone already knows the basic layout of the land, and they have their disguises, so they should be good,' thought cassius as he readied the b+ rank shadow step skill. 'it's really just yimin i'm worried about¡­ but it should all work out fine¡­ probably¡­' experience tales with empire
    then, just as he was about to head out and try to progress main quest #3 while conquering some gates, two watery slitted eyes stared right at him. slowly, he turned his head around, only to see a divinely cute face that looked as if it were going to balloon out and make a shrieking popping sound.
    cassius thought quickly on his feet and shadow stepped to yimin, slung her onto his back, and then vanished into the rising sun.
    it would've been a whole big ordeal if yimin made a loud fuss over their matter, so taking her with him was naturally the easiest choice. moreover, he was concerned about her behavior after he left, anyway, so this was just saving him the hassle. at least, that was what he told himself to cope.
    "yay!" yimin exclaimed from atop cassius's rapidly fleeting back.
    hugging his head with her arms and breasts, she said, "yimin just knew that master wouldn't leave her behind with those thieving whores! the only unfortunate thing was that yimin was planning to eat them to their bones sometime today¡­ but yimin guesses that can wait!"
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 93 Only Yimin can have a Master!

    cassius cracked an awkward smile and wryly chuckled. 'i knew it was a good idea to take her with me¡­ i seriously fear what would've happened if this crazy dragon was left without supervision¡­'the same point of concern also applied to bella, the other 100-scored yandere. however, he was lucky enough to pass her tribulation without any bodily harm. then again, he wasn't actually aware of her¡­ mental afflictions just yet, so he remained blissfully oblivious to the calamity he had just avoided.
    "anyway," said cassius as he emptied his mind of all distracting thoughts. "i will be going to the hunter's association to sell the magic shards of all the monsters i killed, which include those looted from your¡­ previous subordinates¡­"
    he mostly brought his agenda up to gauge the reaction of his dragon companion. yet, it didn't seem like she was the least bit bothered by this information. she adorably tilted her head, question marks flying off around her.
    pursing her lips, yimin giggled. "you are looking at yimin funnily, master! does yimin have something on her face??"
    cassius, distracted by her words, let his eyes swim around her flawless facial features. her long, babydoll eyelashes slightly quivered along with every cloud of steamy breath escaping her dark purple lips. below her perfectly sculpted eyelashes and misty reddish-brown eyes was a boundlessly enchanting field of peachy skin. then there were the luscious locks of gray hair draping over her head, shoulders, and ample snow-white valleys, which molded her already dazzling appearance into something blinding.
    cassius would be lying if he claimed that her charms wouldn't be effective against him if she actually knew how to take advantage of them. conversely, in her present childish state, it was highly unlikely that she would ever get one over on him.
    "hey, master!" yimin shouted into his ears, snapping him out of his daze. "yimin thinks we are here!"
    "hmm?"
    cassius looked all around, immediately noticing the hundreds of armored hunters walking in the area outside a massive building. 'how did we get here¡­?' he questioned, genuinely unaware of the fact that he had zoned out and arrived at the hunter's association branch building by using shadow step. sear?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "...i really am out of it as of late," he murmured before rubbing yimin's head in a job-well-done sort of way.
    her wagging dragon tail protruded from her cloak, clearly showing how happy she was.
    a faint smile shone through cassius's partially covered face as he took long strides toward the hunter's association's front doors. opening them up, he walked in. as soon as he entered the establishment, it felt like he had entered an entirely different world. even though the noise outside was abundant and diversity was everywhere, it just didn't have the same feel as the hunter's association.
    the atmosphere was something one only ever imagined to be possible in another world. rumors spread abound, cussing and obnoxious laughter rang out, and even though the decor was that of a high-tech establishment, it still exuded the feeling one got from the adventurers guilds in isekai stories.
    listening in on the conversations flying around in the hunter's association, cassius heard some interesting things. yimin, on the other hand, was too busy sniffing and hugging him to care about other men and women.
    "did you hear of the mysterious personage that secretly entered and cleared three yellow gates¡ªone of which suddenly upgraded and became a low red-rank gate!?"
    "pish, posh, that is just a conspiracy theory! there is no actual evidence to support the claim that a powerful awakened covertly cleared three different high-rank gates!"
    "then how do you explain them closing?? huh, big guy?? explain it!"
    "you idiot! how are you going to explain why someone would clear gates without vying for any recognition!? there is no one in the world who doesn't yearn for the status and fame that come along with being a high-rank awakener!"
    enjoy more content from empire
    "that is¡­ maybe the mysterious awakener just likes to keep a low profile¡­!"
    "what ridiculous nonsense!"
    moving away from this particular debate between two e-rank hunters, cassius heard a plethora of other hunters talking about the same subject. he hadn't expected his subtle and covert interference to produce an impact this large, but it seemed like he had overestimated his subtlety.
    a few moments later.
    cassius now stood in front of a counter¡ªthe same one that he stopped by the last few times he came to sell magic shards and valuable monster materials. the receptionist on the other side of the counter looked up, almost immediately recognizing him.
    smiling, she asked, "what have you brought in for us today, oh~ enigmatic traveler?"
    hearing the slight tease in her voice forced a twitching smile on cassius's face. he hadn't expected her to address him by the casual nickname he had announced himself with in jest. however, when he felt a dark, ominous aura seep out from atop his head, he realized that he better speed things up.
    the daggers shooting out of yimin's eyes were practically on the verge of materializing into tangible objects¡­
    gently pushing her face out of the way, cassius politely responded to the receptionist who had grown curious about his new companion. "i have¡­ a lot more than the last few times. it would be best if you take me to a larger area."
    "hmm¡­ well, that should be fine," replied the moderately pretty receptionist. "though, if the shards you are bringing this time exceed the c-rank, i will need to call the manager¡­ then again, you don't have anything like that, right?"
    the silence was palpable.
    "...right¡­?" the receptionist repeated, growing increasingly nervous.
    cassius, deliberating whether he should disclose the truth or not, ultimately decided to tell her and get it over with. "yes, i do have magic shards and monster materials of the b-rank. yet, these ones, just like those i brought before, were not obtained by myself. instead, it was my¡­ master that gave them to me to do with as i will."
    "your master!?" yimin's expression exploded in confusion and displeasure. "master cannot possibly have any master! only yimin can have a master, which is master¡ª!"
    ...

 Chapter 94 Victor Radio, the Fastest Man Alive

    despite yimin's weird logic, cassius promptly clasped her mouth shut with a single hand. redirecting his attention back to the receptionist, he asked, "well, can this be done? is a manager here right now?""y-yes, of course!" although a bit flustered over the ludicrous stuff she had just heard him say, the receptionist was still a seasoned professional. "i will call for him right away!" she said while already dialing a number on a stationary telephone right beside her.
    a few seconds later.
    a mildly corpulent man dressed in a classy suit and tie hurried ahead of the receptionist. he reached the other side of the desk and bowed his head slightly. "it is a great honor to get acquainted with you, good sir! i hear that you are looking to sell magic shards of the b-rank??"
    "yes, that is correct," answered cassius. he briefly appraised the man, observing several beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and cheeks. "my master is a very secretive man and doesn't like to put himself out in the open. so, if you're aiming to inquire about his name, location, or rank, then i cannot help you. i just wanted to get that out there before we discuss business."
    "o-of course," the manager replied in a dejected tone.
    he was indeed interested in this powerful master, but if it wasn't meant to be, then it wasn't meant to be.
    changing the topic, he asked, "can we bring the magic shards to the back and look over them there right now?"
    "yes, that is fine," cassius responded without much thought. "do lead the way."
    suddenly regaining a lot of his bearings, the manager switched into serious business mode. "right this way," he motioned ahead with his hands.
    cassius briskly passed the silent receptionist. yimin glared at her as they passed, but he quickly diverted her focus with a head pat. they walked through a pair of swinging doors, then waited for the manager to catch up.
    the manager was curious about why the customer and companion were hooded, but more than that, he could approximately gauge the level their items were at. and although his guess was still quite a bit off, he just knew that he was about to make a big profit today. his heavy footsteps flickered across the marble floors as he, too, passed the receptionist.
    "good work today," he whispered to her before making it back to the hooded man's side.
    the receptionist warmly smiled before enthusiastically returning to her desk work. finally, she got some recognition! life was surely going to become better from here on out!
    she couldn't help but quietly thank the esoteric man inside her heart.
    ¡ªmeanwhile, in the spacious back area of the hunter association's hoshito branch building¡ª
    oddly enough, although there were two people walking and one hitchhiking, only a single pair of footsteps echoed in the relatively silent corridors. this was solely because cassius had reached a level in his training where he could make it seem like he was weightless, even though he was lugging around hundreds of thousands of tons.
    if it weren't for expert control and various auxiliary skills that helped in this aspect, then just a single step of his would destroy the hunter's association. that single step would collapse the branch building and leave the surrounding blocks in ruin.
    and the worst part was that this wasn't even an exaggeration¡­
    cassius quite literally had several empire state buildings attached to his body. if he ever lost control over his muscular functionality, then it would be as if multiple empire state buildings suddenly spawned out of nowhere! discover hidden tales at empire
    however, even knowing that, there was something crazier about this whole ordeal. that crazy thing being that his strength stat was not even at the a-rank yet¡­ he pushed his body to its absolute limits at all times, causing veins to constantly bulge and intimidate people, but even that only just barely put him near the peak of the b-rank.
    in terms of pure strength and without including the 'dragonic strength' effect from his dragonfire advent title, even the b-rank hunter party leader dominic was stronger. in other words, dominic could have also carried around what cassius was now carrying, and he could do so with much more ease. now, this begged the question:
    if the peak b-rank was already so stupidly overpowered, then just how freakish were those mighty existences in the s-rank¡­?
    ¡ª------------
    as cassius and his grumbling yimin sold all of his magic shards to the hunter's association branch manager, a lean blonde-haired man leisurely strolled through a highly populated area of shibuya, japan. he wore a pair of expensive gold-edged sunglasses and could overall be termed stylish.
    his name¡ªvictor rapido¡ªthe alleged fastest man alive!
    one second, victor was seen meandering through large crowds of people, and the next second, he was gone. he left no afterimages, no instantaneous stops, leaving nothing to indicate that he had done anything other than vanish from this dimension. sear?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    even the instant teleportation spells and skills of mage awakeners could not compare to the speed demon that was victor rapido.
    he was just that damn¡­ fast.
    fwip!
    victor rapido silently reappeared beside a fiery-haired man on a wide podium, appearing there without leaving any indication that he had been anywhere but there. not even his feet or clothes rippled when he appeared on that stadium; it really was like he spawned in.
    noticing a familiar presence, the fiery red-haired man looked away from a massive sea of hunters, all of whom ranged from the f-rank to the a-rank. he saw a smugly relaxed expression sitting nearly a foot below his head.
    it wasn't that victor rapido was short, it was just that this bulky, viking-like man was extremely large.
    upon confirming the blonde-haired man's identity, the fiery red-haired man's face twisted in anger. "for the fastest man alive, you sure do know how to run late to every single important meeting," he quietly criticized, not holding anything back.
    "hah¡­" victor rapido glanced up at the livid hulking man, that smug smirk never leaving his expression.
    ...

 Chapter 95 Gathering of the S-Rank, Loss of an S-Rank

    "listen, thorfin, unlike you, i have a very hectic schedule," said victor. "as my father is american and my mother japanese, i was granted dual citizenship. this was, of course, mainly because of my unique awesomeness, as everyone wants a slice of this pie! it's only unfortunate that there's only so much of me to go around¡­""i was in america a few seconds ago, and yet here i am for my fellow countrymen! where is the appreciation in this gloomy place??"
    "gloomy?" thorfin parroted, his voice becoming dangerously high-pitched. "you actually dare to say that when we just lost static baron¡ªone of our country's s-rank hunters¡ªin the continued attempts at clearing the special high purple-rank gate!? a gate that exceeds anything we have experienced thus far¡­!?"
    thorfin nearly raised his voice in anger when interacting with the insufferably arrogant s-rank hunter beside him. however, as this was a eulogy for the s-rank hunter they lost in the international gate raid, he held himself back.
    victor rapido softly scoffed, which only served to further fuel the red giant's rage. "even if that rash prick, static baron, died, so what? he reaped what he sowed by charging into the boss's lair head-on. his death was only his fault, and he now lies six feet under because of it!"
    "you¡ª!!"
    "i'm not done speaking yet," victor interrupted, not caring a single bit about thorfin's growing frustration. "that high purple-rank gate is not even within the territory of japan. we, like all the other offshore countries that could be affected if it breaks, are throwing away the lives of our strongest because we fear the inevitable."
    "however, even if the gate's opening is inevitable, it's not like we have to worry about it for the next few dozen years, as it is not like any other recorded gates. rather than appear with a set amount of monsters of a set rank contained within, like the majority of gates, this one seems to be¡­ evolving."
    victor briefly paused before continuing. "it was originally around the middle stages of the red rank roughly two years ago, and now it is of the high purple rank. keep in mind that none of the various world governments even took the unusual fluctuating gate energy signatures seriously at the time, and now look where we are¡­"
    "trying to prevent the inevitable is pointless, big guy. just let it all come as it comes."
    although it seemed like the haughty s-rank speedster was speaking ignorantly and out of his ass, thorfin knew better. as much as he hated him with every fiber of his being, he recognized his physical prowess. he was also fully aware of the history that victor had with this particular gate located at the very center of the world, in the middle of the ocean.
    the very reason victor hadn't participated in the most recent gate raid was because he took part in the one that came before. the gate, still of the high purple-rank at the time, was something that instilled into him the truest meanings of fear¡­ it was agonizing¡­
    'against that "monster," even the most powerful hunters in the world will be shredded to pieces¡­ even i, as the "fastest" man alive, was completely and utterly outdone in the aspect i was most proficient in¡­ it was like a god toying with a mortal¡­'
    victor rapido was confident in his ability to take on any single s-rank hunter in a one-on-one fight. even if he couldn't win or was unable to penetrate the opponent's defense, he would still be faster. the matches would all either end with him as the victor or in a tie. yet, in the face of that "monster"¡ªthat aberration that originated straight from the abysses of hell¡ªit wasn't even a fight. it was simply a child playing with a new toy. explore more stories with empire
    the only reason victor managed to make it out alive was because that "monster" felt¡­ pity for him.
    his expression scrunched up in hatred when just recalling that monstrous expression staring down at his haggard figure. his once joyful attitude was now soured, and it was all the red bastard's fault. however, just as he was about to give him a piece of his mind, an older, more refined man, standing at the very center of the wide wooden podium, spoke up in a heroic tone:
    "with the eulogy of our brave s-rank hunter, static baron, now over, i feel it to be essential that i inform you of all the active efforts we are taking to prevent the outbreak of gates in every prefecture and region of japan.
    from day one of the first appearance of gates and the terrifying monsters within over a century ago, we, as the protectors of this country, have done everything to protect our fellow countrymen. and though we have lost many along the way¡ªplenty that we cherished¡ªwe have still made it this far!
    although we remain in the dark when it comes to where these gates appeared from or why they are becoming more numerous, we will keep pushing back this unknown force that estranges us all! under no circumstances will we allow our mighty country to fall!!"
    hoooraaaahh!!!
    the various hunters cheered, creating a layer of patriotism that was almost contagious.
    "we, the japanese hunters, do not falter in the face of adversity!" shouted the refined old man. "no matter if it concerns the gates outside our country or the tens of thousands inside it, we won't let them weaken our will! there will eventually come a day when all the gates in our glorious country are banished off the edges of the world! as the chairman of the japanese hunter's association, i guarantee this to you!" s~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "but, i cannot accomplish this seemingly impossible task alone! to make the impossible possible, i will require the assistance of every single hunter in this auditorium! and i will also need everyone present here today to spread japanese heroism to all those who could not make it today!"
    "to overcome the odds, all of us will need to work together¡ªslaughter monsters, gather generational wealth, close all the gates, and make japan a safer place for the next generations to live in without constantly fearing for their lives!"
    ...

 Chapter 96 An Unusual Amount of Shadows...

    the auditorium once again erupted into booming cheers. all of the gathered hunters were hyped up as hell after their chairman's spirit-raising speech. they were raring to get back out there and massacre more monsters!finishing off his speech, the white-haired chairman said, "make your country proud; make your family proud; save this country from certain doom. yet, let the noble sacrifice of static baron engrave into your hearts what could happen to any single one of you if you are careless. keep a good head on your shoulders, stick together, and have a good rest of your day."
    he waved them off before walking away from the center point stadium microphone. as soon as he turned his face away from the tens of thousands of hunters, his expression cooled, going from friendly and outgoing to cold and calculative.
    the hunter association chairman glanced between the dozen-odd s-rank hunters present with him today. all of the country's powerhouses were there, and for some reason, that worsened the face he was making.
    scanning his narrowed eyes over the magnificent-looking hunters, he landed on the 5'11 figure of victor rapido. he was going to say something in regard to his late arrival, but seeing as victor's expression was nearly as terrible as his own, he decided to save it for later.
    "follow behind me," commanded the chairman as he strode ahead of the eleven gathered s-rank hunters. "i have a few things i wish to inform you all of in private."
    "yes, sir." all of them responded rather casually, then trailed behind the stern chairman at different paces. s~ea??h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    although none of them believed their chairman to be any stronger than they were, he was far older than them and had amassed an exorbitant amount of experience over the years. it was only natural to respect someone like that, as this was a world where the strong and wise ruled.
    while following the chairman, a tall and lean man with jet-black hair slicked back walked up beside victor rapido. his piercing crimson eyes, which seemed to glow in the dark, bore into the side of the similarly-sized victor.
    he wore a dark trench coat with silver accents, always shadowed as though light avoided him. a scar was etched across his left cheek, and he exuded a sinister aura that unsettled even allies, making victor grow increasingly uncomfortable.
    stay tuned to empire
    he almost immediately knew who it was, prompting him to ask, "dante¡­ what is it this time?"
    dante blackthorn¡ªa master of shadows and fierce shadow beasts¡ªmatched victor's pace as they left the auditorium and ascended numerous flights of stairs in a larger, shinier building.
    responding to the speedster's exasperated question, dante said:
    "i need you to investigate the rapid increase of shadows in tokyo¡­ it's unnatural, and only someone of your nature will be able to find anything substantial."
    victor raised a brow. "and what's in it for me? searching around odd quantities of shadows is a little ridiculous and will surely consume a lot of my time. so, what will i receive in exchange for helping out?"
    dante coldly stared at the suave speedster, seemingly calculating a number of things in his mind.
    after a moment, he replied, "i can keep you updated on any speedy awakeners that awaken or show their faces in the western, northern, and eastern hemispheres. with my intelligence organization and my army of shadows, you should be well aware of what i could accomplish if given the time."
    victor considered it, nearly rejected it, but then shrugged and accepted. "very well, i'll figure out why shadows have¡­"
    "increased unnaturally in quantity, beyond what new moving creations and autonomous vehicles should be capable of producing," said dante, his tone evenly informative. "the shadows i am searching for have all at once appeared in tokyo, then blended in with the rest of the moving shadows. something is not right about this, yet i can't figure out what exactly that something is. which is where you come in."
    victor's smirk widened as he turned a corner with the rest of the unique s-rank hunters walking beside him. slightly side-eyeing the detached dante, he said, "i will do just that, but it will likely take some time before anything useful comes back. although limiting it to just moving shadows will speed things up, i will still need to individually search millions¡­ wait, how large are the shadows i'm looking for?"
    "around as large as humans," dante replied instantly.
    victor nodded. "yep, so millions, which isn't too much. however, even with my s-rank hyper perception and flash memorization skills, i will need to make countless rounds in and around the country. it will be troublesome."
    "how long?" asked dante.
    "maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months," replied victor. "but no longer than a year."
    "affirmative."
    that was the end of their conversation, with dante silently reminding him to read up on population governmental statistics to confirm the existence of anomalies. immediately after he left dante's side and faded toward the very end of the group, the chairman had arrived in his office, where he quickly sat down on the only black leather chair behind his desk.
    looking at the vastly contrasting hunters, he interlocked his fingers and rested his chin atop them, with his elbows pressed against the mahogany desk. "although i don't want to do it, seeing as the other countries are doing the same thing, i need to as well."
    the air within the classy, victorian-styled room constricted a lot tighter. all of the s-rank hunters knew precisely what their chairman was going to say. and just as expected¡­
    "i will keep things simple and concise: you will need to decide which six among you will join the next raid of the high purple-rank gate 'world's end.'"
    "same as the times before, you will need to temporarily pass down the leadership of your s-rank guilds to whoever is most suited to run your guild while you are away."
    the expressions of everyone in the room scrunched up by varying degrees.
    ...

 Chapter 97 Facing the END

    the last time that the japanese participated in one of these world's end raids, they lost the s-rank hunter, static baron. they also lost two other s-rank hunters in the past two years. if they were to send themselves in this time around, it was very likely that a few of them would not make it back alive.what their hunter association chairman was asking of them was basically suicide for the sake of "upholding peace."
    before any of the more temperamental hunters voiced their opinions on this arrangement, a rugged man with wavy blonde hair stepped forward. he had stormy gray-blue eyes and a strong, weathered frame. his armor was sleek, adorned with lightning motifs, and often crackled with static electricity. like static baron, he was also proficient in the lightning element, yet he also had skills related to the air element, making him a rare dual-element wielder.
    as the "face" of the japanese hunters, arden stormcall naturally had to be the one to speak on behalf of everyone present.
    "chairman, sir, with all due respect, what you are asking six of us to do is to walk headfirst to our deathbeds. the world has demonstrated time and time again that this gate is impossible to raid, so why must we keep on throwing lives away?"
    the chairman's brows furrowed; none knew what he was thinking.
    after a tension-filled pause, he said, "if we do not prevent this gate from evolving any further, then the world will undoubtedly meet its¡­ end."
    the s-rank hunters went painfully silent. they knew as well as their chairman what would happen if the world's end gate somehow managed to evolve past the purple rank. its name was that for a reason, after all.
    however, that didn't mean they were willing to throw away their lives for no reason. even if they were all destined to die sooner or later, they would rather it occur later than sooner.
    this was the nature of all living beings. the s-rank awakeners were no exception.
    arden, realizing the severity of the situation, cut through the silence. "chairman, are there truly no other alternatives? no way for humanity to make it through this hurdle?"
    "no," replied the chairman, his tone serious. "if the world's end gate evolves beyond the purple rank, then the world and humanity will fall. yet, as opposed to the previous raids on this insurmountable mountain, we will be gathering more than just one or two s-rank hunters from each offshore country. furthermore, we will be receiving additional reinforcements from all the countries that never bothered with the gate before."
    "behemoths like america, russia, the united kingdom, germany, and nearly every single country in the world will be sending some of their strongest hunters. even the mage lord from russia and the dragon slayer from china will be joining the raid. this is, in every sense of the word: earth's final frontier."
    "if we cannot succeed this time, even with hundreds of s-rank hunters to back us up, then the world has always been destined to fall. our only option at that point will be to find our place among the stars¡­"
    kaida drakenshield, a wielder of a dragon's power, narrowed her golden eyes at the mention of the dragon slayer. yet they narrowed further when escaping the bounds of earth was mentioned.
    "going to space¡­" sylva everwood, a manipulator of nature and lover of animals, also did not appreciate the chairman's words. "leaving earth is not an option for me. my home is among the lush forests and verdant biomes of mother nature's loving embrace."
    "i, too, do not support the notion of evacuating planet earth, if that is even possible," said gideon ironfist, a mountain-like man who also happened to harness the rocky elements. "the mountains on earth are the best to climb. being trapped in a metal doohickey in space is unacceptable!"
    "i personally don't mind the idea of leaving earth," added rika starforge, a short, spiky purple-haired woman with vibrant amber eyes. "venturing into the great beyond sounds extremely exciting!"
    "of course you would say that," spat ezekiel frostbane, his disdain for the rowdy woman apparent in his expression. his snow-white hair and icy blue eyes shimmered in unison, seemingly agreeing with their owner. "if you want to go to space so badly, then go by yourself. maybe you can find a star there that can reciprocate your feelings. and luckily for you, unlike humans on earth, they can't think for themselves. your chances aren't low."
    rika's feisty expression frosted over, nearly reaching the same level as the pretty boy ezekiel. twisting her frown, she asked, "are ya looking for a fight, you damn snowfield twink¡­?"
    "a¡­ what?"
    ooom!!
    the room was nearly crushed to dust because of the violent auras clashing against one another. yet, before they could escalate the situation further, the chairman erupted forth with a killing intent that immediately stopped both of them.
    'strong¡­' the two s-rank hunters thought in unison. 'his strength hasn't diminished one bit with old age¡­'
    "quit the nonsense," ordered the chairman, his tone non-negotiable. "we are here to discuss who among the six of you will join the world's end gate raid, not who among you has the biggest pair of balls. now, discuss among yourselves and decide who will be going and who will be staying. i don't care how you choose, but you have six minutes¡­ starting now."
    viola voidweaver and luna astra, the quietest and most perceptive ones among the group, noticed something else bothering the chairman. it was clearly something he wasn't willing to disclose, but there was definitely something wrong.
    luna immediately began calculating anything she found feasible, yet everything ended up not coming out right. stay updated with empire
    luna was a slender woman with silver hair that flowed like liquid moonlight. she has glowing pale blue eyes and porcelain skin. moreover, she wore a flowing white cloak that shimmered under any light.
    yet, her entire appearance was merely there to communicate her faith in the goddess of the moon, who was said to reside beyond the heavens above... sea??h th§× n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ...

 Chapter 98 Baba Yagas Prophecy

    similarly, viola voidweaver believed in space supremacy. however, unlike the silver-haired beauty, she had long, flowing dark hair that faded into a starry void at the tips. her violet eyes seemed to contain galaxies, and her black robes rippled as though touched by unseen forces. furthermore, her skin shimmered faintly with the reflection of distant stars.like rika, she also didn't mind leaving planet earth, but a larger part of her felt something was wrong with the stars¡­
    as one deeply connected with the space element and the constellations, viola had a keener sense than even the hot-headed rika. she could instinctively sense something unusual about the sky and stars. since awakening, she had always felt like everything above was¡­ false.
    yet, she couldn't pinpoint what exactly made her feel this way. it was extraordinarily odd.
    after a few moments of silence.
    arden sighed before nodding. "very well, we will discuss now who will take up the task of participating in the world's end raid."
    the other s-rank hunters wanted to oppose but were smart enough to know it was futile.
    victor rapido, on the other hand, remained silent from beginning to end. he was one of the few s-rank hunters who had survived the horrors of that gate, and he, better than anyone else, knew exactly what lay in store for anyone who dared enter again. especially if that "monster" became any more powerful than it already was¡­
    the world might just come to an end¡­
    while victor was lost in thought, he and the other s-rank japanese hunters turned around and huddled together. they began discussing who was most suited for the raid.
    after a lengthy, often argumentative discussion, the s-rank hunters turned back around, their decisions final. a few of them wore soured, almost begrudging expressions, but the chairman paid them no mind. reluctance was expected.
    "so, who will be participating in the world's end gate raid approximately one and a half months from now?" asked the chairman.
    arden stepped forward to announce:
    "i will now call out who among us will be joining the raid¡ª
    myself, arden stormcall, guild leader of the storm guild.
    luna astra, leader of the luminescent guild.
    viola voidweaver, leader of the voidling guild.
    enjoy more content from empire
    rika starforge, leader of the starfaith guild.
    kaida drakenshield, leader of the dragonlins guild.
    and thorfin strongman, leader of the firelord guild."
    as arden called off the names, the chairman jotted them down on a separate piece of paper. after finishing up the details, he looked up. his dead, harsh eyes scanned the six s-rank hunters who stepped forward. for a very brief instant, his irises flashed with regret, yet none besides luna and viola noticed it.
    "if this is who you have unanimously decided to join the raid, then i will be expecting all relevant documents related to who will be taking over your duties in your guilds," said the chairman. "furthermore, you will have to fill in, sign, and verify the death insurance papers that serve as the will of your guilds. static baron felt no need to do this, and now with him resting six feet under, his guild is left as a big political mess, with all the psychic guild's members pointlessly fighting for the guild leader position."
    a deep sigh of annoyance escaped the chairman's lips before he waved the s-rank hunters off. "you are dismissed. those of you who were chosen have 46 days to prepare; that is all."
    "yes, chairman."
    the s-rank hunters hurriedly left the executive office. they had important things to do, especially the six chosen for the raid. forty-six days was not a long time to settle all matters before potentially dying, but they had to make do with what they had.
    enveloped in the deafening silence of the empty office room, the chairman muttered to himself, "the end of the world edges ever closer¡­ the other hunter association chairmen and even the world leaders know precisely what this evolving gate entails. they always knew¡­ yet none of them took the threat seriously. none believed the words of baba yaga¡­"
    roughly six years ago, during a golden age for the hunters, gates were numerous yet not to the point where the safety of any country was threatened. it was a period when hunter and gate-related businesses were the most profitable.
    however, as if all of that was akin to the last good meal for a death row prisoner, a famed prophet known as baba yaga stepped forward. along with her reappearance in the material world came a message¡ªor, rather, a prophecy.
    barging into the broadcasted meeting of the world leaders and the most powerful hunters, baba yaga shouted her prophecy through croaked breath and bloody eyes. it read:
    "at the height of humanity, gates connected to other, shattered worlds will appear! 100 years ago, they appeared¡ªthat was the 1st calamity!"
    "and now, at humanity's new peak, 100 years later, the 2nd calamity has descended! those from beyond the stars will arrive, bringing with them the negative karma accumulated by all of humanity!"
    "at the world's center, a hole will open¡ªan abyss!"
    "the abyss will bring about the world's end¡­! t-the abyss will¡­ there are signs¡­ beforehand¡­ the quantity¡ªthe spawn of the universe¡ªthe mirrors of the nine dimensions¡ªbeware of the signs!!"
    by this point in the prophecy, baba yaga's eyes turned crazed, with her spit and blood spraying the world leaders' meeting crimson. yet not a single one of them stood up to stop her; it wasn't that they respected her, they were just too taken aback by the sudden development to speak.
    "th-the illusion!!!" baba yaga hysterically shouted, her demeanor deranged. "a new abyss will swallow up the previous abyss! this abyss will devour the signs!!"
    "the second abyss will be captured¡ªa captured abyss, a new owner¡­ the illusion will shatter!! the illusion!!! a new owner will emerge!! a purple-robed god will descend from the sky! the god, the owner, the captured abyss!! the 3rd calamity!!! the world as we know it¡­ will end¡­"
    "watch out for the signs!! e-escape the¡­ inevitable¡­ t-the cage¡­ don't let the cage¡ª"
    *cough!* *cough!* s§×ar?h the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    *thud!*
    "prophet baba yaga!"
    famed prophet baba yaga died that day.
    ...

 Chapter 99 Not Harm Them...? But Why??

    prophet baba yaga's eyes were fully consumed by the darkness in her last moments, turning the fear etched across her withered face into an eternally fearful night. she looked like she wanted to get out a few more words of vital importance, but could not get them out in the end.yet, her dreadful image imprinted itself deep into the world leader's minds¡­ it was harrowing.
    "most of baba yaga's message was indecipherable, but from what we can understand, this gate is part of the 2nd calamity."
    the chairman's grave tone of voice echoed out within the bounds of his office. he slumped into the back of his chair, making visible the grayed hairs that seemed to be on the verge of falling off.
    "all i can say is¡­ god help us all¡­"
    ¡ª---------------
    ¡ªmeanwhile, just outside a c-rank gate in downtown hoshito¡ª s§×ar?h the n?vel_fire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    *step, step, step.*
    although cassius walked around as if he weighed less than a feather, yimin did not believe in the art of being quiet. she flaunted her ample valley tops openly and without shame, all while hopping across the streets.
    'yimin really doesn't care a single bit about keeping a low profile,' thought cassius, his icy blue eyes tracing the voluptuous gray-haired dragonoid. 'if not for that subtle illusion spell she cast on herself, things might really become troublesome. especially when considering¡­ that¡­'
    he looked behind his shoulder, watching as a giant yellow portal spasmed, fizzled, and then ultimately dissipated into nothing.
    'if anyone were to see a dragonoid female come out of a closing gate, then they would surely call for a manhunt¡­'
    a heavy sigh echoed as cassius navigated his way toward the next c-rank gate on the gate map. yimin stayed a bit ahead of him, yet seemingly knew exactly where he was going. enjoy exclusive content from empire
    during the brief trip, she often found her way back to his side and clung to him with a giddy expression for a while. however, as one with an extreme case of adhd, she got bored easily, and just like an antsy puppy, she escaped his grasp and frolicked over to anything she found interesting.
    keeping track of yimin was a whole mission in and of itself, but it was because of this curious wandering that cassius figured out something intriguing about her. he learned that, with her a- skill 'tyrant god's disguised misfortune,' she was extremely¡­ lucky?
    it was hard to call it luck, because every time the passive skill activated, yimin would wind up in¡­ compromising positions¡­
    she once saw a butterfly, chased it, then tripped and landed with her butt and panties in the air. another time, she was chasing a fuzzy bunny, yet ended up stuck in a bush, once again with her cheeks catching some air. then there was the time she ran back to cassius to recharge, only to stumble halfway through and knock him over. she wound up pushing her face into his crotch, with his face also mere centimeters away from her honey cavern.
    it was at that moment that he realized just how¡­ useless that skill was!
    how could a skill possibly be so useless!? and an a- one no less??
    was this god's way of laughing at him? or¡­
    'the idle evolution system¡­'
    cassius knew the system would never openly admit it if that was the answer he wanted, but it was most certainly attempting to further develop his character. all it knew how to do was throw tests and trials his way, not caring a single bit how it affected him mentally.
    'yimin is also one of the character development builders¡­ why is the opposition around every single corner¡­?'
    the next few hours passed by rather quickly, with cassius deep in thought about the true purpose of life, and yimin, who was just¡­ being yimin.
    she contributed literally nothing to any of the gate raids, which he wasn't too opposed to, as it meant more exp for himself. however, with that pesky skill of hers, she speedily proved herself to be the largest mental hurdle that he has needed to pass so far.
    time and time again, she landed herself in the most dastardly of positions. if not for her irresistible appearance and body, then cassius might be able to completely zone her out, but even that became increasingly difficult to do. after all, she was drop-dead gorgeous, and it wasn't even a matter of opinion. it was a fact.
    cassius could already imagine the smug expression the idle evolution system was making as it watched him struggle so terribly. if it could sneer, then it likely would have done that already as well.
    luckily, he was saved by the bell before he actually broke for real. the sun began to set in the hazy blue sky, which meant it was time to return home. however, as there was still something important he had to do, he sent yimin ahead of him.
    "but master¡­ yimin wants to¡ª"
    "no need to speak any more on the matter, yimin. i will only be gone for four hours at most," cassius interrupted, his eyes averted from her puppy-dog face. "i will be right beside you again before you know it. but for now, you will need to properly behave and not harm the other girls."
    "not harm them¡­?" yimin's expression dropped even more than when she heard that she couldn't be beside her master for upward of two hours.
    she was planning to kill and eat any human females close to the master as soon as possible. yet, with her master's new confusing order, what was she expected to do??
    'if those bitches live, yimin's master and yimin will never live happily ever after¡­ but master says not to kill them¡­ why does he say that?? is yimin not good enough for master¡ª!?'
    before her thoughts could spiral any further, cassius patted her on the head.
    his warm pets immediately soothed her nerves and cleared her mind. a goofy grin secretly crept up her divinely beautiful face. and just like all the previous times her master used this magic trick on her, she forgot all her previous killing intent and only thought fuzzy things.

 Chapter 100 Main Quest #4, Nightmarescape?

    'yimin may have that weirdly useless skill, but i have these hands,' cassius thought as he marveled at his own unique talents. 'just like a wanky japanese harem protagonist, i am capable of resolving most female issues with just slight movements of the hand¡­ truly miraculous stuff¡­'explore more at empire
    even he himself had no clue how this special ability worked, but it hadn't failed him yet. and he certainly wasn't one to send back free food.
    smiling warmly, he said, "just head back and wait for me to return, okay?"
    "master¡­"
    "okay?" cassius repeated with another head pat.
    "...mhmkay¡­" yimin reluctantly complied while nudging the top of her head into the cup of his hand. "but don't keep me waiting! every second past the 4-hour mark will be another floozy female hooman head added to my collection¡­!"
    cassius could tell she was obviously joking based on how she cutely bared her fangs, yet he still played along with her. "just be nice to them, you silly dragon."
    "no! will not be nice, will tolerate!"
    yimin coldly snorted before turning away from her amused master. she walked away slowly at first, yet quickly sped forward into a barely discernible blur. looking closer, cassius realized that her speed had improved by around 25%, which shocked him quite a bit.
    "even without doing anything, she is able to continue becoming stronger¡­ just how overpowered is that?" he bemoaned, feeling that it was unfair how much effort he had to put in.
    even though his rate of progression was in a completely different league to anything seen so far, it was still a real bummer to see power go to someone without any effort taken to acquire it.
    still, cassius wasn't one to stay glum for long, and with a more important matter at hand, he hardened his expression.
    taking out a fiery skull-adorned key from his inventory space, cassius appraised it with a couple of flips. other than a more elaborate and almost alive design, the key didn't seem all that different from a custom-made key. however, as one who could see descriptions, he knew better than to believe what was merely shown on the surface.
    |hell's 1st floor key| - [use? y/n]
    "what happens if i use it right now?" asked cassius.
    *ding!*
    [if you do that, the third dimension will collapse, the fourth dimension will descend, and the world will be overrun by brain-craving zombies! never use the key! not under any circumstances!] sea??h th§× nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "will all of that really happen¡­?"
    [why, of course!... fucking not! are you seriously mentally impaired? ?????????]
    "..."
    cassius felt that if the system were the one who had the troll system idle benefit, then it surely would have acquired a thousand ap from him.
    he shook his head from side to side before refocusing on the idle evolution system. although it usually gave hateful remarks like this one every time he took advantage of its semi-intelligence to ask a question, it also always followed up with a genuine answer. in a sense, it was like all the verbal abuse he experienced served to pay for the actual answer.
    and just as he expected¡­
    [as soon as hell's 1st floor key is used, the host will disappear from this dimension without a trace and without creating a commotion. he will no longer have a part of him in this dimension, as his entire existence will be transferred over to 'hell'¡ªthe 7th dimension of the ascension tower's dimensions.]
    [the host will not be able to return to this dimension until either he dies and his essence returns here to its source to enter the cycle of samsara, or does the unlikely and reaches the end of the outer gate area, which is where the gate guardian 'the hellish sphinx' lays in wait.]
    [either answer correctly all of the hellish sphinx's riddles, subdue it, or kill it to be able to both venture further into hell and temporarily/permanently leave.]
    for the most part, cassius understood what he needed to do next. yet there was one part that really confused him. bringing this up to the system, he asked, "the 7th dimension? what does that mean? and what is the ascension tower? is that some sort of unique location?"
    *ding¡­*
    [error!] [error!] [error!]
    [the system cannot compute! the system cannot compute! the host is not powerful enough to access this information!]
    "i see¡­" disappointed he was, but crestfallen he was not. with a casual head shake, he considered his options here.
    'the system did say a while back that i needed to have a power level of at least the b-rank, but i am not too sure on where exactly i need to stand to do more than just survive right after entering¡­ that hellish sphinx is surely above the b-rank, but just how much stronger is it than that rank¡­?'
    cassius, figuring it to be more productive to just ask the system, did precisely that.
    [above the a+ rank and below the world's transcension rank!]
    it answered as ambiguously as possible, causing cassius's brows to twitch. asking again, he heard the system say:
    [that is all i can tell you, dear host! and don't even bother asking what the world transcension rank is, because i will not tell you anything about it! ????(???)]
    [now, don't look so glum! i can give you something else instead! no need to thank me!]
    following that comment, a few blue illusory screens flashed in front of cassius.
    *ding~!*
    {[main quest #4]} - [a++ rank]
    ¡ª[without taking off your newbie 5 equipment set, you are required to kill every single hellish being present in the trial area of hell's 1st floor. you are also to either slay the hellish sphinx or answer all of its questions correctly.]
    [time limit: 3 hours, 55 minutes, 57 seconds]
    {[rewards upon completion:]}
    {[reward 1: 1000 ap]}
    {[reward 2: a+ riddler's riddler]}
    {[reward 3: s+++ rank hell's 1st floor gate key]}
    {[reward 4: map of hell's 1st floor]}
    {[reward 5: 72nd demon king's ire]}
    {[punishment upon failure: 12 hours in 'nightmarescape'/land of nightmares]}
    "the punishment is the same as the last few times," said cassius. "but the rewards¡­ why is the 5th one even considered a reward? that sounds like another punishment¡­"

 Chapter 101 Demon King Bloodline (SS) - [0.002%]

    "that sounds like another punishment¡­"then again, now that cassius thought about it, the idle evolution system likely considered every punishment a reward in a sense. if not for host outrage, it would probably classify everything painful as a reward. fortunately, it had yet to stoop that low.
    "well, anyway, time to use the key."
    as if following cassius's intent, the hellish key in his inventory slowly started to break apart and vanish. then, something similar happened to the one who used the key, with his body quite literally fading away. seconds later, his presence in the mortal dimension was no more.
    he was now in a better place.
    "roooarrrghh!!!!" s§×arch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    the only catch was that the "better place" was littered with flesh-craving devilspawn¡­
    it had only been seconds since cassius arrived in the trial gate area of the 1st floor of hell, and his position had already been locked onto by a horde of demons. under the ashy, crimson demonic sky, thousands of lesser demons leaped from ruined rooftop to rooftop. they were all monstrous, varied in size, and had glowing red eyes. and although they were categorized as white-tier threats by the system, they were also of the c-rank.
    every¡­ single one of them was¡­
    cassius's gaze hardened as he dashed in the opposite direction of the demon horde.
    even if he could beat them quite easily with his overwhelming speed, he couldn't grow too confident¡ªespecially after just arriving and knowing next to nothing about the terrain, geography, and, most importantly, the enemies.
    'but seriously¡­ the system originally said the b-rank was sufficient to enter this dimension¡­ so what is this??'
    even though a b-rank awakener would be strong enough to take on dozens of c-rank monsters, these demons numbered in the thousands. moreover, they likely had physical attribute-boosting skills and high strength stats. any normal b-rank hunter would, without a doubt, die against such a fearsome and unknown force. your next journey awaits at empire
    so that begged the question¡­
    "does the idle evolution system actually want me to die???" questioned cassius as he narrowly evaded a surprise attack by a massive demon orc that abruptly crashed out of a passing building.
    however, with little leeway to worry about questions he would never receive the answer to, he decided to quit running and strike back. to start off, he threw out 39 uncommon evoballs, all of which contained b and b+ elite monsters and boss monsters.
    feeling no need to hold back, he went all out right from the start!
    the evoballs popped open mid-air, revealing the domineering and terrifyingly ominous figures of shadowy monsters. they loomed over even the large, crumbling skyscrapers, dwarfing all the comparatively smaller demons rampaging through the devastated landscape.
    "go," cassius ordered coldly. "slaughter them all."
    hoooraaaahh!!!
    the evomon kaiju bellowed out in what sounded like a cheer as they flashed forward from their spots, crashing through building after building. any demons who got caught up in their path were swiftly crushed to oblivion, with their bloody guts and organs spraying the surroundings a dark shade of red.
    "even demons bleed red, it seems," cassius said calmly as he sat back on top of a tall, rustic building.
    while watching the ensuing destruction and death happening below, he glanced at all of the incoming system notifications. after the last few gate raids, he had only managed to level up once more to 71, as his experience acquisition had really slowed down. however, with this hell trial gate expedition, he hoped to gain a few more levels.
    "say, nyxvoldar, do you believe your brethren down there could subdue an a- demon or monster if they worked together to do it?" cassius suddenly asked, yet did not look away from the massacre occurring within the hellish landscape.
    fwip!
    a tall, lean shadowy figure materialized from thin air, appearing right beside the cloaked man calmly lounging on an illusory chair made from his own power. the shadowy figure registered its liege's question, and after a couple of seconds, it slowly shook its head.
    cassius accepted nyxvoldar's answer with a slight side-eye. then, he sat quietly, patiently waiting for his evomon army to eradicate the horde of lesser demons.
    after half a minute.
    the evomon made quick work of the demon horde, leaving the already ruined landscape in even greater shambles. they killed every single one of them, and did so without any of them experiencing shadow death.
    shadow death was what cassius termed the ability the evomons used when they received life-threatening damage. using the evomon master's mana, they could restore themselves back to peak condition and could do so indefinitely, assuming the evomon master had enough mana to support those expenditures.
    the system notifications hit cassius like an avalanche. moreover, from the corpses of the demons shot out wispy black and red energy balls. they swarmed him like a barrage of homing rockets, with him having no hope of evading.
    however, seeing that they held no ill intent, he simply let it happen.
    ooom!
    cassius instantly felt a wave of demonic energy wash over and integrate with his body. in that same moment, the carcasses of the demons visibly disintegrated into nothingness, leaving not even the magic shards, which they never had to begin with.
    by the end of a rapid successive series of demonic energy explosions around his body, cassius felt something change inside him.
    right beside his 'ordinary phoenix transformation' progression gauge appeared another one. this one, as opposed to the side of the spectrum that the phoenix was on, leaned toward the negative part of things.
    ¡ªdemon king bloodline (ss) - [0.002%]¡ª
    "hmm?" cassius's expression twisted in confusion as he looked at the screen constantly flashing red in front of him. "demon king bloodline¡­ and it's of the ss-rank? so the rank following the s-rank is the ss-rank¡­"
    he felt varying amounts of surprise over several things right now. however, what he was more concerned about was what would happen if he kept advancing both the demon king and phoenix bloodlines.
    would he morph into some mutant hybrid that served as an illogical mix of the two opposite bloodlines?

 Chapter 102 The Minionverse?

    worry crept up cassius's icy face as he truly had no clue how to deal with something like this. it was beyond what he was equipped to manage. though, luckily for him, the idle evolution system was there to make up for his insufficient knowledge.*ding~!*
    [everything listed in the system's logs is patented, backed, and insured by the law of idling! you can rest assured that none of it will have negative adverse effects for the host!]
    [^-^]
    cassius breathed a sigh of relief. sea??h th§× n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    he would have been lying if he said he was 100% certain that he wouldn't spontaneously combust or something after progressing both bloodlines to 100%. fortunately, the sadistic system usually showed its usefulness in times like these.
    cassius was going to sincerely thank the idle evolution system, but then it followed up with:
    [now, if you'll stop being a wuss, go and slay more demons! this time larger and stronger! big and long! long and hard!]
    silence.
    cassius truly didn't know why he bothered anymore. simply breathing around the system would likely end up with him being mercilessly berated. why had he even entertained the idea of giving his thanks? for all he knew, the system got off on being treated harshly.
    following through with that train of thought, he blatantly disregarded the system's existence.
    he could've sworn he heard a female robotic moan, but that was probably just his imagination. focusing on something else, he recalled all of his evomon, with them quickly appearing before him less than two seconds later.
    cassius observed a few of them visibly sulk.
    they had lost the trophies of their hunt, and all without ever knowing where they went. if not for their liege's presence, it was highly probable that they would have crashed out right then and there. yet, as if completely contradicting their innately destructive natures, they behaved themselves and even shrunk down to their human-sized forms.
    none of them dared to stand too much higher than their liege¡­ that would be criminal¡­
    'the hidden effects of the evoballs truly are extraordinary,' thought cassius as he silently appreciated his evomon lineup. 'it almost makes it seem like i'm a necromancer¡­ perhaps that'll be my class?'
    he had asked a while back, and according to the system, he would receive a class trial invitation as soon as he reached level 100. as for the class he would receive, it depended on both luck and the attributes he possessed as a person and as an idler. quoting the system, the better idler he was, the more noteworthy his class would be.
    now, that propped up the question: how was one supposed to be a good idler?
    enjoy new tales from empire
    the answer to that question was not a simple one, as cassius had many ways to become a better idler. there was the trolling system idle benefit, completing the 'push yourself to your limits' idle benefit 1, improving the relationship ratings of every girl he had ever encountered, and skill combining. on top of that, he could also train harder and experience greater amounts of pain, which the system enthusiastically encouraged.
    cassius was speechless.
    although he knew for certain that he had the idle evolution system, why did he feel like he had received anything but a system that had to do with idling? was there something seriously wrong with the naming sense of his system's creator?
    *ding!*
    [the idle evolution system is named as such, because after unlocking all 9 idle benefits, the host will be able to officially embark on the idling journey.]
    [until that point comes around, the host is doing what's called an uhh¡­ a trial run. yes, that is the correct wording!]
    "...and what happens if i don't pass the trial run¡­?" cassius asked evenly.
    [you will be¡­ permanently erased!]
    [your replacement will then be located and will take your place! though, the system is not optimistic about finding another host¡­]
    cassius entered a state of deep thought, pondering a few things.
    suddenly turning his head up, startling the evomons, he quietly asked, "what is the next idle benefit? and how do i go about unlocking it?"
    *ding!*
    [the 4th idle benefit is known as 'minion verse,' and is the introductory version of the 6th idle benefit, which is the 'grind verse' idle benefit. contrary to the 6th idle benefit, which focuses on the host's power, the 4th idle benefit is related to subordinates/minions, preferably those with little to no intelligence. this will be your 'idle force.']
    [the 'minion verse' is a separate system dimension. only those part of the 'idle force' can enter, and inside, they can both develop their individual power and work in order to develop things that can speed up their power acquisition.]
    [in simpler terms, the minion verse is like an idle game. you start out with a 'lvl 1 idle village' that has a singular 'idle point dispenser'. the dispenser drops out idle points at set intervals, and those idle points can be used to purchase other idle verse facilities. the more idle facilities you have, the more you can upgrade the idle village.]
    [as a result of upgrading the idle village, more idle force power training facilities can be unlocked. such facilities include, but are not limited to, the 'basic idle gym,' 'basic idle track,' 'basic idle torture chamber,' and 'basic idle ninja training grounds.']
    [there are also more auxiliary-type idle facilities, like the 'basic blacksmithing forge,' 'basic artisan shop,' 'basic leather store,' 'basic alchemy building,' and a plethora of other useful establishments that work to develop the idle force's unique attributes.]
    [while on the subject of attributes, the higher the idle village level, the higher the upper limit of the idle facilities is increased to. subsequently, this leads to greater effectiveness in each training facility. for the 'main attribute' training facilities, this increases the amount of 'attribute balls' that drop for each task successfully performed.]
    [for example, chopping a wood chunk once would drop a single lvl 1 strength attribute ball, which would be used by the idle minion that performed the task. these same attribute balls could also be used as a form of currency among only the idle force. there is a limit to the effectiveness of lower-level attribute balls on higher-level idle minions, so selling or trading unneeded attribute balls is always viable.]

 Chapter 103 Leave None Alive

    [so, do you better understand the 4th idle benefit now? contrary to the subtle 3rd idle benefit of skill fusion, it is definitely more extravagant, no?]"...yes," replied cassius, his voice failing to fully conceal his awe. "this idle benefit will certainly change a lot of things, but the question still persists: how do i go about unlocking this idle benefit?"
    answering his question, the idle evolution system said, [you just need to complete main quest #5, which will appear soon after main quest #4 is completed. one of the rewards for completing main quest #5 is the 4th idle benefit.]
    "i see¡­"
    cassius speculated just what sort of quest would follow up something at the a+ rank, eventually leading him to only one conclusion. "this main quest 5¡­ it will be of the s-rank, won't it¡­?"
    [that is highly possible!]
    "hmm¡­"
    he wondered if he would be appropriately powerful enough to take on a threat at that level so soon. with his current strength, it was all but impossible. however, it was hard to say for certain if that would still be the case after completing main quest #4 and a couple more side quests. add on a number of yellow and red-rank gates, and he might just be able to touch upon the s-rank.
    yet, with little to nothing known about the s-rank, cassius had no idea how high his stats needed to be to pass into the rank. not a single thing online was reliable in that regard, with most just rough guesses.
    in other words, he was in the dark from here on out.
    "past the 1000 stat mark for a-rank, i have no clue where everything scales," commented cassius.
    he was honestly not all that bothered by this information.
    even if he was unable to compare their strength to his through sheer stats, he could still approximate their power from their colored danger ratings.
    nevertheless, for now, acquiring more stats and seeing how far he could go was all he could do.
    *mhphh!* *mhphh!*
    hearing a funny sound from in front of him, cassius turned to look at the evomon. they appeared to be agitated about something, with even nyxvoldar and lilith acting up a little.
    curious, he swiveled his head around to his backside, only to see where the problem lay.
    for dozens of miles, demons, large and small, trampled through the deserted dystopian cityscape. they barbarically roared to the top of their lungs while destroying everything in their paths, not even sparing the weaker among their own kind.
    to cassius, they were savage beasts.
    "well, considering the environment we're in right now, their behavior is to be expected," he muttered, his striking blue eyes analyzing their forces at a deeper level. "around¡­ 30,000 lesser demons, 400 intermediate demons, and 5 greater demons. yet, even with such immense numbers, i feel like this isn't even a small portion of the total demon forces in this trial gate area of the 1st floor."
    cassius really had no idea how deep the waters of hell actually were, but he knew that more demons meant more strength to be gained. and for him, that was what mattered most.
    shifting his emotionless gaze back to the evomons, he spoke up in a cold, husky voice. "go. go and kill them all."
    "do not worry about getting hurt. do not worry about dying. do not worry about anything other than the deaths of all who breathe¡ªof all who bleed red."
    "leave none alive."
    ooom!!!
    the evomons erupted forth with massive amounts of shadowy power!
    explore more adventures at empire
    altogether, their auras nearly matched that of an a- rank awakener, yet they still fell short of the 5 greater demons, all of whom stood at the very pinnacle of the b++ rank. in terms of stats, all of them had attributes in the 980-990 range.
    pointing at their massive nightmarish figures in the distance, cassius ordered, "those ones are mine."
    with that, he vanished from his spot.
    while in the speed stream, lilith glowed a crimson glow and unwrapped herself from the right side of her body. then she took her form as a person-sized eastern-style katana.
    lobbing her over his shoulder, cassius asked, "do you want to end this quickly?"
    lilith gave no concrete vibration in response, as she seemed to be torn between the two options she had here. which, in the end, led to her master deciding for her.
    "quick it is," he declared as he called for nyxvoldar, who quickly flew toward him and fused with his body, resulting in a complete makeover.
    from mysterious hooded man to half-beast half-monster, his transformation was a drastic one. and surprisingly enough, the newbie 5 equipment set adjusted with his transformation, same with newbie 5 training sword, which became a bit bigger to match his form.
    feeling the weight covering his body briefly shift places gave cassius a good idea for how to get this shit show started.
    while high up in the smoke-filled skies of hell, a crackling shadowy figure holding a massive katana soared through the clouds formed from blood. he crossed insane distances while making use of his insane physical prowess to defy gravity, almost like a certain muscle mage.
    in mere moments, cassius gapped the entire high-level demon horde. the 5 colossal demons were now within range, and it was time to really get the party started.
    "kowabunga, anyone?" asked cassius, his lips curved up into a conniving smirk. "no? well, i guess i will have to go first." sear?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    with that, he suddenly changed trajectory and bounced off a piece of the sky like there was something physical there. then, with an ear-deafening explosion that rang out in the dug-in ear holes of all demons in the vicinity, his figure blasted downward.
    a howling whistle followed immediately after the explosion. wind rings rolled out in all directions, with glass windows shattering in rapid succession.
    it was almost as if a nuclear bomb had just touched base with the surface¡­
    and when cassius did finally make contact with the land below, it might as well have been the same as the collision of an atomic bomb.
    he wasn't currently regulating the weight of his newbie 5 equipment set¡­ and just this alone caused him to descend like the grand javelin of heaven!

 Chapter 104 Slaughtering through HELL, Passing Lvl 70

    an unsuspecting greater demon had its hideous, toothy face drilled into. the head exploded, then the upper body, and without slowing down, cassius blew through its entire hill-sized body. blood flew into the air for thousands of meters, with the other greater demons only registering what happened after the earth caved in.ka¡ªboooooom!!
    rather than a small cracked ground, the result of cassius colliding with the cityscape directly below the lead greater demon's bloody corpse was an upward implosion so large that a mountain's height might pale in comparison. the might of weight, momentum, and gravity.
    this was the true power of science!
    whhhoooo¡ªooop!!
    when the dust clouds finished billowing, an enormous protrusion of rubble was seen sticking up out of the ground. it extended to the clouds above, and on its branching spikes were the wailing figures of thousands of lesser and intermediate demons. there was even another, almost-as-large greater demon skewered off to the side of the protrusion.
    it wasn't dead yet, just like many of the skewered intermediate demons, but soon¡­ it would be.
    seeing that the other three greater demons evaded just in the nick of time put a frown on cassius's face. however, with a swift tap of his hermes boots, he sprang up like a broken coil.
    the ground once again cracked beneath him but did so not nearly at the same level as just a second ago.
    with one simple slash, lilith wrapped around the roaring, dinosaur-looking greater demon that was trapped on the earthly protrusion. a massive ugly head was cut clean off.
    less than a millisecond later, the rest of the greater demon's corpse quit moving; it was confirmed dead. yet, it was also in that same period of time that cassius rebounded off the torso of the corpse, causing it to explode like a busted-open pinata.
    lilith was raised, then thrust forward.
    a super-thin blade beam whizzed through the air, shooting straight for a bull-like greater demon that was still in the process of temporarily retreating.
    booom!!!
    a small atomic explosion ended the life of that bull greater demon, with the ensuing damage even taking off a couple of legs of the spider-like greater demon that was near it when lilith struck forth. it let out a shrill shriek while hurriedly fleeing from that dangerous blast radius.
    however, with another effortless forward thrust, another thin sword beam was shot out. it pierced through the spider greater demon's outer shell, through its gooey brain matter, and then out the other side. the inside of the spider's brain melted into mush, killing it on the spot, whereas the full power of the sword beam hit its mark on the large grayish-red body of a rhinoceros-like greater demon.
    another booming explosion reverberated through the land, sending large amounts of rolling radioactive winds throughout the area. and just like that, four of the five greater demons had died, leaving only the fifth greater demon, which was a tall golem/titan type.
    the demon tried to flee, but with fear overwhelming its misty irises, it felt a ridiculously hot beam of sword light pierce through the back of its skull and tunnel through its head before exploding midway. yet, surprisingly, even though the upper half of its massive body was eviscerated, its lower half still remained.
    to cassius, this was intriguing.
    but it wasn't intriguing enough to warrant any more interest. the five greater demons were dispatched without much of a problem, and now it was time to see how his evomons were performing. your next chapter is on empire
    "arghhhh!!!"
    "esceetch!!!"
    "gah! gah! gah!!"
    the lesser and intermediate demons were vicious and savage, with many of them ganging up on single evomons. because of this, several of them had experienced shadow death. yet none of it was enough to dent their master's massive mana pool.
    "though, overall, it looks like my troops have the upper hand," cassius commented.
    although from a third-person perspective, it seemed like the evomons were at a disadvantage due to the vast disparity in numbers, with shadow death, things changed. the tide of the battle began to lean in the evomons' favor because of that one skill.
    after five minutes.
    whoosh! whoosh!
    the battle concluded with the separated nyxvoldar cleaving off the upper halves of nearly a dozen lesser demons. and with that, the opposing force was no more.
    teleporting across the ruined landscape, cassius let all of the demon bloodline essence get absorbed into his body. he also checked out the greater demons' corpses, planning to quickly throw his evomon balls out to capture them.
    unfortunately, though, the corpses disintegrated and fused with him before that could happen.
    "a pity," cassius sighed. "it would've been nice to have five pinnacle b-rank evomons included in my forces, but i guess some things just aren't meant to be."
    individually, each one of the greater demons was stronger than a normal yellow-rank gate boss monster. it was because of this that he felt it to be a great shame to miss out on potential shadow soldiers.
    "well, there is no use crying over spilled milk."
    with that comment, cassius vanished from his position, taking with him his entire evomon army. their destination was wherever the wind took them.
    [demon king bloodline: 0.15%]
    [ordinary phoenix bloodline: 0.09%]
    seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into dozens of minutes.
    two hours later.
    time flew by like a cloud of mist and rain¡ªmomentary and fleeting. it was already past the halfway mark that cassius promised his dragon he would be back by. and though he grew progressively more worried about what would happen if he didn't make it back in time, his gains worked well as a tonic to distract him. sear?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    during this brief period of time, cassius slaughtered hundreds of thousands of demons, with the number likely reaching past a million. from these kills, he acquired not one, not two, but a total of three levels!
    in retrospect, that didn't sound like very much for how much he had to kill. however, as he had long since figured out: the higher your level, the harder it was to level up.
    he quickly came to realize just how true that principle was after passing level 70.

 Chapter 105 [Lord Demon (A-Rank)] - [Danger Level: Yellowish-Red]

    the amount of exp required for each level went upwards of a dozen times what was needed for the previous level, which was just absurd. especially when considering that exp acquisition was reduced for monsters or beings that had been killed too many times before.for example, as cassius had killed hundreds of thousands of lesser demons, the amount of exp they allotted was abysmal at best. it was to the point that he would need to kill millions more of them to level up again.
    and that number would only become ever more exaggerated in due time!
    yet, even with everything slowing down his rate of progress, cassius was still progressing extremely fast. keep in mind that the rewards gained per level up also became exponentially better. just for reaching lvl 73 from 72, he received cumulative stat points nearly reaching 1,000!
    it was safe to say that if he kept progressing at his current rate, he would be breaking down the walls of the a-rank with all of his stats.
    as for his agility stat¡­ well, it was unknown just how far it could be taken before the "fastest man in the world" title no longer belonged to victor rapido.
    however, it was while idling away with his lilith slicing through the necks of hundreds of intermediate demons that a sudden disturbance interrupted his flow. it was a deep, disturbing rumbling that shook everything for many tens of thousands of meters. even the air itself visibly shook.
    *hurgh!* *hurgh!*
    nyxvoldar became oddly riled up when the rumbling began, even embroiling the other evomons into a state mixed between agitation and excitement. after cassius's repeated power-ups, their maximum number increased to 50, and every single one of them felt their non-existent hair stand on end at the arrival of an earth-shaking calamity.
    rumble!!!
    the rumbling became so loud and deafening that it reached a zenith point.
    directly following that zenith point was a fast-moving object leaping from the distance into the desolate rubble of what used to be a city square. yet, as if the surroundings hadn't suffered enough, when the massive fast-moving object touched base with the ground, everything exploded skyward!
    whooosh¡ª
    when the dust clouds cleared, a colossal demon over one hundred meters tall made its grand appearance known to all.
    the demon had a large gut belly and nothing covering its grotesque upper body. only a thin, flappy loincloth was there to prevent any living organism from being scarred for life. on its head, however, lay a spiked goldish-red crown embedded into its skin, which worked to terrify any individual unlucky enough to witness its monstrousness.
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    to further cement that notion of monstrosity, a deadly red gleam was present inside its savage eyes. although much stronger than the kobold king, it did not possess even a fifth of the intelligence that the kobold king had.
    as a demon, no matter its strength, it only knew one thing: death.
    "rrrroooaaaarrrrrghhhh!!!"
    its soul-shaking bellow was terrible enough to split the sky and crack the earth, causing entire buildings to sink into chasms. however, even with all the damage to the vicinity, it had actually focused the majority of its vocal might on the lone human.
    yet, as if it didn't even exist, the human blankly stared at its violent display of power, which was certainly evoked to get him to quiver in fear.
    "how pointless."
    with a cold, icy blue gleam in his narrowed gaze, cassius calmly observed the system tag of this demon. s§×arch* the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [lord demon (a-rank)] - [danger level: yellowish-red]
    "a neutral a-rank demon¡­ yet you can't even achieve a full red danger rating?"
    cassius's expression morphed in disdain, as even with his other attributes holding down his overall power level, the lord demon couldn't even cause the system to deem it a red threat. it truly was a big disappointment for the man who wished more than any other person to find a good fight and maybe even advance his ordinary phoenix bloodline.
    however, let alone kill him, this behemoth wouldn't even be able to scratch him.
    'i was hoping to locate an opponent of semi-intelligence so i could try out that "are you looking to get face-slapped?" skill, but it seems like i still have to wait¡­'
    cassius's only regret about this whole situation was the fact that this unintelligent being wasn't even all that strong¡­ it was a¡­ bummer.
    "a bummer indeed," commented cassius as he looked ahead and saw the lord demon lunge straight for him at ludicrous speeds.
    sighing, he asked, "why do you yearn for the cold embrace of death so badly?"
    all he received in response was another earth-shaking roar, then an even greater acceleration in speed. at this moment, the lord demon looked like a red cannonball moving at hypersonic speeds. and in less than a nanosecond, it would surely be at the throat of its target.
    "...i guess i have no choice but to fulfill your wish."
    an emotionless sigh echoed before a large gust of wind rolled out in all directions from cassius's position. the evomons, deciding to stay out of this insane battle, watched in silence as their liege's breathing came to a standstill.
    all of time seemed to freeze in the exact same moment that the lord demon's enormous fist reached a distance mere inches away from the tiny human's covered face. yet, in the presence of the looming feeling of death, it couldn't even so much as react.
    it froze.
    then it died.
    like a reincarnated devil of speed, cassius moved one step, performed a thousand slashes, then took another step. the sound produced from his steps hadn't even the time to echo out before the thousandth step lightly tapped against the back of the lord demon's head.
    before dropping to a nearby rooftop, cassius coldly peered into the depths of the massive demon's cruel eyes. yet, for some reason, even though it was the demon and he was the human, his eyes glowed far crueler¡­
    it was like the difference between prey and predator.

 Chapter 106 {[Soul Rupture (S-Rank/Low Ruby Rank)]} - [Proficiency: 0.01%]

    SHING!Cassius sheathed Lilith back into her sheath. Then, with his back turned, he briefly glanced at the explosion of blood that occurred when time finally rewound.
    Of course, time hadn't actually stopped or resumed; it was just that he had been moving at such an insanely fast speed that the Lord Demon couldn't keep up. It hadn't mained the Agility stat to begin with, so there really was no way it stood a chance against the incarnation of speed.
    As a ridiculous amount of blood and guts rained down from the rustic skies, it froze mid-air before changing direction and flowing toward the one who owned the skill. While this was happening, a few system notifications rang out as well.
    *Ding~!*
    [You have slain an A-Rank Lord Demon!]
    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]
    Continue reading stories on empire
    [You have completed the Side Quest 'Slay a Lord-ranked Demon from the Gate Trials of HELL']
    [Acquired 5 Medium-sized Heaps of EXP!]
    [Acquired 300 AP!]
    [Acquired 150 Stat Points in all of your Main Attributes!]
    [Acquired 1 Ruby-Ranked Skill Box!]
    "Oh?"
    Cassius's brows raised in interest. He hadn't expected to finally receive a Ruby-Ranked Skill Box, as even the Level-up Skill Boxes were still lingering around the Late-Gold and Early Sapphire stages. However, now that he had received one, he wondered just what lay inside it.
    His first natural assumption was that there would be an S-Rank Skill stored within the Ruby-Ranked Skill Box, but it was hard to say if that was actually the case without opening it. And just like with the Schr?dinger's Cat Theory, he decided to see for himself what the truth of the matter was.
    BLING!
    A brilliant eruption of golden light emanated from the cracks of the Ruby-Ranked Skill Box, and did so without Cassius even completely opening it. It was almost as if the very Skill to be unveiled felt the need to announce its presence beforehand.
    "An S-Rank Skill; it has to be."
    And just as expected, a ruby-plated card with the bold italic letter 'S' at its center flew out of the reddish-white Skill Box and revealed its name and description.
    {[Soul Rupture (S-Rank/Low Ruby Rank)]} - [Proficiency: 0.01%]
    ¡ª[Unleashes a massive, wide-distance energy attack that targets the Soul. If proficiency is raised to certain milestones, the user could even begin to mold and form the Soul Rupture attack into whatever the user wants, allowing for increased versatility, power, and effectiveness.]
    ¡ª[1000% Increased Soul Damage]
    ¡ª[1000% Increased Soul-type Attack Range]
    ¡ª[750% Increased Affinity with the 'Soul']
    ¡ª[100% Increased EXP Acquisition]
    "It even comes with an EXP boost?" Cassius asked with a confused frown.
    *Ding~!*
    [Be happier, you ungrateful heathen! As Experience points are sorta kinda related to the Soul, you have received a boost to EXP Acquisition!]
    [Rejoice! ^~^]
    "Ahh¡­"
    That was all Cassius had to say before he moved on with his life and watched his Demon King Bloodline transformation rate go up quite a lot.
    The System grumbled in the background, but he did not care.
    [Demon King Bloodline: 1.7%]
    "Already at 1.7%... I do wonder how much longer it'll be before I achieve 100%," Cassius muttered while feeling something strange course through every fiber of his being.
    Along with this unusual feeling came what felt like changes to his psyche and mind. Although he couldn't prove it for certain, it almost felt like his personality was becoming more and more mellowed out. Furthermore, he grew less angry and less emotional over things.
    If it kept on like this, Cassius had no clue just how much he would change¡­
    "However, even knowing that, I must keep on progressing," he declared with a resolute gleam in his eyes. "No matter what I lose, I have to take every ounce of power I can get. There is no longer any other path left for me; I refuse to stagnate."
    In the beginning, Cassius only did what he did because of the System's sadistic encouragement. Yet it was different now. He wished to become stronger not for the sake of the System but because he himself wanted to become stronger.
    He began to yearn for whatever peak he could grasp at. And even if that peak was far beyond his reach, he would still do his utmost to step up and grab hold of whatever lay beyond.
    This was his resolve.
    This journey through the Trial Gate area of the 1st Floor of HELL turned out to mean many things for Cassius. From obtaining greater power to realizing his own want for that power, and even these subtle changes happening to the core of what made him him.
    He still had no idea what he would become if he kept absorbing the Essence of the Demons, but he was smart enough to know that there was no turning back. Yet, even if there was a way to reverse the irreversible, he wouldn't take it. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The euphoria that came from gaining more power¡ªit was incredible. None other than him in this world would be able to experience it at the same level as he did, and he pitied them for that.
    "Missing out on something like this¡­ Life must've been extremely depressing before I acquired the Idle Evolution System," Cassius mused as he sliced through countless more Demons. "How was I living a few weeks ago? I don't even remember now¡­"
    *Ding!*
    [Yes, yes, praise me more, lowly human! You have finally realized the greatness that is me! And for that, I shall give you a gift¡­ Or, rather, I shall inform you of something!]
    "Inform me of something¡­? Wait¡­"
    [Ding! Ding! Ding! You guessed correctly!]
    [You're about to get your ass whooped, bad. ^_^]
    "...You surely jest¡ª"
    Before those words could even leave Cassius's mouth, dozens of auras on the same level as the Lord Demon emerged from several different directions. Moreover, there were three presences that dwarfed the power of the Lord Demons a hundred to one. Their power exploded outward in such grandiose fashion that the ground cracked in layers for dozens of miles.

 Chapter 107 Lesser Abyssal Demons (A+ Rank)

    [Lord Demon (A-Rank)] - [Danger Rating: Orangish-Yellow] X56[Lesser Abyssal Demon (A+ Rank)] - [Danger Rating: Medium-Red] X3
    "Medium Red?" Cassius repeated what he saw, his expression easing up a bit. "The nearly Red Danger Rating Lord Demon from before was a lot weaker than its System Tag would indicate, so these ones surely aren't too much stronger. At the very least, they should be manageable¡ª"
    He jinxed it.
    FWOOOOOSH¡ª!
    Cassius blinked, and one of the Abyssal Demons teleported from its original position to mere feet away from him, and it did so in an instant.
    "!!!"
    Cassius tried to evade what was coming, but it was already far too late, and 'it' was far too fast.
    The Lesser Abyssal Demon landed a rib-breaking punch in the pit of his stomach, sending him flying backward at thousands of times the speed of sound. And then, without a shred of mercy, the Demon blink-stepped once more and appeared a few inches ahead of the barreling human before following up with a downward leg kick.
    Unlike the other, regular Demons, as an Abyssal Demon, it could transform into a smaller version of itself, thus resulting in the current apathetic humanoid form.
    "Kaaa¡­" the Lesser Abyssal Demon thinned its sinisterly demonic eyes, watching as the human smashed through a destroyed building.
    Cassius shot through floor after floor of that building. His vision blurred by the end, both because of the pain assaulting his senses and the blood painting his face almost entirely red. Most of his defenses were completely shattered after the first strike, with the second strike crushing a lot of his bones and ruining his internals.
    Overall, he would rate this experience a sh*t experience. A refund was demanded.
    BOOOOM!!!
    The earth around Cassius exploded upward when his battered body collided with the ground like a meteor. The building that was originally there was now no more; hell, even the surrounding couple of city blocks had been blasted to the heavens.
    FWIP! FWIP! sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The other two Lesser Abyssal Demons teleported beside the first one, with all three sets of their eyes scanning through the apocalyptic rubble below.
    After a couple of seconds, they exchanged glances between one another. The first Abyssal Demon prepared itself to go down there and finish the job.
    However, it was in that same moment that an evil scarlet aura seeped out from under the hundreds of thousands of tons of rubble. It started off weak yet quickly escalated to levels that exceeded all previous power levels. The entire sky for several thousands of meters was blotted out by this aura, causing even the emotionless Abyssal Demons to frown.
    They possessed enough intelligence to know when something presented a certain amount of danger to them. Furthermore, they also knew when it was most appropriate to nip a growing bud before it consumed the garden.
    Fwoooop¡ª!
    The first Lesser Abyssal Demon phased down to the source of the rubble, then used its innate telekinetic abilities to lift up all of the debris and carelessly chuck it into the distance. Looking around, the Demon once again located the target, prompting it to flash forward.
    "Too slow."
    Stay tuned with empire
    "???"
    Confusion passed through the Lesser Abyssal Demon's slitted eyes, and it truly was too slow to do anything. Cassius clasped his veiny hand around the Demon's face while moving at a speed that blew the minds of all three Lesser Abyssal Demons.
    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
    Cassius took the Lesser Abyssal Demon for a joyride around the devastated landscape, doing so in a similar way as it had done unto him. Building through building, into one side of the ground, out the other side¡ªhe took the Demon's face and body everywhere in the area while appearing like no more than a purplish crimson blur.
    "Do tell me," began Cassius, his tone colder than the Atlantic Ocean. "Is this enjoyable for you? Do you derive pleasure from pain?"
    He received no response.
    "Yeah, I didn't think so." Cassius sighed before hurling the Lesser Abyssal Demon to the stars.
    Of course, there weren't actually any stars, but the point was that the Demon was something akin to a spaceship ascending to space.
    "Now, if even a Demon straight from the pits of HELL doesn't enjoy pain, then what makes you think I would enjoy it, oh System of mine?" asked Cassius, slightly irritated. "...You should've already known that I couldn't take on anything at that level, so why did you let my head grow big¡­?"
    *Ding~~!*
    [It was better for Character Development! ^£¤^]
    [You need not be cocky, you need not grow complacent, you need not be arrogant. You need to become more cautious, you need to stay on guard at all times, you need to be more calculative, you need more back-up plans.]
    [If Plan A fails, then you have Plan B to back you up. If Plan B fails, then you have Plan C. So on and so forth¡­]
    [In this World, the only power you can count on is your own. When it matters most, no one and nothing will be by your side to help you.]
    [You will die as you are. And even if you can make it out alive for now, once the Illusion shatters, you will not live past the first day.]
    [The natural proclivity to believe that everything, everyone, and anything is working against you is what will allow you to survive the New Age. It is also what will allow you to survive in the now. Features like the Status Recovery aren't infinite, and they also aren't invincible. If you were to get killed in one shot, you wouldn't even have the necessary time required to use Status Recovery.]
    [And if that happens twice, even the Phoenix Rebirth Skill will be unable to save your life.]
    [You will¡­ DIE.]
    Cassius had expected a short witty response, not an entire lecture. Yet, that didn't mean he was unable to understand what the System was trying to tell him. Or, rather, what it was warning him would happen if he remained as careless as he was when the Lesser Abyssal Demons first appeared.
    "Believe everything is out to get me¡­ Don't grow overconfident¡­ I see¡­"

 Chapter 108 {[Completed (A+) Emergency Quest â€˜Fight and Defeat the 3 from the Abyss]}

    Your journey continues on empireThe rapid power boosts that had been coming to him like old lady candy had made Cassius develop a certain level of complacency. That, and all the absurdly powerful supernatural things that he could do. All of it worked toward making him more prone to a stupid way to die.
    It had to go. All of it.
    Cassius cleared his mind, then put himself on a high state of alert, all while plowing the 2nd Lesser Abyssal Demon through the cityscape. By now, the Demon had been severely disfigured, and not just because of all the dirt it had eaten, but also because of the extreme speed at which they were moving. It was enough to make it, who mained in Agility, feel like it had only now met Mt. Tai.
    This was for good reason; after all, Cassius had not only recovered his status while on the brink of death, but he also dumped over 2000 AP into the Agility stat!
    Now, it was well over 4000, and with the silent boost from the I AM ATOMIC Skill applied, that astronomical number skyrocketed even further. And though he had no idea just how fast he had become relative to the A-Rank, he knew that this Lesser Abyssal Demon didn't stand a chance.
    This wasn't false overconfidence but the absolute truth of the matter.
    "Say, Demon," Cassius said coldly while briefly stopping his speed-demon rampage. "Have you ever experienced something at the intricate level of the Soul?"
    Without even giving it the opportunity to respond, he said, "No? Well, I shall give you your first today. And if you are thinking of thanking me, then there is no need. I do this out of the goodness of my heart."
    "!!!!"
    As one who held an affinity for the Abyss, the Lesser Abyssal Demon should have been incapable of feeling fear or anything like it. However, if that were truly the case, then what exactly was it feeling right now¡­?
    It feared not pain.
    It feared not death.
    But the crazed grin on this cloaked devil's face¡ªit feared what it represented. For the first time in its life, it was¡­ scared.
    "Hmm?" Noticing something, Cassius watched as the Lesser Abyssal Demon's face scrunched up in horror. "How interesting¡­"
    He smirked. Then, with a hand tightened, he threw the Demon up into the sky to join its brother.
    However, seeing as one was left out, Cassius slowly cocked his head back behind him and flashed the 3rd Lesser Abyssal Demon an evil grin. It immediately felt a shiver spike through its spine, urging it to flee in the opposite direction with small droplets of sweat dotting its apathetic expression.
    Yet, as if its own nature was working against it, it stopped in its tracks and turned around to face the amused human.
    The 3rd Lesser Abyssal Demon charged.
    It was smacked with the power of ATOMIC.
    It joined its brothers¡­
    "Now, as you all are of the same lineage, I felt it to be unfair to gift something to only one of you," said Cassius, his voice reverberating through the skies. "Hence, I have decided to share what I have to give to all three of you."
    He expected applause, yet received none. He frowned; he pondered. He smacked his hand against the other as a lightbulb lit up inside his mind.
    FWIP!
    Cassius blink-stepped above the clouds, appearing tens of thousands of meters in the air. The ground where he was just standing had cracked and exploded, as he hadn't actually teleported but leapt up.
    Yet, as if the catastrophic destruction below had nothing to do with him, he activated the |Soul Rupture| Skill while standing above the rocketing Demons.
    BLALLIING!!!
    The world was flash-banged by a dazzling white light so bright that even the natural air of miasma in this part of HELL was purified. The power of the Soul was just that potent. It was so strong that not even lower-level Hellish Miasma could do anything more than fade away into oblivion.
    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
    Although the Skill itself wasn't concentrated or very cool, it was still¡­ incredibly painful.
    The three Lesser Abyssal Demons felt the power of the Soul seep into their pores, tearing away at the most fragile part of any being¡ªthe Soul. Directly attacking it was like attacking the most vital and receptive weakness of a living being. Not even the Abyssal Demons, who were engineered to resist all sorts of travesties, were an exception to the ironclad rule that was 'Soul Pain.'
    Within milliseconds of anguished, silent crying, all three Lesser Abyssal Demons had already died. They left only their lifeless husks, all of which had the most disturbing expressions strewn across their faces. The expressions accurately emulated just how much indescribable anguish they had experienced while taking on the S-Rank Skill |Soul Rupture|.
    "Let alone 30 seconds, they couldn't even last a single second," murmured Cassius, his disappointment clear as day. "What poor excuses for Demons that hold the title of Abyss." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    No longer wishing to think any more about them, he let them disintegrate and assimilate with his existence. Then, while watching his Demon King Bloodline marker ascend past the 6% mark, he let himself plummet to the earth below.
    However, before he hit the ground, he expertly blurred and reappeared on the surface without a single scratch on him.
    The System Notifications for these most recent kills rang out right after he began his casual walk toward the dozens of Lord Demons now looking to take advantage of the chaos to finish off whoever won.
    *Ding~!*
    [You have slain 3 Lesser Abyssal Demons (A+ Rank)]
    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 400 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 150 Stat Points!]
    "Only one level up from that, but while on the verge of death, an Emergency Quest activated, so I have the rewards from that as well," said Cassius. "Might just be enough to level me up again."
    Just as he hoped¡­
    {[You have completed the (A+) Emergency Quest 'Fight and Defeat the 3 from the Abyss']}
    [Acquired 1 Adequately-sized Heap of EXP!]
    [Acquired 10 Rare-ranked Evoballs!]
    [Acquired 1 Common Evomon Rank-up Shard! Plus an additional one as a bonus!]

 Chapter 109 The B-Rank, A-Rank, and S-Rank

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!][You leveled up!]
    [You received 500 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 200 Stat Points!]
    [All of your Stats have passed the 1000 Mark, meaning that you have officially achieved the all-around power level of an A-Rank Awakener!]
    "Finally achieved the A-Rank, which is good," Cassius said with a hint of disgruntlement. "...This should be a good thing, but I also feel like my speed has not improved by an amount that it could've been if the gap between my Agility and other stats were larger."
    After a few moments.
    He let out a troubled cloud of air while beheading the last of the Lord Demons. As soon as they all died and assimilated with his existence, he resumed his trot through the blighted wasteland. Many more demons fell at his hands, with the only unfortunate thing being that he could not yet use the Rare-ranked Evoballs.
    Cassius did, however, use the Common Evomon Rank-up Shards, which was only effective up to the A-Rank. Fortunately, Nyxvoldar was yet to exceed the A-Rank, so the Shard registered and brought its rank from B+ to A-.
    According to the Idle Evolution System, he would need 11 more of the Common Rank-up Shards to get Nyxvoldar to the A++ Rank. Two for the second rank-up, three for the third, and then six for the final rank-up. This amount would likely take quite a while to amass, especially when the Shards were so rare.
    Then again, Cassius wasn't too worried about killing things and stealing everything they had for himself.
    Assuming one in every 100 Demon Hunting Scenarios prompted a Side Quest or Urgent Quest that gave Evomon Rank-up Shards upon completion, then he just had to murder a few¡­ million odd Demons. Which, in relation to the sheer quantity of Demons in this forsaken place, didn't even amount to a tenth of their total forces.
    Excluding the perilous threat of deadly demons from all directions, thinking around this topic got Cassius to thinking about other Rank-up Materials.
    Lilith, for one, was sitting at the A+ Rank, yet could not rank up any further while in Hell because all of the Demon corpses disintegrated and assimilated with his existence. And though she benefited a little from that due to their connection, it was still nowhere near enough to reach the A++ or even the S-Rank.
    And then there were the White-tier Dragon Pellets that Cassius occasionally received from Quests. Even up until this point in time, he hadn't gotten around to using them. Of course, he had read their descriptions a few times over now, and they were obviously related to his pet dragon, Yimin.
    Essentially, if he fed them to her, it would speed up her growth process and also age her appropriately.
    'But¡­ if she becomes any more powerful than she already is, then it is highly possible that she will advance to a level greater than where I stand,' thought Cassius, his lips pursed in exasperation. 'And normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but with that 'unique' personality of hers¡­ Well, I'll probably be a shriveled-up corpse within the same day she surpasses me¡­'
    It was for that and a few other personal reasons that Cassius refused to allow himself to slack or lag behind the game.
    Even if Yimin was only getting stronger because of her natural heritage bloodline, that didn't make any difference in his mind. He refused to be behind anyone, for if that ever happened, his life would be at the whim of someone else¡ªjust like how the Lesser Abyssal Demons could have killed him in an instant if they hadn't wanted to toy with him first.
    For Cassius, becoming #1 was no longer an option. It was simply what he would become.
    However, did this mean he would withhold something like the Dragon Pellets from Yimin?
    The answer to that was obviously¡­ no!
    As soon as he got out of here, he would hand the pellets over to the insane dragon. He would like to see just how she could possibly hope to keep up with him! S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    In a matter of seconds, while slaughtering countless demons, Cassius's stance on the subject of Yimin and the Pellets had switched several times. Yet it was because of this inner debate and discussion with himself that he resolved to acquire even greater amounts of power at even quicker rates.
    He would not allow anyone to advance faster than him. After all, that was the only thing he was good at.
    One hour later.
    After this period of performing Demon genocide, the number of Demons that Cassius had slain long surpassed the million milestone. Like a crimson blur, he reaped the lives of Demons at speeds that exceeded anything that even tens of thousands of them could register before they found themselves lacking heads.
    Following the first appearance of the Lesser Abyssal Demons, it was no longer a battle or war. It was simply carnage and death. Void of discrimination, he killed and killed; he killed until entire ruined cities were razed to the ground.
    They say that a B-Rank Hunter was capable of destroying towns and tiny cities if given enough time to create destruction, already making them something akin to gods. This was also one of the reasons why so many people turned into brainless fanatic lunatics when the B-Rank MoonShiner Party arrived in Hoshito.
    The B-Rank in backwater and less-known areas of the world was a rank that symbolized the first step on the road to godhood.
    The A-Rank, on the other hand, represented a state of being that exceeded anything modern-day mortal idols or celebrities could compete with. They were often seen as the limit of human capabilities, having reached a level where large cities would vanish the same night one was left to do what they wanted.
    Then there were the S-Rank Awakeners.
    If you awakened as an S-Rank Awakener, then you had ascended from the bottom to the absolute pinnacle in the eyes of the common populace. You were no longer just an icon but an actual living deity, and not just to mortals, but also to other Awakeners.
    You could become the King of a small country, you could obliterate that same country. You could even rule the entire world if you were the only one of your kind.
    This was the S-Rank¡ªthe peak of existence.

 Chapter 110 {[I AM OMEGA, I AM ATOMIC, I AM THE END]}, Preparations for a Class, Lvl 80

    "Hmm¡­"Cassius's thoughts began to whirl as he whizzed forward with Lilith and cleaved a Lesser Abyssal Demon into dozens of different pieces.
    He had already killed too many of them to count in the past hour to put too much importance on them. He simply flashed around, killed everything standing in his way, then moved onto the next horde of Demons.
    What rank they were mattered not. After all, every single one of them died on the first slash.
    However, it was during one of these murder sprees, conducted in the deepest parts of the ravaged wasteland, that Cassius received a rather unusual system notification.
    *Ding~!*
    [You have reached Lvl 80!]
    {[Class/Job Preparations]} - (S- Rank)
    ¡ª[For reaching Lvl 80, you have met the prerequisites to begin your Class prep.]
    ¡ª[To ensure all fairness and prevent the Host from bitching about the results later on, the System has decided to improve upon the 3rd Idle Benefit, which is 'Skill Fusion.' Making use of this new improvement will enable the Host to fuse Skills at a completely absurd level, which will also advance your 'Idle Score.']
    ¡ª[Your 'Idle Score' is what the System silently calculates to determine how good of a Class you will receive once you reach Lvl 100 and advance through the Class/Job Trial. If your Idle Score is higher, then your chances of getting a superb Class will also be higher.] S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡ª[Acquired 3rd Idle Benefit Modification - |Infinite Fuse|]
    "Infinite Fuse?" Cassius echoed. "I wonder what the Idle Benefit is now capable of doing¡­"
    Wishing to test out things right away, he pulled up his system interface and scrolled to the 3rd Idle Benefit section, which sat right beside the Item Crafting System Feature. He tapped and dragged the A- Shadow Step Skill, quickly noticing something different this time around.
    "Instead of there being one shaking and glowing Skill available to fuse with¡­ All of them are shaking¡­"
    Cassius, unable to believe what he was seeing, decided to tap on the tiny boxes present above each Skill.
    After clicking a total of 1200 Shadow/Movement/Agility/Darkness-related Skills, all of which were recently acquired from Silver-ranked, Gold-ranked, Sapphire-ranked, and Ruby-ranked Skill Boxes, he watched them freak the hell out. Keep in mind that a total of 5 new S-Rank Skills had been thrown into the pot, meaning that the resulting Skill would be¡­
    "Ridiculous¡­"
    That was all Cassius could mumble upon glancing at the absurdities presented before him. It might as well have been a cheat code.
    *Ding!*
    {[Fundamental Movements (S/Mid-Ruby Rank)]}
    ¡ª[Gives the User access to the 'Basic Movement Sutra,' which will be stored within the User's mind.]
    ¡ª[Potential Skill outlook, if mastered: Your Speed will be unrivaled by all on the Planet known as 'Earth.']
    Seeing this was enough to make Cassius realize that, even despite its simple name, the contents of the Skill were anything but simple.
    However, it was in this moment of awe that a daring idea popped up in his mind.
    "What if¡­ What if I were to combine thousands of Skills of different types¡­? What would happen?"
    No longer able to restrain his curiosity, he spammed the fuse function on several categories of Skills, then proceeded to combine them based on good predicted effects. And by the end of this ludicrous fusing spree that defied everything commonly known by the Awakeners and the Hunters, two Skills appeared from over ten thousand, one of which was just a rewrite.
    {[Fundamental Body Refinement (S+/Late-Ruby Rank)]}
    ¡ª[Gives the User access to the 'Basic Body Refinement Manual,' which will be stored within his mind.]
    ¡ª[Split up into 9 layers and 3 sections, making up a total of 27 layers. First Section: Movement. Second Section: Attack. Third Section: Defend.]
    ¡ª[Potential Skill Outlook, if mastered: On the mortal plane known as Earth, the User will be second to none in all three main aspects of combat. If paired with appropriate attributes, the User will be invincible in the same stage.]
    {[I AM OMEGA, I AM ATOMIC, I AM THE END]} - (S+/Late-Ruby Rank)
    ¡ª[The contents of this Skill are unable to be properly described on paper. Use the Skill, but use with caution.]
    ¡ª[This Skill, if paired with high stats and a high Atomic stat, will be the demise of human life.]
    ¡ª[Retains all previous effects of 'I AM SPEED' and 'I AM ATOMIC,' but further amplifies them.]
    [Again, use with caution. The main sequence of this Skill can only be used once a month, so also keep that in mind. ONLY use if all other options have been exhausted. YOU have been warned.]
    It was only of the S+ Rank, same as the other S+ Rank Skill, but for some reason, the restrictions on this one were quite substantial. It was ominous, to say the least, almost like the System was steering Cassius away from using it, lest he regret it in the end.
    "I guess I will keep the Skill on the backburner for now," said Cassius, his eyes shifting away from that harrowing Skill and back to the first one. "This one, in comparison, seems far less intimidating."
    At the exact same moment he said that, what felt like a bomb of information and knowledge exploded inside his mind, causing him to stagger backward. He tried to regain his bearings, but whatever was happening to him prevented that from happening.
    It felt like a million fire ants were crawling around on his skin! Like a stampede of elephants rampaging on top of his brain! It was so excruciatingly painful!
    A thousand severe migraines would've been a more pleasant thing to experience than what he was experiencing right now!
    Suicide passed through his shattered mind several times, yet he fought against those thoughts with his entire being every time they sprouted up. He refused to succumb to the pain! He refused to take the easy way out!
    After five minutes.
    The dozens of Evomon huddled around their Liege in a protective circle finally saw a change occur in his complexion, prompting the strongest among them, Nyxvoldar, to kneel down and check his pulse. Its shadowy expression fluctuated for a second before returning to normal.
    It nodded at the other Evomon, causing them to erupt in loud muffled grunts and cheers.

 Chapter 111 Body Refinement Manuals

    None of the Evomon could properly speak just yet, but they were more than capable of expressing their joy through seemingly unusual events like this one. Even the normally apathetic Nyxvoldar seemed to have brief changes occur in the shadows covering its body.Groggily, Cassius opened his eyes, putting his icy blue gems on display once more. "How long has it been¡­?" he asked.
    Nyxvoldar stuck up five willowy fingers shrouded in darkness.
    "Five minutes, huh?" Cassius understood right away what measurement his Evomon was using. "...It felt like an eternity¡­ Yet only five minutes had¡­ Haiz¡­"
    A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he eloquently rose from the ground and surveyed his surroundings. Everything was still more or less the same as he faintly remembered, but it all felt so unfamiliar at the same time.
    It was surreal to feel like this.
    But with more important things to gloss over, Cassius shrugged off this weird sensation breaching his psyche and instead focused on the information still being sorted out within his mind. The three sections, each one more glorious than the next, were rapidly organizing themselves in a certain department of his brain. This, too, was an odd thing to experience.
    After everything gathered together where they needed to be, Cassius was able to glimpse three Chinese characters hanging above three differently colored books. They were displayed on cloud-like podiums, with their brilliance and complementing covers doing well to emphasize the outstanding nature of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual Set.
    Without wasting any more time gawking at them, Cassius locked on to the whitish-gray book, which was the first one lined up on the left. It was also the manual that represented the Movement section of the Body Refinement Manuals.
    Blowing up its illusory pages with the power of his sturdy mind, Cassius flipped through page after page. The title, being as ordinary as they came, was literally just 'Basic Movement Manual,' yet the contents were anything but. They were extraordinary, containing within their brittle pages Chinese characters, all of which could somehow be read by him.
    'The power of the Body, the beginning before the beginning. To embark on the path of Immortality, one must first hone one's body.'
    'First, one must be as fleeting as an untraceable shadow, able to move in a way that even afterimages are unworthy of the image that you embody. As the fundamentals of the fundamentals, an aspiring Immortal must be quick, so quick that none stand in your way.'
    'One must remain focused at all times, for Speed and Quickness do not only relate to how fast one moves. It is also about awareness. You get distracted, you die. Your opponent gets distracted, your opponent dies.'
    'Move quickly, think quickly, react quickly. These are the three fundamentals of the basics of movement.'
    Following this introduction to the manual were numerous illustrations and brief descriptions, all describing movements that needed to be trained to master the basics of speed. And somehow, Cassius was able to understand everything he was seeing.
    That was when he recalled an S- Skill that he kept out of the fusing pool on purpose. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Namely, it was the |Supreme Comprehension Skill|, said to be capable of enhancing mental processing and understanding speed a hundredfold. However, as he had just rolled for it, he hadn't even really been presented with an opportunity to use it.
    But now, that was no longer the case.
    "Everything¡­ All of it is coming together inside my mind¡­ This Skill, or rather, this Manual¡­ The Path to Immortality¡ªwhat does it all mean?"
    The Basic Movements Manual referenced the Path to Immortality multiple times throughout the pages of the book. Yet it spoke nothing of what that actually implied.
    Cassius had, of course, heard of Immortality, and even the Chinese belief in Immortality as well as their Cultivation Culture. But he had believed that it was all just that¡ªbelief.
    Awakeners and Monsters were as real as could be in this world, and there were surely other unbelievable things festering in the world as well. However, not once had he expected something like Rudimentary Immortal Cultivation to be real.
    At least, for the Idle Evolution System, it was made a reality.
    "I have no clue if something like this exists in China, but I do know that this can tremendously benefit the current me," said Cassius. "These nine movement layers¡­ I will master them, and I will see exactly how far this Path to Immortality will take me."
    He had become so absorbed in the reading and theoretical practice of the Manual that he had long since memorized it, yet completely forgot about the other two manuals.
    "Ahh, right, I should read and memorize those as well before I begin putting anything into practical practice," Cassius declared with a wry chuckle before moving his mind to flip through and understand the contents of the Attack and Defend Basic Manuals.
    After two minutes of silent meditation.
    Cassius abruptly opened his eyes, startling the Evomons who had once again grouped around him in concern. He silently thanked them for keeping watch and protecting him before diverting his focus back to the practice of the three Manuals.
    Not wanting to idle any longer, he got into a proper stance in the middle of a deserted street. Toxic emissions and unknown chemical substances permeated and circulated throughout this deeper area of the Trail Gate part of HELL's 1st Floor, yet none of it affected him by even the slightest degree.
    Of the Skills he kept out of the two main Fusion lines, there were the resistance and healing Skills, which he separately combined to get two Skills.
    One was the S Neutral-rank Rapid Regeneration Skill, which would surely do wonders to save him from wasting Status Recoveries in the future. There was also his Endurance stat, which was also working toward the same goal.
    The second Skill, on the other hand, was dubbed |All Elemental Resistance|.
    It was also of the S Neutral Rank, and as it sounded, it was capable of resisting nearly all common elements present on Earth. This, of course, included the unusually deadly atmosphere that encompassed HELL.
    With its utilization, Cassius became essentially immune to an area that would normally reap the lives of even A-Rank Awakeners, and slightly injure or annoy S-Rank Awakeners.

 Chapter 112 {[Oracle Sphinxs Pyramid (A++ Rank)]} - [Boss Area]

    There were a few other unique Skills that were either already there or fused with others that Cassius kept around, such as the S- Rank Flight Skill, but more than 95% of his Skills produced the two S+ Skills.As the seconds rolled into minutes and Cassius quickly adjusted to performing the motions recorded in the Basic Movement Manual, he realized that time was dwindling. If he didn't make it back to Yimin within the next half an hour or so, he feared what sort of disastrous predicament she would find herself in.
    [You reached the 1st Layer of the 'Basic Movement Manual.']
    [You reached the Peak of the 1st Layer of the 'Basic Movement Manual.']
    [You reached the 2nd Layer of the 'Basic Movement Manual.']
    "I guess the 2nd Layer is sufficient for now," mused Cassius as he packed himself and his Evomon up, preparing to approach the megastructure lingering in the background. "It was becoming exponentially harder to progress in proficiency after achieving the 2nd Layer anyway, and with that Hellish Sphinx surely laying in wait within that enormous pyramid building, I can set aside further practice for later."
    He had, however, worked up quite a sweat from practicing the difficult motions of the Basic Movement Manual, so he cleaned himself with the Water and Wind Elements. Then, with a precise quickness many times faster than before, he blurred toward the giant pyramid.
    A millisecond passed.
    Upon closing in on the megastructure, Cassius realized that he was a long way off from his original predictions of this place's size. Simply put, it was astronomically massive, possibly even nearing the size of a small country.
    Out in the middle of nowhere, it was akin to a beacon of light¡ªa symbol of advancement. Just the technology that went into building something as grandiose as this certainly far exceeded anything that Modern Earth could replicate.
    Now, this begged the question: What could've possibly occurred in this dimension for an obviously advanced civilization to be no more?
    What could transform a metallic world of wonder into a Hellish wasteland overrun by vile Demons¡­?
    After a moment of contemplation, Cassius slightly shook his head before directing his attention to the matter ahead of him.
    "The Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid¡ªlet us see how this one turns out."
    Along with the vocal announcement of the rusted pyramid he was stepping foot into was the fluctuation of a massive shadow that trailed behind him like an all-devouring void¡ªa blackhole that grew ever so ominously.
    {[Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid (A++ Rank)]} - [Boss Area]
    ¡ª[This Pyramid serves as the most prominent and unexplainable remains of a technologically advanced civilization that vanished long ago. The entity once idolized as the 'future' of this civilization has long since had its consciousness corroded by demonic energies. Now, it eternally persists in the land of Demons as the Guardian of the Gate.]
    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]
    [The Host should remain extremely vigilant while exploring the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid! Death is likely! Uncertainties are possible!] S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    {[Clear Rewards:]}
    [Reward 1 - (25 Heaps of Medium-sized Experience Points)]
    [Reward 2 - (1200 AP)]
    [Reward 3 - (Oracle Sphinx's Heart (Oracle Sphinx's Bloodline))]
    [Reward 4 - (20 Common Evomon Rank-up Shards)]
    [Reward 5 - (10 Orange-tier Dragon Pellets)]
    {[Punishment for Failure:]}
    ¡ª[12 hours of being trapped in the Land of Nightmares/Nightmarescape]
    "The punishment is the same as always, but the rewards are especially lucrative this time around," said Cassius, a small smile tugging at his lips. "With these rewards on top of the ones that I'll already be receiving from clearing the Gate, I should level up a few times. And that is completely excluding what I'll get from exploring and killing my way through this¡­ place¡­"
    Observing his surroundings, Cassius felt a chilling aura that seeped into the very metallic bricks that held the pyramid together. There were corridors, all tall and wide; they stretched in countless different directions from his position. Where they led was unknown.
    But there truly was only one way to know.
    "My only path is forward."
    Cassius's emotionless words echoed throughout the spacious metallic corridors as he vanished into the darkness of the damaged pyramid interior. In mere moments, his presence was no more.
    However, if one listened close enough, they would hear what sounded like sword clangs. Then, within the darkness, charged sparks flew around, lighting the whole place aflame.
    Yet, after a few seconds, no more sword sparks appeared¡­
    ¡ªMeanwhile, in the world outside, at the Headquarters of the widely renowned S-Rank Guild 'Dragonlins'¡ª
    Faint steps produced sounds that bounced off the flame-adorned walls of a massive building located in the center of Shibuya. Victor Rapido, looking rather anxious, hurried through the halls of this building. Eventually, though, his figure blurred forward as he traversed the entire place in an instant.
    When he reappeared, he was standing at the outer edges of a large stadium-sized training arena. This arena, famed as the true home of the fearsome Dragonlin Guild Leader Kaida, was fortified to a level exceeding even national treasuries. There were enough formation spells set up in this place by top-class Mages to make even the safest places in the world feel a bit inferior.
    However, rather than be used to safekeep someone or something, this arena was made for the sole purpose of preventing the destruction of massive plots of land when the Dragonlin Guild members trained. This was especially the case for the one who stayed here most often.
    Kaida Drakenshield¡ªthe Japanese S-Rank Hunter most well known for her affinity with anything draconic. She herself was rumored to be able to transform into a dragon.
    An even more far-fetched rumor was that she had been raised by dragons since young and was even seen as one of the youngest S-Rank Awakeners in existence.
    When she was but 11 years old, she suddenly emerged from within a deep forest growth outside Tokyo. She wore rags, had wild flame-like hair, and had an equally savage gleam in her eyes. To the people who first reported her appearance, they said that they assumed she had been a wild animal or monster.
    It was only later revealed, after she accidentally beat up dozens of policemen and Hunters, that she was in actuality a human¡ªand one of the S-Rank no less!

 Chapter 113 Kaida, The Leviathan Deitys Corpse

    From that point in the timeline, Kaida entered Gates out of curiosity, found enjoyment from killing monsters, and then went on to found her own Guilds.Although an S-Rank Hunter wasn't required to found a Guild, she saw a certain amount of appeal in building up her own forces. In one interview, she even claimed her actions were for the goal of "improving the size of her pack."
    Twenty-something odd years later, we make it back to the present.
    WHOOOOSH¡ª!!
    Even from thousands of meters away, Victor Rapido could feel the immense volcanic power being emitted from the beautiful woman known as Kaida Drakenshield. Her aura, unlike any other, resembled something more monster-like than even monsters themselves.
    To be honest, it was scary.
    Right now, in the center of the huge indoor arena, Kaida was punching an inanimate scarecrow-like object known as an Indestructible. It, like all of its fellow models, was designed for the sole purpose of taking hits, and in this case, it was made for getting the shit beaten out of it.
    Yet, even with Kaida's country-shaking blows, the Indestructible remained intact. As its name suggested, it truly was indestructible¡ªor at least, no one so far had been able to damage its hard, shiny green outer shell surface.
    Truth be told, the materials that went into creating the Indestructible were not naturally acquired. Conversely, not a single material synthesized from planet Earth was capable of withstanding a single blow from an S-Rank Awakener. Not even diamonds, with all their hardness, stood the slightest chance of contending with the might of an S-Rank.
    But these Indestructibles¡­ They were not made with materials mined from Earth. Rather, they were only so hard because of the ridiculously tough scales of the deceased monster known only as the Leviathan Deity.
    The Leviathan Deity's Corpse
    On an undisclosed island just a few miles offshore from the Japanese mainland, there exists an armored facility guarded day in and day out by hundreds of Awakened Guards. Within the deepest depths of this facility lies a crackling Gate, a deep, dark black in color. Housed inside this Gate exists only a wide barren desert and a¡­ corpse. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    This corpse, which belonged to the Leviathan Deity, had always been present within the Black Gate. In fact, there had never been anything alive inside the Gate to begin with. It was just a massive plot of land with a giant aquatic dragon-like corpse sprawled out in the very center of the Gate.
    Yet, even with the Gate's interior spanning hundreds of miles, the Leviathan Deity's corpse took up around 10% of that space, making it the centerpiece of the Gate.
    Its large, slitted eyes, which had long since been quenched of all life, looked almost as if they were about to shoot open at any moment. To make things stranger, even though analysts predicted the Leviathan Deity to have died upwards of thousands of years ago, the corpse remained completely intact. From the head to the internals to the scales, everything looked exactly as it would if the behemoth were still alive and breathing.
    But it was undoubtedly dead. There was no question about that.
    Dozens of years following the mysteriously colored Gate's discovery, thousands of excavation and retrieval Awakener teams had gone into the Gate to extract the Leviathan Deity's precious materials. However, even with all that manpower, less than 5% of the colossal and unknown monster had been successfully taken out of the Gate.
    Naturally, the first thing the Government did when they figured out just how unbelievably tough the Leviathan Deity's scales were was to consider their use for military purposes. But after discovering they couldn't be incorporated with any automated or electronic devices due to the lingering monster intent contained within them, the Government instead decided to support the Hunter Community as a "service for all their hard work."
    Of course, all of that was just an excuse they cooked up to justify the losses incurred from this seemingly fruitless endeavor. The Leviathan Deity's scales were pretty much useless for anything other than extremely heavy, non-practical armor and training dummies. The guts and other internals, on the other hand, were poisonous to everyone¡ªeven those with poison resistance Skills. Anything more than a few ounces would result in the immediate death of the consumer.
    And then there was its Magic Shard, which looked more like a miniature sun than anything that could be considered a pocket-sized loot commodity. Though, if utilized properly, the Leviathan's Magic Shard could power the entire world or even possibly become the most expensive object in existence.
    However, once again, not a single living being could figure out how to make use of it, as there were simply too many unknowns surrounding it and the Leviathan Deity's existence. Thus, it, along with the majority of the Leviathan Deity's corpse, was left to rot inside that heavily guarded offshore facility. But then again, no parts of the behemoth had shown any signs of rotting or going bad, even after all this time, so not a single person high enough in power to know of its existence doubted that it would be around for many years to come.
    Returning to the Dragolin Training Arena
    "Even now, Kaida is trying to cause damage to the scales of the Leviathan, but she, as well as any, should know that is simply impossible¡­"
    Victor Rapido sighed before shaking his head.
    It was not the time to get caught up in distracting thoughts; after all, he had come here to discuss something important with someone whom he considered a friend.
    Out of all the other S-Rank Hunters, Kaida was definitely one of the few who Victor got along with the most. This could mostly be attributed to their similar yearnings to find the best of certain aspects of themselves and prove that they were superior. Victor was obsessed with speed and any who claimed to be fast, whereas Kaida simply wanted to find out who the strongest people in the world were.
    As one who embodied the prideful personality of a dragon, she naturally refused to be deemed weaker than anyone.
    Then again, after Victor's encounter with that "monster," he fell to the lowest of lows and mostly gave up on his pursuit of finding and defeating any who were fast. After all, what was the point of being faster than a bunch of humans when something like that existed?

 Chapter 114 Dangers of the Worlds End Gate, [Demon Mummy (B+)]

    This "monster" was also the reason why Victor was here today.Interrupting Kaida's violent punching session with the Indestructible, Victor shouted, "Kaida!!"
    "Hmm¡­?"
    Kaida unleashed another punch in the direction of the voice's source, which caused a powerful gust of wind to send Victor's blonde hair into a wild flurry.
    In that instant, he instinctively knew that if he were up close and not moving at all, that casual attack of hers would've immediately killed him. Fortunately, though, he was stupidly fast¡ªfast enough to run circles around Kaida, pay a visit to Africa, pet a giraffe, and then return to her before the devastating attack even touched where he was originally standing. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    However, this didn't mean that he would for sure win in a fight against her, as her S-Rank |Draconic Defense| Skill brought her Fortitude to a level that exceeded all reason. It was to the point that even if he attacked thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of times at her weakest spots, such as the eyes, no damage would be dealt on his part.
    In their hypothetical battle scenario, the result would be a definite tie.
    "Well¡­ What are you doing here, Victor?" asked Kaida, slightly irritated over being interrupted during her training time. "Can't you see that I'm hitting things right now??"
    "Y-Yes, I can clearly see that you're¡­ hitting things."
    "So then why are you here? Speak up quickly, or else the next punching bug I use shall be you."
    Victor felt a suffocating pressure fall upon his shoulders, yet he knew that Kaida meant no real harm by this. Even her words, although harsh, were said only because that was just the kind of person she was. One's Affinity, often associated with the Skills or qualities one awakened with, a lot of the time influenced the personality of the person following the awakening.
    Similar to how Cassius was subtly changing the stronger he became and the more abilities he unlocked, Kaida inherited what her affinity dictated, and it in no way happened very subtly.
    Sighing in defeat, Victor teleported next to the fierce red-haired beauty.
    Ignoring her exposed skin and scantily dressed warrior attire, he looked her in the eye.
    "If you go into World's End, you will¡­ die," said Victor, completely serious. "Knowing your rash personality, you will surely attempt to fight 'it,' but doing so will lead to your demise. No matter how confident you are or what you believe you can do, against that 'monster,' you will meet your end."
    Kaida narrowed her eyes as a dangerous intent leaked from her aura. "Victor, do you believe that I'm weak or something? If so, then we can fight right now¡ª"
    "Kaida, I'm saying this for your own good." Victor's voice cut through hers, his tone grave. "If you¡­ If you enter that Gate, you will die without a hint of doubt. If not for once in this life, just listen to me and make an excuse not to enter the Gate. Trade your spot with someone else, plead¡ªit doesn't matter. Just don't go into World's End."
    Kaida, as short-tempered as she was, only selectively took what she wanted from Victor's genuine warning. Her immensely powerful aura flared up further as she clenched the great scaled axe in her hand.
    "If you're itching for a fight so badly, then you shall have it!" she snarled, her pretty expression scrunched up in annoyance.
    However, before she could make a move, Victor's sigh resounded, effectively messing up her surging momentum.
    "Heed my words or don't, Kaida, but as friends, I did my part," he muttered. "If you still want to seek out an early grave, then so be it. But just know that, although you are extremely strong, that 'monster' is stronger."
    "If, even after all this, you insist on entering World's End, then just know that I will take care of your Guild until the rest of the world meets its end as well."
    With that, Victor faded out of existence, his expression appearing rather blue and melancholic as he disappeared.
    Kaida, left all alone to simmer in the large empty arena, at some point clicked her tongue in mock anger. "That bastard Victor¡ªjust because he lost to the Boss Monster of some stupid Gate, he thinks everyone else will lose as well," she snorted. "Humph! I would like to see for myself just how powerful the one who bested Victor is! If it can withstand five of my mightiest punches, then I will consider giving it a painless death!"
    It wasn't that Kaida was entirely stupid and incorrigible, but even if she did decide against her draconic nature and back out of the Raid, with the Dragon Slayer's presence, she had to go.
    Due to international matters of security, she was normally unable to fight that cocky bastard. However, that would all change as soon as they were inside the Gate.
    She would knock out a few of that dragon slayer bastard's teeth, no matter what sort of Boss Monster slept within the Gate!
    ¡ª--------------
    ¡ªIn an unknown destroyed corridor of the A++ Rank Boss Area 'Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid'¡ª
    *Whoosh¡ª!*
    Wind furiously surged behind a rapidly moving figure as he slashed through several dark yellow mummified humanoids. They, unlike the terrifying demons outside the pyramid, were neither red nor extremely large. They instead took on the form of modern-day mummies, concealing the hideous sights that lay beneath their bandaged outer layers.
    However, do not be mistaken. None of these puzzling existences were weak. At first, they moved slow, pretending to be frail and defenseless. Then, when you let your guard down, they creepily grinned through their bandages and killed you.
    [Demon Mummy (B+)]
    ¡ª[The lowest-level mobs of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid. Also the Oracle mob most rich in quantity.]
    Every single one of them was of the B+ Rank, meaning that hundreds of thousands, or even millions of town-destroying Demons were wandering around inside the Pyramid. And they were merely the weakest among everything hostile within the confines of this enormous place.
    What lay deeper into the Pyramid was still unknown.

 Chapter 115 Hours in the Pyramid

    "It has been how long again?" Cassius asked himself while sitting atop a small mountain of Mummy Demons. "Hmm¡­ Although it feels like I've been here for ages, my digital clock skill would indicate that it has only been a little more than 2 minutes since I entered the Pyramid. How¡­ unusual¡­"He could've sworn that he had been slaughtering Mummy Demons and avoiding the temple traps riddled about for at least 15 minutes. But apparently, it had not even been a tenth of an hour.
    Then again, this was certainly a good thing for him. After all, with the Yimin disaster outside subconsciously rushing him, he could not afford to waste any time. Every second counted, and if something were affecting the flow of time for him, then he would gladly accept the assistance. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Five minutes later.
    The number of Mummy Demons that had been killed by Cassius had reached the hundreds of thousands. With his speed, hundreds fell to his Lilith each second, and if not for the massive inner space of the Pyramid, rivers of blood likely would've been formed from how many he had slain.
    "Hmm¡­?"
    While cleaving through a hundred Demon Mummies in an instant and improving his Demon King Bloodline rate past 15%, Cassius noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A few hundred meters due west of his location lay a shining corridor. The corridor itself was around the size of a normal human, and it had golden-bricked edges, clearly separating its importance from the rest of the dreary Pyramid d¨¦cor.
    Naturally, Cassius approached this door of sorts. He disappeared, then reappeared right next to it. Experience tales with empire
    The first thing he did upon coming into contact with this bright door was test the waters.
    He drew a random E-Rank Iron Sword from his Inventory Space and prodded the light. Half the sword entered through the door, producing no reaction from the door itself. And when the sword was pulled out, no visible damage was present on the blade's surface.
    It was completely fine.
    "Well¡­"
    "Kakaka!!!"
    A Demon Mummy moved many times faster than the speed of sound and lunged right at the seemingly absentminded human. However, with a single casual hand blur, the Demon Mummy was shredded into countless pieces, and it was done so without Cassius even so much as turning in the mummy's direction.
    Cassius shrugged. "What was I saying again? I don't remember¡­"
    He looked between the crappy sword in his hands and the shining door. "Ahh, that's right, this thing is totally safe to enter."
    With that, Cassius walked through the cryptic door.
    While unconcernedly moving his feet one step at a time, his entire body eventually vanished into the light. He didn't feel much discomfort, but the experience itself was certainly a surreal one. He almost felt like he was walking on clouds or something of the sort.
    When a sudden enigmatic force tugged upon his body, he was forced through a layer of space. Again, it didn't hurt any, but it still felt extremely weird.
    FWIP!
    A short beam of golden light appeared on the 2nd floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid. When it dispersed, a shadowy hooded man appeared perfectly unscathed.
    The moment Cassius opened his eyes, he saw a similar environment to where he just came from. However, just based on how low and narrow the walls of this place were, it was obvious to him that he wound up higher above. Presumably, it was the Pyramid's 2nd floor.
    And just as predicted:
    *Ding!*
    {[Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid (2nd Floor)]}
    ¡ª[1st Floor Clear Reward: 500 AP] - [?]
    ¡ª[2nd Floor Clear Reward: 5 Medium-sized Heaps of EXP] - [_]
    "Ahh, I get it," Cassius said thoughtfully. "It's a floor-clearing situation."
    Looking around, he realized that there were no slowly moving Demon Mummies. In fact, he didn't see much of anything except for rubble and evidence of the metallic paradise that this place had once been. According to his excellent deduction skills, this floor likely belonged to a higher class of people from whatever civilization used to reign supreme.
    "Well, this is certainly something else," Cassius smirked, feeling a certain sense of exhilaration from this seemingly unfortunate predicament of his. "I've played games in the past, and the floor-clearing kind were definitely among my favorite. Though, if this is to follow the usual script, a new type of demon should be on this floor."
    Just as expected¡­
    "Skakeech!!!"
    A giant mummified centipede-like Demon leapt from the cracked roof above Cassius, causing it to crack further. Yet, in the very same moment it attempted to bite the tiny human with its sharp pincers, he blurred as an afterimage.
    With swift, precise movements, Cassius finger-flipped Lilith, obtained a better hold of her, then slid her jigsaw edges through the centipede's hard outer carapace. He and Lilith sparked around the Demon's colossal body, slicing off dozens of building-sized legs in the process of cutting it to pieces.
    A moment passed.
    *THUD!*
    The centipede's lifeless corpse hit the rocky metallic ground with a resounding thud. None of its hundreds of legs were still connected to its body, and its still-sensitive carcass was left unnervingly twitching.
    "I see¡­" Cassius mused while glancing at the whitish-orange system tag that hung above the rapidly disintegrating centipede corpse.
    {[Tombcrawler (B++)]}
    ¡ª[Most common monster on the 2nd Floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid. Has a hunting tendency to stick to any place that is not easily seen by other living organisms (typically corners of roofs or the roofs in general)]
    "A B++ Rank Demon," said Cassius, slightly intrigued. "Compared to the B+ Demon Mummies, this one gave around 30 times more Demon Essence. If there's a lot of these in here, then I should come out with even more Demon Essence than what I got from the Pyramid's 1st Floor."
    After coming to the conclusion that this area was extremely lucrative, he began his 'stroll' through this floor as well.
    Every now and then, a large Tombcrawler similar to the first one jumped out at Cassius. Yet, it took little more than a couple milliseconds for him to dispose of each one. And after around 50 thousand repetitions of this, another five minutes had passed.
    Altogether, this meant that a bit over eleven minutes had vanished since his arrival in the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid.

 Chapter 116 Entering the Pyramids 5th Floor

    To be honest, it had been easy breezy for Cassius so far, with him coming out of each dangerous encounter without a scratch on him. This sort of invincibility lasted even when he entered another light door, ascended to the 3rd Floor, and encountered the next series of Demon monsters.On the 1st Floor, there were only Demon Mummies, with the only difference between them being that some armed themselves with unusual weapons and others did not. The 2nd Floor, on the other hand, had the Tombcrawlers. Of the Tombcrawlers, there were unique variations, all of which specialized in different attributes and even special Skills that related to their attribute types.
    However, on the 3rd Floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid, there were both Demon Mummies and the different Tombcrawler variations. Then there was also the new Demon monster type, which were mixtures between elephants and arachnids.
    Namely, they were Stompspiders.
    They were individually larger than a dozen of the massive Tombcrawlers, appeared from behind sudden secret chambers, and raged as soon as they saw Cassius. Furthermore, contrary to the rather simple differences between the Demons on the 1st and 2nd Floors, the Stompspiders not only varied in terms of size, color, and physical attributes, but they also differed in the elements they utilized. Some wielded ice and acid spells, whereas others spat fire, plasma balls, and lasers.
    There were also a few of the rarer Stompspiders that were capable of shooting out strings of silk. They could use this silk to either capture or slow down their targets or harden it to zip forward.
    Simply put, these types of Stompspiders were like freakishly large, creepy versions of Spider-Man.
    A few minutes pass in the blink of an eye.
    After decimating entire droves of Demon Mummies, Tombcrawlers, and Stompspiders, Cassius finally made it to the light door of this Floor. It went without saying that, after finishing the cleanup of the remaining Demons, his Demon King Bloodline rate had tremendously increased. In total, he entered the door with a new Demon King Bloodline rate of 36.5%. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    By now, Cassius could definitely feel the changes occurring inside and outside his body. His appearance, for one, had gone from a roguish type of humanly beauty to something more evil and devilish. Which, rather than worsening his looks, did well in improving what was already there.
    His eyes also turned a darker shade of red, his irises narrowed between slits and normal circular shapes. And to top things off, he grew a small pair of white fangs and sharp ears, both of which grew a little more the higher his Demon King Bloodline counter rose. However, this was most of all that had changed in just his facial features, completely excluding the few-inch-long blackened wings that had sprouted from his back and the gradual swirling of dark silver mixing into his natural jet-black hair.
    Fortunately, Cassius was able to temporarily suppress and conceal this new demonic side of his. If not for that, it was highly likely that when he returned to the world of humans, he would be immediately seen as a threat to humanity. This eventuality would certainly lead to his¡­ demise as a hunted monster.
    For the remainder of this expedition's duration, though, he would let his body evolve however it wanted in real time, making sure to observe every single change. He would also keep track of the constant improvements being made to his attributes. Stats like Strength, Agility, and Endurance increased every time he absorbed a certain amount of Demon Essence. Moreover, these increases were in no way small.
    If added to what he occasionally invested with AP and what he gained from wearing his Newbie Equipment Set, then he was looking at gains of more than 1000 Stat Points every hour. Of course, this was cumulative and would only last for as long as he had Demons to kill.
    However, for right now, the grind was on, and he was here to grind it.
    ¡ªThe 4th Floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid¡ª
    Upon entering the 4th Floor, Cassius noticed yet another substantial shrink in the interior. If on the 1st Floor, a small country could comfortably fit itself inside, then now a large city would be stretching the limits of space.
    Now, what did this mean if Demons the size of small towns were meandering about uninhibited?
    Well, it was safe to say that, if not for the superb structural integrity of the Pyramid, it would have long since been obliterated by the fierce battles that Cassius was having with thousands of literal coffin Demons. They were all of the A+ Rank, had ancient coffins as the centers of their bodies, and took unusual scorpion shapes. Coincidentally, they were capable of shooting out ship-sized harpoon spikes from their curled-up tails, each one able to one-shot entire towns if shot outside.
    With such limited space inside the Pyramid's 4th Floor, Cassius and the opposing army of Coffindemons, as well as the countless other types of Demons, were forced into a light show. By that, they were undoubtedly participating in an unfathomable AOE battle of spells and attacks. And when performed in such a tight space, it engulfed the entire area in a dazzling cacophony of death and destruction.
    Ear-deafening explosions rang out too many times to count in the same second, creating separate bubbles of sound that occasionally popped and reached decibel levels unknown to man. Stay connected through empire
    Six or so minutes later.
    A total of 22 minutes had passed since Cassius entered the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid, and the 4th Floor had been¡­ successfully cleared.
    A couple levels were gained, the 50% Demon King Bloodline milestone was exceeded, and now it was time to enter the 5th Floor.
    *Tap, Tap, Tap.*
    Cassius's soft footsteps echoed throughout a very bleak and empty area. All was shrouded by a thick layer of darkness, obscuring from view any who wished to see what lay within the 5th Floor of the Oracle Pyramid.
    The moment he reached a certain distance away from the light beam that teleported him here, he saw a dim light appear a bit to the side. Following its appearance were many others just like it, all lining up in a straight and orderly fashion. There were two rows of them, one on each side of the extraordinarily wide hall.
    Together, they brightened the place up to a degree where one could begin to make out the distant silhouette of a giant sleeping¡­ snake head.

 Chapter 117 {[Hellish Sphinx (A++)]}

    "This is¡­"It didn't take a genius to figure out this 5th Floor was the last and final floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid. In other words, what resided here was none other than the Hellish Sphinx.
    Confirming his suspicions, Cassius glanced at the system tag of whatever slept before him. This was when he noticed something very strange. The system tag¡­ it was not there.
    "Wait, a snake head¡­? It's a Sphinx, ain't it?"
    Cassius, now confused, looked away from the snake head, attempting to locate the true boss. However, it was sometime during this period of searching that he felt a peculiar sensation breeze down his spine. The airflow of the area had inexplicably changed, and he had no idea why this had happened.
    That was when he saw it¡­ S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Looming over his head, a great beastly face appeared. Its sharp teeth were massive, its savage eyes glowed with an animalistic nature, and its fiery red mane framed its femininely sculpted blocky features. If not the Hellish Sphinx, then what else could it be?
    "The Hellish Sphinx¡­ Then, that snake¡ª"
    The moment these words left his mouth, that "snake head" lifted up off the ground before whipping around to a bobbing stance right beside the Hellish Sphinx's intimidating face. It stared at the ant-like human below, its size dwarfing the human more than ten thousand to one. At this level of relativity, even a small piece of its luscious flame-like fur would be larger than the tiny human.
    "That town-sized snake head was just¡­ a tail¡­?" Cassius murmured with a tinge of disbelief. "I see¡­"
    Observing the behemoth's system tag, he saw:
    {[Hellish Sphinx (A++)]} - (Unique Boss Monster)
    ¡ª[As the one who guards and stands at the very top of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid, the Hellish Sphinx also serves as the last line of defense for any who wish to break past the Gate of HELL and officially embark on a perilous journey through the blistering 1st Floor of HELL.]
    ¡ª[The Hellish Sphinx, a Demon variant not yet consumed by the demonic intent to kill all, is known as the 'Most Laid-back Demon you'll ever meet.' That is, assuming you correctly answer all three of her riddles.]
    ¡ª[Yet, as a powerful Demon older than many civilizations, the Hellish Sphinx's riddles are normally considered impossible to answer. In almost all cases, this will lead to the brutalization of the one who answered incorrectly.]
    ¡ª[To defeat this unfathomable existence, one must either answer all three of her riddles correctly or try their luck at killing her. But be warned, the Hellish Sphinx, when angered, can become far more powerful than she first appears. If it really comes down to it, one is recommended to flee as soon as the riddles are answered wrongly.]
    Cassius, now getting a good look at this breathtaking entity, realized that the sheer size of her was equivalent to one-third of the total space available on the 5th Floor. Simply put, she was unbelievably massive.
    Though, in this current moment, Cassius could hardly relax his nerves enough to truly register the grandiosity of this existence. He looked up, only to take another glance at her system tag and see a flashing red hue. Which, for him, meant certain death.
    'Even after leveling up since coming to this Pyramid, I still can't achieve a yellow danger rating for the Boss Monster? Just how much stronger could something in the A++ Rank possibly be¡­?'
    The moment Cassius thought those words, he immediately regretted them, for a stifling pressure dropped down on the entire 5th Floor. It instantly achieved levels of stuffiness that left even the sadism-trained protagonist gasping for air. It was so bad that, if not for all the resistance Skills he had been passively leveling up, his lungs would've been toast, and he himself cooked.
    That was when he heard it¡ªa voice.
    Instead of leaving directly through the Sphinx's lips, it resonated with the area and rebounded off the walls with a laced feminine tone. To him, however, it bled his ears like the trumpets of death beckoning him to the true Gates of HELL:
    "Human, three riddles you will answer. Answer one wrong, your death shall await. Answer all three right, your day shall return."
    "Are you prepared to hear the riddles, human?"
    After a brief pause, Cassius turned his head up to meet the piercing crystalline eyes of the domineeringly aloof Sphinx. "I am ready for the riddles," he responded, deciding to play along with things for now.
    The ancient and rich feminine voice reverberated once more, bouncing off the walls of the enclosed chamber:
    "Riddle 1: The Eternal Cycle," began the Hellish Sphinx."
    "I am the beginning of the end,
    And the end of time and space.
    I am essential to creation,
    Yet I consume all in my embrace.
    Enjoy exclusive content from empire
    What am I?"
    "...This riddle¡­ I don't know it¡­'
    Cassius stood there in mock silence, finding it difficult to believe that he had never heard a single peep about this riddle before.
    '...If I can't make use of my own memories, then I'll just need to figure it out myself. But what is the beginning of the end and yet also the end of time and space? And how can it also be essential to creation¡­? I just don't understand¡­'
    Suddenly, a light bulb flashed inside of his head.
    "E!" he answered, confident in his single-letter response.
    'E is the beginning of the word "End," and it's also the last letter of "space." Furthermore, it is an essential letter in the word "creation,"' thought Cassius. 'And on top of that, it consumes both the first and last letters of "embrace," therefore making it the only plausible answer. It has to be "E"!'
    The Hellish Sphinx's irises glazed over then returned to normal. She shook a little, responding, "Correct."
    "Riddle 2: Keeper of Secrets," she started again, giving no respite to the human."
    "I am always hungry,
    I must always be fed.
    The finger I touch,
    Will soon turn red.
    What am I?"
    "This one is¡­"

 Chapter 118 The Last of the 3 Riddles...

    Cassius felt like Riddle #2 was far easier than the first one. Yet he couldn't place his finger on which one of the potential answers it actually was. On the high chance he got this one wrong, he would have no choice but to rely on the final answer to safely get him through this crisis.Five seconds later.
    In the end, he went with his gut. "Fire! That is the answer!"
    The Hellish Sphinx remained eerily quiet, causing the 5th Floor's interior to constrict further.
    Ultimately, a similar reaction as before occurred on her stony feminine expression. Afterward, she said, "Correct."
    Cassius breathed a sigh of relief. He had several different solid guesses for that question. The only reason he hadn't gotten it wrong was because he got lucky. However, with the final riddle coming up, he had to put on his A-game face.
    If at all possible, he hoped it wouldn't come down to a slaughter-fest between him and the Hellish Sphinx. Correctly answering all the riddles was vital to this end.
    "Riddle 3: The Silent Traveler. This is the 3rd and last riddle," quipped the Sphinx, her voice laced with concealed killing intent."
    "I pass through the hills,
    But I do not climb.
    I go through the valleys, S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Yet remain untied.
    You see me in water,
    But I stay dry.
    What am I?"
    'I pass through the hills, but I do not climb¡­ Some sort of animal?' Cassius questioned himself in confusion. 'No, that can't be it¡­ "Yet remain untied" wouldn't make any sense with the following two lines if the answer were an animal¡­'
    'You see me in water, but I stay dry¡­ That would mean whatever the answer is has the ability to not physically connect with certain elements of the world¡­'
    Reciting the lines once more, Cassius organized them.
    'I pass through the hills, but I do not climb. I go through the valleys, yet remain untied. You see me in water, but I stay dry¡­ Pass¡ªthat is a hint. Does not climb and does not get wet also serve as hints¡­ Ah!'
    He got it!
    "The answer is: Shadow!"
    The Hellish Sphinx froze.
    She stared down at the accomplished human, her large eyes swirling with an unknown intent. For a second, the atmospheric pressure of the 5th Floor multiplied a thousandfold, urging everything in the vicinity to bend and fold.
    Then, abruptly, the pressure ceased to be.
    "Your answer¡­ is correct," said the Sphinx.
    Yet, as soon as those four simple words left her mouth, a bright golden light erupted around her body. Miraculously, she began to shrink, with the blinding golden light becoming progressively less intense.
    Within mere moments, the Hellish Sphinx had already reached the approximate size of the human before her. And when the light covering her figure dispersed, an image beyond stunning materialized into view.
    "My child, this one is Hellion. Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx."
    Hellion's melodic voice dripped into Cassius's ears, yet merely passed as the introduction for the divine beauty adorned in jewelry. Her hair, like brown silk, was smooth and luscious, rivaling the most lavish of locks. Those slender, tan legs were supple yet slim in all the right places. Bountiful curves to die for, with a grace and nobility that bordered on holy royalty. Her eyes, a mix of browns and purples, acted as the gateway into a soul that a mortal could never hope to fathom.
    Hellion¡ªthe Hellish Sphinx¡ªthe Guardian of the Gate into HELL¡ªan unparalleled milf beauty through and through.
    However, if one looked past her ravishing beauty, they would see an icy cold gleam that viewed everything around it in complete fairness. Even while looking at the immortal-like Cassius, she exhibited no varied emotions.
    Unlike the frigid beauties he had previously encountered, he knew for certain that her impermeable sheet of ice was the toughest to crack.
    Yet, when faced with a challenge, he took the Idle Evolution System's teachings to heart. Fearing away was simply impossible.
    Concealing an anticipatory smirk, Cassius extended a hand to the woman still in the process of floating down. "My name is Cassius, the one who rides the waves of Character Development."
    Neither showing shame nor hesitation, Hellion clasped his larger, rougher hand, then tapped against the ground mere inches away from the human's face. She apathetically appraised his appearance, her expression unmoving.
    However, contrary to observing just his outward qualities, she peered deeper into his existence. And what she saw left her in an even more solitary state of emotionless silence.
    For nearly twenty seconds, Hellion remained awfully quiet.
    Then, with her swirling eyes tracing up the taller man, she stole his gaze for her own.
    Unable to escape that entrancing look in her dazzling pupils, Cassius could do nothing but stand there and stare absentmindedly. With her hand still softly laying atop his, he watched her lips move, then registered the enchanting sounds that followed.
    "Child, you have done well to make it thus far. But beyond this point, death is all that awaits. Your strength is insufficient. Unique aspects you may have, unusual abilities assimilated with your existence they may be, but your death is nevertheless guaranteed."
    Cassius frowned.
    "You can tell how strong I am? And you can also see other things? Just how much can you see¡­?" he asked, his voice approaching sub-zero.
    Although he appreciated the beauty, power, and elegant demeanor of this Egyptian goddess-like woman, if she knew more than she should, then she would die.
    And he would be the one to personally send her into the afterlife.
    Hellion blankly analyzed the strangely large killing intent radiating off the devilishly handsome human. Yet, without averting her gaze, she replied, "I am but a translator of the waves of fate and destiny. I stay unrelated to the worldly part of existence. Preventing those unworthy of crossing into HELL is my sole purpose."
    "You, human, are not worthy. Answer correctly all three riddles you have, but strength you have not. Several bloodlines reside within you by some miracle, yet no difference does that make. I, as HELL's Guardian, shall not permit your entry."

 Chapter 119 {[Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx (S- - Rank) (True Form)]} - [Danger Rating: Black]

    The air within the 5th Floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid broke out into multiple layers of increasingly lethal killing intent. All of it originated from the body of a lone human. His eyes, like pools of bluish-red and black death, bore into the being of the sexy Egyptian woman.Conversely, the Hellish Sphinx also erupted in killing intent, yet hers was far more docile and oddly good-natured.
    Breathing coldly, Cassius asked, "Do you truly plan to stand in my way, even though I correctly answered all of your riddles?"
    "Answer them you have, but death you do not seek," replied Hellion. "Your soul burns bright with a will to live. Death does not chase; one chases death. Yet you are not destined to die just yet. Your fate threads out, reaching far beyond what even I can see. Your strength, however, is far from sufficient to amass such a fate."
    "Why is this one asks? Why are you special? I seek the answer to this question, and for that, you must live. Your death lies ahead, yet your future remains behind. Your entry I shall not permit."
    "I see¡­"
    All at once, Cassius's killing intent subsided.
    "Your sentiment is something I appreciate," he uttered. "I doubt many in my life would say the same things when it concerns my life and death. From this, I can see that your description does not lie. You truly are kind; the answers you laid out were so difficult for this very reason, I bet."
    "Then there's your killing intent¡­ You have never killed anything other than demons, have you?"
    Surprise briefly flashed past Hellion's pupils, yet her stance stood unwavering. "Even if you know that, you are not to pass, human¡ª"
    "I know," Cassius interrupted, his face gradually fading. "But I simply have to make it into the 1st Floor of HELL. Only that way can I level up and become stronger."
    FWOOOP¡ª!!
    He fully vanished, then reappeared behind Hellion. With Lilith already tightly clasped in his right hand, he slashed out with every ounce of his physical strength.
    Hellion sighed. "How foolish, holder of high fate." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    BOOOM!!!
    Like getting hit by a freight train, Cassius's muscular figure was launched backward at absurd speeds. In an instant, he planted into the floor's sturdy wall. Yet, even with the fortitude of the Pyramid thrown into the equation, his collision against the wall created a crater that rippled out in progressively higher waves.
    "Why must one be so foolish? Your life I am trying to preserve, yet you resist. Why is this?"
    Hellion's crisp voice, bereft of emotion, echoed throughout the Pyramid's 5th Floor, quickly reaching the ears of the bleeding man in the process of slowly peeling himself off the wall. Yet her words, oozing a certain degree of kindness, worked opposite as intended.
    Cassius fell face-first to the ground. However, before he unceremoniously collapsed, his vision flickered. His consciousness returned thereafter, and the first thing he did was smash his fists into the floor to prevent himself from humiliating himself any further.
    A fire of unwillingness burned like a fiery, uncontrollable sun inside the core of his being.
    Slowly, he turned his head up, blood gushing from several orifices. "This is not nearly enough to deter me," he announced, his booming voice breaking through the Sphinx's euphoric chords. "If you want me to leave, then you'll have to kill me¡­!"
    Cassius gnashed his bloody white teeth before bouncing backward like a rigid springboard. Then, with a crackle of crimson lightning, he blurred forward. A barrage of skills shot off in rapid succession as he used everything in his arsenal, burning through more than half of his MP in one go.
    Nyxvoldar was also summoned from his shadow and fused with his existence, resulting in an even greater boost to his speed and overall power.
    Cassius was already moving thousands of times the speed of sound, even beyond that. But after activating all of his skills, he exceeded tens of thousands of times the speed of sound.
    If used in relativity to the circumference of Earth, he could burst across the entire thing in mere seconds!
    "Dragonfire Atomic Burst!" Cassius called out when he made it less than a few inches away from the nonchalant Egyptian goddess.
    A massive fiery explosion erupted from the palm of the hand he used to hold Lilith. The entire interior area of the 5th Floor was immediately engulfed in flames, creating a spectacle that would surely dazzle even the strongest of A-rank Hunters.
    The fire-related skill of an inherent Dragon Title was no joke, especially not if it originated from an overpowered existence like the Tyrant Dragon.
    Just the smallest amount of a genuine Tyrant Dragon's fire could wipe out whole solar systems!
    And though Cassius's version was dampened by an incredible amount, he also had the sub-elemental infusions of his Atomic element to further amplify the skill's destructive power.
    'Although this isn't an official skill, as I merely combined different elemental aspects into an easily susceptible flame, it should still be able to rival something of the A++ Rank. Moreover, I also have the 2nd Layer Basic Movement Manual to assist in the flame closing the distance¡ª'
    Before he could even finish getting the thought bubbles out, a wild gust of wind burst forth from the center of the Dragonfire's explosion radius. Then, without even a second given to the fire to linger, it was all dispersed with several radiant arcs of golden wind light.
    "Why must you make this more difficult than it needs to be, Child?" asked Hellion, her voice forcing Cassius to look toward its source.
    That was when he saw it¡­
    A goddess-like woman so devastatingly beautiful that entire countries would go to war just to get the slightest glimpse of her magnificence. And though it didn't seem possible, she had become even more beautiful than she was a few seconds ago. Furthermore, a bedazzled crown resembling a halo formed above her head, making her truly appear like some sort of deity.
    Cassius also noticed a colder, more detached gleam appear within those resplendent pupils of hers.
    {[Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx (S- - Rank) (True Form)]} - [Danger Rating: Black]

 Chapter 120 A More Pleasant Death...?

    'An S- - Rank being, likely meaning that she isn't even truly considered an S-Rank,' thought Cassius, his tone growing ever more serious. 'However, even though she isn't a true S-Rank, her danger rating is in the Black range¡­ My first Black-rating existence¡­'He should have been scared. Hell, he should have been terrified that such an opponent had appeared!
    Yet he wasn't.
    For some inexplicable reason, a large surge of excitement washed over him, causing his body to tremble. More than ever before, he was thrilled. He wanted to fight an existence that exceeded his ability to an insurmountable degree!
    He needed to fight!
    Since his original encounter with the Tyrant Kings and the Tyrant God in that enigmatic Gate, Cassius had undergone many subtle changes. With each life taken by his hands and with every increase in power, his personality had shifted, little by little.
    Though he wouldn't necessarily throw his life away against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, this time felt different. He was willing to gamble; he was willing to risk his life for the sake of power and exhilaration!
    Hellion noticed something change within the human's determined gaze.
    "...Do you truly wish for death so badly? There is nothing to gain from progressing past this point. No lies have been spoken from my lips. I am far from the strongest in HELL, and you are incapable of defeating me. What do you hope to accomplish from this foolishness? Is there something you are trying to achieve? I don't believe so¡­ Your path seems aimless¡­ scattered¡­"
    Cassius, still caught in the thrill of facing such a powerful opponent, paused to think over her question.
    After a moment, his straight lips curved into an excited smirk. "You are right. Under normal circumstances, I would have no need to risk my life in HELL, especially when I'm so weak. But¡­"
    "But?" Hellion inquired, her gaze narrowing slightly.
    "But I can become stronger through fighting!"
    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
    Like a cannonball of spasming red and black energy, Cassius launched forward at speeds far surpassing anything he had previously displayed.
    Another chunk of AP had been dumped into Agility!
    "You are kind; I can see that," he said as he blazed toward Hellion. "But I have to become stronger. I want to survive, yes. Yet, to survive, I have to become more powerful. This world is not for the weak; you know that."
    Hellion's unyielding eyes tracked the quick movements of the reckless human as though attempting to understand his intent.
    "To become strong enough to survive in HELL from your current state would be impossible," she declared, her dainty hand lifting effortlessly. "You somehow became faster just now, but that will not be enough. Leave this place; never come back."
    Flick!
    It began with a simple flick.
    Yet that flick alone was enough to quell the violent, deadly energies rolling out in waves around Cassius's charging figure. Moreover, with that effortless motion came a gust of golden wind that pushed against him with a force far exceeding his ability to resist.
    His body rippled in slow motion as the immense force hurled him backward at hundreds of thousands of times the speed of sound. He nearly lost consciousness just from experiencing something close to the speed of light, yet the pain didn't end there.
    Cassius struck the 5th Floor's backside wall with a deafening crack. However, the opposing force proved too great; he crashed through the wall and was sent sailing outside the Pyramid.
    Ten seconds later.
    As his battered body finally began its descent, Cassius regained consciousness. This was the second time Hellion had knocked him out cold, and it hadn't become any more pleasant.
    'My bones are mostly shattered¡­ And my internal injuries are not few,' Cassius thought as he assessed his condition. 'I seem to have already crashed into a building or something, but I can't see anything because of the blood covering my eyes, and I can't feel anything because of the extensive damage done to my body.'
    It became immediately clear to him that this was a warning. Albeit a cruel one, it was Hellion's way of making him understand the danger that awaited him.
    "Heh¡­" Cassius grinned through bloodied teeth. "That woman is truly something else. *Cough!* *Cough!*" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'If I were relying solely on my Endurance stat, I'd likely need several hours to fully recover from injuries like this,' he mused while activating the S-Rank |Rapid Regeneration| Skill. 'She knew just enough about my stat sheet to know I could survive something like this. Moreover, she also knew I had stealth skills capable of hiding me from bloodthirsty demons while I recovered¡­ Ha¡­'
    The more Cassius thought about Hellion, the more his opinion of her improved. 'Benevolent yet cruel. Kind yet ruthless. Decisive yet careful and precise¡ªmy interest in her grows with each passing second.'
    Slowly, Cassius rose from the crater he had created in a massive skyscraper located thousands of miles from the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid. He cracked his neck, his expectant grin evening out into a blank expression.
    'I can't let my excitement get the better of me. I need to focus.'
    FWIP!
    In an instant, he vanished, his destination as clear as day.
    Moments later, he was already back on the 5th Floor of the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid. The first thing he saw was the impossibly gorgeous Hellish Sphinx.
    Without turning to face him, Hellion said, "So this is the choice you've made. Death awaits you beyond that Gate; you're aware. Yet you still relentlessly pursue your own demise¡­"
    "Very well¡­"
    Slowly, she shifted her frosty eyes toward the battered human standing defiantly before her. As she did, her aura grew ever more oppressive.
    "The kind of death that awaits you beyond that Gate is not a pleasant one. And though I've always avoided unnecessary killing, I cannot allow someone with a soul as kind as yours to meet such an end. Therefore¡­"
    She raised her hand, golden wind gathering around her fingertips.
    "I'll have to kill you myself."
    WHOOOOOSH!!

 Chapter 121 Dying and Ranking up the Phoenix Bloodline

    The room's airflow was redirected in a way that reflected the volatile power of the one known as the Guardian of HELL. She no longer carried the same benign coldness as before. Her demeanor, as well as her following actions, exhibited a level of coolness befitting a truly terrifying demon.Within half a nanosecond, Hellion teleported from her position and appeared next to Cassius. Then, with a simple punch, she obliterated him into countless bloody chunks. The death was so quick and efficient that not a single remaining piece of Cassius was left larger than a honeydew droplet.
    It was a complete fatality.
    "I am sorry that it had to be this way," Hellion said as she retraced her steps and reappeared at the very center of the 5th Floor. "Your destiny; it was unique. Your future was sure to surprise. How you managed to recover so fast also perplexes. But in the end, Fate forced my hand. Your destiny now returns to its origins, prepared to be dissimilated and reconstructed anew."
    "Farewell, Cassius of the Mortal Dimension. Let your soul rest in peace."
    With that, Hellion started to glow, undergoing a revert into her base form and then her behemoth form.
    However, in the midst of this troubling rewound process, something unexpected occurred. Discover exclusive content at empire
    Over where Cassius's guts had been splattered, a brilliant greenish-golden light erupted. Within milliseconds, the blood rapidly fused together and began to take on the form of a leg. A full second later, that leg grew tendons that connected to other appendages, a torso, and a head. Only after two whole seconds passed did an otherworldly handsome man shoot open his multicolored demonic eyes¡ªeyes that had undergone many transformations thanks to various Bloodline alterations.
    "Something like this¡­" For the first time in a very long time, Hellion showed genuine shock. "How can you regenerate from absolute death? Even World-Transcending-level self-regeneration Skills aren't capable of performing healing at that level¡­"
    Cassius stretched his arms, cracked his neck, then mockingly matched Hellion's shock. "I don't know. How did I revive? Maybe it was some divine miracle!"
    Seeing that smirk plastered on his face transformed Hellion's shock into a deep furrow. "...Your revival was not expected, but it matters not. You still aren't strong enough to enter HELL. Your death is still destined."
    "Is that so¡­?" Cassius grinned, then watched as faint sweltering crimson-red feathers emerged around his revealed demonic appearance. "However, I don't believe that I'll die today."
    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline transformation rate has tremendously increased due to the sheer perfection that was the Host's death. Everything about it was flawless, and if not for the unique B-Rank, now A-Rank Phoenix Rebirth Skill, such a death would have been impossible to return from.]
    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline: 0.67%]
    [|Phoenix Rebirth| has ranked up several times, advancing from 'B-' to 'A-' and evolved into the |Nirvana Rebirth| Skill.]
    [Total rebirth times have increased from '1' to '3' times per day!]
    [Acquired 345 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.] S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Very interesting," Cassius mused while dumping 80% of his saved-up AP into his Agility stat. "That should bring me closer to her power level, I believe."
    Just as he expected, Hellion's black system tag lessened by one grade and turned into a flashing red system tag. Furthermore, the overall oppressive aura she was emanating had been substantially reduced.
    "If not for my insatiable greed for more loot, I might just be able to match you in terms of speed," he casually commented as he cracked his knuckles and let his Shadow Monarch's Hood regenerate. "It's just unfortunate that I refuse to lose out on potential benefits."
    FWIP!
    Cassius blurred forward. His afterimages moved so fast that it looked like they were moving in reverse. For Hellion, however, they were clearly visible.
    With a single punch, she whacked the smirking man out of the speed stream he created. Then, with a flash step, she phased next to his flailing body. Grabbing his broken arms, she spun him around and hurled him into a wall, where he then shot out of the 5th Floor. However, before he could mumble d¨¦j¨¤ vu, Hellion teleported outside the Pyramid.
    A golden-brownish energy built up at the tip of her right pointer finger. And before he could cast Dragonflame to counterattack, the energy building up on her fingertip condensed into an energy sphere before shooting out a hyper-condensed laser. Yet, midway through the attack, the beam enlarged tens of thousands of times its original size, making it impossible to dodge.
    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOOM!!!
    The bleak land for dozens of miles was blasted to all high hell, with the residual damage extending even further.
    It was almost as if an interstellar laser beam had impacted the earth, severing entire chunks of land and imploding everything in the vicinity. As chunks of metallic buildings and barren land sailed through the skies, a truly catastrophic sight was left in its wake.
    Cassius, having long since been evaporated, was unable to witness firsthand the absolute destruction still spreading out its catastrophic nature into the surrounding territories. A massive crater had been dug out of the ground, with its depths going as far down as nearly five miles, and its edges stretching out even more than that.
    "No matter how good your regeneration Skill is or what miracle you performed, 'Human attempting to become a Demon', you could not have survived that¡ª"
    "Damn, that was nuts! That really hurt, you know?"
    Cassius's playful voice cut through Hellion's, prompting her to swivel her head in the direction of a fully nude demonic man. He stared at her with his lips and eyes curving upward, synchronizing.
    "What? Are you surprised or something?" asked Cassius, mildly amused. "Ya know, I came back even faster than before. Thanks to you, I am improving."
    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline: 2.6%]
    [|Nirvana Rebirth| has ranked up from the 'A-' Rank to the 'A' Rank thanks to the perfection of the Host's death and the improvement in the Host's Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline.]
    [Daily Rebirth rate increased from '3' to '5']
    [Acquired 500 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]

 Chapter 122 Battle between Man and Sphinx

    'How overpowered,' thought Cassius as he watched various emotions flash past Hellion's stunning irises. 'Although I know it's only thanks to her excellence that I can obtain so much Rebirth Essence from each death, it's still incredible to watch it happen in real time. Furthermore, with each Skill rank-up comes a complete daily status recovery, meaning that I still have 5 more daily death chances.'Simply put, this meant he could now fully revive five more times while fighting the Hellish Sphinx¡ª
    SPLAT! Experience exclusive tales on empire
    [Acquired 600 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]
    Even while in death, Cassius was obtaining AP because of the surging emotions of the normally unresponsive Hellion. This resulted in her exerting even more effort to utterly obliterate the human that somehow returned to life twice now. Just once could be considered a fluke, but two would be a miracle, and three would be¡­
    "Impossible¡­"
    Right before Hellion's widened eyes, she saw Cassius return to peak condition, with his erased blood particle state nowhere present in his current elegance. And somehow, his Newbie 5 Equipment Set died with him and returned to him, same with his Lilith tattoo and Shadow Evomon.
    In every avenue, what he was doing was impossible.
    Hellion, as perceptive as she was, also realized just how much of an enigma this man was. In quick, repeated succession, she witnessed several things that shouldn't have even been possibilities.
    However, she immediately snapped out of her stupor after giving Cassius another 650 AP. And when she decisively struck forward, prepared to unleash multiple region-destroying level attacks, she saw his mischievous smirk blur to a level that was at least three times faster than before.
    How!?
    What was happening right now!?
    [Acquired 700 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]
    Every time Cassius obtained AP from trolling Hellion, he dumped 80% of it into his Agility stat. Which, in addition to his 'I AM SPEED' effects, caused his speed to rapidly approach the S-Rank.
    In other words, even without taking off his incredibly heavy Equipment Set, his speed neared the very beginning of the pinnacle stage of the world.
    This level of speed¡ªit was not something an average mortal would be able to comprehend, let alone visualize. It was absurd.
    Yet, even with all of these Agility boosts coming in, Hellion, the Gate Guardian, was still faster.
    "...You are an anomaly¡­" Hellion murmured in disbelief. "You also seem to be capable of becoming stronger through battle¡ªthis shouldn't be possible to this degree. But this ability of yours, along with that regeneration ability, should enable you to survive in HELL. At least until you encounter 'true' monsters¡­ But¡­"
    RUMBLE!!!
    An immensely powerful aura erupted from Hellion, creating rolling waves of goldish-brown energy that blasted out in an astoundingly powerful fashion. Everything, from the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid to the surrounding hundred miles, began to violently tremble. Even the stray Demons fled in fear of offending that extremely powerful presence.
    "But if the more powerful Demon Hegemonies on the highest Floors catch wind of your existence and your abilities, your death will never arrive," continued Hellion, her tone void of emotion. "You will become a guinea pig. I cannot allow this."
    "So I still have to die?" asked Cassius, rather laid-back by the entire ordeal.
    "Yes." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I understand."
    Silence.
    For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
    Then, the two stubborn contenders tapped forward, causing the ground around them to crack outward for miles on end. By now, the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid's 5th Floor had been completely demolished. They were now battling each other on the 4th Floor.
    A few seconds later.
    Cassius died four times more, yet managed to upgrade his Nirvana Rebirth Skill to the A+ Rank. Moreover, he got his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline past the 10% mark, which made even more fiery red illusory feathers appear around his demonic figure.
    His improvements were immense, and he could now revive 8 times a day. But the Pyramid, on the other hand, had been utterly demolished, with every single floor mixed into rubble that was constantly being pushed back due to the two struggling humanoids. As their battle escalated in intensity, with Hellion being forced to use more of her power because of his unexplainable increases in speed, even curious Lesser Abyssal Demons became collateral.
    None in HELL's Trial Gate area were even capable of interfering with a battle at this level. And those foolish enough to attempt to intervene ended up dying without ever knowing which one of the sides had even killed them.
    The battle between 'Man?' and Sphinx was one that shattered layer after layer of HELL's Trial Gate area. Moreover, that damage only became more extensive the longer that time passed, as Cassius officially reached a level that forced even the stupidly powerful Hellish Sphinx to withhold no hidden cards.
    Five minutes later.
    Cassius, now perched atop a massive circular ball of condensed scarlet energy, stared at the collapsed Egyptian beauty gasping for breath on the ball with him. At first, he appeared severely injured, but all those grievous injuries healed in the same period of time that Hellion took to exhale a single breath.
    "My strongest attack¡­ 'The Oracle of HELL,' an S+ Skill capable of eradicating a small country," Hellion mumbled as she haggardly watched the nonchalant human heal from the damage in little more than a second. "...Child, just what are you¡­?"
    "What am I?" Cassius smirked. "I am an Acolyte of Character Development. Only because of my faith was I able to survive dying 17 times to you. Though, to be honest, even I was surprised by how many times I fell to your power. In particular, that last attack of yours¡ªthe one that made this¡­ mess¡­ killed me 3 or 4 times. I was really close to dying for real, ha¡­"
    He briefly observed the hundreds of miles of desolation around the colossal energy ball, with Hellion also struggling to follow his gaze.
    To put the destruction into perspective, the scarlet energy ball they were situated on was a variation of the Atomic Dragonfire Burst Skill¡ªan attack that Cassius had summoned just in case things went wrong. Yet, even with it being thousands of meters wide, it looked like a mere speck if one zoomed out and saw the ridiculous crater formed from Hellion's ultimate trump card.

 Chapter 123 Plan to Kill a Demon King...

    Hellion's trump card was one that drew upon her authority over HELL's Trial Gate area, meaning it wasn't even truly considered her personal power. However, even that wasn't enough to defeat the crazy bastard of an anomaly.Hellion let herself fall onto the energy ball's surface, yet rolled over a moment later.
    With bated breath and shaky eyes, she intoned, "Just end me. I am not afraid of death, and if this is what Fate has in store for me, then so be it. After all, I lost."
    Cassius's amused expression froze in place. Then, question marks practically floated above his head. "What are you talking about? I'm not going to kill you," he stated, showing genuine confusion at her words. "From beginning to end, I know you were doing all of this for my sake, even if you went about it in a rather violent way. Well, no matter¡ªI will not kill you for something like that. You did help me become stronger, after all."
    "¡­If you're not going to kill me, then what will you do?" asked Hellion, her breathing still far from steady. "I still won't allow you to pass."
    Read the latest on empire
    "Even if you die because of it?"
    "Yes."
    A deafening silence took hold of the atmosphere. Then, completely out of nowhere, Cassius broke into an almost insane peal of laughter.
    "???"
    Hellion was puzzled.
    "Y-You really are¡­ Ha¡­" Cassius calmed himself, yet could barely hold back another flood of laughter. "You know what, Hellion?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "What¡­?"
    "I like you. I really do," said Cassius. "And though I was originally just going to slip past you, as my Quest has already been completed, I've changed my mind."
    Slowly approaching the ample body sprawled out before him, he crouched down and locked eyes with Hellion. With his black-and-red hair slightly drooping, he said, "Hellion, Gatekeeper of the 1st Floor of HELL, what say you join me on my journey inside and outside of HELL? A pretty assistant with a good head on her shoulders¡ªdoesn't this just sound like the dream of any number of men? Well? Whaddya say?"
    Hellion was speechless.
    "You want me, the Guardian of HELL, to leave with an invading human¡­?" she asked, just to make sure she had heard correctly.
    "Yeah, pretty much," Cassius responded absentmindedly. "So, wanna come with me? I have a pet dragon you could get along with. You're both mythical creatures, so you should hit it off right away¡ª Well¡­"
    Upon recalling how destructively insane his rambunctious dragon was, he immediately changed his mind. "Then again, you still have me! I'll pay attention to you, far more than any of the flesh-loving freaks you have as neighbors!"
    "So, whaddya say??"
    "¡­You're¡­"
    "I'm?"
    "You're insane¡­"
    Cassius proudly stuck up his nose. "Thanks! I think you have insane curves as well!"
    "¡­That wasn't a compliment," Hellion sighed. "And you¡­ Are you just inviting me to join you for my body¡­?"
    She showed barely any emotion, so Cassius honestly had no idea if she was disgusted or not. However, if he stayed silent any longer, it might as well have been confirmation of her lecherous assumption.
    He shook his head, his following words sincere. "I do not lust after you. But your figure really is impressive; I am extremely curious why a mythical beast like you has an appearance like you have. My dragon also has the same thing going on for her, which really makes me wonder if all of you are shaped so perfectly¡­ Truly intriguing¡­"
    Hellion was once again left at a loss for words, even more so after determining that what he said was the truth.
    His innocent earnestness was truly baffling.
    Nonetheless, her answer remained the same¡ª
    "Did I tell you that I plan to kill a Demon King?" said Cassius, effectively interrupting her train of thought.
    "Kill a Demon King? How do you plan to do that¡­?"
    "By defeating it, of course!"
    Silence.
    "¡­You really are insane¡­" Hellion sighed, finding it extremely difficult to comprehend this perplexing man. "Even though you are able to become stronger through battle, the power level of a Demon King, even the weakest of them, is something beyond what your world could withstand. And as far as I'm aware, where you come from, the Demon Kings do not care about. At least for the 1st Floor¡­ So tell me, why find trouble with an entity like that?"
    'The 1st Floor¡­ I feel like I heard that somewhere before¡­ But where? And what does it mean?'
    Despite his deep interest in that particular subject, Cassius responded to Hellion's question. "The answer to that is simple: when I ascend to the 1st Floor of HELL, I have a feeling that the 72nd Demon King will start hating me. And if Earthly scriptures are any indication of the pettiness of Demons, this small level of hate will surely lead to a death feud."
    Hellion pondered what he said, realizing that he was right. 'As soon as this Child passes through the Gate, HELL will put more notice on him. The 72nd Demon King in particular, Andromalius, is known for his short temper and volatile demeanor¡­ Death will come swift if he is involved.'
    Hellion's original reason for fighting Cassius was to save him from a painful death. All she wanted was to let him go out peacefully, as she believed he had no idea just how excruciating living yet not being permitted death could truly be.
    'So that's why he brought up the topic of Demon Kings¡­'
    Hellion narrowed her eyes. She received a warm, inviting smile in return.
    "You don't want me to suffer, is that not right?" asked Cassius. "If so, then take my hand and accept being my companion. Let's go Demon King hunting, why don't we?"
    "Oh, and in case you're hesitating because you fear that this arrangement might be permanent, you need not worry," he added. "I don't know what is telling me this, but I have a feeling I won't be staying around for very long¡­ Whether this feeling foreshadows my death or something more is still unknown, but joining me in figuring this out¡ªdoesn't that sound like fun??"

 Chapter 124 Main Quest #4 - [Completed]

    Hellion stared straight into Cassius's eyes, then shook her head. "Fine¡­ This one shall accept your offer. But ten years¡ªthat is all I shall be beside you for. Beyond that, it is up to Fate to intervene."Cassius grinned while leaning down to pick up the fallen beauty. He gently put her on his back, then said, "I won't need you to stay around for a decade; a year is plenty. But if you wish to remain after that point¡­ Well, as you said, Fate will surely intervene."
    Hellion blinked. Feeling the firmness of his back made her feel rather comfortable. It was nice.
    "If you want to shorten the duration of our time together, then so be it," she said. "But I will tell you beforehand that I am only agreeing to this because of how¡­ unique¡­ your destiny is. It is one of the only ones that I'm unable to glimpse into."
    "And¡­ why are you carrying me?" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Oh, this?" Cassius chuckled. "You may be able to conceal it well, but I know what sort of condition you're in right now. That power you used sure was something else, alright."
    Hellion remained silent.
    It continued that way for quite a while, as Cassius made his way out of the Pyramid rubble and toward the giant hellish door standing in the background.
    As opposed to common belief, the Gate to HELL was not something that served as a border between two plots of land. Rather, it was a door or gateway of sorts between separate layers of space. Similar to how the Oracle Pyramid Floor doors functioned, yet on a higher level, the Gate to HELL was one that would send you to the true 7th Dimension known as HELL.
    The massive, terrifying Gate was erected directly behind the Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid and was around the same height as it. There was nothing behind the Gate, as it was all just a blending illusion.
    In a sense, the Gate to HELL was the Edge of the sub-dimension often referred to as the 'Trial Area' for otherworlders.
    Yet, even with the Gate being the way forward for those worthy, there had not been a successful Otherworlder for the last few thousand years. Meaning that Cassius was the first to succeed in a very, very long time.
    A few seconds passed.
    Cassius and Hellion made it to the absurdly large skull-adorned Gate, where he then took the time to scan over his system notifications and take out the necessary items to advance forward.
    *Ding!*
    [You have defeated the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion (S- -)]
    [Your Experience Bar has moved by leaps and bounds!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 1200 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 450 Points!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 1500 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 600 Points!]
    {[Main Quest #4]} - [A++ Rank] ¡ú [S-- Rank]
    ¡ª[Without taking off your Newbie 5 Equipment Set, you are required to kill every single Hellish being present in the Trial Area of HELL's 1st Floor. You are also to either slay the Hellish Sphinx or answer all of its questions correctly.]
    {[Rewards upon Completion:]}
    {[Reward 1: 1000 AP]} - [?]
    {[Reward 2: A+ Riddler's Riddler]} - [?]
    {[Reward 3: S+++ Rank HELL's 1st Floor Gate Key]} - [?]
    {[Reward 4: Map of HELL's 1st Floor]} - [?]
    {[Reward 5: 72nd Demon King's Ire]} - [?]
    {[Punishment Upon Failure: 12 Hours in 'Nightmare Scape']} - [...Passed¡­ Immense Disappointment]
    Cassius felt an ominously evil intent hone in on him and peer into his existence with disdain. Yet, that intent left as quickly as it came, leaving him to wonder just how much power he felt connected to that intent.
    'It was so much¡­ Power like that¡­ Is it even possible¡­?'
    While that question bounced around inside his head, he closely watched the rest of the system notifications.
    *Ding~!*
    [Acquired (S- - Rank) Beast Companion 'Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx']
    ['Hellion' added to Partial Idle Evolution System Feature #5. '14 present Affection']
    {[Oracle Sphinx's Pyramid (S-- Rank)]} - [Boss Area] - [CLEARED]
    ¡ª[This Pyramid serves as the most prominent and unexplainable remains of a technologically advanced civilization that vanished long ago. The Entity once idolized as the 'future' of this civilization has long since had its consciousness corroded by demonic energies. Now, it eternally persists in the land of Demons as the 'Guardian of the Gate.']
    {[Clear Rewards:]}
    [Reward 1 - (25 Heaps of Medium-sized Experience Points)] - [?]
    [Reward 2 - (1200 AP)] - [?]
    [Reward 3 - (Oracle Sphinx's Heart (Oracle Sphinx's Bloodline))] - [?]
    [Reward 4 - (20 Common Evomon Rank-up Shards)] - [?]
    [Reward 5 - (10 Orange-tier Dragon Pellets)] - [?]
    {[Punishment for Failure:]}
    ¡ª[12 hours of being trapped in the 'Land of Nightmares'] - [...Why do you pass out on such an opportunity again? Tsk!]
    *Ding!*
    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]
    [You leveled up!]
    [You received 2000 AP!]
    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 800 Points!]
    [Acquired (S-Rank Item) Oracle Sphinx's Heart]
    ¡ª[Would you like to assimilate with the item and obtain the S-Rank 'Oracle Sphinx's Bloodline'?]
    "Yes," answered Cassius, puzzling Hellion.
    She was still wondering how he planned to get through the impregnable Gates of HELL. Was he going to ask her? Or did he have something else in mind¡ª?
    While in the process of asking herself these things, she felt a presence eerily similar to her own erupt from the man she was latched onto. Her eyes widened in slight surprise as she watched his appearance and demeanor undergo a complete transformation.
    At first, it was merely a change in aura to something more ancient and wise, then it turned into physical alterations. Cassius's acquisition of the Oracle Sphinx's Bloodline was very much unlike the SS-Rank Ordinary Phoenix and Demon King Bloodlines. Unlike them, he received the Oracle Sphinx's Bloodline at 100%.
    This meant that a full metamorphosis was in order.
    Cassius's hair turned a dark shade of black and blue. His eyes returned to their previous blue hue yet came along with an even deadlier gleam. Moreover, his originally peachy skin darkened significantly, giving him the appearance of someone who had just finished sunbathing in the Bahamas.
    Once again, his charm took a steep incline, and along with it came an appropriate System Notification.

 Chapter 125 Transfer of Demonic Essence

    *Ding!*[Charisma improved by 3 Points!]
    "Hmm¡­"
    With his new set of piercing blue eyes, Cassius observed the pop-up, then turned his head slightly to the side. Seeing the astonished expression on Hellion's face made him chuckle, even more so when he noticed her favorability increase by five or so points.
    'It seems like this Sphinx has taken a liking to this new appearance of mine,' he thought, amused. 'Well, it is very Egyptian, and I can imagine the appeal.'
    "You¡­ Why do I sense the Bloodline of a Sphinx within you? What exactly have you done?" Hellion inquired, her mouth slightly agape. "...This shouldn't even be possible¡­ Even if the Bloodline I sense is of a lower rank than mine¡­"
    'I did notice that she looked kind of restricted when we were fighting, almost as if she were not used to moving around in her own body, but I never expected her actual Bloodline to be so high.' S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Even with Cassius's specialized sight Skills, the most he could decipher from her description was that her Bloodline was above SS-Rank, and that she had once been some sort of deity¡­
    The deity part was extremely unclear, but just what was shown was more than enough for Cassius to determine that her true power far exceeded the S-Rank. However, somewhere along the way, likely thousands of years ago, she had lost her status as a god of the people that used to reside in this fractured land.
    She had been reduced to no more than the Boss Monster of a monotonous station, coined the 'Guardian of HELL's 1st Floor.'
    "Are you bending the Will of Heaven?? The way you are able to grow stronger through conflict, and now this mysterious Bloodline acquisition¡­ Are you a Defyer of Heaven's Will?"
    "Heaven's Will?" Cassius mimicked. "No, it's nothing like that. Hmm¡­ Who really knows how I do what I do? Perhaps it is just the hand of God at work? A miracle I am¡­ humble I am¡­ not."
    Hellion eyed the Egyptian-like man, yet backed off quickly as she instinctively knew that she would never get anything out of him.
    "Child, you are mysterious," she said. "But keep your mysteries. Revealing them when we pass into HELL's 1st Floor will only bring you misfortune. Yet, you can rest assured; as one who holds within her vast knowledge of HELL¡ªa living guidebook of sorts¡ªI will impart unto you all the information you require."
    "But first, do you need help getting through the Gate? Although I could go unconscious if I assist, I can do it if need be."
    Cassius's eyelashes flickered as he stared at the stunning face leaning over his right shoulder. "You truly are too kind for your own good," he said with a smile before summoning a small Hellish key. "But I will not need your help this time around; perhaps another day, though."
    For the third or fourth time that day, Hellion's neutral expression once again reflected surprise. She watched in silence as the Human/Sphinx grabbed hold of something that shouldn't even exist.
    "That Key¡­ It seems to contain the essence of HELL¡­ Are you planning to open up the Gate with that?" asked Hellion, genuinely confused as to why she sensed what she did.
    Cassius looked away from the curious Egyptian beauty, a slight grin plastered on his otherworldly handsome face. "Indeed I am."
    He threw the nightmarish key into the air, then watched as it shot forward and plunged itself into an opening in the Gate that hadn't been there before. Both the key and the Gate produced a dazzling crimson light that enveloped everything within the surrounding dozen miles. A deep, thrumming creak resounded, signifying the opening of both sides of the Gate.
    "That actually¡­ worked¡­?" Hellion, although having already assumed it would, was still shocked. "Only I should have the authority to open the Gate to HELL, so how did this happen?"
    Cassius smirked but did not elaborate.
    He sauntered toward the wide opening in the Gate. Looking ahead, he saw a vast expanse of darkish-red land, with demons of varying levels of terror flying and leaping about.
    However, before he could take his first step into this Hellish world, Hellion stopped him. "Before we go in, I'll need to give you all of the Demonic Essence I carry with me from the Trial Gate Area of HELL. You've somehow been absorbing Demonic Essence from the demons you've killed, have you not? What I sense to be the Bloodline of a Demon King in you also appears to be a byproduct of this absorption process."
    Cassius came to an abrupt halt, then observed the serious expression Hellion was making. "Will this transfer of Demonic Essence affect you in any way?"
    Although puzzled by this question, she truthfully answered, "No, the Demonic Essence I'll be transferring to you is not my own. It is the accumulated hate and evil of the miasma that festers in this world I guard. My own Demonic Essence, on the other hand, is¡­ it's complicated¡­"
    Cassius secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet still asked, "Your power will be affected, won't it?"
    "Naturally. But you don't need me for my power, do you?"
    "¡­You are correct¡­"
    "Then let us debate this no more. I'll give my Demonic Essence to you, as keeping it within myself will surely make your death all the swifter, with enemies tracking me and subsequently, you."
    Cassius mulled it over for a moment before nodding. He needed that Demonic Essence to further progress his Demon King Bloodline anyway. She was simply saving him the trouble of finding more powerful demons to slay and assimilate with.
    "Then stay still," Hellion ordered. "If you move too much during this process, both you and I could perish."
    Cassius showed his compliance by remaining as still as a stone statue, which then gave Hellion the go-ahead to activate a forbidden technique. It was one she hoped never to use again, yet was doing so anyway. Though, at least this time, it wasn't her own power being taken from her.
    Without idling any longer, Hellion summoned forth a massive blood-colored sigil. Adorned with ancient, indecipherable letters and symbols, it shone with an unmatched demonic brilliance.

 Chapter 126 Becoming the 73rd Demon King of HELL

    "As soon as you feel something alien invade the core of your being, you must remain calm and not freak out," Hellion warned, beads of cold sweat rolling down her face. "If you try to push away this foreign energy, then both of us will suffer the consequences. And those consequences will be disastrous."Cassius didn't say a single word, but she could understand his compliance.
    "Then let us begin," she announced.
    OOOM!
    An overpowering demonic energy erupted from Hellion's voluptuous figure. It rolled out in immensely powerful waves, with every new wave becoming greater in intensity. Yet, after a few seconds of the energy building up to a sufficient degree, it all dipped down and lunged into the body of a lone human.
    Cassius was immediately overwhelmed by this foreign energy. He felt it dig into his skin and bones, tearing away at all of his outer defenses. Instinctively, he knew he had to ward off this energy, yet resisted everything yelling at him to do just that.
    This was not the time to falter.
    A few seconds later...
    All of the demonic energy had been transfused with Hellion's demonic essence and converged inside Cassius's body. It then assimilated with his Demon King Bloodline, improving upon what was already there. Though the pain and urges were extremely persuasive toward that end, he still didn't relent.
    OOOoom¡­
    The demonic energies finally subsided, with Hellion left looking far less lively. Her complexion was pale, and her expression haggard. It was quite obvious that this demonic essence transfer had taken more than a little toll on her.
    However, from this lengthy process, Cassius emerged a new person. His previously Egyptian appearance had taken on a more demonic image, with obsidian black spiraling horns protruding from atop his head. Moreover, his canine teeth had grown sharper, his striking blue eyes took on a reddish hue, and a slick tail stuck out from his tailbone.
    He still retained his overall demonic visage, yet now had a very evil and cunning way about him.
    [Charisma has increased by 3 Stat Points!]
    [(SS-Rank Demon King) Bloodline has achieved the 100% Transformation Rate!]
    [Acquired the full (SS-Rank Demon King) Bloodline!]
    [All of your Stats have improved by 1500 Points!]
    [Acquired the 'Demonic Affinity']
    [Acquired the 'Demonic Element']
    [Your Battle Power has improved by leaps and bounds!]
    {[Side Quest 'Becoming the 73rd Demon King of HELL']} - [COMPLETED]
    ¡ª[Reach 100% in your Demon King Bloodline] - [COMPLETED]
    ¡ª[Completely conquer the Trial Gate Area of HELL] - [COMPLETED]
    [Reward 1: 2000 AP] - [?]
    [Reward 2: SS-Rank Title '73rd Demon King of HELL'] - [?]
    [Reward 3: (SS-Rank) 'Fiendish Demon King Arts' Manual] - [?]
    [Reward 4: Extreme Ire of the 70th, 71st, and 72nd Demon Kings] - [?]
    Cassius felt wave after wave of power wash over his existence, successfully improving his stats by another few notches. He also took the time to look over his 'A++ Riddler' item and the 'Fiendish Demon King Arts Manual' item. The former was a deck of cards, with the entire set forming some kind of voodoo fortune-teller setup. If he could get someone to agree to play, he could slightly alter the strings of Fate to a minor degree and make happen what the cards say would happen.
    The latter item, however, was a Technique Manual. It was oddly similar to the Immortal Cultivation Techniques, yet it instead leaned more toward the demonic side of things. It could also be termed a 'Fiendish Cultivation Technique,' which was the yin to the yang of the 'Immortal Cultivation Technique.'
    Cassius was curious to see if he could cultivate this technique in conjunction with his Fundamental Body Refinement Manual. And he had a keen intuition telling him that it was possible.
    However, that would have to wait until later, as right now, a certain Sphinx was staring into the back of his head with immense curiosity.
    First, it was the sudden acquisition of a full Oracle Sphinx's Bloodline, and now there were multiple surges of power occurring within Cassius's body. Hellion truly had no idea what was going on anymore.
    With her vision blurring due to exhaustion, she managed to get out the most important question:
    "¡­I can assume the demonic essence transfusion was a success¡­? Your bloodline¡­"
    Cassius nodded. "I have become a Demon King¡ªthe 73rd Demon King, to be exact."
    Surprise lit up Hellion's beautiful face, yet her nerves quickly relaxed a second later. She had already become somewhat accustomed to the innumerable surprises this man brought with him.
    "Still, to become a Demon King¡­ You should know that more than just Andromalius will take notice of your existence," Hellion cautioned. "And though the number of interested Demon Kings may be few for now, when the others learn of your existence¡ªespecially if you plan to keep on conquering HELL¡ªyour future will dim till bleakness. Like a dying star, your light will fade until nothing remains."
    Cassius pondered, then responded with a question. "These Demon Kings; just how strong are they?"
    Hellion looked off into the distance as if reminiscing of a time long gone.
    "The strongest of the Demon Kings¡ªLucifer, Beelzebub, and Astaroth¡ªare mighty demonic beings that could wipe out an entire dimension if they so willed it. Their strength is at a level beyond your wildest imaginations. Though, you will not need to worry about them for the time being."
    "However, even the weakest and lowliest of the Demon Kings exceed the limit of what you can manage. The SS-Rank¡ªthe rank that supersedes the S-Rank¡ªis the beginning for them. For this reason, I tell you that if you step foot into that Gate, you will be hunted and killed before you can become stronger through your mysterious means."
    Cassius peered into the illusions of HELL shown within the Gate to HELL. He could feel several incredibly powerful presences pressing down on him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'They seem to be unable to pass through that Gate, and they also appear to be hiding in wait. If I ignore Hellion's warnings, then what she says will happen could very well occur¡­'

 Chapter 127 {[Dragonfire Demon King (SS-Rank)]} Title

    Cassius contemplated his options. If he entered the Gate, he would definitely encounter the Demon Kings. His death was certain, but if he could survive fifteen deaths¡ªwhich was the current limit of his S- Rank 'Supreme Nirvana Rebirth' Skill¡ªand become strong enough, he would defeat them.However, the question remained: would fifteen deaths be enough for him to become stronger than they were? What if they were not that emotionally charged in reaction to his feats or provocations?
    Glancing at Hellion, Cassius asked, "Relative to how much more powerful you were than I was when we first met, what would be the difference between me and¡ª"
    "Insurmountably larger," Hellion stated matter-of-factly. "The SS-Rank is no joke, and I wasn't even considered to be of the S-Rank before I gave up my Demonic Essence to you. By my speculations, your current strength is somewhere around the absolute bottom of the S-Rank. Facing the 72nd Demon King, you will be like an ant going up against a mountain. You will die thousands of times in an instant if he so willed it, meaning that whatever trick you used against me will not work unless you can revive infinitely."
    "Can you revive infinitely¡­?" she asked, serious.
    "No¡­" Cassius answered truthfully, feeling rather reluctant to pass up on this opportunity.
    Then again, it was only for now.
    With what he gained from this expedition, he would surely come back with several times more power. Especially when he now had the different segments of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual and the Fiendish Demon King Arts, which were one rank higher than the Body Refinement Manual.
    "Let us temporarily leave HELL then," Cassius said as he turned around and beckoned the Gates of HELL to close.
    The hellish scenery inside was quickly barred from view, leaving several important demonic figures in a complex mood. Yet they knew not to grow impatient; that human-turned-Demon King would certainly return. And when he did, they would let him experience true Hell on Earth. Discover exclusive content at empire
    Hellion silently agreed with Cassius's decision. A part of her had expected the young man to be rash and rush in headfirst, but it was a good thing that did not happen.
    'Cassius¡­ His fate is one that even I cannot see through¡­ My eyes, even now, after everything has been stolen from me, are still able to glimpse into the futures of beings beyond the SSS-Rank, like Lucifer. But Cassius¡­ his fate weaves out a story too much for my sight to handle¡­ It is unprecedented¡­'
    Hellion's thoughts rang out inside her head as she quietly observed the rapidly flashing surroundings that passed them by.
    While making their way toward the hidden portal that led Cassius into this subdimension, a number of system notifications sounded out, informing him of a few things:
    *Ding!*
    [Would you like to combine the 'SS-Rank 73rd Demon King of HELL' and 'A- Dragonfire Advent' Titles?] - [Y/N]
    Cassius clicked Yes.
    A bright light flashed.
    ['SS-Rank 73rd Demon King of HELL' + 'A- Dragonfire Advent' = 'SS-Rank Dragonfire Demon King' Title]
    'The rank of the Title didn't improve, but that is to be expected when the second Title was of a much lower rank than the first,' thought Cassius as he pulled up the Title's relevant details.
    {[Dragonfire Demon King (SS-Rank)]}
    ¡ª[The first of his kind. A mix between a Demon King and a Dragon.]
    {[Effect 1: 'Demon Dragon' - (User receives the 'SS-Rank Demon Dragon Bloodline' at 0.001% integration rate. To progress, the User must practice the 'Demon Dragon Integration Arts.')]}
    {[Effect 2: 'Demon Dragon Integration Arts' - (An SS-Rank Booklet describing what a Demon Dragon needs to do to further progress his Bloodline integration rate.)]}
    {[Effect 3: 'Flame Invincibility' - (Ordinary Universal Flames and Fires no longer affect the User. Also immune to most basic attacks produced by other elements.)]} S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    {[Effect 4: 'Dragon Quasar' - (Unleash a conflagration of hyper-condensed and extremely deadly Dragon flames at will. Takes upon the Elements of Fire, Explosion, Demonic, Evil, Dragon, Plasma, and Destruction. S+++ Rank Skill.)]}
    {[Effect 5: 'Demon Dragon Transformation' - (Can switch between 'Full Dragon Form,' 'Humanoid Dragon Form,' and 'Original Form' at will.)]}
    Cassius was very impressed with what he glimpsed from his new Title. He was also pleased to see a similar Effect to #5 for his Oracle Sphinx Bloodline as well, meaning that he could choose between which form he wished to take. Conversely, he could choose to be all different forms at once.
    'Though, with yet another Technique I have to practice and master, my plate is slowly but surely being filled up,' Cassius thought. 'With all that said, I'll definitely need to divert a lot of the following period of time into practicing all my Techniques. This should both improve my power and get me if not the slightest bit closer to the S-Rank and SS-Rank.'
    Those thoughts of his lingered even as he walked through a large portal and vanished from the Trial Gate area of HELL.
    ¡ªIn the same spot Cassius disappeared while on Earth¡ª
    An even more handsome, purely Egyptian-like man and woman appeared. Yet, as soon as their images came into view, they vanished once more.
    A few miles away.
    FWIP!
    "This is my home, Hellion," Cassius said while perched atop a rooftop in the dead of night. "I know you are not that kind of Demon, but just for safe measures, you are not to harm, kill, or eat anyone inside. Only humans I designate as enemies can you do with as you will."
    Hellion blinked. "I understand."
    "Good. Then let us enter; remember, follow my lead and act natural¡­ This isn't the first time I have done something like this¡ª"
    As soon as those words left his mouth, something else left through his bedroom window. It was his¡­ school laptop¡­
    On its way down, he could faintly make out explicit scenes of professional men and women doing the nasty.
    Hellion's eyes glazed over in curiosity. "So that is the sort of stuff you like. I see¡­"
    For a second, Cassius froze in place. Then he registered the distinct sound of his window glass shattering, urging him to flash forward. A moment later, he was already standing inside his room, where he saw the nerve-wracking sight of an enchantingly beautiful gray-haired girl with slitted draconic eyes.
    Though, as of right now, her mesmerizing charm was almost entirely overshadowed by her utterly livid expression.

 Chapter 128 Figuring out Boarding Arrangements

    Yimin, like the good dragon she was, had been patiently waiting for her master to return home. Her tail had been wagging for hours on end as she seemed to be in her own little world. Even with the occasional presence of the other girls, she remained blissfully oblivious to all that was going on around her.That was until she became a little bit bored a few minutes ago and coincidentally saw a metallic doohickey on a desk. She opened it up, guessed the complicated password right on the first try, and was then flash-banged by a man going at it with a pretty naked girl. An iconic orange-and-black symbol hung above the website's UI.
    The laptop was then promptly thrown out the window, attracting the attention of not only the recently arrived pair but also of the girls currently playing a board game downstairs.
    With thuds against steps quickly moving upward, Cassius had to act fast. First, he used a C-Rank Repair Skill to repair the broken window, then he teleported the cracked laptop into his room and repaired it as well. After which, he moved like a spectral being and went to stop the eruption of rage that could potentially demolish the whole neighborhood.
    Yet, in the same moment Cassius clasped Yimin's pinkish lips and injected a soothing remedy, the door to his room was whacked open. This disturbance gave the perfect opportunity she needed to slip out of his loose grasp and bite him on the hand.
    Experience tales at empire
    One thing led to another, and Cassius was pushed over, then the two tumbled and rolled. The fierce Yimin lay sprawled out below him.
    Though, when she felt a large, rough hand press against her right breast, her surging anger was greatly alleviated.
    '...This situation¡­ Sh*t¡­'
    Even with Cassius's stupidly ridiculous speed, there was nothing he could do that could possibly turn back time. The damage had already been done.
    Slowly, he turned his head up, only to see five uniquely gorgeous women show signs of surprise, then anger.
    "Cassius¡­ You¡­ You lecherous bastard!!"
    It was fair to say that he received quite the earful from that point onward. It was even to the point that only after an hour passed did everyone calm down enough for him to explain the situation.
    The entire time, Hellion was just sitting in the background and enjoying the show while recuperating. Yet, even though she was enjoying the drama, she failed to emulate any of the emotions she was feeling on her face. For her, emotions were tough.
    Aya, on the other hand, was very open about her emotions.
    At least when it came to violent emotions¡­
    "Cassius, I just can't believe you! Humph!" she snorted. "Last time, you came back with that gray-haired woman, and now you brought back this dark-skinned Egyptian woman? Are you trying to start a harem or something?? And where are these women even coming from??"
    First, it was Memphis, then Stella and that infuriating gray-haired woman, and now it was an Egyptian beauty! Her frustrations were not unfounded! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Well¡­" Under the intense stares of everyone in the room, including his stepmother, Cassius didn't really know what to say. "...One thing led to another¡ª"
    "That is a terrible excuse, you idiot!" shouted Aya, her cheeks filled with air.
    "Now, now, Aya, my dear daughter, perhaps Cassius really did just have some unique encounters and felt obligated to help these girls," Sasha interjected, her expression friendly but her tone saying otherwise.
    She was slightly annoyed by all these new girls as well, but she did a far better job at sweeping her annoyances under the rug than her daughter.
    Getting back to the matter at hand, Sasha said, "But Ara Ara, with so many new tenants, we don't have much room left in the house. And we can't exactly have girls sleeping in the same room as our¡­ 'adventurous' Cassius, now can we?"
    If only she knew that all of them were already sneaking into his bed every night¡­
    "What are we to do about this?"
    Stella and Memphis hadn't felt it appropriate for them to speak up before, as they were part of the problem. But now that it came down to this question, they had no choice but to voice their opinions:
    "I-If there is not enough room, then I can contact my uncle¡­ Even if¡­ Even if he treats me like that, I'll find a way to manage," Memphis murmured.
    "Neither do I wish to impose¡­ I can get out of everyone's hair if¡­ if that's what you want," Stella added, her ahoge hairs drooping.
    Everyone suddenly felt bad, especially Cassius and Sasha.
    Sighing, Sasha proposed an alternative. "Perhaps we should move out? I have been thinking of increasing our living space for a while now, but the costs are¡­ substantial. Even with our savings, I doubt we'll have enough. Furthermore, I haven't even informed my husband of all of you moving in. It will surely surprise him, and might even leave me with no choice but to evict you. Let alone agreeing to upsizing, just getting him to accept the existence of you girls is¡­ Haiz¡­"
    "Hmm¡­"
    Cassius himself was pondering this complicated matter.
    After selling countless Magic Shards under an anonymous identity, he had amassed hundreds of thousands of USD, which was more than enough to buy a luxurious house in Japan. However, how was he to tell Aya and Sasha about this sudden influx of wealth?
    They knew very well what type of job he worked at. That also meant they knew hundreds of thousands of USD was impossible to come by unless he slaved away for an entire lifetime.
    'Maybe I should just say I won the lottery or something? I can fabricate a ticket with my A-Rank 'Minor Creation' Skill right here and now.'
    Ultimately, Cassius decided he'd do just that. And without wasting any more of anyone's brain processing power, he took out a genuine lottery ticket and let it 'slip' out of his hands onto the floor.

 Chapter 129 Buying a New House, Winning the Lotto?

    "???"Aya, seeing the ticket glide across the ground, pointed it out. "What is that?"
    Everyone else in the room also looked where Aya was looking. Hellion amusingly smiled before relishing in the soothing energy still permeating throughout her body and speeding up her recovery.
    'His Skills truly are miraculous¡­ And he's so diversified¡­ That child really is totally unlike the rest of his kind. It even makes me believe that he was not originally born a human¡­ But I know that is not the case.'
    While Hellion was thinking completely off topic, Aya approached the shiny golden cardboard cutout and looked at its contents. Her eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, "A lottery ticket?? And one for $500k!? Is this thing for real??"
    "What??" Even Memphis and Stella were shocked by this announcement.
    Memphis grew up in the middle class, with her Hunter of a father only strong enough to bring home around $10k a month. Which, in relation to the economy of Japan, was more than enough to live comfortably. But $500k?? That was simply absurd!
    Stella, however, had been an awakened B-Rank Hunter for more than a year. Naturally, her net worth far exceeded a million. Yet that didn't mean this number and the idea of winning the lottery interested her any less.
    Within milliseconds, all the girls except for Hellion and Yimin had gathered around the golden lottery ticket being held in Aya's hands. They inspected it, and after confirming that this was most definitely a genuine lottery ticket, their eyes brightened up in glee.
    Find your next adventure on empire
    Stella had been prepared to purchase a place of her own (preferably one next to Cassius), but this lottery ticket changed everything!
    Simultaneously, all of the girls, including Sasha and Aya, looked to Cassius for clarification.
    He inwardly chuckled at their adorable behavior before explaining to them a completely fabricated story that he just made up. It detailed how he passed by a convenience store on his way home from work and decided to buy a total of three lotto tickets. Of those three, two were winners, with the first one only being worth $5, whereas the other was an astronomical $500k!
    However, as he only recently had the chance to scratch them off, he hadn't even bothered to check the numbers. And to back this bullsh*t story, he took out the other two tickets he totally purchased at a convenience store.
    "Well? Did I actually win something from them?" asked Cassius, his acting unrivaled throughout the ages.
    "Not only did you win, you got half a million! Or 50 million yen! Do you know what we could do with 50 million yen!?"
    Although the money wasn't even her own, Aya's irises lit up with dollar-dollar bill signs. She got up close and personal with Cassius, making sure to show off the winning numbers.
    "Wow¡ª" Cassius said with his mouth open. "With this much money, that new house is no longer out of the question, is it? What a great stroke of fortune. What a coincidence."
    Aya's elation was suddenly replaced with a certain amount of suspicion. Her eyes narrowed as she pushed Cassius to a wall. Pointing her polished index finger into his chest, she looked up, saying, "You aren't playing with us here, are you?"
    Cassius did his best to hide the sweat beads drizzling down his forehead. "W-Why, of course not. This lotto ticket must just be an extreme bout of good luck."
    "Ehh¡­"
    After a moment of scrutinizing the suspicious man, Aya shrugged and went back to caressing the lotto ticket as if it were the most precious thing in the world. She was originally going to declare that part of the winnings were hers because she found out they won, but then she felt bad halfway through.
    Scuttling back over to her stepbrother, she leaned up on her tippy toes and just barely managed to reach high enough to whisper into his ear, "Can I announce that we can use the money to shop for a new house¡­?"
    '...Cute¡­' Cassius thought, yet answered, "Sure, just don't get excited too soon. We still have to cash in the lotto ticket, after all."
    "Uhn!" Aya beamed before spinning on her heel and shouting to the girls, "We're going home hunting! I call dibs on the largest room!"
    Surprisingly, no one argued her on that claim. Most of them, including her, would just find their way into Cassius's bedroom anyway. In fact, the only reason they were even discussing this new home subject to begin with was for Sasha's sake. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Still, all of them gave small and large cheers depending on their personalities. Though, really only Yimin was extremely outgoing about the cheers. And she didn't even know for certain what precisely she was cheering about.
    'I still want to eat these vixen bitches! Is that what we're cheering about!? But what are they so excited for??'
    Yimin herself was very, very¡­ confused.
    Ten minutes later¡­
    Cassius successfully diverted the girls' focus away from his brief groping and rolling session with Yimin under the guise of heading out first thing tomorrow to go house searching. All in all, everyone went to bed in rather spirited moods, even in spite of the fact that it was nearly 1 AM already.
    Cassius also called in for the night some time later and fell asleep extremely fast.
    However, as the minutes turned into hours, more and more of the girls in the house found their way into his bed one way or another. Yimin spawned in his bed like it was natural, Memphis came to him when she had nightmares of that Gate and her uncle, Aya sleepwalked her way in, and Stella just liked his company while sleeping.
    Out of all of the girls close to him, only Hellion stayed out of it. Well, for the most part at least¡­
    In actuality, she sat at the bed's headrest and used her supple thighs as pillows for Cassius. She slept this way for she believed his mysteries to unravel themselves better in this manner. Furthermore, it was quite boring to meditate and recover alone.
    The night passed quickly, and the following day even quicker.
    Cassius and the gang received many peculiar stares while walking to their destinations for the day, as all of them were exceptionally good-looking. Even the older Sasha and Hellion were beyond gorgeous and seemed to age like fine wine.

 Chapter 130 A Harem, not-Harem...?

    Sasha, suddenly feeling more competitive when around this new contender than with the younger girls, wore what she thought to be her most appealing dress on this outing. Though, when Cassius discreetly headed into the convenience store to get the lotto ticket stuff settled, Sasha harrumphed before crossing her arms underneath her ample valley tops.Hellion, confused, stared at this blonde MILF in bewilderment.
    After Cassius 'cashed' in the winnings, he, along with the girls, made their way over to a few real-estate agencies. To onlookers, when they saw a man as beautiful as him surrounded by several model-level women, their first assumption was that he swung the other way and was one of the 'girlfriends.' However, of the starstruck men that walked over and shot their shots to those they fancied, everyone soon came to realize that the man was, in fact, not¡­ gay!
    Every time an interested guy approached one of the girls, that same girl, even if it were Sasha or Hellion, would immediately latch onto Cassius's arm. Some of the more shameless guys even tried hitting on different girls after failing with their first choice, yet that only made more of the girls cling to Cassius.
    Now, either this man was their dude repellent, or he was an absolute¡­ Chad!
    While observing their dynamics, multiple people noticed how unresponsive Cassius was to guys flirting with any of the girls in his party. As long as the guys didn't take things too far, he didn't seem to care. This led them to believe that he was just that much more of a¡­ Chad! There was no other explanation!
    If this handsome man was, in fact, in with the girls, then he would definitely be more emotional and even take great offense to the guys hitting on his girlfriends. However, seeing as that wasn't the case, it became abundantly obvious that his 'girlfriends' were the real article kind of girlfriends!
    In conclusion, handsome man had harem ¡ú was Chad!
    And somehow, this scenario made even unrelated girls swoon over the suave, devilishly handsome man. For some reason, girls seemed to like it when other girls were interested in a man. This upped his value or something like that.
    Yet, when it came to girls approaching Cassius, this was an entirely different ballpark. None of the gals in his party tolerated even slightly flirtatious glances, let alone full-out flirting sessions. They usually worked together to scare away the homewreckers when this occurred.
    And like that, the day passed rather smoothly, with any lecherous fellows and ladies eventually stopping their pursuit. Cassius and the gang also found the house they were going to purchase. It had three stories, over ten bedrooms, and six bathrooms. Moreover, it also had an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, as well as a neat patio.
    For a meager half a million, it was certainly impressive.
    Though, it was believed to be just the tiny bit¡­ haunted¡­ However, that was more of an unlikely rumor than anything. There was no way the house was actually haunted¡­
    Anywho, after taking a couple of days to settle into the $450,000 house and move everything over, Cassius also took the time to tell Grace and Bella of his relocation. They were scared at first, but after hearing that he was still in the neighborhood, they both breathed sighs of relief.
    Then again, Bella and Grace didn't quite understand why Cassius and his family were moving. Their previous house was plenty big enough. And though Grace didn't think much of it, Bella found it more than a little suspicious.
    'One only really moves when space is not sufficient anymore¡­ But for that to be the case, there would need to be an increase in household occupation¡­'
    Bella smelled sus. This would definitely require more investigating.
    Grace, on the other hand, was simply happy to know that Cassius would be taking her out to more places very soon. He promised as much while they were talking, and she would be anticipating every moment up until what he said came to fruition. Experience tales at empire
    As the days went by and summer break was nearing its end, Cassius began to notice something up within himself. It was subtle, but he could feel a part of him yearning for blood, of all things. He could also somewhat see through other living beings and observe what were most certainly nervous systems or the veins that connected to each other throughout one's body. This also meant he could feel their hot, pulsating blood coursing through those same veins.
    It was extremely odd, to say the least.
    On a plus note, when weeks had already gone by since Cassius met and defeated Hellion in HELL, he had been nonstop practicing his various techniques. He got his Basic Movements Manual to the 5th Layer, the Defend Manual to the 4th Layer, and the Attack Manual to the peak of the 4th Layer. Moreover, he advanced the altruistic |Fiendish Demon King Arts| to Greater Completion, which was just two steps away from the maximum proficiency ranking of 'Integration.'
    For Techniques and Arts, they all varied greatly in terms of practice milestones. But the most prominent and commonly used milestones denoters were either Layer, Levels, and Ranks or the 'Martial Artist Technique Rankings.'
    Cassius later learned of this ranking through an S-Rank Booklet of the same name that he obtained after conquering a certain Purple-rank Gate on the other side of the world. You see, as he was no longer limited to just Japan with his speed, he could cross all sorts of wide distances very easily. This made it extremely simple to clear the weakest of Purple-rank Gates, all of which were left open for the very few S-Rank Hunter Parties to farm.
    In fact, because of one of the times that Cassius did this, the secret clearance of a Purple-ranked Gate in America ended up on the international headlines as the 'Incognito S-Rank Hunter Party crossing borders to steal resources from other countries.'
    S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 131 Demon King Ranks

    But getting back to the matter at hand. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.The Martial Artist Technique Rankings were ranked in this order from lowest to highest:
    1- Practiced
    2- Accomplished
    3- Minor Completion
    4- Greater Completion
    5- Mastered
    6- Integration
    Cassius being able to advance the |Fiendish Demon King Arts| to Greater Completion was already a grand accomplishment. Yet, it wasn't the only technique he progressed to Greater Completion, as he also got his |Demon Dragon Integration Arts| to Greater Completion!
    With the former technique, he was able to embark on the Path of the Demon King, which was something that any number of Demon Kings would kill to have. However, seeing as only the Top 5 Demon Kings were privy to how to start and progress on the Path of the Demon King, the other Demon Kings could only devour each other in hopes of becoming stronger. They could also take from human blood sacrifices in the mortal realm, but that method was highly impractical.
    From the |Fiendish Demon King Arts|, Cassius learned of yet another ranking system.
    For those who progressed down the Demon King Path as Demon Kings, there were six ranks, most of which were undersaturated:
    1- Lesser Demon King - The lowest rank, newly ascended or ruling a small domain.
    2- Greater Demon King - A more powerful ruler with established authority.
    3- Archdemon - A mighty and feared leader commanding vast legions.
    4- Demon Emperor - A near-supreme ruler with dominion over multiple regions in HELL.
    5- Demon Overlord - A master of the demonic hierarchy, commanding countless Demon Kings (normally).
    6- Demon God - The highest possible rank, considered a divine-like being of absolute power.
    Each rank was further split into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak stages. Yet, for just about every single Demon King in the current era, none of these rankings even mattered.
    According to Hellion, who was surprised to figure out that he knew of the Demon King Path, the Top 5 Demon Kings were Demon Overlords. And this was where it got weird, as there were no Demon Kings below the Demon Overlord rank. Of course, this didn't mean that no other Demon King was stronger than a Lesser Demon King; it was just that they embarked on a separate, more "unrefined" path.
    To Demon Kings of old and new, the "unrefined" path was simply the one that most other races¡ªand even their own kind¡ªused. Excluding the Angelic Path of the Heavenly Kingdom, the Demon King Path truly was the more "refined" option.
    However, as to why there were only five Demon Kings presently walking the Demon King Path, it was rumored that those same Demon Kings wiped out all others when the Demon God vanished many, many years ago. It was even said that there used to be tens of thousands of Demon Kings, and the Demon Realm was far larger than it was now.
    But with time, things change.
    The Demon King Path was now nothing more than an urban myth, something that only the five most ancient and tyrannical Demon Kings could verify the veracity of.
    So far, Cassius had progressed to the Peak stage of the Lesser Demon King Rank, which he assumed to be pretty decent. And that was with him practicing the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual and Demon Dragon Integration Arts on top of that.
    The latter was a very simple technique. All Cassius had to do was focus on the Demon Dragon Bloodline within himself and concentrate in an attempt to amplify the amount of the bloodline present inside him. By doing this, both his proficiency in the technique and his Demon Dragon Bloodline improved.
    On the note of bloodlines, his Bloodlines, as of now, looked like:
    {[Bloodline]}
    1. [(SS-Rank) Demon King] - [100%]
    2. [(SS-Rank) Ordinary Phoenix] - [42.6%]
    3. [(S-Rank) Oracle Sphinx] - [100%]
    4. [(SS-Rank) Demon Dragon] - [1.8%]
    And then there was¡­
    5. [(SSS-Rank) Duke Vampire] - [0.001%]
    "Wait¡­ Hold up! What is that last one!? And when did it get here?!" Cassius's eyes widened in shock as he was in the process of clearing a Low Purple-rank Gate in the winterlands of Russia.
    "...This is¡­ Could this be the reason for how I can now see through people's bodies for no apparent reason?"
    Things were beginning to piece themselves together inside his head. Yet, even if everything now made a lot more sense, why he had this Bloodline in the first place was still a complete mystery.
    "This isn't some sort of damn spider-bites-the-man-and-the-man-turns-into-Spiderman incident, is it?" Stay tuned to empire
    Cassius tried recalling if he had ever had a run-in with a bat, but his mind drew blanks!
    "If it's not that, then was I at some point bitten by an actual¡­ vampire???" His voice, on the brink of relapse, echoed throughout a vast snowy field.
    The Yetis in the area, who populated this Gate, all turned their heads in the direction of the voice. Their eyes were quickly consumed by a savage red glow, and they charged toward the voice. As they were the size of mountains, they destroyed entire forests in their maniacal rampaging.
    Though, for Cassius, it was more annoying than anything to listen to all this rumbling.
    He casually tossed out a few Rare-ranked Evoballs, and out popped dozens of A++ and S- - Rank Evomon. Nyxvoldar, at the forefront, was the smallest and leanest of the bunch, but with his flowing shadowy electric mane to back his presence, his S-Rank aura radiated outward.
    Nyxvoldar was so powerful now that even the Cassius from a month ago would not stand a chance against it. There was no questioning its strength. And when it blurred forward at a mere two and a half meters in size, entire snow mountain ranges were uprooted and violently thrown into the air.
    Cassius threw a glance at Nyxvoldar and the massive Evomon tagging fast behind before refocusing on this new Bloodline of his. Although he still had no idea where it came from or how he acquired it, he knew of its SSS-Rank status. He also paid attention to the noteworthy word placed behind the 'Vampire' word.

 Chapter 132 {[Duke Vampire Bloodline (SSS-Rank)]} - [0.001%]

    {[Duke Vampire Bloodline (SSS-Rank)]} - [0.001%]¡ª[This Bloodline is one that any number of Vampires would kill for, as it is the second-highest bloodline in all of Nightingale, second only to the Vampire King's direct Bloodline.]
    ¡ª[To have access to this mighty Bloodline, there are two possible scenarios. One: you are born as a vampire and are the descendant of a Vampire Duke. Two: you are bitten by either a genuine Vampire Duke or by one of the Duke's descendants.]
    ¡ª[Bloodline grants inhuman levels of strength, agility, and defense. 2000% increases across the board.]
    ¡ª[Bloodline grants a plethora of vampyric bloodline abilities, of which there are three types. One: Basic Bloodline Abilities; every Vampire, no matter their bloodline rank, has them. Two: Rank-specific Bloodline Abilities; these are better if the rank of the Bloodline is better. Three: Individual-specific Ability(s); Typically only one Ability per person, and this Ability can be considered the trademark of that person, their Unique Ability per se.] Find adventures on empire
    Focusing on the Vampire explanation segment, Cassius automatically crossed out the option involving him having been born a vampire. The second option had to be the correct one.
    But that didn't change the confusing matter at hand: How in the f*ck did he get bitten by a Vampire?? And for how long has he not known??
    Cassius tried asking the System, yet came back empty-handed and in a sour mood. The System definitely knew something he didn't, as it was quite obvious by the smug emoticons it used, but it refused to tell him anything. It soaked and drenched itself in his sorrows and grievances, not caring a single bit about how this situation affected him.
    'Even after putting on the Newbie 7 Equipment Set and weighing more than most cities, I am still being bullied by this unreasonable system¡­'
    Cassius had many hateful words he wanted to get out but felt it to be all too pointless to do something like that. Instead, he scanned through more of the intricate parts of the Duke Vampire Bloodline. It increased his stats by a substantial amount, and he read of a way to further improve these increases. But to do that, he had to progress the Bloodline.
    To do that, he had to¡­ suck the blood of other living beings.
    However, according to the description, he could also drain blood like how Lilith has been doing. With her method of draining, she even just recently managed to advance to the S+ Rank, putting her at an even higher all-around rank than her master. As he had been spending most of his time progressing in his techniques, he didn't Gate farm as much in comparison. Thanks to this and his addiction to dumping all his AP into his Agility stat, several of his stats were even lower than Nyxvoldar's highest stats.
    He had an addiction, yes. There was nothing after that¡­ He was simply a raging addict.
    'But back to the topic of draining blood,' Cassius thought, distracting himself from admitting that he had a problem. 'Even though it's something rather unsanitary, even for me, if I wish to obtain more strength and figure out how a Vampire secretly bit me, then I'll need to suck some blood.'
    As soon as he realized what he had to do to truly get things rolling, he called for the return of his Evomon. He made sure to order them not to completely evaporate the A++ |Frigid Ice Yetis|, instead ordering them to bring the corpses back in mostly intact conditions.
    It took a few minutes for the hordes of colossal Ice Yetis to get slaughtered by the Evomon, but once that did happen, they returned with hundreds of carcasses. And as their Liege activated a Basic Vampire Ability called 'Blood Drain' with his own little mass absorption spin, he was also reminded of a very important matter.
    Namely, it was the Quest pertaining to the Extraterrestrial Gremlins that he had to locate and kill 10 of. As of now, not a single one had been located and not a single one had been killed. And although the time limit for the Quest gave him plenty of wiggle room, he still felt like the sooner he got the Quest done with and out of the way, the better.
    {[Main Quest #3]}
    {[Task: Discover and kill [0/20 Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends]]}
    {[Task Time Limit: 1 Month, 28 Days, 21 Hours, 54 Minutes, 37 Seconds]} - [Tic, Toc, time's running out. Move your a*s, lard face!]
    {[Reward 1 - [1000 AP]]}
    {[Reward 2 - [S-Rank 'Extraterrestrial Sight']]}
    {[Reward 3 - [200 Uncommon Evoballs]]}
    {[Reward 4 - [S-Rank 'Stellar Flight']]}
    The rewards as they were weren't all that appealing to Cassius, as he could already fly and he had plenty of AP and Evoballs. However, something within him was telling him that Stellar Flight was more than it seemed. He also believed the same thing about the Extraterrestrial Sight Skill. Instinctively, he knew that they were both mystical Skills necessary for the journey that would follow.
    Yet, he still had to figure out how in the hell he was supposed to find those aliens¡­
    Even with his rather powerful Perception Stat, he was unable to scan through thousands and tens of thousands of people's System Tags without mixing them up as they moved. This meant that he either had to be in close proximity to one of these Gremlin Extraterrestrials or he needed to increase the Perception Stat that was already in the S- range.
    Yet, even with all that, doubt still lingered inside Cassius's mind. A higher Perception Stat wouldn't necessarily improve his scanning capabilities in that capacity, which meant that Auxiliary Skills were required. However, even with tens of thousands of unique and versatile Skills having come his way because of Skill Boxes, none of it seemed to make too much of a difference in that regard. Even the S-Rank/Ruby-rank Skills did nothing much to improve upon this extremely intricate problem of his.
    This meant that, until a better solution could be found, Cassius had to stick to the simplest plan of simply aimlessly wandering around until he happened upon an Imposter.
    At least he knew all 10 of them were in Hoshito, which¡­ really didn't do much to assist him. Haha¡­ ha¡­ ha... S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 133 {[Heartless Ice Kings Domain (Low Purple-rank)]} - [Semi-CLEARED]

    Cassius sighed while splitting up the blood of the Ice Yetis with his happily vibrating Lilith. The hundreds of Ice Yetis were swiftly drained dry, meaning that it was time to begin the hunt again. Luckily, there were several powerful S-Rank presences popping up in multiple different parts of the extremely expansive domain that was the Low Purple-rank Gate known as 'Heartless Ice King's Domain.'As the name of the Gate implied, there was a mighty Monster dubbed the 'Heartless Ice King.'
    That terrifyingly domineering and massive monster resided within the very depths of this Gate the size of a moon. Naturally, it was the Boss Monster, and according to reports made by the S-Rank groups who cleared this Gate before, that behemoth was the size of a city and sat near the limit of what a small country could manage. Just a single one of its paws would be able to flatten villages and towns, leaving hundreds of thousands of deaths in its wake.
    And if the Heartless Ice King, the bigfuck of an ice bear, ever unleashed its ridiculously cold ice beam, entire countries would turn into ice cubes! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "At least, that is what they say," muttered Cassius, his piercing bluish-red eyes zooming past the S- 'Permafrost Hawks,' which served as the Mini Bosses of the Gate. "But as with most rumors, they're usually exaggerated."
    He honed in on a large plot of land that appeared unnatural. The land occasionally shook and wiggled around in ways that didn't make much sense. It was only after two windy streams of breath blew out like unstoppable air blasts that one would notice a pair of black flaring nostrils the size of small towns.
    {[Heartless Ice King (S-Rank)(Boss Monster)]} - [Danger Rating: High-Yellow]
    Cassius knew not to trust Danger Ratings anymore. That was unless they were in the Flashing Red or Black range. Otherwise, they were highly varied and didn't do much to accurately gauge the danger he faced with his skewed attributes thrown into the mix.
    "For something like this¡­ A simple attack should work." Cassius coldly snorted as he stuck up his right index finger and concentrated a reddish-purple energy at his fingertip.
    The energy appeared as if it were frozen in place when, in actuality, it was spinning and gathering more energy at a speed so fast that the speed couldn't even be properly perceived. It was only after two seconds of amassing energy that he spoke the name of one of his most-used Skills:
    |Dragon Quasar (S+++)| - |Single shot|
    Fwwoooop¡ª!!
    The sound barrier shattered. The barrier that signified light speed shattered right after. Then, with a straight line of destruction razing havoc through the land, the Skill finally hit its target.
    "!!!"
    The Heartless Ice King attempted to react to this sudden beam attack shot from thousands of miles away, yet it was already too late. By the time it fluttered open one of its massive eyes, half its head had been shaved clean off. Another Dragon Quasar beam cut through the air, and the other half of the head vanished as well.
    In the background, two giant colorful explosions raised into the air in the form of mushroom clouds. However, as if none of the following chaos had anything to do with him, Cassius teleported across the skies and appeared in front of the Heartless Ice King's corpse. He indifferently floated down and started draining the Boss Monster's blood, also making sure to allot a certain amount of it to the ever-voracious Lilith.
    Several System notifications rang out while this was occurring:
    *Ding~!*
    [You have slain the (S-Rank) Boss Monster 'Heartless Ice King']
    [Your Experience Bar has slightly moved!]
    [(SSS-Rank) Duke Vampire Bloodline progressing: 0.230%... 0.260%... 0.350%... 0.470%... 0.620%... 0.780%.]
    [You have slaughtered hundreds more A++ 'Frigid Ice Yetis']
    [Your Experience Bar has barely moved!]
    [You have slain 10+ S- 'Permafrost Hawks']
    [Your Experience Bar has nudged forward!]
    *Ding!*
    {[Heartless Ice King's Domain (Low Purple-rank)]} - [Semi-CLEARED]
    [Would you like to leave the Gate now and allow it to restore all fallen monsters, or would you prefer to continue killing every single last one of the monsters in an attempt to permanently clear the Gate?] - [O1/O2]
    Cassius chose option 1.
    This wasn't even his first time clearing this Gate under Russia's nose, and it certainly wouldn't be the last time. Therefore, permanently closing a prime Gate like this one was a no-go, even if it gave meager amounts of EXP after he exceeded Lvl 95. Then again, every Gate, no matter its rank, now gave barely anything, and this one was definitely one of the better ones.
    Continue your saga on empire
    "Clearing any Gate below the Purple rank is fine, as I've already permanently cleared thousands of them around the world, but as the Purple-rank Gates are still few in number, it's more profitable to keep them around," Cassius mused as he felt himself get torn apart and zorped away by force. "If only just until Purple-rank Gates no longer give me anything of value, I'll need them to stick around."
    There were only a handful of Purple-rank Gates scattered across the globe, numbering no more than 40. And as every one of them had a certain refresh rate, Cassius was forced to clear them in rotation. Now, if he suddenly decided to start permanently closing the only Gates that gave him any decent amount of EXP, then his road to Lvl 100 would be barred off unless he ventured back into HELL. And that just wasn't an acceptable outcome.
    'And besides, all of the Purple-rank Gates are at or below the Middle of the rank, which is just perfect for most of the world powers to safely farm. This means that no one is being hurt or affected by these present Gates staying around,' thought Cassius. 'Unless a freak accident occurs, even the S-Rank Hunters, who have cleared these Gates many times already, are able to clear them without incident.'
    'It is only the newly opened and unfamiliar Gates that pose a threat to Humanity, with the annual death toll being in the tens of millions¡­'

 Chapter 134 Memphiss S-Rank Awakening

    Cassius himself was surprised by the annual human death statistics when he first heard them, and he was even more surprised when he learned that most of those deaths happened because of lower-ranking Gates. Seeing as the weaker Gates had less priority over the stronger Gates, they were neglected and tossed to the back of the line. This often led to countless daily deaths by low-level monsters that could've been avoided.The way he saw it, the world governments should've been putting more effort into finding a way to close all Gates for good. Yet they weren't. The source of the Gates wasn't being actively sought out; no one even seemed to care all that much about it. And just like that, the Gate and Hunter industry transformed into the Pharmaceutical Industry, effectively making everything into a money-grab scheme. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    However, over the last couple of months, Gates have been sprouting up more frequently. This worried the bigwigs upstairs, causing some of them to resume the search for the Source of the Gates¡ªa search that was never even seriously considered to begin with.
    It was unknown what they would find, or if they would even find anything at all. But change was occurring.
    The world was changing.
    Just like it had a century ago, another great Calamity showed signs of awakening. It was on the horizon, simply waiting for the most opportune time to rear its yawning head and bring about the END.
    FWIP!
    Cassius appeared in the outside world of Russia. His appearance was still hidden underneath a shadowy cloak, yet that did little to conceal the otherworldly handsome features that lay underneath¡ªfeatures that took upon his original black-haired, blue-eyed look and improved upon it. As of now, he looked as if a heavenly immortal had descended and taken hold of his body.
    Coincidentally, the Idle Evolution System also said something similar:
    [CHARISMA: 70] - [Like an Immortal descended from heaven, you havith appeared. Grace these lowly mortal peasants with your otherworldly grace!]
    Over the past few weeks, Cassius had been grinding the Daily Quests to no end. It was thanks to this consistent grind fest that he was able to acquire so many Charisma stat points, which subsequently improved his physical aesthetics to a level that exceeded anything seen on Earth. Just a single glance of his could cause hundreds of women to fall head over heels for him. This also made him the archenemy of almost every male in existence, but that hardly mattered to him.
    On a more important note, as Cassius sped out of Russia's territory at several times the speed of light, he felt a familiar presence in one of the Western Countries. His nose crinkled as his brows knitted together. A sigh escaped his lips.
    'That girl is at it again¡­' he thought with a hint of exasperation. 'Ever since she awakened as an S-Rank, and a powerful one at that, she has not returned home for over half a month. I know that she was scouted by one of the most prominent Hunter Guilds in the world¡ªEarth Crusaders¡ªbut she has been obsessed with going into Gates and killing monsters.'
    Cassius worried that the meek girl he picked up in a Gate following her father's death was no longer the cute, quiet girl he once knew. The yearning for revenge that bubbled inside her after she learned of her newfound power drove her out of the family she had made, instead dragging her down a spiraling pit of no return.
    There was also an incident twenty or so days ago that nudged the soft-spoken Memphis further into the path of monster slaying. Specifically, it was when her uncle somehow found her location and began urging her to come into his care.
    That event scared her; the fear etched into her beautiful face was something Cassius would never forget.
    At first, he was going to deal with her uncle himself, but seeing as this was a hurdle she had to overcome, he held back until a point where his assistance was absolutely necessary. This decision led to a long, drawn-out period of time where kind-faced harassment was typical. The police even became involved at some point, but they were swiftly sent back where they came from by Cassius's mind manipulation abilities. Discover more content at empire
    And then came an event where Memphis's uncle tried to force himself on her when she left for a quick errand to a nearby grocery store. Cassius was prepared to end this whole thing right then and there as he had been keeping a close eye on her. But that was when it happened¡­
    A bright, effulgent light erupted from Memphis's body as soon as her uncle attempted to grope her. This light pushed him back multiple feet, knocking him against a brick wall. Then, when the light surrounding Memphis vanished, an entirely new version of her appeared. The cold, ruthless gleam in her glowing eyes scared her uncle witless. And within mere moments, he left the area, never to return.
    She did not stop him.
    Cassius did.
    He felt it to be his obligation to clean up any messes that could potentially backfire on Memphis and the women he now considered as part of his family. If they were unable to get their hands dirty, then he would dirty his hands in their stead.
    However, after that incident concluded, Memphis never returned to how she was.
    Something that occurred must've made her feel that only her own power could be relied upon, because she never again asked Cassius for help. He didn't bother explaining how he had been secretly looking out for her, and she never thought to ask; after all, very few knew just how powerful he had become.
    Memphis went to the Hunter's Association to get her rank tested the very next day. Everyone in Hoshito was astonished to discover that an actual S-Rank Awakener had appeared in their humble city. The headlines even up till now all featured her, with even national newspapers not missing out on any coverage related to the newest S-Rank Hunter, the one who was expected to take the place of the once illustrious Static Baron.

 Chapter 135 Memphiss Departure

    Memphis left Hoshito the same day her rank was discovered. She bid farewell to Cassius and the other girls who had treated her like a sister, yet she didn't shed a tear. Sasha and even the tsundere Aya teared up, but she did not. It wasn't that she didn't care or had turned into an emotionless robot; it was just that she had a new goal in mind that she had to achieve no matter what.All Gates in the world would permanently disappear, and she would be the one to make it happen. This was what she vowed to herself. Emotions would have to be put on the backburner.
    After taking one long and hard look at Cassius, Memphis bit her lips and held back what she wanted to say. She couldn't even bring herself to look him in the eyes right now, let alone confess her feelings to him and tell him how she'd pay him back for everything he had done for her.
    The truth was that they lived in two different worlds. At least, that was how Memphis saw it.
    The last thing she wanted to do was get Cassius and her family mixed up in the dangerous life of a Hunter. To that end, she stayed her tongue and embarked on a path of her own, all while holding back her emotions. She bottled them up deep inside herself, hoping they would never again see the light of day. Not until all Gates in the world were gone. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Sasha was quite gloomy for the week following Memphis's departure. She had even prepared everything the young girl would have needed for the new school year, all of which no longer mattered. Even Aya and Stella, who got along quite well with Memphis, weren't as chipper as usual. There was also Grace, who had been informed of Cassius's unusual housing guest situation a while back. Although jealous that all these girls, including the mellow Memphis, had been living so intimately with the guy she liked, she eventually befriended everyone except for Yimin and Hellion, the former of whom simply didn't like anyone besides her Master. Period.
    Hence, Grace, too, was saddened by Memphis's departure. She understood very well why her friend had to go, but it still wasn't a very pleasant thing to experience. She had to go on many dates with Mr. Loverboy to make up for the missing part of her heart. Aya and the others, of course, did everything in their power to prevent these outings from ever happening. Discover stories with empire
    However, the shy Grace was a lot more cunning than one might imagine.
    Almost every single attempt of hers to get Cassius to go on a date with her ended up in great success. She also outplayed her rivals in love, distracting them or sneaking past them with ease. All in all, she was leading in the game that was getting closer to the man so handsome that he had to wear a hood wherever he went.
    He was also so dense that light bent around him. This frustrating quality of his made it nearly impossible for him to cheat, but it also posed an unbelievable challenge for anyone who wished to leave the friend zone. All except for Hellion, who remained a third-party observer to it all, understood very well just how dense Cassius's density wall of unimaginable density actually was.
    Hell, Yimin practically threw herself at him at every opportunity she got, yet every attempt got her no closer to sneaking into his pants. All she wanted to do was play with the dragon! Perhaps have a battle of the dragons underneath the covers! Was that so bad??
    Yet, even with one of the competitors journeying out into the vast world in pursuit of revenge, neither Yimin nor the other girls felt Loverboy becoming any more attracted to them. He was like a gawdamn Buddha, for f***'s sake! It was infuriating!
    Even Sasha, who became more and more pent up with time, gave out occasional, unintentional hints. They were all for naught, of course. This led to even more unrest in her unsatisfied nightlife.
    She knew it had been around two months since she did the deed, but that was normally nowhere near enough to have her acting up like this. If she was being honest, it wasn't until she married Adam Steele that she felt perpetually unsatisfied. She recalled doing it with him numerous times, yet it all felt wrong somehow¡ªlike none of it even happened. Now, either his willy was too small and his technique too mediocre to satisfy, or something was¡­ amiss.
    Sasha's conundrum was problematic and troublesome, to say the least¡­
    ¡ª--------------
    When Cassius returned home and entered through the front door, he was surprised to find Sasha cooking up a bomb of a meal for breakfast. He also noticed the clothing she was wearing. It was rather¡­
    Risque¡­ Alluring? Definitely.
    Sasha had on only her faintly see-through nightgown and a loosely tied apron. The apron did very little to hide the two mountainous lumps of jiggling gelatin in the back, with the nightgown also helping none in that regard.
    Sasha's attire did an unparalleled job of accentuating her slim waist, ample breasts, and child-bearing hips. If a Milf-hunting contest was held in Hoshito to determine who was the hottest Milf, everyone would be searching for her.
    Today, Sasha was the only one to have her long, silky blond hair tied into an enchanting ponytail. The others, currently sitting around the dining room table, all let their luscious hair hang loose and shimmer like the most mesmerizing of waterfalls.
    "!!!"
    Yimin, upon inhaling a whiff of her Master's intoxicating scent, immediately stood up and jumped in his direction.
    "Master, you should've told Yimin right away that you were coming back!! Yimin wanted to come with you, but Master said no. Yimin doesn't understand why Master said this! Please don't leave Yimin alone again! Waahh!"
    Cassius contemplated the thought of pushing her away, but she seemed genuinely upset, so he let her be. Noticing something while looking down at her, he thought, 'It appears that the Green-ranked Dragon Pellets I acquired from that one Gate did the trick. Her overall combat power has already exceeded the S+ Rank. It surely won't be long before she reaches the very pinnacle of the S-Rank.'

 Chapter 136 Lingering Questions...

    The silly dragon's speed couldn't compare to Cassius's, as he was a speed demon, but her other raw attributes far surpassed his. She was, after all, a high-born pure-blooded Dragon descended from a mighty Universal Species, so this was to be expected. However, even then, it was hard to say for certain if she beat him in anything if he made use of his Fundamental Body Refinement Manuals. Then again, none had been able to force out his full power since his run-in with Hellion, so nothing was for certain.A slightly annoyed feminine sigh echoed out while Cassius was being smothered by the busty dragonoid beauty.
    "I see that that stubborn girl still hasn't gotten out of the habit of calling you 'Master'," Sasha said with a small pout. "I know you told me that you found her sad and alone on the side of the street, and that she's foreign, but no matter how I think about it, no country has a Master-servant custom set in place for benefactors¡­"
    Aya narrowed her eyes along with her mother. "That dirty playboy is no good, Mother. You mustn't believe a word that he says," she announced. "For all we know, Cassius, the stinky stoopid pervert, brought her over from some suspicious site! Same with the Egyptian one!"
    Hellion momentarily turned her head up from a book she was reading at the large table of their massive mansion before returning to her reading time. She wasn't the least bit interested in any of the mortals she had seen so far; the only one who caught her eye was the indifferent Cassius¡ªan anomaly whose presence somehow became stronger every time she saw him. As he was, she had no clue just how powerful he had become.
    'The END of times edges ever closer. HELL will also begin to make their move,' she thought in passing. 'I only wonder which part this child has to play in it all.'
    The more Hellion thought about it, the wider her smirk became. She truly couldn't wait for the time that would follow; it might just make all that she had done so far worth it.
    Cassius noticed the peculiarities present in the stupidly gorgeous Egyptian beauty, yet found it hard to decipher what she was thinking about when a pair of vicious sapphire-blue eyes was piercing into his soul. Aya, in all her beauty, knew not how to make use of it, nor did she know how to take a gentler approach. She only knew of the violent way¡ªthe Tsundere way.
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    "So, Cassius!?" Aya raised her voice while taking step after step in his direction. "Are you going to tell us where Sister Stella, Sister Memphis, and the two bimbos actually came from? But knowing you, you won't say a single thing, will you??"
    Cassius bitterly smiled, doing well to hide most of his emotions beneath his shadowy cloak. "...I truly don't have an inkling of an idea what you are talking about, Aya love¡ª"
    "Hwa!?" Aya's cheeks suddenly radiated a crimson flush, with her feet dancing around in place. "Y-You pervert!" she declared before leaving the kitchen in a flustered rush.
    "???"
    "Did I say something wrong?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Everyone looked at Cassius like they were looking at the most indestructible wall in the history of walls. If any well-renowned construction worker were here, they could surely learn a thing or two about structural density.
    "My poor daughter¡­ Haiz," Sasha sighed, a silent part of her finding it hard to believe that she was also in the same predicament as her beloved Aya. "Cassius, are you trying to seduce my daughter?"
    "Seduce her?" Cassius parroted in confusion. "How so?"
    'He's so¡­ hopeless¡­' Stella and Sasha both thought in unison.
    Hellion merely chuckled, finding it very amusing how such a powerful and mysterious human could be so terrible¡ªor rather, superb¡ªwhen it came to women. 'All those around him are throwing hints of love left and right, yet he evades those things like the plague. He's certainly a very funny man, even more so when he's doing all this unintentionally.'
    Squishing her cheeks against his cloak, Yimin looked up with round shining eyes. "Master can seduce Yimin anytime that he wishes! Yimin is ready to be seduced! Then we can get to f*cking and making the babies¡ª"
    Cassius clasped her mouth and silenced her.
    Looking at the judging expressions of the other girls in the spacious mansion kitchen, he said, "Don't mind her, as usual. In her home country, this is normal behavior toward someone who feels indebted to someone else. I just hope she feels a little 'less' indebted at some point¡­" He eyed the cheeky dragon still clinging to his stomach, to which he saw her stunning eyes avert his gaze.
    Cassius huffed a little before diverting his attention back toward Sasha and Stella. "The new school year is starting tomorrow, and I still plan to go. I assume everything is good here even if I'm not here?"
    'Perhaps I'll find some Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends at a populated place like Hoshito General High. I've been constantly frequenting the malls, the police stations, the Hunter's Association, and the City Hall, but no luck. I only need to locate 1 of 10 and follow the trail back to the rest of them, but Lady Luck has been avoiding me as of late¡ª'
    "It was good here every time you left for days on end doing whatever it is you do. Why worry about us now?" replied Sasha, her tone indicating how upset she was.
    "Indeed. Just do whatever you're going to do anyway. Humph!" Even Stella, who was normally very laid-back, showed her displeasure over how often he left her alone.
    'I only came to live with you for you, you big dummy. And yet you head out to either clear Gates or pick up vixens without me! If I were there, then no woman would dare get close, and I could also help with Gate clearing! What are you challenging? Yellow and Red-Rank Gates? I have gone on many such Gate raids! You big dummy!'

 Chapter 137 A Couple Pale Stalkers

    That was what Stella wanted to say, yet, like usual, she just wasn't able to voice her grievances. It was really frustrating."Ahh, would you look at the time¡­?" Cassius suddenly said, sweat beads raining down his face, his heart full of guilt. "I have to go walk the goldfish!¡ªI mean walk the go¡­ walk myself down the roads of this go~reat town and head to work. As it's my final day, I should really settle everything. Yes, yes, I really must do this. I'll see you both in a few hours! Talk then!"
    After looking away from his invisible watch, Cassius hurried out the door.
    "Jerk," Stella grumbled.
    "Agreed," said Sasha, her cheeks filled with air. She swayed her charming hips and buttocks before finishing up breakfast. Though, since it was just her and the similarly minded Stella eating, she had to pack the rest for the others. Fortunately, with several large fancy fridges and freezers in the house, there was plenty of room to store the leftovers.
    ¡ªMeanwhile, just outside a giant mansion surrounded by several other mansions¡ª
    On his way out, Cassius completely forgot to drop off his clingy dragon, which led to him throwing her over his shoulders.
    His path to work naturally caused many people to point and stare, as although they couldn't make out all of his appearance, they could tell that he was tall and handsome. Add that to the silver-haired beauty happily swinging her legs while sitting on him, and they surmised this man to be the¡ª
    ¡ªMysterious Bookstore Model¡ªthe one said to be more handsome than even the most popular K-pop idols!
    While everyone was whispering about him, Cassius was thinking about something else. 'As today is also the last day of my Daily Quests, I wonder if I'll receive anything decent? Maybe the System will be generous this time around¡­'
    He probably jinxed it, but oh well. A man could only hope.
    During his entire walk toward Bookworm's Paradise, Cassius failed to notice the starry-eyed girl hiding behind a couple of collapsed brick walls. She was the one to destroy them, and did so in broad daylight, yet not a single passerby so much as looked in her direction. As a Duke Vampire Descendant, her powers were simply unfathomable¡­
    With an ominous black aura seeping from her pores, Bella mumbled so quickly that her words came out in an insane sputtering. The longer she stood there and mumbled, the more her aura grew out of control. And although nobody could even see her right now, that didn't mean they couldn't feel their spines tingling. Even a newborn baby in a stroller began to cry when Bella's pupils fully darkened and transformed into bottomless purple abysses.
    'I just want to love you¡­!! Why won't you let me love you!??'
    WHOOOSH!
    Her surging emotions caused an unusual phenomenon to emerge in the area. Esoteric miasmic energies shot out and spun around with one another before fusing and creating a violent vortex of vampyric energy. To others, however, it looked like a twister suddenly materialized in the middle of the street. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "How in the hell could there be a twister out here!? What the sh*t is going on??" Experience new stories on empire
    "Who gives a f*ck, dude! Just run!"
    Those in the vicinity, mostly unawakened, ran for the hills as soon as the twister appeared. This quick and decisive action on their part led to no casualties. And by the time the evil twister dispersed, there were only three people still present in the surroundings. One was the deranged black-haired girl, and the other two were a pair of pale-faced people in suits. One was a woman, whereas the other was a man. They were both exceptionally beautiful, but they held an eternal touch of disdain on their expressions, which lessened their aesthetics quite a bit.
    "The young miss is at it again," said the man. His eyes zoomed past the crazed Bella and landed on the distant figure of Cassius. The man's face twisted in disdain as he said, in a scornful tone, "I just can't fathom why someone as distinguished as the young miss became like this all because of a measly human. Tsk!"
    "Calm yourself, Leon," the woman lectured. "The young miss's personal life is not something neither you nor I can interfere in. We are simply here to protect her. That is all."
    Despite the woman's words, it wasn't like she viewed the human in any better light than her male counterpart. In her mind and in the minds of most vampires, humans were just dirty, pitiful creatures, none of them deserving to be viewed as anything more than livestock. And they weren't the only race to view humans like this, as almost every race thought along the same lines. Even their arch nemesis, the werewolves, could agree with them on this.
    Hell, even aliens saw humans as livestock and test subjects!
    "Do we really have to keep allowing that human to continue on living??" the pale man asked, his voice coming out in a low growl. He bared his sharp pearly white fangs, and his brown pupils turned a dark shade of red. "Can we not just turn him into a husk and save our princess from being tarnished any further by his presence???"
    The beautiful pale woman hesitated slightly, yet let out a sigh in the end. "...Just hold in your frustrations, Leon. I am aware of your past of pursuing the young miss, but you must learn when to give it up. Even the Lord has said not to mess with that human unless his daughter willed it. And even then, he seemed nervous while saying that¡­ It's better¡­ It's better if you just forget about your passion and move on."
    Leon ground his teeth while painfully watching the woman he fancied crazily obsess over another man. For more than a dozen years, he had been forced to endure the nonsensical reality that was the dynamic before him. It was insufferable! That human angered him to no end!
    'What does the young miss even see in that blood bag anyway!?' Leon thought, his expression livid. 'Although he doesn't look that bad now, up until a couple months ago, he looked even more hideous than the Goblins from the Monster Realm! What could the young miss possibly see in this inferior worm!??'

 Chapter 138 Only a Thousand Deaths instead of a Million

    The more Leon mulled over it, the angrier he became. His pretty face became not so pretty. Gina, the pale woman, saw this and shook her head.'He'll never learn, will he?' she thought. 'I just hope he doesn't lose his mind and cause any trouble that could backfire on me.'
    She decided she would lecture her junior by more than a hundred years when they returned to Nightingale for the day. Though, knowing him, she believed it to be very likely that he'd disregard her advice and act recklessly. This would be bad¡­ Read exclusive adventures at empire
    ¡ª--------------
    "Ka! Those b*tches!" Bella screamed to herself while sneaking a few hundred meters behind her husband. "And I can't believe that my cheater of a husband has been stowing away all of these vixens until now! Does he not love me anymore!? How does he think this makes me feel!?"
    Although no one could hear her yelling out her grievances, they could feel the hair-tingling aura from miles away. As if based on instinct, everyone steered away from the block that the country-toppling beauty was venting on. They scampered away while sweating bullets, with black streaks clouding their faces. The only ones gutsy enough to stick around were Leon and Gina, Bella's personal guards¡ªprotection she had no clue about.
    Suddenly, Bella burst out laughing, her voice creepily peeling back the edges of her pale-faced guards' ears. "Guhehe¡­ I'll just kill them¡­!! Yes, the solution was so simple! Why have I not thought of it until now!?"
    She definitely has.
    "If I kill all of the b*tches, then my husband will be mine and mine alone!! When his birthday happens in two days, I'll lock him up inside a basement and then allow no one to enter¡­!! Any other whores won't even receive the chance to seduce my hubby!! Guhehe¡­! All mine! ALL MINE!!!"
    Bella's maniacal voice rang through the neighborhood as she faded from view. Although she couldn't kill, slaughter, gut, and then kill again those thieving b*tches until she commenced the Vampire Marital Ritual, she would undoubtedly kill them! They would all die! Every single one of them!!
    ¡ªOutside of Bookworm's Paradise¡ª
    Cassius sneezed, then wiped his nose in confusion. "What is this chill I'm feeling? Do I have a cold or something?"
    That should've been an impossibility with his high stats, but he should know better than to believe something to be impossible. Just two and a half months ago, if someone told him that he would be capable of leveling entire cities and regions with ease, he would have told them they were nuts. But now look at him. He was like a Deity on Land.
    A bit of conceit nearly formed inside his heart, then he recalled those ridiculously powerful presences laying in wait within HELL. They were the 72nd, 71st, and 70th Demon Kings, all of which resided on the 1st Floor of HELL. And every one of them could extinguish his life a thousand times over before he even knew what happened, this still being the case with all his current strength.
    Over the past month, Cassius had become an entirely different person, with his power being countless times greater than before. However, what difference did all of that make in the face of those terrifying and ancient entities?
    He was lacking.
    'Well, at least I'll only die a thousand times over now instead of millions of times,' Cassius consoled himself while stepping foot into a store that smelled of earth. 'It's good to know that books still give the same solace now as they did before.'
    With a small smile gracing his chiseled features, he looked off to the side and saw the similarly smiling Bella. She stood behind the front desk, wearing a greenish-brown work uniform, seemingly acting like she had been there the entire time. Cassius's brows creased in slight puzzlement, as he felt something to be a bit off.
    After a brief pause, he shook his head and refocused his gaze on the charming miss Bella. "You are looking lovely as always. Do you happen to know where the Boss is? I wanted to discuss with him about this being my last day working here."
    "The Boss?" Bella repeated, while thinking, 'I killed the original one after he harassed me a while back, but with one of my servants disguised as the clone of him, sure, I'll let you see the 'Boss.''
    Her eyes creased upward as she modestly giggled. "I'll go and get the Boss right away; he just so happens to be here today. Oh, and your final day, which also just so happens to be my final day, shall be shorter. The Boss mentioned something about closing shop early today, which is just such a silly coincidence."
    "Oh¡­ Okay¡­" Cassius, not knowing precisely what she was hinting at, just nodded and awkwardly smiled.
    When Bella brought out a larger and rounder man with a weird toupee on, Cassius got to chatting right away. He was also not focused enough to notice the sweat rolling down the Boss's face as he secretly glanced at the shadow-faced girl standing off to the side. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'Why did Leon and Gina get assigned to something so distant when I had to do something where I have to get up close and personal?? This is bullsh*t!'
    The Boss let out his grievances within his mind while keeping up a friendly and professional facade on the outside. However, after the discussion concluded and he returned to the back rooms, he went back to sweating his balls off and complaining non-stop. He was also incoherently recounting everything he said to the human, scared that he might've said something that didn't please his temperamental young miss.
    As someone who had seen multiple iterations of 'Bosses,' this vampire in disguise knew very well how little of a thing one could do wrong to get axed by the young miss when it pertained to Cassius.
    And by 'axed,' it was implied literally; you would get your head chopped off by an ax, with your subsequent revival halted until the young miss was in a good enough mood to permit it¡­

 Chapter 139 Outing with Bella

    To many in Bella's Duke Vampire household, Bella was known as the 'Tyrant.' And for good reason, as any who crossed paths with her, even the heirs of other Noble Vampire households, all ended up with terrible fates. Whether within her own household or outside it, none of it mattered to her. She would destroy the lives of anyone who messed with her, and that was even more the case if it involved her 'husband.'Bella was already someone many looked down on for claiming a mere human worm to be her husband, but when she strutted around with her marriage to him practically plastered on her smug face, nearly all of Nightingale felt ticked off. Even the older generation vampires were no exception.
    Yet, even with so much opposition to her supposed marriage, Bella cared not the least bit. In fact, she cared so little about what they thought that she asked for a special, basically permanent tattoo of her being railed by someone who had Cassius's general appearance. Most of the naughty bits were covered up, of course, as she couldn't show off her nude body to anyone other than her husband, but the intent was there. And that same intent annoyed the hell out of an innumerable number of young masters living in Nightingale.
    The situation became even worse when all of the young masters saw the spiritual tattoo magically move from Bella's shoulder to the nape of her neck. She had it like that all the time while visiting Nightingale, and this enraged countless powerful vampires, all of whom wanted to tear the human in the tattoo piece by piece. On the other hand, when she was assuming her earthling identity, she had the revealing tattoo situated at her pelvis area, which she sensually touched on a daily basis.
    All in all, Bella was¡­ batsh*t crazy!
    Although her immense love was undeniable¡­ She was just missing too many screws to pursue her love in an ordinary manner. Crazy was all she could manage.
    She was also very good at hiding her extreme case of the crazies. Today, just like all the other days she 'coincidentally' worked the same shift as her love, she acted completely normal and did her job in a way befitting a professional.
    And just like that, Bella's and Cassius's half shift of four hours came to a swift end. With that, neither of them would ever be working at Bookworm's Paradise again.
    After bidding farewell to the 'Boss' and thanking him for the opportunity, Cassius exited the bookstore without his uniform, as he made sure to bring a spare pair of dress clothes to change into. Right beside him, having done something similar to him, was the seemingly indifferent Bella. He curtly nodded at her before spinning on his heel and making his way home.
    However, after a few seconds, Cassius realized that he had a quiet stalker following his every step. He stopped and sighed. Turning around, he asked the not-so-smooth whistling girl, "I assume you want to go to the usual?"
    Bella's sparkly eyes immediately brightened as she stole his gaze. "You mean the cat cafe on Dojo Street!?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Mhmm."
    "Hell yeah I wanna go with you¡ª Err, I mean, it's whatever. I'll entertain you if you're begging me like that!"
    "Sure¡­"
    Bella's top-tier acting skills always slipped up at times like this, yet Cassius found it quite funny and a bit cute. She seemed so rigid most of the time, like she was living a lie of a life, so times where she let her true feelings shine through were refreshing to see.
    As for how they ended up going out and doing stuff together, it all started with the topic of cats. One thing led to another, and they ended up going to a famous cat cafe in Hoshito. The exact one they were sitting at today¡­
    "Hihi~! Jump, kitty! Cute kitties~"
    'Well, she seems to be having fun,' Cassius thought with a small smile. A lazy black cat hung off the top of his head, occasionally playing with his locks of black hair. This cat was the same one that came to him the last few times, and it was also the only one¡­
    A few types of animals just didn't seem to like him much anymore after he assimilated with so many bloodlines. Cats just so happened to be one of them.
    Bella glanced over from the horde of cats dogpiling her. Those sparkling eyes of hers flashed with a bit of jealousy when she saw how close the black cat was with her man. She knew very well how irrational her jealousy was, but that didn't mean she could just stop feeling it. Especially when the cat in question was smugly 'looking' at her like that.
    Cassius secretly realized what he assumed was going through Bella's head as she had reacted like this the last few times as well. 'How silly. Ha¡­' he inwardly smiled before diverting his attention to his inner mind space. 'Both my Basic Attack and Defend Technique Manuals are about to break through to the 5th Layer.'
    He would probably only need a couple more days to officially advance them to the 5th Layer, and by then, a total of 15 Layers would have been achieved. That would mark a major milestone, possibly one that could show him some of this 'Path to Immortality.'
    As the seconds turned into minutes, Bella began to look more and more like a cat herself. While staring daggers at the black cat lounging on Cassius's head, feisty mumbling stringed from her cherry red lips. She and the black cat were never destined to get along with one another. Never ever, ever!
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    When the two-hour time they had was up, Cassius got up and pulled away the girl that seemed ready to get into a violent cat fight with an actual cat. He wasn't sure why she was so jealous of a cat, but after profusely apologizing to the staff for her behavior, he hastily left the cafe.
    Bella, acting like nothing had even happened, giddily told the staff that they would be back. After which, she glared at the 'smug' black cat and haughtily left.
    Who was the one leaving with Cassius?? It was her¡ªBella Crestmore! Not some feline!
    This was a win for the OG's!

 Chapter 140 Bella breaks character, Opinion on the Girls...?

    After catching up to her 'husband,' Bella went on a long rant about how much she liked kitties. It was only after nearly half an hour of her yapping at a dessert shop that she brought up a different subject."Yoush goingzz to da schoolss tomorrow, aren'tt ya?" she asked while cupping her stuffed cheeks in delight.
    Cassius struggled to maintain his deadpan expression while staring at the normally serious girl acting like she was. Answering her question, he said, "I am indeed going to school tomorrow. Same with you?"
    "Mhmm~!" Bella responded with a euphoric look on her face. "Dis cake is sho goodz~! You wants shome!? Here, have shom!"
    Without waiting for his response, she spooned up a bit of the strawberry pastry she had been munching on. Filling his mouth with it, she expectantly waited for him to give his opinion on it.
    At first, Cassius was just going to swallow it and say it was good regardless of how it actually tasted, but once the cake melted on his taste buds, his eyes lit up. After chewing and swallowing it all, he said, "It's good."
    Bella was silent for a moment, then her face brightened up as she said, in a happy tone, "I know, right?? Hihi~"
    Cassius had been feeling that something was off with the Goddess of his school for a while now; however, it was in moments like these that he felt he had just been imagining things. A large part of him simply believed that Bella was sort of like Aya or Stella in a way, all of whom pretended to be someone they weren't. He wasn't certain that this was actually the case, but it was the best theory he could come up with on his own.
    'People are complicated living organisms, and women even more so,' Cassius thought to himself while enjoying his time with the girl that shone like a blinding star. 'Since the Idle Evolution System came into my life, I have met many unique girls, all with their own unique stories.'
    'Stella, I feel the most kinship with as we have similar unsolved pasts. Her mysteries are my mysteries.'
    'Memphis, I see as a younger sister, with her past also fully laid out before me.'
    Ooof. She felt that one while hunting A-Rank Monsters in Low Purple-rank Gate in New Zealand.
    'Sasha, an excellent mother, is very unlike how she was in my previous timeline. On top of everything else that came along with this whacked Isekai, I am extremely grateful that I was able to experience the real version of Sasha. Her kindness will surely bring her daughter to great heights.'
    'My father truly doesn't deserve a woman like her¡­ Haiz¡­'
    After a brief pause, he continued where he left off:
    '...Aya, she is¡­ a good girl, but has a serious case of Tsundere. Her personality will definitely bring her a lot of trouble in the future, particularly when it comes to boyfriends. But oh well, I'm sure she'll make it through it all just fine. After all, she's very¡­ uhm¡­ aggressive.'
    Cassius sighed while thinking about that troublesome girl, yet he still wore a fond expression.
    Suddenly recalling the faint silhouette of an angelic girl, his thoughts once more swirled:
    'Grace, a shy girl who acts oddly forward when one least expects her to. Adorable describes her quite well. As for her past, I don't know much besides the name of her household, that she comes from an affluent background, and¡­ nothing else¡­ I know a lot of what she likes and dislikes. She likes sweets, likes fuzzy animals, likes her pomeranian, Snow, and likes the simpler things in life. I also know that she dislikes spiders, any other creepy crawlies, and horror movies.'
    His expression turned thoughtful. 'However, I have no clue what she had been doing before she met me. I've never seen her family; I don't even know their names. If not for her saying that her parents were strict, I would begin to think that they were no longer with her in this world¡­'
    Cassius originally believed that Hellion had the most mysteries surrounding her, but now he felt like Grace was up there as well.
    That was when a far-fetched idea appeared in his mind.
    'Grace wouldn't happen to be the Vampire that bit me, would she???' It was a crazy thought, but it wasn't completely out of the question. 'If she's a Duke Vampire Descendant, then it's very possible that she bit me without my knowledge when I was weaker. But even if this insane speculation was actually true, why would someone as sweet as Grace do something like that behind my back? It doesn't make sense¡­'
    "Hey, Cassius, are you seeing this right now!? The waiters are bringing out a large multi-layered cake! It has sparklers sticking out of it!" an excited girly voice momentarily interrupted Cassius's thoughts.
    He looked over and saw Bella's pearly white canines shine through her wide toothy grin. Responding to her exhilaration, he smiled and blew out a few of the sparklers.
    Getting back to his inner thoughts, Cassius finished up the wrap sheet that compiled all of his ambiguous relationships: Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'Grace¡­ I will look more into it later. And even if she does turn out to be the Duke Vampire Descendant that bit me, I won't be mad. In fact, I'll have to thank her for increasing my strength by another few notches. There's also all the useful Abilities that the biter gave me. As I'm discovering more and more of them, I realize more and more just how versatile and powerful a Duke Vampire can become.'
    His heart filled with a little appreciation before his mind traced back to the last couple of girls on his list.
    'Bella¡­ Hmm¡­' He observed the happily munching girl and instantly erased anything negative that almost formed within him. 'She's an odd one; too serious a lot of the time, and hides beneath both a mask and inside a shell, but she's nice to be around when it really comes down to it. Her past is also transparent, as I know my father knew her father, and they were business partners or something of the sort. I also faintly recall a beautiful silhouette who should be her mother. Bella, as well as her whole family, are very wealthy to boot, though I can't say for certain in recent years as I haven't met them since I was but a child.'

 Chapter 141 Daily Quest #60

    Although Bella had a few unknowns centered around her existence, Cassius felt no real need to overly ponder them. But when he thought of the last girl he had a close relationship with, his whole face seemed to sporadically twitch.'Yimin, she is... Yimin... Her entire history started with me, so there is nothing more to discuss there.'
    Yimin, who had been distracted by one thing or another, now found herself in France. It was nighttime, flashy lights were everywhere, and she felt something akin to an arrow pierce through her heart. It caused her to drop her baguette and shoot her eyes in the direction of Japan.
    'Wait, where did Master go!?'
    'Wait, where did Yimin go?'
    They thought in unison, one feeling far more urgency than the other.
    'Hmm... I genuinely don't remember where she went off to, but I know through our connection that she's fine. She's probably just hungry and feasting somewhere, the moocher.'
    Yimin experienced that same painful sensation. Dropping all that she was doing, she leapt up into the sky and sprouted shiny white draconic wings from her back.
    "Don't worry, Master! Yimin's coming back!"
    Now, it was Cassius's turn to feel something unusual¡ªa spine-tingling shock that ran through his body.
    "Just thinking about that dragon gives me goosebumps," he mumbled.
    "What was that?" Bella, who was walking beside Cassius, narrowed her eyes into thin slits.
    'Is he thinking about another woman while right next to me?? Is it one of those b*tches I have in my Death Note!?'
    She suddenly felt the urge to track down and rip out the entrails of every single one of the homewreckers but instead smiled. She smiled, smiling and trying her utmost not to make a grave mistake before her official coronation ceremony with her husband.
    Just keep smiling¡­
    Cassius noticed something weird about her smile.
    'Is she constipated or something?' he thought, yet outwardly said, "I was just thinking about something useless."
    Yimin coughed up blood mid-flight and crash-landed into a small country.
    "Anyway," Cassius said to change the topic. "We'll be attending the first day of Senior Year tomorrow. I just wonder if we're going to end up receiving the same classes."
    "Yeah, well I hope so¡ªI mean, it's whatever either way. But if we do end up together, then you better treat me well. I might even feel gracious enough to hook you up with a few pretty girls," said Bella, nearly fumbling her act.
    Inwardly, she evilly smirked while thinking, 'I have the whole school body under my vampyric mind control, so we 'are' going to get the same classes. And if any whores so much as breathe within a certain distance of you, I'll skin them alive.'
    What Bella said and what she actually felt were as if two entirely different people had taken control of her body. And the worst part being that Cassius genuinely didn't know about what was going on inside her head. Even with his Perception stat being in the thousands range, some things just weren't possible¡­
    When Cassius and Bella walked past the city square, he looked up at the large clock tower erected in the square's center. Seeing that the time was [14:36], he realized that he only had a few hours left to complete his last Daily Quest.
    "Listen, Bella, I have something important I need to do," Cassius suddenly spoke up, successfully catching her attention. "Do you mind if we talk another time¡ª?"
    "Just do whatever you want to do, I have plenty of other people I can hang out with," said Bella, nonchalant about the whole ordeal.
    'I have no friends.'
    "Don't feel bad about leaving me behind, because I can easily replace you."
    'No one can replace you! Please stay with me forever!'
    "Well? What are you still standing dumbly for? Get lost, virgin boy!"
    'I¡­ I¡­ I love him so much¡­! His virginity shall be mine! I'll take it by force if need be!'
    "???"
    Cassius felt something extremely off about the way Bella was talking, yet took the hint and walked away from her. When he got a sufficient distance away, he blended into the crowd, then vanished.
    The deadpan Bella saw him vanish because he was careless. Her brows quickly furrowed as she thought, 'His seal must be on the verge of completely shattering. I must move fast if I want everything to go right! As soon as he turns 18, I'm tying him up hog-style and throwing him into his wedding outfit! We'll get hitched within 48 hours! It's finally happening!'
    It was fair to say that the delusional vampire had completely lost her coco pebbles¡­
    ¡ªMeanwhile, at the top of Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan¡ª
    Cassius appeared from the shadows, with his hood coming off the very next second. Most of his otherworldly handsome appearance was covered the majority of the time, but as today was a special occasion, he figured he'd unveil himself for once. Though, when he did, the birds that were capable of flying at this altitude looked at him and immediately went mayday.
    Cassius's looks were lethal.
    "This is why I have to stay hidden all the time¡­ I even use Illusion Skills of the Ruby Rank to conceal any new changes in my appearance. Haiz¡­"
    Shaking his planet-toppling head, he focused on the last Daily Quest pop-up¡ªDaily Quest #60. He also pulled up the last Daily Quest for his 2nd Daily Quest series.
    And boy were they bombshells of final Daily Quests...
    _________________
    [Daily Quest #60 - To Idle, one must stay proactive.]
    GOAL
    [INCOMPLETE] PUSH-UPS ¡ª [0/100,000]
    [INCOMPLETE] SIT-UPS ¡ª [0/100,000]
    [INCOMPLETE] CURL-UPS ¡ª [0/100,000]
    [INCOMPLETE] SQUATS ¡ª [0/100,000] Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire
    [INCOMPLETE] RUNNING ¡ª [0/1,000,000km] S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [All done with Weighted Newbie Equipment!]
    REWARD - [5 Points in Charisma, 1000 Points in Agility, 1000 Points in Strength, 1000 Points in Perception, 1000 Points in Intelligence, and 1000 Points in Endurance]
    _________________
    _________________
    {[Daily Quest 2]}
    ¨C [0/1,000,000 Sword Swings] - [_]
    ¨C [Carry around trusty 'Newbie Sword 7' for 12 hours. Cannot leave your approximate location.] - [550/720 minutes] - [_]
    [All done with Weighted Newbie Equipment!]
    REWARD 1 - [3000 AP]
    REWARD 2 - [Newbie Equipment Set 8]
    REWARD 3 - [Newbie Sword 8]
    REWARD 4 - [(SSS-Rank) 'Sword God's Training Manual']
    _________________

 Chapter 142 An Urgent Meeting of Japanese Hunters

    "Again¡­ Why do the rewards stated by the System always seem more like punishments?"Cassius was already carrying around several towns' worth of weight on his back. If it got any worse, then he might as well be slugging the entire world on his shoulders, with his Newbie Sword weighing as much as a planet.
    Coincidentally¡­
    *Ding!*
    [When the Newbie Equipment Set and Sword advance to #10 of each, they will weigh approximately as much as planets in this universe! ^~^]
    "...Gee, thanks for that information!" Cassius exclaimed, all smiles.
    "...Sadistic bastard¡­" he mumbled underneath his breath.
    [What was that? (??? )]
    "Nothing, nothing. I was just mentioning how helpful and sweet you are. There are truly no others quite like you!"
    [(,,?©n?,,) You're making me blush, hihi~]
    'Shove your hihi up your as, you dckhead¡­!' was what Cassius wanted to say, yet held his tongue out of fear of what sort of torture the System would make him endure next.
    "Better to just get through the last of the Daily Quests and go on with my life. Haiz¡­"
    Following a heavy sigh, he dropped down to the ground and started off the exercises with the classic. Push-up after push-up was performed by the stud muffin himself, with each one causing cracks to splinter through Mt. Fuji.
    A few S-Rank Hunters residing within Central Honshu felt something off, yet couldn't pinpoint what exactly was making them feel this way.
    However, as time passed, even A-Rank Hunters were beginning to notice something. They looked around with puzzled expressions, eventually meeting up with one another to discuss the constant shaking.
    *Wham!*
    An old Eastern-style screen door was slammed open inside of a massive Japanese mansion, its specific age likely numbering in the hundreds of years. A figure adorned in fire and flame patterns entered a room that had dozens of powerful presences gathered inside.
    Most of them looked in the direction of the newcomer, then ignored him and returned to what they were doing. Discussions echoed out, each one slicing through the flame-adorned man like knives to his egotistical soul.
    Luckily for the A-Rank Hunter known as 'Firecracker,' a few of the present Hunters paid him the attention he so dearly desired. Of course, none of them were above the A-Rank.
    "What are you doing here, Firecracker, bro? I heard you were in Tokyo helping out one of the lower-ranking Earth Crusader Guild Parties. What happened to that gig?"
    A man with a large frame and a hearty laugh walked toward the irksome Firecracker. The man wore a dark green kimono with a large, scary black dragon print stitched on the front.
    'Goro, the Laughing Dragon, Takeda¡­ Why does he have to be here as well??'
    Firecracker came here as soon as he learned that the tremors were not a natural occurrence. However, he hadn't expected an annoying man like Goro, the A-Rank Hunter, to come, too.
    Sighing, he said, "I got to Honshu a few days ago when the Earth Crusaders Guild announced that they found a new replacement for one of their S-Rank Hunter Parties."
    "You got canned, huh?" Goro burst out in low laughter, enjoying every bit of the emotions currently being shown on his friend's face.
    Fuming, Firecracker raised his voice and shouted, "I didn't get fired, you moron! They said I could return whenever a spot was made available¡ª"
    "Shut up!"
    A stern voice entered Firecracker's ears, urging him to immediately shut his trap.
    'Haruto, the Shadow Fang, is also here?? God, of course this S-Rank Hunter came to this gathering¡­!'
    Despite his thoughts, Firecracker said, "Y-Yes, I'll shut up right away, sir!"
    A cold snort sounded. Haruto dispersed his aura pressure on the presumptuous man, then began the official introduction to the pressing matter at hand.
    "Over the past hour, an unnatural disturbance has attracted the attention of many powerful people in the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. This has led to all of our Guilds and affiliations receiving an enormous number of complaints. Now, your job is to¡­"
    Haruto, the organizer for this gathering, continued his speech, making sure to cover all of the core points of the matter. However, in the background, there were a few inconspicuous A-Rank Hunters conversing with one another, utterly overlooking the entire speech.
    "So after being canned, what do you plan to do next?" asked Goro, a wide smile plastered across his square-shaped face. "Are you going to return to that small city of¡­ What was its name again? The one with only a single B-Rank Hunter? And not even a Hunter originally from that region. Haha!"
    "Hoshito¡­"
    "What was that??" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire
    Ticked off, Firecracker smacked the big man on the arm.
    "I said Hoshito, you dumb deaf bastard!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Hoshi¡ªwhat? What sort of name is that? Say it again!" Goro requested in all seriousness.
    "Gawddamnit! I said motherf*cking Hoshito, you id-iot!" Firecracker, no longer able to hold his temper, lashed out at the big oaf.
    Everyone in the room shot their eyes in his direction.
    "You're in for it now," said a short Brazilian man named Orlando. He chortled under his breath, finding the dread draining his friend's complexion to be ultra amusing.
    "T-This is¡ª" Firecracker tried to say in an attempt to defend himself, but was swiftly overshadowed by the icy voice of Haruto:
    "Did I not tell you to shut up? Or do you think your voice matters more to the focal point of this discussion than mine?"
    "O-Of course not, sir Haruto! I was just so awed by your excellent speech that I couldn't stop myself from getting a little excited!"
    'What a kiss-ass¡­' Goro and Orlando thought in unison. They looked at the pathetic state of their long-time friend and felt some remorse.
    'Oh, well. He'll get through this predicament and come out even tougher than before!'
    Firecracker side-eyed the two people closest to him with hate in his gaze. And with every further word of reprimand that escaped Haruto's mouth, his scorn for his two 'friends' became all the greater.
    'Just wait until we get out of this gathering, you back-stabbing bastards!' he indignantly thought while shamefully retaking his seat.

 Chapter 143 Daily Quest #3

    For the remainder of the lengthy gathering discussion, Firecracker spoke no more words. Even when Orlando and Goro mercilessly poked into the open wound, he held strong and bled tears of blood. Eventually, he began to think that heading back to Hoshito wasn't sounding like such a terrible idea anymore.'The old man Branchmaster did say that I should return whenever I could¡­ Hmm¡­ It's decided! I'm returning to Hoshito until a good job opportunity opens up! With my hundreds of millions of USD in savings, I can live comfortably for the rest of my life, so I am in no rush.'
    After the gathering came to an abrupt close with the sudden halting of the unnatural tremors, all of the gathered S-Rank and A-Rank Hunters scratched everything they proposed. The past couple of hours had been deemed a big waste of time, so it was no surprise that most of the Hunters left the old mansion in soured moods.
    At least, that was the case for everyone except for one¡­
    'Perhaps I should retire early and quit Gate conquering altogether? I'm already filthy rich, so what is even the point anymore? The other Hunters can surely handle the high-ranking Gates on their own! What do they need me for??'
    Firecracker considered many things while leaving the area and completely ignoring the hounding by his two friends. He ignited his hands and feet and shot into the air under two streams of fire. His friends were left in his dust, with his destination being a city located on the other side of the country.
    It was retirement time!
    He was ready to truly begin enjoying life! A new kind of life!
    Screw his friends and screw his work! It was him time now!
    A trail of happy laughter rang out behind a man who looked like he was jetting through the skies with the help of two extremely powerful firecrackers. For a very long while, his once gloomy mood became chirpy as hell. Only good thoughts would enter his retired brain from here on out!
    ¡ªMeanwhile, at the summit of Mt. Fuji¡ª
    Cassius, now in the full nude, sauntered over to the lip of the overarching mountain edge. He emotionlessly stared down at the thousands of dazzling lights in the cities hiding at the mountain's base. The luminescent glow of the full moon hanging in the dark night sky was also there to truly bring the sublime picture together.
    Breaking the initial beauty of this picturesque picture, a deep, husky voice sounded out, causing even the surrounding snow to intensely vibrate.
    "Finally¡­ Finally, I have been freed of the System's Daily Quests¡ª"
    This unnaturally stunning man stopped his liberating words midway through as he looked ahead and saw something that nearly sucked the life right out of him.
    *Ding~*
    [After receiving all of the rewards for completing the two Daily Quest iterations, don't you feel that they were rather lacking? ???] Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "No¡ª!"
    [Well, since the rewards were lacking, here is a little something-something to make up for all your troubles! No need to thank me, the mighty and magnanimous System!]
    {[Daily Quest 3]} - (Day 1/90) Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire
    ¡ª[You won't fail a Quest, you lucky, plot-armor abusing son of a b*tch! This is infuriating! And considering that everything I, the System, do, is for your sake, I have the necessary authority to bestow upon you the bestest of rewards!]
    ¡ª[Every day, at any point of the day you so designate, you will be sent to the Nightmarescape/The Land of Nightmares and you won't be able to leave until exactly an hour has passed inside! (Approximately 3 minutes in the outside world)]
    [Quest begins ~5 to 7 days from now, as there is a grace period.]
    [0/60 Minutes (Nightmarescape)] - [_]
    REWARD 1 - [1000 AP]
    REWARD 2 - [1 Nightscare Shard]
    REWARD 3 - [10 Large-sized Heaps of EXP]
    REWARD 4 - [Resilience!]
    "What sort of fcking reward is resilience!? This piece of sit¡ª"
    [And here's a little extra-extra on the house~]
    {[Main Quest #5]}
    ¡ª[You have been slow in completing the Third Main Quest¡ªthis is bad. As such, maybe you just need another Quest to truly put your rusty engine in motion!]
    ¡ª[Travel to the Dimensions of HELL, Nightingale, the Land of Monsters, Wolfdom, and the Realm of Pleasure. You will need to make a name for yourself in every single one of these Dimensions. Break a leg! Or don't¡­ wuss.] - [0/5]
    REWARD 1 - [Idle Benefit #4 'Minionverse']
    REWARD 2 - [(EX-Rank) Seed of the Progenitor]
    REWARD 3 - [Acknowledgement of leading figures of 5 of the 7 Realms.]
    [Time Limit: 4 Years, 364 Days, 23 Hours, 59 Minutes, 57 Seconds]
    "I hate my life¡­" Cassius lamented to himself, feeling that the System was most definitely up to something again.
    All his previous excitement vanished into the wind. He was now only left with the promise of constant harassment by a foreign entity claiming itself to be his best helper. Help his a*s! That System called for his death!
    "Wait¡­ Other Realms?" Suddenly stopping his thoughts of suicide, Cassius looked back at the specific details of the Quest. After confirming that his eyes had indeed not deceived him, he asked, "Just how many of these Realms or Dimensions are there? And what even are they?"
    *Ding~!*
    [You wish to know~? ( ?o ? ?o)]
    "...Yes¡­"
    [Keke! Beg for the information! ? (¡ä?£à)?a?a?a]
    Cassius flipped up both his middle fingers instead. After which, he walked away from the stunned-silent System Interface and made his way down the mountain top. All the while perusing the new SSS-Rank Training Manual he received from completing his Daily Quest.
    It was presumably made by an extremely powerful Human on the 6th Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity. This extraordinarily powerful man claimed himself to be the forerunner of the Art of the Sword. And this Training Manual¡­ It was the culmination of the beginning of his journey with the Sword, written by him prior to his 'Ascension.'
    After getting this far into the Introduction segment of the Sword God's Training Manual, Cassius had many questions whirling around inside his head.
    "The Floor¡­ I have been hearing this a lot as of late," he said while in a state of pondering. "And this 'Ascension Tower'... What sort of place is it?"

 Chapter 144 The Seven Dimensions of the Ascension Tower

    Interrupting Cassius's thoughts was the¡­System.[Dear Host! Why did you leave your beloved System hanging back there?? How could you leave such a cutie patootie like myself all by my lonesome, you evil Host!? (¤Å ? 3 ?)¤Å]
    An illusory blue and golden screen circled around the man trying his best to look anywhere but where it was. Eventually, however, it backed him into a corner and pushed him against a high stacked pile of snow.
    Cassius assumed he was about to be taken advantage of, but then the System did something unexpected.
    It blushed.
    "???" 'This isn't like the sh*tty System¡ª'
    [Ahh, you dirty, dirty Host~ Even if you seduce my non-carbon components with your big naughty hands, you won't receive any lenience. But if you¡­do a good job with your strong muscles and really get it in there good, I'll make an exception and send you to the System-Host Exclusive Torture Chamber~]
    'Now this is the System I know and hate¡­'
    Cassius promptly ignored the mentally impaired System and thought more on the subject of other Dimensions and the Ascension Tower of Humanity. But it was in that same moment that the Idle Evolution System spoke up again:
    [I was going to tell you either way, you obtuse of a Host, limp d*ck, noodle arm, virgin boy on the path to Supreme Sagehood! Why must you be so impatient!? Patience is a virtue! To instill that virtue into your very soul, do you wish to take a friendly visit to the Torture Chamber? First visit's free¡ª]
    "Leave me alone," Cassius said before vanishing into the speed stream.
    FWIP!
    When he reappeared a second later, he was on the other side of the world, somewhere in Greece. And as he walked through the marbled uphill streets of a scenic area overlooking the sea, he realized that he wouldn't get away so easily.
    *Ding!*
    [The System is only here to help you, Dear Host! Let me guess¡­ Ahh, is that what this is about? If you wanted to have makeup sex, then you should've just said so! All you have to do is stick your wee little willy into say~ a fire hydrant and I, the System, will take care of the rest!]
    [Though, I doubt I'll feel anything¡­ "?? ????? ??]
    "..."
    Cassius was speechless.
    When it came to the Idle Evolution System, he really didn't know what sort of handicapped-in-the-brain sort of person decided to bestow upon him such sh*t. Could he not receive a refund?? A newer model? Literally anything else!?
    A great big sigh echoed through the bustling streets of a large city in Greece. It was early morning here, so the blazing sun rays beat down on a wide array of foreign faces. One face in particular felt the headaches affecting his expression. And with what felt like a stab to the gut, the owner of that face let the System explain to him the general rundown of the Dimensions and the Ascension Tower. It also made sure to mention that, although this information wasn't privy to someone like him a month ago, he had now gained basic access to such secrets. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    According to the Idle Evolution System, there were a total of Seven Parallel Dimensions in a magical existence called the 'Ascension Tower.'
    The Ascension Tower had a few other names, all more complicated than the last, but the main point was that this Ascension Tower housed several nearly identical Dimensions. Or, at least, they were identical at the beginning of the Ascension Tower's creation. However, over time, all 7 of the Dimensions changed, becoming indistinguishable from how they were before.
    The 1st Dimension¡ªthe Mortal Dimension¡ª was part of the Ascension Tower of Humanity. And from the astounding words of the System, Earth was nothing but the Trial Area for the True Ascension Tower of Humanity, similar in design to the Trial Area of HELL.
    This information altered Cassius's entire worldview, shattering everything he once believed. Though, there was one big question he couldn't seem to wrap his head around.
    "Where does the Universe, or the Observable Universe of our Earth, have a part to play in all this?"
    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]
    [The Host is ten leagues too weak to be made privy to such high-level information!]
    "...Not high enough¡­?"
    With all of his various Skills, Techniques, and raw stats thrown into the mix, Cassius was sure that his Battle Power far exceeded the S+ Rank Yimin. Yet, even with that in mind, he was essentially told by the System that gaining access to this information might as well have been a pipe dream.
    This made him wonder just how powerful he had to become to learn the truth of it all.
    But regardless of the mystery regarding the stars and the observable universe encompassing planet Earth, Cassius attentively listened to the rest of what the System had to say.
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    With Earth being the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, there were naturally Floors above it, just like with the Ascension Tower of HELL. However, when Cassius asked about how to get up to the higher Floors of the Ascension Tower of Humanity¡ªhis Ascension Tower¡ª it said nothing more than forceful elevation would arrive whenever he achieved the SS-Rank in terms of pure stats. In other words, he could still stay on Earth even if his Combat Power exceeded the S-Rank.
    The System didn't go into great detail about the higher Floors of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, but it did speak of there being Seven Floors. Similarly, the Ascension Tower of HELL also had Seven Floors. In fact, every single one of the 7 Ascension Tower Dimensions had Seven Floors. They all also had their own Trial Areas, which acted as the tutorial grounds for most races in the Ascension Tower Spectrum.
    Humans were the only race of people to not develop a way to become stronger or extend their lifespans. Unlike some races, such as the Succubus race of the Realm of Pleasure, who passed on special techniques to their descendants that allowed them to suck yang to become stronger, Humanity had nothing.
    They had no racial advantages and specialized in jack diddly squat.

 Chapter 145 Throughout Heaven and Earth

    However, what Humanity did have was neutral ground.They were like Jacks of all Trades and could branch out into many different professions, some of which improved their power while in the S-Rank and SS-Rank. Now, for humans, if you were to be born in the SS-Rank and below, you would normally forever stay within that Rank unless you received unique assistance from a Lord of Humanity, who resided in the higher Floors, or if you accepted the helping hand of a different race.
    Then again, when it came to the 'help' of other races from other Dimensions, it usually just meant you would become less and less¡­ human.
    Of course, if one were lucky enough to be born in the SSS-Rank or have an unusual encounter capable of elevating one's rank, one would embark on a different path. This path would allow anyone¡ªeven humans¡ªto progress their strength. Yet, the exact specifics of this path were barred off from Cassius by the System. He only knew that it was a path inferior to what the System gave him, but also far superior to most anything available in the Seven Parallel Ascension Towers.
    As for how one is supposed to travel between Dimensions, one way is to have a special item that makes Dimension hopping possible. But as those items were extremely uncommon, it was far simpler to make use of the second method. Namely, it was the usage of transportation ports that those who knew about them called 'Dimensional Hubs' or 'Dimensional Portals.'
    Earth had no such Dimensional Hubs.
    "Wait¡­ Portals? Similar to the ones that Monsters use to invade our world?"
    *Ding!*
    [Not the same thing, Host! And you are also not privy to this information!]
    Cassius silently pondered by himself, yet didn't dwell on the matter for long. If he was ready to find out about something, then he would naturally find out about it. This was what the Idle Evolution System told him quite often.
    The System then went on to say that in order for him to hop between Dimensions and complete the 4th Main Quest, he would have to take advantage of the only avenue currently open to him:
    The Key to HELL.
    It was an infinite usage item and would take the user back to the Trial Gate Area of HELL as many times as one wanted. And if one also had the Key to the 1st Floor of HELL, which Cassius had obtained after subduing Hellion, then one could advance into the 1st Floor of HELL¡ªa hellish location that also just so happened to have one of those Dimensional Hubs.
    This was Cassius's way to travel between Dimensions and complete Main Quest #4. But seeing as he was still nowhere near strong enough to take on any of the Demon Kings of HELL, he had no choice but to postpone any Dimensional travel until after he became stronger.
    It was during this period of contemplation that Cassius brought up another curious matter.
    "The Gremlin Exterrestrial Fiends¡­ They are from space, are they not? But if there is only Earth on the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, then where did they come from? Another Dimension?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]
    [The Host will not be privy to this information for a very lo~ng time! Do not even bother thinking about it! Instead, why don't you find and slaughter those pesky Aliens and resume the Main Quest Grind!?]
    "...Another piece of information restricted to the current me¡­ And the level of classification appears to be higher than anything mentioned before. How interesting," Cassius mused, thinking about a great many things.
    [Hey, Einstein, rather than stand up here and pretend that you're some kung fu master, why don't you get back to hunting the Gremlin Exterrestrials?]
    Silence.
    "What an a*shole," Cassius mumbled under his breath.
    [What was that? (?_? )]
    "Nothing. Let us be on our way."
    With that, Cassius descended down a cobblestone road that snaked through a beautiful Greek town. He received many stares from passersby, even with his appearance reverting back to how he looked a month ago.
    A few dazed, pretty young ladies even built up the courage to approach the tall, handsome foreign man, but when they followed him around a corner, they found that he had mysteriously¡­ vanished.
    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire
    "Where did he go¡­?"
    "I don't know¡­"
    "He was so good-looking, too. What a shame."
    Just then, a flying silver meteor trailed through the bright day sky. A number of Greeks looked up in bewilderment. Yet, when that 'meteor' crashed into a lush vineyard, the confusion of the people quickly transformed into astonishment.
    "Was that an actual meteor!?"
    "We have to go and check it out!"
    Thousands of unawakened and a hundred or so weak awakened swarmed toward the crash site of the supposed meteor. However, when they arrived, all they saw was a massive crater and a butt-shaped imprint in the crater's epicenter.
    "What the hell is that¡­? Why is something like that here?? This isn't right¡­"
    "A buttprint? And those over there kind of look like footprints¡­"
    "Where's the meteor??"
    ¡ªMeanwhile, just above the open water airspace outside of Greece¡ª
    "Don't worry, Master! Yimin is coming for you! Even if Yimin has to fly all around the world, Yimin will make it back to her Master! Oh, a shiny blue fish!?"
    It was a surfacing blue whale, and Yimin immediately forgot what she was doing and went to harass it. If summed up in one word, she was¡­ hopeless.
    Throughout Heaven and Earth, only her ADHD was unparalleled!
    FWIP!
    Cassius arrived in Hoshito, Japan, and returned to his mansion out in the higher-end areas of the city. At the same time as he met with his extended family, a man akin to a fiery rocket also arrived in Hoshito. His first spot, however, was the Branch Building of Hoshito's Hunter Association.
    After being grandly welcomed through the front door when he announced his identity, Firecracker was led by the Hunter Association's Associates to meet with the Branch Master.

 Chapter 146 Seeing the Truth...

    "I'm glad that you're here, Firecracker. And we're all honored to have you, but do tell me: why have you left the big city of Tokyo and returned to your humble beginnings?"Hearing the Branch Master's deep and slightly hoarse voice made Firecracker all of a sudden feel rather guilty. Although he hadn't betrayed the country or anything of the sort, he still ghosted the city and community that might as well have raised him up from nothing. It would've been unusual if he hadn't felt any guilt upon seeing the worn-down appearance of the old man whom he once saw as a mentor.
    "Teacher¡­ I¡­" Firecracker had a hard time finding the exact words he wanted to say. Though, after steadying his erratically flickering eyes on the refined Old Man, he built up the courage to say, "I apologize for leaving on those terms! I also apologize for pretending that all of you didn't exist! Please forgive me, Teacher!"
    The Branch Master stared at the extravagantly dressed man taking a respectful bow. He wanted to stay mad, but doing so at this point would just make him seem spiteful.
    Releasing a heap of oxygen stored in his lungs, the Branch Master said, "I've already forgotten about the whole ordeal, so do stand properly. And you still haven't answered my previous question: why are you here?"
    Firecracker hesitated slightly, yet still stood up and faced his ex-teacher in the end.
    "I have come to retire!" he announced without a hint of deceit. However, seeing as that wasn't a very good point to end on, he added, "I have been going in and out of perilous Gates for nearly a decade. At any moment, I could've lost my life. But now that I'm 26, I no longer wish to risk my life for money that I'll likely never use in my lifetime."
    "I just want to settle down in the area where I grew up in, and maybe even find myself a beautiful wife. Mhm¡­ That would be nice¡­"
    The Branch Master observed the earnest face that Firecracker was making.
    With a constantly changing expression, the Branch Master thought, 'He really has changed. Nine years ago, he was still in his teens, and he knew not except what lay beyond the other side of the TV screen. He dreamed of making it big one day, and when he finally awakened as an A-Rank of the Elemental Fighter Class, he knew that his dream would soon come true.'
    'Within days, he quit the Dojo I used to teach at part-time, then he left everything behind. But now look at him¡­'
    The Branch Master saw not the young, naive child he once knew. He was now looking at a man.
    "So, Master, you know anywhere that I can find beautiful ladies? I have money, so raising a family is not out of the question, even in this economy."
    '...Well, sort of a man¡­ Perhaps a rather lascivious man¡­'
    The Branch Master helplessly sighed before spinning his chair around to a position facing the prosperous city outside. Looking through that thin glass screen, one could see the lives of countless people, all doing whatever they had to do to make it to the next dawn that shed its light unto the world. Awakened mingled with the far greater in quantity unawakened; it created a cohabitation that was in no way perfect. But it was wonderful.
    "You know, Firecracker," the Branch Master suddenly spoke up, prompting the A-Rank Hunter to ask, "What is it, Teacher?"
    "I have lived for more than half a lifetime," began the Branch Master, his eyes still glued to the intricate world that resided outside his office window. "And my Grandfather, a man who had lived even longer than I have, was around to witness the days before Gates became a part of everyday life. He experienced a world that, although still fraught with danger, was not at the level of the fragile balance that we're teetering on right now."
    Firecracker didn't understand the point of this talk. What was his Teacher getting at?
    The Branch Master, knowing exactly what the flame-adorned man was thinking, only shook his head and looked beyond the point where the land touched the sky.
    "You can do whatever you wish in this city, Fashio. Just don't break any laws and don't abuse your status too much."
    "That is all; you can leave now if you wish."
    Fashio was really not following, but he wasn't one to stick around under an awkward atmosphere like this one. Therefore, after bowing once more and thanking his Teacher for his grace, he left the same way he came in, still peachy as could be.
    When no one was left in the large room except for the brooding Branch Master, he turned his head up into the horizon.
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    "It truly is a shame that all of this could very well be gone soon. The world in my grandfather's generation¡ªI wonder if that's what the world will turn back into once Homosapiens vanish from the face of the Earth."
    As a Branch Master of the Hunter's Association, and one on good terms with a plethora of highly influential figures, he was privy to many things that even the A-Rank Firecracker did not know about. He knew of the backstory behind the World's End Gate located at the center of the world, and he knew of Baba Yaga's Prophecy, but neither was what made him as melancholic as he was at this very moment.
    The truth was that less than a few hours ago, the Branch Master learned of some new, devastating news¡ªnews that would send ripples throughout the country and even the world.
    "Beings from beyond the stars¡­. They've really invaded us. I never thought a day like this would come, but it has. And it surely won't be very long before what Prophet Baba Yaga said comes to fruition."
    The moment the Branch Master heard this information from a high-ranking friend of his in Tokyo's Capital City, he thought it to be ludicrous.
    However, as his friend went into great detail about the subtle and peculiar changes occurring in those around him, he began to see more and more of something he didn't want to see¡ªthe truth. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 147 The Dissonants Poison runs Deep

    When the Branch Master's trustworthy friend told him that he had secretly captured one of these Aliens and watched it visibly transform in front of him, he was on the verge of believing something as nonsensical as this supposed 'alien invasion'.But what really hammered the nail into the coffin was when the Branch Master tried contacting his friend an hour or so later. He wanted to discuss more on the subject, but the phone never¡­ picked up.
    It was left eerily ringing for hours.
    His friend always picked up the phone. He always¡­ picked it up¡­
    Following a period of grief, the Branch Master was then greeted with the appearance of someone whom he once considered his most promising student. And even as he wanted to get out some hateful comments, the entire time he was talking with Firecracker, he was reminded of the final words he would likely ever hear from his good friend.
    "They live among us."
    "You can't trust anyone," the Branch Master murmured while leaning back in his chair. "If what he said is true, and it likely is, then I'm probably¡­ already¡­ dead. 'They' know I was the caller from the location of the phone¡­"
    "My time¡­ It's up, isn't it?"
    For the next few hours, the Branch Master remained unmoving in his chair. The candles in the room neared the end of their lifespans, yet they radiated the warmest of glows.
    The Branch Master's eyes, reflecting his lit-up city outside, no longer glowed the same as before. And just like the candles, their flames were¡­ snuffed out.
    Yet, both the snuffed candles and the snuffed man seemed oddly at¡­ peace.
    The wax from the hot candles melted and trickled off of the high places that held them, and from down the Branch Master's eye fell the clearest of tears. His eyes still deeply immersed in the City that he called home.
    The very next morning, the kind-hearted Branch Master was found dead in his office.
    There was no evidence of there having been a murder as there were no wounds on the body of the victim. It was assumed that the old Branch Master had simply died from natural causes.
    It would indeed seem that way¡­
    From a rooftop a couple of miles away, an eerie figure stood motionless.
    The figure unnaturally blinked its double-layered eyes while watching a crying auburn-haired girl hold on to a black coffin. If Cassius were here to identify the girl, he would see that it was the valiant Corra, now crestfallen.
    She held on as if her life depended on it. She held on like if she were to let go, she would suddenly lose him for good.
    "F-Father¡­! W-Why¡­!?" she cried out repeatedly. Yet, the whole time, the unnaturally blinking figure did nothing but watch.
    If anyone else were to see the appearance of this figure, they would immediately call out, 'Prime Minister!' and they would be correct. This figure was in fact the¡­ Highest Executive of Japan¡ªthe Prime Minister!
    FWIP!
    A different unusual figure suddenly appeared beside the Prime Minister. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Is it done?"
    "It is done." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire
    "Do any others know of this? We must rip out roots and all."
    "No. None knows. This human seemed to understand that if he told anyone else, it would only mean more deaths. Smart one he was."
    The second unnatural figure stared where the first figure was staring, and then after a few seconds, it spoke up again:
    "The Japanese Government is the first government to fall, but the others are on their way. And if we wish to have the entire world influence the offspring of 'it,' then everything must go off without issue."
    The whole world¡­ being mind-controlled for the sake of a single person.
    That was insane¡­
    The Prime Minister blinked several times, then looked away from the gathering of people dressed in black. He matched the same non-intensity stare as the second unknown figure, and said, "I will handle everything on my side. Japan's top brass have already all been replaced. A number of the S-Rank humans have also been¡­ taken out of commission. And all with a few effortless lures and traps. Humans¡­ they are so feeble. Threaten them with their family or those close to them and they turn stupid. Stupid makes for easy prey. They were yummy as well."
    "Let's hope 'it' will share some of those same human weaknesses. Only then can we ascend the Ascension Tower and take this Dimension as our own," said the Second Figure, its voice scratchy.
    Suddenly remembering something, it said, "...And the replacements of the S-Rank Japanese Hunters?"
    "No one will be able to tell the difference between the false and the real. If not for the careless greed of the peon, none of us would have been discovered," the Prime Minister answered with hatred oozing from its voice.
    "But it is taken care of¡ªthe problem?"
    The Prime Minister looked even more deeply into the second figure's dead eyes.
    "The problem is taken care of."
    Silence.
    After a brief period of hush, the Second Figure began to disappear, yet left a string of harrowing words to linger in the air:
    "The world will soon descend into chaos; be prepared to act when need be. Within weeks, Seraphina, or Selena as she is known here, will clean up Malakar's mess if he cannot succeed in the Mothership's objective. Earth will fall at that point, but¡­ not until we lure 'it' out."
    "Until then, do not mess up," he added, his tone bereft of sympathy. "If you do¡­ you'll end up like the one who couldn't control his greed."
    With that, the Second Figure vanished from the rooftop.
    "...."
    The Prime Minister didn't say a single word.
    However, after a few seconds, he also vanished.
    Nothing except for the sorrow in the air was left as evidence that either of the mysterious figures were ever there to begin with¡­
    ¡ª---------------
    "The Branch Master has died¡­?" Cassius, unable to believe what he was seeing on the living room television, rushed over to where all the other girls were situated. After sitting down on the couch, his expression changed several times.
    He refused to believe that the lively old man who had secretly assisted him in keeping his identity hidden over the last month suddenly dropped dead overnight! It was simply impossible!

 Chapter 148 The Branch Masters Grim Fate...

    Today was the first day of the new school year, and it was also the day before Bella would begin the marriage ceremony. However, it was on such a day that tragedy struck the City of Hoshito. Melancholy permeated the citizens, making for a stark contrast to how the place seemed less than 24 hours ago. Even those who were not very close to the late Branch Master felt a sense of sadness when they heard the news¡ªespecially the Hunters.The Hunters of Hoshito had no complaints when it came to the late Branch Master. He had treated them well, better than any other region's Branch Master. It was mostly thanks to him that Hoshito had as many competent Hunters as it did, and he was also the reason why their City had extremely low casualty rates.
    But now he's dead.
    And there was no coming back from death¡­
    The conspiracy theorists had two running theories for the Branch Master's death. Very few actually believed he died from natural causes; it was not only illogical but impossible. If the Branch Master's doctor were still around, then they would have proof to back this belief, but he had mysteriously¡­ disappeared.
    Yet, the Doctor's disappearance only further backed the two leading theories for how their beloved Branch Master died. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire
    The First Theory was centered around the complete wipeout of the B-Rank Hunter Party from a few weeks back. The MoonShiners were famous even on the international scale, not for their strength but because of their popularity. The point being that it wasn't completely illogical that there was a deeper scheme happening behind the curtains. Perhaps die-hard fans of the MoonShiners went out of their way to secretly harm and kill the Branch Master. Or perhaps those same fans hired someone else to do the dirty work.
    In Japan and even various other countries around the world, certain Assassination Organizations paved the way for high-profile murders. Of course, every single one of these modern-day assassins were trained professionals and also Awakeners who awakened with the Assassin Class. This meant it was fully within their capabilities to assassinate a B-Rank Veteran Hunter like the Branch Master of Hoshito.
    That was assuming the price was right¡­
    The Second Leading Theory was that the higher-ups of the Hunter's Association suddenly decided the Hoshito Branch Master to be an eyesore. He was, after all, commonly known for attenuating more to the Hunters than the Executives who governed the Hunters. In truth, if it weren't for the Head of the Japanese Hunter's Association stepping in and speaking up for the Hoshito Branch Master, he likely would've been covertly disposed of long ago.
    This brought to the table a pressing follow-up question:
    Why wait until now to take care of the Branch Master?
    It wasn't like anything of substance had happened to the current Japanese Hunter's Association Headmaster, so why only now eliminate the sore thumb?
    Something wasn't adding up.
    This sense of the unknown further spurred the emotions of those who adored the Branch Master.
    They demanded the truth!
    But the truth would never come to light.
    At least not until it was already far¡­ too¡­ late.
    Hours passed by, and a group of black-clothed people wearing veils appeared outside a Graveyard located atop a hill. Rain poured heavily on this bleak afternoon, doing well to overshadow the tears staining the cheeks of several other black-clothed figures.
    The ones wearing the veils, however, were Cassius and those close to him.
    A deafening silence hung over the area being constantly abused by the large droplets of rain. Only when the muffled crying of a singular girl became loud enough did everyone snap out of their reveries.
    Thousands of people had gathered on this soaked hill to mourn the death of a man who lived in their hearts¡ªand the hearts of countless more people who couldn't make it here today.
    The first school day had been set back by three days because of this tragedy, so many students who met the Branch Master in person were here in the moment, their faces all blue with sorrow.
    They remembered it as if it were just yesterday that the kind Branch Master spoke of the plans he aimed to implement to benefit not only them but the working adults as well.
    A better life was expected to arrive for them all. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Yet, before the Branch Master could see the lives himself¡­
    he lost his own.
    Corra was too overwhelmed with sadness to even properly greet anyone, yet no one took offense. They simply gathered around the eloquently decorated coffin now sitting at the bottom of a six-foot-deep grave.
    It was an open coffin ceremony, so everyone could see the Branch Master's unmoving corpse, his expression still painted with an unfounded look of peace.
    He was smiling.
    None knew why he was smiling, but none here¡­ besides one, had ever experienced death, so how could they know?
    Cassius's face was devoid of emotion. He stared at the funeral man dumping dirt over the lifeless corpse, with each dump dealing more and more damage to Corra.
    Her mother had died when she was young due to a rough pregnancy, and now many years later, her father dies as well.
    There was now no one left in her life¡­
    Corra loved her father; she truly did. Even if he was strict and their relationship wasn't made public knowledge due to numerous political reasons, that didn't mean she didn't love him.
    After her mother died because of¡­ her¡­ a lot of fathers would grow to hate that child.
    However, the kind Branch Master did not.
    He was the prime reason for why she was able to become who she was today. He taught her how to defend herself, how to not take anything for granted, how to protect those who were unable to protect themselves.
    He¡­ taught her so many things¡­
    ...and was patient for so many years¡­
    Yet, seeing the Branch Master's frozen expression made everything that was Corra's life come crashing down onto her.
    It was all too much to handle, causing her to faint while leaning into the grave hole.

 Chapter 149 Deadline to Re-enter HELL

    But before Corra could fall into the hole and potentially create another tragedy, a shadowy figure phased forward and caught her in a princess carry. The figure briefly stared at the colorless face snuggled into his chest, his own expression unreadable. However, before anyone could look his way and ask who he was, he gently set down the tear-stricken girl and walked past the group he brought with him.Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
    All the other people dressed in black were too distracted by what happened to Corra to realize that someone had saved her before it no longer mattered.
    "Let's go," said Cassius, his voice inaudible under the beating of the rain and the thundering of lightning.
    All of the silent women nodded their heads before following along behind him. He wasn't moving very fast; in fact, he was trudging forward slowly, so they all caught up and descended the hill together. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Sasha, Aya, Stella, Hellion, Grace, and even Bella had all joined him today. Only Yimin was still lost. And although the girls would normally be in quite the chipper moods, none seemed the least bit happy right now. Hellion was the only one to appear unbothered by everything; she was the same as always, calm and calculative.
    For the other girls, however, when Cassius was acting like this, they would as well. Something about him felt different today, and even the usually flirty and sinister mind of Bella was as quiet as a church hill. She simply tagged along beside him, same as the others.
    The day ended uneventfully. The next day was no different. Everyone in the Steele household hadn't spoken much these last couple of days. Even with Bella and Grace staying over, the hours went on without event.
    It was only on the third day that Cassius finally left his meditation and exited his room on the mansion's third floor. The other residents of the home obviously noticed this occurrence and stopped what they were doing to approach him.
    Considering that he had been nonstop meditating and cultivating the Demon Dragon Integration Arts these past 48 hours, it took Cassius a couple of seconds to return to reality and notice the nervous girls standing before him. Confused, he asked, "Bella and Grace? Why are you two here?"
    "???" "???"
    Both Bella and Grace exchanged glances before bitterly sighing. It was made abundantly clear that Cassius had been completely out of it since learning of the Branch Master's death. Only now did he appear to have a little clarity in his eyes.
    After taking the time to explain how they wound up there, Grace cupped one hand and Bella cupped the other. "You can rely on other people, Cassius. You don't need to keep everything to yourself all the time¡ª" they said in sync while brightly smiling, yet swiveled their heads toward each other when they realized someone was talking over them.
    "What are you doing?" Bella asked while secretly eyeing the dainty hand holding onto her husband's other hand. 'This fcking b*tch¡­ I'll kill her!' In spite of her dangerous thoughts, she was still smiling.
    However, even though Grace sensed something off about this girl she barely knew, she didn't back down. In fact, she even took things a step further and pulled Cassius's right hand to her ample chest, then turned her smug face away from the seething Bella, where her expression then transformed into one that could melt the heart of any man.
    "Does this make you feel better¡­?" she asked as she pressed his right hand further into her squishy breasts. "You must tell me when you are uncomfortable, Cassius. I'll do this every time if you so wish¡­"
    'Hmm?' Cassius looked between the two girls, feeling a tension that created sparks between them. He also noticed more surging emotions pop up from behind Bella and Grace. 'Is everyone ovulating right now or something? I know I've been out of it for a while, but not that much time has passed, has it¡­?'
    He kept track of their cycles so as to avoid potential disasters. And he was positive they were still half a month away from the ovulation cycles for most of them.
    As Cassius pondered something unusual with a straight face, Bella's forehead scrunched, with veins appearing everywhere. She bit her lips, trying her best to suppress her immense anger.
    If not for Cassius breaking through the silence, she might have flipped her lid and ruined all the plans she had for tomorrow. As for what he said, it went as such:
    "I guess we missed my birthday, which was like¡­ yesterday, I think? I don't really care about things like that, but I assume other people like going to special events like this?"
    "Are you asking us if we want to go out somewhere today?" Sasha asked with a bit of concealed excitement.
    Cassius nodded.
    "Well, isn't the answer already obvious then!?" said Aya, her pupils showing visions of sweets and good food.
    Even Grace was finding it hard to hide her enthusiasm. She sensually rubbed her supple thighs, yet to no avail. She was still¡­ horny for dessert¡­
    Bella, in all her hate for every single one of the women here, seemed to completely forget about everything when dessert was mentioned. She immediately let go of Cassius's left hand and walked straight up to him, then leaned up on her tippy toes and got her face less than a few inches away from his.
    "We. Are. Going."
    It wasn't even up for debate in Bella's mind. Cassius received the message loud and clear, and also realized that everyone besides Hellion was anticipating the places he'd bring them as well.
    "...Then I guess we're going," Cassius sighed helplessly before walking past the girls jittering in excitement and down a flight of marble stairs.
    While the others took a moment to drool over the goodies they would soon devour, Hellion took the chance to walk beside Cassius and discuss something important.
    "Master, you'll need to re-enter HELL within the next few months. If you do not, then you'll be stripped of your Demon King Bloodline. You surely understand what I'm referring to, right?"
    "Mhmm¡­"

 Chapter 150 An Extraterrestrial Stalker...?

    The Demon King Bloodline, although extremely powerful, also connected the Bloodline holder to HELL itself. If a Demon King stayed away from HELL for too long, then they would lose their Demon King Bloodline permanently. For regular Demons, this meant something worse than death, which was why, even if they found a way to leave HELL, they would prefer to never leave.For Cassius, however, losing the Demon King Bloodline wouldn't be the end of the world. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    That wasn't to say he would allow it to slip from his grasp, but he also wouldn't die for the chance to keep the Bloodline. Yet, in this case, he was nearly ready to head back into HELL.
    With months until the deadline, he was confident that he would become strong enough to confront the weakest of the Demon Kings on the 1st Floor of HELL¡­
    ¡ªTime passed gradually¡ª
    The day that was meant to be a belated birthday for Cassius was a merry one. Everyone seemed to entirely forget about the unfortunate demise of the man who kept the City running. But in the back of his mind, Cassius remembered. And that memory haunted him.
    It was highly likely that the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends had something to do with the death of the Hoshito Branch Master¡­
    Cassius had no proof, but he just knew this was the case. And maybe¡­ maybe if he had worked a little more proactively in the search for the Gremlins, the Branch Master never would've died.
    And then there was the Branch Master's only daughter¡­
    Cassius secretly heaved a heavy sigh just thinking about Corra. His outward attention may have been focused on the cherry girls around him as they walked around the city, laughing and speaking lightheartedly, yet his mind seemed to constantly trace back to the auburn-haired girl whom he had only met a few times.
    That day¡ªthe day that marked the Branch Master's death¡ªthe City of Hoshito lost two great people. Corra, the Branch Master's daughter, was the second one.
    Many were afraid that she would attempt to commit suicide, but she instead did something far different. Beyond anyone's predictions, she left the City of Hoshito, even leaving the country altogether.
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    She left only a note, saying, "There's nothing left here for me¡­ I'll be venturing west, to South Korea. There is a Scientific Institution there studying the origin of the Gates. I may not be strong enough to make a difference when it comes to individually closing Gates¡­ but I might just be able to work towards closing the Gates for good. I have to do this¡­"
    "This is goodbye."
    It was obvious that Corra blamed the Gates and the monsters inside for what happened to her father. She also secretly harbored thoughts of making grand achievements with the smarts that her father had always been proud of. If she could make a name for herself, then maybe, just maybe she could find out what really killed her father¡­
    Corra's only lingering regret was not being able to get to know the young man whom she was supposed to become acquainted with at a High School.
    Though, if Fate permits it, they might just encounter each other once again.
    "What are you so lost in thought for?" Bella whispered into his ear while the other girls took their turns hitting gophers in an arcade game they were all playing.
    Cassius slowly looked down, and upon seeing those starry eyes peer into his very being, he sighed. "I was¡­ just thinking about something that no longer¡­ matters."
    Bella scrutinized his expression, her eyes emulating a thoughtfulness that one wouldn't normally think to be possible from her.
    After a moment, she averted her gaze and linked arms with him.
    "What are you doing¡ª" Cassius tried to say, but was interrupted by Bella, saying:
    "Can't you just not ask questions every once in a while? What? Do you think I'm making moves on you or something??" She feigned a head shake before pulling him away from the distracted vixens. "Don't ask any questions and just follow me. There's something I want to show you."
    Cassius was puzzled, yet still did as she requested and let himself be dragged behind her.
    However, neither he nor Bella noticed two pairs of eyes watching them¡­
    One was from the gorgeous Stella, who had dressed up more than she ever had, all to impress a guy¡ªa stupid guy that made her wonder why she even bothered. Nonetheless, she became a little curious when she saw that same man get pulled outside the arcade by the black-haired newcomer.
    'She's pretty¡­' Stella thought with a distinct pout puffing up her cheeks. Gently rubbing her world tree necklace, she worriedly wondered, '...Is that the kind of girl he likes¡­?'
    Overlooking the silver bluish-haired woman's distressed thoughts, the other pair of eyes, one that didn't even appear to be part of this Dimension, watched the hooded man with an unnerving stare. As the Extraterrestrial tasked with keeping track of 'its' son, it was to stalk him at all times of the day.
    Typically, the Extraterrestrial would feel that everything was fine, but as of late, it had the nagging feeling telling it that something was wrong. Whenever it stared at the target for too long, its instincts were screaming at it to¡­ cower in fear.
    This feeling only became worse with time. And even with the Camouflage Module given by the Mothership's caretakers, the Alien couldn't erase whatever was practically begging for it to run. In fact, the only reason it hadn't already done just that was because of its confidence in the Mothership, the technology provided, and its fear of what would happen to it if it abandoned the mission.
    The Mothership did not tolerate the existence of those who could not follow orders¡­
    It also experienced that same unnerving feeling today, yet continued its mission as per usual.
    When Cassius and Bella moved, the Alien also moved. It used a special space-warping device to do this. And when it reappeared, it saw the target conversing with a shorter female who was pushing him against the wall and pointing at his chest.
    The Alien remained unresponsive to all that it witnessed.

 Chapter 151 Bellas Advice...?

    With a sassy way about her, Bella reworded what she just said a second ago. "With the death of the Branch Master, you have been weird. Stop being weird, for God's sake!""What were you going to show me¡ª"
    "I'm showing you some sense, you dum dum! Look all around you! And I mean really look! You basically have a harem of both young and mature women acting head over heels for you!" 'I'll kill them all, anyway, but just acquiring this many admirers shows how much you're worth, hoho~'
    Adding more to her point, Bella said, "You also have a nice big house and plenty of money that you obtained from luck and more lotto tickets!" 'Sure, buddy. Did those bimbos really fall for this?'
    "You also have me, your wif¡ª willy, really~ g-good friend, so why are you always overthinking things!? Like really, how much could you possibly be worrying about??" 'After we get married the day after tomorrow, you won't have to worry about anything else for the rest of your life¡­'
    Cassius calmly observed the passionate girl berating him as such. He wondered exactly when she had become like this toward him. When did their dynamic change? He couldn't recall.
    Softly shaking his head, he stole Bella's gaze and said, "I think you are mistaken about something. I'm not worried; I'm thinking¡ª"
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    "Same thing, same thing!" Bella's voice cut through his, her emotions flaring. "If you're pointlessly thinking about something you can't control, then what is the difference between thinking and worrying??"
    Although Bella didn't put much thought behind her words, hearing her say that made something click inside Cassius. His pupils shook a little until they refocused.
    He warmly smiled. "Thanks, Bella. I'll keep that in mind." S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    She was right. There was nothing he could do to change the past. The only thing he could do now was keep moving forward. If nothing else, he would carry on the aspirations of the old man who yearned for the extermination of all Monsters. That was the least he could do to repay the old man for letting him grow unimpeded, effectively avoiding all the usual protagonist road blocks.
    Bella was briefly stunned, then she snapped back to reality. A smug force pulled upon her cute red lips as she said, "You're welcome! Now let's get back to those floozi¡ª friends of yours!"
    Cassius smiled and let Bella tug him back into the brightly lit arcade, where he then received a lengthy lecture about not abruptly leaving, and especially not leaving with a singular girl!
    The rest of the day passed in a blissful manner. However, when the setting sun blended in with the far-off landscape, Cassius noticed Grace working extra hard to hide her sickly-sounding coughs from the group.
    But how could she hide them from him?
    Concerned about her worsening condition, he telepathically told her to meet him by the bathrooms. She was confused as to how he was talking to her through her mind, but after a short period of him explaining it to be his unique ability, she excused herself and maneuvered through the lavish interior of the high-end restaurant they were in.
    Cassius, realizing that he couldn't up and head out suspiciously behind Grace, used a Skill that he didn't use very often due to its limited effectiveness.
    |One Becomes Two (S+ / High Ruby Rank)|
    The Skill was obtained through a round of Skill Box openings and it was a relatively simple Skill. It enabled the User to split both their body and mind into two. This would also mean that the User would temporarily have two split consciousnesses.
    The only apparent downsides would be that the User would have everything, from his power to the effectiveness of his Skills and Items, cut in half and distributed to both halves. Furthermore, the Skill could only stay active for around an hour, making it pretty useless in most combat scenarios. If Cassius wanted to spread out and efficiently clear Gates, then it was better to make use of his ever-growing Evomon Army. There was no need to halve his combat power for minimal returns.
    This time, however, the Skill was perfect for what he needed it for.
    ¡ªA couple moments later¡ª
    FWIP!
    By the time Grace made it to the classy bathroom area, Cassius had already materialized and was coolly leaning up against a marble pillar. However, as soon as he saw Grace's unnaturally pale complexion, worry filled his heart. This worry further multiplied when she began to say, "What is it that you wanted to¡ª" yet began to stagger halfway through what she was saying.
    "!!!"
    Cassius's split-half flashed forward and held Grace up just before she collapsed. Feeling the rhythm of her heartbeats and seeing her breathing turn unusually haggard made a deep frown form on his face.
    "C-Cassius¡­ I¡­ I'm fine¡­ You can let go now¡ª"
    "You are not fine," he firmly denied. "And for how long has it been since it progressed to this stage??"
    Grace hesitated.
    Biting her lip, she pushed away from him and said with her face covered by her hair, "...I'm really f-fine¡ª *Cough!*" Blood suddenly came up from her throat and spilled out onto her hands. Her eyes erratically flickered as her lip-biting worsened.
    "I¡­ I have to go¡ª"
    *Pat!*
    Before Grace had the chance to flee, Cassius grabbed her wrist and pulled her close enough that their breath mingled with one another. Her slow heartbeat quickened as she stared into his focused bluish-red eyes. Even if she wanted to say something, she couldn't find the words.
    Grace was at the complete whim of the man who knew not when to give up.
    While Cassius seemed to be doing or looking into something within the shell-shocked Grace, two happily chattering girls walked toward the outside bathroom area. But when they saw a tall handsome man pushing a meek-looking girl against a wall, their cheeks reddened.
    "Kya! We didn't know anyone was here d-doing something like¡­ this¡­"
    They quickly got on out of there, yet found it extremely difficult to erase that sexy spectacle from their minds.
    Grace was too absorbed in the sight of the man before her to even realize that someone saw them, whereas Cassius simply¡­ did not care. He was also very focused on scanning the complicated internal system of the short doe-eyed girl he had cornered against a wall.
    What he saw, though, left him shocked.

 Chapter 152 Graces Predicament, Tear of Yggdrasil

    A few moments later. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."...You should've told me about this¡­" A deep frown marred Cassius's features as he finally let go of the shy bunny-like girl.
    As she only now got a breather, Grace took a second to steady herself. It was also at this point that she noticed that all the blood on her hands had disappeared. More importantly, however, was the contemplative expression Cassius was making.
    '...Has he somehow figured out about my illness¡­? That can't possibly be the case¡­ Even the most well-renowned of Spiritual Doctors in the world were unable to identify my illness. Only those of my kind were able to discern it and¡­ tell me how long I had left¡­'
    "How long?" asked Cassius.
    "How long?" Grace parroted, confused. 'It can't be¡­'
    "How long do you have left to live? A year? Two years? Longer?"
    'He knows¡­'
    Grace's face drooped as her eyelashes quivered. She found it grueling to even so much as match his gaze. Though, when she realized that there was no point in hiding it anymore, she mumbled without turning her head toward him, "3¡­ 3 and a half months¡­"
    "3 months¡­? This¡­" Even Cassius's usually inexpressive face cracked and crumbled when he registered this number in his mind.
    It took a couple of seconds for him to take a deep breath and harden his expression. "You know what your illness is, don't you? Tell me what it is and how to acquire the cure."
    Grace went to respond, yet held her tongue at the last possible moment. With long locks of brown hair covering her face, she mumbled, "...There's no point¡­ The cure¡­ It's impossible to obtain¡ª"
    "Just tell me!" Cassius demanded in a low growl, scaring Grace a little. Though, realizing what he had done, he sincerely apologized, "Sorry¡­ But I'll need you to tell me what you know. Time is running out, and you didn't give me very much of a heads-up¡­"
    Grace cycled through a few inexplicable expressions, but ultimately told him what he wanted to know.
    After listening to a short explanation, Cassius understood the general rundown of the situation. For as long as Grace could recall, she had a frail constitution, making her prone to injury. According to her parents, she had an extraordinarily rare illness called '¦¤¦Å¦Ê¦Á¦Å¦Í¦Í?¦Á Death Disease' or 'Dakaenn¨¨a Death Disease' in simple English, which meant 'Nineteen Death Disease' in Greek. This name was fitting, for those contracting this disease would die before they turned 19.
    It was also because of this illness that Grace had such a frail body. Many of her hardships stemmed from the illness, even including how overprotective her parents were. Just like all the other times she left, she had to sneak out, and would surely be punished quite severely this time around as she had been gone more than just a few hours.
    However, the oddest part about this illness did not exist in any documented health records¡­ This meant the illness did not originate from Earth. Also meaning that¡­
    "You're not human¡­?" Cassius couldn't tell from his superficial scan from earlier, but there was no other explanation. And when he saw the look Grace was making, his suspicions were confirmed.
    "H-How did you¡­ Just how powerful are you, Cassius? How much do you know¡­?" Grace stuttered in disbelief.
    She had figured that he was likely an Awakened, but she never got the opportunity to accurately gauge his strength; she only knew he was strong. But if he knew about other intelligent races, then it was very likely that he was far stronger than she had originally assumed. Far, far¡­ stronger¡­
    Cassius gently laid his warm right hand against her increasingly terrified expression. She flinched in fear but was surprised to feel him do nothing more than affectionately rub his thumb up and down her cheek. She slowly opened her shaky eyes, only to see the same warm smile as always¡ªthe smile she fell in love with.
    "You don't have to fear me, Grace. I don't care if you're of a different race, but you must finish telling me what the cure is and where to find it. I don't even care which exact race you are, I just have to know how to save you."
    Grace's eyes misted over. 'Even now¡­ Even now, he's still thinking about how to help me¡­' She felt incredibly warm inside, but her smile was quickly dampened when she recalled the lethality rate of her illness. '...I like that he cares for me¡­ But it came all too late¡­ He'll lose me¡­'
    She should be sadder, but for some reason, holding a large enough place in his heart to make him fear loss filled her heart with joy. Nonetheless, she explained everything she knew to the person who now seemed so special to her, only leaving out the parts concerning her race. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
    When Grace finished the explanation, Cassius was left momentarily breathless. "...The home of the World Tree Yggdrasil¡­ The World Tree's Sanctuary¡­ The highest quality Tear of Yggdrasil¡­ A competition between Dimensions¡­"
    To sum up what he learned, two months from now, the World Tree's Sanctuary, which was a mystical place that presided at the top of the Ascension Towers, would be hosting a competition. In this competition held in a sentient tree as ancient as time itself and as large as the cosmos, races from every area of all Seven Dimensions would receive the opportunity to participate.
    Everyone in existence, as long as they were part of an intelligent race, would be asked to put their lives on the line to obtain various legendary rewards. One of those rewards was the 'Tear of Yggdrasil'¡ªa mythical item that was said to be capable of curing any illness, injury, or disease. As long as they weren't dead, the Tear of Yggdrasil would fully heal them.
    This Tear of Yggdrasil was also the only known way to cure the ¦¤¦Å¦Ê¦Á¦Å¦Í¦Í?¦Á Death Disease¡­
    The way Cassius looked at Grace changed, as the worst-case scenario flashed through his mind in the form of terrible premonitions of the future. Yet, before the images could overwhelm him, he forced himself out of his stupor and steeled his resolve.

 Chapter 153 Plans for the World Trees Sanctuary

    "I will handle it all, Grace," Cassius said with a small smile as he turned around and began to walk away. "Just hold on until I return with the Tear of Yggdrasil. It shouldn't take very long.""W-Wait, Cassius, you can't! It's too dangerous!" Grace, still trying to comprehend the insanities he was spouting, sped up toward his receding figure.
    When she just about caught up, she sputtered, "I¡­ I have already come to terms with my destiny¡­ But you can't go to the World Tree's Sanctuary! You have no idea just how unbelievably powerful the participants are going to be! As long as you aren't the oldest ancestors of a Dimension, you can participate, which means there are virtually no age or power restrictions! Even SSS-Rank Hegemonies will be¡ª"
    FWIP!
    Cassius disappeared, then reappeared behind the frantically chasing Grace. He tugged at both sides of her thin waist and pulled her into his arms.
    Whispering into her reddened ears, he said, "Who told you I was doing this just for you? I have personal reasons for wanting to go to the World Tree's Sanctuary. Your matter is simply speeding up what I planned to do to begin with."
    "B-But¡ª"
    "There's no more buts, my dear," Cassius whispered as he lightly tickled her sides, causing her to burst out laughing.
    "???" "???" "???"
    Those dining at fancy diner tables nearby turned to look at Grace, prompting a crimson blush to form on her exquisite face. It was also then that she realized she had been bamboozled; Cassius was already gone.
    Her cheeks puffed up as she scampered back to their table in shame.
    'That man¡­ He's so insufferable¡­' she 'angrily' thought, an imperceptible grin adorning her beautiful features. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    For the remainder of the night, Grace huffed and crossed her arms every time Cassius looked her way, yet still managed to spend her time quite enjoyably. Excluding the occasional sickly coughs, she seemed just as happy as the other girls.
    Then the night eventually came to a close¡­
    ¡ªThe very next morning, in the Steele Mansion¡ª
    Cassius struggled to get up, quickly realizing that it was not his Newbie 8 Equipment Set weighing him down so heavily. Neither was it his lovely Lilith tattoo nor the Newbie 8 Training Sword.
    'Some things just never change,' he thought with a sigh.
    Looking around himself, he saw several bountiful womanly figures sprawled out on top of him. All of the beautiful bodies were scarcely covered by risque nightwear, with none of their owners feeling the least bit shameful about partially revealing themselves to a singular man. A man who, even now, was being mentally abused by the Entity calling itself the Idle Evolution System.
    [You dirty dog~ If not for your prevailing will to retain your virginity, then one might actually assume that you were quite the Lady Slayer under the sheets~ (?&gt;????)]
    Cassius naturally ignored the System's nonsense, treating it as if it were less than thin air.
    However, at this point, the System's emoticon twisted a bit in anger as it threw something completely unexpected his way.
    *Ding!!*
    [Since the Host is clearly in dire need of some more Character Development, the System has decided to begin Daily Quest #3 starting today!]
    "But don't I still have some days before¡ª"
    [The System is not very good with time! Daily Quest #3 starts today! Make sure to enjoy your time in the Land of Nightmares!]
    Silence.
    After a brief period of hush, Cassius shook his head in defeat and worked toward slipping out of the girls piled on top of him. After successfully accomplishing this, he regulated his Newbie 8 Equipment Set before walking over to a stylishly decorated wooden katana in a corner of the room. It was standing on top of a special A-Rank item that he bought a few days ago.
    The item had the sole effect of voiding all weight that came into contact with it, and the upper weight limit was said to be around that of a planet's mass.
    The A-Rank item was called the 'Physical Negator,' and it was typically used by powerful Tanks who were accustomed to taking heavy hits. Of course, the thing wasn't invincible, as the force of the strikes against it would still be felt by the one holding its shield-like structure.
    However, this rule did not apply if no living organism was actually holding the shield¡­
    And just like that, an A-Rank item worth tens of millions was bought by Cassius on the black market, only to be used as a plate to hold a wooden sword that weighed more than entire cities.
    *Clack¡­*
    When Cassius went to grab and lift up the Newbie 8 Training Sword, it nearly felt like the force rippling through the Physical Negator would demolish all of Hoshito. But luckily for any Real Estate Agencies in the area, that did not happen. And when the wielder of this sword strapped it to his muscular back, all seemed to return to normal.
    'It surely won't be long before I'm no longer able to contain the weight of this heavy thing without the assistance of some divine item¡­'
    Cassius sighed before sauntering away from the girls snuggled up on his bed, all of whom seemed to be attempting to absorb his lingering warmth. He counted the heads and realized that almost everyone, even Sasha, was there. The only ones not sleeping there were the Egyptian beauty casually waiting for him downstairs and the silver-haired dragon who was presently who the f*ck knows where.
    After silently leaving his room and descending a flight of marble stairs, Cassius caught a glimpse of a fancy alarm clock hanging on a wall. The alarm clock read [04:48].
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    The sun had not yet risen, yet he didn't feel the least bit tired, despite the fact that they went from partying to bed less than three hours ago.
    "You finally reached the stage where sleep is becoming virtually useless? Your ability to continually progress in power at such a rapid rate truly never fails to amaze," said an expressionless woman sitting downstairs.

 Chapter 154 Hellions Riddle

    As soon as Cassius reached the last step of the stairs, an intoned feminine voice sounded from off to the side. There, sitting on a swiveling golden stool chair, was the extraordinarily gorgeous Hellion. Her eyes, like attentive pools of honey, watched the immortal-like man with deep intrigue.While sipping on a cup of homebrew coffee, she gave her master a certain kind of look.
    Cassius understood this look very well.
    Sighing, he said, "HELL¡­ I know that I have to go back, but I am not yet strong enough. Furthermore, there are some things I still need to do on Earth¡­"
    Hellion blinked. Taking another sip, she motioned to the swiveling stool chair beside her.
    Cassius took the hint and sat down next to her, where he then heard her say, "Those mortal women of yours? And that Gate¡­ World's End, was it? Child, you know none of this will matter soon enough, don't you?"
    Cassius appeared confused. "What do you mean by that?"
    "You really don't know¡­?" Hellion paused to think, then shook her head and said, "Just forget about it, then. But do note that none of those ducklings are what you think they¡­ are. None of it matters. With your unique ability to become stronger faster than everyone else, you should be diverting all your attention elsewhere¡ª"
    "I know that already," Cassius interrupted, his tone raspy. "But I can't just leave them be. Especially not after I've become stronger¡­ The cries of this world, they are becoming louder. I fear that if I leave again without resolving the immense threats to the world, they will no longer¡­ be here¡­"
    Hellion stared deeply into the multicolored eyes of this inexplicable man. After a couple of moments, her long eyelashes flickered as she gave him a hint. "Child, if this is your path, then so be it. What you seek lies at the illusion's center, the beginning of all. In there, an Abyss resides. Devour the Abyss and glimpse into the truth, but see too much, and the sky will collapse."
    While appraising his emotionless expression, she added, "What is unavoidable will forever remain unavoidable. You will lose two you didn't know you had, regret and sorrow will sink in, then you will unknowingly lose them all."
    As one older than most civilizations, Hellion had seen the rises and falls of empires. She also observed the tinier and oftentimes overlooked aspects of the wondrous thing called life. Over time, as she glimpsed more and more of existence across all Seven Dimensions, she eventually acquired the mysterious ability to glimpse not into merely what she could visibly see but also what she could not see.
    The futures of many were laid bare to Hellion, all riddles and variables. Yet, out of the many powerful beings she had vaguely seen the futures of, the only two beings she could see nothing of were herself¡­ and the bottomless void before her.
    To the Hellish Sphinx, knower of all, articulator of none, this man staring at her was a mystery.
    As a mere mortal, she should've been able to see his entire past, present, and future unfold before her. Yet she could see nothing except for a nigh boundless void and faint static images every time she attempted to discern his future.
    However, the weirdest thing had to be that Hellion could also not see Cassius's past. Before a certain point, it was like he had never even existed¡­
    It was because of this and her ability to look into the futures of various people, mostly women, that Hellion decided to be subservient to the man who bested her in combat. She wished to see exactly what someone like him would do once he realizes the¡­ truth. And also what would come from that truth.
    "Do what you must, Child, but remember the deal we made," Hellion indifferently said before returning to her perusal of a newspaper while sipping tea.
    "I remember it," Cassius replied as he began to vanish from view. "I'll inform you of when we'll be re-entering HELL again."
    Hellion, acting a little out of character, displayed a faint smile while never turning her eyes away from the newspaper she was reading.
    The headline of that newspaper read:
    "The Unconquerable Gate, World's End, is about to experience another World-organized Raid! Will the Hunters finally be able to do the impossible!? Or will they fail¡­?"
    The article then went on to speak about the history of the Evolvable Gate before mentioning over 100 S-Rank Hunters who would be participating in the Gate Raid as the Main Striking Force. It also briefly glossed over tens of thousands of names belonging to A-Rank Hunters and B-Rank Hunters who would be waiting on standby just in case any of the Gate's monsters escaped the unbreakable circle of S-Rank Hunters.
    This was unquestionably the single largest and most organized Gate Raid in the history of the world!
    And it would also be commencing a little less than ten days from now¡­
    ¡ª---------------
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    FWIP!
    When Cassius reappeared, he materialized somewhere in the Antarctic. It was here that a massive, shiny facility covered in snow was erected. Inside this facility, however, was a large, icy blue-purple Gate. The Gate itself was as tall as a multi-storied building and was guarded by C-Rank and B-Rank Awakeners day in and out.
    Similar to the Black Gate that housed the corpse of the Leviathan Deity, this Gate was an anomaly and exceeded its apparent Peak-Purple Rank. However, unlike the Leviathan Deity Gate, the inhabitants of this Gate were very much¡­ alive.
    But contrary to how normal Gates functioned, the monsters inside this Antarctic Gate were not able to leave the Gate. And from what various governments and powerful Hunters had observed from the monsters inside, there were hundreds upon hundreds of colossal Ice Giants kneeling down in chains that made it impossible for them to fight back.
    For even the physically strongest and most adept magic users in the world, none could harm the outer shells of these enormous Ice Giants¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 155 Chained Ice Giants, Sword God Training Manual Ranks

    The Mage Lord, the Fastest Man Alive, the Dragon Slayer, and many other notable Hunters had all tried to harm the chained Ice Giants, with some of their attacks capable of bringing the world to its knees!Yet all of them failed¡­
    Not even a scratch. Not even a scratch was left on the silent Ice Giant that all old and new Hunters tried to damage.
    Even Cassius fared no better in damaging the Ice Giants when he found out about this Gate from an article and snuck in. He used his strongest attacks, which included the infusion of the Atomic Element, yet none of it made any difference. No matter how many city-destroying Atomic Laser Beams he shot at the Ice Giants, none of them budged an inch.
    Perhaps if he utilized the complete incantation of the I AM ATOMIC, I AM OMEGA, I AM THE END Skill, he might be able to damage an Ice Giant. But seeing as that Skill, after being further upgraded due to Skill Fusions, obtained an even more catastrophic description and also a one-time usage function, it wasn't worth it to use his ultimate trump card for something like that.
    But then why was Cassius here today? Why had he once again trespassed into private property and slipped into a seemingly endless world of ice?
    *Thud, Thud, Thud.*
    Cassius's slow steps echoed throughout the desolate landscape as he walked around ancient, rusted structures of unknown origin, all glazed in freshly laid snow. They looked as if they had been there for many, many millennia, with their original construction materials having long since been lost to the perpetual dredges of time.
    In the far-off distance, possibly farther away than the distance between the Sun and the Earth, there stood an icy mountain. Yet, even from such a vast distance away, the 'icy mountain' appeared around the size of a golf ball.
    After taking a few more steps, Cassius crossed millions of miles and made it to the 'icy mountain.'
    Even though he was still hundreds of miles away from touching the icy mountain, when he looked up, he was unable to see the top of the mountain. Though, once he zoomed out his magical sense, he was able to make out the entirety of the mountain, which was when he saw large gusts of hot air blowing out near the top of its snow-covered peak.
    At the same time as Cassius's magical sense scanned all of the icy mountain, something unusual occurred. The mountain started to shake, causing everything for tens of thousands of miles to violently tremble. Cracks opened up in the ground, creating countless chasms that seemed to have no ends.
    RUMBLE!!!
    The whole world felt like it was about to collapse in on itself and forever bury everything beneath an incalculable number of tons. But before things reached a point of no return, all of the snow was shaken off of the impossibly large mountain.
    That was when Cassius saw it¡­
    A pair of eyes appeared, their sheen no longer as resplendent as they were in their prime. Rather, they were dull, hiding within them all of the weathering they had endured over the innumerable years.
    The hot gusts of air abruptly stopped, leaving just the pair of massive eyes and a far smaller pair of eyes to stare at each other.
    *Clack, Clack!*
    Massive, unusually pristine chains the size of cities rattled all over the Ice Giant's body, with there being hundreds of them in total. Every single one of them shone with a low golden glow that culminated together to form a physical restriction capable of locking the unbelievably mighty entity in place.
    Then, something changed in this staring stalemate between insignificant mortal and entity beyond human comprehension.
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    An ancient, indecipherable voice emanated, like an echo traveling throughout eternity.
    "ZHA'VRAETH NOL'QUIRA THYS'VEN DRAL'KYR... Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?
    ULN'FERATH KEL'THUREN ASHA'VIR RA'THEVRA¡­
    ? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?
    SHYN'ETHRA LOS'VRYN KAEL'THIRAS... VAE'THROS IL'NOTH¡­"
    Silence.
    As the Ice Giant had a giant metal cage clasped over its mouth, what it spoke was akin to a broken language. Even those of the same race as the behemoth were unable to understand what the monster was saying, let alone the mortal who didn't have even a single language converter Skill that extended beyond translating basic human languages.
    But even without actually understanding what the Ice Giant was saying, Cassius could guess the intent behind the words.
    "What reverberates among creation, echoes throughout eternity," Cassius repeated to the best of his ability. However, during the process, he broke out in a cold sweat and was forced into a lotus position.
    The reason why he had come here, even despite his futile attempts at killing these indescribable organisms, was solely because of the obscured phrases spoken by the Ice Giants. When he first arrived here, he thought their low and deep enigmatic bellows to be nothing more than nonsense. Others who came before him also thought the same thing.
    But that was when he felt a reaction resonate outward from his comprehensions of the SSS-Rank Sword God's Training Manual. This reaction urged an unknown sensation to circulate through his mind, leading to rapid advancement in the Training Manual.
    -The SSS-Rank Sword God's Training Manual-
    It was what an ancient human ancestor left behind before he ascended and became a higher existence. Within its translucent pages were numerous unfathomable poses, all describing training exercises that truly embodied the essence of "Train it till you break it, then make it."
    Every single one of the exercises involved experiencing pain induced from training, all while comprehending deeper profundities from one's surroundings. Moreover, the more pain one experienced and the more complicated the profundity, the easier it would be to progress through the stages of the SSS-Rank Training Manual.
    The stages went as such:
    ________________
    1. Noob Trainer
    2. Novice Trainer
    3. Beginner Trainer
    4. Persistent Trainer
    5. Veteran Trainer
    6. Outlandish Trainer
    7. Hellish Trainer
    8. Nightmare Trainer
    9. God Trainer
    ________________
    Even as the creator of the Training Manual, the Sword God stated toward the end of the booklet that he had not achieved the final stage.
    He mentioned such a stage as one that "Even the craziest of madmen would not have the will to achieve."

 Chapter 156 Icedom Senates Prison

    In fact, let alone the God Trainer stage, the Sword God himself peaked at the Outlandish Trainer stage prior to Ascension. Even after the passing of countless years, the Sword God was still capped at the Nightmare Trainer stage, unable to advance to the stage that only existed in theories.In truth, the Sword God simply wasn't crazy enough to breach the final obstacle presented before the Will of Mortals.
    It was this very Will that Cassius was trying to hone by coming to the inscrutable Gate known as the Icedom Senate's Prison. This name, however, was what the Idle Evolution System gave to this area, with a ranking and danger rating of "???"
    The names of this enormous Ice Giant and others like it also happened to be related to the name of the area, as they were dubbed Icedom Senators. But beyond that, no more information was available to him, with the System claiming his mind would likely implode if he ever attempted to read the descriptions of these Ice Giants. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire
    And the scariest part was that this wasn't even an exaggeration or a joke made by the System¡­
    From just listening to the arcane voice of the Icedom Senator, Cassius sweat buckets and took severe internal damage. Furthermore, as he continued to take in and attempt to discern the meaning of the monster's words, his ears started to bleed. His eyes and the rest of his orifices quickly followed, and then, without his regenerative abilities being able to do a single thing, he¡­
    Exploded!
    *Pop!*
    Cassius erupted into a pile of chunky, bloody meat, with his guts and eyeballs flying all over the place.
    One would think that he had permanently died.
    But no¡­
    A few nanoseconds passed, and something miraculous occurred.
    The vaporized blood particles began to feel an attraction force pulling them together. Then, with sporadic blood shooting toward one another all at once, a humanoid figure started to take shape.
    FWIP!
    Cassius reappeared in the same place he had died, also sitting in the same position he was in before. All of the sweat and blood raining down his face was gone. In fact, he appeared as good as new¡ªhis skin flawless, his handsome facial features sharply cold.
    After feeling himself out for a moment, Cassius resumed his meditative session.
    Soon, the exact same thing as before happened, and with it came System Notifications¡­
    *Ding~!*
    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline slightly progressed!]
    [...75.8%...]
    [|Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill advanced to the Pinnacle Ruby/S+++ Rank!]
    [|SSS-Rank Sword God's Training Manual| Stage has advanced!]
    [Peak-Novice Trainer ¡ú Early-Beginner Trainer]
    [Physical Prowess tremendously improved!]
    [Strength Stat +1,530]
    Thanks to this Gate Cassius discovered before the Hoshito Branch Master met his unfortunate demise, he was able to rapidly progress his newest and most powerful Technique Manual.
    It was through his blood, sweat, and deaths that he could increase his Physical Strength and Will as such. Of course, when it came to Will, there was no exact ranking that he knew of. He only knew that it was increasing, and with it came a greater tolerance for pain and torture.
    Even his own deaths no longer fazed him¡­
    But as with all great power gained in short periods of time, there was always a catch.
    The catch in this case, however, was more of a non-directly related one, as the more times Cassius died, the less and less he cared for the things around him. It reached a point where, if something like what happened with Grace happened again and there was no Quest involved, he would no longer jump out and save her¡­
    The Idle Evolution System had not made a single Character Development comment on the current direction of his development. It was unknown if it was pleased or displeased with his transformation.
    And seeing as the System was still a complete a*shole 99% of the time, Cassius would never be able to figure out what it was thinking by himself. Nonetheless, he would continue doing what he was doing. Even if a part of him was being lost in the process, it mattered not.
    No matter what, he would become the absolute strongest he could become.
    Though¡­ he seemed to have¡­
    Seemed to have forgotten why he yearned for power so much¡­
    In the beginning, Cassius aimed to acquire more strength solely because the Idle Evolution System threatened him. But with time, he himself began to want greater power. This eventually evolved into something where, even without the System's 'encouragement,' he would chase every little bit of power with every ounce of his being.
    It had turned from something compulsory to a personal want.
    And even now, Cassius couldn't say for certain why he was willing to endure excruciating levels of pain and tolerate any sort of torturous exercises to acquire more strength.
    It had become more of an obsession than anything¡­
    Sure, he wouldn't mind saving the world from imminent doom if he had the option. But was that why he struggled so much for strength?
    It wasn't¡­
    Cassius could save unrelated people, but as he became stronger and stronger and paid exponentially heftier prices for his strength, his empathy for others lessened and lessened. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The shell of the person he once was now only existed as the shadow of the person he had become.
    And surely, the current version of him would be no more than a distant memory of the future him¡­
    How much would he change? What would he become? Why did he work so hard for power? Who? Who¡­?
    Who was he acquiring this power for??
    While Cassius repeatedly died because of the Icedom Senator's muffled voice, he pondered this exact question. It bounced around inside his mind, trying to find somewhere to settle down and cement itself as an answer.
    However, no matter how much Cassius thought about it, he was unable to figure out who he was striving for power for¡­
    His new family and his father crossed his mind several times, but neither of those answers seemed right.
    All the girls he somehow surrounded himself with had become somewhat irreplaceable to him, and he would feel a deep sense of sorrow if something happened to them.
    Was that it?
    So did that mean he wanted more power to protect them or ensure his peaceful life with them?
    No¡­ that wasn't it¡­

 Chapter 157 An Abyss...

    Cassius felt that his path veered away from the usual protagonist path that he had read about in stories prior to his unusual reincarnation. In those stories, the Main Character would find himself in the company of numerous women, all of whom loved him dearly. He would also have family and friends, one or multiple lovers, and an overall blissful life.But then, somewhere along the way, hurdles would be thrown in front of the Main Character. Perhaps some of the people closest to him would be put in perilous predicaments. Maybe the Main Character would vow to himself to become stronger because he wouldn't want a repeat of what happened to someone close to him? Or maybe he wanted to prevent it from ever happening to begin with¡ª
    "Preventing from the beginning¡­"
    Cassius's expression suddenly brightened in enlightenment. He found the answer he was looking for. Or, rather, he found some of it.
    A large part of him wanted power simply to become stronger and experience what it was like to be stronger than he was the day before. This part of him wished to feel the thrill that accompanied consecutive gains in strength. This part of him did whatever it took for more strength just for the strength itself. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire
    One could call this part of him power-hungry.
    Then there was another equally large part of himself that wished to obtain more strength as fast as possible so as to not lose what he had. This included things like family, friends, items, Skills, and even his very lifestyle.
    One could call this part of him his Hoarder Dragon side.
    All in all, Cassius was doing everything just for himself. He would do whatever it took to become more powerful, with every bit of him wanting strength for one reason or another.
    Even if he lost more and more of what made him him on the long journey that awaited him, he was sure that his prime directive would forever remain the same. He would not lose himself.
    He would not¡­ lose himself¡­ S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡ª--------------
    ¡ªApproximately one hour later¡ª
    *Pop!*
    Cassius had died 29 times since arriving in the Icedom Senator's Prison. His |Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill had nearly reached the precipice of breaking through into another, higher state, but it still felt miles away from him. However, with his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline exceeding the 79% mark, it surely wouldn't be long before the Skill advanced to whatever lay beyond the Ruby Rank.
    It was unknown just how many times Cassius would be able to die when the Skill reached the SS-Rank. But, for now, 32 deaths was the limit, and as he was an especially cautious person, he called his torturous training quits for the day.
    "It's about time that the others wake up for the first day of school, anyway, so it's time I take my leave¡­" Cassius muttered, his voice sounding as if it had aged by several hundred years.
    At first, his expression appeared bleak, almost as if looking at a man who had experienced something not possible to put into words. However, when his icy eyes perused the System pop-ups flashing past his face, a lot of color seemed to return to him.
    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline slightly progressed!]
    [.....79.1%...]
    [|SSS-Rank Sword God's Training Manual| Stage has advanced!]
    [Late-Beginner Trainer ¡ú Peak-Beginner Trainer]
    [Physical Prowess tremendously improved!]
    [Strength Stat +3,870]
    In total, Cassius had made leap after leap in his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline and got himself a good sum of over 8,000 Strength! This brought his physical abilities to an entirely different league!
    Though, there was the downside of his Strength Stat slowly but surely catching up to his Agility Stat, which reduced the effects of 'I AM SPEED.' Then again, with 70% of all AP going into his Agility Stat, every bit of those reductions was negated and even taken in the opposite direction!
    With a small satisfied smile, Cassius looked up at the large eyes that had been focused on him this whole time. He gave a thankful nod while saying, "I'm sorry to have disturbed you this time, big guy, and I also apologize for the next few times I'll come and visit you. And again, thanks for killing me. I won't forget this favor, and one day, I'll break you and your brethren free from the chains that trap you."
    In response, he received a heavy gust of air and another string of strange words. Yet, even with his head stinging due to the pain, his smile only became ever more appreciative. And then, with a flash of crimson light, he vanished from view, and then from the Gate itself.
    Once he left, silence prevailed within the Icedom Senator's Prison.
    Then, out of the blue, a flow of coherent thought breezed from the first Icedom Senator to the rest of the chained Icedom Senators. The thought contained just two words:
    'An Abyss¡­'
    ¡ª-----------
    ¡ªMeanwhile, inside the spacious living room of the Steele Mansion, at [5:49]¡ª
    Cassius just materialized from the rapidly flashing speed stream, and the first thing he did was look past the calmly sitting Hellion and ascend the stairs of the mansion. He briskly made his way to one of the various rooms in the house, which also just so happened to be the only room with anyone occupying it right now.
    Normally, Sasha would be sleeping in her room, but as she became blackout drunk last night, she wound up finding her way into his bed, same as the other girls. One could say that sleeping in anything other than her own bed ran in her blood, as Aya was an excellent example of that claim.
    However, as soon as Cassius made it some way into the wide and long hallway, he heard some noise coming from inside his room. Curious, he creaked open the door, only to see a group of women working together in an attempt to pull up a thin waistband being held over a Physical Negator.
    But at the same moment he took his first step into the room, all of the beautiful women took one final pull and¡­ failed. They rebounded backward and fell on their cushy bottoms.
    "So¡­ What are you bunch doing?"

 Chapter 158 Bellas Crazies

    "So¡­ What are you bunch doing?" Cassius asked with a raised brow, receiving several bashful looks in return."W-We are¡­" The girls tried to think up something that made them look less pathetic, yet could come up with nothing. "That thing¡­ Why is it so heavy¡­?"
    Cassius looked away from their slightly whimpering expressions, with his eyes soon falling on the Waist Weight that he seemed to have left behind. He softly chuckled before sauntering past the blushing girls, where he then leaned down and lifted the thin Waist Weight with a single hand.
    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"
    Even the strongest among them, Bella, stared ahead with wide eyes, barely able to believe what she was seeing. 'He wasn't this strong a few days ago! How is his Seal loosening so quickly?? Has it been broken already!?'
    Let alone the Duke Vampire Descendant, the other girls were even more astonished by what they were seeing. And that surprise was only further amplified when Cassius strapped the unbelievably heavy Waist Weight to his person. They then saw him walk around like normal, acting as if he hadn't just put an entire City on him.
    "You¡­ Just what sort of freak are you¡­?" Aya, not ashamed to speak her mind, asked bluntly.
    In response, Cassius turned to her, and with a normal expression, he said, "It's not that heavy anymore. All that weight training has really done wonders."
    Who was he expecting to believe this crap!? Everyone in that room knew full well how heavy something must need to be for all of their combined efforts to not even budge the thing! All of them were Awakened, you know!
    What would weight training possibly be able to accomplish!?
    However, while looking at that handsome man slightly tilt his head in confusion, they could do nothing but sigh in exasperation. After which, they left the room, seemingly comprehending some deeper meaning of life.
    It was only a few minutes later, after Cassius pondered their weirdness by himself, that they worked together to prepare breakfast. Then, once they were done eating, Sasha bid farewell to the younger generation. Though, as she watched her stepson's sturdy back get farther and farther away, a tinge of loneliness struck her heart.
    Hellion, who also stayed behind, observed this Milf with a mildly perceptive glint in her frosty gaze. 'The Abyss wanders amidst turmoil, with age and relationship status becoming nothing more than a malleable construct¡­ But the darkness is unaware of the lies that wade through the uncertain waters of time¡­'
    The true meaning behind her thoughts was only known to herself. But soon, all would understand.
    Sometimes, Truth was more devastating than a Lie.
    ¡ª---------------
    After walking a bit away from the Steele Mansion, Cassius smiled and waved off Grace. As she was a bit older than he was, she no longer attended High School. And although he didn't quite know what she did to occupy herself, he recalled her mentioning how busy she got on some days. He could also tell from the way she was anxiously fidgeting that she had important matters to attend to.
    But before she reluctantly parted ways with the group down an intersecting street, she heard a kind voice speak inside her mind. Only she and the speaker were aware of what was being said, but after the voice transmission cut off, she left with a far more joyous way about her. She even started to hopscotch.
    "What is that weirdo up to?" Aya asked in confusion, her stare clearly judging the receding figure.
    Stella was thinking something similar, but she wasn't as shameless as Aya was. She did, however, steal glances at the tall handsome hooded man walking beside her. Images of the soft-spoken Grace returning from the bathroom last night in a fluster lingered at the forefront of her mind. But then she remembered how Cassius was with them the whole time, which left her even more puzzled.
    Bella, on the other hand, secretly eyed Cassius and the now distant Grace. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits as she thought, 'I have to hurry up and go through with the Contractual Ceremony tomorrow. The date cannot be brought back anymore! It has to happen!'
    Out of all the girls Cassius had around him, the one who put Bella the most on edge had to be the innocent-looking Grace. There was just something about her, perhaps her pheromones, that really set her off. Being around her urged Bella to constantly be on guard.
    She had to protect her man from thieving vixens! Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    And the more innocent-seeming they were, the more likely they were to be the most b*tchiest b*tch around!
    From now until the moment of their deeper marriage contract, she would have no choice but to stick to her hubby like glue! If any more whores seduced him, she would slit their throats and split up their limbs all across the world!!
    And that would be just the bare minimum of punishments¡­
    'Guhehe~'
    "Hmm?" Cassius could've sworn that he heard something creepy sound out from beside him, but when he turned toward Bella, the creepy sound stopped. 'Must've just been my imagination¡­' Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire
    Bella heaved a breath of relief when he looked back ahead. She gave him a slightly disgusted look just to make her act truly come together; maybe that was what did it?
    Well, whatever the case may be, she was safe for now!
    Though, it was a very close call¡­
    Bella felt her soul constrict when thinking about her hubby thinking her to be a weirdo¡­
    To prevent that scenario from happening, she had to hurry up and tie him down through permanent marriage! It was really the only possible thing she could do!
    Bella inwardly giggled again while walking beside Cassius and the bimbos whom she couldn't be bothered to remember the names of. In her life, the only person who truly mattered was her husband. Why should she go through the trouble of remembering names that would soon be scratched off the pages of her Death Note?
    It was pointless to waste such precious brain storage on those b*tches. After all, she only had 100% brain capacity available to her, and 99.5% of that was full of Cassius. Whereas the other 0.5% was filled with useless things like her Studies, Skills, Advanced Knowledge, her Family, and her Father.
    All worthless in comparison!
    Kuk!! Kuk!!!
    ...¡­.

 Chapter 159 Leons Thoughts

    Somewhere, very far away, in an entirely different Dimension, a middle-aged pale-faced man with red glowing eyes coughed up a large blot of blood and collapsed into his eerie throne. A divinely beautiful pale-faced woman who was in the same area also keeled over and felt extreme chest pain.The two Vampires protecting their Young Miss also felt something gnaw away at their insides, especially for Leon.
    Even further in the background, the Gremlin Exterrestrial Fiend tasked with neutrally surveilling 'its' son at all times momentarily looked at the ridiculous pair of vampires. It had known about their presences for a long while now, but seeing as they were yucky cold zombies, it tried its best to ignore their existences. Furthermore, anything that wasn't its target had nothing to do with it.
    And seeing as the Alien's camouflage was much better than whatever the Vampires were using to stay hidden, it worried not about being found out. Like usual, it simply stood back and watched expressionlessly.
    Leon, however, had sinister ideas swirling around inside his head. He had been mulling over a way to covertly erase the audacious human from the picture for a while now, and he finally figured out something he could do.
    The eyesore would be gone for good if he could successfully pull his plan off.
    'The Gate of World's End¡­ I recall the Elders speaking about it a few hundred years ago. And now that it has finally appeared in the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, many things will begin to change,' Leon thought with an evil inward grin. 'Who's to say that in the immense chaos brought about from all this change, an insignificant human worm won't go missing? Many things can happen in times when Floors of the Ascension Tower undergo their Rite to Remain.'
    With a solid plan forming within his mind, Leon stared at his gorgeous Young Miss, already imagining how his life with her would be after the worm was squashed. It would be blissful! Like a fairytale in real life! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    With various mystical beings having their own thoughts in mind, Cassius, a once overweight, cowardly, and hideous human being, was wondering how he should begin his next training regimen.
    He had quite a few techniques, ya know? There were the Three Sections of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, the Demon Dragon Integration Arts, the Fiendish Demon King Arts, and now the Sword God's Training Manual!
    Every single one of these was very difficult to progress in, to boot. None gave Cassius an easy time, and all of them were painful as all high hell. Especially the Sword God's Training Manual.
    However, along with various levels of excruciating pain came several significant boosts. For example, as he just advanced to the 5th Layer for all three segments of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, he received 3,000 Stat Points in all of his Main Attributes. Furthermore, he learned a little more of the Path to Immortality¡ªsecrets that normally even those beyond the SSS-Rank would not have access to.
    Only the most powerful beings in the Ascension Tower, such as the Top 5 Demon Kings and the Originator Ancestors of the other Dimensions, were privy to the Truth of Immortality and Immortals. Though, even for them, Immortals were like Children's Fairy Tales.
    Nonetheless, not only had Cassius been progressing his Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, but he had also been working on the Fiendish Demon King Arts and his Demon Dragon Integration Rate. The former had already taken him straight to the Early Greater Demon King stage, making him stronger than most S-Rank organisms with just his Demon King Bloodline alone.
    Similarly, his Demon Dragon Integration Arts advanced from just under 2% to over 20% in the past month!
    Give it a few more months and Cassius might just be able to achieve everything that a genuine Demon Dragon had to offer! Just imagining the improvements that would be made to his power was enough to make him drool in anticipation!
    Lastly, there was the Sword God's Training Manual.
    It was without question the most taxing Technique Cassius had to practice, but it was also the one that benefited him the most. In fact, the only apparent downside it had was that harming himself while imagining and/or practicing the motions of the Manual made only his Strength Stat increase. And with almost all of his AP going into Agility, his other three Main Attributes were neglected.
    He wasn't sure how to solve the issue yet, but with all his stats ¡ª including the benefits from the Fundamental Training Manual ¡ª sitting well above S+ Rank, he didn't worry too much about it. What mattered more to him was finding a way to push his Speed even higher.
    He had to go faster! He had to be the fastest!
    Perhaps Cassius had developed a little case of OCD when it came to acquiring Speed¡­ Just maybe¡­
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    ¡ª--------------
    *Step, Step, Step.*
    As Cassius, Stella, Aya, and Bella strolled through the streets of Hoshito, they began to near Hoshito General High. It was only then that they received even more stares than usual. When a group of young people as good-looking as them walked side by side, others were bound to gawk, with this only becoming worse the closer the gawkers were to their age.
    Aya uncomfortably fidgeted, her clear ocean blue eyes erratically darting all over the place. She seemed to be worried about something. And when she could no longer take it anymore, she scurried away from the other three.
    They looked at her weirdly, but by then, she was already long gone.
    "Where did she head off to?" asked Stella, her irises shining in curiosity. "Did she have to use the washroom?"
    Bella glanced at the silverish-haired woman as if she were looking at an idiot, with her disdain becoming even greater than when she first saw this shameless 20-something-year-old floozy wear their school uniform. Cassius even managed to get her a new identity that would allow her to attend the same school as them!
    Just how shameless could one person possibly be!?

 Chapter 160 1st Day of School

    'Does that Stella b*tch have no shame!?' Bella, the 20'ish year-old groomer vampire, shouted inside her mind. 'And that Aya stepsister-thieving whore is obviously embarrassed to be around us, so she left ahead of us. Tsk, I expect no less from a measly blood bag that isn't my husband.'Her expression lightened up a bit when she thought of the oblivious man beside her. She was so ready to dig in!
    Hearts swam around inside her eyes while staring at Cassius, with her tangible obsession having long since progressed far past overwhelming.
    Cassius, perfectly playing the part of a dense wall, simply looked between the two girls and then toward the blonde-haired beauty slipping through crowds of students. He sighed a little before venturing forward, with the large fancy gates of the high school quickly coming into view. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    As the most prestigious high school in Hoshito, Hoshito General High was not located in just one area. For the highly gifted students who graduated from the lower-branching Hoshito General Middle School, they would directly advance from the 1-A Building Complex of Hoshito Middle School to the 1-A Building Complex of Hoshito High School. This was the path that Bella and Aya had taken, whereas Cassius had to later take the Transfer Test to get into the same school complex after his book smart-type intelligence increased because of the System.
    Stella, on the other hand, got in through connections and manipulations on Cassius's part. She wasn't much older than 18 anyway, so why not send her to something that she never had the chance to properly participate in? It was quite easy to get her in after flashing a bit of cash.
    It was at this point that the whispers among the swathes of students became particularly vocal.
    "Who are they¡­?"
    "I have no idea who the man and the silver-haired woman are, but the one who left their group was one of the prettiest girls in school, Aya! And the sparkly-eyed one standing close to that¡­ man¡­ is Bella, one of the Three Belles of the School!"
    "Really?? I'm a Freshman, so I had no idea those good-looking girls were so popular. But what about the man? He looks better than most models I've seen, so do you know who he is? He's also wearing our school's uniform."
    "...Him?" The young man scoffed. "I have no clue who he is, but he has a lot of balls being so close to two of the school's beauties!" He said the last part just loud enough for Cassius and his group to hear.
    "Hmm¡­?"
    Cassius's striking blue eyes traced the source of the boisterous voice, and when they locked on to the young male student, the student involuntarily shivered in place. The student wanted to lash out in anger but could not even do that. Even his moderately handsome appearance was quickly drenched in sweat, same as with the rest of his body.
    Realizing what he was doing, Cassius looked away from the young man. He kept on forgetting about his menacing presence. Even with his killing intent being constantly dampened by him, there was nothing he could do about his demeanor.
    "It's only Day 1 and you're already bullying people," Bella mocked from the side. "Just look at that poor guy; he seems like he's on the verge of pissing his breeches!" She spoke the last few words just loud enough that every student in the vicinity could hear what she said.
    The young man's mouth swung open as his cheeks flushed red in embarrassment and anger. He couldn't believe that the girl he has liked since junior year was speaking to him in such a way, and all for the sake of some unknown loser.
    It was infuriating!
    But what could he do?
    It was with a begrudged heart that the young man clenched his fists and retreated from the scene. Until he was a good distance out of view, he not once turned his head up.
    But deep down, he would remember this shameful moment! And he would be back to make sure that his crush and that guy rued the day they messed with him¡ª!
    "Hey, it looks like you forgot your purse on your way out!" Bella shouted, concealing a devilish smirk beneath her concerned facade. "Don't you want to come back over and pick it up?"
    The young man turned around and saw his fanny pack lying on the ground. It must've fallen off his shoulder just a second ago.
    But it wasn't like he could go pick it up now! He already felt like tying a rope around his neck and hanging it on a high tree branch! If he went back over, he might just bang his head against the ground while picking up the fanny pack to make his death come quicker¡­!
    "Well?" Bella repeated. "Are you not going to retrieve your purse?"
    Dozens of students wearing the same uniform all turned their heads in the young man's direction. They were invested in this development. Though, from his perspective, it felt like the whole world was against him.
    'J-Just you wait, you bastards! Just wait until I get my revenge!' the young man screamed out inside his head as he fled from the scene, with sparkling crystalline tears trailing off behind him. 'And it's not a purse, damnit! It's a manly, combat-ready, accessorised fanny pack!!'
    "..." "..." "..."
    Students exchanged glances with one another after they watched a senior escape in shame. He hadn't even retrieved his belongings¡­
    Bella, on the other hand, proudly stuck her nose up and furtively glanced at her hubby for praise.
    She did a good job, didn't she??
    She felt that deserved a petting session just like what the cutsie b*tches got! Gimme, gimme, she begged!
    "???"
    Cassius looked down at the pleading universe-like eyes of the black-haired girl before him. He wondered what it was she wanted, utterly oblivious to the obvious hints she was giving.
    'Hmm¡­ Perhaps she's in heat?'
    That was the only thing he could think of, and his response to this realization was a subtle hand wave of rejection. He hoped this would make his intentions clear.
    Bella's imaginary black cat ears drooped in sadness as her once bubbly aura turned gloomy.
    Now Cassius was even more confused. And as he, her, and Stella walked through the open gates of the high school, he realized what the problem was.
    Seeing as he was a man of action, he acted on his realization right away!
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    *Pat, Pat.*
    ...

 Chapter 161 Road to Forever Virgin

    'If Japanese scriptures have taught me anything, then it's that head pats are universally accepted as the only way to please a woman. That and the forbidden holding of hands¡­'The 'Road to Forever Virgin' Scripture had indeed taught Cassius well. Japanese protagonists all around the world would be proud.
    Their shed tears of prideful joy would be able to create entire river systems!
    However, the moment Bella felt a large hand rub back and forth atop her bed of black wonders, a different kind of river was created between her legs. And with it came a different type of wonder¡ªone that exceeded all expectations.
    Cassius glanced down at the shadowy-faced girl, unable to read her expression.
    'Maybe this wasn't the solution¡­?' he thought with a raised brow. '...But the Scriptures don't lie¡­'
    This matter truly perplexed him, even more so than the complexities that went into achieving the 4th Major Stage of the Sword God's Training Manual.
    Women, above all else, were hella confusing, dawg.
    Cassius's thoughts became a bit weird as he took his hand off the silent girl. He received a spasmed flinch in response, which made him a little nervous, even more so when he saw her lips zigzag into a creepy-ass grin.
    And like the intelligent man he was, he did the most logical thing in this situation.
    He walked away.
    Like a deadbeat dad on a journey for something he hoped to never find, Cassius slipped away from the ominous forcefield permeating around Bella. He brought Stella along with him, and together, they strolled up to one of three large boards. Hundreds of students were huddled around these boards, with each of them scanning the boards with their eyes in an attempt to locate their names.
    These boards were what determined the Homeroom Class of each student. When you arrived, you were expected to read them until you found your name, then you would enter the massive, opulent Main School Building and head to your Homeroom.
    "You see yours?" asked Cassius, trying his best to zone out the darkened aura expanding out behind them.
    All of the students, no matter if they were Awakened or not, felt shivers run up and down their spines. Even nearby teachers were no exception.
    Stella, who was feeling a high sense of danger, answered with an awkward smile, "I'm in Homeroom 4-A. What about you?"
    "I got 4-A as well," replied Cassius.
    Stella beamed at that information but hid it well.
    As one of the calmer ones among the moochers who resided within the Mooching King's abode, she was well accustomed to playing things off cool, even if she was, in actuality, freaking out on the inside.
    Stella gave an outward nod and a slight smile before following close behind Cassius. As they made their way through the loud groups of people, she took many furtive glances at his side-view. Her eyes sparkled more and more the longer she looked, but before long, her dazed trance wound up ending when they made it to the glass building's 4th Floor.
    The 4th Floor was extremely large, including within its walls dozens of classrooms, all of which were designated to 4th Year Students. Yet, even among seniors, there were differences in statuses, and also differences in the quality of the classrooms. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire
    Luckily, Cassius and Stella were part of the most advanced class, which also meant the most luxurious class. But to be frank, he hadn't accounted for this when he was throwing around wads of cash like it was a strip club.
    'The Administration did say something about Stella needing to take a test to figure out where she would be learning, but I never asked her about it¡­ She must've done quite well if she's in the A-Class as well, though¡­'
    With his stupidly overpowered Mind Skills and Knowledge Bank, Cassius breezed through the School's Tests like a toddler playing with building blocks. However, unlike him, Stella did not have any such Skills or Cheats.
    Like most Awakeners, all of her Skills were very compatible with her Job, which was far from how the Jack-Of-All-Trades Cassius operated.
    And from what he knew of this bluish-silverish-haired beauty, she had the Job of 'Spiritualist,' which made her a Supporter Class of sorts. She could cast spells and incantations that had the properties of 'Restrict,' 'Confine,' 'Stop,' and such.
    In combat, she was invaluable as a party member, but outside of Gate Conquering, her Skills were unable to do much of anything. Though, if she cast a certain Skill, she could stop things from falling mid-air, giving the illusion of a time-stop Skill.
    But again, this utilization was pretty useless¡­ It did, however, make for a good party trick!
    Cassius chuckled a little while walking side by side with the quiet beauty. As they sauntered through the 4th Floor Hallways in search of Homeroom 1-A, they received too many stares to count. From girls to boys to even staff, everyone stole more than one glance.
    However, as if none of the attention they were getting even registered in their minds, Cassius and Stella continued thinking about one another. He wondered just how much intelligence she had been keeping a secret from him while also pondering what he speculated to be increases in breast size. Surely, her boobs weren't growing larger, right?
    Then again, perhaps they were¡­
    As Cassius's once serious contemplation session took an unusual turn, Stella's mind became filled with thoughts of¡­ Well¡­
    Everything¡­
    Marriage and snu snu may have passed her mind once or twice, and the nonsensical thoughts didn't stop there. Again and again, she shook her head, but more silly thoughts just kept surfacing.
    Even she herself didn't know what she was thinking about anymore¡­
    'But it is nice to finally be alone with him,' Stella thought with a warm smile as she gently rubbed her World Tree necklace. 'I wonder when we'll be able to talk in private again¡­ Maybe I should ask later.'
    Then, as each thought to themselves, they finally made it to a fancy golden sign hung over a closed door. The sign was written in loud italics and read 'Class 4-A.' S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    They could hear a lot of noise coming from within the classroom, and they could also see bright lights flying all around.
    They both immediately knew what sort of room they were about to enter¡­
    If the students of Classroom 4-A were advanced, they were likely so in every sense of the word.
    In layman's terms, this likely meant a good majority of them were¡­

 Chapter 162 I Challenge You to a Duel!

    SHING!"Awakened," Cassius and Stella tiredly murmured as they opened the door and easily dodged a flying blade arc.
    The arc threatened to destroy a good chunk of the school, but before it could, some mysterious force that encompassed the area locked onto the arc and dissipated it.
    'A Formation?'
    Cassius's thoughts were interrupted by a rowdy group of students.
    "Why did you dodge, you blonde pretty boy!? Are you scared of my blade skills!?" shouted a young man with spiky red hair and a feisty gaze.
    The student he was talking to scoffed aloud. "Me? Scared of you? What a joke!"
    Yet, in spite of the blonde-haired student's growing urge to fight back, he remembered the bothersome lectures of the Headmaster and the other teachers. He snorted in disdain before returning to his seat, where he then flipped back his medium-length, shiny blonde hair. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire
    "You pretentious bastard¡­" The spiky red-haired student's face twisted in anger as several veins burst on his forehead.
    However, before he could act any more rashly, the voice of a black-haired, purple-eyed woman sounded out.
    "Be quiet, guys¡­ I'm trying to sleep¡­"
    'You're always trying to sleep!' the students all exclaimed as they face-palmed at the sight of their naturally seductive teacher laying against her desk at the front of the classroom.
    "Hmm?"
    Cassius curiously observed this homeroom teacher, upon which he saw a groggy face that was somehow still incredibly beautiful. She wore a tightly-fitted black and white dress shirt, with the buttons barely containing the ample, snow-white mountains that perfectly drooped over her mahogany desk.
    Her hair¡ªlong, black, and luscious¡ªreached her divinely sculpted butt and even spread out around her adorably sleepy expression, sculpting her image in a way that just did it for a lot of the male students in the school.
    The students were especially drawn into those slightly flickering violet pupils still in the process of displaying themselves to the world. They looked between all of those in her classroom with a bored way about them, until she eventually saw two new faces.
    "Huh? Who the hell are you two?" Violet Evergreen, the beautiful sleepy teacher, asked in a raunchy way not befitting her image as a C-Rank Teacher of Hoshito's #1 School.
    It was only after her mildly annoyed announcement that the students noticed the male and female pair calmly standing at the far back of the classroom. The first thing they saw were their uniforms, meaning that they were also students of the school. Then, they scrutinized their appearances.
    "So beautiful," the blonde-haired student, Arthur, murmured in a daze. He wasn't sure if he had ever seen a woman as stunning as the one standing before him.
    Where had she come from? Who was the man beside her? Was she single? were questions he asked himself.
    Then, something completely unexpected happened.
    "Please go out with me! I think you're the hottest!" The spiky red-haired student, Alex, wasted no time and immediately confessed in his own twisted way.
    "You unruly heathen¡ª" Arthur was about to stand up and defend this queen of a woman, but before he received the chance to show off, Stella responded almost instantly, saying:
    "No. You're too loud."
    *Kuk!*
    Alex took critical damage.
    Figuring this was his chance, Arthur confessed as well. "I'm quiet, and I promise that I'll take good care of you¡ª"
    "No," Stella denied. "You're too shiny, and I don't like how skinny you are. Do gyms not exist where you live?"
    *Kuk!*
    Arthur joined the red-haired meathead as they both collapsed to the ground with blood leaking from their mouths.
    Cassius softly chuckled, whereas the other students in the classroom burst out in laughter. They didn't care a single bit about the currently fragile hearts of the two heartbroken boys. As those two were of the C-Rank and were expected to have quite the prosperous futures ahead of them, they took every chance they got to brag.
    It was hella satisfying to finally see them taken off their high horses!
    "...."
    A pair of orangish-blue eyes pierced through the uproarious laughter of the students and honed in on the cold-faced boy with jet-black hair standing beside the ruthless silver-haired girl. Unknown thoughts flashed through those captivating eyes as they never left the view of the boy.
    However, after a couple of seconds, the owner of those eyes¡ªa girl named Flora¡ªlooked away and returned to being bored. He was exceptionally handsome, but beyond that, she hadn't seen anything that interesting. But for some reason, he carried the scent of her sister, which was why she was initially so invested.
    Yet, there was likely no connection between her sister and this guy. They probably just passed each other on the side of the street or something. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "So bored¡­" Flora muttered as she squished her gorgeous, decorated face against her desk. Staring out a window, she wondered when something entertaining would happen.
    "Hello?? Is no one going to tell me¡ª" Violet Evergreen started to speak, yet had a spark of realization appear midway through her question. "Ahh¡­ the rich student and the transfer student¡­ Well, whatever¡­"
    With that, the pretty homeroom teacher went back to napping, no longer bothering herself with the students she was supposed to be teaching.
    "The rich student¡­?" Cassius repeated with a twitching smile. 'I took the Assignment Test as well, you know¡­'
    Stella giggled a little while looking at the funny expression he was making.
    Arthur and Alex became incensed by this sight as they got up off the ground, wiped the blood from their lips, and valiantly spoke up:
    "I challenge you to a duel!!" X2
    "!?!?" "!?!?" "!?!?"
    The students looked at the two egotistical boys with their mouths agape. Not often were they able to witness a duel in person, let alone two at the same time. Not to mention that they were both proposed by C-Rank Awakeners, who were considered to be at the very peak of the Hoshito City Hierarchy!
    Flora's ears perked up a little as she lazily switched the side her face was laying on.
    "Those idiots are really starting another duel¡­?"

 Chapter 163 Stellas Inner Thoughts

    Flora faintly recalled the last time they dueled. It happened a few months ago, before summer break began. At the time, they were dueling each other for the chance to ask her out. But in the end, no victor could be determined, and a deeply rooted rivalry was created. Over time, they forgot all about why they hated each other so much¡ªand also forgot about her. This was good for her, as she heavily disliked both of them.However, that didn't mean she could deny their strength.
    Although they were nothing more than ants in her eyes, she could recognize that to the citizens of Hoshito, they were considered extremely powerful. The C-Rank, on a national scale, was still quite good and was what many saw as the backbone of a country, so even outside Hoshito, the two dunderheads would have a decent chance of succeeding.
    'Still trash¡­'
    That was the limit of Flora's interest. She could feel no aura from the new guy, and the challengers weren't worth her while. With that said, she returned to being bored while watching tweetie birds soar outside one of the classroom windows.
    Cassius, on the other hand, tilted his head in bewilderment.
    "Duels? You can have duels in a school?"
    He had no recollection of this nonsensical notion from either this life or his previous one. It was silly¡ª
    "Of course you can, you bumpkin!" Arthur mocked. "Now, do you accept the duel or not!?"
    "Yeah, do you accept, you bastard!?" Alex added, feeling that he ought to not be outshined by the blonde-haired boy beside him.
    Cassius exchanged a look with the short silver-haired girl, where he saw her eyes crease upward in amusement. She also had no idea about school duels, but seeing him struggle with himself like that made her heart flutter a bit.
    She liked this part of him a lot¡­ He was so vulnerable¡­
    "Heh¡­"
    "What was that?" Cassius whispered under the livid stares of the blonde and red badgers.
    "What? Oh! It¡­ It was nothing¡­" Stella covered herself as best she could, trying her utmost to hide the goofy grin creeping up her magnetic features.
    Cassius raised a brow in suspicion, yet thought no more on the subject. He was used to all the 'oddities' that surrounded him; it was better not to overthink matters centered around any of them.
    Multiple girls in several different locations all felt something puncture their hearts and mercilessly tear at their insides. For some reason, they felt like they were being repeatedly shanked¡­
    ¡ªBack at Hoshito High School¡ª
    Cassius glanced between all of the eager students, then looked to the teacher for help. However, she couldn't care less about what was occurring in her own classroom. His lips spasmed a bit as he realized he was all alone on this one.
    An irritating laugh resounded.
    "Ha! Are you really so scared to fight us!? You must be terrified! But don't worry! We'll duel you one by one, so you won't get beaten to a pummel all at once!"
    It was Arthur who recited those conceited words, but Alex wasn't one to fall too far behind as he added, "Right now! Do you dare or do you not dare!?"
    Cassius blankly stared at these clowns, finding it increasingly more difficult not to soccer-punch them in their annoying smirks.
    Stella noticed this annoyance and giggled even more than before, to which she received a tickle to her side. Cassius's finger moved like lightning, then left even faster.
    'Y-You¡­! Hahah~!'
    Stella struggled with all her might not to embarrass herself in public. Her face turned a dark shade of red as she clenched onto the hem of his uniform and keeled over a little. While steadying her breath and holding back the laughter, she aggrievedly glared at him.
    Cassius smugly ignored the cute expression she was making and revisited the sudden proposal to duel by the young male students fiercely glaring at him. He didn't want to have to do this so soon, but in a way, it might just help speed up the process of acquiring a peaceful school life for his last year of high school.
    As for why he wished for this¡ªeven despite the fact that he could do just about anything he wanted in this world¡ªwas because of reasons unknown to even himself.
    Perhaps he wanted to savor the mundane while it lasted because he wouldn't get another chance¡­? Perhaps a part of him felt suffocated by all the pain and death he forced himself to go through, making him subconsciously feel inclined to revert to the simpler things in life¡­? This could also explain why he always wound up coming back to family at the end of the day¡­
    Cassius's thoughts uselessly swirled before he noticed the growing impatience of the idiots. Sighing, he shook his head and said, "Fine. Let's do this duel."
    Arthur and Alex inwardly grinned as they managed to get him ensnared in their trap. Though, outwardly, they showed a bit of false compassion and motioned to an open window. Outside that window were many faculty buildings and activity areas, but what they were truly referencing was the forcefield-like bubble located just a few dozen feet away from the building they were in.
    This bubble was an isolated area spanning dozens of meters in all directions and was enveloped in a powerful formation spell that prevented all attacks released inside the bubble from coming out. It could even withstand a couple of skills from the weakest of B-Rank Hunters, which was insane for a backwater city like Hoshito!
    "Am I really doing this¡­?" Cassius asked himself in exasperation.
    Stella tickled his sides as a form of revenge and teasingly said, "Good luck, you dummy."
    She didn't receive quite the laughing reaction she expected, but seeing his expression morph a little in disgruntlement was very pleasing to the eye. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡ªA few seconds later¡ª
    Cassius nonchalantly stood on one side of the bubble fighting ring.
    Alex stood on the other side, his smirk curving up in derision.
    Arthur, the blonde-haired student, waited outside the ring. His mood was soured over not winning the rock-paper-scissors match to decide who would be the first to beat up the overly handsome aura-less loser, but he still wanted to watch¡­

 Chapter 164 Vladimir Dracula!

    A few dozen meters away, on the 4th Floor of the Main School Building, dozens of students, both female and male, were staring out the windows with shining eyes. All of them were either geniuses, came from influential families, or were high-level Awakeners, so most of their schedules were jam-packed. It was only during moments like these that they received some respite from their normally hectic lives.Flora took an uninterested glance in the direction of the bubble fighting ring, suddenly feeling that there was no harm in watching how the fight played out to cure some of her boredom. The winner of the match was already clear as day in her eyes, but maybe something surprising would occur. That would be nice¡­
    Stella, who was also watching from the distant classroom, thought the exact opposite of the placid Flora. In fact, the victor was set in stone so hard that the center of the earth might just open up due to how guaranteed the victory would be.
    She was, however, looking forward to seeing how that dummy would deal with the aftermath of these bouts, though.
    Now that would make her happy.
    Cassius briefly looked at Stella, knowing very well what was running through her mind. He helplessly shook his head and refocused on this so-called 'Duel.'
    "Do we really have to do this?" he asked.
    Arthur's smug smirk widened to nearly both of his ears as he replied, "Why? Scared?"
    A few of the students watching from up above laughed, causing Cassius's frown to deepen. The more he stayed around these folks, the better he understood that status and talent did not make the person. People could still be childish, and they could still act like background characters, their names not even worth mentioning.
    With one final sigh, Cassius nodded and said, "Very well. You can make the first move."
    "Me¡­ Make the first move¡­?"
    "Bahahaha!"
    He, along with everyone else, erupted in laughter as they couldn't believe the laid-back arrogance of this unknown boy. Even the girls who were quite taken by his looks found what he said to be incredibly funny.
    Only Flora, Stella, and the sleeping Violet made no sound. They simply kept their thoughts to themselves and quietly watched how things were bound to unfold.
    Arthur, finding it hard to stop his chest from hurting because of his intense laughter, wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. Struggling to maintain a straight face, he asked, "Do you really mean what you said, you fool??"
    "Yes," Cassius calmly replied, his humor non-existent. "Now, if you could, why don't you make a move?"
    Arthur's expression froze. He was no longer laughing. His smile quickly faded, instead turning into a frown that marred his moderately handsome facial features. With his face twisting in anger, veins spread out all over his head.
    "...You really want me to make the first move¡­?" he repeated in a seething tone.
    Cassius apathetically looked him up and down, then answered, "Yes."
    He did not get into any proper stance. He just stood there. From Arthur's perspective, however, his uncaringness was seen as a form of disrespect.
    His anger reached an all-time high as a yellowish aura exploded out from him, with the rolling waves of energy affecting the wills of even spectating D-Rank Awakeners.
    "Hmm¡­?"
    Somewhere else within the Private School, an elderly man's eyes widened as he sensed Arthur's aura. After checking out the situation with his Magic Sense, he saw who Arthur was unleashing his aura on. And when he confirmed it to be the aura-less boy who flaunted his wealth around to get someone in, he was about to get up and stop the boy from embarrassing himself.
    However, at the same moment he went to make his move, a venomous feminine voice entered his mind through a special Vampire Voice Transmission Skill. The old man was startled at first, but after a couple of moments of listening to the voice, his pupils dilated and turned a dark shade of red.
    "As you command, my Lady!" he shouted in reverence before hitting the ground in a fervent kneeling pose. "I'll not interfere in anything that student Cassius does!"
    A cold, feminine snort resounded. After which, a shadowy figure hiding in the folds of the room vanished.
    The Principal of the Academy picked himself up off the floor a second later, with the color of his eyes returning to normal. He looked around in confusion, completely forgetting how he got out of his seat and what he had originally planned to do. But when he felt the C-Rank aura of one of his students, he instinctively decided not to do anything.
    'Don't worry, Hubby~!' Bella raved inside her mind, pulsating hearts swimming within her mesmerizing eyes. 'Your wifey will make sure everything goes the way you want it!'
    *Flap, Flap, Flap!*
    A creepily giggling bat flapped her wings and disappeared from the skies above the School.
    Bella had originally wanted to stay extremely close to her husband until the moment their contractual marriage was set in stone, but when he gave her that euphoric head pat, she both creamed and had some sense knocked back into her. What that knock in the brain department told her was that she had to make sure her father was prepared for anything that might occur in the futile strugglings that were soon to happen.
    Where she was flying to right now was her home in the Human Realm. Inside that spooky house stood an eerie purple portal that served as an exclusive gateway for vampires to enter the Human Realm. On the other side of that portal, however¡­
    WHOOOOSH¡ª!
    A Great World forever enshrouded by a blanket of darkness. Ancient Castles overlooked the common blood-sucker populace, powerful vampire nobles flew overhead, traversing above Middle Eastern-style buildings that numbered in the millions. Terrifying shadowy flying creatures and reptilian land giants occupied plots of land both far and wide, with imposing vampires mounting these mountainous entities.
    But at the very center¡ªat the Highest Floor¡ªat the summit of this world of darkness stretching outward thousands of times more than that of Earth, there existed something that even Vampire Dukes feared.
    This 'something' was so horrifying that all within the Realm of Darkness felt the breath leave their lungs when his name was brought up in conversation. His existence was akin to the terror within one's nightmares, the savior of all Vampire-kind, and yet also the One who Knocks. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    His name?
    Vladimir Dracula¡­ The Absolute King of Nightingale¡­!!!

 Chapter 165 Time Runs Thin...

    Vlad the Impaler. Vlad III Dracula. The Vampire Progenitor. The Oldest Vampire Ancestor¡­ His titles were plenty.But the real deal¡­ Excluding all the names and status that lesser beings had bestowed upon him¡­
    The real him.
    That Vlad was unimaginably more terrifying than the stories depicted him to be.
    And at the very same moment a familiar bloodline inheritor entered Nightingale, Dracula's eon-old eyes shot open.
    "...."
    The monster as old as Earth¡ªone not synonymous with the Dracula of fairytales¡ªsat in deep contemplation, seemingly thinking about things beyond mortal understanding.
    For the longest while, his cold blood-red eyes stared off into distances unknown.
    Unblinkingly, his pale purple lips began to move, and an antiquated string of words followed:
    "The END nears; the Abyss follows¡­ The Abyss lags¡­ Yet the Descender approaches¡­"
    Dracula turned his head upward, where a spark ignited within his voided crimson irises.
    "Time¡­ It runs thin¡­"
    With that, an ancient sigh echoed through cracked halls that had been empty for a very, very long time.
    No lovers and no family were there beside the horrifying entity who had been walking the dredges of existence for what felt like eternity. The only thing keeping him company were the secrets¡ªthe Truth¡ªImmortal Mysteries that prevented him from interacting with anyone.
    The price for Knowledge was a hefty one, and Count Dracula had paid a price that knew not of mercy¡­ S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡ª-----------------
    ¡ªOutside of the Main Building of Hoshito General High, on the Trial Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity¡ª
    "Have you heard?!"
    "Why else would I be here?! It's freaking hot as hell out here, ya know??"
    "You don't have to be so rude¡­"
    Even students unrelated to Classroom 4-A had gathered outside, with every single one of their eyes glued to the tension-filled standoff between one of the more well-known seniors and an unknown student.
    Though some of them had seen Cassius once or twice before, none of them could possibly overlap the images of the Cassius of before and the Cassius of now.
    But what they did know was that this new guy was extremely handsome¡­ and extremely stupid¡­
    After all, only the stupidest of people would decide to fight someone in the C-Rank when they had not the slightest smidgen of aura. Foolish would be an understatement for what this guy was doing.
    More than a few girls among the gathered crowd felt it a great shame for someone so good-looking to be so stupid. For the boys, however, when they saw the girls lament the fate of the newbie, they started to cheer even louder.
    "Die!!"
    "Drop over dead!!!"
    "Why aren't you dead yet!?!?"
    The boys shouted, calling for the newbie's death, even though the duels weren't actually to the death¡­
    A few students, attracted by the commotion, paused their lessons and came out to see what the noise was about. When they saw the pandemonium about to unfold, they prepared to put an end to everything and get the students back to class.
    However, before they could act, the Principal's voice sounded inside their heads.
    It was fair to say that all of the teachers stopped in their tracks. Afterward, they took the stance of spectators. Only if one of the students' lives were put in danger would they interfere and call for the end of this charade.
    OOOM!
    The air separating Cassius and Arthur boiled over, with every bit of the heat produced by the enraged Arthur. If, at first, he heavily disliked the young man who hovered around the girl of his dreams, then now his heart was filled with a burning drive telling him to mangle his pretty, delicate face.
    "You said I can make the first move¡­?" He asked, taking brief pauses between each word. His raging yellow aura grew appropriately, and before long, even the weaker teachers felt the air around them tighten.
    Cassius, unbothered by the useless display of the weak aura, simply nodded and stretched out his hand. He cupped that hand and waved it toward himself, beckoning the blonde-haired young man standing opposite him.
    "!!!"
    No longer able to restrain his anger, Arthur summoned forth a mighty five-meter-long golden lance of energy. Then, with a step forward like an uncontrollable dragon, he burst forward and released a wild roar.
    "Take this, you foolish bastard!!" He bellowed, with his overwhelming filaments of golden energy hollering in unison. They surrounded the expressionless man from all sides, making escape impossible. "We can't kill each other, but that doesn't mean I can't cripple you and prevent you from ever walking or reproducing!!"
    Cruel.
    A cold gleam passed through Cassius's bluish-red eyes as he nearly counterattacked with his killing intent out of habit. But luckily for Arthur, he had enough self-control to stop himself just in the nick of time.
    "What are you doing, Arthur!? Are you trying to kill him!?!?" Several teachers yelled, worry etched across their faces.
    They had expected him to go easy at first and then gradually increase the intensity of the battle until they were forced to step in, but no! He had gone all-out right from the get-go!
    And from the looks of it, he was aiming to commit an atrocity!!
    'Hahaha!! There's no stopping me now!!! I'm too powerful!!!'
    A sadistic smirk formed on Arthur's face as the sharp tip of his golden energy lance thrust forward, instantly reaching a point less than five centimeters away from Cassius's third leg. The split-off filaments of the golden lance also struck toward the limbs they were targeting.
    Arthur was going for a complete cripple!!
    Then the beautiful silver-haired woman would be his!!
    His thoughts turned lecherous as he acted carelessly and stole glances at the bluish-silver-haired woman calmly watching from Classroom 4-A.
    In his negligence, he failed to notice the slight look of surprise appear on the groggy face of the previous girl of his dreams.
    That same surprise quickly spread to the other students and exponentially multiplied.
    Before long, even the students rushing to the scene slowed to a shocked crawl¡­ and just stared at the mind-boggling scene before them.

 Chapter 166 Flora, a Succubus...!?

    Alex, who had closed his eyes a while back due to the disappointment of not being able to beat up that cocky bastard because he was sure the guy would be crippled, slowly opened them. And just like everyone else, surprise overshadowed his other emotions ten to one."???"
    Arthur, puzzled by the sudden silence, also opened the eyes filled with delusions of a future that would never come to pass. But when he saw the unbelievable sight before him, the calm way he opened his eyes turned into them rapidly widening in disbelief.
    "Th¡­ This¡­ How can this be!?"
    Right in front of him stood the emotionless man he planned to completely cripple. That same man appeared unharmed, and in between his index and thumb fingers was the devastatingly sharp tip of his golden lance!
    As for the golden energy filaments, they had all vanished without a trace¡­
    *Crack!*
    Arthur's golden lance began to crack. The fractures quickly spiderwebbed, and all at once, the lance shattered in his hands.
    "!!!"
    Arthur stumbled backward in fright and fell on his butt, where his shaky eyes locked with the terrifyingly cold gaze of the horrifying man standing over him. In his terror, he was unable to control his bladder and shamefully soiled himself. By now, the other students would laugh, and Alex would jeer, but they were all too stunned to even consider it.
    What was even more surprising was what Arthur, the infamous playboy, did next¡­
    *Bang!*
    "P-Please don't kill me!!" he cried out, snot and tears running down his groveling face.
    *Bang! Bang! Bang!*
    "Pl¡­Please don't kill me¡­!"
    With each head bang against the ground came another round of begging. Right now, he was terrified out of his mind! As one of the strongest Awakeners in Hoshito, he was able to accurately discern the insurmountable gap that lay between him and Cassius after their brief exchange.
    "...."
    Cassius indifferently stared at the groveling blonde-haired student. He pondered, then shook his head and stayed his hand.
    "Just don't let it happen again," he said as he turned to walk out of the bubble arena.
    He was referring to the cruel intent Arthur previously held for him. And as for why he hadn't simply killed this young man and been done with it: first, he was unsure if Arthur was even over the age of 17. Second, the guy was weak; inconsequential. It was pointless to ruin things by murdering a possible minor in public, especially one who posed no threat to himself.
    'He could come after my family¡­ Hmm¡­ I guess I'll just kill him if such an unlikely scenario comes to pass. I am too fast, anyway. He won't be able to do anything even if I'm in another dimension.' Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire
    Cassius was not sparing the life of a murderer¡ªjust an angered child. One that didn't have even the slightest bit of true killing intent.
    Feeling it to be a waste of time to think any more on the matter, he sauntered away from the snot-faced Arthur. He passed by the shell-shocked Alex on his way out, giving him slight pause.
    Turning his face toward the spiky red-haired boy, he coldly asked, "Do you still wish to fight as well?"
    "!!!"
    Alex swiveled his head in the direction of the voice that snapped him out of his reverie, only to see afterimages of afterimages.
    "Well?" Cassius asked from beside his ear.
    "Wha!?" Alex jumped back and lost his balance, same as his rival. "How did you¡­!?"
    Cassius's eyes narrowed. "You haven't answered my question yet." His innate icy pressure pressed down on the bewildered spiky redhead. "Do you wish to fight or not?"
    Alex's pupils trembled as his lashes quivered. He quietly hung his head low, giving the calm black-haired freak all the answer he needed.
    "Very well," said Cassius, his slow receding steps weighing heavily on the minds of both defeated boys. "I hope this is the last of the animosity between us."
    "!!!" "!!!"
    A chilling sensation spiked through the spines of Arthur and Alex as they involuntarily shuddered. They dared not look up, merely nodding their heads to show they understood. All the hatred they once held for the arrogant newbie went up into a puff of smoke, instead replaced by a¡­ deeply seeded¡­ fear¡­
    When Cassius left the outside area and entered through the school building's front doors, hundreds of students suddenly erupted in fervent cheers! They had no idea things would turn out this way!
    "Arthur lost so easily! And Alex gave up without even attempting to fight!! What awesomeness did we just witness!??"
    "What was his name again!? He's now my idol!"
    "Cassius was his name! And from now on, he's my big brother! Any who have a problem with him or wish to get into contact with him must first come through me!" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Cassius¡­? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere¡­ But where?"
    "Cassius¡­ It can't be¡­ Yes, there's no way those two are the same person! Even an Immortal invading would be more likely than such a nonsensical theory!!"
    While many people enthusiastically chatted with one another and discussed Cassius, the person in question had just returned to Classroom 4-A. Upon entering the classroom, he received the full attention of everyone inside the room except for Violet. Even the normally indifferent Flora was now looking at him in a different light.
    'Anyone at or above the Peak C-Rank would be able to do what he did with the energy lance, but the way he moved when talking to Alex was on¡­ an entirely different level¡­'
    Although Flora was able to see his movements, it was just barely, and there was no possible way for her to react if she were to go up against him. The moment he moved, she would¡­ die.
    This fact changed Flora's entire opinion of the boy she once deemed as nothing more than a pretty face¡­
    Seductively licking her lips, a completely different side of her came out¡ªa side that had only now been activated. A pinkish energy swirled around her pupils, and something began to wiggle around inside her dress and slightly peek out. Two small black horns also protruded from atop her head.
    Everything meshed together in such a way that only one word would pop up in the mind of any who saw her current form¡ª
    ¡ªSuccubus!!¡ª

 Chapter 167 But Im not even 18!

    'What is this¡­!?' Flora asked herself while fighting the urge to pounce on the young man who now looked like an appetizing steak slab. 'Is this my¡­?? But I'm not even 18 yet!'A girl who was normally uncaring about everything began to internally freak out as she tried to reverse the sudden changes to her body. However, as this whole experience was very novel to her, she knew not how to undo the alterations.
    In her distress, a lethargic-sounding feminine voice entered her ears. 'Focus on the spots that feel the most reactive and convey your intent. You'll be able to more easily switch between your Succubus and Human forms¡­'
    'Elder Protector Violet??' Flora's eyes flashed in surprise as she worried if other unrelated people also realized what was happening to her.
    'Don't worry,' Violet Evergreen eased her nerves while outwardly sleeping. 'I even managed to slip past the Mind-control Skills of that irksome Vampire Miss. You think I can't alter the reality that everyone perceives when they look at you¡­? You will soon learn more of it, but we Succubi specialize in the properties of the mind and illusion.'
    Flora was still wrapping her head around her premature racial awakening, but with the severity of the situation at hand, she idled no longer and followed Elder Violet's instructions. In no time at all, she had already reversed the heart-shaped tail with a mind of its own. The rest of her unique Succubus qualities soon followed.
    Just like that, she became human again.
    Violet lazily swiped her delicate fingers and deactivated the Illusion spell she had cast on everyone in the classroom. She then voice-transmitted to Flora, saying, 'We will speak more on this when we return to your family later today. Until then, you can rest assured. No one saw your¡ª' sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Flora and Violet looked in the same direction at the exact same time, which was when they saw a striking pair of multicolored eyes curiously glancing between them. A small grin then formed on the face of the owner of those eyes, causing the two sleepy beauties' thoughts to spiral.
    "He couldn't have¡­"
    "Elder Violet¡­ What was that you said again¡­?"
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    Under the guise of the noise produced by the students that had only now unfrozen themselves and started swarming Cassius, both young Succubus and Elder Succubus exchanged puzzled looks. Neither could explain what they had just seen.
    Perhaps it was all just their imagination¡­?
    Yeah right¡­
    Violet and Flora could no longer see the aloof man due to all the students crowding around him, but that handsome shot of him slightly grinning still lingered at the forefront of their minds. If he made that insinuating gesture because he saw something he shouldn't have, then they were quite frankly¡­ f*cked¡­
    'Should I kill him??' Violet thought with unusual haste. 'Would it be easier to use higher-level Persuasion Skills on him and force him to forget??? The young mistress's premature racial awakening cannot be known to the public just yet. If the other Dimensions were to learn of this event that foretells many things for our race, then everything we have worked to accomplish over the years will have been for naught¡­'
    'The Young Miss must grow up,' she declared in a tone bereft of emotion, with her usually dormant killing intent becoming tangible. 'I'll have to kill him. It's the simplest solution.'
    However, before the uncharacteristically ruthless Violet could make her accurate and lethal move, Flora predicted her thoughts beforehand and shouted to stop her through voice transmission.
    "???"
    'You mustn't kill him, Elder Violet,' Flora hurriedly explained, a deep blush forming on her face. 'Have you already forgotten the Succubus traits¡­? He made me feel the urge to ravage him and drain him dry until he becomes akin to a barren desert¡­ You know what this means¡­'
    "!!!"
    Violet had completely overlooked it, as that had not even happened to the Eldest Miss, mostly because she had not yet had her Racial Awakening. But if what the Young Miss said was true, then¡­
    'I can neither kill him nor alter his mind¡­ That boy has already been marked¡­'
    Like Vampires with their morally questionable ceremonies and marking rituals, the Succubus race also had one such similar permanent marking system. The specific details of the marking process were that when a Succubus underwent their Racial Awakening, the first man they felt a liking to would be 'marked.'
    However, unlike the Vampires who had contractual marriage marks, the Succubi did not mark a male in the hopes of spending all of eternity with them. Their First Mark would¡­ be the first person they had to drain all the Yang Energy from¡­
    The marked male would naturally die once the Mark's purpose was accomplished. This meant that Cassius was set for death¡­ again¡­ by a different woman¡­
    And Flora had to be the one to personally do it.
    She furiously blushed at just the thought of participating in something so obscene, but she had no real choice in the matter. If she never slept with her First Mark and drained him dry, then her power would stagnate. Moreover, over time, her body would start to weaken, and in the most unlikely and far-off of cases, she would¡­ die.
    Violet Evergreen inhaled deeply before exhaling sharply. She laid her head back on her desk and returned to the land of dreams.
    Flora, on the other hand, had a head infected with dirty thoughts. Now, every time she thought about Cassius, only explicit scenes entered her mind. She couldn't stop herself from repeatedly blushing, with every additional glance at him causing her beat-red condition to worsen¡­
    She had no clue what to do now¡­
    There was no way she could just approach him and ask for sex!
    'Hey, wanna fuck?'
    'Huh¡­?'
    Uhn uh! She was utterly incapable of doing something as frivolous and perverted as that!! But then what else!?
    Flora was also not used to talking to those of the opposite gender, or even those of the same gender.
    Yes, she was friendless! And unsocial!
    But it was all by choice¡­
    ....

 Chapter 168 Alaric and Carmilla Crestmore

    Before this recent sequence of events, Flora hadn't minded being alone almost all the time. But now, with everything that had happened, she had no choice but to figure out how to speak with a man. Her end goal would be to fuck! She could do it!With a newfound sense of determination, Flora clenched her fists and began to make her move.
    Yet, at the very same moment she quietly slammed her desk and commenced her fuckfest march, an enchanting bluish silver-haired beauty raised her voice and jumped toward Cassius.
    "You really beat them! That's my big, strong man for ya~!"
    "...."
    'What are you doing?' Cassius asked calmly, acting completely unresponsive to the pair of large, squishy breasts pressing up against his chest. Others in the classroom were also staring at him with flabbergasted looks on their faces, but he ignored them all the same.
    Stella was unable to Voice Transmission the same way he could, but when she sneakily smirked, he could pretty much figure out her aim.
    She wanted to take this opportunity to cement her relationship with Cassius in front of any boys who might've still had thoughts about her. This way, she could both get closer to him and shoo away any and all who believed they stood a chance with her.
    It was essentially killing two birds with one stone!
    Stella's smirk turned a little smug as she snuggled up to the exasperated man. She was enjoying every bit of his suffering, even more so knowing full well that this tactic of hers was helping him, too. She knew he knew this, which was why she was being so insufferably affectionate.
    All of it was a lie!
    Cassius must remain strong and steadfast! He cannot falter!
    Meanwhile, Flora, who was sitting a few meters away, slumped into the back of her chair. Her face emulated the morass of depression she was in right now.
    She had been rejected before even getting the chance to ask¡­
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    What was more depressing than this?
    Her gloomy aura multiplied when she realized that not even a few minutes ago, she couldn't care less about this new guy. Then, out of nowhere, she was suddenly forced to pursue him with the end goal of getting into his pants! Only to then be rejected without talking to him even once!
    What better proof was there that Fate was a big b*tch than this very scenario!?
    Flora lightly banged her head on her desk a few times, causing it to slightly crack. While listening to that silver-haired girl shamelessly flirt with her First Mark, she sunk deeper and deeper into despondency.
    It wasn't until Elder Protector Violet's sluggish voice entered her ears once more that she left her state of misery. And her words¡­ they changed everything for her.
    'Young Miss, why are you so hung up on human customs? As Succubi, do you truly believe that a male being in a relationship with someone else has ever stopped us?? Plus, it's highly likely they're simply faking it.'
    "!!!" Flora's grayed eyes brightened up as she realized the Elder was right.
    What did it matter if he was dating someone else?? Who cared! She was a gawddamn Succubus!
    Flora turned toward the extraordinarily handsome man who was currently the center of attention. Her orangish-blue eyes glazed over as she seductively licked her lips before pondering how she should go about ensnaring her little pretty man. Greed flooded her heart as she squirmed in place.
    Just imagining how she would straddle him like a rodeo bull and drain him until nothing remained was enough to ignite the Succubus side of her! She was all in now! This man would be hers!!
    "Daddy, he has to be mine!!"
    A crazed shout bounced off the walls of a very old Castle as a deranged girl with long, luscious black hair stomped her feet below a high throne. On that throne was a pale-faced man with medium-length silver hair and a bulky physique. To the side of the throne was an unearthly beauty with similarly colored hair and eyes to her passionate daughter.
    Bella's father, the man atop the throne, had a twitching smile scrunched up in anger. In contrast to his lividness, the drop-dead gorgeous Milf smiled fondly at the sight of her daughter.
    With a voice seething in rage, Bella's father, Alaric Crestmore, said, "...I really was so stupid when I told that infuriating man I would give my daughter's hand in marriage to his son¡­"
    "Fufu~" Carmilla Crestmore, mother of Bella Crestmore, giggled. Amused, she said, "Our daughter seems to strongly disagree with that, though."
    "...Carmilla¡­ You¡­" Alaric looked at his wife, his grievances clear as day. "...But my daughter¡­ My precious daughter¡­ How could she already be marrying? And to that man's son no less¡­"
    Carmilla softly patted her husband's shoulder, not bothering to hide her amusement. "You silly daughter-con; just give it up and accept that a big bad wolf has snatched up your daughter~ Fufu~"
    "...."
    Alaric refused to believe that he was in love with this woman. Was he blind??
    Observing her again, he immediately took back his words. He definitely wasn't blind back in the day. He knew exactly what he wanted, and she was every bit as beautiful as the day he first met her.
    Alaric sighed before refocusing on his insane-looking daughter down below.
    'She has already grown into a stunning woman¡­' he internally commented while staring at her palpable case of the crazies.
    However, his fond expression quickly turned livid when he recalled the face of that womanizing bastard. And then there was that womanizing bastard's equally womanizing son. All bastards!
    He had kept tabs on Cassius through his subservient vampires and knew full well what had happened since the boy's seal began to loosen.
    At first, he was astonished that the boy's seal somehow loosened ahead of schedule, but his surprise swiftly transformed into anger when he watched the movements the boy made throughout the human world.
    That kid would travel to different Gates, clear them, and then come out with one or more girls! And it didn't happen just once, but several times! That perverted boy was just as much of a pervert as his bastard father was!
    Go one place, come out with more mouths to feed! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It must be f*cking genetic!
    ....

 Chapter 169 Alarics Grudge

    Alaric had also been quite confused when Cassius occasionally disappeared from all radars, but with his loosening seal, it wasn't all that surprising that there would be a few oddities. And more importantly, that little sh*t had blatantly cheated on his daughter! Multiple times!!This was unacceptable!!!
    But what could Alaric do to change this¡­?
    He and that womanizing bastard had signed the contract years ago. The deed was done, and not even he, with his beyond SSS-Rank power, could do anything to change that fact.
    If he backed out now, the consequences would be unimaginable¡­ After all, the contract they each signed was done so in their blood. Although Alaric was unlikely to die even though he should, he would still be weakened to a state where the other Vampire Dukes could take advantage of him and his family.
    Furthermore, if he reneged on the agreement to marry off his daughter to the bastard's son, his daughter would certainly come to loathe him. From the very first moment Bella laid eyes on Cassius, she basically orchestrated the whole marriage arrangement and even coerced him into placing one of his best seals on the boy after the womanizing bastard mysteriously disappeared.
    Even now, Alaric had no idea where the real Adam Steele went off to. He heard some birds speak of there being a new Floor Guardian for the Trial Area of Humanity; however, since no one had ever seen the new Floor Guardian, he was unable to confirm the relation.
    But the one thing Alaric did know for sure was that Adam Steele was not dead. Him dying was even more impossible than HELL freezing over tomorrow. He, more than anyone else, knew full well how true that statement was. After all, a few dozen years ago, when he had first encountered the bastard, they wound up fighting in a tournament meant to decide who would take the Princess of Yggdrasil's hand in marriage.
    Alaric had been leading in the tournament for a good majority of the competition, and he was confident that if not for that womanizer's interference, he would've made it into the Top 25. However, because of Adam's sudden appearance when the tournament reached its final stages, Alaric was brought from Top 30 all the way down to Top 90!
    His fight with that bastard had practically taken him out of commission for the remainder of the Tournament! He only barely managed to pull through in the end and secure a spot in the Top 25!
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    Naturally, this meant that when Alaric and Adam fought, the former got his ass absolutely handed to him¡­ And it wasn't even close¡­
    Adam even went so far as to fight him with a single arm and a single leg! He also blindfolded himself and plugged his ears!
    Yet, even with all those handicaps, Adam plowed through Alaric's confidence gained from thousands of years serving as a Vampire Duke. Moreover, he took those same handicaps and fought the rest of the Tournament Competitors with them!
    For a member of the human race¡ªa species that could only live up to a few hundred years on the highest Floors¡ªwhat Adam had done was akin to suicide! The Ascension Tower of Humanity had always been looked down upon! Humanity was supposed to be the weakest!!
    However, that day, the preconceived notions of Humanity were completely shattered! Reality came crashing down on countless of the most powerful figures in existence!
    Adam won the Tournament, did so overwhelmingly without being harmed, and came out with a Princess as a prize¡­
    Alaric's hateful rivalry with that womanizing bastard started there, and over the years, they met each other on numerous occasions. Though, with nearly an entire century having passed since then, what was once an irrevocable hatred transformed into a friendship of sorts. (Neither would admit it.)
    And one particular day roughly 17 years ago, they went out drinking, and in their muddled states of mind, they conjured up a blood pact that would tie them by blood through the marriage of their children. Alaric regretted it the very moment he became sober, with his regret exponentially increasing when his once resistant daughter first met that ungodly baby.
    He couldn't believe the foolish thing he had done¡­
    But when Bella proposed the whole Seal idea after Adam's disappearance, Alaric's depressed mood was slightly alleviated. After all, if he made the overly divine baby too hideous to look at, surely his daughter would feel repulsed and eventually forget all about the target of her overpowering infatuation.
    Unfortunately¡­ Alaric, the millennium-old Vampire Duke, with all his vast experience, underestimated just how deeply obsessed an offspring of his could be¡­
    Bella hadn't just fancied the infant Cassius not much younger than herself, she had made him her entire world. No matter how ugly he became, no matter how generally unattractive he was, her obsessed feelings for him never lessened. In fact, they only increased over time!
    Cassius was Bella's everything! She would do any number of indescribable things for him!! Erasing entire races from the face of the planet was not even close to being out of the equation if he asked it of her!
    Alaric, her father, realized this all too late. And before he knew what had even happened, the situation before them had come to pass¡­
    "Daddy, you must make sure that you restrain my husband! You must tie him down good! Really, really, re~ally good!!" Bella raved, her eyes darkening into swirling vortexes of obsession and love.
    But when she recalled the other troublesome matter, the darkness within her morphed into something¡­ terrifying.
    "Those stupid clingy, fcking btches¡­" she scarily mumbled. "I'll kill them!!! I'll f*cking kill them and rip off their ugly little heads¡­!!!"
    Alaric and his wife Carmilla watched as their daughter began to incoherently murmur with some unknown fog seeping from her lips. Alaric didn't know whether to be pissed off, worried, or depressed. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Whereas the lovely, curvy Milf Carmilla simply giggled while holding a hand over her bright red lips.
    ....

 Chapter 170 Who cares about Consent??

    The Vampire Duke felt an itch urging him to just give in and let his daughter do whatever she wished. But when the smug face of that womanizing bastard friend of his flashed through his mind, he once again returned to being torn between anger and dread.What Alaric had failed to remind himself of when thinking of Adam was the true reason why he abhorred the cocky c*nt so much.
    All those years ago, following the conclusion of the Yggdrasil Tournament, Alaric returned to Nightingale in defeat. Even the other Vampire Dukes and a couple of lower-ranking Vampire Nobles had made it further than the Top 90. Yet he fell so short of expectations¡­
    Mortified was an understatement for what he felt.
    However, in the midst of his seemingly never-ending shame, a shining star brightened up his dreary life.
    It came in the form of his wife¡ªCarmilla Crestmore!
    She, who was the glamorous daughter of a Vampire Marquis, was not someone Alaric originally planned to marry. In fact, marriage wasn't even supposed to be in the cards for his lonely self.
    But when he first saw Carmilla, he knew right then and there that she was the one for him! His antiquated hips would finally be getting some action!!
    And that was around when his 'friend' came by to visit him.
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    Adam strutted through Nightingale like he owned the place, ascended to the 6th Floor, and barged into his home at the exact moment he managed to invite Carmilla over for a meal. Then, without a single care in the world for anything, that perverted bastard flirted with Carmilla as soon as he saw her! Right in front of him, no less!!
    Because of that incident, for nearly a decade, Carmilla talked non-stop about that sly sh*t fck!
    Alaric couldn't understand how, even though Carmilla and Adam only spoke to each other for a brief period of time, she could become so enamored by him¡­ It didn't make any sense!
    If not for the fact that Adam quickly realized what his best buddy Alaric was gunning for and backed off, the Vampire Duke swore he would've written Adam's name in his Death Note! And the name would've been written in his blood!!
    Over time, however, the both of them forgot all about that small incident.
    But when the big bastard's little bastard of a son came into the picture, Alaric was immediately reminded of the inexplicable genes of the infamous womanizer.
    He was beginning to believe that the father and son duo were not humans and were instead Incubi! Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    An extremely complicated and ancient sigh echoed through the spacious halls of a bright throne room interior as Alaric's limbs turned limp. He turned to look up at the roof as if something interesting were up there. Then, with a hoarse voice teetering on the verge of collapse, he replied to his daughter's deranged urgings:
    "I'll make sure to tie the boy down for you¡­ As long as he doesn't escape to another Dimension or something beforehand, there'll be no chance he can resist me¡­"
    Bella's dark, obsessive pupils suddenly returned to normal as she jumped up and down in joy before leaping at the tired old man.
    "Thank you so much, Daddy~! He'll finally be mine!! And I'll be able to kill those whores!!"
    Alaric could only helplessly nod, with the pessimistic side of him wondering if this would be the last hug he'd ever receive from his little girl.
    Carmilla softly chortled before stretching out her arms.
    "Where's my hug at, Bella dear?" she asked while knowing full well how annoyed this would make her husband feel.
    And just as she expected, the moment Bella switched sides and entered her mother's embrace, the Vampire Duke lost the last bit of color in his eyes. He slumped further into his throne and inaudibly mumbled to himself, seemingly talking about how unfair life was.
    "Fufu~" Carmilla giggled aloud while thinking, 'I'm curious to see just what sort of fun that flirtatious man's son will bring into our boring immortal lives. I really can't wait¡­'
    While Alaric was contemplating how many stories he would need to ascend and jump off of to unalive himself, his playful wife was already imagining future trouble¡­ To be precise, she was anticipating it¡­
    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
    As the seconds turned into minutes and the clock of time churned in a never-ending cycle, the school day passed fleetingly on Earth.
    Stella had been sticking close to Cassius the entire day. Even when the lazy Miss Violet actually started teaching, she pulled her desk next to his.
    Because of Stella's sudden forwardness, Flora was unable to make any moves on her target, but that didn't mean she hadn't been constantly thinking about what she would do when the opportunity presented itself. It was all merely a matter of time; she firmly believed that the silver-haired bimbo would eventually slip up.
    Aya, on the other hand, had barely listened to any of her lectures. She got most of the same Classes as Cassius, and during that time, she racked her mind for the best way that she should go about apologizing to him. Leaving him like that wasn't something she even really wanted to do¡­
    And when she secretly observed his match with Arthur and Alex, she finally realized just how much she wanted to be cheering him on alongside Stella.
    Hell with her so-called friends! And screw what people thought about her! She wanted to stand by Cassius's side!
    "I wish I had never walked away from you like I was ashamed to be beside you¡­ And even though we're siblings and Alabama and stuff¡­ I¡­ I¡­ L... Love you¡­!" Aya blurted out in front of a bathroom mirror with full seriousness, yet became flustered the very next second.
    "Y-Yes, that's what I'll say to him! Well, maybe¡­ maybe not the last part, but the rest for sure!"
    With a resolute gleam in her clear blue eyes, Aya walked out of a girl's restroom on the 1st Floor of Hoshito General High.
    Yet, in the very next moment, she heard the voice that she had been wanting to hear all day. Just not in the way she expected¡­
    ....

 Chapter 171 Just... act... cool...

    "Boo.""Kya!" Startled, Aya jumped back and tripped over her feet.
    However, before she could fall on her bum, a large, rough hand clasped onto her arm and pulled her in close. When they reached a distance where they could almost hear each other's heartbeats, the flustered Aya finally realized who had spooked her. Yet, this only made the tinge of crimson painting her cheeks turn a darker shade of red.
    "Wh¡­What are you doing¡ª!?" she tried to say, instinctively letting her feisty tsundere side out, but Cassius interrupted, saying:
    "Say, how about just you and me go out somewhere this weekend. A few days from now? Well, whaddya say?"
    Taken aback by this out-of-the-blue proposal, Aya forgot all about what she was going to lash out about. And when a warm hand rubbed back and forth on her head, she truly didn't know what she should be thinking anymore.
    The only thing she could do was meekly nod her head before slowly scuttering away. Without turning her beat-red face up, she backed far enough away to sidestep around a corner.
    A second later, Cassius heard a loud bang come from the same direction she left in.
    "???"
    Aya had accidentally knocked over a bucket in her hasty retreat, and when Cassius worriedly turned the same corner to check out the situation, he was unable to stop himself from chuckling. Even when he saw her rosy cheeks fill with air, he couldn't help himself.
    "Y-You¡­" Aya grumbled.
    However, before she could become any angrier, that same warm hand from before extended out. A kind smile accompanied it as a deep voice dripped into her ears like the sweetest of honey.
    "You look good wet, but don't you think it's time to get up off the hard floor? Here, take my hand."
    As she was momentarily dazed, it took Aya a second to register his words. But when she did, question marks appeared above her head, prompting her to look down.
    She was soaked. Particularly in the chest area¡­
    And as the School uniform was more than thick enough in normal use, she hadn't bothered to¡­ put on a bra¡­
    "Kya!" Aya shrieked and jumped to her feet, unfortunately barring off the tantalizing view of her twin peaks and their perky cherry tips.
    After somewhat steadying her breath and backing away, her cheeks disproportionately puffed out when she saw the hateful smirk plastered across Cassius's face. With many grievances, she gave her piece:
    "I-I'll never forgive you for this, you meanie! You'll make it up to me this weekend! I won't let you off easily¡­!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Then, without looking back, she bolted out of there using the full speed of someone with D-Rank Agility.
    Cassius faintly smiled before vanishing from his spot.
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    When he reappeared, he found a bluish-silver-haired beauty leaning up against the Front Gates of the School. She seemed to be waiting for someone.
    Obviously, it was him.
    When Stella felt a familiar presence approach her, those tranquil eyes of hers brightened up as she turned to look in his direction. An invisible force immediately tugged up on her thinned lips, and a lovely smile blossomed.
    "Are we going home now?"
    "Not yet," replied Cassius as he walked up next to her. "Aya has already taken her own path home, but Bella has yet to leave. I'll wait by myself for her if you want to go on ahead with Aya."
    Stella shook her head and took the opportunity to interlock her arm with his, which garnered her an unusual look. Ignoring that look of his, she smilingly said:
    "I'll stay with you. I'd wait any amount of time if it were for you."
    Cassius unblinkingly stared at the gorgeous woman's equally stunning smile.
    '...Well¡­ Sh*t¡­'
    He definitely f*cked himself sideways this time as well. Over and over again, he kept shooting himself in the foot!
    Was something f*cked up in his DNA or what!?
    Glancing at the Idle Evolution System, he observed Stella's Affection Rating. It read:
    {[Stella: 83]}
    Cassius truly had no idea why her Affection Rating had increased so much, and it wasn't even the only one. In fact, it was the same situation for all the other girls living with him!
    For some inexplicable reason, their Affection Ratings would often increase by a point or two, and it was quickly spiraling out of control¡­
    He wasn't some Japanese Harem Protagonist for God's Sake! He just wanted to live a normal life!
    "Haiz¡­"
    Then, out of nowhere¡­
    "Is something the matter?" Bella's voice suddenly sounded from afar.
    "Hmm¡­??" Cassius's eyes fell on a black-haired runway model sashaying through the open courtyards outside the School.
    On her way over to the pair, she attracted the attention of many students. Their eyes stuck to her voluptuous figure and never let go. Several boyfriends received smacks to the back of their heads for being so daring.
    The cause of multiple ongoing arguments acted oblivious to it all, with the only thing she seemed to care about being the devilishly handsome man standing in the distance. She briefly glanced at the silver-haired woman, quickly clicked her tongue, then returned to looking at her husband.
    'What was that?' Stella asked herself, wondering if what she had seen actually happened. But regardless of whether it did or not, she shot a smug glare in her direction, knowing full well that Bella could not do the same without showing something weird to Cassius.
    "!!!" 'This b*tch¡­ I'll kill her¡­!'
    Unlike Stella, Bella knew exactly what she saw. And although she could do nothing right now, she would make sure to give this thieving whore some special attention when it became her time to leave this world.
    Boy, would she enjoy it, too!
    While acting all smiles, Bella finally made it to where Cassius and Stella were interlocking arms. Killing intent nearly flooded out from the very core of her being, but with every ounce of strength she possessed, she held back the urge telling her to dismember a b*tch, rip out her vertebrae, and then watch her squirm in real time. She pushed all of that down and acted cool.
    Act cool. Act cool. Just act¡­ cool¡­
    ....

 Chapter 172 Aluria Succubus Family

    With a twitching face, Bella said to Stella, "What a miracle to see you here, slu¡ª my super friend."A vein appeared on Stella's forehead.
    "Anyway, Cassius," said Bella, already turning away from the annoyed woman. "Have you heard of this new disease spreading around Japan and even the world outside the Country? It's quite horrible¡­ So, so horrible¡­ Such a horrible fate it must be to die from being too promiscuous¡­ I heard that it spreads almost instantly upon having intimate physical contact¡­!"
    Leaning up to his ear, she whispered, "The Doctors say that once you contract this disease, you'll be unable to use your¡­ reproductive organ for a very long time."
    "All I'm trying to do is warn you about who you hang around," she added while taking suggestive peeks at the silver-haired woman.
    Stella's brows furrowed in irritation, yet she didn't retaliate to the words quite obviously being aimed toward her. She instead smiled in a way just as fake as Bella and began to slow laugh, which Bella started to do as well.
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    '...I don't know what's going on between these two, but it's probably best if I stay out of it,' Cassius decided before slipping away from the sparks flying in between the two shadowy-faced smiling girls.
    They quickly caught up to his receding figure but did not once give up the silent battle going on against each other. And as they were too focused on appealing to an indifferent man and trying to get the upper hand over the other, they failed to notice the pair of misty purple eyes quietly watching them from behind.
    Cassius, however, did.
    A small smirk formed on his face as he wondered just how things would evolve from here. With that unique teacher of his and the oddly familiar girl to keep his life interesting, perhaps he would witness a development that far exceeded his expectations. He was, after all, very curious about the other races.
    And then there were those other pairs of eyes focused on him and the mischievous black-haired girl beside him. Two of which felt a bit like the Vampire Duke Bloodline he had not really delved into just yet.
    On a side note, the two Bloodline presences had the odd feeling of being diluted, not quite as prominent as his Bloodline¡­
    'Hmm¡­ Are Vampires watching me right now¡­? There's also that other, far harder to find presence¡­ I wonder what that one belongs to¡­'
    Cassius's icy cold eyes scanned his surroundings, and within mere moments, both the Vampire protectors and the spying Extraterrestrial felt terrifying waves of permafrost spread throughout their bodies. They involuntarily shivered, and in their shock, they saw something even more mind-boggling.
    Their periphery vision had been completely covered by an all-encompassing darkness. At the very top of that darkness, looming above their heads, was a pair of illusory blue ant-like eyes as large as the sun.
    "!!!" "!!!"
    The Vampires and the Extraterrestrial instinctively back-stepped. Something within the very core of their beings was screaming at them to flee, but they battled the sensation with everything they had, refusing to let it take hold.
    Their Stealth items were flawless! There was no way a mere Mortal on a Trial Area Floor would be able to see through their camouflage!
    They persuaded themselves to remain steadfast with these thoughts anchoring them to their individual objectives.
    "Interesting¡­"
    Eventually, Cassius retracted his sight and returned to a state of nonchalantness. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    If they didn't want to come out now, then so be it.
    He would ultimately rip them from their hiding spots regardless of their compliance, anyway, and he was in no rush to clean out the pests. At least he knew they were there now; this meant him always having his guard up was the correct move to make. Hell, there could be even more unknown pairs of eyes watching him out there!
    It was better to be cautious.
    Ha¡­
    Leon and Gina finally exhaled the breaths they were holding in. However, as soon as the former realized the shameful action he had just done, his face twisted in anger. He vowed to himself to return the shame he received today a hundredfold when the World's End event occurs.
    Leon knew very well what sort of dangers lay in wait within a Monster Gate in or above the Black Rank. It was also because of this knowledge that he was sure humanity would fall into the clutches of the Abyss.
    And in that Chaos, he would get his revenge¡­
    He evilly smirked just imagining how he would soon tear the cocky human limb from limb¡­ It would be oh so gratifying~!
    While Cassius, the girls, and all of the various stalkers hiding in the dark finished off the day in their own unique ways, something unforeseen was occurring in a Dimension completely different from the one Earthlings called home.
    ¡ªIn the Realm of Pleasure Dimension, within a large Palace owned by the Succubus Royal Family 'Aluria'¡ª
    "My daughter has returned?" asked a woman with a voice so heavenly that it could melt the hearts of any number of men.
    Her immense beauty was staggering. Her long shimmering blackish-purple hair cascaded down her world-toppling curves, perfectly molding her figure. Her figure¡­ Oh, her figure¡­ It would without a doubt be the most filled out one Cassius had ever seen. And she wasn't afraid to show off a lot of it, either.
    The enchanting woman sat on a large, comfy cushion, with her thin see-through pink dress doing very little to hide her curvaceous body. She sat in an alluring way that could entice even the most devout of monks. With that slightly harsh glint in her moist purple eyes thrown into the mix, even the monks with masochistic fetishes would be on their knees begging her for a chance.
    At this moment, handsome men with closed eyes catered to the seductive woman's needs with grapes and hand massages. It was that way even when a servant woman of hers barged in and announced something quite interesting.
    ....

 Chapter 173 Amaris and Grace

    Indifferently, the pretty kneeling woman said, "Yes, My Lady Amaris. The eldest of your daughters, Grace Aluria, has just returned.""Ho?" Amaris Aluria slightly arched one of her delicate eyebrows before sensually rising from the large heart-shaped couch.
    She motioned for the manservants to return to their posts, then walked up to the kneeling female servant. Afterward, she amorously tilted up the female's chin with her right index finger. With her irresistible eyes peering into the servant's soul, she said, "Lead the way."
    "Y¡­Yes, My Lady," the female servant respectfully responded. A slight blush painted her pretty features, and her legs were a little shaky, but that didn't prevent her from rising and walking ahead.
    Opening the giant opulent doors to the equally ostentatious room, she patiently waited for the naturally seductive woman to pass, then followed behind. After once again getting ahead of the woman whose every minute movement oozed grace and lust, she led the way through dozens of enormous hallways of an even more unimaginably large palace.
    ¡ªFive minutes later¡ª
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    After such a period of time of rapid travel exceeding even the max speed of the fastest man on Earth, Amaris and the female servant made it to a certain room. Hanging on the door of this room was a magical name tag that read 'Royal Library.'
    "...She's in here again?" Amaris inquired with a melodic way of speaking, her tone unconsciously flirtatious.
    "Yes, My Lady," replied the female servant, her expression unmoving even in the face of the goddess-like woman capable of effortlessly wooing both genders. "The Eldest Miss came to the study as soon as she arrived."
    After a brief pause.
    "Very well. You may leave now," ordered Amaris. "I wish to speak to my daughter, alone."
    The female servant nodded before disappearing from sight.
    "...."
    Amaris Aluria unblinkingly stared at the modestly decorated library door for a good few seconds before finally opening it up. The very same moment she viewed the fantastical scenery inside, her eyes automatically ignored the untold number of bookshelves stacking up in all directions across several miles and for thousands of feet. Those captivating eyes of hers instead fell on the angelic woman sitting at the very center of the palace library's first floor.
    Surrounding her were thousands upon thousands of books, and even at this very moment, she had her nose in a book. She was so immersed in what she was reading that she hadn't even noticed when her alluring mother entered the massive room.
    This was where Grace spent most of her free time. It was her peace space when she wasn't hanging out with the only man who made her feel a way she had never felt before.
    Cassius was her new peace, but she was unable to forget her old flame.
    "You know, you could at least say hello to your only mother when you stop by."
    A beautiful voice suddenly sounded out from behind, causing Grace to hastily lay her book down and look in the direction of the voice's source.
    "...Mother? What are you doing here?"
    "Now, is that any reaction you should have to seeing your lonely mother after not greeting her for the last ten times you visited?"
    "Lonely¡­?" Grace recalled all the various servants her mother surrounded herself with. "I don't think so¡­ And the reason I hadn't greeted you was because I assumed you were busy. The Yggdrasil Tournament is coming up soon, and I know how important that event is to you and our family¡­"
    Amaris arched an eyebrow. "Where did you learn how to speak like that? Getting so cheeky in your later years, are ya?"
    "No, Mother, it's not that¡­"
    Grace became silent, her lips seemingly trying to get something out but failing.
    Her mother could tell that she was troubled. And as she had a bit of free time right now, she decided to sit down next to her daughter and ask what was on her mind.
    The answer she received felt unsatisfactory, but as the question itself was just a formality, she asked something she already knew the answer to. "Boy trouble? I've been there at one point¡­ A long time ago, long before you were ever conceived¡­"
    "N-No, that isn't¡­ that isn't it," Grace mumbled as her cheeks turned multiple shades of scarlet. However, under the scrutinizing gaze of her mother, she hid her adorable face behind a book and murmured, "Well¡­ It kind of is¡­"
    "See? Wasn't that easy?" Amaris revealed a mesmerizing smile before asking her daughter to disclose all the details. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Although reluctant, Grace had little leeway to refuse the request of her graceful mother.
    ¡ªA few minutes later¡ª
    Amaris's expression appeared thoughtful as she contemplated this matter deeply.
    She had been aware of Grace sneaking out of the mansion their family had on Earth as the 'fill-in' parents she assigned to her daughters would report to her daily. She would be lying if she declared that she wasn't displeased with her eldest daughter's sudden rebellious nature, but it wasn't that big of a deal. After all, the Trial Area of Humanity posed little to no danger to the Guardians she set up there, and thus her daughters would always be safe.
    But with the 0th Floor's Nexus Event occurring soon, Amaris would prefer if her daughters stayed close to the Guardians at all times. Once the Nexus Event begins, even she doesn't hold full confidence in the capabilities of the Guardians limited in power. If worse comes to worse, then she would have to send in the cavalry or personally descend, but such actions would surely put their family in a tough spot.
    Among the other royal families of the Land of Pleasures, they were already seen as a prime target to exploit. Which meant that if Amaris, the head of the Succubus Royal Family, acted recklessly, the scavengers would come out to prey.
    In conclusion, the Queen of Succubi and her three daughters were in a very tight spot right now.
    Very tight, indeed¡­
    ....

 Chapter 174 What it takes to place in the Yggdrasil Tournament

    But with the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil beginning soon, the Aluria Family might just be able to make a comeback¡ªthat is, assuming they're able to place high enough in the Tournament Rankings, hopefully in the Top 100. If they're able to accomplish that, then most of their political issues will be resolved.However¡­ with Amaris not eligible to participate and all her daughters too young to make any difference, she could only rely on those affiliated with her family. And to be honest, she didn't feel the least bit assured with the candidates she currently had available to choose from.
    There were several Beyond SSS-Rank Awakeners in the Aluria Royal Family, and there were even more SSS-Rank Awakeners. But of those SSS-Rank Awakeners, very few stood out among the crowd. None of them seemed like Top 100 material¡ªpossibly not even Top 200 material.
    'If only my daughters had been born hundreds of years earlier¡­ If that were the case, then by now, they would have long since developed enough of their latent bloodlines to fight for a place in the Top 100¡­'
    Amaris sighed under her breath while thinking of the unfortunate what ifs. Moreover, she also sighed at the whole ordeal involving her innocent eldest daughter.
    As Succubi, it was best if they never fell in love.
    Many years ago, Amaris made the mistake of catching feelings for a dashing male Incubus. However, as their species thrived on taking in exorbitant amounts of Yang, her Incubus husband just couldn't keep up, and he unfortunately¡­ died.
    Some men suffer from dehydration, whereas others drown.
    That man died from snu snu¡­
    The only plus side to that whole predicament was that the male Incubus went out smiling. He sure was a happy dying man, even if his cheeks were sunken in.
    Thousands of years later, Amaris finally decided to procreate and have some descendants of her own. In total, she went through nearly a dozen Incubus candidates until they succumbed to the embrace of death the same way her late husband had. But from all those happily dying men, three different variations of her pride and joy came into creation.
    And right now, the eldest of those bundles of joy was going through a rough patch with her human¡­ boyfriend¡­? Was he her boyfriend?
    Deciding to ask straight up, she said, "Hey, honey, that Cassius is your boyfriend, isn't he?"
    "B-B¡­Boyfriend¡­??" Steam puffed out from the top of Grace's head as she averted her eyes from her mother and began fidgeting with her hands. "...N-No¡­ We aren't dating¡­ Why would you think that¡­?"
    Amaris tilted her flawless head in confusion. 'She did say that this boy saved her life just a moment before the guardians I set up could make a move, didn't she? And then she told me that the boy recently vowed to find a cure for her¡­ Haiz¡­'
    The Succubus Queen felt her heart clench while thinking about the mysterious illness that ailed her eldest daughter¡ªor, rather, the¡­ curse¡­
    It was primarily because of this curse that Amaris put so much emphasis on the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil. Placing high in that Tournament would not only elevate their standing among the Seven Dimensions, but it would also make it far easier to acquire one of the Lesser Tears of Yggdrasil. The real deal, which would completely cure Grace, was something only the Gold Winner of the Tournament could obtain. But the residual essence of the genuine article¡ªthe Pseudo Tears of Yggdrasil¡ªwas more than capable of keeping Grace's curse at bay until a more permanent solution could be found.
    And to acquire one of these Pseudo Tears, the easiest way was to place within the Top 100 of the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil¡­
    Shaking her head, Amaris took her mind off that depressing subject and stared at her daughter.
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    Under the intense stare, Grace struggled to maintain eye contact. But when her mother softly commanded her not to look away, she once again found herself on the opposing end of that serious gaze.
    "This boy¡ªyou know that it'll never work out, don't you?" Amaris asked in all seriousness. "The lifespan of even the strongest among the human race is nothing in comparison to our own, not to mention that this pretend boyfriend of yours is from the Trial Gate Floor. This also means that he'll never be able to become strong enough to increase his lifespan or make a difference in the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil."
    Exhaling sharply, she added, "It may be cruel what I'm about to say, but this is just the way of the world. That boy¡ªhis resolve to help you is admirable, and under any other circumstances, I would allow whatever you two are to continue, but unfortunately, that boy is weak. And in our society, weakness is a sin. His determination means nothing if he doesn't have the power to back it up. Let alone winning the entire Tournament, that boy will not even be able to obtain a spot that'll enable him to enter Yggdrasil for the Tournament."
    "The Tournament itself is open to all who feel themselves worthy enough to participate, but getting into the Heart of the Ascension Tower is another matter altogether. Even our family only has three spots, and that is on the better side."
    Grace bit her lip in frustration. She knew all of this already, but something¡­ something inside her was telling her that if it were him, then he'd be able to do it. Her gut and her heart were telling her that he could do it.
    She just had to make her mother understand.
    She had to! There was no other option!
    "But, Mother, Cassius¡­ His power is able to¡ª"
    "That's enough!" Amaris silenced her with a sharp shout. "We'll not speak any more on this matter. My word is final, and for the next three months or until we obtain a Pseudo Tear of Yggdrasil, you shall be put under house arrest. You're not allowed to leave the bounds of the palace anymore."
    "!?!"
    "M-Mother, you can't¡­! I'm telling you that he's¡ª"
    "Be quiet, I said!"
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    ....

 Chapter 175 Floras Scandal...

    OOOM!An overpowering aura fell not just on the trembling Grace but also over the entire palace, causing the infrastructure to violently shake.
    However, when Amaris realized that she had let her temper get the better of her, she apologized and motioned behind her. "Crysta and Crya, take my daughter to her room. There's no need to guard her doors, but make sure she doesn't leave until the morning of tomorrow."
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    "Yes, My Lady!" Two icy-haired women, one tall and one short, appeared.
    They moved past the Succubus Queen and toward her crying daughter, but before they could take her away, she tried to say, "M¡­ Mother, Cassius will¡­ He'll be able to do it¡­! I know he'll do it!"
    Amaris hoped with all her heart that actually turned out to be the case, but she knew better than anyone that hope more often than not led to disappointment. And she didn't know how much more of that she could take¡­
    With puffy eyes and a resistant fire burning brightly inside her, Grace was transported away from the space when the two emotionless icy-haired women touched her shoulders.
    Within that massive library, only one person was left. Her beauty unmatched, her charm immeasurable, and her knowledge as vast as the blue sea. Yet there still remained a profound sadness that made her seem somewhat¡­ melancholic¡­
    It wasn't like she wanted to treat her beloved daughter so harshly, but what else could she do!? If she permitted her to continue interacting with that boy, it would only hurt her more when one day that boy left her all alone in the world.
    Amaris couldn't bear to witness that happen. And she never once considered the possibility that her daughter could die before him. Even with the existence of Grace's Curse, Amaris would do whatever it took to make sure she lived at least as long as herself.
    No parent wished to see their child pass away before them. And the Queen of the Succubi was no different.
    "The Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil¡­ We will have someone place within the Top 100¡­ No matter what."
    *Knock! Knock! Knock!*
    Suddenly interrupting the Succubus Queen's bleak thoughts were three loud knocks on the doors of the library. Her face quickly scrunched up in annoyance as she shouted, "Did I not tell you to leave me be¡ª!?"
    "Mother, it's me¡­"
    Amaris's eyes flashed in surprise. "Flora? Why are you back here so soon?"
    Entering through the library door, a stunning, stylish woman with long black hair and orangish-blue eyes walked in. Following behind her was a sleepy woman with stark purple eyes.
    "Mother, the day is already over," replied Flora, her tone slightly exasperated. "And¡­ I have something to tell you¡­ It's important."
    'Something important?' Amaris looked to the silent, closed-eyed Violet for clues, yet received nothing. She was quite surprised that the loyal servant of the Evergreen Family held her tongue in the presence of the Queen, but this only worked to further emphasize the possible importance of Flora's news.
    "Well¡­? Go ahead and say it," Amaris calmly ordered after noticing her daughter's long pause.
    Taking a deep breath, Flora steeled her nerves and locked eyes with her mother. "I have," she began with a bit of dramatic pause. "I have undergone my Racial Awakening!"
    "You have done what¡ª!?"
    WHOOOSH!
    At that moment, Flora suddenly transformed into her Succubus Form, and a giant light film was conjured up. It spread over the entire library in an instant before solidifying its borders thousands of meters away in all directions. All sound had thus been isolated within the bubble, and no prying eyes could snoop around.
    Once the impermeable barrier was erected, Amaris's shocked eyes fell on the sight of her daughter in Succubus form. Her expression changed several times within a very short period, making both her daughter and her daughter's Elder Protector quite nervous.
    ¡ªAfter a moment¡ª
    Finally speaking up, Amaris broke the deafening silence with, "You have not told anyone about this, have you?"
    For a brief instant, a ruthless spark of killing intent was unleashed from her voluptuous figure. However, her nerves were immediately eased when her slightly frightened daughter said:
    "N-No, Mother¡­ The only other person who knows is Elder Protector Violet and¡­ and¡­"
    Amaris's killing intent burst forth once more when she observed the apprehension in her daughter's voice. Using words laced with the promise of death, she slowly uttered, "Who¡­? Who else knows?"
    Flora momentarily hesitated but quickly came to terms with the fact that she could not hide this information from her mother. While biting her light-red lips, she spoke up in a low voice:
    "...The truth is, Mother¡­"
    She then went on to explain everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. And from how her mother's exquisite face became rather ugly, she knew that the information wasn't being taken in too well. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
    ¡ªAfter nearly two minutes of silence¡ª
    The Queen of Succubi exhaled the heavy breath she had been holding in for the longest while. While reeling in her frustrations as best she could, she looked between her lovely flower of a daughter and the Protector she reserved from the family subservient to the Aluria Family. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Then, with yet another sigh, she said, "This boy is tall, has dark hair, and is incredibly handsome, isn't he¡­?"
    "...Yes¡­ Wait, how did you know that, Mother??"
    Amaris hoped with every fiber of her being that she was not correct in her assumptions. But based on what she had heard so far, she doubted she would be so fortunate.
    "And this boy¡­ He's your First Mark¡­? He's the only other one who knows of your Racial Awakening?"
    "Yes and¡­ yes," Flora answered back-to-back, with both answers causing Amaris's frown to deepen.
    She couldn't believe it¡­ There was no possible way things could be this coincidental!
    Those two guys weren't the same person! They couldn't be!
    Steadying her breath, Amaris asked with a shaky voice, "This handsome boy¡­ His name¡­ Tell me his name¡­"
    Flora's eyes immediately brightened as she replied, "His name is¡ªCassius!"
    *Kuk!*
    ....

 Chapter 176 Flora and Violets Collusion

    *Kuk!* S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.A stream of blood trickled down the Succubus Queen's lips following a violent fit of coughing. The shock from these devastating revelations forced her to lean back and simply stare up at all the long lines of fancy books that surrounded her. In her head, dread settled in and made its home wherever it could.
    At this point, Amaris's brain signals flatlined.
    If only for a brief period of time, she had become a vegetable¡­
    However, when she finally came to, she saw her charming daughter shaking her shoulders. But behind her daughter, she observed faint illusions of a wolf-like man matching Cassius's description. The wolf was staring at Flora as if she were a tantalizing five-star dinner, all while wearing a mocking gleam in his eyes.
    That mocking look haunted Amaris's thoughts¡­ until she eventually snapped and launched to her feet.
    WAAA!!
    An incredibly powerful purple aura exploded outward from the Succubus Queen. Not just the castle, but even the land across millions of miles felt the full brunt force of the woman who was once heralded as one of the most vicious and tyrannical women in the Realm of Pleasure.
    Even now, she had not lost her touch, as even the Awakeners Beyond the SSS-Rank felt primordial fear welling up inside them. The Hegemons from outside the Aluria territory also felt this overpowering aura, and though it didn't affect them much, they could still determine that Amaris was as powerful as ever.
    This caused several Rulers to deeply frown, especially the ones at odds with the Queen of the Succubi.
    ¡ªMeanwhile, back at the Aluria Palace, located between several pink cotton-candy-like mountains¡ª Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire
    "I'll just have to kill this human!!" A booming shout reverberated throughout the confines of the enormous palace as a divinely beautiful woman in scantily-dressed attire stormed out of the Palace Library. "I'll kill him!!"
    However, before Amaris could do something foolish and regret it later, Flora, her daughter, clasped onto her hand.
    "???"
    "You mustn't kill him, Mother!" Flora hurriedly explained upon seeing the scary face her mother was making. "He's my First Mark, remember!? He can't die yet! And definitely not by your hands!!"
    Amaris's senses gradually returned to her as her mighty aura receded into her body, restoring her presence to the epitome of tranquility and lust. She turned toward her daughter and said, "I'm sorry¡­ I lost my mind for a moment there¡­ But this boy¡­ Is he trying to stick a skewer in everything I've been trying to achieve¡­? Where did someone like him even come from? Is he not actually from the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity??"
    Seeing that her mother had calmed down made Flora breathe a sigh of relief. Afterward, her gaze turned serious as she answered, "That is not the case, Mother. I ran a few background checks on him a little while ago, and he was indeed born on the Trial Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity. Though, I did learn that he used to look far different than he does now. Furthermore, he has several conditions that should render him unable to do what he does. And then there's his strength¡­ Although not objectively strong, he still possesses far more power than someone who hasn't Awakened should possess¡­ He's even stronger than I am¡­"
    "!??" 'Even stronger than Flora¡­? And he's not an Awakened?? Why didn't Grace mention this earlier???'
    Amaris certainly had some things to discuss with her eldest daughter later, but for now, she needed some time to think about this convoluted sh*tstorm.
    However, before she could excuse her daughter and Elder Protector Violet, the former spoke up first, saying:
    "Mother, you reacted to Cassius like you previously knew something about him. What was that all about? Do you know him¡­?"
    Amaris's mouth soundlessly moved before she caved in and decided to say, "I don't know him, but your sister does. And they¡­ Haiz¡­"
    "My sister? Grace?" Flora parroted in confusion, while thinking, 'What sort of relationship do they have¡­?'
    "Now, if that is all, it's time for you two to go," Amaris ordered plainly, with her intangible energy already pushing the duo out of the huge, resplendent library. "I'll settle everything from here, so don't do anything with that boy just yet."
    Although taken aback by the sudden movement displacement, Flora deferentially responded, "Yes, Mother."
    *Thwack!*
    The library doors closed behind Elder Protector Violet and Flora. And in the same moment, the latter's thoughts betrayed her true intentions. 'I'm sorry, Mother, but I have to grow up at some point. And this is something I can do myself.'
    Her heart overflowed with resolve as she spun on her heel and began walking in a certain direction. "I'm going to see my elder sister. Are you coming with?" she asked without turning around.
    Surprise formed on Violet Evergreen's sleepy features, but after a moment, her eyes closed again and she replied, "Yes, I'll follow you and protect you, Young Miss."
    "Very good."
    With that, the two drop-dead gorgeous women disappeared into the folds of the Aluria Palace.
    Their destination: Grace's Room.
    ¡ª-----------------
    Like a fleeting shadow or the grains of sand in an hourglass, several hours passed by in the outside world. And now¡­ now was the day when everything would go down.
    It was marriage day!
    "Whi-whi-whistle... fweee-fweee-fwoo... tweee-tweee-fwee..."
    A clear, melodic, and light tune with a lilting, rhythmic flow echoed throughout a large mansion in the affluent part of Hoshito. Bella was singing a song that made the tune feel playful, and was currently downstairs cooking up something scrumptious.
    Surprisingly, she was the first awake today.
    "...Hmm¡­?" Groggily opening his eyes, Cassius felt the all-too-familiar weight on top of him. More importantly, however, was the mellow tune filling the air. 'Is that Bella? I had no idea she had such a nice voice¡­'
    There were many things he didn't know about her.
    After slipping out of the pile of enticing bodies holding him down, Cassius made his way down the stairs of the mansion.
    ....

 Chapter 177 {[Urgent Side Quest #23!]} - [S++ Rank]

    When he found himself stepping into the living room, Cassius suddenly saw a short black-haired girl zip around a corner. She was wearing a loose T-shirt of his and had nothing on underneath. Her hair was also a bit wild, but it suited her quite nicely.However, right now, what Cassius felt most when looking at her¡­ was confusion. She was, after all, tearing up in both eyes and pointing in the direction of the kitchen.
    It was only then that he smelled the distinct odor of something burning.
    "C-Cass¡­ I¡­ The cooking¡­ W-Whyiz it so hard¡­? *Sniffle, Sniffle*"
    Bella was not even faking her emotions. She was genuinely distressed.
    A sigh resounded, and Cassius walked up to the sniffling girl. He was going to question why she was still in his house, but that would have to wait for later, it seemed.
    With a brief head pat, he said, "You trying is what matters most, I would say. And it's not certain that what you made isn't unsalvageable. Who knows, it might even be delicious as is."
    "Really¡­!?"
    "Mhmm¡­"
    Bella immediately leapt at him and clasped onto his waist like a spider monkey. Her tears of sadness had already transformed into tears of happiness as she snuggled her cheeks up against his shirt.
    If not for her Affection Rating of 100, Cassius definitely would've wondered why she was all of a sudden acting like this. But all along, he'd sorta figured she was just acting. And for the longest while, she had him convinced. Even with the constant Affection Rating chart serving as a reminder, she had him fooled on more than one occasion.
    "Danks you, Cass¡­!" Bella lovingly murmured with hearts swirling around inside her pupils.
    "Yeah¡­" was all Cassius said as he dragged her into the kitchen, where his neutral expression quickly morphed into a shocked one.
    What he saw in that kitchen¡­ Even if he had the necessary words to describe it, he wouldn't be capable of saying them¡­
    Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire
    After a dramatic pause. "This¡­ You did all this yourself¡­?"
    "Uhn!" Bella beamed as her grip on him tightened.
    "I¡­ I see¡­"
    Cassius had been enlightened.
    It wasn't every day that he witnessed a catastrophe like the one before him.
    And was that an eyeball¡­? An eyeball swimming in some tentacle substance over a boiling stove¡­??
    Was Bella a girl or was she the wicked Witch of the East!? Why did Cassius feel like the answer was the latter???
    "So¡­?"
    Suddenly snapping back to reality, Cassius looked at the adorable face leaning over his right shoulder. Only now registering what she had said, he repeated, "So¡­ what?"
    Bella's head bobbed cutely as one of her sharp K-9s hung over her lip, making for an even more charming display. "So, which are you gonna try first!?"
    She could barely contain her excitement.
    Cassius could barely contain his puke inside his throat.
    However, he didn't have it in him to just outright deny her like that after he said what he did earlier. Therefore, it was with great difficulty that he walked over to the least disgusting thing of all the disgusting things inside that kitchen. A horrid smell instantly assaulted his nostrils, which made him feel the urge to slit his throat.
    But he held strong.
    He had to.
    This was just another¡­
    *Ding~!*
    Having heard something that he hadn't seen in quite a while, Cassius glanced over at an illusory blue screen. A screen that featured a smug, almost insufferable emoticon face.
    [Character Development! I see that this fine piece of ass lass has quite the knack for building the Character of others! Good, good!]
    [Here! This is on the house, sweetheart!]
    BLING!
    {[Urgent Side Quest #23!]} - [S++ Rank]
    ¡ª[Survive the Terrorist-level Threat that is the cooking of one Miss Bella Crestmore!]
    REWARD 1 - [Life]
    REWARD 2 - [Not Death]
    REWARD 3 - [The best head you'll ever have! Nah¡­ just kidding! The only reward you get is to continue living! But hey, maybe try farming some AP while you're at it!]
    [Punishment for Failure: 12 Hours in Nightmarescape] - (You're still going here¡­ Let's say today! But why not go twice!? Double the fun, yeah!?)
    Cassius: "..."
    He truly didn't know why the hell he even bothered living anymore.
    For who knows how many years to come, the only partner who'd be with him at any and all times would be his shithead of a System.
    Fate really was a b*tch¡­
    *Bzzzttt¡­!*
    A sword tattoo sewn across the right side of Cassius's body started to vibrate. Though only at a level he could feel.
    Immediately realizing his mistake, he internally apologized. 'Sorry about that, Lilith. Of course, I'll still have you. Perhaps that dickhead will catch a hint and realize how much of a third wheel it's being, then get right the fuck on out of here. Or, at the very least, become non-sentient.'
    [....]
    The Idle Evolution System's emoticon became rather sad-looking. A dark cloud seemed to loom over its head, and what looked like virtual tears began to appear.
    Cassius wanted so badly to simply ignore whatever it was doing. But upon recalling how much help it had done for him¡ªvirtually bringing him up from nothing¡ªhe knew he couldn't just ignore it.
    With a sigh, he also apologized to the System while patting the floating emoticon screen. 'I'm sorry¡ª'
    [No~! You Fiend~! How could you up and touch your System like that~!? For this blatant harassment, do you accept an additional 30 hours in the Nightmarescape for today!?] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "...But there aren't even 30 hours in a day¡­"
    [True men always learn to find a way! ????(? ?? ? - ? ) ?]
    Cassius was on the brink of freaking the f*ck out, but thankfully for his sanity, an expectant voice sounded out from atop his right shoulder:
    "So? Which one are you going to try first!? I recommend that one!"
    "...That one¡­?" Cassius repeated while staring directly at what looked like his final meal on Earth.
    "Yes, that one!"
    *Gulp¡­*
    Forget everything he previously thought.
    There would be no saving grace for him this day¡­
    ....

 Chapter 178 Viola Voidweaver

    With a hardened will, Cassius spent the next period of time taste-testing everything the black-haired beauty pointed out. The whole time, she seemed happy as could be, utterly oblivious to how he died a little with each further bite he took.And this wasn't even an exaggeration¡­
    He quite literally died every time he ate something that Bella pointed out. Sometimes, he even died, only to then immediately die again in the very next moment!
    Bella may not have intentionally poisoned the so-called "dishes," but they were sure as hell lethal.
    Even with his S+ Rank resistances to just about everything in this "Trial Gate Area," Cassius still insta-died the moment he touched Bella's food. This meant that it wasn't an exaggeration to state that each spoonful of her cooking could kill hundreds of thousands of grown men.
    She could start entire genocides by herself¡­ and all with just her cooking¡­
    'Maybe I am living in a Japanese anime¡­ God, I hate my life.'
    With tears of blood, Cassius devoured everything that Bella prepared for him. In total, he died 30 times, marking his highest number of deaths in one day. Moreover, he lost his appetite for probably the next million years or so. And most notable of all, he lost his ability to ever put his faith in Bella's cooking again. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    In fact, after finishing off the food under her ecstatic eyes, he secretly destroyed all evidence of anything that went down here.
    It all had to be erased!
    Begone, vile devils!!
    And with that done and out of the way, Cassius and Bella could finally get on with their days. Today, more so than most others, was a day in which several important things would happen.
    First off, Bella would undoubtedly attempt to kidnap her "husband" with the help of her father.
    Secondly, Cassius had to not¡­ get kidnapped. Preferably.
    Thirdly, he needed to try to avoid the System's attempts at eternally trapping him in whatever the "Nightmarescape" actually was.
    So, all in all, yeah, it was just going to be a very hectic day filled with Cassius doing his utmost to preserve his life and freedom. Though, to be fair, it was honestly just a normal day for him but with a few more Big Boss figures at play.
    As Cassius unknowingly spent quality time with the girl who would be orchestrating his future kidnapping, a silver-haired, goddess-like woman with horns and a tail looked around in confusion.
    All around Yimin were funny-looking creatures. There were koalas, panda bears, tigers, lions, and even the hippopotamuses. She seemed all too interested in these animals not too long ago, but all that interest just now vanished from her moist eyes.
    She missed her Master¡­
    "Why did the Master abandon Yimin¡­?? Yimin just wants to fuck-fuck with the Master¡­"
    He didn't abandon her. She ran off.
    "Hey, Momma, what is that funny-looking animal supposed to be?"
    A child's curious voice echoed, attracting the attention of an older woman holding onto the child's small hand. She turned to look where her son was pointing, yet saw¡­ nothing.
    "What is it, Teddy? Are you talking about the tiger exhibit?"
    "...No¡­ That other¡ª" the child looked again, rubbed his eyes, then looked once more.
    The funny-looking creature had disappeared¡­
    ¡ªMeanwhile, just outside the Steele Family mansion, a few seconds after Cassius and the girls went whichever way they were going for the day¡ª
    Sasha had decided to go out shopping while they went to school. Grace left in the same manner as the day before, and Hellion did what she usually did¡ªstayed at home and read books. When not observing him, she stuck to reading literature; it helped her pass the time that plagued all morsels under the Heavens.
    However, on their way to school, Cassius and the others were suddenly stopped by a group of three people wearing black suits. Two were men, and the last was a woman. Every single one of them had an aura of at least B- Rank, but the leading man, with a cool, suave way about him, was of the B+ Rank.
    Clearly, they were not from around here.
    "Cassius Steele, our Guild invites you," said the leading man, his tone respectful.
    But if one paid close enough attention, they would notice a certain amount of prideful disdain in the man's voice.
    "Your Guild?"
    "Yes, our Guild¡­ The Voidling Guild! We have heard much about you from reliable sources."
    Cassius's eyes narrowed. "Reliable sources?"
    "You needn't worry," the leading man reassured. "No one ratted you out. We simply checked the exclusive records of the Hoshito Branch Hunter's Association out of curiosity and found your unusual feats stated in the secret pages."
    Cassius was becoming even more suspicious.
    "You were allowed to do that¡­?" he asked.
    Cassius was unaware of this if that were the case. Was he not cautious enough?
    The leading man chuckled. "Of course not under normal circumstances, but with the unfortunate death of the Branch Master of this City, restricted data was made temporarily available."
    Shit¡­
    Cassius realized right then and there that his impaired state of mind since learning of the Branch Master's sudden death caused him to be careless. And in that carelessness, a few problems were formed.
    For a moment, he contemplated the act of simply ignoring this invitation. But then again, it wasn't like the invitation was necessarily given out with ill intentions. Moreover, he had heard of this Voidling Guild before. It was of the S-Rank and was led by an expert of the Void and Space Element.
    Her name¡­ What was her name again¡­?
    'Ahh¡­ yes¡­ it was Viola¡­ Viola Voidweaver.'
    From the rumors, this woman of incredible skill was not only ridiculously beautiful and talented but also came from a family of high renown. In fact, her parents were the heads of the Japanese Commerce Association, which was the number one business corporation in Japan. The company dipped its hands into various avenues and had a wide channel of influence that extended all over the world.
    One of those avenues just so happened to include¡­ Monsters.
    ...

 Chapter 179 Violas Attention

    After a brief period of thought."Very well," Cassius said evenly as he walked away from the girls. But before he left with the suited figures, he slightly turned his head behind him and said, "Go on to school without me. I should make it back before the start of the next period, but just in case I don't, you needn't worry. Oh, and if you can't get into contact with me by the end of the day, then just ask Hellion for my status. She knows everything you'll want to know."
    With that, he followed the figures to an all-black limo that was waiting around a corner.
    Everything had happened incredibly fast, and the girls who were walking with him were not the least bit pleased. Especially¡­ Bella.
    On the inside, she was about ready to erupt like a volcano!
    Today was supposed to be their day!!
    And yet these suited bastards really dared to interfere with their lovey-dovey time!?
    Did they have a death wish!?!?
    "!??" "!??"
    The three Voidling Guild members felt the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. However, after looking around cautiously and seeing nothing, they shook their heads before guiding the nonchalant young man into the limo. After which, they told the driver to speed on out of there.
    "...So, what do we do now¡­? Pretty sure Cass was just kidnapped¡­" Aya, as blunt as ever, blurted out what all of them were thinking.
    Stella awkwardly laughed while saying, "Knowing Cassius, I doubt even a famous guild like the Voidlings will even so much as faze him. What I would be more concerned about are the¡­ women¡­ of that guild¡­"
    Aya raised her brows in curiosity. She had no idea just how powerful her stepbrother had become after what she assumed to be a Double Awakening of sorts. But following this period of curiosity was a deep sense of unease.
    She furrowed her brows at the mention of other girls.
    Bella furrowed hers even further¡­
    Flora, who was stalking in the background, also furrowed her brows.
    Even the female vampire Gina furrowed her¡ª
    'Wait¡­ Why am I doing it as well¡­?'
    The pale-faced woman tilted her head in bewilderment.
    She had no clue that Cassius's aura was simply¡­ unmatched.
    Though, who could blame her? The poor fool beside her was bound to make the same mistake as well, but make a blunder so large that he might not be able to recover from it.
    Meanwhile, the solitary extraterrestrial was just watching all these interactions with a hard-to-read expression. However, after a few moments, it left the fold of space it was hiding in. The target it was to survey at all times had already gotten quite a bit away, and any more would surely not reflect well on its resume.
    It couldn't slack anymore. Must stay focused!
    ¡ª------------
    Cassius's thinned lips unknowingly curved up into a smirk as he quietly enjoyed his limo ride. If not for the briefest of instants, he noticed something extremely unusual. And if he was correct in his far-off assumptions, he knew precisely what he had to do to clear the rats out once this meet-and-greet was done with.
    Well¡­ one of the rats¡­
    The others would need to be dealt with later.
    Utterly oblivious to its target's thoughts, the creepy-looking alien trailed the quickly-moving limo from the rooftops. It moved at such speeds as if it were standing still, with its attention being entirely focused on the limo.
    ¡ªFive Minutes Later¡ª
    "We're here, Mr. Cassius."
    Cassius heard the placid voice of the limo driver and took the hint to open the car door. And the first thing he saw¡­
    "An airport?"
    A disdainful laugh resounded as the lead Voidling man appeared in front of Cassius. Though, when he recalled the instructions left for him by the guild leader, he reined in his laughter. Afterward, he explained the situation to the emotionless hooded man. "As the guild leader is in Tokyo right now, we'll be taking a helicopter to reach the destination faster."
    Cassius's eyes narrowed. He didn't much appreciate the concealed disrespect of this Voidling member, and his overpowering killing intent nearly escaped his control.
    Fortunately, there were far more important matters to attend to right now. Disciplining an insignificant character was nowhere close to being at the top of his to-do list. Hence, it was with an expression just as apathetic as before that he nodded and once again followed behind the Voidling Guild members.
    As they walked over to a large, ostentatious golden-plated helicopter currently in the process of starting its engines, Cassius asked a question:
    "You mentioned the Voidling Guild leader. She herself extended this invitation to me?"
    The lead Voidling member ignored him.
    Cassius paid the moron no heed and turned toward the female member. When it came to those of the opposite gender, he could oftentimes get what he wanted from them. And just as he expected:
    "Y¡­Yes, Miss Viola has personally invited you to our guild's headquarters. The focus she's put on you¡­ Not even talented newly awakened A+ hunters have received the same treatment¡­ And we're not even sure if Miss Viola is aiming to recruit you or not¡­"
    The female Voidling member summed up the situation quite well, albeit with a crimson blush on her face. Though, with every word she spoke, the annoyed look on the lead man's face worsened. At this point, he was not looking too well. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "There is no need to say any more, Susan."
    Susan immediately clamped her mouth shut. She had gotten a little carried away in those mystical eyes that she forgot where she was.
    Cassius simply nodded and flashed an appreciative look before sitting himself on the far right side of the luxurious helicopter. The others sat themselves down as well. Susan was occasionally glancing at him with a furtive way about her, whereas the lead man was repeatedly clicking his tongue.
    As for the last man, he was just chilling.
    One could say that he was the embodiment of professionalism. That and chillism.
    *Whirl, Whirl, Whirl¡ª!!*
    The top rotors of the helicopter started to increase the speed at which they spun, and within seconds, the group was off the ground. The helicopter ascended higher and higher into the sky before dipping forward and taking them in the direction of the heart of Japan.
    ....

 Chapter 180 Instant Rejection!

    ¡ªTwenty Minutes Later¡ªThe helicopter began to descend. Within moments, it was already hovering just a few meters above a yellow-painted helipad. The helipad was located at the far north side of a very large and shiny building. When it landed and the people inside stepped out, they were immediately greeted by hundreds more suited figures.
    Surprise flashed past the irises of the lead man as he hadn't expected such a grand entourage for the man he had been tasked to brief and invite. Even he hadn't received such a grandiose welcoming ceremony when he was recruited¡­
    One would think that the way he looked at the indifferent Cassius would change for the better, but that was simply not the case. As an extremely vain and conceited man, his previous irritation only increased.
    However, when the distinct sound of heels clacking against a hard metal surface echoed, he immediately discarded all his sinister thoughts.
    "Guild Leader!"
    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*
    All of the gathered men and women in suits hit the floor with their fists as a very outstanding woman entered the scene. Her dress¡ªlong, purple, and flowy¡ªwas dazzling. It was only overshadowed by the far more resplendent bed of violet-colored hair that warped around her perfect figure, accentuating the work the dress was doing for her image.
    Yet, above all else, it had to be her mesmerizing purple whirlpools that truly drew people in. Those eyes¡ªthey were far more effective than any hypnotic techniques.
    However, in the face of all this immense beauty, Cassius remained unwavering. The view was a pleasant one, but that was all. He could not allow himself to be careless again.
    Never again¡­
    One could tell that the Branch Master's death still weighed heavily on his mind. But with the goal of absolute strength pushing him forward, his subconscious did its best to push everything unrelated to the pursuit of power to the back of his mind.
    Viola raised one of her perfectly molded brows in interest. She walked through the path opened up by her innumerable men, and when she finally made it to a distance less than a few feet away from the emotionless Cassius, her interest multiplied.
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    She wasn't sure if she had ever encountered a man like him before. Unaffected by beauty at such a young age¡­ Just what had he been through?
    Death. That was the simplest answer.
    It is said that death changes a man.
    And he, who had died hundreds upon hundreds of times, was surprised that he was even capable of empathy anymore. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Viola, still appraising Cassius, thought, 'He's handsome as well¡­ How intriguing¡­'
    "So, why have I been invited to your Guild in this vast city?"
    Cassius's plain voice suddenly broke through the silence encompassing the rooftop of one of the most expensive buildings in all of Tokyo. The building not only resided in the most opportune location in all of Japan, but it was also home to dozens of top-grade training facilities and lounge areas, all of which were used by Voidling Guild members.
    The man who led Cassius here immediately became incensed when he saw him speak out of turn. "Do you have no shame¡ª!?" However, before he could finish what he was saying, Viola's deathly violet glare landed on him.
    "!!!"
    He shut his trap real quick.
    Turning her head back toward the uncaring man, Viola said, "I do apologize for the uncouth behavior of my subordinate. I hope you won't take his offense to heart."
    Cassius coldly looked at the profusely sweating man before locking all of his focus on the enchanting beauty. "It's not an issue."
    He would normally add an insult for the man at the end, but for some reason, he felt far less inclined to do so.
    Wonder why that is¡­
    Viola paid very close attention to every minor change in Cassius's facial expressions, and from how he seemed to be thinking about something unrelated to this visit, she was able to confirm it.
    'The S-Rank¡­ Another Japanese S-Rank Hunter¡­ A heaven-sent replacement for Static Baron, perhaps? Well, either way, he's still an S-Rank Hunter¡­ That much I'm almost 100% positive of.'
    As one of the most perceptive and intelligent people in not only Japan but the entire world, Viola was able to piece the clues together. First were the absurd number of Red and below Gates that had been secretly cleared by this man. Then there was his utter disregard for her immense authority as an S-Rank Hunter. Furthermore, there was something about his stare¡­
    There were unknowns hidden within its depths¡­
    Thankfully, Viola had been the first one to check into the hidden files left behind by the recently deceased Hunter's Association Branch Master. If not, then she definitely would've been obligated to share this gem with the rest of the S-Rank Hunters and the Association.
    Getting straight to the cusp of the discussion, she said, "Say, how would you like to¡ª"
    "Sorry, I won't join a Guild. I'm too weak."
    Instant rejection!
    "You¡­" The lead man from before once again started to speak up but was quickly silenced by the scary Viola. She even motioned for a few of her A-Rank subordinates to take him away and have him stay out of this conversation.
    It wasn't like the other Voidling Guild members weren't also angered by the unknown man's rather rude way of speaking. But contrary to their recently dismissed comrade, they knew not to open their mouths when their Guild Leader was making an expression like that.
    "...If I may ask, why won't you join my Guild? I promise you benefits greater than what any of the other Guilds can offer you¡­ So why?"
    Hearing Viola's question, Cassius matched her burning stare and replied in a tone void of emotion:
    "I'm weak. I already told you that."
    "...." "...." "...."
    Not just the Voidling Guild Leader, but everyone gathered there couldn't believe what they were hearing.
    Although none of them knew exactly how strong he was, those higher up among their ranks were at least aware of his recorded Gate Clears. His feats even exceeded most of their own, and they had parties to raid with! What did he have?
    Just himself!
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 181 Join Me for a Gate Raid?

    With a slightly twitching face, Viola lightly coughed before making her voice sound more coquettish. "Are you sure you wouldn't¡ª""Yeah, I'm sure. Can I go now? I have other things I need to do."
    Silence.
    Viola froze in place.
    She had never done something as demeaning as that for anyone else, you know! She even pulled her especially explicit dress out of the coffers just for this meeting! From the beginning, she knew this nameless man was something special!
    No matter what, she had to have him! For the sake of the Voidling Guild! For if something happened to her inside the World's End Gate!
    For everything above, she gave it her all! The cutesy, seductive act and everything!
    And yet¡­
    "...You really aren't going to even consider joining the Voidling Guild? I have a benefits page here¡­ Would you like to¡­?"
    Viola gave it one last desperate shot.
    "Hmm¡­ Nope, I'm good."
    And completely missed!
    What the illustrious rich researcher failed to account for was that Cassius, after a mere two months of character development, no longer had any desire for worldly commodities. Money didn't interest him, and he already had a lot of it. Status mattered even less to him. Fame was pointless. And any women or items that could be offered to him were things he was already swimming in.
    Just Lilith alone was likely worth more than the entire Voidling Guild building. And that wasn't even a baseless statement¡­
    "So¡­? Is that all you wanted to discuss? Can I go now?"
    "???"
    Cassius's bored voice snapped Viola out of her shell-shocked stupor. When she looked ahead, she now seemed to be the one whose soul got pulled into someone else's eyes. The way he looked at her¡­ It was¡­
    *Whooosh~!*
    The distinct sound of something gushing blasted through the tense air above the Voidling Guild building.
    Many looked toward their squirming Guild Leader, but as soon as they did, waves of spatial energy spread out and obscured everyone's vision. None were able to witness the shameful face that one of the most powerful figures in the country was making.
    None except for one¡­
    However, at this moment, Cassius was quite curious about the film of dark energy that just tried to temporarily disable one of his five senses. He poked and prodded at it, yet felt nothing even as his fingers sank into the starry purple energies interwoven inside.
    "Interesting¡­"
    FWIP! Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire
    Cassius vanished from his spot and reappeared beside the gorgeous woman rubbing her thighs in place. She quickly became startled and attacked him on reflex, but he effortlessly clasped her space-covered arm. This time, he felt something painful damaging the outer layer of his skin. It even made an attempt to dig deeper into his hand and vaporize his bones.
    And for the sake of science¡­ he let it happen.
    *Sizzle, Sizzle!*
    Cassius felt an excruciating pain assault his senses but didn't make a single attempt to prevent the pain from continuing. Like a clinically insane lunatic, he emotionlessly watched as the hand holding Viola's arm vanished one chunk at a time. Within moments, his entire right arm had been transported to oblivion.
    "Wow¡­" was all Cassius had to say as he cut off the corroding part at the base of his shoulder with the assistance of Lilith. That was when an unusual thought entered his frontal lobe. 'Wait¡­ is Lilith able to absorb my body to evolve? I don't mind dying a few times every day for her if that's the case. I can also ramp up my regeneration skills and turn myself into some type of infinite meat generator¡ª'
    *Ding!*
    [Sorry to burst your bubble, you masochistic host of mine, but that is unfortunately not possible! Just like how absorbing too much EXP from the same organism will force you to start having reduced gains from that organism, the same thing happens for evolving items. In fact, it's even worse! Especially with the Master of the item.]
    [Before your Lilith side chick can even so much as devour you once, there will no longer be any benefit to having her gobble your large meat¡ª]
    "Okay, that's enough," said Cassius, his forehead crinkling.
    "What was that?" Viola asked while still trying to hide what was happening beneath her sexy dress.
    "Hmm? Oh, it's nothing," Cassius replied as if he had no idea about the suspicious liquid leaking from an equally suspicious cavern. "But these space-related skills of yours; can you show more of them to me?"
    Quickly realizing this was her chance to turn things around, Viola responded, "I can, but I would also like something from you."
    Cassius's breathing became a little frosty as he coldly glared at this euphorically shaking woman. Though, he immediately noticed that the more he looked at her, the more she shook¡ªall with a straight face as well.
    'What a weird lady¡­'
    But with that being beside the point, he asked, "What is it that you want from me?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Viola happily shivered before walking closer to him.
    He backed up by the same distance she walked.
    "???"
    She resumed her approach.
    He continued his retreat.
    "Don't get so close to me," said Cassius. "I don't know what's going on with you, but I don't wish to catch whatever it is that you have."
    He faintly recalled Bella's warning from the previous day. Was she being serious when she spoke of that deadly little-brother-killing disease?
    Well, either way, being cautious was the best course of action.
    For a moment, Viola couldn't believe what she, a noble S-Rank Hunter, was being put through right now. Moreover, she felt mortified to be viewed in such a negative light by a man whom she had just met for the first time! This was terrible! Nothing was going the way she had expected!
    So then why¡­
    Why was she becoming ever more excited¡­?
    While happily shivering in place, Viola gave up her advance and let Cassius put his guard down.
    Lightly coughing to clear the air, she said, "Don't worry, I won't ask anything too excessive of you. But in exchange for showing you my personal secrets, I believe requesting your presence on a few Gate Raids with me isn't too much to ask, is it?"
    ...¡­..

 Chapter 182 Violas Unusualness...

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"Although the Voidling Guild members were unable to see anything right now, that didn't mean they couldn't hear. And what was transmitted to their brains through their eardrums was ludicrous!
    Their Guild Master rarely ever went on Gate Raids, even with her own Guild members, let alone with this man who not only rejected her once but several times! This was insane!
    "Gate Raids?" asked Cassius.
    "With me, yes."
    "And you won't be weird¡­?"
    "I'll try¡ª... I mean, I won't be weird," Viola corrected herself with a small blush.
    When she saw Cassius's icy glare, though, that small blush deepened, and her thigh rubbing came back in full swing.
    "...I don't believe you. You're definitely going to be weird, aren't you¡­?" Cassius asked suspiciously.
    "I¡­ I promise that I won't be weird, okay¡­?"
    Silence.
    "Fine."
    Viola cheered inside her heart but outwardly gave a slight smile and a small nod. "You won't regret this decision of yours. And perhaps through this experience today, we'll be able to become a bit closer."
    "Can we keep our distance, though? You're quite odd. Plus, you're leaking¡­ a lot¡­"
    Another rejection! Even harsher this time!
    Yet it only made Viola's excitement soar higher! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    With a goofy grin, she extended her arms outward and motioned for Cassius to walk ahead. He did so, but very reluctantly. If it was at all possible, he would prefer not to follow this atypical woman anywhere, but seeing as the mysteries of the Space Element were too juicy of an opportunity to pass up, he did what he had to.
    Viola observed that cold stare of his through her slightly closed eyes and couldn't stop herself from trembling even more. Her excitement was palpable, and if not for the fact that she temporarily blinded all of her Guild members, her esteemed reputation would surely have been sullied.
    ¡ªA few minutes later¡ª
    Cassius and Viola had been walking throughout the large Voidling Guild building for a substantial period of time. During the entire experience, they maintained silence, and in that silence, the pervy Guild Leader took furtive glances at him whenever she got the chance. However, just a couple of minutes ago, during one of these perv outs, she saw his arm regenerate from nothing!
    After being infected by her spatial powers, it should have been a very long while until his arm could regenerate. But that didn't turn out to be the case for this anomaly of a man¡­
    When she first perused his files, she immediately realized there was something extremely special about him. No one had a rep sheet like that yet preferred to stay under the radar.
    Within the hour, she had already set up his formal invitation. Of course, considering the watchful eyes of the other S-Rank Hunters, she could only send B-Rank Hunters as escorts for this mysterious man. Furthermore, she was forced to do so in a very inconspicuous manner.
    Little did she know that around half of the S-Rank Hunters of Japan had already been killed off since the last time she saw them¡­
    The only ones who were left alive were all those gathering for the World's End Raid and¡­ and¡­
    Well, the others still left alive were kept alive for a special reason¡­ a very special reason.
    In a way, one could say that the World's End Gate Raid had inadvertently saved the lives of every single S-Rank Hunter who dared to participate. It was truly an odd miracle.
    ¡ª-------------
    When Cassius and Viola finally descended the massive Guild building and left through the front door, another black limo was waiting outside. It was there for them, and when two A-Rank Hunters opened the limo doors for them, they got in and sat on opposite sides of the vehicle.
    Viola didn't mind his attempt at keeping a certain distance away from her. In fact, it only made her more excited¡­
    Cassius's lips curled in disgust while side-eyeing her.
    She loved that.
    'Seriously¡­ What is wrong with this girl? And why is her Guild more of a business than a monster hunter organization??'
    Cassius saw many labs and monster material separation rooms while making his way through the Voidling Guild building. If the Voidling members weren't wearing Men-in-Black suits, then they were either wearing hazmat suits or white lab coats. Not a single one of them seemed like they actually participated in Gate Raids themselves.
    Seeing his perplexed expression through his dashing side profile, Viola asked, "Are you wondering about what the Voidling Guild actually does?" Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire
    "How did you¡ª"
    "You aren't the first one to make a face like that after visiting the Voidling Headquarters. Almost everyone who isn't aware of our Guild's internal workings makes the same face," Viola said with a lighthearted chuckle. "But if I were to give you the simplest explanation, then it's that we're a rather unorthodox Guild. Only a couple of foreign S-Rank Guilds operate in the same manner."
    Cassius was going to delve more into the subject, but she spoke first. "The truth is that we do indeed have members who actively clear Gates. However, the vast majority of our members are those who were merely fortunate enough to awaken with a high rank, yet not many of them wished to seek out an early death in a Gate. Therefore, they joined our Guild and pursued one of the plethora of monster-handling professions."
    With a lovely smile, she added, "The pay is not as good as actually venturing into Gates, but it isn't too far off. Moreover, there's a lot of versatility and wiggle room for what you'd like to learn how to do. The only catch is that if there's a large surplus of high-ranking Gates in our territory that our Strike Forces can't handle, you must be prepared to band together and clear the Gates."
    Finally reaching the point of the conversation she was aiming for, she shot her head toward the silent fellow and asked, "Would you like to¡ª"
    "No."
    Instantaneous rejection!
    "B-But I'll give you a direct position as one of the Guild's Head Managers! You'll also be able to become the 2nd Vice Guild Leader within a very short amount of time¡ª"
    "I'm good."
    Still no!
    What da fak!?
    ....

 Chapter 183 Apocalypse Gates

    It was just no after no after no with this man! Did he not care a single bit about how pretty she was!? What of her high status?? Did he not even put her authority into the equation!?This was all so terrible! And it all turned her on!!
    "Mhmff~..."
    "???"
    Cassius could've sworn that he heard a sweet and tender moan sound out from beside him, but when he looked toward Viola, he saw that her expression was as emotionless as his. Of course, her soaked undergarments and dress gave her away, but she made a good attempt.
    It really was a solid attempt¡­
    Cassius decided not to embarrass the poor, weird lass. Instead, he leaned his palm against his chin and viewed the rapidly flashing scenery outside the limo window.
    'Tokyo truly is very large¡­ and futuristic¡­'
    He had his suspicions for quite a while now, but it wasn't until he came to a place of genuine innovation that he realized just how different this world was from his previous one. Tall, technological skyscrapers were erected as far as the eye could see. Skyline bullet train railways were scattered throughout the country and ran in every direction. There were even cybernetic vehicles that floated off the ground and traveled in organized paths in the sky.
    Cassius had seen similar scenes in the other countries he visited in his hunt for stronger Gates. But that didn't mean seeing such sights now made them feel any less unreal.
    The world¡ªit had changed.
    The year was still 12500 of the Earthen Calendar, the same as before, but nothing else was the same. This world¡­ it was not Cassius's world.
    For the remainder of the limo ride, Cassius pondered something he hadn't really had the time to think about until now. However, when they arrived and the doors to the casino were opened, he snapped back to reality. Quickly, he realized they were at yet another airport.
    "The Gates we're going to are not in Japan?"
    Were they not heading toward one of the many Red-rank Gates littered around Japan? There were dozens of them, all of which were regularly cleared or permanently closed by extremely powerful A-Rank Hunters and normal S-Rank Hunters.
    However, as far as he was aware, there were no Purple-rank Gates left open in Japan.
    As the country had far too few S-Rank Hunters and no S-Rank Hunter parties, every single Purple-rank Gate that appeared would be cleared by a temporary S-Rank force. After which, the S-Rank Hunters would split up and return to their own guilds.
    Only the most powerful and largest countries, like America, Russia, and China, were able to amass the necessary manpower to consistently farm weaker Purple-rank Gates. Though, even they could do nothing but permanently close any new Gates if they exceeded the Mid-Purple rank.
    As for Peak Purple-rank Gates, they could only be permanently cleared by S-Rank Hunters from all around the world. These types of Gates were dubbed¡­
    ¡­Apocalypse Gates¡­!!!
    And as of recent times, there have only been four such Gates in the world, two of which had only recently appeared in the last couple of months.
    The world leaders went through several meeting sessions because of these unprecedented events. And through multiple lengthy discussions, the world unanimously decided to be at peace with one another. All wars came to a temporary close just a few weeks ago.
    In a way, the World's End Gates' continued evolution and the powerful Gates that followed were the key to achieving world peace.
    As the saying went, there were always bigger fish to fry.
    *Whirl, Whirl, Whirl¡ª!!*
    "So, are you going to tell me where we're actually going?"
    Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
    Cassius's dampened voice traveled through the choppy air and reached the ears of a stunning woman whose luscious purple hair was wildly flying all around. With an otherworldly way about her, she tucked her hair behind her ear and replied with a smile that held many meanings.
    "You said you were weak, didn't you?" she asked with a bit of playfulness. "Well, I know of a restricted place that'll truly put that weakness of yours to the test. Have you¡­ heard of Apocalypse Gates?"
    "Apocalypse Gates?" Cassius repeated, his mouth hanging slightly agape. 'If we're going to an Apocalypse Gate, then is it¡­?'
    "The Apocalypse Gate¡ªOblivion's Threshold! Home of the Oblivion Titans and the Oblivion Acolyte!"
    Viola's voice, coated in space energy, eclipsed the dampening effect of the strong winds. And with it came confirmation of Cassius's suspicions. This Gate¡­ It was one he planned to solo raid within the next few days. But now¡­ now it seemed the date would be brought forward a bit.
    Viola's lively expression froze when she felt and saw no visible reaction from the young man sitting before her. She had expected him to at least gasp in surprise, but no. Nothing. He was like an unmoving rock.
    'I wonder if down there¡­ is as much a hard rock as his disposition is¡­ Mhmm~...'
    Cassius could've sworn that a similar moan as before resounded, but because of the lack of good hearing this high up, he was even more uncertain this time around. This made him momentarily consider putting more emphasis on his Perception stat. But thinking about it again, the stat was already absurdly high. Did it really need to go higher?
    This thought lingered in his mind until the moment he was beckoned off the helicopter.
    As for where they ended up landing, it was an isolated island located a few hundred miles outside of Japan. This island, which used to be unnamed and unknown, was now the conjoined property of dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Thailand, Jordan, France, and several others.
    On this island¡ªaround ten miles in length and a couple of miles in width¡ªthere resided a giant metallic dome. The dome was capable of reflecting all light that interacted with it and then used that same reflected light to camouflage itself. From a bird's-eye view, it was as if the dome didn't even exist.
    But for those who virtually lived inside the dome, it very much existed. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Follow me, Sir Cassius."

 Chapter 184 Not a single Normal Woman...

    Heeding Viola's polite request, Cassius followed her through a jungle trail. In the not-so-distant background, the helicopter that brought them here resumed its ascent into the skies. Within seconds, it was long gone.Cassius turned his head back ahead and walked the trail with just him, Viola, and two A++ Rank Hunters that acted as bodyguards of sorts. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire
    They, unlike the suited Hunters from before, looked like proper Hunters. They had shiny, gaudy armor and unnaturally large, high-quality weapons. Moreover, they carried with them imposing auras that unconsciously pressured everything in the vicinity. Of course, to Cassius and Viola, their mighty auras might as well have not even existed.
    Viola noticed this and further solidified her belief that this young man, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, was, in actuality, hiding a lot more than he was willing to show. Her goal here today was to better figure out exactly how much he was concealing from the world. His identity as a newly awakened S-Rank Hunter was all but certain in her mind, but the difference between those within the S-Rank was far wider than even all of the previous Realms combined.
    'Am I about to witness the birth of an unbelievably powerful S-Rank Hunter? Or will he turn out to be just like 90% of the S-Rank Hunter population? Ordinary.'
    Viola became wet just imagining the answer to that question¡­
    Cassius felt that icky feeling again, prompting him to look toward Viola. However, yet again, she looked and acted as if everything were completely normal. Even while a suspicious liquid trickled down her supple thighs, she stared straight ahead with unmatched focus.
    "...." 'Why¡­ Why is not a single woman I know normal¡­?'
    Cassius was truly starting to believe that some god above was playing him as a fool.
    ¡ªFive minutes quickly passed¡ª
    Cassius and Viola finally made it to the metallic dome, and it was only then that he truly understood just how massive the Dome actually was. It was nearly a fifth the size of the entire island and was entirely comprised of reflective panels. Moreover, each one of the panels was only the approximate size of a fist, which meant there were likely hundreds of thousands of them. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Viola walked ahead and approached an area that looked exactly like the jungle around it. However, when she reached out and touched the empty air, an octagon panel shone with a blue light. Ripples of similarly colored light spread from the octagon panel as the origin. Within an instant, the blue light took the rough shape of an average-sized hangar door.
    After a second of listening to whistling gusts of wind come out from every edge of the hangar door's light shape, it made a sound similar to the opening of a tightly closed hatch. A large hangar door that matched the light shape began to slowly fall down before eventually making contact with the ground.
    *THUD!*
    With the reverberation of a loud thud, Viola's smile slightly widened. She turned around, fully displaying her mesmerizing beauty under the bright sun, and said, "Well, are you ready to show me precisely how 'weak' you are?"
    Cassius furrowed his brows. He looked past the gorgeous woman and saw an interior space riddled with metal escalators, overarching titanium beams, and most noticeable of all, the massive Purple Gate tied down in the very center of the dome facility.
    There had to be thousands of people in professional work attire maneuvering in every direction, all moving with purpose. Vehicles and advanced mecha machinery made up the main modes of transportation.
    He could also feel a few powerful presences¡­ each one clearly at the S-Rank.
    Viola noticed this as well. Her brows knitted together a bit in annoyance as she said, "It seems that a few troublesome characters are also here for this Gate¡­ How irksome."
    "These aren't friends of yours¡­?" Cassius asked with narrowed eyes. If things were to go south, he was prepared to make his debut in the world a little earlier than expected.
    Fortunately for the S-Rank Hunters, Viola shook her head while saying, "They're not my friends, but they are technically classified as allies of Japan. Though, that doesn't make them any less¡­ irritating¡­"
    Cassius's hidden killing intent eased up as his draconic racial qualities stopped affecting his appearance. Viola had not noticed this occurrence, but if things had gone sideways, he had a Dragon Quasar Beam on standby. The force of that Skill with his current Intelligence and Atomic stat¡ªif converted¡ªwould've been enough to wipe this island off the face of the map. And that wouldn't even have been the full extent of the damage that would've ensued¡­
    Just a couple of words from Viola were enough to set in motion a ticking time bomb that could've very well permanently altered the topography of the world¡­
    Viola, unaware of the disaster she just prevented from happening, looked ahead and saw several pompous figures teleport onto the scene. A second later and they were already standing right in front of the four people who had just opened up the Dome's Hatch.
    "Well, well, well, would ya look at what the cat dragged in?" An arrogant feminine voice bled the ears of all who heard it. A powerful aura then erupted from the owner of this voice.
    OOOM!
    Multiple more incredibly strong auras blasted right after the eruption of the first woman's aura. Altogether, their natural auras were capable of bringing to their knees both of the A++ Rank Hunters that Viola brought with her. They struggled to resist the pressure pushing them into the earth, but no matter how strong their wills were or how frustrated they became, they couldn't accomplish anything meaningful.
    In the face of absolute power, all resistance was deemed futile.
    This was not the world of fiction. The power of friendship and the power of love meant nothing when faced with unquestionable strength. Anger and will could maybe overcome differences in power, but this difference¡­ it was not one that could be crossed so easily.
    'More S-Rank Hunters,' Cassius thought to himself, completely unaffected by the immensely powerful auras trying to bring him to his knees.
    ...

 Chapter 185 The Prisoners Chains

    The reason why Cassius appeared so unbothered standing before existences said to be at the very apex of the world was the same as why he acted so nonchalant with Viola. In his secret travels around the world, going from Gate to Gate, he had seen many S-Rank Hunters from afar. Of course, some were stronger than he was at the time.But these few¡­ they were not part of the "some."
    The female S-Rank Hunter leading the large group of S-Rank Hunters was of Russian origin, the same as the others with her. But when she cocked her head slightly and saw that someone besides Viola was still standing, her pretty face turned a bit ugly. She had never heard of a Japanese S-Rank Hunter with the appearance of the man looking past her group as if none of them even mattered.
    However, if he was so daring as to disregard their existences, then she would have no choice but to teach him a lesson.
    FWIP!
    She crackled with green lightning energy and appeared in front of the cold glare of the exceptionally handsome hooded man. Her anger soared even further when she saw his multi-colored pupils tracking her movements.
    Yet, just as she went to strike out, a filament of starry purple energy appeared in front of her fist.
    "!!!"
    *Whoooosh!!*
    Before the Russian Hunter's fist could make contact with the solar plexus of the indifferent young man, the starry filament rapidly expanded. It threatened to devour her whole and eternally erase her existence from the world.
    "Tsk!" She clicked her tongue and waved her hand. Out came a wave of green lightning. When the green lightning collided with the spatial filament, an extremely powerful explosion of chaotic energy blasted outward.
    A sphere of destruction was created from this collision. In an instant, it expanded dozens of times its original size. Both Viola and the Russian S-Rank Hunter were pushed back.
    They realized simultaneously that their collision of attacks could cause serious damage to the Dome Facility and the island. Thus, they dispersed the energies they had infused.
    While the chaotic energies slowly dissipated, Viola's icy glare honed in on the angered Russian. "Do not get ahead of yourself, Vera. If you think the truce between our countries or the presence of the Mage Lord is enough for you to do whatever you want, then you are sorely mistaken. Next time you do something like this¡­" A scary look emerged on her normally relaxed face. "I'll take more than just a part of your dress."
    "What!?" Vera looked down in urgency, only to see a flicker of spatial energy finishing the corrosion of her right arm sleeve. It dispersed at Viola's behest before it could do any real damage, but just imagining what would have happened if that energy burrowed into her skin was enough to twist Vera's expression into a mix of fury and fright.
    "...Vera¡­" The other S-Rank Hunters who had come with her sent vicious glares in Viola's direction, but she seemed to treat them as thin air.
    Upon recalling the horrible rumors surrounding the Space Element, they dared not retaliate.
    Vera's explosive green aura violently fluctuated as she turned around and stormed off toward the Gate in the distance. "Let's go!" she irritably ordered. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire
    The S-Rank Hunters in her group hesitated for a moment while glaring at the Japanese Hunters, but they nonetheless followed the lead of their Party head. Within seconds, they were already stepping into the Peak Purple-rank Gate. But before they fully vanished, Vera's venomous voice echoed through the Dome's interior:
    "You know the normal tradition of this Gate, Viola! So let's have a small competition to see who can kill more Oblivion Titans! My party or your little ragtag group of nobodies!!"
    With that, the Russian Hunter Party¡ªGreen Dragon¡ªventured into the rather special Purple-rank Gate.
    Cassius ignored the Russians from beginning to end, his focus entirely on the Spatial Element still swirling over Viola's hand. He would definitely find a way to add that Element to his arsenal, even if the System was too stingy to give him a Space-related Skill from Skill Boxes.
    For now, though, he had a question he wanted to ask. "A tradition? What was that¡­ Russian talking about?" He took a moment to recall her very forgettable appearance, yet still forgot her name.
    *Urgh!*
    Blood sprayed from the bright red lips of Vera, the Green Dragon. She keeled over slightly while standing atop the corpse of a massive black-and-white neon-shaded behemoth the size of Manhattan.
    Meanwhile, Viola, who had just heard Cassius's question, looked into his irresistibly attractive cold eyes and answered, "I didn't mention it to you previously for the sake of suspense, but this Gate is not like a normal Apocalypse Gate. It was also because of this Gate's uniqueness that it was not permanently cleared. You see, this Gate¡­ or, rather, the Boss and Mini-Bosses of the Gate, are locked down in chains that cannot be broken¡­"
    The tension in the air between them grew especially dramatic as Cassius sucked in a cold breath of air. "So this Gate and the 'tradition'... Let me guess. S-Rank Hunters from all around the world come to this Gate and make a sport out of hunting the normal mobs that reside within it?"
    Viola's eyes flashed in surprise. "Yes, that's a very good guess," she said, not having expected him to figure out the truth so quickly. "Tell me, have you heard of the Icedom Senator's Prison Gate? The Black-ranked Gate?"
    Cassius nodded. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Well, that Gate and this one are similar in how the main contenders of each Gate are tied in chains. In fact, the material that makes up the chains appears to be the same in all cases," Viola explained, her tone dramatic. "It's unknown what exactly tied them up or for what reason, but what those qualified to know do know is that something out there didn't want anyone interfering with the 'prisoners' of any Gate that has similarly bound monsters. Even if the bound monster could theoretically be killed, the chains have a built-in protection feature that prevents the captives from being harmed."
    ...

 Chapter 187 Top 100 S-Rank Hunters

    All of the illusory blue screens were what Cassius saw in the exact moment he entered the Peak Purple-rank Gate with the graceful Viola. It was fair to say that he showed a disgruntled expression in the very same period of time. The more he read, the more his emotions fluctuated. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire"???" Viola saw his perplexing state and wondered what could possibly be going through his head. 'Is he maybe thinking about me¡­? About forcing me down and dominating me until he's satisfied!? The vile fiend of a man!!'
    Now it was Cassius's turn to be confused.
    He looked over and saw the relatively short purple-haired beauty wiggling in place while defensively holding her breasts and body. The way she was behaving was in no way befitting that of a Guild Leader, but he hadn't met many Guild Leaders so far, thus it was difficult for him to determine that all Guild Leaders weren't actually as weird as this one.
    'Perhaps they're all weirdos¡­ They do say that the most influential figures in the world are eccentric¡­'
    Cassius's thoughts floated around inside his head until the very moment an ear-deafening whistling sound broke through the sound barrier. Moreover, it did so not once, not tens of times, but tens of thousands of times!
    WABOOOOM!!!
    A mountain in the vicinity exploded outward, sending chunks of rock flying in every direction. Then, with a thundering appearance, a giant silverish blue metal rod shot through the air-born mountain debris and aimed straight for two calm figures.
    The two figures greatly contrasted in appearance and hidden nature, but at the exact moment the metal rod appeared, their demeanors seemed to sync up. They coldly stared at the rod that trumped them in size by a magnitude of hundreds of thousands of times. Viola went to lift her hand, with the Space-element lingering around her. But before she could send the rod to the void, a crisp sword unsheathing sound resounded.
    "!!!" She turned her head toward Cassius, but only saw a brief glimpse of a jagged katana the size of a person. Then, when she blinked, the sword had vanished.
    And when her attention was diverted to an agonizing scream echoing out from hundreds of miles away, she was astonished to find the silverish blue rod split into countless chunks. Furthermore, standing on top of a mountain range a good distance away was a colossal humanoid with glowing white lines spiderwebbed around its body. However, above all else, what attracted Viola's attention the most was the fact that this majestic entity had a line of blood and guts splitting it in half.
    Slowly, both sides of its body tipped off to either side of the mountain range.
    The eventual conclusion was two booming thuds that cracked the distant mountain range. Yet, from this gory tragedy, there emerged a resplendently glowing black and white sphere. This was the Core of an Oblivion Titan.
    While Viola was still finding her voice, Cassius sauntered forward. His wispy Shadow Monarch's cloak flapped in the wind as he said without turning around, "Let's go."
    When the Voidling Guild Leader finally came to, a small pout formed on her flawless face. She looked out at the scenery and saw dozens of mountain tops currently in the process of sliding off their bases. She begrudgingly thought, 'He really had the nerve to call himself weak. What a shameless wolf-like man he is!'
    Viola huffed and puffed as she trailed behind the young man whose image kept on becoming more and more mysterious in her mind.
    When they made it to the mountain range and looked up at the massive split-in-half Oblivion Titan corpse, Cassius leapt up and landed on the corpse. After which, he ripped away at the ligaments and such attached to the Magic Shard, or now evolved Core.
    You see, once an A-Rank organism evolved to the S-Rank as a Monster-lineage user, their Magic Shard would achieve 20 points and thus transform into a sphere. This sphere was dubbed the 'Magic Core' and was worth far more than a Magic Shard.
    On Earth, a Magic Core of the weakest variety could go for hundreds of millions of USD. And with thousands of them going up on the market every single week, the acquisition of Magic Cores became a several trillion-dollar industry.
    Of course, with very few Hunters actually capable of hunting an S-Rank Monster, the Magic Core industry was nowhere near as giant as it could be. Even among S-Rank Hunters, the weaker ones would not be able to hunt and successfully kill a racially superior S-Rank Monster by themselves. Only those within the Top 100 S-Rank Hunter list were strong enough to solo kill S-Rank Monsters. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Vera, the Russian Hunter from before, was Rank 91 on that list.
    Viola, on the other hand, was Rank 56!
    But even though both of them were incredibly powerful, if they were to go all out against one another, Vera would die 100 times out of 100 times. The difference was insurmountable. And with power levels practically set in stone, Vera would likely forever remain at Rank 91.
    Her time for challenging stronger Hunters to determine her rank was a time long gone; her position unchanging¡­
    ¡ª-------------
    ¡ªFive minutes later¡ª
    'If I'm Rank 56 among the S-Rank Hunters, then¡­ Then where the hell does this freakish bastard place¡­?'
    What Viola saw before her was something that she had not even heard of the Top 50 S-Rank Hunters accomplishing.
    Sprawled out across thousands of miles of rocky whitish black terrain were dozens of Oblivion Titans, nearly numbering past one hundred. All of them were either dismembered or missing 80% of their bodies, with their unusually colored black and white blood painting the surroundings.
    However, the weirdest had yet to occur, for in the very next moment, all of the blood within the Oblivion Titan corpses started to gravitate upwards. Then, simultaneously, countless gallons of the blackish white blood sailed through the air before colliding with the tiny emotionless figure perched atop a messy Oblivion Titan corpse.

 Chapter 187 Top 100 S-Rank Hunters

    All of the illusory blue screens were what Cassius saw in the exact moment he entered the Peak Purple-rank Gate with the graceful Viola. It was fair to say that he showed a disgruntled expression in the very same period of time. The more he read, the more his emotions fluctuated. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire"???" Viola saw his perplexing state and wondered what could possibly be going through his head. ''Is he maybe thinking about me¡­? About forcing me down and dominating me until he''s satisfied!? The vile fiend of a man!!''

    Now it was Cassius''s turn to be confused.

    He looked over and saw the relatively short purple-haired beauty wiggling in place while defensively holding her breasts and body. The way she was behaving was in no way befitting that of a Guild Leader, but he hadn''t met many Guild Leaders so far, thus it was difficult for him to determine that all Guild Leaders weren''t actually as weird as this one.

    ''Perhaps they''re all weirdos¡­ They do say that the most influential figures in the world are eccentric¡­''

    Cassius''s thoughts floated around inside his head until the very moment an ear-deafening whistling sound broke through the sound barrier. Moreover, it did so not once, not tens of times, but tens of thousands of times!

    WABOOOOM!!!

    A mountain in the vicinity exploded outward, sending chunks of rock flying in every direction. Then, with a thundering appearance, a giant silverish blue metal rod shot through the air-born mountain debris and aimed straight for two calm figures.

    The two figures greatly contrasted in appearance and hidden nature, but at the exact moment the metal rod appeared, their demeanors seemed to sync up. They coldly stared at the rod that trumped them in size by a magnitude of hundreds of thousands of times. Viola went to lift her hand, with the Space-element lingering around her. But before she could send the rod to the void, a crisp sword unsheathing sound resounded.

    "!!!" She turned her head toward Cassius, but only saw a brief glimpse of a jagged katana the size of a person. Then, when she blinked, the sword had vanished.

    And when her attention was diverted to an agonizing scream echoing out from hundreds of miles away, she was astonished to find the silverish blue rod split into countless chunks. Furthermore, standing on top of a mountain range a good distance away was a colossal humanoid with glowing white lines spiderwebbed around its body. However, above all else, what attracted Viola''s attention the most was the fact that this majestic entity had a line of blood and guts splitting it in half.

    Slowly, both sides of its body tipped off to either side of the mountain range.

    The eventual conclusion was two booming thuds that cracked the distant mountain range. Yet, from this gory tragedy, there emerged a resplendently glowing black and white sphere. This was the Core of an Oblivion Titan.

    While Viola was still finding her voice, Cassius sauntered forward. His wispy Shadow Monarch''s cloak flapped in the wind as he said without turning around, "Let''s go."

    When the Voidling Guild Leader finally came to, a small pout formed on her flawless face. She looked out at the scenery and saw dozens of mountain tops currently in the process of sliding off their bases. She begrudgingly thought, ''He really had the nerve to call himself weak. What a shameless wolf-like man he is!''

    Viola huffed and puffed as she trailed behind the young man whose image kept on becoming more and more mysterious in her mind.

    When they made it to the mountain range and looked up at the massive split-in-half Oblivion Titan corpse, Cassius leapt up and landed on the corpse. After which, he ripped away at the ligaments and such attached to the Magic Shard, or now evolved Core.

    You see, once an A-Rank organism evolved to the S-Rank as a Monster-lineage user, their Magic Shard would achieve 20 points and thus transform into a sphere. This sphere was dubbed the ''Magic Core'' and was worth far more than a Magic Shard.

    On Earth, a Magic Core of the weakest variety could go for hundreds of millions of USD. And with thousands of them going up on the market every single week, the acquisition of Magic Cores became a several trillion-dollar industry.

    Of course, with very few Hunters actually capable of hunting an S-Rank Monster, the Magic Core industry was nowhere near as giant as it could be. Even among S-Rank Hunters, the weaker ones would not be able to hunt and successfully kill a racially superior S-Rank Monster by themselves. Only those within the Top 100 S-Rank Hunter list were strong enough to solo kill S-Rank Monsters. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Vera, the Russian Hunter from before, was Rank 91 on that list.

    Viola, on the other hand, was Rank 56!

    But even though both of them were incredibly powerful, if they were to go all out against one another, Vera would die 100 times out of 100 times. The difference was insurmountable. And with power levels practically set in stone, Vera would likely forever remain at Rank 91.

    Her time for challenging stronger Hunters to determine her rank was a time long gone; her position unchanging¡­

    ¡ª-------------

    ¡ªFive minutes later¡ª

    ''If I''m Rank 56 among the S-Rank Hunters, then¡­ Then where the hell does this freakish bastard place¡­?''

    What Viola saw before her was something that she had not even heard of the Top 50 S-Rank Hunters accomplishing.

    Sprawled out across thousands of miles of rocky whitish black terrain were dozens of Oblivion Titans, nearly numbering past one hundred. All of them were either dismembered or missing 80% of their bodies, with their unusually colored black and white blood painting the surroundings.

    However, the weirdest had yet to occur, for in the very next moment, all of the blood within the Oblivion Titan corpses started to gravitate upwards. Then, simultaneously, countless gallons of the blackish white blood sailed through the air before colliding with the tiny emotionless figure perched atop a messy Oblivion Titan corpse.

 Chapter 188 Slaying Oblivion Titans

    *Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh¡ª!!*The blackish white blood rapidly disappeared in the same instant it touched Cassius. Within half a second, the rest of the swarming blood vanished from the skies, leaving the Oblivion Titan corpses deprived of blood and a singular man further empowered.

    His Vampire Duke Bloodline rate began to skyrocket!

    [SSS-Rank Vampire Duke Bloodline: 0.09%... 0.7%... 1.6%... 1.8%... 2.2%... 3.5%]

    The Bloodline increment indicator ultimately stopped moving once it reached 3.5%. And along with this cease of movement came a massive wave of strength that powered both the Vampire Duke Bloodline and his personal strength. From his physical prowess to his physical and elemental resistances to his speed and reaction speed¡ªeverything was tremendously improved.

    "!!!" Viola watched in real time as Cassius''s already absurdly powerful presence became even more absurd. ''How can someone possibly become stronger in this manner!? It doesn''t make any sense!''

    She had only noticed it some time ago, when Cassius first revealed what she thought to be his concealed ''aura.'' Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When, in actuality, he had no aura, with what she saw simply being the outward visual representation of his power. This was not the same as the ''aura'' of normal Awakeners.

    But regardless of that point, from the moment she first witnessed his presence, Viola saw that same presence steadily increase. Though, with this most recent Oblivion Titan massacre, she saw his aura spike up by an absurd amount!

    She had no idea what caused this spike, but the blood that smashed into him definitely had a part to play.

    That had to be it!

    But why was any of it still not making any sense¡­?

    How could blood make a set-in-stone Hunter stronger??

    Meanwhile, Cassius''s brows curved up in satisfaction as he glanced at the incoming System Notification while ripping out Magic Cores with his telekinetic abilities.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 97 Oblivion Titans (S-)]

    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!] Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 1200 Stat Points in all of your Main Attributes!]

    [Acquired 4000 AP!]

    [You reached Lvl 97!]

    "Lvl 97, huh?" Cassius mused. "That means I''m only 3 levels away from achieving Lvl 100 and meeting the minimum requirement to take the Job Test and receive a Job."

    He had done much idling over the last period of time. From practicing his various Techniques and Skills to combining them to trolling anyone close to him. He had also been actively seeking out and completing Side Quests, Urgent Quests, Daily Quests, and Special Quests, all in hopes of increasing the ''Idle Score'' that would levy the Job he''d receive.

    ''If only I could complete the 3rd and 4th Main Quests soon. I would then be able to obtain the 4th Idle Benefit. The 5th Idle Benefit would also surely not be too far behind,'' Cassius thought while finishing up the Magic Core collection process. ''By that point, I''ll be gaining far more Idle Points than I am right now¡­''

    He knew precisely what he had to do to complete the 3rd Main Quest and would likely receive the rewards within a couple days, but the 4th Main Quest was where things truly became troublesome. Seeing as he had yet to receive the System pop-up informing him of his power level breakthrough into the SS-Rank, he was definitely still lacking when compared to the 72nd through 70th Demon Kings.

    They cared not a single bit that he was technically the 73rd Demon King of HELL. They would be gunning for his throat the very moment he stepped back into that Hellscape.

    And if he didn''t wish to actually enter the ranks of HELL as an undead or ghost, then he had to quickly become stronger than the weakest Demon Kings. After which, he would be required to go on a rampage of sorts through the 1st Floor of HELL, acquire a reputation for himself, and then travel between Dimensions with a Dimensional Hub. At that point, he would probably just repeat the process in the other 5 Dimensions, including Earth.

    Only then would he be able to complete the 4th Main Quest given by the System. This would also be his key to acquiring the 4th Idle Benefit and the opportunity to unlock the Idle Benefits that follow.

    However, before any of that could occur, Cassius had many tribulations that he had to first overcome on his little blue marble in space¡­

    ¡ª-----------

    With several minutes having flown by in the blink of an eye, Cassius and Viola had made their mark all over the Peak Purple-rank Gate. Of course, the former had been doing most of the work, but that didn''t mean that the Voidling Guild Leader didn''t also have her part to play.

    In total, she had personally killed 9 Oblivion Titans, which was even better than Vera and her Party were doing!

    It just wasn''t anywhere near as impressive as the number amassed by the freak currently crouching on one corpse among hundreds¡­

    "He has really single-handedly eradicated the Oblivion Titan population in this Gate¡­" Viola muttered with a great amount of awe.

    She had never experienced something quite like this, and it was making her super¡­ wet¡­

    Every further S-Rank Oblivion Titan that Cassius effortlessly chopped up, the more unhinged Viola''s fantasies became. She would often spontaneously burst down below whenever she looked at his cold eyes. Her imagination led to her usually being pinned down and ravaged by this emotionless beast. He would whisper savage threats into her ears, and she would have no choice but to oblige. After all, he was stronger than she was.

    In the beginning¡ªwhen Viola first witnessed Cassius''s strength¡ªenvy took hold of her mind. She wanted such strength and the ability to become stronger through blood absorption as well.

    Why wasn''t she allowed to have this privilege, too??

    But as the minutes stacked and turned into half an hour, Viola realized that more so than anything, she was just plain f*cking horny! She was hella horny!

    It was like a gawdamn year-round gusher blaster ten thousand down there!! It was insane just how much liquid was building and sprinkling both her clothes and the topography!!

    She might as well have been the incarnation of Gaia with how much she was watering the bleak black and white plants of this cryptic land¡­

 Chapter 189 The Mage Lord

    "Hehe¡­ Hihi~~""???" Cassius looked over and saw that same goofy expression plastered across the beautiful face of a woman whom one would expect to be prim and proper.

    What expectations received instead was a raging pervert with only one thing on her mind!

    However, putting his intelligence to the test, Cassius made the most optimal decision:

    "I think it''s about time to begin the real fun."

    Conveniently ignore reality and instead focus on the Grind! The Grind above all else, baby!!

    "The real fun¡­?" Viola asked between bated, steamy breaths. She also noticed the approaching auras of a few annoying characters but cared much more about hearing what the big bad wolf had to say.

    Cassius strapped the bubbly Lilith back to the right side of his body after giving her her share of the blood. After which, he turned toward the curious purple-haired beauty and said, "Obviously the real fun means breaking the chains that hold the biggest guys in this place."

    He had said what he did so nonchalantly that it took a moment for Viola to understand what he was implying. But when she did, her eyes widened in surprise. "The biggest guys¡­ You don''t mean!?"

    Cassius smirked. ''System, do what needs to be done.''

    [...]

    [Tsk, fine! I don''t know why you''re so against going to the lovely land of Character Development that is the Nightmarescape, but you do you¡­!]

    [Heaven''s Wrath, here I come!! Welcome me home!!!]

    [>?<]

    [Ahhn~! Do me harder~! Is that all you got~!? Weak!]

    Heaven: "...."

    Following a period of maniacal moaning and laughter, Cassius was able to just barely hear a thundering blast of lightning through his connection with the System. Then, something began to change in the Gate''s atmosphere.

    CRACK¡ª

    Something started to crack. Viola''s face dropped, with the same thing happening to the small group of S-Rank Russian Hunters flying toward them from the distance.

    "This can''t be¡­" Everyone except for Cassius murmured in disbelief, their eyes glued to the sight of six stupidly powerful auras gradually unveiling themselves toward the very ends of every side of the Gate''s interior.

    The Gate from outside also started to violently shake and quake, causing the expressions of the Scientists and Government Officials to drastically change. As they scattered and checked the diagnostic modules, both fear and astonishment settled in, which led to thousands contacting whoever they could.

    Governments all over the world received this devastating news at the same time, and orders were immediately thrown around.

    Dozens of countries moved with post-haste, with them all sending out urgent requests to any S-Rank Hunter they could contact. Yet, this urgency was only further amplified when they heard from the Scientists on the scene that the numbers¡­ the numbers stated that one of the two remaining Apocalypse Gates in the world was less than three hours away from breaking¡­!

    Unlike the other two Apocalypse Gates, both of which were just recently cleared by squads of dozens of S-Rank Hunters, this Apocalypse Gate gave the world barely any time to prepare! And it happened so suddenly!! Why!?

    ''Why?'' was what world leaders and powerful Hunters all across the world asked themselves.

    Why?

    ''Why??'' Viola questioned in genuine terror.

    That was when she recalled what Cassius said just moments before the distinct sound of chains breaking began reverberating. Looking at his relaxed side profile, she thought, ''Was this his doing!? But how??? This Gate is not supposed to be like this!! Just¡­ Just what exactly is this man!???''

    The infamous space user of the Voidling Guild was torn between both utter bewilderment and uncontrollable lust as she didn''t know which one to land on!

    The correct answer was such a difficult one! How was she expected to choose when the options were so terribly hard to choose between! So, so very hard! Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''He''s not hard, right?'' Viola asked herself while peeking at the area located between Cassius''s legs. Though, when she saw a limp bulge in his pants, the edges of her lips curled up into a cheeky smirk. ''So he is hard~... I had no idea my charms were this effective, hihi~''

    He was, in fact, NOT hard. That was all soft length, baths*t crazy lady!

    However, while Viola momentarily let her thoughts run astray, Cassius had all of his attention focused on the six extremely powerful auras. With each passing second, they became stronger and stronger, especially the one situated in the far north. That aura had already long since surpassed the others and was now verging upon a level that could only be termed as insanity. Yet, it was with each further aura increase that Cassius''s apathetic facade creaked and cracked.

    He was becoming excited! Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    He wanted¡­ He wanted to once again experience a real fight!! A blood-pumping, life-threatening battle to the death!!!

    ¡ª--------------

    The power of an S+++ Rank Monster Boss¡ªit was sufficient enough to strike terror in even the hearts of the strongest Hunters in history.

    With all that having been said, it was not entirely out of expectations that the Russian S-Rank Hunters were sh*tting their breeches right about now. Vera, in particular, wore an expression that made it seem like she had just eaten ten pounds of horse sh*t. The terrible faces of those beside her also worked well to put her anger and fright on display.

    Altogether, they appeared more like the sh*t-eating brigade than one of the highest power level Russian Strike Forces.

    It was also because of their high statuses that when the information of this abrupt Gate occurrence spread around the table, Russian Executives showed the most frustration. It was in this frustrated state of mind that they sent word to the strongest Hunter in Russia.

    He was one of the Top 10 Hunters in the world¡ªRank #9¡ªthe Mage Lord!

    "You say that there''s been a change in the Apocalypse Gate located outside of the Asian countries? What does that have to do with me?"

    A regal, non-comical voice bounced off the velvet-covered walls of a luxurious penthouse that overlooked the capital of Russia, Moscow. The owner of the voice, a Russian man with slicked-back blonde hair and a lean build, tipped up a cup of warm tea he held in his ring-adorned hands.

 Chapter 190 A Royale Gate

    From the first moment someone rushed into his home and knelt down, the Russian man hadn''t once looked in the kneeling man''s direction.The kneeling man, on the other hand, was profusely sweating from head to toe. Merely standing in the presence of the terrifying man calmly sitting before him was enough to turn his legs into jelly. Even now, while trying to speak, he felt compelled to avert his gaze from the Mage Lord''s imperious visage.

    "Do tell me," he commanded, his voice concealing a lethal coldness. "I don''t have all day. Do not waste my time."

    "Y-Yes, Sir Mage Lord!" Finally finding his voice, the kneeling A-Rank Hunter stammered. "The¡­ The President has requested that you personally oversee the closure of Oblivion''s Threshold. You see, even though the President understands that you are preparing yourself for the Raid on World''s End, he¡­"

    "Spit it out already!"

    RUMBLE!!!

    The whole skyscraper and the several city blocks that surrounded it started to violently shake. The Mage Lord''s overwhelming aura pressure forced the kneeling man from one kneeling knee to two. Furthermore, his head was now two inches away from smashing against the opulent wooden floor.

    Not willing to risk his life here, the kneeling A-Rank Hunter stammered, "T-The reason why the President wants you to accept this request is because one of our S-Rank Hunter Party''s¡ªGreen Dragon¡ªis stuck inside the Apocalypse Gate!"

    "Stuck?" The Mage Lord parroted as he finally turned around to face the kneeling Hunter, no longer staring out at the vast sparkling city below. "How are they stuck??"

    Under his burning gaze, the kneeling man replied, "T¡­ The Apocalypse Gate¡­ It has mutated. It has now become a Royale Gate¡­"

    Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    Hearing this news put a deep frown on the Mage Lord''s handsome, rugged facial features. He remained motionless and didn''t say a single word for a whole ten seconds. Then, with a slightly annoyed sigh, he rose from his leather chair and said, "Tell the President that I''ll accept his request. But do remind him who actually runs this country. The least he could do is come¡­ personally."

    Sweating like a pig, the kneeling man smacked his head against the floor and shouted, "I''ll follow your orders, Sir Mage Lord!"

    "Good."

    FWIP!

    With that, the Mage Lord vanished from his spot.

    Along with his departure came the sudden teleportation of the long golden staff that he kept by his desk. It had long, cryptic inscriptions running down its sides and held at the top of it an ostrich egg-sized crimson red crystal. The crystal was locked in place by five diamond dragon heads, all of which passively transferred a ridiculous amount of Magicules from the crystal to the rest of the staff.

    This staff¡ªit had one name¡ªMeteor Fall.

    A powerful S+++ Rank item constructed with the materials gathered from the Apocalypse Gate Raid that put the Mage Lord in the Top 10 nearly a dozen years ago. It was also rumored to be capable of leveling entire nations if the Mage Lord went all out.

    And today¡­ today, he might just need to use it again.

    ¡ª---------------

    ¡ªMeanwhile, within the Royale Peak Purple-rank Gate ''Oblivion''s Threshold''¡ª

    "What do we do!? What do we do!?? What in the hell do we do!?!?" Vera, freaking the hell out, started to violently thrash at the crackling red barrier that now barred anyone from leaving.

    Unless the Gate gets permanently closed, no one would ever again be returning home.

    Though, to be fair, it wasn''t like anyone had much of a survival chance if they couldn''t clear the Gate, anyway. After all, the six entities that were just freed from captivity were not looking all too happy right about now¡­

    One would think that eternally trapped prisoners would be pleased beyond belief once the chains finally came off, but nope. These prisoners had long since lost their minds and now only sought to reap the lives of any who entered their line of sight. Which, at this moment, just so happened to be the tasty-looking S-Rank auras frightfully fluctuating on the other side of the Gate.

    Now, as things stand, Viola and the rest have roughly ten microseconds to ready themselves before their sh*t gets rocked¡­

    As this was occurring, Cassius saw several flashing red screens appear in front of him, prompting him to leisurely look over them. The maniacal battle-crazed smirk not once left his extraordinarily handsome face, not even while he readied multiple Skills and read the System pop-ups.

    *Ding!!!*

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [The Peak Purple-rank Gate ''Oblivion''s Threshold'' has mutated! The Prison Dimension has locked down according to preset protocols!]

    [The only way to leave the mutated ''Royale Gate'' is to erase the existence of every single prisoner eternally trapped here!]

    Cassius''s brows briefly furrowed before they tightened together. The once distant presences were now not so distant, and unless he wanted to end up splattered against whatever was behind him, he had to lock in. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Doing just that, his eyes crackled with blood-red lightning. A jagged demonic six-foot-long katana materialized and slid into his right hand, unleashing a level of bloodthirsty killing intent that caused the surrounding S-Rank figures to snap their heads in his direction.

    Though, when they saw who it was, Vera''s face further twisted in anger.

    "It''s just that useless man without any aura! He can''t even fly, which is why he''s dumbly standing on that mountain! What an idiot!! Viola, you should come get your pet¡ª"

    In the same moment the short-tempered Russian woman went off on Cassius, he blurred from his spot and turned into a hyper-accelerated beam of shadowy light. Before Viola, Vera, and the others even had the time to properly react, his figure had already crossed insurmountable distances! All in an instant!

    Somewhere along the way, he crossed paths with five absurdly large blackish white Oblivion Titans with spiky crowns on their heads. He also saw the far bigger Oblivion Acolyte, who no longer moved through the use of its city-sized legs. It instead made use of a floating Skill that bent its legs up at a 90¡ã angle.

    The Oblivion monster itself had both its eyes as well as its hidden third eye closed. Moreover, it had levitating above its head a glowing black halo that oozed a storm of savage killing intent¡­

 Chapter 191 The Oblivion Acolytes Anticlimactic Demise

    {[Oblivion Acolyte (S+++ Rank)]} - [Threat Rating: High Red][Oblivion Titan Lord (S+ Rank)] - [Threat Rating: High Yellow] x 5

    Cassius passed right by every single one of these monstrous entities. Without looking back until the very moment he made his move, his body blurred beyond belief. Then, with a razor-sharp heel turn, he swiveled around and produced shockwaves in his wake as he shot toward the Oblivion Titan Lord furthest from the Oblivion Acolyte. Just the shockwaves produced from his sudden movements were enough to vaporize surrounding mountains, yet they merely acted as a prelude to what would happen next¡ª

    "!!!"

    In that exact moment, something unexpected occurred. A loud whirring sound bled his ears, then an eruption of black light flashed from above the Oblivion Acolyte''s black halo!

    ''I can''t dodge! Shi¡ª''

    WHAZZOOOOOM¡ª!!!

    The black light transformed into a wide-area attack that melted countless mountain ranges in the blink of an eye. The entire map''s topography was altered, and even from an untold distance away, Viola, Vera, and the other S-Rank Hunters were able to make out the catastrophic damage done to the seemingly endless plot of land around them. Black, crackling smoke rose from wherever the halo''s black light hit, creating a spectacle that made the S-Rank Hunters'' hearts sink into their chests.

    They had never seen anything at this level of destruction¡­ It was insane¡­

    "Is he okay!?" Viola blurted out while scanning as far out as she could with her Magic Sense. Even though it was unable to reach the Oblivion Titans, it still should''ve been possible to perceive the existence of a certain lifeform.

    However¡­

    "Where is he??? Why can''t I feel his presence anywhere!?" Viola''s expression emulated her distress. She kept on searching, but no matter where she looked, Cassius was nowhere to be found.

    Only billowing clouds of crackling lightning and the six terrifyingly powerful entities remained¡­

    At least, that was until¡ª

    BZIP!

    Like a dot of ink appearing on a scrapped piece of paper, Cassius''s vaporized body reformed itself from nothing. Phoenix feathers fluttered around his rapidly restoring figure as he turned his mangled face up toward the towering existence.

    That existence stared down at him with its closed eyes, seemingly calculating how the tiny human had survived.

    A slit situated just between the two closed eyes of the Oblivion Acolyte suddenly shot open, and a dazzling vortex of black-and-white chaotic elements appeared. Those elements took on the shape of a spiraling abyss. From within that abyss emerged a pupil that embodied the concept of destruction¡ªor rather, of¡­ Oblivion.

    *Ding!*

    [You have died 31 times today! You can only die twice more before you enter the territory of PERMANENT DEATH.]

    [The System will not assist you if it really comes down to it, as the System''s authority is severely limited in this avenue. And considering that you still need to die hundreds more times before you can upgrade the Supreme Nirvana Rebirth Skill to its next evolutionary phase, the System suggests that you¡­ try not to die.]

    "That was indeed the plan¡­" Cassius exasperatingly muttered before refocusing on the colossal entity currently in the process of charging an attack that he had no idea if he could handle or not.

    Without thinking any more about useless stuff, he vanished from his spot, summoned Lilith, and then slashed out at the floating Oblivion Acolyte. The Boss Monster indifferently blasted another wave of black light, with potency just as devastating as before. However, when the figure it shot at turned out to be nothing more than an afterimage, its cryptic third eye darted all over the place.

    When the Oblivion Acolyte''s third eye finally settled on a moving object, the black halo above its head shot out another black wave beam attack. Another few hundred miles of land were eviscerated, yet the human had still not died. He evaded both attacks, with his speed seemingly becoming faster and faster.

    The Newbie 8 Equipment Set¡ªwhich weighed as much as several cities¡ªhad just come off.

    Now, Cassius''s speed was sitting at a level so high that he had no clue just how fast he could go if he held nothing back. With each passing microsecond, his speed gradually increased as more of its untapped potential was utilized.

    *Whoooop¡ª!!!*

    Cassius blurred around the Oblivion Acolyte so quickly that the indifferent behemoth wasn''t even able to understand that all five of its Oblivion Titan Lords had already died. In fact, it was still in the process of comprehending this while he was lapping the Gate''s interior space with a trail of blackish-white blood following behind him.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 5 Oblivion Titan Lords (S+ Rank)]

    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!]

    [You and your Growth Weapon ''Lilith'' have absorbed the Blood of all 5 of the Oblivion Titan Lords!]

    [(SSS-Rank) Vampire Duke Bloodline: 4.2%... 4.8%... 6.5%... 7%.]

    [Devil Blade ''Lilith'' has advanced from the S+ Rank to the S++ Rank, achieving the second-to-last stage of the S-Rank.]

    [- Attack +312 -]

    WAAA!

    As his and his Growth Weapon''s power exponentially improved, Cassius flashed forward multiple times faster than he was just moving. From a few dozen times the speed of light to just over one hundred times the speed of light¡ªhis speed was only increasing with each passing moment.

    ''Let''s see what comes out on top in the end: your destruction or my speed!'' Cassius maniacally grinned as he phased through speed barrier after speed barrier.

    He had become so fast that even the concept of speed was beginning to lag behind the rate at which he accelerated! And yet he was only becoming ever faster!!

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    One sword slash, a hundred thousand flashed.

    The Oblivion Acolyte registered the uncountable number of attacks that had just made contact with its body. But by that point, Cassius had already vanished to a place thousands of miles away.

    He flashed back while the Oblivion Acolyte was still comprehending what had just happened. He slashed out again, and another hundred thousand slashes collided with the Boss Monster''s unbelievably tough outer armor.

    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

    Lilith bounced back an astronomical number of times in an instant, almost as if she had repeatedly hacked at something too tough to penetrate.

    ''The armor¡­ It''s so hard¡­''

    There were no apparent weak points he could take advantage of, as every part of the monster''s body was covered in this same seemingly indestructible armor. Even the head and lower extremities were no exception.

    ''That leaves only its eyes¡ª'' sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

 Chapter 192 Iâ€¦ AMâ€¦ ATOMIC! Iâ€¦ AMâ€¦ OMEGA!!! I AMâ€¦.!!!!!

    ''That leaves only its eyes¡ª''In the same instant this thought formed in Cassius''s mind, the black halo sitting above the Oblivion Acolyte''s head started to erratically sputter. Then, with several black light eruptions many times stronger than before, everything in every direction around the monster was lit up by a machine gun-like spray of destruction.

    BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

    KRAKA-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

    BA-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

    WHOOOOOSH¡ª!!

    When the rolling waves of endlessly high black lightning clouds dissipated, Viola and the others were only now able to open their eyes and view the horrifying scene before them.

    For thousands of miles in a circular direction around the Oblivion Acolyte, everything¡­ literally everything had been erased. The unusual landscape, the wild foreign organisms, even the very air itself¡ªall of it had been replaced by a whiteness that held nothing beyond it. In that circle surrounding the floating Boss Monster, the edges of the Dimension had been reached.

    Those edges were just¡­ white.

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    If all of the Gate''s interior had been erased as well, then the scene would be no different, just shown on a higher scale.

    "This¡­" Viola, struggling to even so much as stand up right now, stared out at the circular whiteness with her mouth agape. From this far away, the enormous Oblivion Acolyte looked like a tiny blackish speck in the middle of a vast field of white.

    Cassius, on the other hand, was once again nowhere to be found¡­

    ''Will his presence reappear in the same way as before¡ª''

    Before Viola could even finish that thought, Cassius''s once voided aura resurfaced from the emptiness of nothingness. Both she and the six or so S-Rank Hunters standing beside her could do nothing but gawk and exclaim in surprise as they watched the impossible occur.

    "T¡­ This Japanese Hunter of yours¡­ Just what in the hell is he!?" No longer able to keep quiet anymore, Vera swiveled her head toward the shocked purple-haired woman. "How can someone like him possibly exist!? The power that the Boss Monster just unleashed¡ªit should''ve killed him on the spot!! And it did!! So how!?? How is he back alive again!???"

    "...I¡­ I don''t know," Viola answered with a tone that emulated just how confused she was.

    She had never been so taken aback in her entire life! What the hell was going on!?

    Who¡­ Just who was Cassius Steele, really!??

    "I AM SPEED!"

    ZOOOOOM¡ª!!!

    The very instant Cassius experienced complete rebirth was also the same instant he ramped up his speed even more than before!! All of his AP¡ªhe would dump it all into his Agility stat!!

    All or Nothing!!!

    [Agility +70]

    [Agility +150]

    [Agility +130]

    [Agility +890]

    [Agility +1800]

    [Agility +4000]

    [Agility +8000]

    All or F*cking Nothing!!!

    For the first time since Cassius acquired the Idle Evolution System, he used up absolutely every point of AP that he had! This time, he was truly going all in!!

    Newbie Equipment 8 Set off, all in on Agility, and even an Evomon Fusion with Nyxvoldar! Sh*t was going down, and he would be both the Architect, the Builder, and the Maker of his own unhinged actions!!

    Cassius''s battle-crazed smirk widened to both of his ears as he leaned downward before bursting forward so quickly that mountains and jungles thousands of miles away were blown to the high heavens. He became the embodiment of speed itself, with his rate of acceleration already at thousands of times the speed of light!

    ZING! ZING! ZING!

    Dragon Quasar Beams were launched in repeated succession, with the subsequent energy emissions becoming so volatile that they clashed with each other. Ridiculously sharp crimson sword slashes followed right behind, further adding to the symphony of powerful attacks fusing and separating from one another in absurd fashion.

    This scene not only happened in one direction of the Oblivion Acolyte but in every single direction.

    The Boss Monster was surrounded, with a limitless number of attacks obscuring its vision. Radiantly flashing streaks of red and purple blinded the monster just enough for Cassius to slip past its third eye and appear above its head. However, even through the innumerable attacks barring the view of the outside world from the Oblivion Acolyte, its third eye¡ªthe S+++ ''Oblivion Eye''¡ªworked in ways beyond human understanding. And the moment this swirling eye locked onto Cassius''s new location, it instantaneously reacted and burst-fired dozens of ''Oblivion Beams'' at him. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOOM!!!

    An ear-deafening explosion with residual effects that reached even Viola tore through the sound bubble that encapsulated them all. Yet, from the very epicenter of that dreadful explosion, a bloodied grin curved upward.

    All 33 of his lives had been used up.

    But he was simply too fast¡­

    He was so fast that even permanent death had to race him in order to hook him!

    He was so fast that even while the Oblivion Acolyte flashed its Ultimate Attack, ''Third Eye Oblivion World Render,'' his lips soundlessly moved. With each word that left his mouth, the prerequisite to an attack that could very well bring about the end of the world reverberated through both time and space.

    "I¡­ AM¡­ ATOMIC! I¡­ AM¡­ OMEGA!!! I AM¡­.!!!!!"

    Yet, just as purple, white, and crimson runic lines appeared in quantities too vast to count, and just as the final word to the sequence was to be spoken, Cassius''s crazed bloody eyes darted toward an eerie figure hiding in the folds of space.

    "Found¡ªYou."

    "!!!!"

    At that very same moment, the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend''s detached facade drastically changed. It reacted near-instantaneously and fled far, far away!!

    But not far enough¡­

    While the Alien ran and the Oblivion Acolyte erupted with its most powerful Ultimate Attack, a single word¡ªjust that single word¡ªits pronunciation altered the very fabric of reality inside the Gate.

    Everywhere, no matter where it was within the Gate¡ªall of it was unable to escape what that final word represented.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The expressions of Viola, Vera, and the other S-Rank Hunters drastically changed as a scarlet purple light flashed in their eyes. Their pupils¡ªthey failed to fully reflect the calamitous scene before them. It was¡­ It was¡­ Apocalyptic.

    "I AM THE¡ª"

    "END¡ª"

    Silence.

    They say that the worst moments of a storm happen in the silence. They say this because quietness gives one the falsehood that something is peaceful.

    Then, when you least expect it¡­

    "Boom."

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 193 A Gate...Exploded...?

    "Boom. That was all I heard come from the mutated Gate when I arrived."Reports similar to the one above were given to the Leaders of Countries all over the world.

    Shortly after, seven figures emerged from the Apocalypse Gate known as Oblivion''s Threshold. Six of them were Russian S-Rank Hunters, whereas the last one was an S-Rank Hunter from Japan¡ªan enchanting violet-haired woman ranked in the Top 60 among S-Rank Hunters.

    There was¡­ no one else.

    And after inquiring from the S-Rank Hunters who escaped the now-collapsed Gate, the World Leaders all received the exact same answer.

    "First, there was a flash of light. Then, silence. Following the silence, there was whiteness, like a blank piece of paper. The Oblivion Acolyte was no more. The Oblivion Titan Lords were no more. The Oblivion Titans were no more."

    After reiterating what he had just heard from those who arrived earlier than he did, the Mage Lord''s expression turned unreadable. Those around him¡ªall coming from different regions of the world¡ªbecame nervous just standing in his presence. Yet, none of them dared to even so much as breathe without his permission.

    Even if they were S-Rank Hunters as well, none of them wished to get on the bad side of one of the Top 10. All of whom were Calamity-level Hunters said to be capable of destroying the world if left uninhibited.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Mage Lord spoke up again, saying, "This event¡­ Are you sure there was no one else involved? None of the other World-class Hunters?"

    This was also what the Hunters in the Top 10 were termed. World-class. This was both a fermentation of their high statuses and a¡­ warning. A warning to the World Leaders that jointly governed them.

    In a way, World-class Hunters lived exempt from the rules of the world. And they managed their actions through each other. They kept each other in check, making sure that no other got ahead of themselves.

    As for the World-class Hunter Mage Lord''s question, one of the S-Rank Hunters who arrived from Thailand replied, "Sir Mage Lord, all the reports match. There was no one else present inside the Gate. Even the workers and government officials on the island said the exact same thing. The only ones to have entered Oblivion''s Threshold in the last hour were Viola Voidweaver, Vera Stromboli, and the five S-Rank Russian Hunters part of her ''Green Dragon'' Hunter Party."

    The Mage Lord deeply looked at the Thailand S-Rank Hunter. His stare caused the Thailand Hunter to uncontrollably shiver. Luckily, after a couple of seconds of this, the World-class Hunter turned away from him and said, "Very well, then. I''ll just have to verify this information for myself."

    Planning to do just that, he conjured an extremely bright tunnel of blue light that phased him up and into an unknown space. When he reappeared using the same method, he found himself standing before Vera and the other Russian S-Rank Hunters.

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    When they saw him appear, their complexions lost a lot of their color. Their eyes also became shaky, not because they had anything to hide, but simply because the Mage Lord was just that damn scary.

    To Russians, the Mage Lord was both a universal icon and an existence one was supposed to revere. Even if you were lucky enough to awaken as an S-Rank Hunter, just one word from him was enough to determine your fate,

    If at all possible, they had hoped to have little to no interaction with the monster that was the Mage Lord.

    And yet here they were¡­ jumping into the maw of the beast¡­

    "Sir Mage Lord, I¡ª"

    "Quiet, Vera." The Mage Lord calmly ordered, yet his calmness told far more of his terrifying nature than anger ever could have.

    Vera immediately shut her trap. She tilted her head down and stared at the rubble beneath her. Rubble that had appeared when, for the first time in history, a Gate¡­ exploded.

    The Mage Lord''s petrifying stare flipped between all S-Rank Hunters of the Green Dragon Hunter Party. Then, with a cold, non-negotiable voice, he demanded the truth from them.

    The answer he received was the exact same as the one reported to him¡­ Not a single discrepancy¡­

    ''They wouldn''t dare lie to me, so what actually happened here? How could a mutated Apocalypse Gate just explode¡­? Viola Voidweaver; perhaps she knows something.''

    However, just as this thought passed his mind, the Mage Lord recalled a particular Japanese man who had imprinted himself in his memories. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''You all are the Top 10 strongest Hunters in the world, the best of the best,'' the figure said to a group of ten varying-sized shadows centered around a moonlit table. ''Do not waste what the universe has given to you. Do not mess with Japan. If you do¡­ I don''t care how powerful you believe you are. You''re all the same in my eyes¡ªfrom the weakest of F-Rank Hunters to the strongest of S-Rank Hunters. Remember what I''ve told you here today. If you ever happen to forget, then do keep in mind that the world beyond this life of yours does not discriminate.''

    The laid-back words of that man still rang vividly in the back of the Mage Lord''s mind. Yet, even though his disposition was nonchalant, the Mage Lord could tell by those striking blue eyes that the man who stood above them all was completely serious.

    "I guess the matter ends here today," the Mage Lord coldly snorted before walking away from the Green Dragon Hunter Party. "Return to Russia at once and spend the next three months at your homes, away from the nosy press."

    Vera and the others nodded with large beads of sweat running down their faces. After which, they waited a few seconds following the Mage Lord''s departure to leave as well.

    Viola, who was sitting a few dozen meters away, saw everything go down. And beside her, hiding between the folds of reality just like the Alien had done, was a shadowy cloaked man with a deadly gleam in his eyes.

    He held within his hands the mysterious amulet-like device that had somehow survived the use of his one-time Trump Card Skill.

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 194 The Aliens Amulet Device

    This amulet device came from the remains of the Alien, collected by Cassius not long after he brought about the END of the Oblivion''s Threshold Gate. During the time before everything ended, he also just barely managed to teleport everyone out and absorb part of the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend''s memories. He couldn''t get all of its memories, and there was likely no way he could have. If not for his quick thinking and acting, the Alien would''ve certainly escaped, and everything would''ve been for nothing. Instead of getting partial memories, he would have gotten no memories.From the very first moment Cassius heard the name of the Gate Viola would be bringing him to, he had been devising and revising a way to eliminate the thing that had been stalking him. He had his suspicions of the stalker''s intergalactic origins, but it wasn''t until his senses were heightened with the use of his Trump Card that he confirmed them. In that moment, he knew the plan he concocted was all worth it in the end.

    The loot he gained from slaying the Oblivion Acolyte was just a bonus in his mind. There were also the rewards given to him for completing the Side Quest, which were, again, just more bonuses.

    What he was after¡ªwhat he had been gunning for since the very start¡ªwere the memories of the Alien. Memories that he successfully extracted with the assistance of a Mid-Ruby Rank Skill called ''Mind Dig''. Though, that wasn''t the only Skill that had a part to play in this operation, as the Peak-Ruby Rank Skill ''Mass Indoctrination'' also did wonders in truly making everything come together as it had.

    However, although the latter Skill was used on all of the S-Rank Russian Hunters immediately after teleporting them out, it was not used on¡­

    "So, are you going to tell me what really happened in there, ''Weak'' hooded man? Is Cassius even your real name?"

    ''Viola¡­'' Cassius thought to himself as he sighed and left the folds of reality. The coast was clear, so there was no point in further concealing himself.

    After sitting down on the large chunk of rubble leaning against Viola''s rubble chunk, he corrected his shadowy hood and spoke without looking in her direction. "I have no clue what you''re talking about, Ms. Viola. Do you think I''m some CIA agent or something? The name you know me by is my real name. And why are you asking about what happened in there when you were there as well? You tell me: What happened in there?"

    Viola''s lips moved, but no words came out.

    Ultimately, she just harrumphed and crossed her slender arms under her not-so-slender bosom. "You really are such an infuriating man. Don''t you know that secretive men aren''t popular with the ladies? One might think you''re a serial killer!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius''s brows raised. "A serial killer, huh? I¡­ I have much, much to learn if I am to play the killing game professionally. Much to learn, indeed¡­"

    After imbibing the memories of the Alien he slaughtered, he understood what it truly meant to be a killer.

    That race¡ªthe Dissonants¡ªthey were killers on a level that he was many years away from hoping to match. Entire planets and solar systems had fallen to the tyranny of the Dissonants. Billions upon billions of lives had been tallied up by them.

    However, those same Dissonants now found themselves invading Earth¡ªinvading the Ascension Tower.

    The acquired memories from there onward were incomplete, but what Cassius was able to make out were two strings of distorted dialogue. The first string spoke of how ''Earth'' and the ''Ascension Tower'' were not what they seemed and something about an ''Illusion'' or ''Delusion''¡ªit was something like that.

    And then there was the second string of distorted dialogue. This one spoke not of the setting but of a search¡­ The Dissonants were searching for something.

    And he¡­ he was the key to their search.

    As for how precisely he was connected with the search, Cassius had no idea. He only knew that this Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend was not the only one tasked with keeping an eye on him. This surely meant that there would be more popping up in the future¡­ and they might even be stronger than he was.

    If Cassius wished to retain his peaceful life on Earth without some foreign big-headed martians getting in the way, then he had to do what he did best.

    Train. Train and grind.

    Coincidentally, the Idle Evolution System had something to guide him to this end.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain the Oblivion Acolyte Boss Monster (S+++ Rank)]

    [Your Experience Bar moved by leaps and bounds!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 2000 Stat Points!]

    [Acquired 6000 AP!]

    Then came the Quest completion rewards¡­

    {[Side Quest Number¡­ Something or another!]} - [Oblivion''s Threshold Clearer] - [S+++ Rank]

    GOAL 1: [Eradicate all of the Oblivion Titans in the Gate] - [?]

    GOAL 2: [Kill all Five Oblivion Titan Lord Minibosses] - [5/5] - [?]

    GOAL 3: [Slay the Oblivion Acolyte] - [1/1] - [?]

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [Attempting to clear this Quest will require the Host to abuse the authority of the System and temporarily unchain the Mini Bosses and Boss, which will summon Heaven''s Wrath!] - [After note: You really made me, the poor damsel, do it¡­ You Fiend¡­!] Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    [Of course, your beloved System will take on the full brunt of Heaven! Ahhn~! But, nonetheless, it would be most advisable for the Host to forfeit the Side Quest and most graciously accept the punishment! (It''s a good one!)] - [Scratch all this! I never said a single lick of any of this nonsense! For the sake of my mental health recovery from all this defamatory material, how would you feel about adding 40 hours to today''s required amount in the Nightmarescape!?]

    [Shake head for yes, and nod head for no.]

    [Anyway, here are the Rewards¡­ Tsk¡­ Tsk again. And another Tsk! Important things must be said thrice!]

    REWARD 1: [20 Large-sized Heaps of EXP] - [Y/N]

    REWARD 2: [The immense respect and awe of the powerful S-Rank Hunter ''Viola Voidweaver,'' I.e., Hottie Mick Hotterson, awooga, awooga~!] - [Y/N]

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 195 {[(SSS-Rank) VoidWarper Skill Set (1st Part)]}

    {[Quest Continuation Rewards]}REWARD 3: [1st Part of the SSS-Rank ''VoidWarper Skill Set''] - [Y/N]

    REWARD 4: [Why do you need more rewards than that¡­!? Getting to live should be more than good enough for you, you lazy bum! Be grateful for what your beloved System offers you!] - [Y/N]

    Cassius accepted all of the rewards with a twitching face, then watched his once-barren experience bar get filled to the brim in green, gooey, goodness!

    Then, it arrived. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Another Level-up!

    *Ding!*

    [You leveled up!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 2500 Stat Points!]

    [Acquired 8000 AP!]

    Following this level-up to 99 came the acquisition of a new Skill Set that he would have to add to his already hectic training regime:

    [Acquired ''SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set'']

    BING!

    A purplish book with a pitch-black sphere in the middle silently appeared in Cassius''s hands. While the pouty yet oddly excited purple-haired beauty was distracted, he quickly flipped through the book''s pages and memorized everything within an instant.

    Thinking she heard something, Viola looked over.

    However, after seeing nothing of interest and once again viewing that irritatingly handsome face of his, she returned to brooding. She was just waiting for the government officials and country messengers to finish up whatever they were doing, then she would get out of here and away from that man as fast as she could!

    That was what the illustrious Guild Leader told herself to stop her ushy, gushy, perverted side from overshadowing her quiet, elegant side¡­

    It was a tough struggle. Both her mind and body were battling for dominance¡­

    Cassius, oblivious to her internal turmoil, closed his eyes and perused the Skill details that had been transmitted directly to his mind.

    {[(SSS-Rank) VoidWarper Skill Set (1st Part)]}

    ¡ª[Thousands of years ago, prior to the dawn of modern civilization, a Void Master famed throughout the Ascension Tower of Humanity fell in battle against an Ancient Time User. When the Void Master died, her belongings were scattered throughout the Ascension Tower. One such belonging was the Spatial Manual that she wrote in her earlier years¡ªthe VoidWarper Manual.]

    ¡ª[The full VoidWarper Skill Set was split into 3 parts. Only when one obtained all three parts could they unlock the utmost potential that the VoidWarper Skills had to offer.]

    ¡ª[1st and 2nd VoidWarper Skills are available in the 1st Part of the Skill Set.]

    ¡ª[Skill 1: ''Teleport'' - (Instantaneous movement ability with a base movement range of ''1 Meter'')]

    ¡ª[Skill 2: ''Void Port'' - (Instantaneous movement ability that conjures a spatial portal that transports items through the void and out a separate spatial portal. Base transportation range of ''1 Meter'')]

    WHOOOSH!

    Cassius learned both Skills inside his mind and immediately saw two S+++ Rank Skills appear in his Skill list. Both started at the Practiced Proficiency Level, with the potential limit for them being extremely exceptional.

    Testing the Skills right away, he used ''Teleport'' and vanished from his spot on the rubble chunk to the other side of Viola''s rubble chunk. She looked at him in shock, but he was too absorbed in these new Skills to notice. That was especially the case when he saw System pop-ups appear:

    *Ding!*

    [Increased proficiency of |S+++ Rank ''Teleport''| to 0.08%]

    |¡ªSkill Sets and Various Cases¡ª|

    When the Skill ''Teleport'' reaches 100%, it will advance the Skill Set itself to the next proficiency stage of ''Accomplished.'' After which, another proficiency indicator will appear, and the process will repeat. It was the same way for the Demon King Integration Art, the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, and any other Techniques Cassius was currently improving the proficiency of.

    One thing to note was that the Skill increasing in proficiency would cap at 100% if there was no special case like the ''VoidWarper Skill Set,'' which was a Skill Set, and thus a Technique. For regular standalone Skills, this meant that one should attempt to rank up the Skill after it reaches 100% proficiency. For Skill Sets, on the other hand, the Skill''s rank was set in stone, unable to be advanced by typical methods. But with improvements in Skill Set proficiency, the Skills within the set would become better. This could be seen as indirect Skill advancements.

    ¡ª-------------

    A few seconds passed, and Cassius had already teleported back and forth between his rubble chunk and Viola''s more than a thousand times.

    His absurdly high MP amount was barely affected, with such short-distance teleports expending close to none of it. Though, it was from such minuscule expenditures that his VoidWarper Skill Set rocketed up the proficiency gauge and achieved the Accomplished stage. Moreover, it was even ascending the Accomplished stage at a rapid rate, with it already breaking past 10%!

    What Cassius was doing could be considered as cheating, but did any of that really matter?

    Life was not fair. Why should he play the same way as everyone else?

    FWIP!

    1 Meter ¡ú 3 Meters.

    That was how much the Teleport and Void Port Skills had improved. The most incredible thing was that the latter Skill¡ªone that Cassius had yet to even use¡ªwas improving without him actually having to do anything!

    This method of Skill proficiency advancement was simply too OP!

    ''...Just how,'' Viola muttered inside her mind. ''I don''t understand how someone like him can exist! How is he using the Void and Space Elements!? I definitely didn''t feel a single ounce of either Element in him a few seconds ago, and yet now¡­''

    The Voidling Guild Leader was stunned beyond belief. She was unable to comprehend how someone with no affinity in either Element was all of a sudden able to perfectly use them! Furthermore, from the spatial readings she was seeing, his Space and Void Elements were somehow increasing in proficiency!

    How was any of that possible!? Common sense would tell her that it wasn''t! It shouldn''t have been!!

    And yet it was¡­

    ''This man¡­ He''s so mysterious¡­'' A scarlet blush formed on her pretty face. ''I wonder if the way he moves his hands is this mysterious as well¡­ Hihi~...''

    ...

 Chapter 196 Of course Im not Human!

    For a moment there, Viola Voidweaver actually held a modicum of seriousness within her. But all it took was a single dirty thought for her to once again return to envisioning a scandalous scenario that could only be read about in a Female Lead dark romance novel.Viola was¡­ she was too far gone¡­

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Cassius, conveniently ignoring the unusually giggling purple-haired woman, kept on teleporting. He also switched things up and used the Void Port Skill, which allowed him to throw Lilith into a spatial portal and catch her on the other side of the spatial tunnel. Using the Skills in this manner, he was able to spam both Skills simultaneously.

    However, after half a minute of doing this, Cassius''s MP bar finally reached a point where he didn''t want to risk losing any more. He stopped his discrete teleporting show and settled down less than a few inches away from Viola. Zoning out her weirdness, he glanced at the incoming System Notifications.

    *Ding~!*

    [Increased proficiency of |(S+++) Teleport| Skill to 43.5% of Minor Completion!]

    [|SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set| increased to 43.5% of the Minor Completion proficiency stage!]

    A small smile emerged on Cassius''s stoic face as he felt satisfied with his progress so far. With what he had, the Teleport and Void Port Skills were effective for a movement range of up to 15 meters, which was vastly superior to what it was a few minutes ago. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Viola also noticed this visible improvement to his Space and Void Elements, prompting her to ask, "Are you¡­ sure that you''re a human¡­?"

    Cassius looked at her weirdly, before a sinister smirk appeared. "Am I human? Of course I''m not human¡­ I''m an Extraterrestrial!"

    "!!!" Fear drained all the color from Viola''s face as she leaned back in fright.

    A small chuckle echoed.

    That was when Viola realized that he was just kidding. Her cheeks filled with air as she lightly punched him in the arm. "You''re just a jerk. A big jerk!"

    Cassius''s smirk raised in amusement. "A big jerk, huh? I seem to get that title a lot¡­"

    Viola returned to staring at his side profile, with her brows furrowing a bit in annoyance. ''Why would guys call him something like that? Must be other girls¡­'' She clicked her tongue with a peeved expression before bluntly asking, "Are you single, Cassius?"

    "???"

    "I see that you have already gone past using ''Sir,''" said Cassius. "But yeah, apparently I''m not as much of a catch as I thought I was."

    He shrugged while thinking, ''Well¡­ my Alpha Sigma loner phase is mostly due to that bastard''s blue balling¡­''

    *Ding!*

    ''Oh no¡­''

    [You called? (??> ????)]

    ''No¡­''

    [Too bad! I just wish to inform you that your suffering is all a part of further Character Development! Everything I, the System, does, is for a purpose!]

    ''Whatever you say, you sadistic bastard¡­''

    Cassius''s conversation with the Idle Evolution System ended there, but a different conversation was resumed when Viola heard his answer. She nudged his shoulder with her shoulder, asking, "Are you not interested in a relationship? I would assume by now¡ªwith your interesting personality and handsome appearance¡ªthat you would be taken."

    Cassius pondered her question, eventually answering, "There are just¡­ some things I have to do first¡­" ''The 9 Idle Benefits¡­''

    He only hoped he didn''t lose all of his emotions before he tread far enough along the Idle Evolution Storyline to unlock all of the Idle Benefits.

    "Focusing on yourself?" Viola murmured with a curious glint shining in her mesmerizing eyes. "I can understand that¡­ But have you any plans for a future with a woman? With a family? With¡­ kids?"

    Cassius locked eyes with the enchanting Voidling Guild Leader. The hectic atmosphere that surrounded them added to the moment.

    People wearing various uniforms ran around, inspecting and jotting down everything they could see from the aftermath of the world''s first Gate explosion. There were even reporters from all around the world present. Yet not a single one of them seemed to be focused on the otherworldly beautiful pair inconspicuously sitting in the back.

    "Family¡­" Cassius muttered as he turned his face away from Viola''s all-too-close face. "I don''t think that is something in the books for me."

    The Voidling Guild Leader unblinkingly stared at him. It was unknown what she was thinking about, but after a couple of seconds, she looked ahead, same as him. "I''ve thought about having a family before. It''s a nice thought. A really nice thought¡­ But unfortunately, such a thing just wasn''t in the cards for me¡­"

    Cassius could sense something more to her words but decided not to delve further.

    However, unexpectedly, she shifted her gaze back to him and said, "You see¡­ as one of the only Space users in the world, and the strongest one at that, I awakened with a high affinity to the Space Element. I also happened to have a high affinity with the Void Element, which was even rarer than the Space Element."

    Cassius waited for her to get to the cusp of her story, which she did after a melancholic sigh. "Because of these two Elements, a sort of imbalance formed in my body, particularly in my¡­ womb area¡­ And none know how to solve the imbalance¡­ Family¡ªit was never in the cards for me."

    Cassius silently appraised her expression. ''She''s not lying,'' he thought. ''As for where the problem stems from, I''m not too sure. The Alien''s fragmented memories mention something about solving the issue with itself, but I don''t know what that means exactly.''

    "Anyway," Viola said with a false smile. "Are you ready to head on to the other Gates I had prepared for us today? And don''t worry, they are of the Red Rank this time."

    Cassius oddly looked at her, seemingly mulling over something.

    However, when she got up off the rubble, he, too, rose from his spot. On their way out of the damaged reflective dome, they had to¡ªor rather, Viola had to¡ªonce more report what she ''saw'' inside the Gate.

    None were able to see Cassius, so he didn''t have to do anything but look pretty.

    ...

 Chapter 197 A Mischievous MILF

    When the pair finally made it outside the glitchy-screened Dome, Viola spun around, her glittering eyes locking on his. "I''m interested to know more about you and how you can do what you do, but I won''t pry. And I also won''t tell anyone else what happened in Oblivion''s Threshold. I just hope you won''t one day alter my memories like you did with the Green Dragon Hunter Party."Cassius''s brows slightly raised. "You noticed?"

    Viola let out a small giggle before locking arms with him. "Of course I noticed, jerk. I may not look it, but I''m quite the intelligent researcher! Seeing unusual changes in other people and things is what I do best!"

    Cassius paused, then smirked. "I don''t know about you being some once-in-a-million-year genius, but you''re certainly special. Only someone incredibly special would pretend to be some quiet and introspective brooder when, in actuality, she has a bad case of the chatterbox."

    "Why thank you¡ª Wait, are you insulting me??"

    "I don''t know, you tell me," said Cassius. "You''re the genius here, while I''m but a mindless jerk."

    "You¡­"

    Viola''s cheeks puffed out as she softly hit him several times on the arm.

    Within moments, their lighthearted banter blended in with the sounds that enveloped the world. They quickly vanished from the island, then spent the next couple of hours clearing Gate after Gate. Cassius did almost 99% of the work, but with Viola''s Space Element affinity presently higher than his, she was better at transporting them from monster to monster, making for far more efficient killings.

    Of course, if he took off his now Newbie 9 Equipment Set, he would be able to move about as fast as instantaneous teleportation. But with the Set on and his Newbie 9 Training Sword by his side, his movements were severely restricted. This was where nifty Skills like Teleport came in.

    While clearing Gate after Gate all over the world, his VoidWarper Skill Set took leap after leap in terms of proficiency, especially when he started integrating Void Port into his usage of Lilith. Together, the Skill and the blade transformed the battlefield into a flash show of void portals and crimson slashes.

    Then again, this level of deadliness only became possible following the advancement of the Skill Set to Greater Completion, which increased the first two Skills'' effective movement range to 100 meters!

    Viola was, of course, extremely surprised by this method of slaying monsters. She watched many times as his jagged demonic blade vanished through a portal above his hands before appearing in front of a monster. After which, the demonic blade would pierce through the monster and instantly kill it. Sometimes, the blade would even switch things up as if it had a mind of its own, sending out bloody slashes and whatnot following its teleportation.

    It was even capable of flying around autonomously!

    Though, considering how many unbelievable things Viola had seen today, a flying sword was definitely not the craziest one.

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    ¡ªSome time later¡ª

    Five or so hours had passed since Cassius and Viola first met each other. And just a few seconds ago, they parted ways with the promise of doing this again some other time. Viola left with a lovely smile plastered across her normally emotionless face, and so too did Cassius smile. But that was only at first, for in the very same moment he looked away from the stunning beauty, his smile faded and was instead replaced with a thousand-yard stare.

    His mind was filled with the fragmented memories of the Alien he had slaughtered. In his hands also appeared the mysterious device that dropped from the Alien after its death.

    ''Although I don''t know why they''re targeting me or what they''re after, if they wish to play this game of Hunter, then I shall play as well.''

    ''I just wonder which one of us will end up being hunted to extinction first¡­''

    A cold gleam flashed past his dark red eyes as he blurred through the speedstream.

    There were a few hours left until sundown, and with the prey clearly displayed on a virtual map within his mind, it was now time to begin the¡­ Hunt.

    ¡ª--------------

    Seconds rolled over into minutes, and minutes became hours. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Impatience among a certain crazed female of the Vampire race was also on the rise¡­

    The school day had already ended. Bella felt that she had waited more than long enough! Today was supposed to be the day they eternally pledged themselves to one another! But where the hell was the groom on his big day!?

    Did he not care a single bit about how his absence affected his soon-to-be bride!? Where was the decorum!??

    It was just then that Bella''s expression drastically changed. ''It can''t be! Has he somehow figured out my plan and run away beforehand!? Has he¡­ Has he abandoned me¡­?''

    The distressed vampire could hardly believe it herself, but no matter what she did to distract herself, she couldn''t get the thought to vacate her mind. And with every passing second, her mood became worse and worse, until eventually¡­ she could no longer take it anymore.

    "That''s it! I''ll have Father find my hubby! Right now!!" she deliriously shouted while flying above Hoshito in bat form. "If my husband won''t let me love him, then I''ll make him want my love!!"

    Her crazed ramblings and giggles ceaselessly sounded out, even as she entered her old mansion house and zipped through a portal to the World of Darkness. She went on to flap her wings until reaching an absurdly massive castle, where she then found her beautiful mother.

    With mischief on her mind, the vampire MILF guided her daughter to the office that her workaholic father was currently staying in. After reaching the room and dropping off her ''gift,'' the cheeky vampire MILF closed the door behind her. She found it hard to maintain her ladylike demeanor while listening to the faint maniacal shouts of her daughter, as well as the quietness of her normally imperious husband.

    ...

 Chapter 198 {[Main Quest #6 â€˜Thwart Alien Invasion Activated]} - [SS+ Rank]

    If anyone was deriving any enjoyment from this whole sh*t show, then it was Bella''s mother. She was having the time of her life watching everything develop as it did.On the other hand, everyone else¡ªexcept for her equally troublemaking daughter¡ªwas in no way enjoying any of this. And soon, there would be one more added to the list of haters¡­

    SHING!

    A long blood-red and obsidian katana effortlessly slashed through the short, gray body of an eerie Alien. Both sides of the Alien slid off one another, putting on display the blood and guts that once resided inside the body but were now outside of it.

    As soon as this Gremlin''s death was confirmed, a System Notification rang out in Cassius''s head: sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding!*

    {[Main Quest #4]}

    {[Task: Discover and kill [20/20 Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends]]} - [?]

    {[Reward 1 - [1000 AP]]} - [Y/N]

    {[Reward 2 - [S-Rank ''Extraterrestrial Sight'']]} - [Y/N]

    {[Reward 3 - [200 Uncommon Evoballs]]} - [Y/N]

    {[Reward 4 - [S-Rank ''Stellar Flight'']]} - [Y/N]

    [System Note: You actually completed this Main Quest?? Damn! I, the mighty System, thought you wouldn''t be able to do it and would thus have to enter the Nightmarescape for longer¡ª I mean, good job on completing the Quest, Mr. Competent!]

    Cassius ignored the System and clicked yes on all of the rewards.

    None of the rewards were particularly good for the current him, but something was better than nothing!

    Well, actually, there was one reward in particular that brightened his face when he saw the Skill description connected to it... Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    [S-Rank ''Extraterrestrial Sight'']

    [Enables the User to see through vast distances or short distances and instantly tell if something is of Extraterrestrial origin or not.]

    That was the segment that Cassius focused on. Just those words alone were enough to tell him just how effective this Skill would be for finding more Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends. Although he didn''t really have a reason to continue hunting them, he¡ª

    *Ding!*

    {[Main Quest #6 ''Thwart Alien Invasion'' Activated]} - [SS+ Rank]

    ¡ª[On the Trial Floor Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, locate and kill every single Extraterrestrial that holds hostile intent for your homeland]

    [All Hostile Extraterrestrials exterminated - [0/1]]

    "SS+ Rank??" Cassius''s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "I haven''t received a single SS-Rank Quest yet, and the first one I do receive is of the ''+'' Rank¡­ My luck really is horrible."

    But more importantly than that, what really surprised him was how high a Main Quest''s rank could be while still within the bounds of Earth!

    If based on the strength of the World-class Mage Lord, there should''ve been no way for anything on Earth to reach the SS-Rank. But if the Quest''s rank was accurate¡ªand it likely was¡ªthen that meant Aliens of the SS+ threat level had already invaded¡­

    "But where are they hiding¡­? Perhaps Extraterrestrial Sight will help me find them?"

    |S-Rank Extraterrestrial Sight|

    The exact moment he used that Skill and amplified its range with his Magic Sense was also when he felt several extraordinarily powerful presences hiding out on a skull-shaped island. Located in the most isolated parts of the world, the skull-shaped island had lava pouring down the skull''s various holes. And within that grim-looking skull sat terrifyingly creepy figures, each one scarier than the last.

    Yet, right when Cassius honed in on these figures, he was forced to retract his Magic Sense, for they¡­ were staring also right back at him.

    But for some reason¡ªeven though they likely possessed the necessary capabilities to chase him down¡ªthey did nothing.

    "You felt it too, didn''t you?" One of the Extraterrestrials said while still staring off into the distance.

    "Yes, but with our powers limited on this lower plane, I was unable to trace the Magic Sense back to its origin. The owner moved quickly¡­ like a rat." One of the most powerful among them crackled his horns, his expression not so happy.

    "Probably just some nosy worm or one of those World-class Hunter weaklings!" If Cassius were here, he would know this Alien as the one playing the part of his father. The only difference being that his human form constantly fluctuated with his Kaiju form, creating a spine-tingling sight. "Once I get that idiot boy to lure ''it'' out, I''ll personally head the execution of all the pesky rats on this lowly planet!"

    A silent, beautiful figure in the back¡ªyet also the strongest among those present¡ªmade no comment on the matter. She simply kept her eyes on where the invading Magic Sense last appeared, her thoughts unknown.

    ¡ªMeanwhile, on a random street just outside Hoshito¡ª

    Cassius, who had just completed his third Main Quest and caught a glimpse of a peak beyond a peak, was now making his way back to his mansion home in the hills. The immensity of the auras he sensed still lingered in his mind, yet he decided to put the matter aside for now. If they had still not acted, then that meant they either couldn''t or they didn''t care. He was leaning toward the former option being the case.

    However, suddenly, out of nowhere, a rippling blood-red human-sized portal appeared in the middle of the street ahead. Then, out walked two figures, one man and one woman, both of the pale-faced variety.

    Cassius''s eyes flashed with surprise. "...Bella¡­?"

    "Yep, it''s me, my Hubby!" Bella replied with hearts swirling around in her eyes. No longer feeling the need to withhold anything, she outright announced, "It''s time to get married, my dear!!"

    "!?!?"

    What the fck!? No really, what the fck was she saying!?? And who was the man beside her!??

    His aura¡­

    That was when Cassius felt it.

    An aura that enveloped the world¡­

    An aura so powerful that no amount of plot armor could possibly hope to save him in a frontal assault!

    Survival chances: 0%

    The absurdities that had just left Bella''s pretty mouth seemed to be all but forgotten when Cassius saw the monstrous being that stood before him. ''Tens of Thousands¡­ No, millions¡­ No, billions! Fighting him would lead to billions of deaths¡­!''

    No chance! He stood no chance in hell!!

    Their hypothetical exchange would not be a battle or even a fight¡­ It would be suicide¡­

    ...

 Chapter 199 Duke Crestmore

    "So, you''re that womanizing bastard''s son," the pale-faced man suddenly said, causing Cassius to instinctively step back. "You''re the one¡­ who seduced my daughter. I see¡­"

    Cassius had no idea what this guy was talking about! Why was he suddenly bringing up him being someone''s son? Whose son!? He didn''t understand!

    But what he did understand¡ªwhat he understood very well¡ªwas the feeling that this pale-faced, silver-haired man gave him. Looking at him was like staring at dozens of world-sized snakes, with every single one of them venomously piercing the very core of his existence.

    "Tell me, boy," Alaric Crestmore said coldly. "What is it that you hope to attain in this life of yours? What are your goals?"

    Cassius, not expecting to hear a question like this from such an unfathomable man, took a second to screw his head on straight.

    Alaric gave him that time. He even went so far as to hold his unruly daughter back, preventing her from jumping him. However, when he finally heard what the young man had to say, his expression turned unreadable:

    "I want power. I want to see the peak of everything. Why? Maybe¡­ maybe I just believe there to be more beauty the higher you go up."

    Cassius had no clue why he answered the question so truthfully, even going so far as to reveal things that he himself didn''t fully understand. However, his candid way of speaking was not yet over, as the Vampire Duke spoke once more:

    "Your belief is wrong. There is no beauty when you reach the peak. It''s all just bloodshed and suffering¡ª"

    "Perhaps you just haven''t reached the true peak, then," Cassius interrupted. "If all you see is the bloodshed, then blood has obscured your vision. Blood only touches the bodies of those below, never those on top."

    Alaric Crestmore''s expression changed in a way that emulated just how amazed he was by the young man''s words. He pondered them, with each further insight leaving him increasingly perplexed. ''He''s right¡­ This boy¡­ He really is that bastard''s son.''

    The Vampire Duke didn''t want to admit it, but that friend of his always had a way with words. And that specific gene didn''t seem to end with the womanizing bastard, for the womanizing bastard''s son also had the potential to be a wordsmith.

    Nonetheless, as a father, he had made a promise to his daughter, and he wasn''t planning to renege on that promise simply because of a few words.

    OOOM!

    Although Alaric''s aura was severely limited on this plane of existence and his power was reduced to barely anything, it was still far more than enough to qualify him as the #1 expert in the world. And when Cassius felt this aura weigh down on him, he briefly lost control of his Newbie 9 Equipment Set.

    ''Sh*t!''

    Thinking fast and moving even faster, Cassius shifted his legs forward and zipped around the globe. In an instant, he had already reappeared in the most isolated part of the Antarctic. When he did, the weight he had lost control of a moment ago finally registered.

    BOOOOM!!!

    A fourth of the Antarctic continent split in two, with polar bears, walruses, icebergs, and various other things being forced to fly down both sides. Like two table flips from hell, the tops of both sides of the broken landmass collided with one another in destructive fashion. A hailstorm of snow and chunks of ice as large as cities plummeted from the collision point of the icy table flips.

    Yet, in the same moment countless lives were put at stake, time seemed to freeze. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    But no, that wasn''t it.

    Time hadn''t frozen; Cassius had simply sped up so quickly that it might as well have been the equivalent of frozen time for everyone else.

    While wandering in the speed stream, he cautiously looked left and right, then up. That was when he saw the mesmerizingly dangerous spectacle raining down from above. Within that beautiful danger of light blue hues and sparkling blue oceans turned upside down, he also saw Gates. Those Gates were no longer stuck to the ground, for the ground had now become the falling sky.

    There were even a number of Red-ranked and a couple of Purple-ranked Gates among those falling from the sky. Furthermore, next to the aerial position of the Gates were hundreds of men and women wearing shiny armor. Beside them were also researchers, scientists, and natives of these frigid lands.

    Cassius had chosen the most isolated spot he could find on such short notice, but there was no possible way to fully contain such immense physical weight. Even if that weight was only unleashed for a fraction of a second.

    Fortunately, Cassius had become so fast that he could save everyone and everything in the blink of an eye.

    However¡­

    FWAZIP!

    The same portal that had appeared in the street outside Hoshito reappeared here, and the same father-daughter duo walked out.

    "Why did you run from me, Hubby!?" shouted Bella. "I showered multiple times for this day to make sure everything was perfect for when we consummated our marriage! I promise you that I smell really, really good!!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "???" Cassius had no clue who the hell this girl was, but it sure as hell wasn''t the Bella that he knew. ''Is this imposter another one of the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends? But my S-Rank Extraterrestrial Sight Skill isn''t going off¡­''

    Then again, there''s the existence of her 100-score Affection Rating, which is just as high as the crazy Yimin. It shouldn''t be too surprising that she had actually been concealing her true personality all this while.

    ''But what''s all that spiel about a marriage and me being her husband? What''s she talking about¡­?''

    Cassius honestly couldn''t figure anything out. His Intelligence stat wasn''t helping much in this quandary of his.

    Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw what looked like¡­ fangs¡­ sharp, deadly fangs protruding from where her canines should be. Moreover, for some reason, they looked awfully similar to the pair he gained when he¡ª

    ''Wait¡­ The fangs, the pale complexions, the bloody auras, the pale-faced man''s cape, Bella hiding her strength, Bella turning out to be crazy and delusional¡­ Ahh¡­ They are¡­''

    "Vampires."

 Chapter 200 Transforming like Crazy!

    "Vampires."

    Bella and her father were shocked to hear this word leave Cassius''s mouth. Then they figured it was only natural that he would guess their race just based on their appearances. After all, with a lot of what people saw of vampires on television being true, they could understand the stereotype guessing.

    Little did they know that what really gave it away was the recently uncovered crazy b*tch that was Bella¡­

    Cassius had read many light novels during his time as an otaku loser, and one thing he could say for certain was that every vampire, without exception, always had a screw or two loose. Sometimes, they even had too many screws missing from their heads.

    In fact, from one story involving three wives turning out to be vampires, there were so many nutso vampire chicks that it had become all but the absolute truth for him.

    That truth being: all vampires¡­ were batsh*t crazy!

    Cassius defensively backed up. Unconsciously activating his Vampire Duke Bloodline, his eyes turned red, and his pearly white teeth grew sharper. Furthermore, his presence was enhanced by a bloody aura that told tales of countless lives having fallen to his hands.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    Alaric and his daughter were shocked by what they were seeing, but their shock had only just begun.

    In the same moment Cassius''s Vampire Duke Bloodline flared, his other Bloodlines also activated. His body underwent several drastic transformations, with his physical appearance changing so many times that his facial features transcended the phrase "exotic beauty."

    However, before Bella''s sparkling, heart-shaped eyes could fully bathe in the otherworldly sight before her, Cassius experienced yet another physical alteration. Nyxvoldar¡ªwho now sat at the S++ Rank¡ªappeared from the void and fused with his body. His physique was enhanced, his height increased, and his aura became even more terrifying.

    He was utilizing so many Bloodlines and taking advantage of so many Bloodline benefits at once that his power far exceeded what it was while in the Apocalypse Gate!

    Yet¡­

    Yet he wasn''t finished.

    "Activate Demon Dragon Transformation!"

    Cassius''s body started to bulge and expand outward as he rapidly increased in size.

    3 meters¡­ 5 meters¡­ 20 meters¡­ 300 meters¡­ 2,000 meters¡­ 10,000 meters¡­

    30,000 meters!

    He had become large enough to fit several football stadiums inside him. Moreover, he had taken on the form of a mixed-racial draconic dragon, the likes of which had never before been seen.

    That was when Bella and her father heard it¡ª

    "RRRAAAAAWWWWHHHHHHHH!!!"

    A deep, guttural, echoing roar reverberated through the earth and the sky, filled with raw, ancient power.

    "Well, I''ll be damned¡­" muttered the Vampire Duke. "That womanizing bastard sure made one hell of a kid."

    He sensed multiple Bloodlines within the magnificent body of the multi-layered, multi-colored dragon. One of them was a Bloodline that felt deeply connected to his own.

    Suspiciously looking at his daughter, he asked, "Did you?"

    Bella vehemently shook her head, having already expected her father to ask this.

    While staring up in awe at the splendiferous form that her self-proclaimed husband had taken, she said, "I''ve not bitten him yet! Definitely not! I think¡­" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...."

    Alaric knew his daughter''s personality better than the back of his own hand. It was also because of this understanding of the troublesome girl that he was 100% certain she had likely already bitten him. And from the looks of it, he was bitten quite some time ago.

    Sighing, the Vampire Duke redirected his attention back to the giant, multi-horned dragon above. His antiquated voice reverberated:

    "Boy, undo every transformation you just activated. Otherwise, I won''t go easy on you."

    The demonic dragon''s soul-shaking roar finally came to a close, with its massive, slitted eyes now fixated on the two tiny figures below. Yet, even despite the vast size difference, Cassius knew for certain that he''d lose in a battle against the pale-faced, middle-aged man.

    Realizing that peace was a better option, he asked in a booming voice, "Why are you targeting me?? And what is your relationship with Bella???"

    Alaric''s lips curved up slightly after seeing how sensible this young man was. He began to speak:

    "I will briefly explain¡ª"

    But was interrupted by Bella''s infatuated voice. "You see, Hubby, the truth is that we¡­ Blah, blah, blah¡­"

    She spent the next good three minutes in slowed-down time explaining everything to Cassius in her own delusional and highly optimistic way.

    When the explanation finally reached its conclusion, he was left gobsmacked¡ªutterly flabbergasted! Dumbfounded! Bewildered!¡ªhe was all of the above!!

    Bella had not concealed a single thing from him.

    Seeing as she now considered herself his faithful wife, it would be wrong of her to hide things from her husband. Therefore, it was only right that she told him everything he wanted to know the exact moment he asked!

    In Bella''s mind, she was already on the correct track to being the #1 wifey in the whole universe!

    Little was she aware¡­ or too optimistic to realize¡­ that she had lost the fight, the battle, and the war the very moment she revealed everything to him! Because¡­ holy f*cking sht!!

    This vampire chick was actually the genuine definition of batsh*t badonkers!! She was a lunatic!!!

    Even Alaric, her father, was embarrassed after listening to her recap everything since the very moment she first laid eyes on Cassius. With every further word she joyously sputtered, another dagger pierced through Alaric''s chest and punctured his heart. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    He truly had no idea how his precious baby girl had become so far gone¡­

    ''Female vampires are notoriously known for pursuing their potential partners no matter the cost, but even her mother was not this much of a hopeless case back in the day,'' Alaric thought as he began to sympathize with the boy. ''Your entire life was essentially ruined by my fool of a daughter¡­ Haiz, even though I want to stab you silly for seducing my baby girl, I know deep down that it would''ve eventually come down to this either way¡­''

 Chapter 201 Alaric, the Pushover

    ''Poor lad,'' was all Alaric could think as he neutrally observed all the emotions filtering through the massive Demon Dragon''s sinuous expression.

    "My whole life¡­" Cassius began to mutter, his enormous form slowly shrinking and returning to what it originally was. "My Extreme Hyperthyroidism, my Dilapidating Body Deterioration Syndrome, all the isolation I was forced to endure because of my hideous looks¡­ That was all¡­ you¡­?"

    Bella repeatedly nodded, hearts still swimming inside her sparkling eyes. "Yep, yep, that was me, my love! Me and Daddy!" Suddenly realizing something, she hysterically added, "But you see it, don''t you!? That I did all of this for you!?? I couldn''t have any more thieving b*tches¡ªlike the ones you temporarily have at your home¡ªlatching onto you, so¡­ so I did the only reasonable thing!" She clasped her hands and stared at him as if he were the whole world to her.

    "Holy¡­ holy sh*t," Cassius mindlessly murmured, his gaze becoming listless. "This is¡­ this can''t honestly be true¡­"

    But it was. And he knew it was.

    Then again, how was he just supposed to accept everything he''d just heard come from the mouth of a pretty girl he had only ever known to be polite and caring!?? What in the hell was going on here?!??

    Was the script chucked out the window or some sh*t!?

    "I don''t mean to interrupt your coping time, boy," said Alaric. "But if we don''t get the Vampire Couple Contractual Ceremony done before the night''s end, we''ll have to wait another half a year for the next bloodred moon cycle in Nightingale. Then again, perhaps my daughter would be¡ª"

    "No! Now!" Bella spat out, dangerously glaring at the hesitant middle-aged man. "We must get married today!! I want him to love me today!!"

    "¡­Yes¡­ very well¡­"

    Even though Cassius was about to be kidnapped and forced into a vampire marriage by their Vampire Duke, he couldn''t help but feel a little sorry for him. Although the Duke was the one who placed this supposed ''Seal'' on him, he was, in the end, a victim, just like him.

    He was also a¡­ pushover.

    However, with far more pressing concerns on his mind¡ªlike figuring out how to escape this nightmare and never think about it again¡ªCassius''s pupils darted subtly around the scene. He was searching for any possible way out of the mess he''d found himself in.

    Time seemed to crawl as their conversation sped unnaturally fast. This slowed-time effect allowed Cassius and his two vampire captors to speak without interruption, even as powerful human presences drew closer.

    The source of their approach was unmistakable: a thunderous explosion that had shaken the very foundation of the world. Its cause? None other than the brief but overwhelming weight of the Newbie 9 Equipment Set.

    But regardless of what would happen in a short while because of his actions, Cassius was far more keen on figuring out how to escape. Fighting was not an option, and with a very limited planet as the playing turf, running also didn''t appear to be an option.

    So then¡­ what the f*ck should he do!?

    Alaric''s time-long eyes narrowed. "What are you thinking about, boy? Don''t make me regret believing that you''re smart," he said coldly. "If you foolishly attempt to escape, it''ll just make me look down on you even more. I don''t care if you''re a bloodbag human, but I don''t like cowards. Be a man¡ªconfront your problems head-on."

    ''That''s easy for you to say!'' Cassius inwardly shouted. ''You''re not the one whose entire life was basically orchestrated by an insane vampire chick who has gone off her rockers! Did you even listen to the same things I heard come out of her mouth!? She''s fcking insane!''

    Momma always said, "Don''t put your dck in crazy."

    And he wasn''t looking to f*ck around and find out!

    But with escape and fighting out of the question, what was he to do!? Was his only option to give up and let this crazy vampire family do what they wanted with him!??

    F*ck no!

    He wouldn''t allow it!!

    So then what!?

    What should he do???

    That was when a lightbulb flashed inside his mind. ''If I can neither stay and fight nor run away, then I really have but one available option to take.''

    Steeling his resolve, Cassius gritted his teeth and announced inside his mind, ''I would like to enter the Nightmarescape!''

    A smug emoticon materialized for his eyes only.

    [Oh, would you now? ???]

    [How much do you want to go to the Nightmarescape? After all those times I magnanimously offered you a free ticket to the best place in the world, and yet you only now consider going? How do you think this makes me feel¡­?]

    [(¡ñ¡ä?`¡ñ)]

    ''I don''t give a f*ck how it makes you feel!'' was what Cassius wanted to shout at the top of his lungs.

    "???" "???" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Both Bella and her father tilted their heads in confusion as they watched the handsome, half-naked man¡­ have an argument with himself?

    "Maybe my daughter and he really are a match made in heaven," Alaric mumbled to himself as he shifted his gaze between two different versions of crazy.

    Bella''s heart-shaped eyes brightened. "I know, Daddy! Aren''t we the definition of soulmates!?" Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    ¡­Yes, but not for the reason you believe¡­

    Shaking his head, Alaric decided to just get things done and over with. He sauntered toward the perplexing young man. Stretching his hand out, he was prepared to restrain Cassius and take him back to Nightingale with his daughter.

    However, just as his dark, bloody energy shot out in the form of chain tendrils, something changed in the young man''s presence. Alaric instinctively retracted his hand, yet didn''t know why he did so right after. His brows furrowed as he once again stretched out his hand, this time with even more momentum behind his actions.

    OOOM!!!

    "!!!"

    Alaric immediately retreated. He covered his infatuated daughter in a translucent barrier before carrying her along with him. Then, with astonishment etched across his face, he watched as an oval-shaped black congregation materialized behind Cassius. The congregation emitted no energy waves, and there was no movement on its flat, swirling surface.

    But something¡­ something was ominously dangerous about the congregation¡­

 Chapter 202 I Hope We Never Meet Again

    But when the Vampire Duke looked into this black congregation, he was baffled to see something that even he, with all his knowledge, couldn''t comprehend. The congregation felt detached from reality, yet it contained within it a level of danger that made him cautiously activate every defensive Skill he could utilize on this Floor.

    ''What the hell is that thing!?'' Alaric questioned, his eyes widening as he saw the same black congregation tug at and pull Cassius toward it.

    At first, Cassius was surprised by what happened after telling the System to bring him to the Nightmarescape. However, when he felt no threat to his life, he relaxed his nerves and let whatever was happening happen. He did so while calmly sweeping his eyes between the vampire daughter-father pair, who had already retreated quite a distance away. In particular, his icy eyes honed in on the beautiful, worrisome expression of the girl he once considered to be something like a sister.

    If only for the briefest of moments, the way Cassius looked at Bella became rather¡­ sad.

    He was also angry.

    But what was the point of being angry? Would taking his anger out on her change anything? It wouldn''t rewrite the past. It wouldn''t accomplish anything.

    Plus, in a way, what Bella and her father had done to him was a gateway of sorts that made it possible for the Idle Evolution System to enter his life. Without everything happening as it did, it was tough to determine whether the System ever would''ve made him its Host. And without the System¡­

    Without the System, he was nothing. The System was both the cause of his pain and his salvation.

    Sighing, Cassius said to Bella, "It seems this is where we part ways¡­ You know, I honestly thought we had something going for us¡­ But I guess¡­ I guess it was all just my imagination."

    Bella''s expression drastically changed as she reached out, but was held back by her apprehensive father. "We did have something, husband! We do have something! Just come with me, and I''ll show you everything! We can be together forever!"

    Cassius faintly smiled as a reminiscent look formed on his face. "Do you remember what you told me that day at the arcade? You said, ''Just look around you. Look at all that you have.''

    "Your words meant a lot to me that day," he murmured. "But it seems I didn''t look hard enough¡­ I saw your Affection Rating; I should''ve realized sooner that something was off, and I did. Yet I didn''t further pursue the matter." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Perhaps I just didn''t want to lose what I already had. Perhaps I wanted to continue living in an illusion. A greedy, hoarding dragon¡­ I guess that phrase fits me well."

    All the color quickly drained from Bella''s once-spirited face as she did everything in her power to break free from her father''s grip. Something inside her was telling her that this wasn''t how things were supposed to be. This wasn''t what was supposed to happen!

    Above all else, she feared.

    She feared what would happen if she let him leave today!

    She knew¡­ she just knew that nothing would ever again be the same.

    That was when a certain thought entered her mind:

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    ''Was I¡­ was I wrong¡­?''

    The moment that thought appeared, Bella''s entire world started to crumble and collapse. What she was feeling¡­ it was scary. So very scary.

    In her fright, tears streamed down her face as she hit the ground with a thud. Her father''s large hand was tightly holding her down, afraid that she would do something foolish. Yet his expression¡ªit was no better than hers. He averted his gaze from both his daughter and the warmly smiling young man whom he was originally supposed to capture.

    Through tears, Bella reached out her trembling hand toward the person whom she considered to be her whole world. "I¡­ I love you¡­ I love you so much¡­! You are my everything!!"

    "I know," Cassius said fondly. "I''m sorry that it took so long for me to realize."

    He briefly paused.

    "I''m also sorry¡­ that I''ll not be able to reciprocate your love."

    That was the final blow.

    The final strike against a heart that had been twisted for as long as Bella could remember.

    *Bzzztttt¡ª!!!*

    As the black congregation became more volatile and took away more and more stretched-out parts of Cassius''s body, a group of dark clouds appeared above the Antarctic. Large droplets of rain beat down on the world below. A girl¡ªwith a face as if her whole reality had collapsed¡ªknelt in the mushy, snowy ground. Her eyes dimmed until they turned lifeless.

    Tears ceaselessly rolled down her cheeks. Lightning struck, lighting her sorrowful face in a mixture of glowing blues and whites.

    Alaric''s expression became complicated. He had not expected something like this to occur, and yet it had¡­

    Cassius looked one final time at the heartbroken girl. His final words¡ªwhich echoed out as the last of his being passed through the black congregation¡ªfurther shredded Bella''s already dilapidated heart:

    "This is goodbye, Bella. I hope we never meet again. And I hope you forget about me. Do yourself that favor¡­ please."

    FWIP!

    With that, Cassius vanished. His entire being had been transported into the black congregation. The congregation closed up at the same moment his face was erased from the bleak-faced girl''s line of sight.

    "¡­Husband¡­ my love¡­" Bella, suddenly overwhelmed with a waterfall of emotions, deliriously screamed, "NOOOOooooo¡ª!!! Cass! Come back!! I-I¡­ I don''t want you to go¡­ Why¡­ why won''t you let me love you¡­? I¡­ I don''t understand¡­"

    She went through several complex emotions in a fraction of a second. Her puffy eyes ultimately ran out of tears, and her face froze.

    Bella was lost¡­

    She didn''t¡­

    She didn''t know who she was without Cassius.

    Who¡­?

    He was her everything.

    Without him, she was¡­ she was nothing.

    ¡ªMultiple minutes passed by like a slow, agonizing crawl¡ª

    Even after the two table-flipped ice walls clashed into one another, and even after Hunters walked to and fro around the seemingly invisible vampire pair, they hadn''t moved from their spots. They now sat under a large semi-translucent crimson bubble that stopped anything from touching or seeing them. Following the aftereffects of the two ice walls'' collision, they were quickly submerged under countless tons of ice and snow, but neither seemed to care.

    They just existed in that spot, each going through a whirlwind of emotions¡­

    Until, eventually¡­

 Chapter 203 The Nightmarescape

    Alaric, feeling that it had been long enough, let go of his hand, allowing Bella to move freely.

    She didn''t move, or even make a peep.

    She just knelt there, her lifeless eyes mindlessly staring at where Cassius last stood.

    "It''s time to go," said the Vampire Duke, his voice tinged with pain from seeing her in such a state.

    No response.

    An ancient sigh rustled the snow that surrounded them as the millennium-old Vampire tenderly lifted up his daughter. Putting her in a princess carry, he teleported from his spot. The snow that once covered them quickly filled in the place where they just were.

    Nothing had gone as expected¡­ and the Vampire Duke worried over just how long it would take his precious baby girl to recover.

    He wanted so badly to blame the womanizing bastard''s son for this, but he just couldn''t¡­

    He could only blame himself for not guiding his daughter away from the insane path she wound up taking. Hell, he had even assisted her in making things worse than they already were!

    ''Haiz¡­ Hopefully something unexpected occurs¡­''

    The Crestmore Vampire Duke''s optimistic thoughts whisked through the open skies as he carried his distraught and unresponsive daughter back to Nightingale.

    ¡ª-------------

    ¡ªMeanwhile, within a space enveloped in pure darkness¡ª

    ZIP!

    A figure of color appeared in this place devoid of light. The figure raced through the pitch-black space at speeds that made no sense. For an unknown period of time, this figure was forcefully pulled through space until, eventually¡­

    FWIP!

    The figure dropped out of the skies above a town located in a small part of a country called Mistalore.

    "In the Land of Beginnings, within our great country of Mistalore, an angel of light descended from the heavens! I swear it upon the God of Beginnings! It really happened!"

    A man draped in low-quality peasant clothing theatrically spoke to a small group of similarly dressed people. He made use of grand hand gestures and even emphasized just how radiantly that descending angel had fallen.

    A larger man in slightly better clothing scoffed aloud. "You really expect us to believe what you, the boy who cries wolf, has to say? What do you take us for? Fools?"

    "Yeah, yeah, he''s the only one who says he saw this supposed Angel! The last time we listened to his crazed ravings, we organized all of the townspeople and the guards for nothing!"

    "Exactly!"

    "Randal''s probably just lying again!"

    "No¡­ That isn''t what I''m doing!" The man whom others knew as Randal defended himself in any way he could.

    Yet all his denying only made those around him believe what the larger peasant said. ''He''s lying,'' they all thought.

    "This¡­ why¡­ why won''t any of you believe me!?" Randal, feeling many grievances, smashed his hand against a table and ran out of the pub they were in.

    He ran and ran. He didn''t stop running until he made it out of the bounds of the small, quaint town he grew up in. Eventually, he reached the woods that the village of Littlegreen had barred off as a forbidden zone. Deadly monsters and mysterious creatures were rumored to wander these woods.

    When Randal finally opened his eyes and stopped to catch his breath, he dreadfully realized where he was. His expression suddenly dropped as his eyes erratically darted around. He was attempting to locate a way out of the woods.

    However, every direction looked exactly the same!

    It was all just tall, spooky trees that eerily scratched against one another in the blowing wind.

    "Esceeetch¡ª!!!"

    "!!!"

    That was when he heard it¡ªa spine-tingling shriek that sent him running for the hills! He fled in the opposite direction of whatever made that sound.

    A few minutes later, and after once again needing to slow down to catch his breath, Randal saw something from the corner of his eye. He pushed away from the creepy tree he was leaning on, then approached an all-too-familiar light.

    "This light¡­ it''s the Angel''s glow¡­" As if in a dazed trance, Randal took slow steps toward a large crater.

    Above the crater was a tree canopy that looked as if a meteorite had blasted through it. Tree branches were snapped, and small red fires crackled on and below the tree canopy. Yet, with the threat of potential danger barely registering in Randal''s mind, he stepped into the crater and descended until he was less than a few feet away from the light. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The light itself was crimson, red as blood. It was roughly the size of a door and fluctuated with an energy source that couldn''t be determined by Randal.

    "The Angel¡­ is it inside the Angel''s Glow¡­?"

    Just as those words left his mouth, the crimson light began to rapidly expand. Then, without a moment''s notice, it exploded!

    "What!? Ahhh¡ª!" Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Randal was pushed back and sent tumbling.

    When he pried open his eyes and returned his gaze toward the crimson light, he was shocked to find that the light had disappeared!

    He was even more astonished to discover an extraordinarily handsome man with long black hair and deathly blue eyes standing where the light once was.

    "Are you¡­ the Angel¡­?"

    Hearing this question, the blue-eyed man locked his gaze on the peasant. Unknown thoughts seemed to swirl inside his mind. Yet, after a moment of thought, he vanished from his spot. Or, at least, he tried to¡­

    "Hmm¡­?" The handsome man looked down at his feet, quickly realizing that he couldn''t move anywhere as fast as he previously could. According to his estimates, he was at least a million times slower now.

    The handsome man frowned, then readjusted his movements and walked toward the powerless peasant. From the peasant''s perspective, however, he looked like a willowy phantom. And before the peasant knew it, the phantom had already appeared less than a couple of feet away from him.

    Now that the peasant got a better look at this mysterious man, he saw something that didn''t feel like what an angel should feel like.

    "The Devil''s Breath¡­!?" he exclaimed, as fear gradually crept up his face.

 Chapter 204 A Devil!?

    "Devil''s Breath?" Cassius repeated. Having never heard that term before, he asked, "What do you mean by that? My Killing Intent, perhaps?"

    "The Devil''s Breath is the Devil''s Breath!" shouted Randal. "Death hangs over the dead like the breath of a yawning beast! Death just like the one that hangs over you! You¡­ You are no Angel¡­ but a Devil¡­!!"

    The scared peasant clambered to his feet, then moved his shaky legs in an attempt to escape the area.

    He had to report back to the village and tell them what he saw!

    He just hoped they''d believe him this time¡­ They had to!

    *Pat!*

    Before Randal could move even a few feet away from his original position, Cassius''s muscular right hand clamped down on his left shoulder. "Stay here for now; I have some more questions I wish to ask you," he said calmly. "Don''t worry, I won''t harm you."

    "N-No!! Stay back, you Devil!" Randal tried to resist but couldn''t do a single thing against the physical power that kept him in place.

    Cassius, while curiously looking at this peasant, thought, ''Although all parameters of my power have been severely reduced, I can still exhibit the approximate strength of a High D-Rank Hunter. But as for my Mana, Elements, and other various facets¡ªall of them are unavailable for some reason. When I go to activate one of them or one of my Elemental-based Skills, a fuse ignites, but then it gets instantly blown out.''

    He could still utilize the power of the Sword God''s Training Manual, the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, and, of course, the System. But everything else was barred from use, including the SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set he had just acquired. Moreover, all of his Bloodlines now had large locks over them in his System Interface.

    The first thing Cassius did when he arrived was ask the System about the weirdness of his Bloodlines, but the answer he received was: [Figure it out yourself, umu!]. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    Conveniently, some native human lifeform of sorts had appeared right when he arrived.

    "Well, I can give you a choice if you would like one," he said, to which Randal replied, "Y-Yes, Devil, you should give me a choice!"

    Cassius faintly smirked as he said seriously, "Your choices are simple. One: you tell me what I want to know, and I''ll let you go on your way. Or two: I extract your memories myself and watch as you writhe in pain until you eventually¡­ die."

    He wasn''t in the best of moods right now; he would do exactly what he said he would.

    Randal instinctively knew that, which was why, after hesitating with a deep grimace, he sluggishly said, "F-Fine¡­ I''ll tell you whatever you want to know¡­"

    Cassius nodded, loosening his grip on the man of around 22 years of age. "Oh, and if you dare lie to me¡ªand trust me, I''ll know¡ªI''ll just kill you anyway. But not before extracting your memories."

    Randal furiously nodded. Large beads of sweat trickled down his face of average handsomeness as he truthfully answered everything asked of him.

    ¡ªThree minutes later¡ª

    "So we''re in the Village of Littlegreen within a Kingdom called Mistalore. Hmm¡­ so I have somehow been transported to a world stuck in the Middle Ages¡­ This is supposed to be the Land of Nightmares? The Nightmarescape? Something''s not adding up¡­"

    Surprise flashed past Randal''s average face. "You know of the Land of Nightmares, good sir!?"

    The peasant''s attitude toward him had taken a total 180 in the last few minutes, but more importantly than that, it seemed like he knew something Cassius didn''t.

    "You know of the Land of Nightmares?"

    Randal nodded twice. "Yes, good sir, of course I know of the Land of Nightmares! It is what the heroic Nightmare Slayers journey into for the sole goal of protecting the Land of Beginnings and all the people inside it!"

    Cassius''s expression froze, then he narrowed his eyes while glancing at the profusely sweating System Interface. ''You fcked up, didn''t you?''

    *Ding¡­*

    [T-The Mighty Idle Evolution System does not f*ck up, you inconsiderate Host! It''s all just¡­ just a calculated mistake! Yes, that''s it. I accidentally calculated a mistake that just so happened to send you to the Secret Realm that borders the Land of Nightmares!]

    [And I may have also accidentally locked your Daily Quest to this Realm as well¡­ And you maybe, just maybe still need to get over there and spend an hour there to complete the Quest¡­ That is assuming you still want to get back to Earth¡­ Teehee¡­]

    [(?? ?3??)]

    "Don''t teehee me, you dumb bastard!"

    "???" Randal tilted his head in confusion. "Is something the matter, good sir? I heard Devils hear voices constantly ringing in their heads¡­ Is that the case here as well? But, oh no¡­ G-Good sir, don''t listen to the voice if it''s telling you to kill me! I promise you that I can be extremely useful if given the chance!"

    Cassius left his frustrating conversation with his oh-so-beloved System.

    Shifting his perturbed expression toward the peasant, he asked, "The Land of Nightmares¡ªhow do I get there from here?"

    Randal, unable to believe what he was hearing, said, "Good sir, surely you don''t mean what you''re saying. Anyone who''s anyone knows that the only way to journey into the Land of Nightmares is to become a Nightmare Slayer. And to do that¡­"

    "To do that, what?"

    Sensing his growing impatience, Randal directly said, "To become a Nightmare Slayer, you need to head to the Capital of Mistalore and take the Nightmare Slayer admittance examination¡­."

    "And what''s so bad about that?" asked Cassius, confused as to why the peasant was making such a big deal out of it.

    Though, his brows did raise a bit when he heard Randal say, "The mortality rate¡­ The mortality rate for those who take the Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination is over 95%¡­ And devils aren''t allowed to participate. You''ll be executed on the spot¡­" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius coldly snorted. "Well, it''s a good thing I''m not a Devil, then. Now, tell me, which way is it to the Capital of Mistalore?"

 Chapter 205 12th Royal Mistalore Princess

    Randal hesitatingly responded, "The Capital is that-a-way, good sir. Around 25 days of walking, 10 days by carriage, or roughly 600 miles away."

    He pointed to the North. And that was good enough for Cassius, who vanished in the next second, repeatedly dashing through the spooky forest at thousands of miles per hour.

    "What a weird Devil he was," Randal incoherently murmured before turning around and heading back out the way he came in. "Hehe¡­ I can''t wait to tell everyone about what I saw this time! They''ll definitely believe me!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They won''t.

    ¡ª15 Minutes Later¡ª

    FWIP!

    Now arriving at the highest point of a hill overlooking a vast and prosperous city, Cassius settled on an overhanging boulder. Surveying the area below, he saw innumerable acres of lush green fields. Some fields were yellow, and grazing on the grass that grew in those fields were animals the likes of which he had never seen before.

    A mixture between a giant lizard and a cow¡ªit couldn''t be said for certain, but from appearances alone, it sure seemed like it. Nonetheless, they were well over ten meters in length, with some even reaching as much as thirty meters. Moreover, there also appeared to be people of the human variety riding in wooden pagodas latched to the tops of their large, scaly backs.

    That was another thing¡ªthere were only humans everywhere Cassius looked.

    ''This is supposed to be some sort of Middle-Aged world in a fantasy setting, right? So then where are the beastpeople and whatnot?,'' he thought. ''Is this a human-only kingdom or something?''

    Cassius was correct.

    The Kingdom of Mistalore was strictly populated by humans. Immigration of other species, such as the Devils, was strictly forbidden, which was why Randal the Peasant reacted as he did. Even those with trace amounts of certain Bloodlines in them were often harshly persecuted and treated unfairly.

    In a way, one could say that having his Bloodlines restricted was a blessing in disguise.

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    "Either way, I need to get into that city and find the quickest way to become a Nightmare Slayer," said Cassius, his feet already fluttering off the ground as he started his descent down the cliff.

    ¡ªThe Royal City of Mistalore¡ª

    As the Capital of the Mistalore Kingdom, the Royal City served as the city with both the highest luxury of living and the highest cost of living. There were tens of thousands of buildings scattered across the city that spanned a distance of dozens of miles. Moreover, at the very center of the city lay the crown jewel of the Capital.

    The Church of the Land of the Beginnings. And right beside it¡ªthe Nightmare Slayer Training Grounds.

    The former was a massive gold and white marbled temple. At the top front of the temple was a magnificent pure-golden statue depicting a man holding a large chunk of floating stone land.

    The God of Beginnings and the Land of Beginnings¡ªthat was what the man as the statue and the chunk of land in his hands represented.

    And yes, this meant that the Land of Beginnings was not spherical like the planet known as Earth. Rather, it was said to be an extremely enormous continent that stretched in all directions for who knew how many miles.

    As for the God of Beginnings¡ªto devout followers of the primary religion in this realm¡ªhe was the one who created the world and planted the seed that brought about all life.

    More than 95% of the population were passionate followers or believed in the existence of the God of Beginnings. Thus, as opposed to Christianity or any other religions on Earth, it was a religion that vastly dominated the religious field.

    Coming in at around a third the size of the massive golden temple and half the size of the huge, mesmerizing palace that sat behind it was the Nightmare Slayer Training Grounds.

    These training grounds were where all off-duty Nightmare Slayers stayed while they weren''t fighting for glory in the Land of Nightmares. Furthermore, it was the place where any aspiring Nightmare Slayers went if they wished to become official Nightmare Slayers.

    The Nightmare Slayer profession.

    The pay was good, the respect was better, and the fame even better. But for the sake of a high status and a higher lifestyle, there naturally came a cost. That cost being the high fatality rate, both to become a Nightmare Slayer and to continue living as one.

    Within the bustling streets outside the Nightmare Slayer Training Grounds, thousands of people had gathered around the colossal colosseum. The traffic was higher than normal today for two simple reasons.

    One: the Annual Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination was beginning today.

    And two:

    "Have you heard?? There''s a rumor going around that the 12th Princess is going to be attempting the Nightmare Slayer Trials as a preparation ritual for her 19th birthday ceremony in a couple of days!"

    "The prodigal Princess!? There''s no way such a rumor holds any grounds! Why would a lady of such illustrious status even bother taking the Nightmare Slayer Trials??? It doesn''t make any sense!"

    "You really don''t know? The 12th Royal Princess is notoriously known for her¡­ ''unique'' personality. The point being that she''s incredibly strong-willed! Though, to the King and his 1st Wife, she''s simply¡­ rebellious¡­"

    "Isn''t that considered treason, what you just said!?"

    "Bah! What do you know?? I''m a full-blooded patriot! Rahhh¡ª!"

    Slipping through crowds of people having similar conversations was a hooded man. He wore the Shadow Monarch''s Cloak, but because of the restrictions imposed on this world, the prominent shadowy effect of the Cloak had all but been erased.

    "Make way for her Highness, the 12th Royal Princess of the Mistalore Kingdom!"

    A boisterous voice suddenly boomed, causing Cassius to slightly lift up his icy blue eyes. Observing the beautiful figure that just appeared, his expression drastically changed.

    ''She''s not¡­ human,'' he thought.

    Her appearance, or at least the appearance everyone else was able to see, was that of a stunningly pretty girl with long braided snowy white hair and lightly shaded red eyes. She possessed a petite frame, had modest¡ªnot too small, not too big¡ªbreasts, and wore a black and red, partially armored kimono.

    But overall, she just looked like any other extremely gorgeous human girl.

    When, in actuality, she was anything but¡­

 Chapter 206 Yuna Mistalore

    ''Long, upward-curved horns that glisten like the most opulent of rubies, enchantingly fluffy gray eyelashes that flutter with an inhuman grace, and her concealed aura¡­ How intriguing¡­''

    Cassius had no idea what was actually going on here, but just knowing that she was not human meant that there were likely many complicated matters deeply rooted in this kingdom. If at all possible, he would''ve preferred to stay away from all the trouble. However, as the 12th Princess indifferently walked past the large sea of people he was blending in with, her jewel-like eyes darted toward him.

    It was only for a moment, but it definitely happened.

    And in that instant, as if instinctually, Cassius subconsciously realized that the trouble would certainly be coming straight to him¡­

    After that tense moment of eye contact passed, the 12th Princess, Yuna Mistalore, shifted her gaze away from him. Looking at the intimidatingly large colosseum looming over, she briefly paused.

    Taking a slightly longer breath, she ultimately approached the cracked colosseum doors and disappeared inside.

    That was when the peasants and lower nobles congregated around the colosseum finally learned to breathe. The heated discussions then resumed in a rather loud fashion.

    "So that''s the 12th Royal Princess?? I haven''t seen her in person until now, but she''s so beautiful! Possibly the most beautiful girl in the country!"

    "Indeed, indeed. She has a quiet, mysterious way about her. It really sucks you in and makes you want her to suck something else!"

    "What did you just say, you perverted bastard!? You won''t be getting within even a hundred meters of the Princess again! Why? Because you''re about to experience what it''s like to be a cripple!!"

    "Har!? You bastards wanna go at it!? Fine, let''s fight!!"

    Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    A brawl started in the streets.

    The city guards eventually had to intervene, but by the time they got around to breaking up the fight, the perverted man had already lost. He had been beaten to a pulp, with his face more like a pig''s than a human''s. Furthermore, both of his legs and both of his arms had been shattered beyond recovery.

    Unless a benevolent Saintess or Saint assisted the perverted bastard, he would likely forever remain a cripple¡­

    Anyway, making use of the commotion occurring among the crowd, Cassius discreetly approached the two large colosseum doors and slipped inside. He did so unnoticed. However, once arriving on the other side of the large doors, he was almost immediately found out.

    "Another newcomer? And this one seems to like keeping things secretive!"

    A young man of around 23 years of age with medium-length blonde hair approached Cassius with a smug look on his handsome face. Upon getting a little closer, he bent down and looked into the hood, only to stumble back a step when he saw the cold pair of icy blue eyes hiding within the darkness of the cloak.

    Though, once he realized what he had done, the blonde-haired man coldly snorted. "Yeah, well, whatever, dude. I can be all mysterious if I really wanted to as well!"

    "Yeah, right."

    A mocking feminine voice sounded out from the side, prompting the blonde-haired man to shoot a nasty glare in a black-haired woman''s direction. "Are you itching for a fight, Diana? Because I''ll give you one."

    The woman called Diana scoffed before shifting her large witch''s hat a bit to the side. "A fight with you would be like battling a mentally disabled toddler, Christopher. That is to say that it wouldn''t be much of a fight. The negative karma I''d gain from such a scenario might even cause me some serious backlash!"

    "Why you¡­!"

    Christopher and Diana butted heads as sparks of anger flew all around.

    Cassius stood in the back, acting as if none of what was happening had anything to do with him. He was going to quietly vacate the scene. At least, that was until he heard a soft feminine voice that seemed to melt into one''s ears like honey:

    "You don''t need to concern yourselves with them. They''re like this all of the time."

    Looking toward the source of this beautiful voice, Cassius saw the same white-haired woman that those outside called the 12th Royal Princess. Her eyes still mildly glowed red like a warm sunset, and the calm way about her had not changed one bit.

    Holding one hand over the other and both hands on the pelvis area of her kimono, Yuna soothingly said, "I saw you outside. You''re¡­ interesting¡­"

    After processing the initial surprise, Cassius''s expression returned to complete neutrality. "I saw you as well, and I can reciprocate the feeling of interest."

    Yuna silently appraised his barely visible face. After a second, she walked to a spot beside him and said, "You can see them, can''t you? My unique qualities?"

    "You can tell?"

    "Call it intuition."

    "I see¡­"

    They once again entered a period of silence while apathetically watching Christopher and Diana butt heads. Others who came to take the Nightmare Slayer test eventually had to interfere, and only then did the heated air thaw out. Though, with hundreds of participants gathered here in this wide colosseum space and every single one of them prideful youngsters, more arguments were bound to occur.

    But out of everyone here waiting for something to happen, the two vastly contrasting figures standing to the far back seemed to be the most unbothered. They looked ahead, yet only appeared to be focused on one another.

    "Your name?" Cassius suddenly turned his head toward her and asked, to which she did the same and answered, "My name is Yuna. Yuna Mistalore. But you already knew that, did you not? Why ask?" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Isn''t it only proper to ask someone''s name?"

    Yuna thought for a second, then nodded. "Makes sense."

    Silence.

    Cassius had looked away from the short beauty, but seeing as her intense stare was still drilling into his side, he said, "My name is Cassius. Cassius Steele."

    Only after hearing his name did Yuna return to staring ahead.

    After a couple of seconds.

    "How were you able to see my true appearance?" asked Yuna, once again looking in his direction. "Even the Senior Nightmare Slayers, the Court Mages, the Royal Knights, and my father were unable to view my true appearance. So how could you?"

    Cassius faintly smiled. Without locking eyes with her, he said, "Call it intuition."

    Stare....

 Chapter 207 313th Annual Nightmare Slayer Trials

    Cassius could, of course, feel those sparkling eyes of Yuna''s never leave his side, but he remained unfazed. He swept his gaze over the hundreds of young men and women termed participants. Although they varied in social status and wore clothing of differing quality, their power levels weren''t far apart from one another.

    Even with most of his abilities limited in this world, he was still very much capable of using the "Magic Eyes" that came as a built-in System Function. This was how he could accurately determine everyone''s approximate strength.

    [Christopher (Male Human)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

    [Approximate (Earth) Rank: A++]

    [Diana (Female Human)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

    [Approximate (Earth) Rank: A++]

    From what Cassius had learned on his way through the Royal City, there were five known Realms of power among those in the Land of Beginnings. Each one was further split into seven stages, and those Realms were ranked, from lowest to highest, as follows:

    1- [Apprentice Slayer]

    2- [3rd Class Slayer]

    3- [2nd Class Slayer]

    4- [1st Class Slayer]

    5- [Transcendent Slayer] Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    Those of the 1st Class Slayer Realm could already become rulers of entire kingdoms once they served their time as Nightmare Slayers and retired. In fact, the current King of the Mistalore Kingdom was a 1st Class Slayer in the 2nd Stage, making him incredibly formidable in the Land of Beginnings.

    As for Transcendent Slayers, they were all but urban myths to the people of this world. None had been seen in the last few thousand years¡ªnot since the dramatic conclusion of the Battle of Nightmare''s End.

    That day marked the sudden disappearance of all Transcendent Slayers who had bravely fought to defend the world against the Nine True Nightmares, each of whom was said to be capable of battling Transcendent Slayers head-on.

    ''Based on the A++ levels of everyone here, I can see that the ranking system of this world goes far beyond the one I come from,'' Cassius thought with great interest. ''Furthermore, this also means that my strength and abilities are not necessarily restricted, but that this world has higher-level world laws¡­ or something¡­''

    Having read many cultivation light novels in his past life, he knew the classic higher-world tropes very well. The higher you go, the more gravity pushes down on you. It was the same situation here.

    Glancing over at the gorgeous petite woman still staring holes into him with her eyes, Cassius saw another System tag. This time, however, it was a bit more complicated than the others.

    [Yuna Mistalore (Female Human/Yokai Hybrid)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (7th Stage)]

    [Approximate Rank: S-Rank]

    ''Not even at the 3rd Class Slayer Realm and yet already an S Neutral Rank Awakener equivalent? How interesting¡­ This Slayer cultivation system is truly fascinating.''

    Through books he had glossed over at small streetside stalls, Cassius learned of the Slayer ranks and how Slayers ascended those ranks. As the name implied, the simplest and most straightforward method to advance as a Slayer was to slay Nightmares that slipped through the world net and invaded the Land of Beginnings through space-time portals.

    Once one killed a single Nightmare, they would absorb the Nightmare''s power and officially become a 1st Stage Apprentice Slayer. From there, further progression would depend both on the number of Nightmares slain and the Nightmare Talent the Slayer possessed.

    As an inherent and typically unchangeable aspect of existence, Nightmare Talent was said to depend on the innate killing intent or murderous intent of the Slayer. This rumor was further backed by the extremely high affinity that the Devil race had with the Slayer Path. Even the lowliest among them had the potential to become 3rd Class Slayers¡ªan achievement often impossible for the majority of the human population due to a lack of Nightmare Talent.

    ''Nightmare Talent¡­ I wonder if I have any¡­''

    Speaking of the devil.

    "Welcome to the 313th Annual Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination!" a clown-faced announcer''s voice rang out from an open-air cabin in the Colosseum''s far north wing. "Time has just run out for any new participants hoping to join, which means it''s now time to begin the Examination! As for what we''ll be examining? Well, of course, it''ll be your ability to survive¡­!"

    The clown-faced announcer received loud cheers aplenty. Yet, there was no one currently present in the spectator stands. The Examination Trials were private.

    "Thank you! Thank you very much, my lovelies!" the announcer said while acting coquettish. "Anyway, let the games begin!"

    Right as those words left the clown''s mouth, Cassius''s vision suddenly turned dark. The same thing happened to Yuna and the other participants standing inside the Colosseum.

    FWIP!

    When they opened their eyes, they no longer saw the large Colosseum walls. Surrounding them on all sides were now extremely tall trees that extended far beyond the visible skyline. Within the huge canopy of person-sized leaves that obscured most of their vision, there echoed blood-curdling shrieks that sent tingles down their spines.

    "Do you know where this place is, Cassius Steele?" came a soft feminine voice belonging to the mysterious 12th Princess.

    Cassius shifted his calm gaze toward her. "No, but I assume you do."

    Yuna stole his gaze. "This is the Hunter''s Jungle."

    "Is there a reason for that name?"

    "Yes," replied Yuna. "In this jungle located in a sub-dimension to our own, you are either the hunter¡­ or the hunted." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just then.

    "Ahhhh¡ª!!!"

    "Robert¡­!!"

    A young woman looked up in horror. Above her, the lifeless corpse of her boyfriend lay limp, pronged by several pitch-black jagged vines. Each of the countless points on the vines were wickedly sharp, and when they lifted Robert''s corpse further off the ground, a grating sound echoed. The jagged vines sawed in different directions¡ªcarving paths through Robert''s body¡ªand created the gruesome sight that followed.

    SPLAT!

    Just like that, Robert''s already empty husk of a body was forcefully ripped apart by the jagged black vines.

    The vines¡ªnumbering a little over a dozen¡ªquickly multiplied. More and more of them whizzed forward from the numerous tall trees that made up this unknown area.

    That was when Cassius and the others saw it¡ªa large face in a tree¡ªand there was one in each of the trees¡­

 Chapter 208 A Slayer Awakening!?

    Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    [Nightmare Treant (Late-stage Rank 1 Nightmare)] X ???

    "...You''re a princess, right? Do you know what we should do next? For this Examination?"

    Hearing Cassius''s nonchalant question, Yuna shifted her serene red eyes toward his icy blues. "My status means nothing when it comes to the Nightmare Slayers. I know just as much as you do," she said calmly. "But if I were to make a guess, then I''d assume we just have to¡ª"

    Her figure blurred as she unsheathed a short blue wakizashi mid-air. Slashing out in a spinning motion, she lunged downward.

    SHING!

    "Esceeetch!!!"

    A jagged black vine was viciously dissected, causing the large face of one of the trees to scream out in excruciating agony, its ugly expression twisting in anger and pain.

    "¡ªKill them, don''t we?" Yuna finished where she left off. Looking behind her shoulder, her stunning beauty shone under the moonlight glow¡ªa sight which left Cassius momentarily breathless.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have a hard-on, dear Host~? I can see that little garden snake rising¡ª]

    The moment was instantly ruined by the annoying voice of the Idle Evolution System. Cassius clicked his tongue before resonating with the badass sword tattoo on his arm. A brilliant light flashed, and a sword as tall as an average human appeared. This meant the sword was at least six feet in length.

    Yuna''s eyes flashed with surprise when she saw Lilith. "You have a Slayer weapon?" she asked while dozens of young men and women were being shredded to bits by the Nightmare Treants. Both she and the man she was talking to seemed to treat everything around them with indifference.

    In response to her question, Cassius said:

    "Slayer weapon? Is that some way to refer to a bonded weapon?"

    Yuna: "..."

    Walking away from the tree monster she had made cry, she approached him. Once close enough to feel his breath mingle with hers, she looked him up and down a couple of times, then said, "You¡­ you aren''t from the Land of Beginnings, are you?"

    "Arggh¨C! My arm!! Someone, please fetch my arm!!!"

    "Is it your right one???"

    "Nooo!!!"

    "Then you don''t need it!"

    Ignoring the crazed ramblings of the screaming people around them, Cassius said to Yuna, "I have no idea what you mean. The Land of Beginnings has always been my home, same as everyone else. I just come from a very secluded area, thus some gaps in knowledge are present."

    Yuna scrutinized his serious expression in silence. After a couple of seconds of listening to more blood-curdling screams, she nodded. "I don''t believe you. But we all have our secrets."

    Cassius didn''t respond. He just stared at her until she turned away from him. She started to walk in a certain direction, and he walked in a direction adjacent to hers. They effortlessly dodged flying limbs and blood splatters while making their way toward two different Nightmare Treants.

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    Their bodies sped up. Dodging jagged black vine after vine, they dashed. Once making it a certain distance away from the hideous tree faces, Yuna slashed her small katana one way and then did the same thing in the opposite direction, creating a blue flaming x-mark that hovered in front of her. Pushing forward with the small katana, the flaming x-mark shot forward.

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    The x-mark sheared through dozens of the black vines before colliding with the hideous face of the Nightmare Treant she was targeting. The x-mark attack was blocked by a blackish barrier that protected the face of the crying tree monster, but the barrier only held up for two seconds before cracking and shattering. Then, without anything obstructing it, the x-mark attack cut into the face of the Treant, cleaving it into four evenly cut pieces. The rest of the massive tree was also badly damaged.

    After the kill was confirmed, a light black smoky substance leaked out from the desecrated Treant. The smoky substance zipped through the air at an extremely fast speed before entering the body of the apathetic 12th princess. She didn''t resist.

    OOOM¡­!

    A slight fluctuation in her aura occurred as her progress in the 7th Apprentice Slayer Stage advanced by a small degree.

    Following the acquisition of her gains from killing a Nightmare Treant, she shifted her curious eyes over to the Nightmare Treant sitting parallel to hers. Almost immediately, her brows raised as she saw a tree similar in size to hers¡ªone that she couldn''t even tremendously damage¡ªtip over and knock against a different Nightmare Treant.

    A handsome hooded man with a gaze as cold as the tundra sat where the tree was sliced in two. A black smoky substance, like what Yuna absorbed, also flowed into his body. However, unlike what happened with her, this absorption of the black smoke made Cassius''s once non-existent aura rapidly form and emanate outward.

    This event left Yuna feeling dumbfounded. If anyone else had been focusing on them instead of fighting for their lives, they, too, would have been at a loss for words.

    "A Slayer awakening¡­ But how is that possible?"

    No matter how the 12th Princess thought about it, she just couldn''t wrap her head around how someone as seemingly strong as him had yet to even undergo his Slayer awakening.

    Hell, everyone here¡ªand even the participants from previous years¡ªhad all undergone their Slayer Awakenings prior to taking the Examination! Whether through family funds or their own efforts, they were able to acquire weak or chained Nightmares to progress their Slayer Realm!

    None in the history of the Mistalore Kingdom had been daring or stupid enough to take part in the Nightmare Slayer Examination Trials without first stepping onto the path of a Slayer!

    It was simply preposterous to even consider such a ludicrous thing!

    And yet¡­

    What Yuna was seeing was unmistakable. There was no known way to replicate a Slayer Awakening, and there was no reason to do so in this perilous predicament. But then that begged the question:

    How the hell was someone so strong not yet a Slayer!?

    What was going on here!??

 Chapter 209 3rd Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm

    In this world dubbed the Land of Beginnings, there were no second paths available to those born of lower standing. There was nothing besides the Slayer path for more than 99% of the population. After all, it was the easiest to pursue; all you had to do was purchase a caged Nightmare, like the ones Cassius saw in the Capital. You would then kill it, absorb its Nightmare Essence, and bam¡ªyou were now a Slayer.

    The rest of your path depended on the luck of the draw from there, as your innate Nightmare Talent could very well make or break you. And over time, you would eventually receive the chance to become an official Nightmare Slayer, not just a regular Slayer.

    As for the other, far more rare paths, such as the Knight or Mage path, they were a lot more difficult to advance in.

    Like the Slayer Path, you required Talent for the Knight Path, but it didn''t stop there, as you also needed special technique booklets, all of which were typically passed down in high-status Knight Households. For the common populace, such a path was essentially impossible to choose and pursue, especially considering how much the Knight households gatekept their Knight Techniques, treating them as if they were divine objects.

    Then there was the final Major Power Path in the Land of Beginnings¡ªnamely, the Mage Path.

    Mages drew from this realm''s version of Magicules, which they also just so happened to call Magicules. They absorbed them into their bodies and into something they called a Primary Core.

    The Primary Core was what stored all of the Magicules that one had culminated thus far. It also helped determine what Rank one was on the Mage Path. However, as for how to go about forming one of these Primary Cores inside yourself, only the relevant Magician Techniques would be able to assist one in gaining insight. But again, these Path-specific Techniques were barred off from the common populace¡ªeven more so than the Knight Techniques¡ªand were gatekept by extremely high-ranking Mage Households.

    But, seeing as Yuna¡ªone of the highest nobleborns in the Mistalore Kingdom¡ªhad not seen Cassius among any of the very few Knight or Mage Families, what she was witnessing made no sense. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    ''Is he from one of the neighboring kingdoms¡­? But the oceans separating us¡­ And our people''s extreme xenophobia¡­ There''s no way¡­''

    Immigration in the island-kingdom of Mistalore was basically non-existent. You were more likely to find a flying cock than you were to find an immigrant from a different nation. This fact was due not only to Mistalore''s dislike of anyone who wasn''t them but also to the vast expanses of water that raged between each island kingdom in the Azure Archipelago.

    To anyone who was anyone, the Azure Archipelago was the whole world. It was the Land of Beginnings. Whereas everything else beyond the Archipelago was just water, water, and¡ªguess what¡ªmore water.

    But as for the water that existed between each of the hundreds of island kingdoms in the Azure Archipelago, it was not of the normal variety. It was violent¡ªwild¡ªoftentimes unpredictable.

    There also lived terrifying sea Nightmares in those very same waters. Nightmares rumored to be larger than the largest of towns and cities¡ªmonstrous creatures that made entire fleets of ships vanish in an instant, never to be seen again.

    However, to get to the point that was causing Yuna Mistalore to stress so much, there was just no way that Cassius was so strong. Even if he were a hidden child of nobility, she would still know about it.

    But she didn''t.

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    Nightmare Treant after Nightmare Treant experienced a seemingly unlimited number of crimson-colored slashes. The innumerable black vines that acted as the weapons of the living tree monsters made no difference in the face of the power of a singular man and his bloody blade. The Treants'' black barriers also instantly faltered in the face of their combined power. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Esceeetch¡ª!!!"

    Nearly a dozen Nightmare Treants had their hideous faces mercilessly diced into bits and pieces. The massive trees they were connected to were smashed to smithereens, leaving the approximate vicinity a complete and total mess.

    While absorbing nine strings of black smoke, Cassius clenched and unclenched his fists. "Seems you were right," he said to the girl still motionlessly standing in front of the first Treant she killed. "Just killing them turned out to work quite well."

    *Ding!*

    [Awakened as a Slayer!]

    [Absorbed Nightmare Essence of a Late-stage Rank 1 Nightmare - Nightmare Treant -]

    [You have advanced to the 2nd Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm!]

    [Your connection with the Nightmarescape slightly deepens!]

    [Absorbed Nightmare Essence of 9 Late-stage Rank 1 Nightmares - Nightmare Treant -]

    [You have advanced to the 3rd Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm!]

    [Your connection with the Nightmarescape slightly deepens!]

    "Hmm?" Cassius briefly looked away from the stunned-silent white-haired beauty, his focus entirely on the System pop-ups. "Am I in the Nightmarescape right now?"

    *Ding!!*

    [Affirmative! The Host is currently in a sliced-off chunk of the Nightmarescape that was gathered and placed in the Kingdom of Mistalore by an ancient Transcendent-class Slayer!]

    This informative answer made Cassius immediately follow up with yet another question. "So that means 1 hour here would allow me to leave and return home?"

    *Ding¡­*

    [Yes, that is unfortunately correct¡­ And the worst part is that you haven''t even gotten to the fun part yet!]

    [What a bummer¡­]

    [Well, anyway, you will be forcefully teleported out of this Dimension as soon as the 1 hour passes. Time here will then stop completely, making it so that you can resume where you left off when you return!]

    "Like a video game?"

    [Yep! Exactly like a video game! Oh, and another thing to note is that time passes differently in this Dimension. An hour here will only be the equivalent of around half a minute in the outside world.]

    Cassius reeled back in pleasant surprise. He had not expected there to be such a large time difference¡ªor even one at all. But now that he knew this, it meant he could continue his time in the Nightmarescape and Land of Beginnings with peace of mind.

    ''Wait¡­''

 Chapter 210 Killing Thousands of Nightmare Triants

    "Is this the secret ploy devised by the System¡­? Clever¡­"

    [Teehee¡­ (©¤??©¤) ?]

    ''Again with the teehees,'' Cassius thought in exasperation. ''Sometimes, I love this System, and sometimes I just want to, ya know? Bart Simpson Strang¡ª''

    Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    [Ahh~ The System loves you, too, Dear Host~!]

    [( ? 3?)??] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A vein bulged in Cassius''s forehead, forcing him to vent on the nearest Nightmare Treants.

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    Massive trees fell in every direction, leaving many of the Nightmare Slayer Examination Participants in disbelief. Looking toward the source of this repeated occurrence, they were even more shocked to find that the one killing so many Treants and destroying the trees was¡­ none other than the unknown hooded man who had been the last to appear in the Colosseum!

    Christopher and Diana¡ªwho weren''t faring too well right now¡ªwere most surprised of all. While fending off the erratically lashing vines of the Nightmare Treants, their eyes always found their way back to the shadowy figure weaving in and out of black vines. That same figure cut down Treants like they were common everyday yard weeds, doing so without remorse or hesitation.

    A few of the more cowardly among the Participants thought to rally behind the hooded figure and walk along the path he carved out for them. However, even with that hopeful notion pushing dozens of people toward Cassius, they quickly came to realize that fending for themselves was a far safer alternative. Not only was he moving incredibly fast and bouncing from one place to the next, but countless Nightmare Treants were also focused on him.

    The total number of black vines crisscrossing through the skies¡ªgunning for Cassius''s throat¡ªamounted to tens of thousands!

    It was insanity!

    Christopher and Diana were quite proud of having taken down two or three of the Nightmare Treants, but they could only dream of comparing to the monster that was the 12th Princess. She had so far killed a little over 30 of the Treants, and for them, that was already ludicrous!

    And then there was the handsome hooded figure¡­

    Hundreds upon hundreds¡­

    After more than 40% of the Trial Participants had fallen in battle, Cassius had already slain several hundred Nightmare Treants. And from the looks of things, he appeared to be becoming more efficient with every certain number of kills.

    "Just what sort of freak is he¡­?" Christopher murmured to himself, feeling an awful amount of regret over how he had previously acted toward the freak in question.

    Diana¡ªwho was covering his ass while he was lost in thought¡ªlet herself be pushed back by multiple black vines. Once she was less than a few inches away from the blonde-haired Christopher, she angrily shouted, "You better get your head out of the clouds, you idiot! Start fighting harder!!"

    "O-Oh, yes!" Snapping out of it, Christopher wielded his longsword. He slashed at a few black vines trying to stab Diana in the back. Then, with a newfound level of focus, he placed his back against Diana''s. "You handle that side while I get this side!"

    "Already on it, you idiot," Diana spat back.

    Emitting a dazzling green light from her two short daggers, her 5th Stage Apprentice Slayer power exploded outward.

    Christopher revealed a small smirk before fixing his stance and encasing his longsword in a unique energy of his own. In front of him was an incoming lot of roughly fifty razor-sharp vines, all aiming to jam themselves up his bum and disembowel him.

    "First one to die has to pay for the next round of drinks!" Christopher shouted, to which Diana replied, "Deal!"

    SHING! SHING!

    Blades clashed with the sharp vines on that front. Yet similar events were occurring all over the wide-open forest space that placed them in the middle of thousands of Nightmare Treants. Some had tried slipping through this encirclement, but every attempt ended in the near-instantaneous fatality of the one who tried.

    To successfully make it through the Nightmare Treants, they would have to kill well over a thousand of them in a straight line. This meant they not only needed to bulldoze through a ridiculous number of Late-stage 1st Rank Nightmares, but they also had to fend off the joint attacks of countless more Treants.

    Frankly, it was impossible.

    And for this to be part of the Nightmare Slayer Examination Trial was just¡­ straight-up crazy.

    Many lost hope once they calmed their minds enough to survey their surroundings and confirm this common hypothesis. From their elders, they had learned that the Nightmare Slayer Examination Trials were always different from the ones that came prior, but they had all been told the same thing: the Trial would seem virtually impossible to accomplish.

    If it wasn''t that way, then it was highly likely that the true Trial hadn''t even started¡­

    For Christopher, Diana, and any other promising Slayers, this was indeed an impossible task. It was one where they couldn''t even make use of their brains; they could only fight.

    Fight after fight, then more fighting¡­ It was not only exhausting but made everyone feel hopeless. Despair began to settle in the hearts of everyone still alive and fighting. And in their despair¡ªwatching as hundreds of people just like them were brutalized¡ªmore than forty minutes had flown by unnoticed.

    Yuna¡ªwho had been constantly thinking about the mysteries centered around a man she knew almost nothing about¡ªjust exceeded the 150 total kills mark. This astronomical number placed her at 2nd among all of the Participants.

    Altogether, the Trial Participants¡ªexcluding Cassius¡ªhad a cumulative Nightmare Treant kill count of well over 3,000.

    But even with such a number to serve as proof of their immense efforts, they had barely put a dent in the Nightmare Treant population. And because of mass panic, they weren''t able to focus on sweeping out the Treants in a singular direction. This meant they were still a long way from breaking through the tree monster encirclement.

    Or, at least, that was what they believed while stuck in an endless cycle of desperate, mindless killings¡­

    However, once someone opened their eyes to reality, everyone else quickly followed.

    And what they saw¡ªit was mind-boggling.

 Chapter 211 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm

    "That freak¡­ He actually cleared out a path," Christopher mumbled, wide-eyed. That was when he noticed a large blue light that reached the tree canopy in height. "The transportation array that leads us out of this place¡­ It''s really there!"

    His voice made Diana briefly divert her attention away from a swarm of attacking black vines. Yet, even with a battered body and blood smeared on her face, one could clearly make out the shock etched across her delicate facial features. She absentmindedly deflected black vines while walking up to Christopher, where they both then began moving toward the distant shadowy figures still fighting in the background.

    A wide, fan-shaped path had already been cleared. Only fallen and demolished trees remained, with tens of thousands of Nightmare Treant corpses strewn about. Of course, they were drained of all their Nightmare Essence, so none of the other Trial Participants were able to reap any additional boons. But at the moment, none of them cared about something so trivial.

    More than 80% of them had died, leaving only the toughest, strongest, and highest-willed Participants still alive. To be entirely honest, those who remained were just glad to be alive, and even gladder to see a saving grace.

    However, while everyone traversed over the fallen trees in hopes of quickly reaching the shadowy figure and the 12th Princess, something shifted. A suffocating aura suddenly enveloped the entire forest, causing all of the Participants below the 6th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm to feel as if an entire mountain were pressing down on them.

    That was when ''it'' appeared¡­

    Made up of hundreds of Nightmare Treants all fused together into one singular organism, this massive, horrifying creature loomed over the treeline. It menacingly stared down at all the little people in the distance before letting its hollowed eyes fall upon the equally tiny shadowy figure blitzing right toward it.

    As soon as the colossal fusion of hundreds of Nightmare Treants saw Cassius, it honed in on him with a ferocity bordering on eternal hatred. It bellowed out a soul-shaking roar, then stretched out its large right hand¡ªwhich, just like the rest of its body, was constructed from a limitless number of black vines. Each individual vine in the arm began to crazily vibrate. Then, without warning, they extended forward, each one taking a different route toward the relatively minuscule shadowy figure below.

    Cassius¡ªas emotionless as always¡ªlooked up, only to see that the sky was almost entirely blotted out by the black vines of the giant''s right arm. His eyes flashed with sharp coldness before he bent his knees and sprang up like a broken coil.

    BOOOM!

    He instantly broke through the giant''s right-hand vine barrage and ascended to a height even above the giant, giving him a good view of the giant''s System tag:

    {[Treant Singularity (Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare)]}

    [(Earth-rank) Equivalent: S+ Rank]

    "Only at the Early-stage of Rank 2 and yet already equivalent to the S+ Rank?'' Cassius mused. ''Well, no matter. It''ll die and become my strength all the same.''

    With that thought echoing behind his flashing movements, he took Lilith and pointed her downward, then lunged in the same direction. Sonic blasts reverberated in his wake as he appeared in front of the Treant Singularity''s head. In that same instant, he blasted out the other side. A large hole was drilled through the giant, but seeing as it was still alive and kicking, Cassius blurred faster.

    Another hole was created in the Treant Singularity''s head. Then another. And another. Another, and another, and another¡­

    Finally, with no head or upper torso to speak of, the Treant Singularity collapsed to the ground on its knees. It no longer moved. Right after, under the wide eyes of all the other Participants, Cassius coolly landed on the mangled giant''s corpse. A big string of black smoke and appropriate System Notifications came his way, which he also took as confirmation that the Nightmares didn''t give EXP.

    Which was¡­ odd¡­ After all, everything hostile that was also alive should give Experience Points. And yet¡­ Hmm¡­

    That topic briefly lingered while the System Notifications rang:

    *Ding!*

    [Absorbed Nightmare Essence of an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare - Treant Singularity -]

    [You have advanced to the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm!]

    [Your connection with the Nightmarescape moderately deepens!] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And just like that, Cassius ranked up to the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm, bringing his power level to something anyone would consider insane for a newly awakened Nightmare Slayer!

    On a side note, Yuna managed to reach the absolute pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm because of all the Nightmare Essence she absorbed. Furthermore, her Nightmare Talent was considered superb, making it far easier to get the most out of every ounce of Nightmare Essence. This Talent would also make what came next¡ªthe solitary mediation and consolidation necessary to achieve the 3rd Class Slayer Realm¡ªfar easier.

    The bottleneck that prevented countless Nightmare Slayers from breaking through would be a breeze for her to overcome.

    Anyway, those like Christopher, Diana, and the other high-born noble children also made great progress from this extremely difficult Trial. Some were even close to breaking through into the 7th Stage. Of course, none of them got anywhere close to the same gains that monsters like the 12th Princess and Cassius obtained.

    Though, to conclude this grand Trial of boons and good ol'' fashioned suffering, Cassius leapt off the Treant Singularity''s corpse. He walked toward the enchantingly beautiful white-haired woman. Her glistening horns and predatory irises were obviously noticed by him and him alone, but he paid them no mind. Instead, he sauntered next to her and motioned for her to walk by his side.

    She did so without much thought.

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    They leisurely approached the giant spherical light that encompassed all sides of the Nightmare Treant Forest. Ignoring the eager Trial Participants dragging their legs behind them, they seemed to be absorbed in their own little world. A world where a pretty, mysterious girl played a glancing game with an even more mysterious man of extreme beauty.

 Chapter 212 A Slayer Weapon

    While nonchalantly wiping out any remaining Treants that still dared to mess with them, Cassius became a bit curious. The girl strolling beside him didn''t talk much and also didn''t express many emotions. To understand her thoughts, the easiest method was to simply ask.

    Yuna was, after all, quite a straightforward and direct person.

    "What is it? Do I have something on my face?" he used the classic line.

    The response he received, however, was an unusual one:

    "No," she said. "Your face is perfect."

    Although a bit taken aback, Cassius continued his line of questioning. "So then what is it? Have you already fallen in love with my immeasurable charms or something?"

    Question marks appeared above Yuna''s head. "Love?" she repeated. "I don''t know what that word means. Why would you think I love you? I don''t understand."

    Silence.

    ''Talking to this woman¡­ it''s like talking to a rock¡­''

    The 12th Princess''s density level might''ve been even higher than his, which he didn''t even think was possible.

    But regardless of that useless information, Cassius heaved a heavy sigh. "You take everything so seriously. And here I thought you were a rebel of sorts. But honestly, you don''t seem like the type. You''re more of a¡­ like a robot."

    "A ro¡­bot? What does that mean? Can you eat it?"

    Cassius, feeling compelled to do so, petted the short girl''s soft bed of snowy white hair. "You can''t eat robots, but sometimes I wish I could eat mine. Maybe then it would shut up."

    *Ding~!*

    [You wish to eat me out~? You dirty dog, you~]

    [(???>©n<???)]

    ''You¡­ f*cking bastard¡­'' Cassius''s temples grew itchy the longer he thought about his System. ''Just wait until I figure out a way to eat you for real¡ªdevour you whole! Let''s see who''ll be the one cracking jokes then!''

    [Fufu~ I''ll be patiently waiting for that day to arrive~ Don''t keep a lady waiting for too long~]

    [(¨®©n¨°?)]

    ''Yep, that''s it¡­ Enough of the Bastard for today¡­''

    With that, Cassius tuned out the frequency that was his System, which meant Channel ''Bastard A*shole'' was now off-limits for the rest of the day. And rather than have his mind filled with every useless thing that spilled out of the bastard''s mouth, he much preferred the sparse exchange of words he had going with Yuna.

    Talking to her was like talking to an adorable girl apt at providing comedic relief, only to then enjoy a very satisfying stretch of silence. And if not for the yapping youngins yapping away in the background, it might have actually turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon stroll through haunted woods.

    Noticing his sighs, Yuna took the chance to ask, "About earlier¡ªyou experienced your Slayer Awakening, did you not?"

    She knew the answer but wanted to hear it from him personally.

    Cassius nodded.

    Yuna''s gaze intensified at that subtle confirmation. For the next ten seconds of walking and slashing, she didn''t once look away from him. Eventually, it became something he could no longer ignore. He shifted his eyes toward her while still moving forward, asking:

    Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Something else you want to ask?"

    Yuna nodded once, then cutely nodded again. "That weapon of yours¡ªyou never answered my question: is it your Slayer Weapon?"

    Cassius blinked at her, then blinked again, and like a sloth, he recalled. "Ah, that. Yeah, I really don''t know what a Slayer Weapon actually is."

    "...And you''re sure you''re not from somewhere beyond the Land of Beginnings?"

    Cassius awkwardly scratched his neck. "I know nothing about anything beyond the Land of Beginnings. But even if I did, I''d likely forget it. As you can see, my memory is definitely not my most noteworthy quality."

    Yuna pondered his words, seriously. So seriously, in fact, Cassius wondered what part of what he said was so profound. Yet, he was baffled to hear her say, "Your memory is not good¡­ I see¡­ My name. Do you remember my name?"

    Cassius was speechless.

    ''Does she think I''m a f*cking turtle or something?? My memory isn''t that bad!''

    Despite his thoughts, he said, "Of course¡­ of course I remember your name."

    "Say it."

    "Pardon¡­?"

    Yuna tilted her head in confusion. "So your memory really is that bad¡­"

    Cassius''s face twitched.

    Sighing, he slowly and deeply said, "Yuna Mistalore. That is your name."

    "Say it again."

    "Yuna Mistalore."

    "Again."

    "Yuna¡­ Mistalore."

    "Do it again."

    "Yu¡­na¡­ Mist¡­alore¡­"

    Yuna nodded, then did so twice more. "Mhmm, I don''t think you have memory problems."

    ''Is that what you got from all of this¡­?? What the f*ck¡­''

    However, the next words to leave the 12th Princess''s pretty candy-red lips immediately intrigued him. "You want to know more about Slayer Weapons?"

    Cassius wasted no time in responding, "Yes, if you don''t mind."

    Yuna nodded, but then paused and closed her mouth. After a moment, she turned to him, extremely serious, and said, "I can tell you, but my name."

    "What about it?" asked Cassius.

    Yuna looked him straight in the eye and said, "You must say my name more often from here on out."

    ''What sort of request is that??'' he questioned skeptically, yet still replied with a nod.

    It was silent for a few seconds after that¡­

    "Are you not going to tell me¡­?" Cassius asked, unable to understand what was going on here.

    Yuna¡ªhaving not once looked away from him¡ªsaid, "You haven''t said my name yet."

    Cassius: "...."

    "...Yuna¡­ if you would please tell me, I''d really appreciate that¡­"

    Yuna nodded, her voice turning grave. "Very well, I''ll tell you, Cassius Steele from Isolated Land."

    ''She makes this sound so serious¡­ Is there something more to the details of Slayer Weapons than meets the eye??''

    Turns out there wasn''t. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To summarize what she went on to inform him of: Slayer Weapons were essentially evolving weapons that advanced with their Host. Similar to how Lilith functioned, they absorbed part of the Nightmare Essence that entered their Host''s body before amplifying the amount and strengthening both themselves and their Host. Though, the craziest part had to be how one actually acquired a Slayer Weapon, as they were not externally forged.

    Rather, they were created¡­ inside a Slayer''s body¡­

 Chapter 213 Slayer Soul, Slayer Weapon, Daily Entry

    Slayers¡ªonce having achieved the Pseudo 3rd Class Slayer Realm¡ªwould acquire something that served as proof of their journey thus far. Namely, it was something called the "Slayer Soul" and would take on the shape of various weapons, all dependent on the unique qualities of the Slayer.

    After a certain amount of time, this Slayer Soul¡ªwhich resided somewhere in the mind¡ªwould begin to outwardly project a manifestation of itself. This manifestation was the "Slayer Weapon" that Yuna had been referring to. It was also one of the key steps necessary for breaking through into the 3rd Class Slayer Realm. Yuna would soon be taking this step herself, for she had just crossed into the Pseudo 3rd Class Slayer Realm.

    "So, you thought I had one of these Slayer Weapons?" asked Cassius, nearing a pillar of blue light.

    Yuna nodded before her expression became a bit complicated. "I did. Well, at least that was until I witnessed you undergoing a Slayer Awakening."

    Cassius feigned ignorance. "I have no idea what you mean. Of course, I''ve been a Slayer, and you''re right; this is my Slayer Weapon," he said while reluctantly flashing the cool tattoo on his right arm. "The truth is that¡­ I''ve been concealing my true strength all this time! But now that you''ve found out, there''s no helping it¡­ Sigh¡­ Oh, the woes¡­"

    Yuna unblinkingly stared at him. From how expressionless her face was, it was clear she didn''t believe a single word that came out of his mouth.

    "You''re not a good person¡­" Although barely noticeable, a small pout formed on her normally stoic face.

    Cassius, of course, noticed this right away. A slight smirk formed on his face as an easygoing tune began to echo out with him as the source.

    Yuna returned to staring holes into the side of his face, seemingly entranced by how softly his lips pressed against one another. Her thoughts were unknown. However, to everyone cautiously trailing behind them, they couldn''t care less about what she was thinking. They only wished to leave this accursed forest and never look back.

    But with how leisurely the two leaders at the front were treating everything, they could only patiently and anxiously slug along behind them¡­

    Eventually, though, the spherical blue light closest to them arrived. Now, it was time to walk into it and see what happens.

    Just as Cassius was about to step into the light, he turned around and bowed slightly. "Ladies and Princesses first," he said politely.

    But Yuna was no blind fool. She could clearly see the conniving smirk plastered across his handsome face. Coldly snorting, she said in passing, "Hateful man."

    As soon as Yuna touched the blue spherical light, her foot turned the same color as the light. Then the rest of her turned blue, and within an instant, she vanished.

    ZIP!

    Cassius curiously lifted his head and looked at where the icy beauty once stood.

    The other participants also looked, though they expressed far more emotional surprise. Being first-time participants in one of these Examination Trials, they had no idea something as advanced as a teleportation formation was set in place. Though they did have their suspicions when they suddenly appeared in the notorious "Hunter''s Forest" from the Colosseum.

    It also just so happened to be their first time in one of the Mini Nightmarescape Dimensions that the country normally kept highly restricted. Even as noble descendants and high-borns, they hadn''t previously been allowed anywhere near something like a Mini Nightmarescape Dimension.

    After a brief period of silence and seeing the freakish man follow behind their princess, Christopher and the others started to sprint. They kept their distance when the scary pair was around, but now that they weren''t, they felt no reason to take things slow.

    With the ominous howls and scratching of the remaining Nightmare Treants serving as motivation, they bolted right the f*ck out of there!

    One by one, they entered the blue light, until eventually, all 70 or so of them successfully escaped the creepy forest.

    The forest returned to an eerie level of silence¡­

    ¡ª------------ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, back on the Ascension Tower of Humanity''s Trial Floor (Earth), on the island that once housed the Peak-Purple Rank Gate "Oblivion''s Threshold" ¡ª some time prior to Cassius''s transportation to the Nightmarescape ¡ª

    "Hmm¡­? What''s this over here?"

    A government official from the United States had been surveying the ruined area for anything of note. That was when he saw a slightly cracked clipboard lying under a large chunk of whatever unknown substance the Gates were made of.

    Picking up the clipboard, the official read the first thing he saw. Every word caused his eyes to progressively widen.

    [Daily Entry #21]

    [Name: Cassius Steele]

    [Rank: Unawakened]

    [Affiliation: None]

    [Country of Origin: Japan]

    [Return Probability: 0%...]

    "I¡­ I have to report this up the ladder right away¡­!"

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    His declaration was instantaneous, and his feet were just as quick as he ran out of the damaged dome in a panic. Others looked at him weirdly, but he didn''t even register their existence. His mind was wholly focused on informing his superiors of what he found.

    ''If this is correct¡­ then that means there was someone else inside Oblivion''s Threshold when it exploded¡­! But the reports from the S-Rank Hunters¡ªthey spoke nothing of an additional person. Now, either they were lying¡­ or something unexplainable occurred inside that Gate¡­''

    The government official was unsure which option was the truth, but either way, what he discovered here would surely make the higher-ups notice him.

    ''For fame, money, and women, I''ll personally bring this clipboard back to the US!'' he thought excitedly while boarding a helicopter currently in the process of taking off.

    ¡ª A few minutes later ¡ª

    The government official had gone through several higher chains of command. However, as a global crisis in the Antarctic had just been felt around the world, the news related to it caused him to be stopped in the White House. Sitting outside the President''s Oval Office, the official''s sweaty palms fidgeted above his black khaki pants.

 Chapter 214 Let The World Burn

    *Thwack!*

    A door was abruptly opened. It led into the Oval Office.

    The nervous government official shot his eyes toward the door, only to see a man of great stature standing there. The man possessed an aura well into the S-Rank, with visible aura palpitations even stronger than Vera and Viola. His gaze was stern, his posture disciplined, and his orangish hair wild like a lion''s mane¡ªthis man was like the incarnation of an animal god.

    "The President is expecting you," he said in a deep voice. "Come inside."

    The government official anxiously bobbed his head before practically jumping off his seat. He hurried past the towering man, then heard the lavishly decorated door shut behind him.

    Upon getting a good look at the room''s interior, the official''s shaky eyes fell on the wizened old man sitting behind a wide desk in the far back end of the room. The glass window behind him reflected the setting sun very well, casting an eerie glow over his wrinkled face. Yet, even with age having taken its toll on him, he still held an air of fortitude. The way he crossed his hands just a little ways away from his mouth made him appear all the more menacing from the official''s perspective.

    "I hear that you have something you wish to show me?" the President''s gravelly voice echoed, his stony eyes piercing into the official''s soul.

    Finding his voice under the oppressive atmosphere in the luxurious room, the official said, "M-Mr. President, sir, right here in my hands is something that I believe could help us better understand the unexpected situation with the Oblivion''s Threshold Gate!"

    After a brief moment of thought, the President motioned to the large, lion-maned man standing beside him. The man vanished, then reappeared with the clipboard that the official held out. Without reading it, the man quietly handed it over to the President.

    Although the government official was stunned over what had just occurred, he quickly lowered his head and patiently waited.

    ¡ª After a few seconds ¡ª

    The President, showing a face that wasn''t pure indifference, handed the clipboard over to the lion-maned man to look over. He, too, after a moment or two, showed a complicated expression. They exchanged a certain look with one another, then turned back toward the government official, all smiles.

    "We appreciate you," the President said genuinely. "Without you, this peculiar case never would''ve been brought to the table. And for that, we thank you."

    The government official''s face visibly glowed as he lifted his head, prepared to give his humble response.

    But before that could happen, he felt the world around him¡­ flip upside down¡­?

    "Wha¡ª"

    SPLURT!

    The official''s head rolled off his shoulders and tumbled against the velvety carpet a couple of times before coming to a sudden stop.

    No change was made in the President''s eerily smiling expression as he handed a white handkerchief to the lion-maned man. Seeing as the powerful man now had blood smeared across his right hand, he surely needed something to wipe it off with.

    "It''s simply unfortunate that you knew too much," the President intoned, his face becoming ever more terrifying. "Make sure that everyone who knows about this clipboard¡ªwho isn''t with us¡ªalso meets their¡­ unfortunate ends."

    The lion-maned man nodded before disappearing once more, this time for good. In his wake, the now-bloody handkerchief fluttered down from a few feet off the ground. Eventually, the handkerchief landed softly on the happy face of the man who didn''t even know he had died.

    Smiling creepily, the President of the United States sat there in his black leather chair, unmoving. Only after a few seconds did his wrinkled face begin to twitch, causing his head to knock to the left and right every so often. Yet, beyond that, nothing occurred.

    For the next indefinite period of time, the President just sat there¡­ sat there and smiled¡­

    Meanwhile, the horrifyingly powerful lion-haired man¡ªotherwise known as the Lion King, ranked #7 in the World¡ªvanished and reappeared in several places across the United States. Every time he appeared, another head would roll. Clean-up vans would arrive on the scene within seconds each time this happened.

    And before long, there were no longer any more heads that needed to be chopped off¡­

    When the Lion King finished up his part of the tasks, the eerily smiling President looked down at the clipboard lying on his desk. Seeing the name written on the board, his head whacked itself sideways a bit unnaturally before returning to normal. Though, in the very next moment, the clipboard suddenly vanished.

    "Information has been stored in the Mothership¡­ The target has evolved beyond expectations and is now capable of destroying Gates," the President robotically muttered. "This evolution changes things. Requesting for protocol #490 commencement to be granted."

    A silence ensued, until eventually, an emotionless feminine voice rang out:

    "Permission¡­ granted."

    Before the President could respond, the feminine voice continued, "Malakar has been removed from his duties and was sent back to the Mothership to be prepared for recycling. The Mothership has determined you¡ªSeminar¡ªto be the next most suitable candidate. Do whatever it takes to lure ''it'' out. That¡­ Anomaly of a Floor Guardian has still not made a move even though more than half the world''s powerhouses are no longer humans. Take advantage of this and use everything at your disposal to complete the mission."

    "Understood," said Seminar, the President.

    The feminine voice didn''t sound out again. Radio silence followed, urging the President to cut off the connection and resume his creepy smiling session with the wall facing the front of his desk.

    Protocol #490 was promptly set in motion, and within mere seconds, every Extraterrestrial in the world received the same message. The message read: S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Chaos, cause as much of it as possible. Throw the world into turmoil, incite wars, threaten each other, let¡­ the world burn. Follow these instructions as soon as the World''s End Gate opens. Save the humans from imminent doom, avoid the Abyss, and then drag the humans back into despair. Whatever it takes¡­ Whatever it takes, ''it'' must be brought out of hiding." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 215 Grace and Flora

    Listening to the rest of the message, Extraterrestrials worldwide heard:

    "If the first part of the instructions doesn''t produce the desired results, then begin with the second part of the instructions. Threaten, capture, and torture every single human that we have allowed ''its'' son to get close to thus far. The plants have already been planted; your objective is to use them.

    And if in the end, gruesomely eliminating those close to the target does not work in forcing the target to call ''it'' out, then even more excessive measures will be required. By the time Protocol #490 needs to be put into motion, the world will already be ours, so everything will be at our disposal. Absolutely everything. Burn¡­ Burn out the rat to catch the snake."

    The message ended there, and all at once, hundreds of millions of ''humans'' returned to whatever they were doing. They acted completely normal¡ªvery¡­ human.

    ¡ª On an unknown mountain peak on Earth ¡ª

    A man adorned in ragged traveler''s robes tipped his straw hat down enough to fully cover his rugged features. He relaxed on a red beach chair. In his hands was the latest Playboy magazine, its explicit images eliciting occasional oohs and ahhs from the man with the straw hat.

    However, suddenly, the straw hat man looked up from his naughty magazine. His Magic Sense rapidly expanded and covered the entire world in an instant, doing so unnoticed by all. Specifically, though, his Magic Sense honed in on a certain part of the Antarctic¡ªthe part that was now split into two parts and currently sliding off one another, leading up to what would most definitely be a disaster.

    Seeing an old friend in the midst of a snowfield, the straw hat man''s eyes widened a little. He also noticed the crazed black-haired chick standing beside him, which made him give a casual comment:

    "It looks like my kid needs my assistance with that little wife of his¡­ But hmm¡­ He''ll never develop a good character if I help him now," said the deadbeat dad who not once helped his only son. "I''m sure he''ll figure everything out on his own. He is my kid, after all," added the narcissistic womanizing bastard. "Well, at least I know for sure he''s mine. I mean, just look at all the girls he has fawning over him. It almost makes him a tenth as good as I was when I was his age. Haha."

    With that, he returned to immersing himself in the pages that depicted the pinnacle of cultural advancement. Even as the world around him rumbled and quaked, his eyes remained glued to the magazine. Though, when he felt his son''s presence completely disappear, he looked up once more.

    But then he shrugged, saying, "He''s probably gone off to some faraway land to bring home another daughter-in-law. My son inherited all of my good qualities, after all, ha¡­"

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    Following a reminiscent sigh mirroring his good ol'' days of cummin'' n'' going, he no longer paid attention to the ongoings of the world around him. Only the crisp sounds of him flipping pages of the stuff of legends could be heard from atop his lone, green mountaintop.

    The Extraterrestrials, on the other hand, freaked out quite a lot when Cassius mysteriously vanished. Just like when he went to HELL''s Gate Trial Floor, they tasked every one of their own with finding him.

    However, unlike the last time, when he disappeared for hours, all it took was half a single minute for him to reappear as a large blip on a map that revealed his approximate location. It wasn''t able to precisely determine his location, but it was enough to verify his place on this planet.

    Then again, it was also because of how vaguely his location would appear on the map that when the Aliens saw him appear at the Oblivion''s Threshold Gate a while back, they thought nothing of it.

    It wasn''t until confirmation of him entering the Gate came through that everything unraveled itself before the beings who descended to this plane from beyond the stars¡­

    But with the target now back at home base, everything in the world returned to normal.

    However, beneath the normality of it all lay an unforgiving undercurrent that only had one thing stopping it from erasing hundreds of thousands of years of human evolution¡­

    That thing being¡­ time.

    The Extraterrestrials¡ªlike many other beings lurking in the shadows¡ªwere just biding their time¡­ waiting for the most opportune moment to send the whole world into a pit that it wouldn''t be able to climb back out of¡­

    All for the sake of a singular being.

    A singular being who would change everything.

    Or nothing at all¡­

    ¡ª A few hours after Cassius returned to Earth from the Nightmarescape, a secret conversation between sisters of the Succubus race was happening in the Realm of Pleasure ¡ª

    Lazily laying off the side of her large fluffy pink bed was a gorgeous girl with long brown hair. She seemed extremely bored. And that was, in fact, the case.

    Hugging a big body pillow of a man who looked an awful lot like a certain handsome devil, Grace rolled around. Her boredom mixed with a poutiness that left her as a giant complicated mess. "That dummy," she mumbled. "He''s already become so close with my younger sister. Humph! Just a big dummy, that''s all he is!"

    Something rustled from a chair sitting beside her bed, then a wry feminine voice sounded. "You know I''m still right here, don''t you¡­?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Grace briefly turned her cute pouty face toward the stylish girl sitting on one of her many bunny-shaped chairs. An adorable snort echoed, followed by Grace sharply turning her face away from her sister. She rolled over as well, leaving her sister only the sight of her in bunny pajamas to look at.

    "I''m not talking to you right now, you meanie," Grace grumbled.

    Flora sighed. "I already told you that I''d help you sneak out of here and see him again, and it''s not like I knew you felt such a way about him. At least not at first¡­"

 Chapter 216 Floras Letter

    Elder Protector Violet had filled Flora in on any of the missing details that her mother¡ªthe Succubus Queen¡ªleft out. Violet did so by looking through the records penciled down by the ''fill-in'' parents at their House on Earth. It was because of these events that Flora was able to learn the whole backstory between her dear older sister and her First Mark.

    Grace snuggled her charming face out of her covers, body pillow still in hand. "You promise that you''ll be able to sneak me out of here to see him¡­? I¡­ I just don''t want to die without¡­ without first telling him how I feel about him¡­"

    Flora rose from her seat and grabbed her older sister''s trembling hand. "You''re not going to die; stop speaking such nonsense. And, of course, I''m a Succubus who keeps her word."

    Grace revealed a lovely smile as her eyes creased up like two rays of sunshine. "Thank you, Flora¡­ I-I really mean it."

    Flora silently nodded.

    While still holding her hand, she said, "I will, however, need you to understand that because of my first mark, I''ll have to rock the bed with him. It''s unavoidable. Else I''ll probably be the first one to die out of us sisters¡­"

    A bomb was dropped on Grace, and all she could do was bite her lower lip and drop her gaze from Flora''s. Grace''s eyes erratically flickered as she let go of her sister''s hand and returned to adorably sulking in her covers. She wiggled around a lot, twisting and turning, but Flora did not interrupt her. She simply let her do whatever she had to do.

    After all, Flora believed that she had already won this little game between sisters. It was also because of this belief that her smile twitched every now and then, seemingly trying to prevent itself from growing into a wide grin.

    Finally, after several seconds of tossing around, Grace brought her pouty face back to her patiently waiting little sister. With a preciousness that was hard to come by in this toxic day and age, she softly murmured, "Fine¡­ But only once to erase the mark you put on him! After that¡ªafter that no more! No, no¡­ no¡­!"

    "I understand," Flora replied with a small smile, inwardly celebrating. "I''ll only rock the bed with him once, then I won''t initiate anymore." ''He could always bring it up himself if he wants to go to poundtown again.''

    Grace unwillingly nodded, though her brows furrowed a bit as she said, "And no more saying ''rock the bed''! It''s¡­ It''s vulgar! And I don''t like it!"

    ''You only don''t like it because you''re secretly imagining the way I''ll be throttling him when we break the bed.'' Flora evilly smirked inside her mind, yet outwardly complied.

    Another few cute snorts escaped Grace''s eternally rosy cheeks before she rolled herself up in her blanket and turned into a burrito. Facing the opposite direction of her somewhat hard-to-look-at little sister, she said, "You may excuse yourself. I want to be alone right now. And if you meet Cassius, tell him¡­ tell him that I believe in him." She brightly smiled, but then realization shocked her expression. Rolling to face her sister, she slurred her words together, "But don''t say it as if I''m pressuring him or anything! I-It''s not like he has to take part in that dangerous Yggdrasil Tournament¡­! It''s just that¡­ that if he does, I''ll be here rooting for him!"

    Her expression suddenly changed again.

    "But, oh God¡­ What if the Yggdrasil Tournament really does turn out to be too dangerous¡­!? What if he gets hurt!?? Or worse?!? This can''t happen! You must tell him to forget all about the tournament!! Tell him to forget all about me¡­! Even if I do end up dying¡­ If I do die, I don''t want him to blame himself¡­"

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    Turning her head up and focusing her previously unfocused eyes, she rambled, "Tell him to not worry about anything at all! Actually, I want to see him in person¡ª"

    That was when Grace realized that her little sister had already disappeared, leaving behind a letter that slowly fell to the end of her bed. Like a cold-started engine, Grace speedily unwrapped herself and jumped on the letter. Her prettily painted hands hurriedly ripped apart the letter. As her eyes scanned the content written on the paper, her complexion switched between green, purple, and red before eventually landing on pink. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She tightly hugged her Cassius body pillow, mumbling with a deep blush coloring her cheeks.

    On the letter, a number of words were written, each one in Flora''s handwriting. They read:

    "I''ll keep all my promises, dear elder sister. My sacred place shall only accept his raging dragon one time of my own volition. I promise not to catch any feelings as well, so he''s all yours in that department.

    As for getting you out of here, it will have to wait a few weeks, but I promise it will happen. When the Nexus Event for Earth occurs, Mother will be busy dealing with the aftermath that follows. Many Dimensions will involve themselves with the Ascension Tower of Humanity''s business¡ªincluding our Mother and the Aluria Family. This will be the only chance that I can have Elder Protector Violet slip you out of the Palace without alerting Mother or the other Elders. Then again, it will be quite dangerous¡­

    Though, I''m sure that won''t be enough to keep you away from your lover boy, will it?

    Oh, and Big Sister, you won''t be dying anytime soon. If you can''t trust our family, then trust your Cassius. Ha¡­ You should''ve seen how livid he became when I sparked up a conversation mentioning how I was your sister and how our Mother basically put you under house arrest. He definitely knows about our supernatural origins, but I''m pretty sure he thinks we''re blood suckers¡­ lol."

    The letter ended with that.

    "Shtupids..." Grace''s large brown doe eyes charmingly watered. "Both my little sister and Cass, both of them are just shtupid dummies¡­!"

    Her time of sulking and rolling resumed¡­

    It was a period in her life that was both self-realizing and, most of all, adorable as f*ck!

 Chapter 217 The Rushans Have Taken Master!?

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in the Ascension Tower of Humanity, where a flying silver trail of light darted through the late-night skies ¡ª

    Eventually, the silver light trail came to a stop on one of the many mountains in the Himalayas, somewhere in Asia. Once the dust and soot brought up from her crash landing dispersed, Yimin''s curious eyes shot all around until they ultimately landed on a woman who could only be described as a modern-day Egyptian Goddess.

    Sitting on a high-quality Chinese-style chair, Hellion leisurely sipped on a cup of green herbal tea. She was perusing an article describing what happened at the Antarctic earlier that day; however, once a small explosion occurred right next to her, she looked up. Her calm yet emotionless eyes locked onto the goofy, voluptuous dragon woman approaching her.

    "Yimin has come! Where is Master at!?" Yimin''s chirpy voice echoed as she looked all around, her tail wagging. Though, when she saw no Master and smelled no Master, her excitement instantly died down.

    Although a malicious aura pressed down on her, Hellion calmly said, "No need to get upset. Your Master may not be here, but I know how to find him, which I stated in the letter I sent by pigeon. Did you not get the letter?"

    "The letter?" Yimin''s menacing expression turned adorably confused as she placed her right index finger against her chin. "Oh¡ª" her irises suddenly flashed in realization, "¡ªyou mean the tweetie snack?? Yimin gobbled it up! It was so yummy!"

    "...Then how did you know to come here¡­?"

    Yimin proudly slanted her nose on an incline. "Yimin smelt Master''s scent in Yimin''s poo''s and followed it here! Wait¡­ Where is the Master!?"

    Like a mix of a forgetful turtle and a territorial lion, she returned to baring her fangs and claws, with her shiny silver hair standing on end.

    Speechless.

    That was what the millennia-old Sphinx was feeling at the moment. She had never¡­ not in her thousands of years of life, met anyone so odd. Though, considering Yimin''s identity as a species that shouldn''t even exist in the Ascension Tower, it made a lot of sense that she was a¡­ weirdo.

    Shaking her head, Hellion waved forward; a chair similar to hers was summoned from thin air.

    Yimin tilted her head. "Want Yimin to eat it¡ª?"

    "No, just sit," Hellion interrupted. "We have a lot to discuss. That is, assuming you still want to find a way back to your Master."

    Yimin thought about it, then forgot why she was thinking about anything. She plopped down on the chair, her tail still wagging. "So where''s Yimin''s Master?? Is Master playing hide and seek!?"

    She became excited again.

    She really, really¡­ really loved hide and seek.

    ''This girl is truly something else¡­'' Hellion thought with twitching brows. ''I just wonder how she was able to track Master''s scent here but not to where he actually is? Maybe this location was closer to her? No, that''s just silly¡­¡ª''

    "Ooh, a colorful birdy!" Yimin bounced out of her seat and Naruto-sprinted toward a peacock that had just ascended the small mountain they were on. "Yimin was just chasing so many of these colorful birdies before pooing and going after Master! Now, there''s more!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She quickly grabbed the peacock before bringing it back to her chair. She then forced it to stay still in her lap, all while swinging her head left and right in a jovial way.

    Silence.

    Hellion looked at this unusual silver-haired specimen, seriously wondering if she had some severe brain damage.

    After inhaling longer than normal, she exhaled. Her face returned to complete apathy as she said, "So how about we discuss how you''re going to find your beloved Master?"

    Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx, then went on to weave out a grand tale. She depicted Yimin as the protagonist that needed to venture into dangerous lands to save the damsel in distress, which just so happened to be her¡­ Master.

    As for where these dangerous lands were, it was obviously¡­ Russia!

    "The Rushans have taken Master!? Yimin won''t allow it!"

    OOM!

    Her aura erupted outward, creating waves of immensely powerful energy. Her presence became increasingly stronger, until eventually reaching close to the Mage Lord''s approximate power level.

    Hellion faintly smiled. ''This will work,'' she thought before saying, "If you wish to save your Master before he gets eaten by the¡­ Rushans, then you''ll need to head out now. Hurry, we must not waste any time."

    Yimin furiously nodded. "Yimin will save Master from the Rushans!! Thanks, funny-looking lady I don''t know!!"

    FWIP!

    Yimin took off into the skies like a silver rocket, leaving the dumbfounded Hellish Sphinx to her own devices.

    "...We live in the same house, you know¡­? We even serve the same Master¡­"

    Hellion sighed, then vanished as well.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe ¡ª

    Cassius, after meeting up with every woman in his household, decided to contact a peculiar girl who went to the same school as him. His time since returning to this world had led to many surprises, one of which was the announced kidnapping of Grace.

    ''Can it really be called a kidnapping, though¡­? Hard to tell¡­''

    His thoughts swirled around inside his head as he waited by the only train station in Hoshito. The reason he was waiting for showed up not even two seconds later, wearing a flowy white sundress.

    Flora walked over with slow, elegant strides. A lovely smile was plastered across her face, which would give one the illusion that she was some cheerful girl. But Cassius knew better. He became abundantly aware of what sort of person she was shortly after she approached him and dropped the bombshell that was Grace''s situation. He understood very well that everything he was seeing right now was merely a facade.

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    But what puzzled him was what exactly her aim was.

    He knew not if she was actually Grace''s sister or if they were even related; after all, Grace never told him her last name.

    To be honest, his first assumption was that Flora was a Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend, but that idea was discarded as soon as he activated his S-Rank Extraterrestrial Sight Skill.

    So, then¡­ What was the truth¡­?

 Chapter 218 Floras Proposal

    However, what Cassius could 100% verify the truth of was that Flora was not human. No human had fangs like hers, or bat wings, or the ability to hypnotically control people¡ªeach of which were abilities that she showed to him. From just this fact alone, he was able to put a certain amount of trust in what she said. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    But just in case, he kept his guard up.

    One could never be too careful in this world¡ªa world where anyone could be an Alien or even a woman/man in disguise!

    But regardless of Cassius''s suspicions, when Flora approached him and curtly bowed, he returned the gesture with a slight head nod. Getting down to the matter at hand, he coldly asked, "Why have you called me out here? I have many important matters I need to attend to."

    "I''m sure you do," Flora giggled. She strode up to him and interlocked her arm with his. "Don''t you wish to know more about Grace''s current situation? My mother does not play around, you know?"

    Cassius broke free from her soft, cushiony grasp. "I have no interest in playing this game with you," he scoffed. "Just tell me how to bring her back."

    Of what Flora told him, she left out a few very important key details. One was that they were Succubi. Two was that their family was also working toward acquiring a cure for Grace. And three, Flora didn''t state precisely how long Grace was to be kept under house arrest. For all he knew, their mother would lock Grace away past the three-month deadline, thus preventing him from having any hope of giving her the cure.

    Flora had, of course, left out all of these details on purpose. How else would she have gotten him to stay hooked on the line she threw out?

    If she were stronger than him, then everything would''ve been far simpler, but even with her Succubus Awakening, she still felt inferior. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When she looked at him, it was as if she was staring into a bottomless abyss...

    Merely imagining his Essence was enough¡ª Ahn~ ¡ªto make her feel weird¡­

    She squirmed in place after being harshly rejected by her First Mark, seemingly obtaining a similar fetish as the Voidling Guild Leader¡ªanother batsh*t crazy lady.

    Cassius''s lips curled in disgust while looking back at her. ''Another one¡­?'' He was beginning to believe that his luck with the ladies truly was the worst.

    However, for Grace''s sake, he had no choice but to entertain the antics of this extremely unusual girl. "Tell me," he said non-negotiably. "Where is Grace being held? And how strong are those in your family?"

    Flora gazed into his striking blue eyes. Unable to hold back the laughter, she gracefully placed a hand over her mouth. "You''re serious, aren''t you? Haha~ You have a far better chance of winning the entire Yggdrasil Tournament than getting my elder sister away from Mother. At that point, you might as well become one of the Ancestors of the Ascension Tower! Pfft~"

    Cassius blankly stared at the laughing girl as they boarded a train headed outside of Hoshito. They weren''t heading anywhere in particular but decided the most isolated parts of a public train to be the most optimal place to talk.

    He sat down first, with no one around him. Flora, interrupting this solitude, plopped her ample bottom on the seat right next to his. Her butt brushed up against his hand, forcing him to hold onto one of the hanging metal poles.

    "I turn 18 years old in a few weeks, you know?"

    Cassius turned his head in her direction. Her eyes sparkled with hope, a dreamy smile playing on her lips. He sighed, leaned closer, and said, "Listen, kid. I''m gonna be frank with you¡ªI don''t give a f*ck. I don''t do minors. I''m not a soda machine."

    Memphis was also a minor, but her case was different. He let her get close to him because she had no one else in her life following her father''s death. And it wasn''t like they had intercourse or anything of the sort, which was exactly what this fox-like girl sitting beside him wanted.

    Flora''s lips puckered. "Not even for little ol'' me~?"

    "Definitely not for you."

    Oof!

    Flora took critical damage, but this was not enough to keep her down. Thinking quickly, she said, "You have big dreams of saving my elder sister, don''t you? Well, to do that, you need to get into Yggdrasil and participate in the Tournament of Yggdrasil. And you need to win."

    "I know that already¡ª"

    "But do you know that the Tournament of Yggdrasil itself is open to all, but getting into Yggdrasil is virtually impossible unless you''re a high-ranking faction on the 6th Floor of any Ascension Tower? And even then, those factions only receive a very small number of Yggdrasil tickets."

    A frown formed on Cassius''s covered handsome face. ''If what she says is true, then I''ll need to rethink my plans,'' he thought. ''Also, from the smug way she''s talking, it''s obvious that her family has one of the required tickets, which means¡­''

    He assumed she was joking or exaggerating with what she said about Ancestors just a second ago, but that could very well be the truth. Just the Trial Floors of the Ascension Tower of Humanity and HELL already had S-Rank organisms residing within them. Moreover, merely the 1st Floor of HELL had Demon Kings an unknown ways into the SS-Rank.

    As for the higher Floors, it was only natural to assume that the beings became progressively stronger the higher one ascended. Using this logic, if only factions on a 6th Floor could have a chance at entering Yggdrasil, then this cheeky girl''s family¡ªher mother, who was presumably a matriarch of sorts¡­

    ''Just how powerful is she¡­? More powerful than a 2nd Class Slayer?''

    He wasn''t positive if that were the case, but if Flora and Grace''s mother were indeed at such an insurmountable level, then his hurdles¡­ just multiplied¡­

    To understand his unrest at this information, one would need to turn back the clock to just after Cassius returned from the Hunter''s Forest in the Nightmarescape.

    He managed to make it out of the Colosseum and into the Royal Palace with the rest of the survivors. In there, he was aggressively questioned by several ridiculously powerful entities who, according to Yuna, were 2nd Class Slayers. Above them, however, sat an even more stupidly broken being¡ªKing Mistalore.

 Chapter 219 The Nexus Event?

    Although the King never said a word, his Ministers¡ªthe 2nd Class Slayers¡ªhounded him about what occurred in the Hunter''s Forest. Normally, 95+% of the Participants died when taking their Examination, but this time, only a little over four-fifths of them met their demise. This anomaly raised suspicions among the Royal Court, and with Cassius''s unknown origins, those suspicions were raised even higher¡ªespecially when they found out from the other Participants that he alone paved a path out of the forest.

    The King''s expression briefly changed when he heard all the Participants'' accounts, but he still didn''t say a word. Like a menacing man of stone he was.

    Toward the end of a borderline interrogation session, the Ministers of the Court nearly seemed to be on the verge of taking him into the back to be tortured. But just as Cassius predicted¡ªand also why he did everything as he did¡ªthe 12th Princess spoke up on his behalf. This also elicited a small reaction from the stoic and burly King. And in the end, her words silenced the Ministers. Ultimately, the decision for what to do with the freakish young man was left up to the King.

    And what the King did next was precisely what made Cassius add several additional layers to the severity of Grace''s predicament. The King, without moving an inch from his spot, merely looked at him with a bit more focus. And just that was enough to¡­ bring him to his knees.

    The pressure was so overwhelming that Cassius felt as if the countless billions of pounds he was carrying on his person weighed less than a feather in comparison. Just half a nanosecond longer of that insane pressure and he absolutely believed that he would''ve exploded on the spot.

    But in that same instant, the King reduced the intensity of his gaze. To those in the Court, he seemed oddly¡­ satisfied.

    And then, for the first time since the winning Participants were brought into the Court, King Mistalore spoke up. Though, he said but three words:

    "Leave him be."

    The Ministers all looked as if they were betrayed, but none of them dared to even so much as breathe incorrectly in their Liege''s presence, let alone question his final decision. Thus, they let the matter end there.

    Though, they did have one more question which pertained to Cassius''s eligibility to become a Nightmare Slayer. However, seeing how menacingly their King was staring at them, they knew full well what he would say if they asked him something so stupid.

    And just like that, Cassius became an official Nightmare Slayer!

    But just as the Ministers unwillingly reached his name when calling out where every Newbie Nightmare Slayer would be stationed in the Nightmarescape, time froze.

    The Idle Evolution System said that an hour had already passed inside the Hunter''s Forest, but decided to do a one-off thing of extending his time. However, that same extension ended very abruptly. Then, just like turning off a gaming console, Cassius returned to reality.

    Only 20-something seconds had passed since his departure into the Land of Beginnings.

    But the chaos he left behind before leaving¡­ was still very much there to greet him upon his return¡­

    Of course, like the responsible adult he was, he slipped away from the catastrophic scene in the Antarctic, and instead spent his time in the company of gorgeous women! This was the responsible thing to do!

    Then Flora''s phone message came along, and now, here we were, on a train heading to nowhere land.

    "So what you''re telling me is that to get into Yggdrasil, I have to, what? Join your Family?"

    Hearing Cassius''s question, Flora giggled. "Yes, that''s what I''m saying," she said. "And for this to be possible, you have to¡ªone: magically become an Incubus¡ªand two: compete in the Family Yggdrasil Entrance Tournament being held in roughly two months'' time. Of course, to take part in the Tournament, you have to be a part of the Family. But worry not, because I gotchu covered! And I also know of a method to help you easily acquire an Incubus Bloodline!"

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed. Everything sounded far too good to be true. Furthermore, there was one more pressing matter of concern:

    "What is it that you get out of this?"

    His question got straight to the point, catching Flora slightly off guard. Her bubbly and friendly facade nearly cracked, but she just barely managed to save herself in time. "I have only one thing I want," she said endearingly. "My elder sister''s well-being. And if you have even the smallest chance of acquiring a cure for her illness, then I don''t care what I have to do to help you."

    It wasn''t like she was entirely lying; she truly meant what she said about her sister. But she may or may not have left out the fact that she wanted to bone the shiz out of Cassius.

    All for the sake of him being her First Mark, of course!

    Probably¡­ Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

    Well, considering that he would be quite literally drained to death by the time she was done with him, Flora preferred not to think about catching the feels. He was handsome and cool, and oddly sweet to those around him, but¡ª

    ''This whole "remain a fortress of solitude" may turn out to be a whole lot tougher than expected¡­''

    *Skirrrrrttt¡ª*

    Flora''s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the blaring sound of the train coming to a halt. Her head jolted back before restabilizing. But when she came to, the man who was sitting beside her was now sitting directly in front of her.

    "What do I need to do?" asked Cassius, his tone colder than ice.

    Although momentarily dazed by the way he was glaring at her, Flora retained enough clarity to say, "Hit my number in 2 to 3 weeks'' time, right after the Nexus Event truly concludes. Once that time arrives¡ªassuming it does¡ªI''ll tell you exactly what you must do to obtain an Incubus Bloodline."

    Cassius silently pondered.

    ''The Nexus Event¡­ I want to ask her what that is, but I highly doubt she''ll answer for free¡­''

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 Chapter 220 Allow Him To Fight In Yggdrasil!?

    After a brief pause, Cassius said, "Very well. And Flora¡­ Do not betray my faith in you. If you lied to me about any of this to get back at Grace for reasons I don''t care about, I''ll simply have to¡ªkill you."

    Even if he was almost positive this stylish girl and the meek Angel were indeed related, he knew how messy a family could get. If things really came down to it, family members could stab each other in the back¡ªthe worst kind of betrayal.

    Nonetheless, when those final words left Cassius''s mouth, the inside of the train all of a sudden turned dark. Then, with the screeching of the train''s brakes, light returned.

    But the shadowy cloaked man had mysteriously¡­ disappeared.

    Flora struggled to budge from her spot for the next ten minutes, with her thoughts still filled with Cassius''s threats. And then there was the way he looked at her¡­ Oh, that look! It was so¡­ it was so¡­ f*cking hot¡­! Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

    Creepy, perverted laughter bounced off the thin metal walls of the train. And it also just so happened that a purple-haired beauty was experiencing something similar from a few hundred miles away¡­

    Yet, there was one more. Someone, who less than a few hours ago, was reduced to a mere husk of the person she once was. Now, however¡­

    "My Husband! Mhm!! My Husband~!!!"

    Bella was rolling around on her large velvety bed in Nightingale. Her lips were curved up eerily, yet her beauty still remained unmatched. No matter how mentally insane she became, that fact never changed.

    During the first couple of hours following Cassius''s mysterious departure, she had been lifelessly meandering around in her own thoughts. Moreover, outwardly, she was unmoving.

    However¡­

    Once a certain amount of time passed, Bella just seemed to¡ªsnap¡ª

    She moved once more, wiped away her dried-up tears, and then began flicking her bean off to one of the countless pictures of Cassius that she kept stapled on every part of her room. Though, once she realized that such mediocre methods of self-pleasure were far from satisfactory, she quit horsing around and began devising a plan to win her Husband back.

    Although Bella understood more than anyone else how she screwed up, that in no way meant she was ready to give up! Her hubby was her light; he was the stars in the night sky!

    There was simply no possible way she''d give up so easily!! S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Her love was boundless¡ªand her insanity even more so!!!

    "I know what I must do!" Bella suddenly exclaimed, then immediately bolted out of her suspiciously drenched room.

    Once she made it in front of a pair of large, Gothic-style doors, she barged in. The first people she saw were her silver-haired father, with her s*xy mother sitting on the side of his throne. She was combing his soft hair with her hands before her daughter appeared, but, much to Alaric''s dismay, she almost instantaneously retracted her hand.

    Bella rushed past the motionless black-armored guards standing on both sides of the throne room. In an instant, she was already honing her pleading eyes on her father.

    "Please¡­!? Pwetty, pweety, please! With a cherry on top!??"

    Alaric blankly stared at his daughter. They both knew full well what was being asked of him here. But no¡ªhe wouldn''t do it.

    Under no circumstances would he allow something so disgraceful to occur in his noble Duke Family¡ª!

    "Won''t you at least consider hearing her reasoning, my dear?"

    Carmilla''s charming voice instantly silenced whatever the Vampire Duke was going to say. His awkwardly opened mouth closed, then his brows furrowed. He deliberated this matter very seriously, but under the puppy dog eyes of his precious daughter as well as the striking red eyes of his wife, he folded.

    "Fine¡­" He sighed. "You may speak."

    Bella''s vortex-like irises swirled radiantly. "Well, Daddy, first, I want to be allowed to go back to Earth¡ª!"

    "Denied."

    "Dear¡­"

    Alaric''s expression contorted rather difficultly. He clenched his throne, causing it to crack. And then, with a defeated voice, he said, "Very well¡­ But only for the next 10 or so days. The Nexus Event is occurring soon, and even Vampire Duke Descendants are not safe. Also, that bastard''s son¡ªyou''re not allowed to interact with him anymore¡ª" However, before he could speak further, Bella interrupted him, saying:

    "No can do, Daddy! Cass is my husband! No wife should be separated from their husband for too long!! Plus, the red moon is still out; we still have time!!"

    "He''s not even actually your husb¡ª"

    "He''s my husband!"

    "But, he''s really not¡ª"

    "He. Is. My. Husband," Bella slowly iterated, her eyes becoming scary. "K, Daddy?"

    Alaric helplessly looked at his even more helpless daughter. His helplessness became even worse when his mischievous wife gave him a cheeky look with her eyes. He shook his head before asking, "Beloved daughter of mine, what is it that you hope to accomplish by involving yourself with that boy again? Just entering the Humanity Tower''s Trial Floor with a mere incarnation cost me dearly; I won''t be able to go down again. The window is gone. So tell me; what do you hope to accomplish?"

    Bella lovingly grinned. "My Husband hates my guts, Daddy, you know that," she replied. "But seeing as I want him in my guts, I got to thinking!"

    Conveniently ignoring the palpable silence in the air, Bella continued, "My Cass is also someone who pursues benefits. So, then I thought: Well, what could benefit my Cassy Wassy? And the answer was so simple! I''ll just give him my ticket to enter Yggdrasil! I''ve noticed that he enjoys fighting, so¡ª"

    BANG!

    Both armrests of the Duke''s throne shattered, followed by a terrifying aura being unleashed from him. "Unacceptable!!" he roared. "I shall not allow it!!!"

    Seeing his unrest, Carmilla tenderly rubbed his shoulders. "Calm down, my love."

    "You''re also supporting such nonsense!?" Alaric flashed her a fierce glare.

    Carmilla shook her head. "Of course not," she said. "But I have an even better proposal in mind. I heard from little Bell that the boy has what should be your Vampire Duke Bloodline, or rather a diluted version of it as he is not a true descendant but instead a Turned."

    Ending on a high note, she said, "So how about this: what if we invite him into the Family and allow him to fight for one of the Yggdrasil Tickets that we''re still deciding what to do with?"

    "!?!?"

 Chapter 221 Perhaps He Likes Men...?

    "But he''s merely from a Trial Floor! His power will not make a difference in Yggdrasil! He''ll be out in the first round¡ª"

    "Surprises often come in the strangest of forms," said Carmilla, her voice like honey in her husband''s ears.

    That, or the words of a hypnotic she-devil¡­

    Either way, Alaric, the pushover, couldn''t retort. He frowned, then entered deep thought, and finally, he said, "Very well¡­ But only a single drop of Rank 6 Vampire Blood shall be given to him to upgrade his Bloodline! Anything past that will have to be earned by him."

    Bella furiously nodded before leaping. She wrung herself around his neck, rubbing her cheeks against his. "Thanks so much, Daddy!! I promise that you won''t regret this!! My Husband¡ªhere I come!!!" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    With that, Bella transformed into a bat and escaped through an open window before speeding off into the distance.

    "...I''ll definitely regret all of this¡­"

    "Fufu~" Carmilla giggled cheekily. "Perhaps this is how our baby girl either hooks this guy or finally comes to terms with her misdeeds and rejection. But I do wonder¡­ Is she not aware of what one of the prizes that the contestant who takes home Gold will get this Century?"

    Alaric scoffed. "It doesn''t matter. That womanizing bastard''s son will never make it past even the Preliminaries with his level of strength. Forget winning it all, I doubt he''ll even make it past the front door!"

    Carmilla giggled. "Only time will tell, my dear." Then, her eyes misted over. "Now, what say we have a little time to ourselves~? You''ve been wanting to try that hand thing, haven''t you~?"

    Alaric nearly salivated at the mouth.

    Once again, he would be bent to the will of his Succubus of a wife¡­

    Oh, the woes¡­!

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in Hoshito, Japan, Earth ¡ª

    FWIP!

    Cassius just returned home and was immediately greeted by a stunning blonde-haired beauty as soon as he walked through the front door. There she was¡ªAya¡ªstanding there in one of his loose t-shirts and a pair of pink-laced underwear. Her hands, which were sleepily rubbing her eyelids, were suddenly put down.

    She saw him.

    They looked at each other, each silent. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Then, Aya''s cheeks became redder and redder, until, eventually, she screamed. "Ahhh! Y-You pervert¡­! S¡­ Shtupid big brother! So, so, so shtupid!!"

    *Thud, thud, thud.*

    Her hurried footsteps reverberated as she raced up the main marble stairway of their mansion. A loud door slam followed.

    "Well¡­ That could''ve gone better¡­"

    [Indeed¡­ Host has negative aura¡­ When a woman of any kind sees him, they immediately flee¡­ How does one go about acquiring this Skill? I, the System, wish to add this to the database.]

    *Bzzzztt¡ª!*

    Even Lilith¡ªin tattoo form¡ªvibrated in a low hum, clearly conveying its disappointment as well.

    "You two¡­" Cassius went to say something, but just ended up sighing. "I promised Aya that date this weekend; perhaps I can smooth a few things out with her then¡­"

    [Good luck with that! (He''s definitely going to f*ck it up.)]

    Lilith agreed with a slight buzz.

    Silence.

    It was extremely quiet¡­

    Until it wasn''t.

    "What was that scream all about?"

    A soft, melodic voice found its way into the ears of a devilishly handsome man who just couldn''t seem to catch a break today. He bleakly shifted his gaze toward the source of the voice, with him quickly laying eyes on an alluringly beautiful silverish-blue-haired woman wearing tight dolphin-patterned pajamas. But with how large her soft bosom was, several of the pajama''s buttons appeared to be on their last legs. They looked as if they were attempting to hold two parts of a massive boat from breaking away from one another.

    Magnificent.

    "Hello? Can you hear me?" Stella got close to him, with her voluptuous mountains of jelly jiggling all up in his peripheral vision.

    ''I think I need a larger field of view, because my screen just isn''t big enough to render anything else right now,'' Cassius thought to himself, yet vocally replied, "Yes, I can hear you. I was just spaced out for a second."

    Stella carefully inspected his expression. "I see¡­ Well, anyway, what was that about with Aya?"

    "Nothing much¡­ I just don''t think she was expecting male company¡ªdressed like that."

    "Ahh, yeah," said Stella. "We thought you would be gone longer than you were. Which reminds me, there''s also someone else dressing a bit¡ª"

    "What was that ruckus just now?"

    Walking around a corner was the gorgeous MILF who took up residence in the Steele Mansion. Her silky hair; long and golden, her eyes like pools of liquid gold, her milk makers like round and supple hilltops. Then, there were her child-bearing hips and donkalicious a*s, well¡­ nothing more needed to be said there. The tantalizing sight presented before Cassius''s innocent, virgin eyes was words enough.

    Sasha''s expression drastically changed when she saw just who was standing in the middle of the wide hallway. Slowly, she looked down at her barely dressed upper half, noting what was most definitely a slipped-out pink nipple. Then, with an explosion of smoke from both her ears, she ran back around the corner she just came out from.

    "C-Cassius¡­ Forg¡ª"

    "Already forgotten," said Cassius, his tone reassuring. "It''s very dark in here, after all."

    While gradually sliding down an unseen wall in embarrassment, Sasha faintly smiled. Her heartbeat quickened unnaturally, prompting her to tightly clutch the area above her heart. ''W¡­ What is this I''m feeling right now¡­? I shouldn''t be¡­ I can''t. I''m married. So then why¡­??''

    "Seems like Master is being productive as always."

    A different voice sounded out this time, coming from a small mahogany dining room table that sat under a dim lightbulb glow. Sipping tea while looking at recent news related to one of many consecutive terrorist attacks on Russia was the tan-skinned goddess-like woman¡ªHellion.

    "Why are you always sitting ominously like that¡­?" Stella asked.

    "Because my Master likes a woman who quietly observes," replied Hellion.

    "He does??"

    "Who knows? I was kidding."

    "...."

    Hot air escaped Stella''s pursed lips. "All the girls who call you Master are insufferable, Cassius. This one most of all. Humph!"

    She got her hopes up and everything! But nope, back to square one she went! Still completely in the dark about what Cassius''s ideal type was!

    Perhaps he likes men¡­?

    No, surely not¡­

 Chapter 222 Approaching the ArchDemon Rank

    Cassius silently observed the cute interaction between Stella and Hellion. However, his expression quickly changed when he received a mental message from the enchanting woman who was still calmly reading a news article.

    ''I sensed your connection with HELL worsen. Things have changed; assuming you still want to keep your status as the 73rd Demon King, you must enter HELL sooner than expected. And even if you wish to cut your losses on the Demon King Bloodline, I must implore you to reconsider; Bloodline retraction backlash at this stage will be disastrous. With the Nexus Event for this Floor rapidly approaching, I would not recommend taking the chance.''

    Cassius''s brows knitted together, but he nodded nonetheless. ''I understand,'' he responded back. ''We''ll return within the next few weeks. By then, I hope to still have you as my Guide through HELL. To me, you''re indispensable.''

    Hellion unnoticeably smiled. ''Of course, Master. I''ll be with you until the end. No one is more interesting than you, after all.''

    Noticing how quiet it was, Stella suspiciously eyed Cassius and Hellion. She felt something wasn''t right. But she couldn''t pinpoint exactly what that something was.

    "Humph!" was all that wound up leaving her mouth.

    Her grumbling, however, broke the concentration that Cassius and Hellion had on each other. As a result, they silently parted ways, with Hellion remaining in place and Cassius ascending the stairs of the mansion. He noticed Sasha on his way up with the help of his eye-related skills, but he didn''t do anything about it. He simply continued on his way, with Stella following closely behind.

    "You have something planned with Sasha, don''t you?" Stella asked, her tone emulating her displeasure.

    Cassius nodded.

    Stella''s cheeks puffed with air as she snorted¡ªmore than once. It wasn''t until they''d almost ascended the lengthy staircase that she tugged on the back of his cloak and said, "You''ll take me out somewhere as well, right? We still haven''t really talked about our mothers much since that incident with the MoonShiners. I¡­ I was just wondering if they were alike, you know? Since they were both related to this Sanctuary of Yggdrasil¡­"

    Cassius''s irises briefly flashed. ''With everything going on, I completely forgot about Stella''s connection to Yggdrasil¡­ and also my own¡­''

    Turning around at the topmost stair, Cassius met her gaze and said, "Your Grandma¡ªwould we be able to meet her on a day other than the day you want to go out?"

    Stella looked at him in confusion. "You don''t want to see her on the same day we go out¡­?"

    "Why would I want that? You don''t wish to have the day specially for yourself? It''s odd, but okay¡ª"

    "No, no!" Stella furiously waved her hands. "I''ll take the special day¡ªjust you and me¡­! Then, on a different day, we can go and meet Grandma!"

    Cassius tilted his head ever so slightly. After a moment, he gave up on understanding women and simply nodded. "It seems we have a plan, then." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Uhn!"

    With that, the confused man and ecstatic woman separated in the hallway, each returning to their personal rooms. One would likely end up in the other''s room later that night, but for now, Cassius would receive some much-warranted alone time.

    Shortly after entering his room and closing the door behind him, Cassius sat down on his bed in meditation. He was originally going to practice his movesets for the Fundamental Body Arts in an attempt to get them all to the 9th Layer but decided to reserve that for when he was in a wider space.

    For now, he would stick to his Fiendish Demon King Arts and Demon Dragon Integration Arts.

    Both of those techniques were similar to the cultivation techniques that Cassius read about in online webnovels. All he had to do was cultivate them as stated in their manuals, and he would improve both his strength and the proficiency of the techniques themselves. However, when it came to the Demon King Arts¡ªrather than improve his Bloodline like with the Demon Dragon Integration Arts¡ªhe instead cultivated the power contained within his Demon King Bloodline, which felt almost limitless.

    After more than a month of grinding away in his various techniques, Cassius had, of course, progressed his Demon King Rank quite a lot. From the 1st Rank of Lesser Demon King, he smashed straight through the 2nd Rank of Greater Demon King and found himself at the very pinnacle of such a profound stage!

    And as of now, he was only a fortuitous opportunity away from completely obliterating the wall that prevented him from achieving the 3rd Rank¡ªthe Archdemon Rank!

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    ''I think I''ll be able to break through tonight.'' His resolve steeled, and the Magicules in the room started to fluctuate. ''I''ll definitely make the breakthrough tonight.''

    WAAA!

    The Magicules suddenly morphed into something far redder and far more evil. Yet, except for the blowing of his hair and the slight grimace on his face, Cassius appeared to be in the comfort of his own home¡ªwhich he was¡ªbut this was meant metaphorically.

    However, as the strong winds in the room became even more intense, Cassius was forced to utilize his Teleport skill multiple times in quick succession. Only after around a hundred spams did he make it to a mountaintop somewhere in Japan; he hadn''t paid much attention to details while teleporting.

    Though, it was good that he did this, because in the very next instant, the top of the mountain was obliterated by insanely strong winds!

    Luckily, Cassius managed to keep himself levitating in a lotus position, thus preventing himself from destroying the rest of the mountain. Nonetheless, once his mind grabbed hold of the volatile string that kept the Archdemon Rank from him, he locked straight the f*ck in and amplified the essence of his Demon King Bloodline.

    His physical appearance transformed into something much more demonic and terrifying. He grew a pair of curved obsidian horns and a long, wickedly sharp tail. Moreover, the color of his eyes became a deathly shade of red, with a couple of menacingly slitted pupils added in as well.

    WHOOOOOM¡ª!

 Chapter 223 A Moment For Prayer

    WHOOOOOM¡ª!

    Cassius''s cloak ruptured and exploded.

    If not for the Shadow Monarch Cloak''s unique ability to self-regenerate over time, he would''ve been rather pissed over this incident.

    But regardless of the what-ifs, as soon as his mind and body both crossed over into a threshold of no return, Cassius didn''t look back for even a second and dived straight in!

    OOOM!!!

    His demonic aura exploded outward, reaching such an insanely high level that living beings all over the world could feel it. Chills ran down the spines of many, but not a single one could pinpoint precisely what was making them feel this way.

    If put in layman''s terms, it was as if everyone everywhere suddenly had the weirdest feeling that the world¡­ became ever more malevolent.

    Then, with Cassius''s breakthrough concluding on a note of massive success, that feeling was heavily multiplied.

    But then, seemingly out of nowhere, that feeling vanished as if it had never been there to begin with¡­

    The widely known 10th Strongest Hunter in the World¡ªthe Mage Lord¡ªalso experienced this same phenomenon. And in his lapse in judgment, his insufferably annoying opponent took the opportunity to land a devastating gut punch right to the pit of his stomach. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BOOOM!!

    An explosion reverberated as a straight line of destruction was drawn through the vast territory of Russia.

    But if one believed that to be the end of his opponent''s momentum, then think again! Because before he could even catch his balance and stop uncontrollably blitzing through the skies, a silver rocket moved even faster and appeared where he was heading.

    With an unwavering hand raised high, a resounding slap echoed through the air, striking with the force of a thunderclap.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOM!!!

    It was a slap heard around the world.

    The damage caused by this furious slap was so immense that many large regions of Russia caved in under the weight of the attack and collapsed into the ground. The damage¡ªbeing most disastrous where the Mage Lord was slapped into¡ªtook the worst of it all. No more human or animal life was present in that area, with the whole place having turned into no more than a massive, multi-layered crater.

    At first thought, one would believe that there was no way the Mage Lord could''ve possibly survived a physical attack at such a level. After all, he was a Mage-class!

    But that was where one would forget one very important fact¡­

    The Mage Lord¡ª

    RUMBLE!!!

    ¡ªwas a World-class motherf*cking Hunter¡­!!!

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOOM!!!

    The crater where the Mage Lord was planted imploded upward. Then, from within billions of tons of sailing debris, a blonde-haired man draped in mystic purple robes appeared. His incalculably high anger was visible through the flames shooting out of his eyes, and though his hair was disheveled and his clothes a mess, he was still more than capable of magically amplifying his voice:

    "YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE NERVE!??"

    "THE NERVE TO COME INTO MY COUNTRY AND KILL MY HUNTERS!!! AND THEN TO ADD TO YOUR DEATH WISH, YOU HARM ME!!!! ME!????"

    "COURTING DEATH!!!"

    Yimin dug out her right ear and flung what she found in the seething Mage Lord''s direction. "Yimin has to kill you now, carrot-head. Otherwise, Yimin won''t be able to save Yimin''s Master!"

    "Who gives a fuck about your shitty master!?? I''LL KILL YOU!!!!"

    Yimin''s happy expression zeroed out as dark black streaks formed over her eyes.

    The Mage Lord roared as his aura extended to the high heavens. A spiraling red and blue sphere spun around on his S+++ Rank Staff. He tossed the sphere into the sky, causing it to disappear.

    "TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE MY METEOR FALL, B*TCH!! AND TELL YOUR SH*TTY MASTER THAT I SENT YOU THERE WHEN HE MEETS YOU IN THE AFTERLIFE!!!!"

    Yimin''s face further darkened.

    |METEOR FALL| - |AQUA FIRE METEOR SHOWER| - |ULTIMATE SKILL!!|

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    OoOoOM! OoOoOM! OoOoOM!

    OoOoOM! OoOoOM! OoOoOM!

    OoOoOM! OoOoOM! OoOoOM!

    From the mixed blue and red skies emerged dozens of colossal fiery bluish-red meteors, each one the size of a small country. And each one aimed in the singular direction of a shadowy-faced silver-haired woman seemingly frozen in place.

    Seeing this pitiable sight, the Mage Lord sneered. "What, girl¡ªare you scared!?? Are you terrified!?!?" Using his enhanced vision to better look her body up and down, he licked his lips. "If you want to live, then I don''t mind sparing you! But you''ll have to get down on your knees, slowly strip yourself down, and then service me until I''m satisfied! Hell, I''ll even let your sh*tty Master watch as I violate you¡ª"

    "ENOUGH!!!!"

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    A voice more terrifying than the deepest pits of HELL was followed by countless explosions as Yimin''s rage-filled face burst upward at many times the speed of light!

    "!!!"

    The Mage Lord realized all too late, and before his Ultimate Skill could speed up its descent, an obsidian claw clasped onto his head. Then, while moving at a speed beyond what he could properly deal with, Yimin rammed the back of his head straight into one of the bluish-red meteors plummeting from the sky.

    The meteor exploded instantly!

    The Mage Lord came out the other end of the exploded meteor with a bloodied face and a cracked skeleton. Every single one of his protective measures had been destroyed!

    Yet¡­

    "For insulting Yimin''s Master¡ªDEATH!!!"

    "N¡­ No!! Pl-Please, ha-have mercy¡­!!!"

    Too late.

    Yimin reeled back the crying face of one of the most powerful men on the planet, then called upon even more of her latent Tyrant Dragon Bloodline.

    A moment for prayer.

    Then, a moment for those who would be implicated because of this.

    And then, finally, one moment to view the sight of the Mage Lord''s handsome face slowly peel off in slow motion as his body blurred forward.

    However, one must not forget to give a moment of prayer to the meteors that did not sign up for this.

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOM!!!

    Another meteor exploded, this time in even grander fashion than the last one!

    But from the innumerable chunks of flying debris, Yimin''s furious expression appeared above one of them as she viciously grabbed onto the Mage Lord''s mangled face. She threw him toward a different fiery meteor, and another explosion resounded.

    But she was not anywhere close to being done.

    Another explosion. Another meteor wrecked.

    Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another...

 Chapter 224 Hellions Sinister Intentions

    Like a ping-pong ball being tossed around on a table, the Mage Lord''s bloody mess of a body crashed through every single meteor falling from the sky. Eventually, after less than half a nanosecond of hypertravel, the meteors were left as no more than flying debris.

    As for the Mighty and All-powerful Mage Lord¡­ calling him a bag of meat and bones would be quite generous to describe his current appearance.

    Even with an S-Rank Awakener''s insane Endurance stat, his regeneration was unable to help.

    He died.

    For the first time since the Gates appeared nearly a century ago, a World-class Hunter perished from something other than natural causes. This event was a terrifying thing to imagine¡ªunbelievably terrifying.

    "Humph! That''s what you get for insulting Yimin''s Master, carrot-head!" Yimin coldly snorted as she tossed aside the gory mess in her claws.

    But if this event was such a terrifying thing to imagine, then why was there someone as cute as Yimin acting as the cause of it all¡­? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yimin¡ªwhile covered in some of her own blood but mostly the Mage Lord''s¡ªcasually licked off the blood trickling down her claws. "Blegh! Even his blood tastes nasty!" She coughed up whatever she had just swallowed before whipping her tail around and shooting off into the distance.

    ''Weird-looking lady said we would meet again on that mountain with the funny-looking colorful chickens, and she would tell Yimin the next step on how to find and save Master. I''ll go there!''

    Her thoughts echoed out rather joyfully as she left behind a scene of mass destruction that would leave the massive country of Russia forever scarred.

    Not only had she murdered one of the World-class Hunters¡ªonly one of two in Russia¡ªbut she also savagely brutalized thousands of the most powerful A-Rank and S-Rank Hunters, including the Green Dragon Hunter Party.

    Vera died at her hands, and so did the rest of her party.

    In total, dozens of S-Rank Hunters fell to her¡­ which meant very few S-Rank Russian Hunters still remained.

    Even the extraterrestrials disguised as high officials or powerful Hunters died at her hands, though she was none the wiser to their true identities. Then again, she did briefly wonder why they looked so weird after she killed them, even prompting her to taste-test one of them.

    However, she immediately spat out the big-headed gray freak, and that was the end of that.

    Anyhoo, the Russia that existed before Yimin killed the Mage Lord was already a land riddled with craters and devastation. But when she left the fiery meteor debris to fall upon every inch of the country, the snowy wonderland transformed into a land of¡­ death¡­ and misery.

    Fortunately, the deaths of the Russians were extremely quick, as the meteor debris rained down at a ridiculously fast speed. The common populace suffered none¡ªtheir demise merciful.

    However, of those who still remained in Russia following the greatest apocalypse event in its history, there was one¡­ one who gradually began to awaken because of all the constant rumblings.

    The man whom those under the age of 50 had no idea even existed¡ªa man classified as a 1st Generation World-class Hunter¡ªa man whom the Russians feared even more than the Mage Lord¡ª

    Igor Volkov¡ªthe Wolf Deity¡ª!!!

    Deep underground in Russia, in an extremely spacious ice chamber, a man who hadn''t opened his eyes in decades began to grow restless. The ice chains that tied him to pillars stretching upward for thousands of meters began to rattle. The ice pillars themselves also started to creak and groan.

    Then, a crack appeared.

    *Crack, crack, CRACK, CRACK!*

    More cracks appeared until, eventually, there wasn''t a single pillar without a web of fractures spreading across its surface.

    Down below, a man with white, wolf mane-like hair that reached his lower torso moved slightly from his kneeling position. His face was entirely covered by an ice mask, but even with his mouth and eyes fully obscured, one could still see the hot, steamy breath seeping out of the mask.

    "Time¡­" The voice scraped against one''s mind like rusted metal on stone, each word a jagged wound in the silence. "It''s almost time for the Ice Sovereign''s cage to shatter¡­ Nearly there¡­"

    With Igor Volkov''s voice no longer breaking the silence of the underground ice chamber¡ªand the cracking coming to a close¡ªthe camera zoomed out.

    ¡ª Back on the Himalayan Mountain, where Hellion first requested Yimin to ''save'' her Master from the Rushans ¡ª

    "You killed them all?"

    Hellion''s intoned voice immediately resounded as soon as Yimin landed on the flat mountaintop. She was sitting in the same spot as last time, and in her hands was yet another newspaper. However, the newspaper this time described a level of destruction that extended far beyond the chaos Yimin had caused before.

    The world was in a state of extreme panic, with even the world leaders and S-Rank Hunters unaware of what they should do now.

    ''It''s been around six hours since the news came out about Russia''s near utter annihilation, which means this dragon took a few more detours again¡­''

    Hellion''s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

    In response to her icy stare, Yimin chirpily said, "Yimin killed all of them! All the evil Rushans!"

    "Are you sure?"

    "Of course¡ª!" That was when she faintly recalled scenes of relatively strong humans fleeing beyond her scope of killing. "Well¡­ perhaps a few of the Rushans got away¡­ but only a few! Like¡­ erm¡­ one, two, or three!"

    Hellion blankly stared at the silver-haired girl. A silly look was plastered across her face as beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks.

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    A sigh escaped Hellion''s lips as she shook her head. Though, if someone had been paying close enough attention, they would have noticed a darkness buried deep within her gaze; it was boundlessly dark. Terrifyingly evil.

    ''That Mage Lord nearly conveyed killing intent toward my Master. Death was a mercy for him,'' Hellion thought coldly. ''And those of his kind are no better¡­ They were affiliated with the man who wished harm upon my Master. For this, they all deserved to die.''

    ''As for those who slipped out of the trap¡­ I''ll have to deal with them personally.''

 Chapter 225 The Fastest Man Alive

    One thing that Hellion hid from everyone else¡ªeven her Master¡ªwas how her connection with her Master''s Demon King Bloodline caused her power to soar. And with Cassius''s most recent breakthrough into the Archdemon Realm, her power also increased by leaps and bounds, far exceeding what she previously possessed as a mere HELL Trial Floor Guardian.

    Although she still wasn''t at the same level as any of the World-class Hunters, she could easily take on your average S-Rank Hunter. In other words, ''cleaning'' up the remainder of the audacious worms would be no big deal.

    ''For conveying the intent of harming my Master¡ªeven if only briefly¡ªdeath is what you''ll receive. Everyone¡­ Everyone will die.''

    Hellion¡ªa Deity of sorts¡ªwas a woman who lived for interesting things. For too many years, she had been searching for greater sources of intrigue. And now that she finally found someone who fully satisfied her craving for intrigue, there was simply no way in hell she would allow any pesky insects to get in her way!

    The Mage Lord''s death was set in stone the very moment he dared even think about doing anything to her Master! And the desolation of Russia was the cost of his impertinence!

    His life wasn''t even counted in the price, for that was something that would''ve been taken regardless.

    ''For Master¡­ For Master, I''d do anything¡­''

    Unknowingly, and without Cassius noticing, Hellion''s once abysmally low Affection Rating skyrocketed straight to the moon¡ªstraight to the maximum value of 100!

    However, as if her inward insanity was all just an illusion, she emotionlessly shifted her eyes away from Yimin and returned to reading over the newspaper. But noticing Yimin''s growing impatience, she said, "Your Master is in the Country of Japan right now¡ªin a city called Hoshito. Make it there, and you''ll find him by scent."

    "Ja¡­pan?" Yimin struggled to pronounce the foreign word. "Can you eat it?"

    "It''s a country where your Master is trapped¡ªand no, you can''t eat it," said Hellion. "Now go; I wish to be alone right now."

    Yimin tilted her head but still did as she was told. She zipped off into the skies, beginning a new journey around the small blue space marble that she had already lapped thousands of times.

    Eventually, she would find Japan!

    Right¡­?

    Well, regardless of Yimin''s uncanny resemblance to a certain green-haired pirate with three swords, she left for good. Hellion, on the other hand, was left to read over a newspaper while meandering in her own thoughts.

    ''Now, the next most pressing matter of concern,'' she thought as her vision honed in on a skull-shaped island located far away. ''My Master''s most unwelcome visitors. They are strong, yes, and their relation to that massive organic entity hovering above is interesting. But¡­ my Master is far more interesting.''

    The Dissonants who invaded from the stars beyond the Illusion would undoubtedly die¡ªthat much, Hellion guaranteed without an ounce of a doubt.

    ''My Master''s origin to that place and those people¡ªthese invaders know full well about it, and they plan to take advantage of my Master¡­ Utterly unacceptable. They will die. Same as the Russians. And the same as anything else that dares to control or harm my Master. They''ll all die.''

    Hellion''s shimmering golden eyes darkened ever so slightly as she continued reading over the newspaper in her hands.

    Until, eventually¡­ she vanished.

    ¡ª In North America, the United States, at the Earth Crusaders Headquarters in Washington D.C. ¡ª

    Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    The Earth Crusaders received an unexpected visitor on this particular day¡ªVictor Rapido, the alleged fastest man alive.

    "You say he''s the fastest?" sounded a feminine voice bereft of emotion.

    "Why? Is our little ice princess all of a sudden now interested in men or something~?"

    Three people¡ªall S-Rank Hunters¡ªwere walking through tall marble corridors as they maneuvered toward the Meeting Area for the S-Rank members of the Earth Crusaders Guild. All three of these S-Rank Hunters were female, each extremely powerful. And of them, there was one face in particular that anyone in the Steele Mansion would recognize within an instant.

    "Memphis, you''re actually asking about a man?? I must be dreaming right now because there''s no way that''s possible!"

    It was the third member of their little group who spoke this time. She had medium-length black hair tied up into twintails. Her beauty, if summed up in a single word, would be classic.

    However, the young woman she was looking at was anything but classic. With Memphis''s glistening golden eyes and her long, shiny black hair¡ªnot to mention her voluptuous figure¡ªshe was a goddess-like woman rarely seen throughout the ages!

    If not for the fact that she was only 17¡ªwhich was below the legal age of consent in America¡ªit was highly likely that powerful and influential men from all over the world would be constantly swarming her. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Well, there were still those who didn''t care much about her morally questionable age and still sought to pursue her. But those men were very quickly deterred by the protectiveness of the behemoth of an organization that reigned as the strongest Guild in the world.

    With a total of four World-class Hunters in their ranks¡ªall stronger than the Mage Lord¡ªas well as more than a hundred S-Rank Hunters, the Earth Crusaders were the one organization that no one dared to carelessly offend.

    Even kings who had their lascivious eyes on the newest rising S-Rank Hunter were left with no choice but to give up.

    That was just how powerful and influential the Earth Crusaders were.

    Today, however, they were gathered for reasons unknown. And with the special guest appearance of the Rank 22 S-Rank Hunter¡ªVictor Rapido¡ªeveryone was put on their toes.

    Upon arriving at the S-Rank Meeting Room¡ªlocated within a massive auditorium in the Earth Crusaders Headquarters¡ªMemphis finally received some respite from her friends. They had gone on and on about Victor Rapido for quite a while, repeatedly hinting at something that she denied time and time again.

    ''The fastest man alive,'' she thought apathetically. ''He was also especially interested in speed¡­''

    The "he" she was referring to was none other than the incarnation of speed himself¡ªa man who knew not when to slow down¡ªa man who moved so fast that she didn''t even know exactly when her heart had been stolen¡­

 Chapter 226 A Cunning Dragonoid...?

    "Are you ready, Ice Princess?"

    A playful voice broke Memphis''s strained train of thought, forcing her to turn her head up and look at the sight that lay beyond a simple door. Inside the wide auditorium lay more than a hundred high-quality chairs, each one seating a presence that by themselves felt overwhelmingly powerful. And with all of their immense auras coalesced together, an aura amalgamation beyond mortal comprehension filled the seemingly restricted space with its suffocating presence.

    This marked the first time Memphis personally experienced something as fantastical as this since joining the Earth Crusaders.

    It was a feeling like no other¡­

    "QUIET!!"

    A booming voice cut off the flow of conversations happening between the various S-Rank Hunters gathered in the room. Memphis and her two friends found their seats to the side, where they were able to clearly see a total of five figures standing on stage.

    The one in the middle¡ªalso the one who spoke up¡ªwas the strongest of the lot.

    He was an imposing old man with a rugged, battle-worn face, his deep-set eyes radiating a cold intensity. His weathered skin was marked by a network of scars, each telling a tale of violence and survival. A prominent gash ran diagonally across his cheek, a testament to a life of conflict. His silver-streaked hair was cropped short, and his wiry frame, though aged, exuded an air of unyielding strength. Dressed in dark, practical clothing, his presence alone commanded respect and wariness, as if he carried the weight of countless battles in his steely gaze.

    His name?

    John Adams¡ªRank 3 in the World¡ªthe Battlemonger.

    The three standing on his right side were also characters of immense standing in both the U.S. and the world. The first was a thin man with a long, whirly mustache and a monocle¡ªRank 9¡ªGentlemanly Saint. His special ability: Rapier Savant (S+++ Rank).

    The pretty middle-aged brunette posing beautifully beside the Gentlemanly Saint was a drop-dead gorgeous woman known far and wide for both her beauty and her unique ability to change her size at will.

    Barla¡ªRank 8¡ªMacro Mommy. Her special ability: Size Manager (S+++ Rank).

    As for the last one standing to the right of the Battlemonger, he stood just over 5 feet tall and carried a cane just as short as him. His back was hunched, and his eyelids were squinted due to the passage of time. Overall, he appeared as though the slightest wind current would be enough to send him into the afterlife for good.

    However, with an antiquated, tyrannical presence as powerful as his, none were foolish enough to judge this book by its cover.

    He had but his title as his name after discarding his birth name long ago¡ªRank 5 in the World¡ªTasmanian Bladedevil.

    His name was fitting, for he carried four thin swords on his back, each one containing a presence capable of bringing a weaker S-Rank Hunter to their knees.

    Not many knew precisely what the Bladedevil was like in battle¡ªor why he carried four swords¡ªbut it was rumored that so little was known about him simply because¡­ all who saw him fight were no longer alive to tell the tale.

    As for the lone blonde-haired man confidently standing on the Battlemonger''s left side, it was none other than Victor Rapido¡ªthe fastest man alive!

    ¡ªThree minutes later¡ª

    Once all the S-Rank Hunters in the Earth Crusaders Guild were seated in the massive auditorium, the Battlemonger''s deep, gravelly voice once more reverberated:

    "We''ve gathered you all here today¡ªregardless of whether you were raiding a Gate or not¡ªfor the sole reason of the unknown silver-haired dragonoid''s attack on Russia."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "That news was real!?"

    "I thought it was all a hoax! But with those rumblings a few hours ago¡­ everything makes so much more sense¡­"

    "Has an extremely powerful humanoid Monster actually escaped the Gates!?"

    "Is the Mage Lord actually dead!? But that means¡­ a World-class Hunter has¡ª"

    "Yes." The Battlemonger''s voice silenced every agitated fellow in the meeting room. "This silver-haired dragonoid has been confirmed to be an extremely powerful¡­ and extremely intelligent Monster that somehow escaped from a Purple-rank Gate. Could''ve happened when Oblivion''s Threshold exploded, or it could''ve happened elsewhere. But the fact is that it happened. An intelligent Monster of immense proportions has been set loose on our world."

    *Achoo!* sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    That "extremely intelligent Monster" cutely rubbed her nose before resuming her chase of a group of scared sh*tless panda bears in a bamboo forest.

    "Yimin shall catch the black and white floofers! Don''t run, floofers!!"

    "Now, as I''m sure everyone is aware by now, this threat is one that could very well bring about the end of the world," said the Battlemonger. "Right here on this screen you will see multiple photos recently captured in what used to be the country of Russia."

    *Click, click.*

    Memphis and the other S-Rank Hunters watched with rapt focus as a slideshow flipped between increasingly worse images. The whole nation had been turned into an apocalyptic icy wasteland. Clouds of gray smoke permeated the air for thousands of miles, raining ash on the very few living beings who survived the battle between gods. Craters were scattered everywhere, each one containing the bones and dried blood of millions of Russians and billions of other living organisms.

    By the end of the slideshow, the atmosphere of the auditorium had turned grim. Even Memphis''s usually indifferent expression now had a slight frown¡ªnot because of the graphic scenes but because of how familiar that silver-haired dragonoid seemed. All images of her were extremely blurry, so it was hard to tell, but there was definitely something familiar about her.

    ''Do I know that humanoid Monster? But who¡­?''

    Interrupting her thoughts was the clicking off of the slideshow. The Battlemonger''s voice sounded thereafter:

    "From here on out, every single one of you are to keep a watchful eye out for this elusive and incredibly cunning dragonoid. Tell all of your subordinate A-Rank Hunters as well; have everyone on high alert. At any moment, this unknown creature could catch us by surprise and kill some of our own."

 Chapter 227 Protect Your Undies!

    The faces of the S-Rank Hunters turned grave as they stared up at their Guild Leader with full focus. They knew that he wouldn''t call them all here today for something like a warning or a small directive, for things like that could simply be told through email. There must be something else.

    And, just as expected:

    "Now, as this unknown Humanoid Monster is shown to be extremely fast, Victor Rapido here has been invited to test your speed and make sure you can defend against attacks that the Mage Lord could not," the Battlemonger said, his hands redirecting everyone''s attention to the suave blonde-haired man.

    It was common knowledge among the Hunter community that Victor Rapido was indeed the fastest man in the world. There was even a time when he raced one of the World-class Hunters with an S+++ Agility Stat, yet still won by a long shot. However, it was also widely known that when stacked up against anyone in the Top 50, Victor was lacking in everything except for his speed.

    If based on stats like Strength, Endurance, or Intelligence, Victor was merely considered a bit above average for an S-Rank¡ªand that was with the addition of the influence that his Agility had on his other stats. Without that, it was highly possible that he wouldn''t even be considered a fairly powerful A-Rank Hunter.

    But what he lacked in everything else, he made up for with his stupidly fast speed!

    If Victor went all out¡ªwhich he had never done before with a human¡ªthen it was unknown just how quickly he could get his legs to move! Possibly even thousands upon thousands of times the speed of light!

    And though all of the prideful S-Rank Hunters were at first taken aback and slightly offended by what their Guild Leader said, when they logically thought about it, it wasn''t a bad idea. None of them particularly cared for or even liked the arrogant fastest man alive, but it was impossible to deny his God-given talent to go really, really, really fast.

    It was because of this undeniable fact that they either stayed silent or let out barely audible snorts. This was their way of saying they were fine with such a proposition by their Guild Leader.

    The Battlemonger scanned his eyes between all of his S-Rank Hunters before turning his fierce gaze toward Victor Rapido. After a moment of staring at him, he shifted his eyes back to the hundred-plus S-Rank Hunters. "What I''ve yet to tell you about this exercise of sorts is that you''re not only doing it to counter the humanoid Monster¡ªcodename ''Draconic Silver Bullet''¡ªbut you''re also doing this because of the upcoming World''s End Gate Raid."

    Another wave of dread washed over the expressions of those present when they heard those three specific words.

    In the world of Hunters, mentioning the World''s End Gate had become somewhat of a taboo. The more superstitious folks even believed that just saying the name would bring nothing but death and misfortune.

    However, as the strongest of the strongest, those in the Auditorium knew very well what the World''s End Gate meant for not only them but the entire world.

    If they''re unable to clear it, then it''ll surely live up to its name.

    Many of those in the Auditorium today had actually personally been in the Evolving Gate during one of its many Evolutionary Periods. And when they listened to their Guild Leader, they knew exactly what he was referring to when he mentioned speed counters being necessary.

    In that Gate, there existed Monsters that moved so fast that you were only able to hear the wind whistle by before realizing that you were already¡­ dead.

    It was daunting, but it was all too real. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This made all of the S-Rank Hunters even more inclined to follow the lead of the fastest man alive, if not just for now.

    Looking back at Victor, the Battlemonger said, "They''re all yours for today; take them out to the thousands of acres of open land we have in the back."

    "Yes, sir," Victor said before beginning to descend the stage.

    "Oh, and Victor," said the Battlemonger.

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    "Yes?"

    "Do not go easy on them."

    Victor confidently smirked. "Of course, sir."

    FWIP!

    With that, Victor vanished from his spot. Then, with ludicrous levels of speed, he reappeared near the door that led outside. Looking back over his shoulder, he asked, "What are you all waiting for? Let''s get going, yeah."

    Many grunted and huffed in displeasure, but none of them made any remarks. They did just as their Guild Leader instructed and rose from their seats before following behind one of the most insufferably competent bastards on the planet.

    ''Victor Rapido,'' Memphis thought while looking at his distant back. His back seemed to overlap with the back of someone whom she constantly tried her best to forget. ''I wonder who''s the fastest among the two of them¡­''

    When the hundred-plus S-Rank Hunters made it out of the Auditorium and onto the field, the ''Speed Resistance Training'' began right away.

    FWIP!

    The windflow in the area was momentarily skewered in a certain direction. But before anyone even comprehended what had occurred, Victor''s voice rang out. "See what I have here?" he asked, swinging around a tiger-striped piece of cloth. "It''s the underpants of one Mister Lester Evans."

    "???" "???" "???"

    All eyes fell on a portly man standing at the back of the S-Rank Hunters. His cheeks flushed red in embarrassment as he averted his gaze.

    "What we''re going to play is a little practice exercise I like to call ''Protect Your Undies,''" Victor said, his smirk widening ever so slightly. "You lose if you lose your underwear, and you win if you keep your underwear from being stolen. And if you''re a female or worried about consent, don''t bother. I have the permission of your Guild Leader and three Vice Guild Leaders to do whatever is necessary to sharpen your God-given talents, if not by just the smallest of amounts."

    Victor''s wolf-like eyes scanned over all the S-Rank Hunters, pausing slightly longer on the beautiful females. Especially on Memphis.

    Many felt a chill.

 Chapter 228 Memphiss Mysterious Symbol

    ''This man is¡­'' Memphis''s lips curled up in disgust. An unknown light energy seeped out of her palms, mysteriously causing the air to both freeze over and radiantly burn. ''Scum.''

    "Anyway," said Victor. "Let the games begin!"

    FWIP!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!" Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    Everyone instantly went on guard, their eyes darting all over the place.

    "Boo."

    *Snatch!*

    An unsuspecting, pretty S-Rank Hunter felt something tingly travel down her neck. And then, without any hope of stopping it, her bright red panties were stolen.

    "Ahhh!" she yelped before crouching down, her face tinged red.

    "You''re going to need to try harder than that if you want to keep what''s yours," Victor said, his pointer finger twirling around the lady''s panties. He had unknowingly reappeared in the same spot as before, smack dab in the middle of the giant grassy fields. "Well, let''s go again, why don''t we?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing his sly smirk slowly fade, all the S-Rank Hunters scrutinized their surroundings. Going a step further than before, they also activated every tracking-related skill they could think of.

    Finally, someone''s face brightened as he pointed toward the East. "He''s over there!" he exclaimed. "Right ther¡ª"

    "Your superman undies are now mine, good sir," Victor whispered into the muscular man''s ear before blurring from view.

    He materialized in the same spot as before, with that same insufferable grin etched across his face.

    "One of you can do better than that, right?" asked Victor, swinging around his finger the superman underwear of one mortified fellow.

    The way everyone was looking at him made him feel the urge to puke his guts out¡­

    Memphis''s eyes narrowed. Her stance grew more defensive, and the icy golden energy emanating from her hands became deadlier.

    However, that was when something changed¡­

    At some point during Victor''s next disappearing trick¡ªone aimed at a blonde woman a few feet away¡ªa tattoo began to form on the backside of her right hand. The tattoo depicted a cross mixed with the symbol for the female gender and was a light shade of gold.

    For but a moment, that tattoo increased in brightness, creating a small, unnoticeable flash of golden light where Memphis was standing. And during that flash, her goldish pupils underwent a change, for within their centers emerged what were without a doubt crosses of the ''Heavenly Kingdom.''

    If anyone familiar with the esoteric 7th Ascension Tower Dimension¡ªHeavenly Kingdom¡ªwere here right now, they would immediately be able to match Memphis''s eyes with the trademark of the Angels: The Eyes of Divinity. They were what all Angels under the All-Father possessed¡ªa special, extremely powerful ability that carried the Will of the All-Father.

    But the thing was¡­ Only Genuine Angels¡­ or the aberrational descendants of Angels had the Eyes of Divinity. Meaning that Memphis was without a doubt¡ª

    WHALOOOM!

    ¡ªAn Angel!

    For a very brief period of time, Memphis''s pupils tracked the every movement of the Fastest Man Alive. She saw him casually walk toward the blonde girl and reach into her tight suit before skillfully ripping up her purple-laced underwear¡ªall while the blonde girl made no attempt to resist, almost as if she were frozen in time.

    Although Memphis was still attempting to wrap her head around what was happening, she nonetheless felt a great sense of repulsion at the speedster. ''This Victor is nothing like him... They are nowhere even close to being the same.''

    As soon as that thought finished, her pupils returned to normal, and Victor returned to the center of the field.

    "You didn''t even make it a challenge for me!" he said. Spinning on his fingers were the risqu¨¦ panties of an S-Rank woman well-respected for her modesty and conservative nature. She only realized after seeing the underwear that she had been the one to get snatched from.

    At this moment, she felt like jumping into an extremely deep hole and burying herself inside¡­

    Memphis, on the other hand, was no longer paying attention to the perverted speedster. Her eyes were trained on the dimly glowing gold symbol attached to her right hand. Ninety percent of the symbol was dull, whereas the other ten percent was a far brighter shade of gold. And curious enough, with each passing second, the brighter shade of gold overtook the duller shade.

    ''What happens when the bright gold covers the entire symbol¡­?''

    Wishing to know the answer to that question, Memphis let time pass. As more and more of her Guildmates had their underwear stolen, she watched her hand symbol, counting exactly how long it took for the bright gold to overtake the dull gold. From what she could tell, every full second made the bright shade of gold ratio increase by another ten percent of the entire symbol surface area.

    At the end of ten entire seconds, the symbol turned fully bright gold.

    As if on instinct, Memphis could feel that same eye skill become an option available to her. Though, to be certain that what she was feeling was indeed the case, she waited for Victor to perform his slow phase, then she activated the symbol.

    And¡ªsame as the first time¡ªshe could now see Victor move around as if everything was progressing at a normal speed.

    ''This symbol¡­'' Memphis thought with wonder. ''Just what exactly is it¡­?''

    Following this utterly mind-boggling discovery, she continued experimenting with it, her curiosity knowing no bounds. Then, finally¡ªafter 80 S-Rank Hunters got their underwear stolen¡ªit was her turn.

    But Memphis was prepared.

    The symbol on her right hand flashed a bright shade of gold, then Heavenly crosses appeared in her eyes. Time slowed down¡ªor, at least, that was how it looked.

    Memphis pretended to be motionless, same as all the other S-Rank Hunters. She calmly watched as the infamous fastest man alive strolled over. His eyes glazed rather lustfully upon getting a good look at his next target; her figure was unbelievably voluptuous, and her beauty a league above the second prettiest girl in the Guild.

    Victor was planning to get a little more handsy with this one, just a tad bit more. But just as his hand deviously inched toward Memphis''s plump bottom, a feminine hand suddenly clasped onto his wrist.

    "!!!"

 Chapter 229 Two Yips For Memphis!

    "!!!" ''Wha¡ª!?''

    Although he was not moving at his fastest, there still should''ve been absolutely no way that anyone other than the World-class Hunters could react to his speed! It was simply impossible!

    ''But then,'' Victor thought as he looked up and saw a splendiferous pair of eyes glaring at him. ''What the hell is this???''

    He back-stepped at once, getting his hand free from Memphis''s grasp. Time returned to normal, and everyone''s eyes fell on the two of them.

    Not once over the last couple of minutes had Victor Rapido reappeared anywhere other than the center of the field. But now, under their confused gazes, they saw the fastest man alive taking an apprehensive stance against the cold-faced newbie. They noticed her hand retracting, then saw the mild burn mark on Victor''s right wrist, and were able to connect the dots.

    "Did the Ice Princess actually see Victor move¡­?"

    "Not only that, but it seems that she was able to counterattack and force him back!"

    "How is this possible!? Her revealed Attributes were exceptional¡ªeven among the S-Rank¡ªbut they were nowhere near the level necessary to deal with Victor Rapido! He''s the fastest man alive, for God''s sake!"

    "A special, hidden Ability perhaps!? That''s definitely it!"

    "But for it to be capable of coping with Victor''s ridiculous speed¡­ the S+++ Rank¡­ It must be of the S+++ Rank, just like the Skills of the World-class Hunters!"

    Many members of the Earth Crusaders had originally overlooked Memphis¡ªnot because she was a girl or because of her backwater origins¡ªbut because of her Class. She had awakened with the ''Ice Paladin'' Class, which, although an extremely rare Class, was a very difficult Class to mesh with others in a Party.

    And considering the high-danger Purple-rank Gates that the Earth Crusaders entered on a daily basis, without a Party, they would essentially be committing suicide. Only Red-rank Gates of far less importance and value would be relegated to these sorts of Misfit S-Rank Hunters. Hence the prime cause for Memphis being overlooked.

    But now¡­ now things had changed.

    Dozens of S-Rank powerhouses started to swarm the emotionless Memphis. They hounded her with questions and showed immense amounts of interest.

    Meanwhile, Victor Rapido¡ªthe Fastest Man Alive¡ªwas left on the sidelines. His mind was still spiraling in confusion as he tried to understand what had happened.

    Suddenly, he shifted his eyes toward the indifferent girl, searching for something. But he was instantly left disappointed. Those golden crossed eyes weren''t there; they must''ve been an illusion.

    ''No!'' Victor exclaimed. ''That can''t be¡­! I definitely saw them!''

    But the fact remained that they weren''t there.

    With a clouded mind, Victor turned away from the hundred-plus S-Rank Hunters. On his way back to the Auditorium, he called out, "Training for today is over; you''re all dismissed. I''m going to speak with your Guild Leader and Vice Guild Leaders."

    The S-Rank Hunters were ecstatic over this information.

    "This is all thanks to Memphis, the Ice Princess!"

    "One yip for Memphis!"

    "Yip!!"

    "Two yips for Memphis¡­!"

    Cheers and claps resounded as everyone stared at the beautiful golden-eyed girl with joyous expressions. They were too immersed in the satisfaction that came from Victor getting a taste of his own medicine to notice Memphis not looking at them, but rather at the receding back of the suave blonde-haired speedster. ''I wonder if -he- is faster than this so-called fastest man alive¡­ And if so, will this Symbol also work on -him-?''

    She wasn''t exactly positive what the Eyes of Divinity were fully capable of, but she knew for certain that activating them didn''t directly increase her speed. Rather, they somehow adjusted her parameters to whatever parameters her target had. This, in turn, reduced her Strength, Endurance, Intelligence, and Perception to whatever Victor was using in base form.

    However, what she did not know was where exactly the limit for this ethereal ability lay¡­

    If Victor were going all-out, would she have still been able to match his speed?

    What about if she were facing -him-...?

    So many unanswered questions, and no one to answer them. Hell, she didn''t even know why this Ability suddenly appeared now of all times! What were its origins?? Why was it not a part of the original skill sheet she received from the Hunter''s Association when she went to take her Hunter''s test!?

    In the end, thinking any more on the matter would bring about nothing useful¡­

    Memphis sighed before helplessly enduring the praise and thanks of her Guildmates. Her only two friends in the Guild¡ªwho were standing in the back¡ªwere enjoying every second of her suffering. She couldn''t help but lament her fate for befriending such characters.

    --- After a while ---

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    The S-Rank Hunters dispersed, each one returning to whatever it was they were doing before. Memphis, however, bid farewell to her cheeky friends and made her way toward a clearing located on the other side of the Auditorium. There, she saw the menacing Guild Leader and his three equally terrifying Vice Guild Leaders. Beside them was the arrogant Victor Rapido, his eyes wholly focused on her.

    ''I was called here telepathically, but what is it that they want from me? Did Victor say something? Likely¡­''

    "I hear that you have a particularly unusual hidden Ability," said the Battlemonger. "But you needn''t worry; none of us here will interrogate you about this Ability or how you obtained it. However¡­"

    ''However¡­?'' Memphis frowned, preparing to activate her hand symbol at the slightest sign of danger.

    "Calm, child," said Barla, her voice naturally soothing. "What this old man means to say is that we have no interest in your Ability, but we are interested in your Allegiance to the Guild. Though we do not doubt you, we need to make sure you can handle any¡­ trouble that our Guild gets into in the future."

    ''Trouble?'' Memphis parroted. ''What could possibly cause any trouble for the strongest and most influential Guild in the World¡­?''

    Barla smiled at the beautiful girl''s confusion. "We have no issues dealing with anything on this planet, even if the threat may be the S-Rank Hunters ranked #1 and #2." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Battlemonger''s brows deeply furrowed at the mention of those two people¡­

 Chapter 230 A Shocking Discovery!

    After a brief pause, Barla continued, "But the threat we worry about¡­ does not originate from this planet¡­"

    "!!!"

    Memphis had no clue why she was suddenly being told all of this or what brought it about, but she knew for certain that what she''d hear next would definitely change ¡ªeverything¡ª

    Realizing that she had Memphis''s full attention, Barla said gravely, "The threat I refer to comes from places unknown. We have no idea how long they have been here, what they have been up to, or what they are planning. But what we do know is that they exist. And that they''ve taken over¡­ our Government. Even many of your comrades in the Guild are no longer who you think they are¡­"

    "!!!"

    "Are you saying that¡­"

    "Yes," said the Bladedevil, his voice scratchy. "Aliens from beyond our home planet have invaded. And their plans¡­ are huge."

    "We don''t even know how strong they are," the Battlemonger added. "But we can say for certain that they are stronger than us and even all of humanity combined. If we face them head-on, we are certain to perish. This is why¡ªeven though we know they roam among us¡ªwe''ve done nothing about them."

    Memphis''s frown deepened with every word they spoke. Eventually, she could no longer take it and got right down to asking the question pressing on her the most:

    "Why tell me all this? Why now?"

    The World-class Hunters exchanged a look. Then the Gentlemanly Saint stepped forward and said, "If it was before, you would''ve never learned of this; after all, you weren''t qualified to know. But with your recent altercation with Victor, we''ve been assured that you have the necessary strength, for flukes don''t exist when you become as powerful as we are. But, of course, even that¡ªif by itself¡ªis not enough to warrant us telling you all this." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "So then¡­ !!!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It seems you figured it out," said the Battlemonger, quite impressed. "You are new here. And since your arrival wasn''t grand enough to immediately catch the attention of those things, we could confidently rope you in. But it had to be now."

    Memphis understood what was being implied. ''Some of those who were cheering for me out there¡­ weren''t human. Rather, they were something else entirely¡­''

    "It seems you''re finally starting to understand why we did this," Barla said, pointing at the shimmering isolation barrier covering them. "That''s also why we set up this barrier to keep our conversation private. They''re always watching you know¡­"

    Memphis felt a chill.

    A slight sense of worry also began to fill her heart. Those back at home probably had no idea about these Aliens. And even if nothing had happened to them yet, what if¡­ what if they were no longer the same as before¡­?

    Memphis''s cold eyes locked onto the Battlemonger. "What happens when one of the Aliens takes the place of a human? What happens to the human?"

    The World-class Hunters paused ever so slightly, then Barla said, "Sweetie, they die."

    ''...They die¡­''

    Memphis figured as much, but hearing it told to her personally was just¡­ terrifying.

    "How do you know they exist¡­?" she asked, biting down on her lower lip. "What evidence do you have?"

    Victor''s feet tapped. "I''m the evidence," he said proudly. "Me and the big-headed gray freak we have locked up in the top-secret basement of this place."

    Memphis gave the World-class Hunters a look, requesting an explanation.

    The Bladedevil went this time, saying, "Victor Rapido, as you know, is a Japanese Hunter. But a while back, he and another Japanese S-Rank Hunter¡ªDante Blackthorn¡ªcame to us with matters concerning ''more shadows in the world than usual.''"

    "At first, we passed it off as a big joke," the Bladedevil continued. "But on one particular day not long after, we just so happened to catch one of these Aliens whilst it was in the process of assuming a human form. We promptly locked away that creature in the 49th Basement Floor of our Research Facility. This was also around when we took Victor and Dante''s matter more seriously; those extra shadows¡ªall of them are Aliens. And there are millions of them, from what Victor has told us."

    "This¡­" Memphis was finding it hard to swallow all of this information. Though, after a couple of seconds, she managed to get out, "Why¡­ Why do you think I''ll be useful in whatever it is you''re planning? What can I do against such a threat?"

    Barla warmly smiled. "Sweetie¡­ Your only purpose¡­ The only thing we want from you is your¡­ body!!"

    "!!!"

    At the same time as all the World-class Hunters'' and Victor''s faces went dark, Memphis activated her hand symbol. A brilliant flash of golden light erupted. But by then, Barla''s outstretched hand was already right at her throat. She swerved her head out of the way just in the nick of time, before following up with a sideways cartwheel.

    Barla was right on her tail, but with their stats now the same, she was not able to catch up.

    Memphis tried to break free from the Isolation Barrier erected around the whole backside of the Auditorium. But quickly, she realized that¡­ there was no escape¡­

    "Did you really believe we spent all this time talking to you for no reason?" Barla''s sickeningly sweet voice echoed. "During our entire conversation, Gentlemanly Saint has been actively making use of his ''Saint'' Class to fortify the barrier enough that even I would not be able to break out. Which brings up the second point: why do you think I''ve been taking the lead in most of the discussions? You think we wouldn''t be able to figure out how your Ability works? Or where it comes from?"

    "The Angels," said the Battlemonger, a bit annoyed. "They exist even outside this world and the Tower you live in. But it seems that their Abilities vary very little here."

    Memphis''s expression drastically changed. "So then you all are¡­"

    "Yes," the Bladedevil said, his face fluctuating between his wrinkled face and something far more horrifying. "We are not humans. These bodies¡ªthey once belonged to World-class Hunters. But now, they are ours. Everything¡ªfrom their powers to their families to their memories¡ªall ours."

    With her back pressed against the Isolation Barrier''s wall, Memphis muttered, "So everything you said¡­"

 Chapter 231 Memphiss Purpose in the Plan

    "So everything you said¡­" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "A lot of it was partially true," Barla said, stopping her approach a few meters away. "The original owners of these bodies really did coincidentally locate and capture one of our own. But by then, the higher-ups sent out the Vanguard¡ªus¡ªto deal with the World-class Hunters who dared interrogate and torture one of our own.

    The story about Victor and Dante was also true; they did indeed come by to report their findings. But considering they were the only ones who knew about this phenomenon, we quickly disposed of them while they weren''t looking. That Victor¡ªhe was a fast worm, even faster than any on our side who wasn''t an Elder. Stabbing him in the back¡ªwhere his speed made no difference¡ªdid the trick though."

    Memphis''s mind swirled with many things; everything was so overwhelming. She should''ve known this was a trap, but how could she?? They were supposed to be her Guildmates! Why would they all of a sudden turn on her!?

    "That''s right¡­" Memphis mumbled. "Why target me? I knew nothing about any of you before you told me¡­ Why do all this?? And why do you want my body??"

    The Battlemonger cackled. "We targeted you for the same reason we want your body and also for the same reason that we''re taking the conquering of your World at a snail''s pace," he said. "Your hometown¡ªthe young man who saved you from inside a Gate and took you home. He cared for you, he gave you a place to call your own after you lost the only family you had. But one day¡ªwhen you figured out you had power¡ªyou left him. Does this ring any bells for you?"

    "!!!" ''Cassius!''

    "Bingo!" the Bladedevil said as if reading her mind. "We have eyes and ears everywhere. And you may have underestimated him¡ªwhich also may have been why you left¡ªbut deep down¡­ deep down, you knew he was special. Far more special than you could ever hope to compare with. That was why you truly left, wasn''t it?"

    Memphis felt something sting her heart, causing her emotions to vortex. She knew he was right. Why else would whenever she saw someone strong, she immediately stacked them up against Cassius and felt that they were somehow lacking in comparison?

    But what did that have to do with these imposters'' interest in Cassius? Their reason for invading was him?? Why???

    "The only thing you failed to realize," said the Battlemonger, "was precisely how special Cassius actually is. The reason we''re doing everything as we''re doing now is because of him. The reason why we were instantly there to scout you at your lowest with an offer you couldn''t refuse was also because of him.

    In fact, the only reason we''re acting now on you instead of ten days later¡ªwhen the World''s End Gate''s Final Raid happens¡ªis because of your abrupt awakening to your latest Angel Bloodline. Angels are troublesome no matter the world, and we can''t have you somehow reporting back to them."

    Memphis pondered their words, then paused. "My body," she said. "Why do you need it¡­? Wait¡­"

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    The edges of Barla''s lips curved upward. "Yes, Sweetie. We plan to use you to lure Cassius into a trap, which will also serve as a trap for our true target. This is what we have been setting up since we first faced that Anomaly, and now¡ªeven if that Freak does interfere¡ªthere will be nothing he can do. A day¡ªten days from now¡ªwhen the World experiences its END¡ªthat day will mark the day we''re finally able to ascend this accursed Tower and send down the true powerhouses of our mighty race¡ªthe Dissonants!!"

    An evil laughter contagiously spread among the five Dissonants, leaving Memphis to experience wave after wave of emotions. So much was being dumped on her at once, and she barely understood a fourth of what they were talking about.

    But what she needed no context to figure out was that¡­ Cassius was being viciously hunted down¡­

    She knew not the reasons for this, but if it was to happen¡ª

    OOOM!

    ¡ªThen she had to take out a few of them before they could get anywhere close to harming her Cassius!!

    With the full power of a World-class Hunter, she burst forward¡ªher first target being Barla.

    "Did you really think we didn''t see this coming beforehand?" said the Battlemonger. "We mentioned it previously, did we not? Why we had you focus on Barla over me, the Gentlemanly Saint, or the Bladedevil? You used that pesky Angelic Ability on Barla, did you not? Well, guess who''s stronger than her?"

    "!!!"

    Before Memphis had the time to react, a powerful blow sent her cannonballing into the side of the barrier, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Blood spewed out of her mouth as soon as ripples spread from where she impacted.

    As she slid down the barrier, her vision began to blur, with her golden crossed eyes struggling to stay open.

    Once collision with the floor occurred, she nearly lost consciousness but managed to hear a few last words before that happened:

    "I guess we did go a bit overboard in this plan," said the Battlemonger. "After all¡ªeven right now¡ªthe human worm is barely able to replicate the power of Barla. It would''ve been impossible for her to replicate my power. But it matters not in the end."

    "Indeed," the Bladedevil said. "As long as the mission gets completed, nothing matters."

    The Battlemonger eerily nodded, then motioned for Barla. "Go and take her body and memories. Remember to send her husk to the Mothership, same as all the others."

    "This isn''t my first rodeo," Barla said as she approached the already knocked-out-cold girl. "I''ll teleport her husk to where we keep all the other high-profile husks. They will make good food for the Voidworms when the Voidworm Feeding Season arrives."

    Without further ado, Barla placed her hand against the unconscious Memphis. Then she made use of a technology infused into the blood of all active Dissonants called ''Nanomorph.''

 Chapter 232 A Winged Woman Descends

    ¡ªNanomorph¡ª

    It was what the Dissonants used whenever they wanted to take over an area one step at a time. In their blood existed the smallest of nanobots, and programmed into those nanobots was the ability to 100% extract and copy over the existence of another. Excluding elusive things like the Soul¡ªwhich the Dissonants were unsure even existed¡ªeverything else could be perfectly extracted and infused elsewhere.

    However, once the Nanomorph Ability was used on another living organism, that living organism would lose all that they once had. Thus giving them the name ''Husks.''

    This was exactly what was happening to Memphis right now¡­

    *Bzzzmm¡­*

    The process was completed.

    The original Memphis was no more, now replaced by someone that talked, acted, and inherited everything that she once was. But she¡­ she was no longer Memphis¡­ Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "It''s done?" asked the Battlemonger.

    Memphis twitched repeatedly, then stopped. Turning toward the four other Dissonants, she replied, "It''s done. My former body is over there; give it to one of the others. This body''s husk is lying beside it and will be transported to the Mothership in a few seconds. As for the Bloodline and Abilities of this human female, they''re even more extraordinary than expected¡ªWait¡­ What!? No!!! Don''t!!!"

    "!?!?" "!?!?"

    The other Dissonants stared wide-eyed at Memphis, watching in shock as a radiant golden light erupted from all her orifices. She turned into some kind of vessel overflowing with golden light. Barla''s silent screams mixed in with the light as her pain surpassed levels she hadn''t even thought possible.

    "What is happening to her!?" the Battlemonger roared. He lunged forward in an attempt to save Barla, but some sort of golden forcefield prevented him from getting within ten inches of her.

    "Do not test your luck, outsider." An archaic voice echoed, one that sounded as if it predated the very world itself. "This one is not yours to take. Find yourselves something else to entertain you, lest I use you as my entertainment."

    The illusory visage of a ten-winged woman adorned in golden silk materialized above Memphis''s head. Her eyes were mystically enchanting and shone a deep gold, with her pupils a permanent depiction of the Eyes of Divinity. Yet, to the Dissonants below, her eyes looked akin to the piercing eyes of the cruelest of devils. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The visage''s figure was molded beyond mortal standards and emphasized her exquisite curves to a master craftsman''s level. As for her face¡­ No words could properly describe the beauty she possessed. Through her immaculate beauty, one could see her pure golden strands of hair fluttering about. Like a goddess descended from the heavens above, she appeared to gaze down upon those not worthy to be in her presence.

    As soon as the gorgeous ten-winged woman gracefully landed on the ground, her eyes shifted over to the now unresponsive Barla. Her sight also fell upon the lifeless husk crumpled up off to the side.

    A large amount of killing intent welled up inside the winged woman. It quickly overflowed and suffocated the surroundings, causing the World-class Hunters and Speedster to feel an immense amount of pressure. Their knees buckled beneath them, and they hit the ground with loud thuds.

    But just as they thought they''d die, the pressure subsided. The winged woman''s voice followed:

    "Normally, I''d just kill you bunch and be done with it, but as Destiny would have it, a much worse fate is in store for all of you. Being locked to the Trial Tower of Humanity will be the worst thing to have ever happened to your race."

    Finishing off with those words, the enchanting winged woman tugged her fingers at Memphis. The temporarily blanked consciousness of Barla was stripped from everything that she had stolen from Memphis. Then, as if working with the hands of God, the winged woman fused Memphis''s existence back into her husk, thus restoring her to how she was.

    Feeling no need to say anything more to a bunch of weakling grunts, the illusory winged woman lifted Memphis with the power of telekinesis and then ascended in two flashes of golden light.

    ¡ª After a few minutes to digest ¡ª

    "Angels," the Battlemonger muttered. "No matter the world or place, Angels have and will always be troublesome existences. Especially the high-ranking ones with so many wings¡­"

    He looked over at Barla''s ripped-out existence. Although she managed to naturally find her way back into her original meat suit, it would still take at least a week before full recovery could be made possible.

    "What do we do now?" Bladedevil asked, his eyes also fixed on the dilapidated sight of Barla. "With our bait taken away by the Angels of this place, we need to find another way to lure ''its'' son to where we want him positioned."

    After a moment of thought, the Battlemonger replied, "We''ll just have to make do with, say¡­ threatening him with the complete annihilation of his home country," said the Battlemonger. "Everyone he knows and cares about lives there. Even if he''s able to save some in time, he won''t be able to save them all."

    "This means operation ''Burning World'' is still a go?" Bladedevil asked.

    The Battlemonger nodded. "Around when Judgement Day begins, we''ll rain fire from the sky and bring about the END of this world before the Main Entree of the Nexus Event can get to it. This will not only threaten ''it'' as planned, but it will also add a double layer of insurance as it will threaten the safety of the sub-target."

    "Very well," said Bladedevil, already lugging Barla over his decrepit shoulder. "We''ll proceed with this plan. And then ten days from now¡ª"

    "Ten days from now," the Battlemonger finished for him. "We''ll lure ''it'' out of hiding and finally achieve what we''ve been wanting to for the last two years."

    *WHIIiizzzz¡­*

    The Isolation Barrier started to go down, bringing back the original scenery of the Earth Crusaders'' massive Guild complex.

    The Battlemonger immediately turned toward the 100+ S-Rank Hunters eerily staring at them. Even Memphis''s ''friends'' were no different, as they twitched and spasmed all over.

 Chapter 233 Want Me To Lick It...?

    "How many of the top rankers in the United States are left unturned?" Battlemonger asked.

    Bladedevil replied, "Only the newly recruited have yet to be turned. We now have a large surplus of Husks sitting around in the Mothership."

    "Voidworm Season is indeed on the horizon, and they will be searching for tribute from the Dissonants," Battlemonger mused. "Well, when is the next Void Hunting Cycle again?"

    This time, Victor responded, "Void Hunting will start within the next few years. But until then, the Husks will be safely preserved and kept until the time arrives."

    Battlemonger nodded.

    With that, the three high-ranking Dissonants and the numerous disguised Gremlins walked away from the Auditorium in a rather organized fashion. Though, after a few seconds, they eventually dispersed and went their own ways.

    World domination and/or destruction waited for no man¡­ or alien.

    ¡ª-------------

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in Hoshito, Japan, shortly after Cassius solidified his breakthrough into the Archdemon Rank ¡ª

    As our intrepid protagonist nonchalantly made his way down one of the many empty streets leading to his mansion on the hills, a sudden, unexpected visitor arrived. One that left him greatly conflicted. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Hello, young fellow," said a black-haired, starry-eyed woman with a white beard and a slightly humped back. "Are you looking to try some of my goods? I promise you the quality does not disappoint."

    A woman¡ªwho was most obviously Bella dressed up as an old man¡ªwas playing the part of a streetside peddler. She sat cross-legged under a makeshift tent, but had sprawled out before her only a few random rocks and one diamond-plated vial with a single droplet of reddish-silver liquid inside it.

    It was quite clear that she wanted him to purchase whatever was in that vial.

    "...."

    Cassius had no idea what could possibly be going through the head of this girl. From how unkempt she appeared, it was fair to say that she had been waiting out here for a long while. But for what reason?

    All to sell him this suspicious vial with some mystery liquid inside?

    Not long after he totally told her to essentially p*ss off as well!

    Was there actually something wrong with her frontal lobe, or what?

    Then again, that was a given¡­

    ''Perhaps I should just ignore her¡ª'' But just as that thought entered his mind, the System picked the oddest time to pop up a description for the sole item being advertised at Bella''s stall.

    BLING!

    {[Rank 6 Vampire Duke Blood]} - (EX+++ Rank)

    ¡ª[The purest form of blood, pricked and extracted from a genuine Vampire Duke. Upon consumption, the user will either directly acquire an EX- Vampire Duke Bloodline or have their prior Vampire Bloodline upgraded appropriately.]

    ¡ª[If the user consumes several drops of this type of blood, the original EX+++ Vampire Duke Bloodline will be obtained. Though it''s unknown how many hundreds of droplets that''ll take¡­] S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The moment Cassius finished reading the item''s description, he realized right then and there that he couldn''t pass up this chance.

    ''If the SSS-Rank is after the SS-Rank, then the EX-Rank must be after the SSS-Rank,'' he thought introspectively. ''And if that''s the case, then the blood inside this vial is worth an absurd amount¡­''

    After a brief pause. "I''m quite interested in this item you have here," he said. "How much will it cost me to get it from you?"

    First off, he had to figure out what game Bella was playing at. This question should do the job just fine.

    Bella''s eyes visibly sparkled as she nearly leapt up and hugged him. But holding herself back, she said, "I can sell this extremely valuable item to you; however, you must give me two¡ªno, three kisses! Wait¡­! I mean, you must, uhmm¡­ sign this completely normal piece of paper!"

    Sweat beads trickled down her forehead as she nervously slammed an unknown thick piece of paper on the ground in front of her. She averted her erratically flickering eyes, doing a very bad job of not acting suspicious.

    "...."

    Cassius glanced over the paper set out in front of him.

    ''The Tournament of Yggdrasil?? Join the Crestmore Vampire Duke Family!? Become the wife of Bella Crestmore!??''

    The last part was not originally part of the contract, as it was written in Bella''s handwriting. Quite sloppily, at that.

    Yet, that didn''t make what he was looking at any less baffling.

    Right after he accepted Flora''s proposal to acquire a ticket to enter Yggdrasil, another opportunity found its way to his doorstep.

    However, the first opportunity was already complicated enough¡ªnot to mention how absurd this one was!

    ''Should I accept the offer?'' Cassius looked up from the contents of the contract and saw Bella''s expectant eyes. ''I want to hate her so badly¡­ But I don''t understand why I can''t¡­''

    If it were the old, more human version of him, he would''ve rudely denied whatever Bella was planning. But with how he was now and with such benefits presented before him, it was hard to do something like that. Especially when the one offering these benefits was staring at him with so much love and affection that it nearly blinded him.

    ''...I don''t know what to do here¡­''

    If Cassius accepted the terms of the contract¡ªexcluding the last unofficial part¡ªthen he would acquire both the Rank 6 Vampire Duke Blood droplet and a ticket to Yggdrasil. As for the downsides, he would be forced to join the Crestmore Vampire Duke Family, which could lead to any number of troubles. Particularly when it involved being around this insane woman.

    He wasn''t sure if he''d ever be able to forgive her for what she had done to him¡­

    But with lucrative benefits on the line¡­

    A sigh escaped Cassius''s lips. He extended a hand.

    Bella tilted her head in confusion. "Want me to lick it?"

    "???"

    Hurriedly correcting herself, Bella said, "I-I mean¡­ Do you want me to, uhmm¡­ ki-kiss it¡ª"

    "I''m asking for a pen¡­"

    "Ohh!! Y-Yes, of course!"

    Bella immediately scrambled for a pen and handed it to Cassius, her cheeks flushed red.

    ''Did she completely forget that she''s supposed to be playing the part of an old streetside vendor?? Seeing her look like that while blushing as if she were a pubescent teenage schoolgirl is¡­''

 Chapter 234 The EX-Rank

    Shaking his head in exasperation, Cassius accepted the pen. Then he wrote his full name at the bottom of the contract in a refined cursive style.

    Once he finished writing his signature, Bella wasted no time; she yanked at her hair and beard. "It''s me¡ªBella!!" she haughtily exclaimed. "You didn''t see this coming, did you, my love??"

    Cassius blankly stared at her, truly wondering if there was something seriously messed up within her brain. Though, considering how badly she seemed to want this moment, he feigned surprise with an oh-so-shocked expression.

    "How could this be¡­?" he said lazily. "How could the old street vendor be Bella¡­? What sorcery¡­"

    "Fufu~" Bella giggled victoriously while happily swinging back and forth. "I knew you''d fall for my impeccable disguise! And now you''re stuck with me forever¡ªas my husband! We should begin the Vampiric Ritual Ceremony right away¡ª"

    "You know that part of the contract wasn''t official, right?"

    "...It wasn''t?"

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    "Did you not even bother to understand how the contract worked before coming and sitting here all night?" Cassius asked, slightly taken aback. "It''s clear that your father wrote down nearly all of this, but as for the last part¡­"

    Bella broke out in a guilty cold sweat. "I-I have no clue what you''re talking about! Wh¡­Who is the one who eloquently added the last segment!? Trying to tarnish the Crestmore Family''s noble name, are they!??"

    Silence.

    After a few seconds of awkwardly staring at each other, Cassius reached out and picked up the vial of blood before downing it in one gulp.

    Bella''s eyes briefly flashed in surprise. She felt his connection with her deepen greatly, causing her to bubble up in euphoria. The blood he drank was partly mixed with her primordial essence; after all. It was something she spent a great deal to extract and have primordialized.

    But for her, it was all worth it.

    ''We''re becoming so much closer~! I want to become even closer~!!''

    It took everything she had not to jump Cassius while he was undergoing a Racial Advancement. His sharp canine teeth increased in length, his wings sprouted from his back, and his icy blue eyes turned a dark crimson red. However, his appearance took an even greater step, transforming his bat-like wings into terrifyingly grim wings that stretched outward for nearly a dozen meters.

    Yet, it didn''t end there, for an overwhelmingly powerful bloodthirsty aura enveloped the area¡ªwith him as the source.

    "He''s so¡­ so¡­ so hot!!!" Bella screamed out, hearts swirling around in her eyes. "I want him so, so, so bad~!!"

    Her lust was becoming progressively worse, but she quickly snapped out of it when she realized how big a commotion this promotion could create. She acted immediately, using a high-rank Vampire Ability called |Blood Dome| to isolate everything happening with her husband.

    Fortunately, there weren''t any people on this abandoned street, so no one was trapped in the |Blood Dome| with them.

    OOOM!

    Cassius''s aura further expanded as something much darker mixed with his advancing Vampire Duke Bloodline.

    It was his Demon King Bloodline!

    As a result of his Vampire Duke Bloodline''s advancement into the EX- Rank, his Demon King Bloodline also advanced forward!

    SS-Rank ¡ú SSS+ Rank!

    Just like that, his Demon King Bloodline exceeded its limits and transformed into something that vastly improved the effectiveness of his Demon King Rank.

    His power soared!

    Yet, the chain sequence of events was nowhere close to being done¡­

    OOOM!!!

    His Oracle Sphinx Bloodline took a major leap and jumped straight to the SSS-Rank!

    The Demon Dragon Bloodline was not too far behind, as it leapt directly to the SSS-Rank as well!

    Then there was his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline, which not only leveled up to the SSS-Rank but also metamorphosed into something superior¡ªthe Legendary Phoenix Bloodline!

    Cassius''s already immense aura broke through shackle after shackle, surpassing limit after limit.

    Until eventually, like a raging river returning to tranquility, his aura vanished. And he lightly tapped the ground, his disposition entirely otherworldly.

    He appeared more ethereal. Acted more ethereal. Even breathed in a more ethereal way.

    "The EX-Rank," Cassius said calmly. "It really did all this." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The EX-Rank, unlike the ranks that came before, was one where the common evolved into something far less common. It was a rank akin to transcendence. And with transcendence¡ªor ascendance¡ªeven a chicken could be carried to heaven with oneself.

    In this case, acquiring an EX-Rank Bloodline¡ªeven if it was only of the minus status¡ªwas enough to carry the rest of Cassius''s Bloodlines closer to the EX-Rank.

    This was what caused the situation before him. From this moment onward, any and all Bloodlines obtained by him would receive the same treatment. Even if the Bloodline was only of the E-Rank, it would automatically advance to the SSS-Rank as soon as it fused with him.

    The only seemingly unfortunate part about all this was that any relevant Techniques or Skills tied to upgraded Bloodlines would not also be upgraded. This meant his Supreme Nirvana Rebirth S-Rank Skill was still at the S-Rank. The same applied to his Demon Dragon Integration Arts and Fiendish Demon King Arts.

    But on the plus side, all of those Techniques and Skills would now be far easier to level up, thanks to the improved quality of their linked Bloodlines. Before long, every single one of them would surely reach the SSS-Rank.

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius clenched and unclenched his fists, unsure of just how much power he now possessed. ''Would I be able to take on the weakest of Demon Kings as I am now?''

    He wasn''t too clear on the answer to that question. But even if he wasn''t there just yet, he certainly wasn''t far off either.

    A few more weeks of grinding his Techniques, Skills, and AP, and he might achieve the power necessary to resume his march through HELL¡­

    However, until then, he still had some matters to attend to. One of those matters was staring at him with wide, sparkly eyes as they spoke:

    "Hubby, you''re so powerful now~! Just look at you~!!" Bella screamed like a fangirl, giddily inspecting every inch of his partially exposed body. "Say, how about we consummate our marriage right now~?? I''ll call for Father~!!"

 Chapter 235 A Daddy In Trouble...

    "I''ll call Father~!!"

    "No thanks," Cassius firmly denied before calmly walking away from the delirious girl.

    "W-Wait, my love!" Bella called out. "What about the contract!? It states that you have to join my Crestmore Family! You have to!"

    Without looking back, Cassius said, "It stipulates that I do indeed have to join your Vampire Duke Family. It does not, however, say when. I''ll find some time another day. As for right now, I have more important things I need to attend to."

    Color drained from Bella''s complexion. "B-But¡­"

    Cassius faintly smiled. "I''ll see you around, Bella," he said before disappearing from the empty street, breaking through the |Blood Dome| with ease. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    He had decided something that day. Hating Bella¡ªit was pointless.

    There was no way he''d ever be able to escape her incalculable amount of love, and there was also no way he''d be able to find it in himself to kill her. Even if she had essentially ruined the better part of his life, she was also partly to thank for how much strength he had today. Then there was this most recent vial of blood, which surely wasn''t an easy thing to convince her father to give to him.

    All in all, Cassius figured he''d let bad bridges between them vanish. He saw no point in holding a grudge over something so¡­ mortal.

    Starting fresh was for the best.

    That, however, didn''t mean he''d be all chummy with her right from the get-go. She had to earn his affection.

    Then again, Bella had no idea about any of Cassius''s thoughts. The only thing she knew was that he had left her right after taking what he wanted from her¡­ and he did so without a second thought.

    "So cruel," she murmured, shadows obscuring her vision. "So mean¡­ So... So sexy~!!"

    Her depression might as well have not even existed to begin with, for, like a certain hopelessly lost dragon, she was¡ªin her core¡ªtoo horny for words to properly articulate.

    Though, while wiggling in place with a suspicious fragrance filling the air, Bella suddenly recalled who wrote the contract. Her eyes darkened further, and not in the good way this time.

    "Daddy¡­ He had only one job," she said coldly, "and yet he couldn''t even do it right¡­"

    A chill ran down a certain Vampire Duke''s spine as he cautiously turned his head in all directions. Carmilla, who was sitting beside him, could pretty much guess what was happening to him¡ªor, rather, what was about to happen to him. This keen intuition of hers made her signature smirk appear.

    Alaric Crestmore had a bad feeling about what was to come.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, on top of Mount Everest, a shadowy cloaked figure materialized into being ¡ª

    "It''s about time I enter the Nightmarescape again," Cassius said. "None at home have woken up yet, so they won''t even realize I''ve gone somewhere. As for those eerie eyes that follow me everywhere¡­" He smirked, then lifted his hand.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Multiple gremlin extraterrestrials felt an irresistible force grab hold of them and pull. Without even the slightest hope for resistance, they were yoinked out of their pockets in space and brought to levitate in front of a demonic man.

    "You six are quite a bit stronger than the last ones," Cassius commented casually before tightening his hand. "Yet, seeing as you''re still merely of the S++ Rank, the Elders must not see me as much of a threat."

    From the memories of dozens of aliens, Cassius had learned a lot. He knew the name of their race, he knew the strict hierarchy of their kind. He even knew the names of several of the most important figures sent down for this ''operation.''

    The only things he didn''t know¡ªor was unable to find¡ªwere how exactly they got to Earth, where they came from, and what precisely their ultimate goal was.

    "Perhaps you bunch will give me more insight into your origins," Cassius emotionlessly uttered. "Don''t worry; I''ll give you painless deaths."

    "N¨C!" the tightly bound aliens shouted, but before they could finish a single word, Cassius''s right hand clenched hard on thin air.

    POP! POP! POP!

    The aliens were first crunched up into progressively tinier balls before exploding into a shower of green blood and guts.

    Without wasting a second, Cassius activated his mind-related skills and searched through their brain matter. Many memories similar to the ones he already knew flashed before him, but after a few nanoseconds of searching, he finally found something different. A memory. In that memory, he saw the faint silhouette of something that sort of looked like a fleshy, moving spaceship.

    But just as he reached out to access the memory, warning red lights flashed around him. A large, mystically runic lock appeared on the memory. Then every memory behind and around that memory was also barred behind the same locks.

    "What the¡­?"

    Before Cassius even knew what had occurred, he was suddenly kicked out of the area where all the aliens'' memories were stored. When he tried to go back in, he was even more astonished to realize that all of the memories¡­ had vanished.

    He tried a different alien''s brain matter.

    Yet the same thing happened.

    "It seems these dissonants are not as stupid as I once believed," Cassius said with a slight grin. "Well, no matter. As I become stronger, I''ll eventually become powerful enough to force all their secrets out of them. Especially those extremely powerful ones on that skull-shaped island. Those are the aliens most likely orchestrating this whole operation centered around me and¡­"

    He was unable to finish that thought because he honestly had no clue what the answer was. The only things he could figure out from the aliens were that he had a major part to play in whatever they were planning. He also knew that aliens exceeding the S-Rank were heavily restricted in this world. But he knew for certain that they all holed up on that skull-shaped island for a reason.

    His theory was that the island somehow allowed them to use their power freely¡ªassuming they were below a certain rank. Because past a certain power level, the world would not be able to bear the weight of their presence and would thus forcefully ban them from entering the moment they tried. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, the SS-Rank was definitely still very much allowed.

 Chapter 236 To The Land of Nightmares

    This meant that the unseen enemies Cassius was facing could be as weak as the SS- Rank or as ridiculously powerful as the SS+++ Rank. Though, to know for certain, he''d have to take the risk and venture into their skull-shaped island. Which, frankly speaking, was impossible as he was.

    "First, the weaker Demon Kings of HELL," he muttered, "then the extraterrestrial threat that seeks something from me."

    But, as those were major goals, he still had some more minor events he had to progress.

    To begin with¡ªthe Nightmarescape.

    "Even now, I don''t really know where this dimension even is, same with the Land of Beginnings," he said. "It could be part of the System, or it could be somewhere else entirely. But regardless of what the case is, I have to have the strength that comes from slaying Nightmares."

    With a reaffirming train of thought, Cassius balled his fists before asking the System to transport him into the Nightmarescape. This time, he would stay in there for six hours¡ªwhich was fine according to the System. In fact, it enthusiastically told him he could stay in there as long as he could hold out.

    Though he didn''t know just yet why exactly it said that the way it did¡­

    However, some time later, he would understand very well why the Sadistic System was so passionate when it came to the Nightmarescape.

    His Sword God Trainer Rank and Phoenix Bloodline would soon be jumping up and down in joy¡­ Same as with his AP acquisition through trolling others¡­

    Upon re-arrival in the Land of Beginnings, when time resumed:

    "Nightmare Slayer Cadet Cassius¡ªAssigned to Slayer Platoon #42!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The expressions of many people in the Mistalore Throne Room drastically changed as almost everyone looked at the nonchalant Cassius with pity. The participants that had only survived thanks to him felt like speaking up, but in the face of the 2nd Class Slayer Ministers, they could do nothing but turn their heads in shame.

    Yuna Mistalore, however, was not experiencing the same difference in status. "Father, sending him to Slayer Platoon #42 is a dishonor to someone with as much talent as him. Please convince the Ministers of¡ª"

    "That''s enough."

    The King''s booming voice silenced both his daughter and the chatter bouncing off the walls in the room. He indifferently looked down at the seemingly unresponsive raven-haired young man below. Something felt different about him as opposed to just a second ago, but he couldn''t pinpoint exactly what that something was.

    Yet, as King Mistalore met the unyielding glint in the young man''s gaze, a rare smile crossed his face. Though faint, it carried weight, marking the moment he made his decision:

    "Cadet Cassius will be assigned to Slayer Platoon #42," he announced. Then singled out the young man as he said, "Good luck, Cadet."

    The Ministers sinisterly grinned, whereas the other Cadets put their heads down and avoided eye contact with the sheep being sent out to the slaughterhouse.

    "But Father¡ª" Yuna attempted to say, but was interrupted by King Mistalore''s cold glare and his equally cold voice:

    "My decision is final, Yuna."

    Unwillingness to comply flared within the 12th Princess, but in the end, all she could do was bite her lips and hang her head low.

    Cassius, on the other hand¡ªwho had just returned¡ªhonestly had no clue why everyone was acting so dramatically over the announcement of the platoon he would be assigned to.

    What could be so bad about it?

    "Ahhh!! My legs!!! My legs were blown off!!! S-Someone, please¡ª"

    SPURT!

    A helmet-covered head was lobbed off its shoulders before sailing through the air, creating a gory blood trail behind it. The head eventually landed right in front of the blank face of one Mr. Cassius Steele.

    ''Okay¡­ Now I see why everyone looked as if they were sending me off to my funeral when I left for the Land of Nightmares¡­''

    All around him was a world shrouded in darkness. He¡ªand his platoon¡ªlay battling endless hordes of Nightmares at the bottom of a limitlessly large gorge. The gorge was formed in a way that from its entrance, everything was a downhill slope from there. It was unknown how far the downward slope declined for, but Cassius and the rest of Slayer Platoon #42 were around 3,000 meters in.

    Things were, however, not looking so optimistic for them, as they had been ambushed by groups of Rank 2 Nightmares as soon as they passed the 2,800-meter mark¡­

    Two weeks had passed since Cassius made his first return to the Land of Beginnings. Barely any time had gone by in the outside world, with the Daily Quest still waiting to be completed. Yet, when he bid farewell to the oddly distant-acting Yuna and finally set off for the Nightmarescape a day ago, he quickly met up with his new platoon. After taking a bit of time to get to know each other''s strengths and weaknesses, they set off for the ''Boundless Gorge,'' which served as one of the final frontiers for the Land of Beginnings'' defense against Nightmare Invasions. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although Cassius didn''t think much of the depression lingering among every member of his platoon when they were talking, it wasn''t until they were ambushed that he realized why they were so gloomy.

    They were¡­ They were sent out to die.

    And they knew that.

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    Slayer Platoon #42 was a suicide platoon¡ªnever meant to return home.

    This was why not a single member of the platoon appeared older than 20¡­ for they died young¡­

    And today¡ªmore so than other days Platoon #42 set out¡ªwas one maxed out in peril.

    "Set up a line of defense!! We can survive this as long as we¡ª"

    SPURT!

    A black scorpion tail pierced through the owner of that commanding voice¡ªthe voice of the stand-in Platoon Captain.

    The previous Platoon Captain had died a few seconds prior. And now the stand-in Platoon Captain was dead. Therefore, a stand-in of the stand-in became the new captain.

    "You and you, back up that side!! We can''t let them take out our vanguard¡ª"

    SPURT!

 Chapter 237 Pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm

    SPURT!

    The Stand-in of the Stand-in was instantly slaughtered in similar fashion to the first Stand-in.

    And just like that, two 3rd Stage Class 3 Slayers were killed in combat, quickly and without remorse. Both of them were stronger than any S-Rank Hunter¡ªpossibly even stronger than SS-Rank Awakeners¡ªyet they died all the same.

    Luckily, there were Stand-ins for Stand-ins for Stand-ins!

    As deaths were extremely common for anyone assigned to Platoon #42, many precautions were set in place for terrible eventualities. So, even if a dozen Stand-ins died, there would always be more to take their places!

    "Ahhh¡ª!!"

    "Pl-Please, don''t kil¡ª!"

    Death after death occurred in the several dozen-man Nightmare Slayer Platoon. Cassius, standing to the far back, apathetically watched all his platoonmates get chopped in half, skewered, mutilated, and/or skinned and devoured.

    He wondered if he should interfere, but even as it was, he wasn''t doing too well himself. Doing any more than saving his own skin would be difficult.

    SHING! SHING!

    Lilith was being rapidly spun around, cutting through the thick black skin of several building-sized Rank 2 Nightmares. She easily pierced through them, but as they were slimy fellows, they always managed to slip away in time. This meant multiple alterations were necessary to kill just a single one of the Nightmares.

    Though, after a few seconds of chase, dodge, and chase some more, Cassius finally killed his first couple of Nightmares.

    BLING!

    [You have slain an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare (Voidstalker)!]

    [Acquired a substantial amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [You have slain an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare (Duskscreamer)!]

    [Acquired a substantial amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from the Beginning of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Rank ¡ú Pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Rank!]

    [The remainder of your acquired Nightmare Essence has been transferred to Storage and will be automatically used as soon as the Host breaks through to the 3rd Class Slayer Rank.]

    Cassius kept that piece of information in mind as he continued slaying more of the Rank 2 Nightmares, all of which were roughly equivalent in strength to an S+ Rank Hunter. In other words, they were chump change for the current version of him.

    Then again, with how slippery they were, he certainly had some trouble efficiently farming them.

    Furthermore, there were many Nightmares stronger than the ones he was fighting. Though all of them were currently embroiled in battle with the couple dozen remaining members of his platoon, they would surely turn their focus on him as soon as the rest were wiped out.

    Of the lot, there were a few that made even Cassius''s hair stand on end.

    {[Tenebris Wraith (Peak Rank 2)]}

    [Approximate Battle Power: SS- - Rank]

    [Threat Rating: Light Red] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    {[Umbravore (Peak Rank 2)]}

    [Approximate Battle Power: SS- - Rank]

    [Threat Rating: Light Red]

    There were many such Nightmares fighting the Slayers of Platoon #42. Moreover, even more were crawling out of large tunneling holes in the Gorge''s murky walls. Although only twenty of them were out right now, the whole place would surely be swarming with them soon enough.

    "Let''s see," Cassius mused. "If I slaughter a line in that direction, I''ll be able to escape the Gorge the way I came in, but I won''t be able to keep the opening open long enough for all the survivors to make it back out. On the other hand, I could use the opposite tactic and head further into the Gorge."

    The answer was a very simple one. It was extremely logical to make this decision.

    And yet¡­

    "F*ck it," said Cassius. "I want to see just how far I can venture into this bottomless black ravine before I''m forced to turn back."

    With his decision already made, he sprang into the air like a broken coil before putting Lilith around his neck. He lunged forth, using his superb aerial balance to spin around with his domineering katana in hand. He turned into a razor-sharp beyblade and gained as much momentum as possible, stopping right before hitting one of the Peak Rank 2 Nightmares.

    The Nightmare¡ªwhich was originally focused on a Stand-in of a Stand-in¡ªimmediately noticed the lethal presence at its back. All of its dozen or so eyes darted toward the presence, their malicious intent overpoweringly strong.

    Yet, in that same instant, Cassius¡ªwho was frozen in mid-air¡ªhad purplish crimson runic lines materialize around him. The runic lines enveloped the area for thousands of meters, attracting the attention of both the other Peak Rank 2 Nightmares and Platoon #42''s 3rd Class Slayers. The Apprentice Slayers had all died very quickly when the ambush first happened, leaving only the strongest of Platoon #42 still alive.

    "An Apprentice Slayer''s actually still kicking!? And what are those cryptic symbols spreading out around him??"

    "He''s the Newbie who was essentially sent to die by the Ministers of the Royal Court! They say he''s the #1 youngster among the Nightmare Slayer lot this year!"

    "Who cares!! With his Apprentice Slayer Rank, there''s no way he''ll make a difference!! Just focus on fending for yourselves until we find a way out of here¡ª"

    RUMBLE!!!

    A loud rumbling threw all of Platoon #42 off balance as they struggled to regain their footing. One of the 3rd Class Slayers¡ªwho had been focusing on the only Apprentice Slayer¡ªwidened his eyes in shock at the sight before him.

    "Captain, look!" the Slayer shouted, his pointer finger stretched out. "The¡­ The Peak Rank 2 Nightmare that the boy was fighting¡­"

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    "Huh!?" said the Captain. "What nonsense are you spouting this tim¡ª"

    That was when he saw it as well.

    Part of the Gorge¡­ now had another smaller gorge carved through one of the walls.

    "Such staggering power," the Captain mumbled. "Just what sort of attack is capable of dealing this much damage!?"

    *Tap.*

    Cassius lithely tapped against the hard ground surface, his steps waking the other members of Platoon #42 to reality. They stared at him slack-jawed, in utter disbelief of the truth.

    "This kid," said the Captain. "I know now why the Ministers wanted him dead¡­ With ungodly talent like his, the whole Kingdom could one day be turned upside down¡­"

    *Ding~!*

 Chapter 238 Making The Sacrifice

    *Ding~!* S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You have slain a Peak-stage Rank 2 Nightmare ''Umbravore''!]

    [Acquired a massive amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    Although Cassius''s Slayer strength had been capped at the 7th Stage of the Apprentice Slayer Rank, he could still feel his Skills sharpening. Especially when it came to his use of the experimental Fusion Skill ''Atomic Slash''¡ªwhich was of the SS- Rank and something he personally derived from the Atomic Element. Of course, he did so with the help of numerous Ruby-ranked Mind and Comprehension-related Skills.

    "Atomic Slash," Cassius said, gently rubbing his finger across Lilith''s reactive edges. "It''s a very useful Skill capable of being used multiple times in rapid succession."

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    His icy blue eyes suddenly shifted toward an incoming scorpion tail. A Peak Rank 2 Nightmare ''Shadow Stinger'' wished to avenge its fallen brethren. Its mutant scorpion-like figure rushed at Cassius, its savage hiss hinting at its fury.

    Yet, in that same instant, similar runic lines as before appeared¡ªthis time even faster than the first time.

    Before the Shadow Stinger''s giant stinger could puncture a hole through Cassius''s emotionless face, an overbearing aura exploded outward from Lilith. She hummed a battle-crazed tune before suddenly enlarging in size. From a mere six feet to over 30 meters, she now loomed over the charging Shadow Stinger.

    However, completely out of expectations, Cassius did not immediately swing downward. Instead, he turned her horizontally and pumped the muscles in both his arms. Then he slashed.

    "Duck!" he shouted in the same instant.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    As if on instinct, every other member of Platoon #42 followed the directive and ducked. They did so just in the nick of time, for razing right above their heads¡ªslicing off a few strands of hair¡ªwas a colossal Atomic Sword Slash that swept through the area.

    The cries of the Nightmares sounded out all around Platoon #42. Until, eventually, there were no more screams. No more sounds at all.

    The Captain wearily got up. His shaky eyes saw something that left him even more astonished than before.

    Where the charging Shadow Stinger once was, there was now no intact scorpion. The mighty Nightmare had been cleanly cleaved into two, with both halves sliding off one another, revealing the reddish-black blood inside. However, as the Captain turned his head around, he saw many more similar events happening everywhere in their part of the Gorge. Of course, with the slight incline, not every kill was as cleanly done as with the Shadow Stinger. Some of the Rank 2 Nightmares were even crawling around with whatever remained of them¡ªstill trying to attack the Slayers.

    "This crazy freak," the Captain muttered. He felt a deep chill run down his spine when he thought about what would''ve happened if they hadn''t dodged.

    Even as 3rd Class Slayers, they would have¡­

    "Hey," Cassius said, forcing him out of his stupor. "Stop standing around and leave the Boundless Gorge. Many more are coming, and the next wave won''t be anywhere as simple as this one."

    "Simple¡­?" the Captain repeated, his fearful eyes scanning the corpses of hundreds of Rank 2 Nightmares and six previous iterations of his Captain position. ''How could any of this be called simple¡­??''

    Then, from the tunneled holes of both sides of the Gorge, thousands of presences just as powerful as Rank 2 Nightmares appeared. Some of them even exceeded Rank 2, reaching levels that would leave even veteran 3rd Class Slayers on their knees.

    "If you wish to leave here alive," Cassius said to the Captain, "then leave now. Otherwise, don''t bother leaving at all."

    The Captain hesitated. "But what about you? Are you not coming with us¡ª"

    "I will hold them back, covering your retreat," said Cassius. "Now go. Don''t let my sacrifice be in vain."

    The Captain''s knuckles turned white as he hesitantly deliberated.

    Ultimately, he gritted his teeth and shouted out to all the other Slayers. "Retreat at once! Make use of this opportunity that young hero Cadet Cassius has given to us!! Run!!!"

    The Captain''s voice acted as a wake-up call for the 3rd Class Slayers, urging their feet into motion. They took one last glance at the noble visage of Cadet Cassius before never looking back. The Captain¡ªfinding this situation the most difficult¡ªcould only vent his frustrations on the straggling Rank 2 and small-fry Rank 1 Nightmares standing in their way.

    Cassius¡ªafter seeing the members of Platoon #42 fully recede into the distance¡ªexhaled a long breath of cold air. Then he shifted his piercing gaze toward the limitless number of powerful Nightmares crawling out of their holes in the wall.

    "It looks like it''s just you and me now," he said coldly, his hands tightly gripping Lilith''s hilt. "How about we have some fun?"

    [What about me¡­? (???¦ä???)]

    Ignored.

    *Fwoooop!*

    "Esceetch¡ª!!!"

    As soon as Peak Rank 2 Nightmares appeared en masse from the wall tunnels, Cassius burst forward at many times the speed of sound. His first target was a large shadowy hippo with the head of a monkey. But before the terrifying Nightmare could get even a single attack out, Lilith''s cold edges had already made contact with its rubbery skin. Blood sprayed the area a blackish red, with the hippo being shredded to bits the only thing the other Peak 2 Nightmares saw on their way out.

    They screeched and roared out in rage. Yet Cassius could care less about their anger; his expression only became ever icier. With the speed of a phantom, he flashed through the corpse-ridden battlefield and cut off the heads of dozens of normal Rank 2 Nightmares, as well as nearly ten Peak Rank 2 Nightmares.

    None could see him move, and even fewer could match his ridiculous speed.

    For the next half a minute, he blurred around, killing hundreds of Rank 2 Nightmares and acquiring absurd amounts of Nightmare Essence. However, when a massive webbed claw forcefully smashed through a wall tunnel that was not anywhere big enough to handle its size, Cassius realized that his slaughter spree would soon come to a sudden halt.

    BOOM!

    Another webbed claw smashed through the other side of the relatively tiny tunnel; which, as a result, took the lives of dozens of Rank 2 Nightmares.

    That was when IT appeared¡­

 Chapter 239 Rank 3 Nightmare

    BOOM! BOOOM!! BOOOOOMM!!!

    Multiple more booming smashes were heard throughout the Gorge as cracks spread all over the exit of the tunnel that the two enormous claws were attempting to get in through. Each claw was roughly the size of a small town, and both were tightly dug into either side of the tunnel exit; they assisted whatever was trying to come out in coming out faster.

    CRACKA-BOOOOOM!!!

    Then, finally, with one last thundering explosion, the tunnel''s exit exploded outward, and a massive singular organism crashed through.

    {[One-Eyed Crawler (Early Rank 3)]}

    [Approximate Battle Power: SS-Rank]

    [Threat Rating: Medium Red]

    The Nightmare¡ªwhen fully extending the claws it used as both hands and feet¡ªcame in at roughly 4000 meters in height. It had long, lanky appendages attached to both of its wickedly sharp claws. Its main torso, however, was the weirdest part of this abomination, as it was shaped like a massive oval bean. And embedded in the front center part of that bean was a large swirling black eye that took up nearly 40% of its headspace. Which also served as its bodyspace, for both were one and the same.

    "Kekatal!!! Kekatata¡ª!!!!" The Nightmare Behemoth let out an unusual blood-curdling screech as it pushed its claws into the blackened floor before blurring forward.

    "!!!"

    The One-Eyed Crawler cared not about accidentally slaughtering other Nightmares as it appeared in front of Cassius in an instant. Then, with the hard flicker of one of its claws, it whacked him through several sound donuts and eventually into a far-off wall. A few Rank 2 Nightmares were crushed on impact as he hurtled toward the wall, their destruction yielding a satisfying surge of Nightmare Essence.

    Then again, it wasn''t like he had the luxury to be thinking about things he couldn''t even use right now when his entire body was on the verge of collapse.

    What seemed like gallons of blood poured out of his mouth as the aftereffects from his impact caused the wall around him to crater inward.

    Then, very anticlimactically, he died.

    *Ding!*

    [Your SSS-Rank Legendary Phoenix Bloodline has slightly progressed by 0.08%!]

    [1/110 Rebirths expended for the day]

    [|Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill has upgraded from the S+++ Rank ¡ú SS- Rank!]

    [S+++ Rank |Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill has evolved into the SS- Rank |Zenith Rebirth| Skill!]

    [Maximum Daily Rebirths increased from 110 ¡ú 150]

    [Your Trainer Rank has advanced from the |Peak Beginner Trainer| stage ¡ú |Early Persistent Trainer Stage|!]

    [Strength +6000]

    WAAA!

    Cassius felt his strength soar, giving his body a much-needed upgrade.

    Yet, even with the addition of such a large amount of Strength, he still felt like this battle would be an extreme challenge. And normally, he would just dump all of his AP into Agility or take off his Newbie 8 Equipment Set. But this time around¡ªso as to further upgrade his Phoenix Bloodline/Skill and his Trainer Rank¡ªhe held back the urge to mass level himself up. Instead taking the pain and death route.

    "Time to test the limits of my strength," Cassius coldly uttered, manipulating the Space Element to |Void Port| his Lilith next to the One-Eyed Crawler.

    Then he himself used |Teleport| to reappear right next to where Lilith was teleported. He clasped onto her before flaring the Atomic Element.

    |Atomic Slash|

    A devastating purple runic sword arc crossed the distance separating Cassius from the One-Eyed Crawler. Then, with a massive cloud-like explosion, the One-Eyed Crawler was hit.

    ''Did that do any damag¡ª'' Before he could even finish that thought, the One-Eyed Crawler''s left hooked claw emerged through the cloud of atomic energies. And with a resounding bang, Cassius was hit straight on. First, his skin cracked, then his bones broke, then the rest of him followed. Slowly and painfully, his body was vaporized.

    BOOOOOM!!!

    The aftershocks of the head-on collision caused waves of rolling, volatile atomic energy to careen outward. The waves cut up the Boundless Gorge''s walls, also killing hundreds of nearby Rank 2 Nightmares as a consequence.

    It was also at this time¡ªas Cassius experienced a full rebirth¡ªthat two more horrifying presences just as powerful as the One-Eyed Crawler appeared. Rumblings echoed out from several directions as tunnels too small to fit them were crashed through and destroyed. This left numerous Nightmares in danger of being squashed by either pieces of the walls or the bloodthirsty Rank 3 Nightmares themselves. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    FWIP!

    Cassius fully regenerated just in time to see two gaping mouths and a pair of claws rocketing toward his face. All three of the Rank 3 Nightmares were vying for his life, and they worked together in sync to take it.

    They hadn''t once bothered wondering why he was capable of reviving. They had not the mind for it.

    They had but one primary directive: mercilessly kill anything that wasn''t a native of this world.

    ''This will definitely give me a lot of Trainer Rank progres¡ª''

    SPLAT!

    Cassius evaporated, with even his blood not able to stay airborne for more than half a nanosecond before being reduced to nothing. Same as with the rest of his existence¡ªall turned to nothing.

    Yet, it was from nothing that something could be born.

    OOOM!

    He once more reappeared¡ªhis Atomic Slashes already getting sent out in the hundreds per second. He even utilized the unique ability of his Dragonfire Demon King Title¡ªQuasar Beam¡ªto both push himself back from recoil and deal some minor burn damage to the momentarily stunned Rank 3 Nightmares.

    However, within seconds, the nightmarish behemoths were already right back on his tail. They relentlessly pursued and lashed out at him with devastatingly powerful attacks, which left both the area and the other, weaker Nightmares in terrible condition. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Damn,'' Cassius thought as he expertly evaded multiple attacks that would''ve insta-killed him. ''If not for the fact that I just recently loosened some of the elemental restrictions that both of the worlds placed on me, then I would be faring better right now.''

    Unfortunately for his sanity, that was not the case.

    SPLAT!

    Another blood mist explosion occurred. He died¡­ yet again.

    But he came back once more¡ªthis time even stronger than before.

    This was also when AP from trolling started coming in:

    *Ding!*

 Chapter 240 The Formation of a Slayer Weapon

    *Ding!*

    [Trolled ''Rank 3 Nightmares'' for 3500 AP!]

    A small smirk formed on Cassius''s still-recovering face. ''Time to begin the grind cycle.''

    With that, he shot forward, his attacks becoming ever more lethal. As time passed, the restrictions placed on everything that wasn''t pure physical strength gradually weakened, bringing out more of his potential.

    ¡ª Ten minutes later ¡ª

    SHING! SHING!

    The ridiculously-sized heads of two freakish behemoths were lobbed off in glorious, bloody fashion. The rest of the bodies of those two behemoths were also shredded until their singular selves turned into tens of thousands of meat chunks.

    *Whisp¡ª!*

    Two rather large and overpowering streams of black Nightmare Essence flew out of the corpses of the Rank 3 Nightmares. They entered Cassius''s grim figure, adding to his already massive storage of Nightmare Essence.

    Looking around, Cassius saw thousands upon thousands of dead Rank 2 Nightmares, as well as more than three dozen Rank 3 Nightmares. In less than a fourth of an hour, he had managed to slaughter enough Nightmares to qualify him for the position of Battalion Commander. Such a position would warrant him control over 10 Platoons, making him a far more influential figure than he currently was. Far, far more influential.

    The only unfortunate thing was that he would never see that Battalion Commander position, for no one was there to vouch for his feats.

    It all felt like a bit of a waste¡­

    But it was what it was.

    "I think that''s the last of them in this part of the Gorge," said Cassius, his cruel eyes scrutinizing the surroundings for any stragglers. "I''ve already descended to roughly 5,000 meters, with around¡­ how many¡­? How many times did I die¡­?"

    He clutched the sides of his head in pain, yet merely squinted as what felt like billions of fire ants crawled around inside his brain.

    The mere thought of his countless, agonizing deaths etched phantom echoes into his memory. Each recollection of his demise sent waves of indescribable pain cascading through his very being, a torment that defied explanation.

    "654 times," Cassius muttered through clenched teeth. "I lost my life in battle 654 f*cking times¡­"

    His temper uncharacteristically flared as his stifling killing intent suffocated the air around him. His pupils dilated and briefly turned a deathly crimson red. The aura emanating from him followed suit, turning a dark, bloody red. Moreover, his SSS-Rank Demon King Bloodline showed itself, further amplifying his already terrifying presence.

    "Kaskeeeetch¡ª!!!"

    Yet, with the banshee-like shrieks of more Nightmares, Cassius''s oppressive aura subsided. The air around him returned to tranquility, but it was not the peaceful kind; it was deadly. Silent but deadly.

    "The killing must continue," he uttered coldly, his legs already blurring the rest of him forward. "I must become stronger and stronger. No matter how many times I have to die, I will keep on."

    Thousands more Nightmares emerged from the deeper parts of the Gorge, with nearly a hundred of them being at the Early-stage of Rank 3. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The endless battle between man and the creatures lurking in the darkness went on¡­ ceaseless and torturous¡­

    ¡ª ??? Hours later ¡ª

    Cassius¡ªhaving died thousands of times¡ªno longer looked or felt the same as he once had. His eyes seemed far more worn down, his gaze grimly serious, and his presence overbearing. He was sitting on the corpse of what was once an extremely powerful Middle-stage Rank 3 Nightmare. The corpse was badly mutilated, showing clear signs of it having greatly struggled before its death.

    He should''ve been happy; after all, this was his first time killing something so powerful. But for some reason, he looked the same as always, his expression bereft of emotion. His listless stare gazed above, his thoughts unknown.

    "No more howls." His voice¡ªboth raspy and gravelly¡ªtraveled throughout the dimly lit, endlessly deep Gorge. "It seems¡­ it seems I''ve reached a point in this place where no more Nightmares shall appear. Good¡­"

    Cassius had amassed a ludicrous amount of Nightmare Essence since he first began his killing spree. And with his Slayer Rank still capped at the 7th Stage of the Apprentice Slayer Rank, a breakthrough was far overdue.

    WASHING¡ª!

    A crisp sword slice resounded as Cassius and Lilith dug out a perfectly shaped cave-like hole in the side of a wall. He walked into the cave, threw out some fireballs to act as permanent torches, then covered the cave''s entrance with a Diamond-ranked Illusion Skill¡ªwhich equated to the SS-Rank and was the rank after the Ruby Rank.

    He had only just recently started receiving Skill Boxes beyond the Ruby Rank, with this Illusion-related one being one of a handful of Diamond-ranked Skills in his arsenal.

    After everything was set up and his security ensured, Cassius sat down in a lotus position and began circulating the vast sea of Nightmare Essence stored inside him. He called upon a minuscule amount of it¡ªthe amount that accounted for his current Slayer Rank¡ªthen molded it into the shape that felt the most synonymous with his existential aspects.

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    This would soon be his Slayer Weapon.

    OOOM!!

    Violent energies swirled within the dug-out cave as the small piece of Cassius''s vast Nightmare Essence storage took on the form of a¡­ scythe.

    The scythe started off as dark gray¡ªsymbolizing the purest version of Nightmare Essence¡ªbut ultimately extracted the qualities of its owner. Cassius¡ªbecause of the influence of his nigh-limitless killing intent¡ªcaused the scythe to turn black, then red, then a mixture of both black and red. The red transformed into a bloody effect and lined the edges of the ten-foot-long scythe blade. The black, on the other hand, morphed into an obsidian glossy shade of twilight, making up the majority of the scythe''s surface.

    This was all happening inside Cassius''s body, with the slow formation of the immaculate scythe making big waves within the massive Nightmare Essence sea it resided over. The whole place felt the immensity of his Slayer Weapon''s formation.

    And finally, after just over twenty minutes of meticulously guiding the formation process¡ªan act that felt almost instinctive to him¡ªthe blood-black scythe took its final, complete form.

    WAAA!!

 Chapter 241 Mass Bloodline Upgrades, 5th Stage 3rd Class Slayer

    WAAA!!

    The moment the scythe was finished forming, an unbearable aura spread out from Cassius and engulfed both the cave and the space outside. The Nightmare corpses¡ªwhich he had not bothered to do anything about¡ªwere rapidly corroded by this smothering aura. Then, without Cassius commanding it, the blood of the Nightmares¡ªwhich had previously been uselessly poisonous to both him and Lilith¡ªnow flew toward them of its own volition.

    In an instant, the blackish-red blood of tens of thousands of Rank 1, 2, and 3 Nightmares swarmed the figure floating ever so slightly off the ground. The countless gallons of blood slipped through the illusion before dividing itself between Master and Blade, urging forth evolution after evolution.

    Furthermore, when Cassius''s Slayer Weapon outwardly projected itself¡ªofficializing the breakthrough process¡ªthe absurd amount of blood progressing his Vampire Duke Bloodline even more seamlessly fused with him. A similar effect occurred for Lilith as she underwent an extreme advancement process.

    Then, after a few seconds of rapid, uncontrollable changes, a plethora of system notifications rang out:

    *Ding~!*

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''7th Stage Apprentice Slayer'' ¡ú ''1st Stage 3rd Class Slayer''] Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

    However, the Slayer Rank advancements did not stop there, as the sea of Nightmare Essence within Cassius started to rage and rise into the air above it. Then a stupid amount of the Nightmare Essence crashed into his Slayer Weapon like waves against the shore.

    His Slayer Rank skyrocketed¡­

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''1st Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''2nd Stage 3rd Class Slayer''] S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''2nd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''3rd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''3rd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''4th Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''4th Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''5th Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    His Rank eventually settled down in the middle of the 5th Stage, with his aura exploding outward less than a second later. All of his Main Physical Attributes took leap after leap, yet the stats shown in his System Interface remained unchanged. Since his Slayer Rank was an external source of power, the System did not include it in his stats, which also meant that he had still yet to technically exceed the S-Rank on the Awakener scale.

    This also meant forceful Ascension would not occur when he returned to the Trial Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity.

    Though, even if his overall cumulative stats did break into the SS-Rank, Cassius could still prevent a forceful Ascension. In a similar fashion to the powerful foreign invaders, he could either fool the world into thinking he was outside the world by staying in one small space, or he could restrict his stats. Either way, he could delay his ascension until the time was opportune.

    But regardless of what he might or might not do, as his breakthroughs were deemed a huge success, he required some time to consolidate his strength. Which, frankly speaking, was massive. Massive enough to make it so that he couldn''t even feel the ridiculous amount of weight he carried on his person because of his Newbie 8 Equipment Set and Newbie 8 Sword.

    However, with his luck, the Idle Evolution System was likely to throw out one, maybe even two Newbie Equipment upgrades in the near future¡­

    "Should I feel happy or sad about that?"

    Cassius honestly didn''t know anymore. He wasn''t sure about anything regarding his feelings or emotions¡­

    It was terrifying¡ªutterly horrifying¡ªbut that same haunting sensation from before began to rear its head once more. The unsettling realization that pieces of himself were steadily, inexorably slipping into oblivion. Especially after enduring death hundreds of times... no, thousands of times¡­

    He didn''t even know if he could recognize himself anymore.

    Only the phantom pain from his every death was there to accompany him every step of the way. That¡­ that he could recognize.

    ''The pain,'' he thought. ''I just have to follow the pain. I''ll never lose my sense of being that way. That is what I must do.''

    But then again, how would someone who couldn''t even recognize himself possibly be able to tell if he has or has not lost more of himself?

    It was all rigged. Every single bit of it.

    But with the pursuit of more strength taking front, line, and center, Cassius spent the next couple of hours solidifying his strength. Then he rose from his meditative position and stared at the incoming System Notifications, informing him of both his Bloodline upgrades and Lilith''s upgrades.

    *Ding!*

    [|Duke Vampire Bloodline (EX-)| has rapidly progressed from < 10% ¡ú 100%, causing it to evolve to the EX-Rank!]

    [|Duke Vampire Bloodline (EX)| has progressed to 0.8%!]

    [All other Bloodlines below the EX-Rank have been forcefully advanced by a single minor Rank!]

    [|Demon King Bloodline (SSS+) ¡ú |Demon King Bloodline (SSS++)|]

    [|Legendary Phoenix Bloodline (SSS+++) ¡ú |Mythic Phoenix Bloodline (EX-)|]

    Cassius''s Phoenix Bloodline¡ªwhich had advanced by leaps and bounds because of all the times he died¡ªnow took one humongous jump into the transcendent EX-Rank.

    Now, he had two EX-Rank Bloodlines, both of which were immensely powerful and useful!

    But with more pop-ups appearing, Cassius had little time to pause on just a single upgrade:

    [Maximum Daily Rebirths have increased from 1500 ¡ú 2500]

    [|Oracle Sphinx Bloodline (SSS)| ¡ú |Oracle Sphinx Bloodline (SSS+)|]

    [|Demon Dragon Bloodline (SSS)| ¡ú |Demon Dragon Bloodline (SSS+)|]

    [Growth Weapon ''Devil Blade Lilith'' has advanced from the ''S+++'' Rank to the ''SS++'' Rank!]

    [|Lilith''s Attack + 38,600|]

    RUMBLE!!!

    Just Lilith''s presence alone caused a good chunk of the Boundless Gorge to shake and quake. Her outer appearance transformed from her already domineering design to something even more oppressive. She took on the form of a mighty 4-meter-long greatsword¡ªone that required Cassius to levitate off the ground to avoid letting dig into the floor.

    Lilith retained her original black-and-red color scheme, but there was also a newly added glowing purple hue that traveled up and down her razor-sharp edges like streams of a river. Those same glowing purple streams ignited the rest of her surface, making blackish-red flames flare from all over. An additional bloody effect lined her edges, similar in function to his now completely formed Slayer Scythe.

 Chapter 242 The Truth About Memphis

    WAAA!!

    When Lilith''s evolution concluded, Cassius rubbed her sides and received a euphoric reaction in return. She happily hummed, seemingly describing to him how nice she was feeling.

    For the first time in what felt like days, Cassius smiled.

    Though, in the very next instant, his smile faded. He couldn''t even remember smiling at all.

    "Time to name my Slayer Weapon," he said, as if to distract himself from this lurching feeling digging away inside him. "A name¡­ What''s a good name for a scythe¡­"

    He summoned forth his bloody scythe for some inspiration. And after a few minutes of deliberation, he finally decided on the name for this large, menacing scythe:

    "Mora," Cassius declared. "Your name shall be Mora, Rivers of Blood."

    As a rough translation, Mora meant ''Death'' in Latin. It was a fitting name for what he had planned for this sickly sharp weapon of his. Rivers of blood would truly begin to flow with every attack of hers.

    WAAA!

    A resplendent and mesmerizingly dangerous aura spread out from the large scythe looming over Cassius''s head. The aura enveloped the area for thousands of meters around them, pressuring every disfigured Nightmare carcass nearby. The scythe was marking. Marking the beginning of endless bloodshed.

    Normally, Lilith would''ve been rejoicing over such an absurd amount of bloodlust, but for some reason, she was being oddly silent. Almost pouty, even.

    [Seems like the Ladykiller is at it again!] the System said playfully. [Even inanimate objects can''t resist your irresistibly s*xy loner, boner, virgin-loser charm!]

    [(???©n???)]

    [Teach me your ways, oh master Lady Slayer~!]

    Cassius: "...."

    Perhaps all it took was the System''s usual absurdity to reignite some of his emotions. Particularly his disgust and disbelief, both of which were especially active right now.

    In the end, a heavy sigh escaped his lips before he moved his attention to the outside of his humble abode.

    "I''ve been here for around 50 hours," he said apathetically. "And seeing as the System hasn''t once bothered trying to goad me into returning home, I assume I can stay here forever."

    [Only this one time¡ªand not forever. The next time, you''ll require Nightscare Shards to extend the duration of your stay!]

    Cassius kept the System''s message to the back of his mind. Now, the only thing he worried about was how much more continuous pain and death he could take before he lost the rest of his sanity¡­

    Even still:

    "I must get stronger," said Cassius, his quiet steps slowly leaving the bounds of his cave. "I must."

    He couldn''t quite explain why he needed to grow so much stronger than he already was, but something deep within him¡ªan unshakable, primal instinct¡ªscreamed that he would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn''t do whatever it took to achieve greater power.

    If before, he did it mostly for the sake of his own self-interest, then this time, it was like a signal being sent to him from some higher force above. Otherworldly. Daunting. Terrifying. There were many words to describe this inexplicable feeling, and every single one of them screamed of terrible misfortune occurring in the near future.

    And based on that esoteric feeling alone, Cassius lumbered forward, with each further step leaving behind rivers of blood¡­

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within a land of golden towers that extended far above the aurum-shaded clouds that littered a mystical land where winged humanoids darted about ¡ª

    Starting with a sudden jolt, Memphis looked around with a weary gaze. "W¡­Where am I¡­?" she questioned skeptically.

    Painting a clear picture, the place she found herself in was a quaint little white gazebo situated right outside acres and acres of shiny gold-spotted sunflowers. A few short hills dotted the landscape, with the same sunflowers growing atop them as well. A tiny pond of around ten cubic meters in length and width sat right beside the gazebo.

    As for the gazebo itself, it was very simply decorated. There was only a moderately sized cotton bed, as well as flowy white curtains hanging off a high-hanging headrest for the bed.

    Memphis was only able to gaze out at the scenery outside the gazebo when the subtle spring-like breeze blew the bed curtains around. Through them, she could see both the picturesque environment¡­ as well as an angelic woman whose beauty surpassed everything around her. She was as if a Goddess herself had decided to grace the human world.

    Except¡­ this was not the Human World, was it?

    Zooming out ever so briefly, one could see that Memphis was stranded on a floating island. Yet, it was but one of countless islands gradually orbiting around an enormous golden palace, with equally shimmering golden towers that breached above the clouds.

    However, this palace and even the many islands surrounding it were merely one formation of dozens of similar formations. Golden palaces sprinkled out all over this paradise in the sky, with each one slightly different from the others. The heavenly songs and tunes being played by angel harpists also varied between the palace formations, all dependent on the music taste of each of the high-ranking Archangels.

    Yet, in the Heavenly Kingdom¡ªbelow the All-Father himself¡ªthere was but one Archangel recognized as being #1.

    "Mikeala," said the divinely beautiful woman standing outside the gazebo Memphis was in. "That''s my name, oh daughter of mine."

    "!!!"

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    Memphis''s expression experienced multiple drastic changes as she looked at the angelic woman eloquently approaching her. Mikeala''s ten, magnificent wings were neatly folded into her relatively revealing white dress. Her eyes were closed¡ªher golden-stranded hair elegantly flowing. And yet none of her perfect physical appearance could possibly hope to dampen the impact that her casual words had on the stunned girl before her.

    "We have a lot to catch up on, it seems," Mikeala said with a small, dazzling smile. "You must remember to keep in mind that what I''m about to tell you may make me seem cruel, but if you continue listening, you''ll understand exactly why I did what I did."

    Memphis, still reeling from both her sudden revival and this Angel''s words, was unable to give pause to the woman now sitting at the end of her bed. The blowing bed curtains stopped moving around and stood motionless above the bed frame, almost as if the very fabric of the curtains was afraid to mess with the drop-dead gorgeous Angel.

    "Where shall we begin? Oh¡­ How about I tell you of your actual father and my feud with the Fallen Angel, Lucifer?"

    "!!!"

    With a warm, inviting smile etched across her flawless face, Archangel Mikeala went on to explain in great detail everything that had happened since Memphis''s birth. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 243 Mikaela, the Arch-Angel

    ¡ª Ten minutes later ¡ª

    To summarize what the Archangel told Memphis: some years ago¡ªright after she was born¡ªthe prodigal son of Heaven, Lucifer Morningstar, decided that since he couldn''t physically harm his Father, he''d settle for emotionally harming Him. He did so by battling his way through the Heavenly Kingdom, knowing full well that his Father would be naive enough to regard this as one of his "tantrums."

    It was then that Lucifer revealed his true intentions. He took both the All-Father and the Archangels by surprise by focusing all his power on restraining and capturing the #1 being under the All-Father in the Heavenly Kingdom: Mikaela Celestine.

    Surprisingly, Lucifer was successful in this endeavor. All his planning paid off, and he managed to slip out of the Heavenly Kingdom''s Sixth Floor with the divine beauty in his grasp.

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    The other Archangels immediately became incensed by this incident and angrily discussed countermeasures to rescue Mikaela Celestine. However, when they sought the opinion of the All-Father, they received a revelation that left many of them dumbfounded. This revelation was also one of the prime reasons why God hadn''t stopped Lucifer Morningstar at all costs.

    As it turned out, Lucifer¡ªjust a few hundred years ago¡ªhad been involved with the illustrious #1 Archangel. However, the night right after they consummated their fleeting relationship, Mikaela never spoke to him again and returned to the Heavenly Kingdom.

    Basically, she ghosted him.

    Heartbroken, Lucifer did whatever he could think of to mend the bridge between him and Mikaela. But as the coldest Goddess in the Heavenly Kingdom, she was not easily wooed. Considering that night to be a grave mistake on her part, she did her utmost to forget it ever happened.

    And yet Lucifer would always be there to remind her of that day¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This strange dynamic of Lucifer as the lovesick romantic and Mikaela as the emotionless heartbreaker led to an unhealthy obsession forming on Lucifer''s side. Over time, his once pure feelings of love and devotion became twisted, and he began regarding the Archangel as some sort of personal property. It became so extreme that whenever Lucifer heard whispers of a man even so much as approaching Mikaela, he would freak out and unleash his fury upon the upper reaches of HELL.

    The Hellish dimension had experienced numerous tribulations because of the furious tantrums of one of their tyrannical Hegemons¡­

    It wasn''t until many years later¡ªwhen the kidnapping incident occurred¡ªthat the Angels of the Heavenly Kingdom learned groundbreaking information from their God.

    As it turned out, when Mikaela and Lucifer had that scandalous one-night stand all those years ago, Mikaela became¡­ pregnant.

    This meant that Mikaela''s pregnancy was not the result of some illicit relationship with a mortal. Rather, it stemmed from something even more forbidden: the Fallen Angel, Lucifer.

    Seeing as Angel pregnancies¡ªextremely rare as they were¡ªnormally lasted for hundreds of years with no visible belly deformation, it wasn''t until the baby arrived and the All-Father''s revelation that everyone learned the truth.

    That baby was Memphis¡ªa baby girl who, right after her birth and the kidnapping of her mother, was sent down to the Trial Floor of Humanity on a secret operation by her mother. The Angels tasked with sending her down and keeping her away from the danger of the Heavenly Kingdom and HELL were also instructed to find her a good new family.

    The leader of that small D-Rank Hunter Party and his wife became that family. Though, with the early death of the wife, it was really only the leader who was left to act as a parental figure for the barely three-year-old Memphis. But with the passing of time, he eventually died as well.

    If not for Cassius and the rest of the Steele Household''s warmth, she might''ve truly been left all alone¡­

    However, 17-some-odd years following Memphis''s birth, something changed in Mikaela''s predicament. After so long of being pampered and treated like an absolute queen by Lucifer¡ªyet giving nothing in return¡ªhe finally couldn''t take it anymore and ran to a famous Succubus whorehouse to drown his sorrows.

    For hundreds of years, he had patiently and excruciatingly waited to taste that divinely sculpted body again. Yet that time never came.

    Even as he did whatever she requested of him, he received not even a small smooch in return¡­

    Life truly was so cruel!

    And with her power not much different from his¡ªbeyond locking her on the Sixth Floor of HELL¡ªhe was unable to do much else. Forcing her into his bed was, naturally, out of the question.

    Thus, when he finally became so pent up that he couldn''t take it anymore, but was brutally rejected by Mikaela, he resorted to prostitution to alleviate some of his pent-up desires. In his lustful negligence, he completely forgot about maintaining the trap he had set for the Archangel. Within the day, she broke free with ease.

    That day was today.

    The first thing she did upon her return¡ªafter informing the other Angels and the All-Father of her arrival¡ªwas to break a few laws and once again descend to the Trial Floor of Humanity. It was then that she encountered those pesky invaders, whom she learned had snuck into the Ascension Tower in recent years.

    But with "him" guarding that particular area of Humanity''s Ascension Tower, Mikaela knew full well that the invaders would never succeed in whatever they were planning.

    Nonetheless, returning to the present¡­

    "My father¡­" Memphis murmured, her expression slightly listless. "No! Even if he was not my blood-related father, he was still the only father in my heart! Not some prodigal son of¡­ Wait¡ªHELL!? And you said this was the Heavenly Kingdom¡­ So Heaven??"

    "Yes, my dear," Mikaela said with a small smile. "HELL is real, and Heaven is real, and you¡ªyou are someone of one of the highest statuses in Heaven. As my daughter, your lineage is second to none here."

    "I see¡­"

    Memphis had a lot to process.

    But just moments ago, she was suddenly marked to be a skin-suit for extraterrestrial beings, so nothing should surprise her anymore.

 Chapter 244 Descending 10s of Thousands of Meters into the Boundless Gorge

    ¡ª After a few seconds ¡ª

    Exhaling deeply, Memphis steeled her gaze and locked eyes with her ever-so-graceful mother. "You are my mother," she said.

    "Yes, that is correct," replied Mikaela, her smile as dazzling as always. "I am the one who gave birth to you. And though I don''t deserve the title, from this day forward, I shall do everything in my power to make it up to you. If you want or require something, just name it, and it shall be done."

    Memphis unblinkingly stared at her. "Anything?" she asked.

    "Anything."

    "...Then there''s this guy. He took care of me and gave me a home and family after¡­ father passed away. Can you bring him up here to safety? Away from those things?"

    Mikaela''s eyes squinted slightly as her gold-crossed pupils increased in luminosity. "His name?" she asked.

    "It''s¡­ It''s Cassius."

    "!!!"

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    Mikaela¡ªwho was in the process of utilizing her Eyes of Divinity¡ªalmost immediately stopped in her tracks. She looked at her confused daughter with a new level of seriousness. "His name¡­ Say his full name¡­"

    Although puzzled, Memphis said, "His name is Cassius¡ªCassius Steele."

    "...It''s as I figured," Mikaela said with a sigh, fully deactivating the mystical abilities of her eyes. "What you requested is impossible. Ask for something else¡ªanything else."

    Memphis''s irises flashed in bewilderment. "Just a second ago¡ªbefore you learned his name¡ªyou didn''t seem the least bit opposed to fulfilling the request. Why did saying his name change things? What made you react like that¡ª"

    "That boy¡ªhis origins are not so simple," Mikaela said, the reflection in her gaze reminiscent of a shameless man who knew not when to relent. "But you can rest assured; if he''s anything like that man, then he''ll get by just fine without my assistance. Fret not, dear daughter."

    Memphis opened her mouth to say something but held back in the end. She turned her head down, appearing if not the slightest bit disappointed. Sure, she wanted him safe; she really, really wanted him to be safe. But just as passionately, she yearned to see him again.

    And if not now, then when¡­? Would she ever see him again¡­?

    Noticing the troubled state her daughter was in, Mikaela delicately shook her head before saying, "You have feelings for that boy, don''t you?"

    "W¡­ What!? No!" Memphis''s cheeks flushed a dark shade of crimson as she twirled the ends of her hair strands in embarrassment. "W-What gave you that assumption?!"

    Mikaela softly chuckled. "You need not be shy with me, my dear daughter," she said, amused. "I may not have ever experienced that sort of love myself, but I have been around since the beginning of time. I know precisely what you''re thinking. But I must warn you; that bloodline is not something you wish to involve yourself in. That boy''s father¡­ He''s not a good man¡­"

    She could still vividly recall that flirtatious pimp bastard flaunting his stuff around the higher Floors of the Heavenly Kingdom like he owned the place. Without a care in the world for anyone or anything''s authority, he vulgarly hit on numerous eye-catching female Angels. It was only because of the female Angels'' willingness to accept him that she and the other Archangels hadn''t kicked him out of Heaven right away.

    However, even if that man had acted out of line, it was highly unlikely they would''ve been capable of doing anything to stop him¡­

    Possibly only the All-Father would be able to do something like that.

    A tired breath of air escaped Mikaela''s perfectly pursed red lips. She then returned her focus to her daughter. "The bottom line is that this Cassius Steele is likely not a good fit for you. Promiscuous lechery runs in his blood."

    Memphis didn''t really understand what her mother was trying to say. Sure, Cassius had a few¡­ a lot of infatuated women around him, but it wasn''t like he did anything of that nature with them. At least as far as she was aware!

    "I think you''re wrong, Mother."

    "!?!?" Mikaela was too overjoyed to hear her daughter refer to her by such a name to even realize how serious she was when she said what she did. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sure, sure," said Mikaela, her face all smiles. "Well, regardless of that boy''s private ongoings, you''ll surely see him again. Those of his lineage are not prone to staying in one place for too long. It''s possible that, even at this very moment, that boy is off on some epic adventure through undiscovered lands."

    Memphis pressed the doubt button.

    She knew her Cassius, and he was not one to do anything dangerous. In fact, in all the time they spent together, he rarely even left the house, and when he did come back from Gates and whatnot, he not once had even a scratch on him.

    There was simply no way he was doing anything dangerous if he always came back unharmed, right?

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    A black, shadowy figure smashed through hard, slick walls one after the next as he was being slung around by the limitlessly long, spiky tentacles of freakish Peak Rank 3 Nightmares. The Nightmares took the form of a mixture between a kraken and a dragon, and they floated off the ground. Each one of these monstrous behemoths hovered in every observable direction.

    ''How many days now¡­?'' Cold, emotionless thoughts echoed in the grievously wounded ping pong''s head as he died time and time again. ''10 days? 20? 40¡­?''

    Cassius had no idea just how long he had been down in the Boundless Gorge¡ªendlessly battling and endlessly descending¡ªthe monotony knew no end.

    He only knew pain and suffering¡­

    Yet, every so often, his pain and suffering would be temporarily soothed with the feeling of gaining more power.

    More and more power¡ªthat was all he could think about¡ªthat was the only thing driving him forward.

    10,000 meters¡­ 20,000 meters¡­ 40,000 meters¡­ 65,000 meters¡­

    Cassius had descended so far into the Boundless Gorge and slaughtered so many hundreds of thousands¡ªmillions of Nightmares. The exact amount was incalculable.

    And now¡ªsurrounded on all sides by 8 [Dark Kraken Dragons]¡ªeach equivalent to the SS++ Rank¡ªCassius felt that he might just meet his end for real.

    ''Good,'' he thought. ''It''s finally over¡­''

 Chapter 245 I REFUSE!

    He had suffered enough, had he not? Was dying tens of thousands of times not enough to grant him some respite?

    He could give up, couldn''t he¡­?

    ''If I just close my eyes and let nature take its course, then I''ll die,'' Cassius thought, his bloodied, mangled body slingshotting through the Gorge.

    The [Dark Kraken Dragons] took turns sticking him with their spiky tentacles and ramming him through both other Nightmares and walls. Over and over again¡ªthousands of times per second¡ªthey violently thrashed him about, creating a rapidly flashing arc of light that knew no tranquility.

    ''Yes¡­'' Cassius muttered to himself, his consciousness fading. ''I''m allowed to give up¡­ I''m allowed to die¡­ What do I even require so much power for? I decided that I was obtaining power for just myself, did I not? If that''s the case, then I, myself, decide that I''ve had enough. More than enough¡­ I can''t take it anymore.''

    ''I''m done.''

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOOM!!!

    With one final booming explosion, Cassius''s mangled figure planted itself deep into the Gorge''s walls. He was shot thousands of meters into the wall, losing more than a dozen lives in the process.

    [7,496/7,500 Daily Rebirths]

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [If you don''t stop fooling around now, then you''ll die for real! There won''t be any coming back!]

    With a lifeless gaze, Cassius turned his head toward the bright blue screen flashing beside him. "You wanted me to build character, did you not¡­? I have built the character¡­ Can''t I stop now? I want to stop¡­ I don''t want to continue building character¡­ I don''t¡­"

    WHABOOOOM!

    A massive spiked tentacle broke through thousands of meters of obsidian-like stone in an instant. Cassius''s whole left side was impacted by the tentacle, sending him barreling through countless tons of stone and out into the wide Gorge pathway. Meeting the eyes of his still-flying figure were the eight extraordinarily powerful [Dark Kraken Dragons]. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The hundreds of eyes embedded in their sinuous heads stared down at the bloodied Cassius, seemingly laughing at the pathetic state he was in.

    Then, with the closing of the curtains, he lost another life.

    Only three remained.

    ''To die¡­'' Cassius''s vision grew hazy and unfocused as he completely zoned out the tentacle coming back for round two. ''Is permanent death really so different from temporary death¡­? Why should I fear it? I want to die, do I not¡­?''

    BOOOOM!!!

    Cassius was once again launched into the air, all the bones in his body broken. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    He blitzed through the Gorge''s walls but was almost instantaneously punted back out by the tentacle of a different [Dark Kraken Dragon].

    [7,500/7,500 Daily Rebirths] - [No More Chances!]

    Then, as if Cassius''s whole reality suddenly shattered¡ªwhen he saw that pop-up¡ªrealization hit him like the front end of a freight train.

    "I¡­" he muttered through his own gurgling blood.

    With one of the giant tentacles pressing him against a wall, draining away the last of his lifeforce, a fire unlike any other ignited within his eyes. A sudden surge of strength came to him as he unequipped his Newbie 10 Equipment Set. His once limp and numb arms bulged, and with inextinguishable resolve, he grabbed onto both sides of the tentacle.

    "I DON''T WANT TO DIE!!!"

    With a banshee-like howl, Cassius activated all his Bloodline Transformations, unequipped the rest of his Newbie Equipment, and fiercely dug his fingers into the tentacle. The tentacle started to bleed from all over, immense pressure causing it to distort weirdly. But before the [Dark Kraken Dragon] got the chance to retract its tentacle, Cassius firmly planted his feet into the wall and gritted his teeth as he lifted up with everything he had.

    "!!!!!"

    The [Dark Kraken Dragon] let out a soul-shaking roar of resistance as it worked against the puny human''s unnaturally high might.

    Yet, the human wouldn''t budge! It was being lifted upwards against its will!

    "I REFUSE TO DIE!!! NOT HERE!! NOT EVER!!!!!"

    OOOM!!!

    A massive, stifling aura erupted from Cassius''s badly wounded figure as all the veins in his body bulged. And as if by some divine miracle of strength, he took the [Dark Kraken Dragon] up off the ground. Its first instinct was to shoot its dozens of tentacles into the ground before it could be raised any higher. But in the same moment that thought formed, Cassius cast the [(SS-Rank) Stasis Movement] skill to freeze the Kraken''s grabbed tentacle in place. This made the tentacle stiff, and with its length factored into the equation, Cassius managed to lift it to a height nearly four times that of its main body size, which was also the rough length of one of its tentacles fully stretched out.

    The [Dark Kraken Dragon]¡ªnot knowing what to do and unable to deeply stick its other tentacles into the ground as tethers¡ªdid the next best thing. It called out for help from its fellow Krakens. They left their stupors almost immediately and came to its aid, but by then, Cassius''s fury had already reached its limits.

    He bellowed out and worked his body in hyperdrive. With one good swing, the [Dark Kraken Dragon] in his hands began to spin, and by carrying forward the initial momentum, the behemoth became nothing more than an extremely large blur. It was swung in circles at utterly ridiculous speeds.

    As soon as the other [Dark Kraken Dragons] got close, they were cut up and injured by the sharp tornado-like creature above the insignificantly tiny human''s hands.

    "DID YOU NOT HEAR ME THE FIRST TIME!??" Cassius deliriously shouted, blood gushing from all his orifices. "I SAID I''M NOT DYING!! I REFUSE!!!!"

    KA¡ªBOOOOOM!!!

    The original [Dark Kraken Dragon] was launched toward the other seven of its kind at thousands of times the speed of sound. It was thrown at such a ludicrously fast speed that the first four [Dark Kraken Dragons] weren''t even able to properly react in time before being shredded to bits. Blackish-red blood and guts sprayed the Gorge pathway, dousing the weaker and smaller Nightmares in a shower of gore.

 Chapter 246 Half-step 2nd Class Slayer

    The other three [Dark Kraken Dragons]¡ªwhich were lingering at the back¡ªwere hit by the weaponized [Dark Kraken Dragon] the same as the others. However, by the time it reached them, both the speed of the Kraken and the state of its body were massively reduced. Thus, they came out of the unexpected attack relatively unharmed.

    But they had little time to celebrate, for Cassius''s wrathful expression had already crossed five mountains of blood. He [Teleported] next to the 6th [Dark Kraken Dragon]''s scaly face and forced Lilith to expand tens of thousands of times her original size. She quickly became nearly a third the size of a [Dark Kraken Dragon]¡ªand with the consecutive cast of ''Atomic Slash,'' the 6th [Dark Kraken Dragon] was unable to even blink before being eviscerated.

    The last two [Dark Kraken Dragons] were also severely injured by the blast radius of the Atomic Slashes. But with their lives on the line, they ignored the damage and lashed out with nearly half a hundred wickedly sharp tentacles. In an attempt to unleash everything they possibly could, they even opened their large dragon-like mouths and formed black spheres of flames that rapidly condensed and burst forward.

    Two casts of |Black Dragon Incineration Cannon| blasted from the [Dark Kraken Dragons], each beam attack creating a wide-ranged line of destruction that took the lives of thousands of Rank 2 and Rank 3 Nightmares.

    The attacks seemed virtually unstoppable, their collisions inevitable.

    Yet, with nothing more than the crisp metallic sound of a sword being repeatedly sheathed and unsheathed, time seemed to stop.

    The black beams froze. The owners of those attacks froze. Even the Nightmares in the vicinity froze.

    Amidst it all, an otherworldly man¡ªhis face looking as though it had just been dipped into the coldest, most intolerably hot pits of HELL¡ªwalked among the terrifying Nightmares. Every single one of them¡ªeven the weakest of them¡ªtowered over him in size, and yet his steps reverberated louder than the silence that accompanied their eternal stasis in time.

    Cassius spoke no words. With his now-shrunken Lilith in his left hand, he summoned Mora, Rivers of Blood, in his right. Both gleamed dangerously red, their killing intent only matched by their not-so-subtle dislike for one another.

    "Mora¡­" Cassius robotically muttered. "Fraj Rose Frontier ¡ª 1st Ultimate Move ¡ª Scythe Symphony."

    RUMBLE!!!

    The ground beneath the lone humanoid figure began to violently tremble as the air around him and his bloody scythe convulsed. Ripples spread throughout space and time as Mora increased to three times her original size. Then she multiplied: from one to two, two to four, then to a hundred. And then to a thousand. Then a hundred thousand. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    All replicas of Mora materialized above the two [Dark Kraken Dragons], their lethally sharp edges looming dauntingly overhead.

    "Kill."

    With that single command from Cassius, he swung down Mora, and the rest of her replicas followed suit. Along with these slashes came scythe arcs so vast in quantity that the whole sky was blotted out. If the [Dark Kraken Dragons] hadn''t been moving on an entirely different scale of speed right now, the last thing they would''ve seen before meeting their demise would''ve been complete and utter¡­ darkness.

    The black scythe arcs¡ªnumbering in the hundreds of thousands¡ªsliced into every inch of the enormous Peak Rank 3 Nightmares. Less than a second later, nothing but a long-lasting rainfall of blood remained of the once horrifying creatures. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    A flood of System Notifications poured in as the cold-faced, immortal-like man stood beneath the blood rain that served as the gruesome aftermath of his enemies'' slaughter. His eyes flicked over the messages, calm and detached, as if the chaos around him was nothing more than a passing storm.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 8 Peak Rank 3 Nightmares (Dark Kraken Dragons)]

    [You have absorbed a massive amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced by leaps and bounds!]

    ''7th Stage 3rd Class'' ¡ú ''Half-step 2nd Class (Pinnacle)''

    [Your Battle Power has advanced by leaps and bounds!]

    [Your Trainer Rank has tremendously improved!]

    [Your Mythic Phoenix Bloodline has drastically improved!]

    [Your ''Godly Nirvana Rebirth'' SSS- Rank Skill has advanced to the SSS-Rank stage with a Mastered Proficiency level!]

    Following these System Notifications, the Idle Evolution System delved deeper into the specific improvements to his Trainer Rank and Bloodlines. It also sent out notifications for all the blood currently being absorbed by him, Lilith, and Mora, with the latter two refining and copying their share of the blood before sending it back to him.

    *Ding~!*

    [Glad you survived, by the way! (?????)]

    [Finding a new Host at this stage in the game wouldn''t have been easy. Plus, I''ve really gotten used to you¡­]

    There was almost a heartwarming moment. At least, until the Idle Evolution System continued with:

    [Torturin¨C... I mean, building character with you is just so entertainin¨C... I mean, enjoyabl¨C... I mean, so very fun!]

    Any other time, Cassius would''ve popped a blood vessel, but right now, he was too distracted by the residual effects of the existential crisis he had just faced.

    It made him wonder if it was time to leave the Boundless Gorge for now¡ªlest he experience something similar again and not come back from it¡­

    Nonetheless, the remainder of the System Notifications were still ringing out. Along with them came a long string of various power-ups.

    *Ding!*

    [Your Trainer Rank has advanced from the ''Mid-Veteran Stage'' ¡ú ''Late-Veteran Stage'']

    |Strength +46,000|

    This breakthrough brought Cassius one step closer to the Outlandish Trainer Stage, the Trainer Rank that the Sword God himself had capped at prior to his ascension. When he reached the pinnacle of the SSS-Rank, this was the Stage he had achieved. And now Cassius¡ªwho was merely at the S-Rank¡ªwas nearing the same league of power.

    Everything in this world had a cost. And to acquire greater strength, both the Sword God and his successor, Cassius Steele, knew what needed to be done to attain the strength they so desired. Pain. Lots of it. That was what they were willing to endure.

    Even at the loss of their own sanity, they continued pushing forward¡­

 Chapter 247 The Shadowy Mountains In The Boundless Gorge

    Cassius''s dimly glowing eyes sparked slightly before he returned to glancing over his System Notifications.

    [Your ''Mythic Phoenix Bloodline (EX)'' has progressed to 37.8% proficiency rate!]

    [Growth Weapon ''Devil Blade Lilith'' has advanced from the ''SS++'' Rank to the ''SS+++'' Rank!]

    |Lilith''s Attack +70,000|

    [Slayer Weapon ''Mora, Rivers of Blood'' has advanced by leaps and bounds, going from ''Middle-Rank 3'' ¡ú ''Peak-Rank 3'']

    Slayer Weapons¡ªmuch like how a Slayer advanced¡ªdid so by absorbing essence. In this case, it was Blood Essence. With it, they could progress down a path that was essentially a one-to-one copy of a Nightmare''s progression path.

    Nightmares¡ªoddly enough¡ªdevoured each other and other living beings to become stronger. They, too, absorbed Blood Essence. This created a strange, almost synchronized cycle between Man, Slayer Weapon, and Nightmare. Each one was, in some way or another, intrinsically connected to the others. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    OOOM¡­

    As the energy gathered from several different advancements settled down, Cassius and his two precious partners felt a newfound level of strength inside them. Yet, with all their unique personalities being rather cold, none displayed much excitement over this mass leveling spree.

    "Speaking of leveling," Cassius said plainly, "I''ve been sitting at Lvl 99 for a while now. Perhaps it''s about time I return to Earth and grind out that last level. Then I''ll be able to take the Job Class Advancement Quest."

    Following through with that thought, he stepped over the dried-up corpses of countless giant Nightmares. Blood from the strongest of them still poured down on him from above, but he paid it no mind. Lonely¡ªalmost distorted¡ªsteps softly echoed through the Boundless Gorge as a man who had fought his way through untold levels of torture began his return trip home.

    However, deep within the Boundless Gorge¡ªmillions of meters in¡ªseveral shadowy mountains began to rustle. They were each the size of entire planets and numbered above 5.

    "He''s not going further¡­" an ancient, raspy, and cryptic voice echoed off the walls of an insurmountably large black chamber located at the very end of the Gorge. "If he leaves now, then¡­"

    "Worrying is pointless," said another equally ancient voice. "The destined Dreamwalker will not be able to resist the temptations this place has to offer. And when the time finally comes, we''ll finally rid ourselves of the shackles that tie us to this cage. An eternal cycle. It''s close to being broken."

    A third shadowy mountain stopped rustling. "What of the Transcendent Class Slayers?" it eventually asked.

    "The Azure Archipelago is our entry point, and as such, the Transcendent Class Slayers know nothing of what we plan to do," said the first shadowy mountain. "And when they ultimately do, it will already be far too late, for we''ll have most of our power back. Even the strongest among them won''t be capable of preventing us from escaping this cage."

    A fourth and fifth shadowy mountain fluctuated harder than before as they pondered this matter.

    "What about the Darkdoms and the Nightmare Kings? They were treasonous enough to trap us here once¡ªyou don''t think they''ll do it again and ensure we stay locked away for good?"

    The fourth shadowy mountain posed the question, and the second shadowy mountain responded:

    "It has been so many eons since our entrapment that those youngling traitors no longer even send guards to these discarded wildernesses on the edge of the Dimension. This barren land filled with mindless Nightmare spawn¡ªthe Forgotten Shores¡ªis a place that lives up to its name. Forgotten. Only we remain here, the fossils washed up and buried in the sands beneath the soles of traitors. The Darkdoms and Nightmare Kings likely no longer even remember this place exists. In their minds, we are not threats to their reign¡ªwe are just another fragment of the forgotten¡ªrelics of a time predating the Great Eclipse."

    Oppressive silence lingered for the longest while, until, eventually, the oldest and wisest among them spoke again:

    "The Dreamwalker is our salvation," said the first shadowy mountain. "He''ll be the key that finally allows us to leave¡­ And to that end, he must¡­ die."

    "He must die," all the shadowy mountains chanted in unison. "For the sake of the eternally trapped beings of a world torn by Darkness and scorned by the Light¡ªfor the sake of our freedom¡ªthe Dreamwalker must die. And both worlds must cease to exist. Everything on two sides and everything in between must cease to remain."

    "It all must be erased¡­"

    The pitch-black chamber then returned to silence, with even the scarce air particles seemingly waiting patiently for the destined day.

    ¡ª-----------

    The moment Cassius reached the entrance of the Boundless Gorge, he decided to ''pause and logout,'' leaving his progress where it was.

    FWIP!

    Upon returning to Earth, Cassius was welcomed by a refreshing and revitalizing air, vastly unlike the grimness of the Nightmarescape. Although only 15 days had passed since he entered the Nightmarescape¡ªless than a couple of hours in the outside world¡ªit was still good to be back.

    A lively, piercing glow gradually returned to Cassius''s eyes as he wholeheartedly took in the mesmerizing sight of the mountain he reappeared on. Everything below the large mountain appeared so tiny in comparison to himself¡ªinsignificant¡ªboth in relative distance and in existential value. Yet, something about it attracted his battle-worn eyes.

    Perhaps it was the simplicity of it all.

    Or perhaps it was how much the scenery reminded him of the person he once was.

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    But going back further, Cassius glimpsed into distant memories of a time before he acquired the Idle Evolution System¡ªa time marked by an entirely different timeline. A terrible time. A time when he felt even more helpless than he did while fighting the [Dark Kraken Dragons].

    "I''ll continue acquiring greater power," he said. "And I''ll keep on torturing myself until I have the necessary strength to no longer feel helpless. No more. No more¡­"

    Phantom memories of his time in the Boundless Gorge remained deeply ingrained in his mind and soul. And every so often, they inflicted great pain on him, forcing him to remember.

    *Ding¡­*

 Chapter 248 Nearing Level 100

    *Ding¡­*

    [As his Character Development Building System, I should be proud of how far along my little prot¨¦g¨¦ has come. But for some inexplicable reason, I feel as if I messed up somewhere along the way...¡­ ( ? -?)?]

    [Oh, well! He''ll eventually get over it and emerge as an even more developed character! Yep, yep!]

    The Idle Evolution System was partially correct, as Cassius did eventually return to the way he once was¡ªputting aside most of his Alpha Sigma loneliness¡ªbut the time it took to reach that point turned out to be¡­ longer than expected.

    ¡ª 9 Days Later ¡ª

    This day was one day before the start of the Raid on the World''s END Gate. It was also rapidly approaching the time when its energy readings were expected to be at their highest, indicating the approaching Gate Break.

    The world''s only Evolving Gate¡ªon the verge of breaking. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was naturally a time when the unrest of nearly everyone in the world was at an all-time high. Many looked to the powerful Hunters for reassurance, and they gave it.

    But for some reason, this reassurance felt¡­ almost eerie. Something wasn''t right. Nobody could discern exactly what that something was or if it was all merely a figment of their agitated imaginations. Thus, in the end, all anyone could do was leave their lives in the hands of those higher up on the hierarchical ladder.

    However, in reality, what many were feeling was not actually too far from the truth. After all, just about every single S-Rank and A-Rank Hunter outside of Japan had long since been switched out for their Extraterrestrial counterparts.

    Aliens¡ªDissonants¡ªhad successfully taken over 99+% of the world governments and Hunter agencies. Only the Japanese S-Rank Hunters remained mostly unaffected by the subtle alien takeover. Save for Dante and Victor Rapido¡ªwho had been unlucky enough to leave the country¡ªand a few others, the rest of them were still human. S-Rank Hunters: Kaida, Arden, Luna, Viola, and Rika¡ªall members of the Japanese World''s End Hunter Party¡ªwere still themselves.

    This phenomenon was, of course, not because they were more special than the other S-Rank Hunters in the world but rather because the Dissonants were unable to progress their plans any further in the country of Japan. All because of one man¡ªtheir sub-target.

    It was merely coincidental that, when Cassius started proactively eradicating all Dissonants in the country, only the six World''s End Raid members remained. Viola, in particular, wouldn''t have been turned regardless of the order the Dissonants conquered in. After all, she was personally on the sub-target''s protection list.

    Being able to switch Viola out without Cassius noticing and stopping it would''ve been impossible. And when the high-ranking Dissonants realized this, they gave up on taking over Japan for now, instead leaving it for the grand finale. It wouldn''t be long now, anyway.

    Doomsday was quickly approaching.

    However, Cassius¡ªwho was mere centimeters away from completely filling up his Experience Bar and reaching Lvl 100¡ªwas far too focused on the grind to fully map out all the undercurrents happening in the world. Many pieces on the chessboard were being moved around, with numerous mysterious figures vying for a checkmate.

    From the Dissonants to the prisoners of the Gates to even the forces planted by the other six Dimensions¡ªeveryone wanted to come out of this Nexus Event on top.

    Yet, in the midst of it all, just a day ago, the legendary Russian Hunter¡ªIgor Volkov¡ªescaped from the Ice Sovereign''s Cage in a show of grand splendor.

    As a follow-up to the disastrous events in the Antarctic and in Russia, the commotion created by his reappearance was monumental. A plethora of news stations wished to have an interview with him. Yet, without placing a single one of them in his eyes, the Wolf Deity announced the primary purposes for his return.

    Firstly, he would take his revenge for the decimation of Russia by challenging and killing Yimin. Then he would dish out some more revenge by challenging and killing the #1 World-Class Hunter in the world¡ªthe Ice Sovereign.

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    The Ice Sovereign was someone who came from the same generation as the Wolf Deity¡ªalso being the first human awakener on Earth. Yet, some odd years ago, for reasons unknown to most, the Ice Sovereign dueled with the infamous and notorious Wolf Deity. But then, completely out of the expectations of many, the Ice Sovereign sealed up the Wolf Deity underneath millions of pounds of earth, his cage impermeable by anyone who wasn''t as strong as either of them.

    Another unexpected event occurred, as the Ice Sovereign¡ªimmediately following the Wolf Deity''s sealing¡ªleft the secular world and immersed himself in the lush greenery of East Asia and eventually outside Earth. He hadn''t been sighted since, remaining just as much a myth as the Wolf Deity.

    ¡ª Returning to the Present ¡ª

    It had been a few hours past the dueling date announced by the Wolf Deity, and his opponent was a no-show. He was left out in the middle of a wide valley somewhere in Asia. The smoldering sun''s rays did very little to make the dark shadows covering his face disappear.

    As for his large audience of hundreds of thousands, they were all sweating buckets¡ªbut not because of the heat¡ªinstead because of the daunting scythe of death that loomed over them all.

    They wanted to experience some enjoyment by witnessing a Legend fight in person¡ªas somewhat of a stress reliever from the imminent, potentially apocalyptic Gate Break. But not once had they expected someone to be courageous enough to blatantly disregard the challenge of the Wolf Deity. A blatant disregard that caused a scary aura to emanate from Igor and suffocate them.

    If this ''Silver Bullet Devil'' didn''t show up in the next few minutes, they might just perish because of the Wolf Deity''s oppressive aura¡­

    At this point in time, a grouping of trees located near one of the wide valley''s entrances began to rattle all over the place.

    "Is that the Silver Bullet Devil!? It must be!"

    "I''m sure of it! That''s her!! I bet she''s extremely scary and menacing in person!!"

    "I wager she''s especially hideous as well! An absolute pain to look at for too long!"

 Chapter 249 Igor Volkovs Domineering Stand

    Igor Volkov''s darkened expression shifted slightly toward the rattling trees. As he saw more and more of the trees bend and press to either side with something seemingly rushing through, his killing intent flared. The spectators standing on the surrounding mountains¡ªeven the six S-Rank Japanese Hunters¡ªfelt their knees buckle beneath them.

    Under the weight of the Wolf Deity''s hatred, they felt themselves to be no different than inconsequential ants¡­ meager bugs to be squashed¡­

    ''He''s so powerful¡­ even stronger than Cass,'' Viola Voidweaver thought to herself with a dire expression. ''Will this elusive Silver Bullet Demon be able to contend with someone like him¡­?''

    Her eyes, like everyone else''s, were glued to the trees being toppled in a straight line through the valley. They wished to know just what sort of freakish, humanoid monster had the guts to kill a World-class Hunter and reduce Russia to ruins.

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    Yimin, over this past period of time, had acquired quite a reputation for herself. Even prior to her ''rescue mission'' in Russia, she was still somewhat of an urban legend around the world. But, particularly in Asia, she was regarded as a Land Deity of sorts, as she would often be seen flashing around fields of green with the wildlife. To them, this act of close interaction with nature was akin to embracing her divinity.

    Thus, a ton of villagers and commoners from multiple Asian regions had gathered for this duel to witness their Land Deity in person. Their pious belief in her was great enough to make them drop to their knees and start bowing as soon as the string of toppling trees approached.

    All were anticipating the almighty World-class Hunter Slayer! Every single one of them was prepared to witness the appearance of a mind-bogglingly terrifying existence¡ª

    "Stop running, white and black floofer!! I don''t want to eat you!! Probably¡­"

    From the falling trees emerged a panda bear fleeing for its life. Right on its tail was a silverish-haired draconic woman, who, even under the shocked eyes of thousands, kept chasing the panda while on all fours.

    "...." "...." "...."

    Silence.

    Not only the Wolf Deity but every single person in the valley felt their expressions go blank. Their minds followed suit. Truly¡­ truly, they had no idea what was going on right now. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Is¡­ is that supposed to be the Silver Bullet Devil¡­?"

    That question existed in the minds of many as they looked down at the silver-haired woman running around in circles. Staying just a few feet away from her was the scared sh*tless panda. It was trying its best to escape the crazy draconic woman, but nothing it did allowed it to get away!

    It was helpless! A helpless panda in need!

    Igor Volkov¡ªwho was watching from the center of the valley clearing¡ªfelt a vein bulge on his darkened forehead. His eyebrows furrowed deeply as anger seeped out of his deadly aura.

    No longer able to take this farce anymore, the Wolf Deity shouted, "ENOUGH!"

    His booming voice traveled throughout the valley, eventually reaching the ears of Yimin and the panda. The panda¡ªalready terrified because of the crazy lady¡ªbecame even more scared. Under the stress of it all, its eyes rolled into the back of its head, and it fainted.

    Yimin stopped in her tracks. She curiously inspected the panda. But when she realized it was knocked out cold, her anger surged. Slowly, she cocked her head back and sent a soul-piercing glare toward the Wolf Deity and everyone on the mountains behind him.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The spectators felt their souls shiver. A cold chill crawled down their spines, causing their hairs to stand on end. A number of the spectators even unceremoniously fell on their bottoms, with a select few going unconscious as well.

    That was when they heard it¡ªa chilling feminine voice that vastly contrasted with how bubbly it was before. "You dare¡­ you dare take away Yimin''s black and white floofer¡­? Death is what you seek?"

    Her oppressive aura bore down on the solemn figure standing in the center of the valley. Igor''s entire existence trembled beneath the pressure, yet he stood strong, unmoving. Even as his feet dug into the ground against his will, his expression maintained its stoicism.

    "You were the one who destroyed Russia?" Igor asked, his tone bone-chilling enough to further terrify the already terrified spectators.

    Yimin didn''t respond. She did, however, begin to take one heavy step after another in the Wolf Deity''s direction. Cracks spread out along her advance, with each further step producing larger and larger spiderwebbed fissures.

    Igor''s brows tightly knitted together as he gripped his giant wolf-fur-decorated greatsword. He took it from his back and sliced the air in front of him as a show of arms. Just that casual move produced rolling waves of wind that crisscrossed outward, enveloping the entirety of the grassy valley. Everyone had their clothes blown about, with many in awe of the level of might the #2 Hunter possessed.

    "Come, make the first move," said the Wolf Deity, his stance holding as firm as a boulder. "Do not say I did not give you a chance to defend yourself."

    Yimin''s eyes narrowed into slits as her pupils thinned to those akin to a dragon''s. Then, with a ferocity that boundlessly emitted with her every move, she bent low to the ground. Once on all fours, she bent even lower, her bouncing breasts hovering less than an inch off the ground. Her voluptuous butt rose high as her long silvery tail increased in length. It whipped around without restraint, subsequently sending out blasts of wind that knocked over trees and traveled up the sides of mountains to the spectators. Thousands lost their balance and fell, adding to the large number of people who couldn''t even stand properly when faced with the confrontation of two monsters.

    Although Viola and the other Japanese S-Rank Hunters did not have the problem of standing upright, they knew for certain that this somewhat goofy draconic humanoid was the real deal. She was strong. Extremely strong.

    Yet, it was rather difficult to tell if the urban myth was stronger than the World-class Hunter hailed as the world''s second strongest. Only through battle would they be able to tell for certain who was more powerful.

 Chapter 250 Bringing The Fight To The Moon

    "You reek of Rushans," Yimin coldly uttered, her leg muscles pumping, further accentuating her supple hips and calves. "Are you the one who holds Yimin''s Master captive?"

    "Your Master?" Igor''s irises flashed in confusion. However, with a sinister smirk, he said, "Ah, yes, your Master. I''ve been holding him captive for a very long time, inflicting as much suffering as possible on him. Why? Are you going to do something about it¡ª"

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    Yimin flashed from her position and instantly appeared in front of the Wolf Deity. Her outstretched hand clasped onto his mocking face. Then, without holding anything back, she planted the back of his head into the dirt, creating a large, rapidly expanding crater. Yet, that was not the end of it; she followed up by yeeting him into the air. She vanished and reappeared above him within the same instant, where she threw out not just one punch but thousands upon thousands of them. All the punches landed on the Wolf Deity''s robed figure at the exact same time, causing a slow-motion effect of countless punches to render.

    The staggering force produced by Yimin''s consecutive attacks forced the air to warp around where they were in the sky. Then that same force focused wholly on the wolf-maned man. His scarred body was hit in every spot imaginable on his front side, which made temporary dents appear all over him.

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOOOM!!! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    An ear-deafening explosion reverberated as time resumed. The Wolf Deity¡ªwho was still smugly smirking¡ªfelt the full impact of the meteoric punches. He was instantaneously sent crashing down like a fallen star, moving at speeds that left both sound and light lagging behind.

    Yet, rather than create a massive crater that would''ve sunk the entire country they were in, Igor''s impact defied physics. He shot through the ground like a torpedo, creating a straight line deep into the Earth. At a ludicrous speed, he collided with the planet''s center, but his advance didn''t stop there as he pierced through Earth''s core and emerged out the other side. A nanosecond later, he emerged from somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere''s oceans.

    The water around his emergence point imploded in on itself, sinking deep into the ocean that encompassed it. And from that massive water sinkhole, an enormous explosion occurred, achieving levels of destructiveness close to that of an atomic bomb. A good chunk of the ocean was vaporized, with the residual effects of the explosion creating tsunamis of scales that the world had never known before.

    Many countries in South America would sink underwater later that day if no Awakeners collectively worked to stop it. But for now, a scorched figure was still traveling upward, passing above Earth''s atmosphere. He touched upon the boundless void beyond and even entered into its embrace in the next millisecond.

    However, once reaching a point hundreds of thousands of miles away from Earth¡ªnear the Moon¡ªthe Wolf Deity erupted in anger. He corrected himself with a seiyen-like aura burst. His fiery eyes then searched the expanse of space for the source of his hatred, only to find her waiting on the side of the Moon closest to him.

    Without hesitation, he shot toward the Moon and collided with it. A massive, unrestrained crater was created beneath him as he flexed his arms.

    Holding his large greatsword off to the side with a single arm, he shouted, "Interesting! Truly interesting!! You, girl, have piqued my interest!"

    Yimin merely stared at him, her glare deep and narrowed. She sharpened her claws against the vacuum of space before blurring forward.

    However, this time around, Igor was prepared. He no longer underestimated the draconic girl. He took his S+++ Rank greatsword and swung it around in a blurred frenzy. Then he shot forward at several times the speed of light. His greatsword made contact with Yimin''s claws, and following a clash of power, he came out on top. She was pushed back hundreds of miles, her legs sliding in and out of the Moon dust that made up the Moon''s surface.

    Numerous small and large cratered hills were destroyed in her beeline path backward. Yet, the destruction was far from over, for the Wolf Deity''s savage expression appeared right beside Yimin. A large greatsword followed his head and slashed out in her direction. She raised her arms to block, activating the silver scales she hid beneath her skin for extra defense. But with the force put behind Igor''s swing, she was quickly buried into the Moon, a crater appearing where she once stood.

    The Moon tilted a bit off its normal rotation, with shockwaves from the greatsword attack rippling throughout most of the Moon''s surface area.

    World-class Hunters were beings infinitely close to the SS-Rank. As such, they were continent-level threats. The Wolf Deity, in particular, was someone who far exceeded the power of even the World-class Hunter ranked second in the world. His power had already crossed over into the SS-Rank threshold. But because of it being only of the SS- - Rank, he was still barely allowed to maneuver however he so wished on the Trial Floor.

    As in everything, there were exceptions. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

    Yimin, the Tyrant God, also just so happened to be another one of such exceptions¡­

    Deep within the Moon, Yimin came to a slow crawl, her expression unseen through the Moon-rock that smothered her.

    She lay there, still.

    Then, something unexpected occurred. Her heartbeat began to quicken. It became faster and faster¡­ and faster¡­

    Until, eventually, an explosion happened inside Yimin. Her humanoid form rapidly deteriorated and dissolved into an iridescent liquid substance. Yet, it was from this liquid that the shape of something enormous began to replace what she once was.

    The area inside the Moon started to unnaturally heat up, with the gray, rocky interior reaching a molten point. For miles on end, lava formed from the once-solid Moon interior. Then, with a massive eruption from beneath the Wolf Deity''s feet, he saw a one-hundred-mile-long silver figure blow right through the ground.

    There she floated¡ªmajestic and domineering¡ªYimin, the Tyrant God.

 Chapter 1 - 1: My Idle Awakening

    _________________

    [Daily Quest - To Idle, one must stay proactive.]

    GOAL

    [INCOMPLETE] PUSH-UPS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] SIT-UPS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] CURL-UPS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] SQUATS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] RUNNING ¡ª [0/10km]

    REWARD - [1 Point in Charisma, 1 Point in Agility, 1 Point in Strength, and 1 Point in Endurance]

    _________________

    [WARNING! ¨C Failure to complete this quest will result in the permanent loss of something precious to the Host... You shall lose what makes you a man!]

    "No matter how many times I see this stupid Daily Quest, I just can''t understand how this nonsense is supposed to be a ''feature'' of an Idle Evolution System," muttered a young man with plain, unremarkable features. His messy black hair stuck out like a bird''s nest, and his tired eyes were clouded with irritation.

    COCKADOODLEDOOOOO!!!!

    A sudden, ear-piercing screech filled the room. Without thinking, the young man''s hand shot out instinctively, quick and precise.

    BAM!

    The antique alarm clock flew through the air and crashed into the wooden bedside table, shattering it into splinters. Unfazed, the young man let out a lazy yawn, rubbed his eyes, and picked up the battered clock. Without a second thought, he set it back on the last unbroken corner of the table, barely noticing the new dent it had earned.

    He stretched with a long, exaggerated groan before rising from his creaky cotton mattress. Stumbling toward the body-length mirror resting against the wall, he examined his reflection with a practiced, critical gaze. His slightly more defined muscles were just enough to push him from "below average" to the razor''s edge of "meh."

    "Still, this is leagues better than how I looked before acquiring that blasted Idle Evolution System in that... ''incident.''"

    His expression twisted as memories of that fateful encounter flooded his mind. It was a day marked by both destiny and utter absurdity. The afternoon that closed out his junior year of high school¡ªhis final year in that accursed institution of misery. His school life? An unmitigated disaster... but that was a story for another time.

    To understand how Cassius came into possession of the so-called ''Idle Evolution System,'' one must trace his steps back to ten days prior...

    He had been minding his own business, basking in the grandeur of the school''s main building¡ªadmiring its intricate architecture in a manner most sincere. His appreciation extended to observing the bustling schoolyard scenery... strictly for ''cultural enrichment'' of course.

    Then, fate struck.

    BOOM!

    A colossal white truck burst through the brick wall like a vengeful deity enacting heavenly retribution, catching him utterly off guard in his "appreciative study."

    His intentions were pure! He was merely indulging in a final, heartfelt farewell to the vibrant energy radiating from his schoolmates before summer break. Yet, Truck-kun couldn''t seem to find a f*ck to give, plowing through the courtyard with the cold indifference of destiny itself. His world flipped upside down¡ªand not metaphorically.

    He was out cold before he even realized what hit him.

    However, when Cassius awoke, he was not in some mystical, otherworldly realm. He remained firmly grounded in the quiet countryside of Japan, in his small hometown of Hoshito.

    His first thought was a presumptuous one, yet also a reasonable one. "Did I time-travel back to fix my wretched past? It has to be! This is my Protagonist prologue, isn''t it!?"

    Hope stirred... only to be snuffed out like a lone candle in a storm. His reflection in the mirror shattered all illusions¡ªhis body was the same flabby disaster as before, cursed with an extreme case of hypothyroidism that rendered every attempt at exercise or dieting utterly futile. Moreover, he also had the same bad case of Dilapidating Body Deterioration Syndrome, which made him as weak as chicken and as frail as glass.

    Yet... something was different this time.

    Cassius had neither been sent to another world nor transported back in time. His fate was neither glorious nor fantastical¡ªbut change had come nonetheless.

    "Is that... a fu*king flying person?"

    Disbelief warred with reality as he spotted a figure soaring majestically through the sky, defying all logic and reason.

    In his previous reality, people were wholly ordinary¡ªmundane, powerless beings. But in this timeline, at the exact same point in time, humanity had evolved.

    They were called ''Hunters''¡ªindividuals bestowed with supernatural abilities and charged with defending the world from monstrous invaders spilling forth from nightmarish ''Gates'' that had first appeared a century ago.

    Their profession was less about heroism and more about fortune and glory. The strong thrived while the weak perished. Billions aspired to become Hunters, but few succeeded.

    Cassius, desperate for answers, questioned everyone he could. His father, perpetually absent on business; his stepmother, whose gaze could cut steel; and finally, his stepsister¡ªa snide, spoiled girl who delighted in mocking his appearance and shared his misery with her ''friends''. Though, anyone with half their sight intact could tell that she was faking it, playing the classic ''hate with the haters so you don''t get hated'' act. He found it difficult to blame her for this.

    His stepmother, strangely, seemed to hesitate as if wishing to say something kinder¡ªbut the moment always passed, leaving only cold indifference in its wake.

    Each passing moment filled Cassius with more fragmented memories of this bizarre timeline. He soon realized that, just like before, nearly everyone around him despised his very existence.

    But perhaps... if he awakened as a Hunter, everything could change.

    Unfortunately, reality was ever cruel.

    His stepsister informed him that he was long past the age of awakening, wearing a disgusted expression while saying this.

    In this world of power, Cassius was...

    Trash.

    Despair crashed down like an avalanche, smothering all hope. Perhaps fate had toyed with him long enough¡ªit was time to embrace the sweet release of oblivion. Maybe Truck-kun was still out there, ready for round two.

    Determined to end this joke of a second life, he climbed onto the windowsill of his cramped bedroom and moved his fat rolls forward, ready to greet destiny with open arms¡­

    Then, ''it'' appeared.

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]

    [Title: Calorie Chaser (F)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 100] [MP: 100]

    [FATIGUE: 0] [AP: 0]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 3] (Little kids are stronger)

    [AGILITY: 2] (Even Grandma''s can outrun you)

    [ENDURANCE: 2] (You would collapse within 3 seconds of warming a lady''s bed)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 4] (Your only redeeming quality. Still below average)

    [PERCEPTION: 2] (At this point, someone could aim a gun straight at you and give you ten seconds to dodge, but you would still get hit)

    [CHARISMA: 1] (This is just¡­ sad. You''re so ugly that goblins have better aesthetics.)

    _______________________________

    Cassius: "...."

    It was at that moment that he learned that this ''Idle Evolution System'' was a complete¡­ asshole! It even gave him a useless Title that was only there to remind him of how much fat was present in his body!

    And then, out of nowhere, it hit him with a system notification, but added:

    *Ding~!*

    [Since the Host lacks character development, it is time to build character!]

    [For the next 2 months, the Host is required to complete the ''Daily Quest,'' and for every day missed, the punishment for failure increases.]

    [Punishment for first failure: Pain]

    Cassius shrugged. "Pain? How bad could it be? Worse than running with this cursed body?"

    It was worse. Far, far worse.

    After bemoaning his wretched fate as a perpetual, rotund mortal cursed by the heavens, Cassius surrendered himself to the sweet embrace of procrastination. An entire twenty-four hours slipped by in blissful ignorance as he immersed himself in games and manga, utterly disregarding the so-called "Daily Quest."

    But fate is a merciless overseer.

    When the clock struck midnight, retribution descended with the fury of a vengeful celestial tribulation.

    BZZZZZT!

    Agony surged through his body like bolts of divine lightning. Muscles twisted, nerves seared, and his bones felt as though an ancient beast was gnawing them into splinters. He writhed on the cold, unforgiving floor of his bedroom, wailing like a condemned soul cast into the abyss.

    Thankfully, no one was home to witness his humiliating downfall¡ªsmall mercies from an otherwise merciless universe.

    After enduring a full sixty seconds of soul-shattering torment, Cassius gasped for air like a beached fish. His eyes burned with renewed resolve, a fire lit by the primal instinct for survival. He swore an unyielding oath under his ragged breath:

    "Never again... never, ever again!"

    His resolve was cemented when he read the system''s next warning:

    [Next Punishment for Failure: Permanent Loss of Crown Jewels and Holy Excalibur]

    Cassius''s soul trembled. He wasn''t sure what frightened him more¡ªthe cold, mechanical tone of the system... or its disturbingly specific choice of words. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This damn Idle Evolution System... it''s the cruelest bastard I''ve ever encountered¡­"

    Yet, even as he cursed the heavens and his misfortune, Cassius dragged his weary, trembling body off the floor. If divine fate wished to play such a brutal game, he would meet it head-on¡ªeven if it killed him.

    The next morning, the first day of true effort began.

    Push-ups were an impossible task. His arms felt like soggy noodles. Running? After ten agonizing seconds, he collapsed like a felled ox. Each movement was torture, each breath a struggle against the suffocating grip of fatigue.

    But even an ant can move a mountain grain by grain.

    Hour by hour, sweat drenched his clothes, and the ground bore witness to his gritted determination. Despite collapsing countless times, he endured. His body protested with every fiber of its being, but his will remained unyielding.

    Finally¡ªat the brink of collapse, drenched in sweat and gasping for air¡ªhe completed the quest.

    *Ding~!*

    [You Have Completed Daily Quest #2]

    [+1 Agility | +1 Endurance]

    *Thud!*

    Cassius crumpled to the floor like a discarded rag doll, utterly drained. Darkness swiftly claimed him.

    He awoke six hours later, battered but alive, only to face the wrath of his sharp-tongued stepmother. Her scornful words stung less than his aching muscles, but he endured them with stoic resolve.

    There was no room for bitterness; his fate was chained to the system now.

    By the time the next Daily Quest appeared, Cassius was ready. The suffering he endured no longer felt insurmountable¡ªit was simply another battle in the endless war against mediocrity.

    Days turned into weeks. Though progress was slow, it was progress nonetheless. Each completed quest added a faint spark of vitality to his weary frame. His steps became lighter, his breathing steadier, and his will sharper than a honed blade.

    And then, on this fateful morning, after stretching his aching limbs and brushing his teeth with grim determination, the system bestowed a new revelation upon him¡ªone that hinted at the true depths of its potential.

    BLING!

    {[Idle Evolution System Idling Benefits]}

    [Benefit 1: For every day that you train your body to the absolute limit of what you can endure, you will receive 3 AP (Available Points), which can be freely used to increase any of your stats.]

    [Benefit 2: LOCKED]

    [Benefit 3: ????]

    [Benefit 4: Have you not caught the hint yet? No more benefits!]

    [Benefit 5: N.O. means NO! Build some more character instead!!]

    BING! BING!

    {[Urgent Side Quest]}

    ¡ª [Drop down and give me two hundred push-ups!]

    [Reward: 1 Point in Perception]

    [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [If you fail to complete this Side Quest within half an hour, you can kiss goodbye to your penis!]

    Cassius: "...."

    He stared blankly at the screen, his face twitching.

    "Even when it rewards me... it''s still such a colossal bastard."

    But deep within his heart, where resentment and despair once festered, a flicker of something long-forgotten ignited¡ªhope.

    If even the heavens could be defied through sheer willpower... perhaps he could rewrite his fate after all.

    Then again¡­

 Chapter 2 - 2: All Into Agility!

    Cassius hit the floor with a grunt, his toothbrush bouncing once before rolling pitifully across the cold wooden boards. His arms screamed with fiery pain as he struggled to push himself back up, bloodshot eyes glaring at nothing in particular.

    "This system is the absolute worst!" he screamed internally. His thoughts were a boiling mix of outrage and desperation. "What kind of garbage system forces push-ups just to earn a single measly point in Perception?"

    His veins bulged under the strain of each rep, a fiery heat coursing through his limbs as if his body was trying to burn away the humiliation. The Idle Evolution System, as it was mockingly named, gleefully dangled stat increases in front of him like a carrot on a stick, demanding physical suffering in return.

    "I swear to every deity listening," he growled, sweat dripping from his nose onto the floorboards, "one day, I''m going to program some goddamn emotional trauma into you. Just you wait, system. Just. You. Wait."

    The system, of course, offered no response. It didn''t need to. Its smugness radiated in silence, unbothered by his threats.

    Twenty minutes later, after air-humping the floor with the fury of a man betrayed by his own destiny, Cassius collapsed. His chest heaved as he gulped in air, and sweat slicked his body like he''d just crawled out of a river. His limbs twitched, a reminder that even lying still was now painful.

    *Ding!*

    The system''s notification chimed brightly, at odds with the utter misery in his chest.

    [Side Quest Completed: +1 Perception Point Earned. Congratulations! Your suffering has paid off!]

    Cassius glared at the words floating before him. If murderous intent could be digitized, the system would''ve disintegrated on the spot. Still, a part of him knew better than to fully despise the gain. As the Perception point sunk into his stats, the world around him shifted subtly but unmistakably.

    The morning birds outside sounded sharper, every chirp perfectly distinct from the next. The hum of distant car engines became a symphony of mechanical chaos. Even the air carried a strange clarity¡ªa sharper sense of the space around him.

    And then, there was a sound far more... distinct.

    Cassius froze, his enhanced senses locking onto the faintest trail of what could only be described as a sultry, feminine moan.

    He squinted at the wall. "Moaning? This early in the morning?" His curiosity surged, mingled with suspicion. It wasn''t every day you encountered such brazen noises before breakfast.

    Driven by both concern and an unhealthy dose of morbid curiosity, he stood. His legs wobbled but held firm as he followed the sound down the hall, eventually stopping in front of a familiar door. Aya''s door.

    Her door was cracked open just enough to offer a glimpse inside.

    Cassius stopped. This was a line. No matter how ridiculous the situation might be, he wasn''t the kind of guy to peep. He''d never live it down. Besides, Aya was his stepsister, and the mere thought made his stomach churn with awkwardness.

    But then, another moan slipped out, this one laced with unmistakable pleasure. His feet hesitated. His mind raced. What if she was hurt? In distress? Surely, it was his duty to make sure everything was okay. Right?

    Peeking wasn''t perverse, he reasoned¡ªit was responsible. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Taking a deep breath, he leaned forward, his eye aligning with the gap in the door.

    What he saw struck him like lightning.

    Aya, his stepsister, lay sprawled across her bed, entirely uninhibited. Her fingers danced between her thighs with shameless intensity, her back arching as her breath hitched in rhythm with each motion. Her skin glistened under the morning light, curves etched with a perfection Cassius had no right to notice.

    "Ahn~! Mhmff~!! OHhHhh~ YES~~!!!"

    She moaned again, louder this time, her body trembling as she reached an undeniable peak. A sound escaped her lips¡ªa cry of bliss¡ªand Cassius bolted back, stumbling into the wall like he''d been shot.

    His brain screamed at him to stop replaying the image, but it was too late. It was burned into his mind, a permanent scar.

    "What the actual hell¡­" he muttered, shaking his head as if to rattle loose the memory. "Why is she doing that with the door open? What kind of perverted¡ª" He stopped himself. This wasn''t helping. None of this was helping.

    Desperate to escape the situation, he turned for the stairs, moving as quietly as possible. But as fate¡ªor the system¡ªwould have it, the back door betrayed him with a creaky groan when he pushed it open.

    "Who''s there?!" Aya''s voice rang out, sharp and full of suspicion.

    "Oh, crap!" Cassius bolted without hesitation.

    The world blurred as he sprinted down the street, feet slapping against the pavement. He pushed himself harder than ever before, adrenaline propelling him far faster than he thought possible. Blocks passed in seconds, and when he finally stopped, his chest heaved with exertion.

    "She couldn''t have seen me," he muttered, trying to steady his breathing. "No way she could''ve known it was me."

    Aya might''ve been a D-Rank Hunter, leagues above most people, but even she couldn''t have identified him from a creak and a glimpse. At least, that''s what he hoped.

    Cassius leaned against a lamppost, his thoughts swirling. As absurd as the morning had been, it was a stark reminder of his place in the world. Out of everyone in his family, he was the only one who hadn''t awakened as a Hunter. Aya was a prodigy, a rising D-Rank. His father and stepmother were both E-Ranks, modest but respectable.

    And then there was Cassius, the unawakened black sheep.

    But maybe, just maybe, the Idle Evolution System could change that.

    "This system is garbage," he said aloud, glaring at the faint interface that hovered in his vision. "But it''s my garbage. And if I can wring power out of it, then so be it."

    The day''s earlier reward flashed again, the promise of +3 AP hovering before him. He grinned despite himself. All the pain, the humiliation, and the ridiculousness of this morning had culminated in one singular truth: He was getting stronger.

    "All into Agility," he declared, hammering the stat increase button with fervor. "Let''s see someone catch me when I''m faster than light!"

    The numbers ticked up, and a warmth spread through his limbs, a testament to his newfound potential. Passersby glanced his way, disturbed by his manic laughter, but he didn''t care.

    Cassius was done being the outlier. He might be starting from the bottom, but he was climbing now, one stat point at a time.

 Chapter 3 - 3: The Gains

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]

    [Title: Calorie Chaser (F)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 100] [MP: 100]

    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 0]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 14] (Semi-Athletic)

    [AGILITY: 16] (Could be the star of a Track and Field team)

    [ENDURANCE: 13] (A woman might feel something with this level of endurance, but with what you''re packing, good luck with that)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 12] (You could pass as a nerd, but not a very smart one)

    [PERCEPTION: 9] (You might be able to hear a whistling arrow before it hits you)

    [CHARISMA: 10] (Average. Just average.)

    _______________________________

    Cassius stared at the numbers, his face a mix of interest and annoyance. The words under each stat still managed to insult him, but at least they weren''t as devastating as before.

    "Better than when it called me a ''Potato Sack on Legs'' that one time," he muttered. Still, his stats showed progress¡ªa fact that filled him with a small, albeit cautious, sense of pride.

    "Strength, agility, endurance¡­" He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I guess all those hours of grinding are finally paying off. If only this garbage system would give me something useful like more of those stats instead of shoving snarky comments in my face all the time."

    He started to feel a little full of himself until a rough-looking young man barreled into him on the sidewalk. Cassius staggered back, barely keeping himself upright.

    "What the hell?" Cassius snapped, glaring at the offender.

    "What are you doing standing in my way, you fool!?" the man shot back, spitting on the ground near Cassius''s shoes before hurrying after a girl in the distance. "Wait up, Isabella! Don''t you realize just how much I love you!?"

    "Go away, you loser!" the girl shouted, not even glancing back. "I told you, I''m not dating an F-Rank Awakened!"

    "Come on, don''t be like that!"

    Cassius rolled his eyes.

    The hierarchy of Awakened and unawakened individuals was brutal. Only ten percent of the population had the privilege of awakening, and those who didn''t might as well have been invisible. Even within the Awakened, rank mattered¡ªhigh-rank Awakened were practically celebrities, while lower ranks were barely better than the unawakened.

    Hoshito, with its middling population, was a perfect breeding ground for this kind of hierarchy. Unless you were wealthy or held an indispensable role in society, unawakened individuals were treated like trash.

    Cassius brushed himself off, sighing as he stood back up. The hot pavement burned against his palms, a harsh reminder of where he stood in the world. "Senior year''s coming up, and I''m still at the bottom of the barrel," he muttered.

    But the weight of years of disdain and dismissal pressed down on him, igniting a flame deep in his chest. "Let''s see how long everyone can keep looking down on me once I surpass them all."

    His hands clenched into fists as he made a silent vow. He didn''t know what his system''s limits were, or what he''d become by the end of this journey, but one thing was certain: He would push himself until the world had no choice but to acknowledge him.

    For the next week, Cassius trained relentlessly. The streets, parks, and even the small gym he managed to join bore witness to his iron determination. Sit-ups, push-ups, sprints¡ªhis body became a machine of ceaseless motion, driving itself to the edge of collapse.

    By the seventh day, his system interface looked like this:

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]

    [Title: Gym Bro (E)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 100] [MP: 100]

    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 12]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 22] (Athletic/Bodybuilder)

    [AGILITY: 25] (Can outrun a fast Moped)

    [ENDURANCE: 21] (You can overcome your SDS (Small Dick Syndrome) with this level of stamina)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 20] (Could become a Tutor)

    [PERCEPTION: 20] (Do your spidey senses tingle yet?)

    [CHARISMA: 20] (Pretty handsome)

    _______________________________

    Sweat dripped off Cassius''s shirtless body as he powered through his final set of sit-ups for the day. Each rep brought him closer to his goal, and his body had begun to show the fruits of his labor. Defined muscles rippled with every movement, and his once-average frame now carried an undeniable aura of strength.

    He let out a deep breath, the motion crisp and controlled. The system might''ve been annoying, but it worked.

    Just as he wiped himself down with a towel, his stepsister Aya barged into the room.

    "Hey, lend me ten bucks¡ª" she began, stopping mid-sentence when her gaze landed on him.

    Her words faltered as she took in the sight before her. Cassius, still catching his breath, looked up from his towel, his chiseled abs glistening faintly in the room''s light. His medium-length jet-black hair clung slightly to his forehead, framing a face that had clearly shed its former mediocrity.

    Aya stared, her mind reeling. Was he always¡­ this hot?

    "Hmm?" Cassius blinked, finally registering her presence.

    Aya jolted, suddenly aware of how obvious her staring had become. "I-I¡­ need ten dollars¡­" she stammered, her voice unusually timid.

    Cassius raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

    "I, uh¡­ my friends and I¡­ We''re going out." She averted her gaze, the slightest hint of pink coloring her cheeks.

    Cassius considered her request for a moment before shaking his head. "No."

    "No?" Aya repeated, taken aback by his bluntness.

    "You heard me," he said, tossing his towel aside. "I''m not giving you my money."

    Aya fidgeted, her earlier confidence eroding under his straightforward refusal. "I¡­ understand¡­" she murmured, turning to leave.

    But just as she reached the door, Cassius appeared behind her, moving so quietly and swiftly she didn''t even hear him.

    "Here," he said, placing a small wad of cash on her head. "There''s a little over a hundred in there. Use it for something nice¡ªfor yourself. Not for those so-called friends. And Aya¡­ We''re family. If you need something, I''ll do whatever I can to help."

    Aya froze, her fingers curling around the money as she turned to look at him. But by the time she managed to find her voice, he was already gone, descending the stairs with a calm, confident stride. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She stared at the cash in her hands, warmth spreading through her chest. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as guilt swirled in her heart.

    ''Why did I say all those horrible things to him before? Why was I so cruel to someone who never deserved it?''

    Aya clutched the money tightly, her earlier arrogance replaced by a deep, overwhelming sense of regret. "I don''t deserve this¡­" she whispered, tears finally spilling over.

 Chapter 4 - 4: Special Side Quest

    "They say you act like the people you hang around," Cassius thought, tugging his hoodie tighter as he meandered through the bustling streets of Hoshito. His steps were unhurried, blending into the crowd, but his mind was anything but idle.

    "With my Perception and Intelligence stats where they are now, I can see and feel things better than before. It''s like pulling back a curtain on the world," he muttered. But quickly, he thought of something else, causing a sigh to escape his lips. "Aya¡­ she''s just a reflection of what others used to do to her," he mused, the realization settling uncomfortably in his chest.

    For all his lingering bitterness, hating her over something so trivial seemed meaningless now. He clenched his fists. If he wanted to change, if he truly wanted to be better, he had to let go of these petty grudges. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He sighed, looking up at the brilliant sunlight filtering through a smattering of clouds. "Three weeks. In just three weeks, I''ve become an entirely different person. The old me wouldn''t have given Aya anything, not even if she begged on her knees."

    They say people never truly change. But evolution? Evolution demands change. And through change comes transformation.

    His thoughts turned back to the Idle Evolution System, a gift¡ªor curse¡ªthat had turned his life upside down. "It doesn''t really have much to do with evolution, not directly at least. But then again, maybe the system is just the catalyst."

    "Whereas evolution¡­ that''s on me."

    His fingers absently traced the seams of his hoodie as he continued walking, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement. "Still, for a so-called ''Idle System,'' it''s the least idle thing I''ve ever encountered. Every day it hounds me with Daily Quests and Side Quests, making sure I never slack off. It''s like having the world''s most annoying gym coach in my head."

    It wasn''t wrong, though.

    For three straight weeks, he hadn''t had a moment''s rest. Whether it was physical training or rushing to complete ridiculous Side Quests, the system kept him moving. And as much as he hated to admit it, the results spoke for themselves. He was stronger, faster, sharper¡ªall the things he''d dreamed of becoming but never thought possible.

    "It''s still an asshole, though," he muttered under his breath.

    And then, as if summoned by his words, the system responded in kind. A glowing blue screen with a red outline popped into his vision, its smugness almost palpable.

    [©°( ??? )©¼]

    [Special Side Quest]

    ¡ª An 18-year-old girl with long brown hair is about to get hit by a truck. After missing its date with you, the truck must be out for blood.

    ¡ª Save the girl and receive +2 Charisma.

    ¡ª Let the girl die and receive a subtraction of two balls from your total number of balls.

    Cassius blinked. "...But I only have two balls."

    [Then you better save the girl!]

    The silence that followed was deafening. Cassius stared at the screen, a muscle in his jaw twitching.

    "I take back everything I said," he growled. "You really are the worst system in existence."

    Without wasting another second, he bolted toward the sound of screeching brakes. His legs pumped like pistons, his upgraded stats working overtime as he navigated the maze of streets. The terrified screams of bystanders grew louder, and as he rounded a corner, he spotted her¡ªa girl with long brown hair frozen in the middle of a narrow street.

    In her arms, a tiny white Pomeranian trembled, its fluffy body pressed tightly against her chest.

    "She''s frozen," Cassius realized, his mind racing. "She''s not going to move in time."

    He didn''t hesitate. Dumping 5 AP into Agility, he felt the familiar surge of power course through his limbs. His surroundings blurred as he pushed his body to its absolute limit, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.

    "Move!" he shouted, shoving the girl out of harm''s way with every ounce of strength he had.

    Time slowed as he turned his head, locking eyes with the blaring headlights of the truck.

    "Wait¡­ I don''t think I thought this through¡ª"

    The impact hit him like a freight train. His world spun, the sound of screeching tires and horrified gasps fading into a dull roar. Pain blossomed in every inch of his body as he was thrown like a ragdoll, skidding across the hot pavement before coming to an abrupt stop.

    Through the haze of agony, he thought he saw¡­ an angel?

    Her long brown hair framed a face streaked with tears as she knelt beside him, her hands trembling. Something wet and slimy pressed against his cheek.

    ''Why is the angel crying?'' he wondered, his vision dimming. ''And why is she licking me? Is she not an angel but instead a succubus¡­? Well, whatever the case, I think I''m about to die¡­''

    A wry smile tugged at his lips as consciousness slipped away. ''What a joke¡­ After all that talk about wanting to be the strongest¡­''

    ¡ª-------------

    "Mhmm¡­"

    Cassius awoke to the soft rustle of curtains and the faint scent of antiseptic. His body felt like it had been run over¡ªwell, it had¡ªbut the pain was manageable.

    Blinking slowly, his gaze landed on the figure sitting by the hospital window.

    The girl.

    The sunlight streaming through the window framed her like a painting, highlighting her delicate features. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her hands rested loosely in her lap. But what caught Cassius''s attention most was the exhaustion etched into her face¡ªthe dark bags under her eyes, the slight slump in her posture.

    "She''s been here this whole time?" he muttered under his breath.

    He considered calling out to her, but the sight of her sleeping so peacefully gave him pause. Instead, he let his head fall back against the pillow, a small smile playing on his lips.

    "I wonder if I lost my balls," he mused, closing his eyes without bothering to check between his legs.

    ''Maybe later¡­ I''ll check later¡­''

    The daunting thought genuinely haunted him. Because what if he truly didn''t have his balls anymore? What then??

    Scary¡­

 Chapter 5 - 5: Somehow In The Hospital...

    Cassius blinked his eyes open, the faint scent of antiseptic and the soft hum of distant machines pulling him from his groggy state. It took a moment for his vision to focus, but when it did, the sight that greeted him made him question whether he was still unconscious.

    Leaning over his bed was the beautiful brown-haired girl he vaguely remembered saving. Her silky locks spilled over his blanket like a cascading waterfall, her large eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Yet there was something strange in her gaze¡ªa hazy fog, almost as if she were moving on autopilot.

    Cassius felt his eyelids twitch. The girl''s face was steadily drawing closer, her lips barely trembling as if¡­ no, surely not.

    "Is she about to¡ª?" His thoughts froze as the realization hit him.

    She was leaning in for a kiss!

    Cassius didn''t know what to do. Panic coursed through him, but his body refused to respond, caught in a strange limbo between disbelief and awkward acceptance. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. Should he stop her? Let it happen? Pretend it didn''t afterward?

    But before he could arrive at any decision, the girl hesitated, her lips mere inches away from his.

    Cassius: "???"

    The girl''s cheeks burned a deep crimson as she blinked rapidly, finally regaining her composure. "...Hey¡­ are you awake right now¡­?" she asked, her voice soft and trembling, her blush threatening to consume her face.

    Cassius opened his eyes fully, fixing her with a bemused look. "...Yes, I am¡­"

    Her reaction was immediate. She practically leaped back, pressing herself against the wall beside the window as if trying to merge with it. Her dainty hands fidgeted nervously in front of her, her gaze darting anywhere but toward him. "I-I see¡­" she stammered, visibly mortified. "Y-You''re not going to ask what I was doing¡­?"

    "No, I don''t think so," Cassius replied evenly, his expression unreadable.

    "I¡­ see¡­ T-Thanks¡­"

    "No problem."

    The room fell into an awkward silence, broken only by the faint sounds of summer outside. The humid heat clung to their skin, amplifying the discomfort of the moment. The girl squirmed under the weight of her own embarrassment, her thoughts spiraling uncontrollably.

    ''W-What was I thinking?!'' she screamed internally. ''Why did I almost¡­? I must be losing my mind! He just looked so peaceful and handsome lying there, and I¡ª'' She buried her face in her hands, her cheeks so red they almost glowed.

    Noticing the oppressive quiet, Cassius decided to cut through the tension. "So¡­ how long have I been out?" He glanced down at the bandages wrapped snugly around his torso. The dull ache in his body hinted at the extent of his injuries, but he had no sense of how much time had passed.

    The girl hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper as she answered, "I-It''s been around¡­ thirty hours¡­" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius blinked. "Thirty hours? That means I missed the Daily Quest cut-off¡­" His voice trailed off as he lifted his blanket slightly, checking his pelvis. To his relief, everything was still in place.

    "Y-You¡­" The girl''s voice faltered as her wide eyes flickered toward him. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red as she hastily covered her own with her hands. "I-I didn''t know they were supposed to be that¡­ big¡­"

    Cassius froze, question marks practically floating above his head as realization struck him. "Oh. That''s¡­ uh¡­ sorry about that." He offered a slight bow of his head, wincing as pain shot through his torso.

    "D-Don''t move!" the girl scolded, rushing to his bedside. Her hands glowed with a soothing green energy as she pressed them over his injury. The warmth seeped into his body, dulling the pain and leaving him with a strange sense of calm.

    Cassius watched in fascination, his curiosity outweighing his discomfort. "This is¡­ magic?" he murmured, his eyes alight with interest.

    The girl flinched under his gaze, retreating to her chair by the windowsill. "P-Please don''t come so close¡­" she whispered, her voice trembling. ''H-He smells good¡­ How can someone smell this nice after being hit by a truck?!''

    "Sorry," Cassius said, leaning back into his pillow. "It''s just¡­ I''ve never seen magic up close. It''s a lot prettier than I expected."

    Her blush deepened, and she began twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. "I-It''s fine¡­ And about earlier¡­"

    "I already forgot what happened," Cassius interrupted with a warm smile.

    The girl''s heart fluttered, a strange warmth spreading through her chest. "...Thanks¡­" she whispered shyly.

    Cassius decided to steer the conversation away from the increasingly awkward air. "How long have you been here?"

    Her response was hesitant, almost reluctant. "...Since you got here¡­"

    Cassius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You really shouldn''t have done that. We''ve only just met; there was no need for you to put your health at risk like that¡ª" He stopped when he noticed her biting her lip apologetically. He sighed again, softer this time. "I''m not mad. Just¡­ take better care of yourself, okay?"

    "Mhmm¡­" she mumbled, nodding slightly. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, and a faint smile tugged at her lips.

    Cassius leaned back, studying her for a moment. ''She seems like a good person,'' he thought, noting her shy demeanor. ''But she''s clearly a pushover¡­ I can see people taking advantage of that.''

    His gaze drifted toward the window, taking in the view of Hoshito from the top floor of the hospital. The city stretched out before him, bustling and alive, but his thoughts turned inward. He wondered briefly if his family had come to visit him.

    ''Probably not,'' he thought with a wry smile. ''They wouldn''t even notice if I dropped over dead one day.''

    A faint glow caught his attention, and from the corner of his eye, an all-too-familiar blue pop-up appeared.

 Chapter 6 - 6: Gym Bro for Life

    *Ding!*

    [You received 2 Points in Charisma for completing the Quest: "Save the Pretty Girl from Truck-kun''s Vengeance."]

    [You received 1 Point in Strength and Agility for completing Daily Quest #23!]

    ¡ª [No punishment was applied due to extenuating circumstances. But to make up for the lack of character development while you were snoozing, you will need to do four times the exercises today. Double Stat Points will be allotted! ^~^]

    For a moment, Cassius stared blankly at the glowing screen, his mind torn between disbelief and resignation. "I almost thought you had a change of heart, system," he muttered dryly, "but nope¡ªyou''re still the same petty douchebag."

    He accidentally said the last part aloud, which caused the girl by the windowsill to flinch. "A douche¡­?" she echoed, her voice soft and uncertain. Her head tilted to the side, a finger resting on her chin as her large brown eyes searched his face for answers. "A-Am I the douche¡­?"

    The way her expression morphed into one of sad confusion made Cassius feel like he''d just kicked a puppy. Her wide, teary eyes made his heart lurch in a way he wasn''t quite used to. He sighed. "No, you''re not the douche. You''re very nice. And cute," he added before he could think better of it.

    "C-Cute?" she stammered, the word tumbling out like she couldn''t believe it had been said aloud. Her cheeks flushed so deeply it looked like steam might erupt from her ears. She repeated the word under her breath, her voice growing softer each time.

    Cassius shook his head with a bemused smile. ''This girl is definitely odd,'' he thought, but there was something undeniably endearing about her bashful antics.

    Pulling his focus away from her flustered reaction, he brought up his system interface. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BLING!

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 1]

    [Title: Gym Bro (E)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 65/100] [MP: 100]

    [FATIGUE: 34]. [AP: 10]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 23] (Athletic/Bodybuilder+)

    [AGILITY: 31] (About as fast as a sh*tty Camry Car)

    [ENDURANCE: 21] (You can overcome your SDS (Small Dick Syndrome) with this level of stamina)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 20] (Could become a Tutor)

    [PERCEPTION: 20] (Do your spidey senses tingle yet?)

    [CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)

    _______________________________

    ''Looks like I got 3 AP from something,'' Cassius thought, squinting at the screen. ''Probably the first Idle Benefit?''

    As if in response, another notification appeared.

    *Ding!*

    [Due to extenuating circumstances, the system decided to give you a single pass. Don''t let it happen again; you need all the character development you can get!]

    Cassius''s smile twitched as he read the screen, his expression morphing into something between amusement and exasperation. The sight confused the bunny-like girl still seated by the window. Before she could think too much about it, however, he turned his attention back to her.

    "Your name?"

    "S-Sorry, my what¡­?"

    "Your name. You have one, don''t you?"

    The girl blinked rapidly, her mind spinning. "Y-Yes, of course! My name is¡­" She paused, her gaze drifting to his face and then his exposed abs. Her mind blanked entirely. "It''s¡­ Wait¡­ what is it again¡­?"

    She visibly flinched at her own forgetfulness, then brightened with a sudden epiphany. "It''s Grace! Yes, that''s it!" she exclaimed, looking ridiculously proud of herself for recalling her own name.

    Watching her beam so earnestly made Cassius chuckle despite himself. "You really are a cute one, aren''t you?"

    Grace froze, her face turning scarlet as her hands fidgeted with her hair. "Y-You don''t have to laugh¡­" she murmured, her voice so soft it was barely audible. "I know I''m weird¡­"

    "I said cute, not weird," Cassius corrected matter-of-factly, his tone so casual it only flustered her further.

    Grace''s thoughts spiraled. She''d always been uneasy around men, their gazes often filled with either pity or something far less innocent. But Cassius¡­ he was different. He didn''t look at her like she was fragile or something to conquer.

    Talking to him felt¡­ nice.

    ''What''s wrong with me?'' she wondered, her fingers gripping the hem of her shirt.

    Cassius, noticing her staring with his heightened Perception, turned to meet her gaze, only for her to whip her head away in embarrassment. The corner of his mouth quirked upward in amusement, but the motion sent a sharp pain lancing through his ribs.

    Grace immediately noticed his wince and shot to her feet. "You can''t laugh! Stop laughing!" she scolded, her attempt at sounding stern failing miserably.

    Her puffed-up cheeks only made Cassius laugh harder, though it was more subdued this time, a quiet chuckle that left him wincing again. Grace''s worry overtook her embarrassment as she stepped closer, her hands glowing faintly green as she prepared to cast her healing spell again.

    "You mustn''t move so much," she chastised gently. "Your injuries are still severe¡­"

    The warm energy from her spell seeped into Cassius''s body, soothing the ache in his muscles. "You''re really good at that," he said, watching her work. "It''s¡­ beautiful, honestly."

    Grace froze, her gaze darting up to meet his. The sincerity in his voice sent her heart racing, and she quickly looked away, her face practically glowing. "I-It''s just a spell¡­ nothing special¡­"

    Cassius smiled softly. "Anyway, you should head home. Your parents must be worried sick."

    Grace hesitated, her hands clenching at her sides. "I-I will¡­ but could I¡­ maybe get your phone number?"

    Cassius raised an eyebrow.

    She immediately panicked. "I-It''s not like that! I just¡­ I wanted to thank you properly another time! A-And Snow hasn''t seen you since you were brought here¡­"

    Cassius chuckled, reaching out to gently pat her head. "Sure, why not?" He handed her his phone, already unlocked. "Add your number."

    Grace hesitated before taking it, savoring the warm touch of his hand on her head. As she typed in her number, she found herself disappointed when he pulled his hand away. A small pout formed on her lips, but she quickly masked it as she handed the phone back.

    "Thank you," she whispered, her heart fluttering again.

    Cassius simply nodded, leaning back with a smile. "Don''t mention it. In all actuality, it should be my utmost privilege to receive the number of a girl as pretty as you. Don''t you reckon?"

 Chapter 7 - 7: Main Quest #1

    "Well, anyway, see you later, Grace," Cassius said, waving warmly as the girl lingered at the door, clearly struggling to leave. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, and her gaze darted between Cassius and the hallway. She didn''t want to go, that much was obvious, but the guilt in her eyes told him she thought he needed more rest.

    "You promise to contact me later¡­?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely louder than a whisper. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I promise," he replied with a reassuring smile.

    That seemed to satisfy her, and she nodded, her entire face lighting up as she skipped out of the room in an unnaturally good mood. A few nurses and doctors in the hallway exchanged curious glances, wondering what had happened to the normally reserved girl. But before anyone could ask, she was already gone, leaving behind only a lingering sense of her newfound energy.

    Back in the room, Cassius sighed, his smile fading as he turned his attention to a flashing red system screen that demanded his full focus. The light from the display illuminated his sharp features, casting long shadows on the walls as he stared out the window.

    "It seems like this is where my journey as a Hunter truly begins," he muttered under his breath.

    BLING!

    {[Main Quest #1]} - (E-Rank)

    ¡ª[The world is infested with magical Gates that connect to other dimensions, and as one who aspires to attain maximum character development, it is your duty to conquer them all.]

    ¡ª[Skipping past F-Rank Gates, you are to solo-conquer the E-Rank Gate ''Savage Jungle'' appearing in front of Hoshito General Hospital at midnight, in 12 hours and 45 minutes.]

    ¡ª[Reward for Quest Completion: +3 Points in all Stats.]

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [If you fail to complete this Quest within 8 hours of the Gate''s opening, you will not only lose your reproductive organs, but everyone in the Hospital will die. All active Hunters will be occupied with other Gates and will thus be unable to intervene.]

    [P.S. Trying to warn the Hunters now will make you seem like a lunatic claiming knowledge of Sudden Gates. This will also be seen as defiance of character development. A.K.A., you will lose your balls. ^~^]

    Cassius stared at the screen, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "This system really has it out for my testicles," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "But if this is the way to make me stronger, then I''ll do it. Albeit it reluctantly¡­"

    [Good choice, Host!]

    [Hint: Locate a weapon, maybe through theft, because you will need it!]

    "You''re not going to give me one?"

    [Nope! ^-^ Good luck!]

    The silence that followed was deafening. Cassius''s face contorted into something between annoyance and resignation as he leaned back against his pillow. "Of course not. Why make things easy when you can make them as difficult as possible?"

    Shaking his head, he turned his attention to his injuries. His Endurance stat had already proven its worth by accelerating his natural regeneration, and he decided to capitalize on that. Allocating 3 AP into Endurance, he immediately felt a warm sensation spread through his body, his Health Regeneration doubling in speed.

    "That should bring me back to full health before the Gate opens," he mused. "I''ll save the other 7 AP for emergencies."

    With his immediate concerns addressed, Cassius allowed himself to relax, his mind wandering as he contemplated his next move. He needed a weapon¡ªsomething practical but accessible. A janitor''s closet seemed like his best bet, but the plan would have to wait until his health fully recovered.

    For now, it was nap time.

    A few hours later, nurses came and went, their footsteps quiet against the tiled floor. Some lingered longer than necessary, stealing glances at Cassius''s sharp features and toned body. A few even brushed against him under the guise of checking his vitals, but he remained blissfully unaware, his focus elsewhere.

    When his Health hit 100%, Cassius stirred, the faint ache in his muscles now fully gone. Stretching briefly, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and rose to his feet, moving with a precision and silence born of his heightened Agility. His steps were nearly soundless as he slipped into the hallway, the dim lighting casting eerie shadows along the walls.

    He made his way toward the Janitorial Ward, his mind focused. A mop, broom, or even a sturdy metal rod would do. Anything was better than facing an E-Rank Gate empty-handed.

    [Long and hard, unlike what you will lose if you stop pursuing further character development. ^??^]

    "Wow, so funny," Cassius muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he reached the door labeled Janitor''s Closet. He tried the handle, but it didn''t budge. Locked.

    He frowned, testing the door with a bit of force, but it held firm. Leaning against the wall, he ran through his options, his mind turning over possible solutions.

    That''s when he heard it¡ªa faint, familiar sound echoing through the hallway. Soft moans, low and rhythmic.

    "...You''ve got to be kidding me," Cassius muttered, d¨¦j¨¤ vu washing over him as he followed the noise to its source.

    Peering into an open janitor''s room, he spotted the source of the commotion. A young nurse and a janitor were fully engaged in an enthusiastic display of affection against a metal shelf. Cassius blinked, his expression unreadable as he took in the scene.

    "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Why not have wild sex in a hospital? That''s something only super responsible people do."

    The situation seemed consensual, so he opted not to intervene. Instead, he slipped into the room, his movements silent as a cat''s. The couple''s, ahem, activity provided ample cover for him to move unnoticed as he approached a bucket filled with cleaning supplies.

    After a brief search, he grabbed two mops and four brooms, their sturdy handles the closest thing to a weapon he could find. Turning back, he retraced his steps, the rhythmic creaks of the shelf masking the faint sound of the door as it clicked shut behind him.

    Back in his room, Cassius laid out his "loot" on the bed. Two mops and four brooms.

    He stared at the collection for a moment before shaking his head. "Not exactly the arsenal of a hero," he muttered, picking up a mop and giving it an experimental swing. The balance was¡­ acceptable. Barely.

    Sighing, he leaned the mop against the wall and sat back on the bed, his mind already shifting to the task ahead. Midnight was fast approaching, and with it, the Gate that would mark the true beginning of his journey.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Acquiring Some Weapons

    "Lackluster is an understatement," Cassius muttered, staring at his improvised arsenal of wooden brooms and mops spread out on the hospital bed. "But I guess I have no choice but to go and kill monsters with these until I find proper equipment."

    He sighed, scratching the back of his head, but then an idea struck him. His expression brightened slightly. "Wait¡­ I can make these better."

    With newfound determination, Cassius picked up the brooms and mops, snapping them over his knee one by one. The sound of splintering wood echoed through the quiet room as he broke the items down into manageable pieces. Normally, such a task would have sent jolts of pain up his leg, but with his newly enhanced stats, it barely registered.

    One broom. Crack.

    Another. Snap.

    Then a mop. Shatter.

    Within minutes, he had reduced 3 brooms and 1 mop into eight sharp wooden halves. "Not bad," he murmured, holding one of the splintered pieces up to the light.

    Next, he stripped the sweeper and mop heads off the remaining items, leaving him with 8 sharp wooden spikes and 2 sturdy staffs. Each spike was about a foot and a half long, jagged, and wickedly pointed, while the staffs were smooth and just shy of his height.

    Looking at his makeshift arsenal, Cassius allowed himself a small smile. "I don''t have a sword, but I think I''ve done pretty well for myself."

    Still, as he stared at the weapons, doubt began to creep into his mind. "Even with this, taking on monsters will be tough," he admitted, gripping one of the staffs tightly. "Especially since I''m not awakened."

    Hunters, even those at the lowest F-Rank, were far stronger than regular humans. Cassius had no illusions about where he stood¡ªhis recent growth might have made him stronger, faster, and tougher than before, but he had no way to measure himself against awakened Hunters or the monsters lurking in Gates.

    [Remaining Time until E-Rank ''Savage Jungle'' Gate Break: 23 minutes 3 seconds]

    The countdown flashed ominously in his peripheral vision. There was no time to second-guess himself.

    With a sigh, Cassius packed his weapons into the worn backpack he''d been carrying since the truck accident. After a final glance at the room, he slipped out the door, moving with the quiet precision granted by his Agility stat. His footsteps were nearly silent as he descended the hospital''s northern staircase, avoiding the main corridors bustling with nurses and doctors.

    The cool night air hit him as he exited through a side door on the first floor. The main doors were automatic and heavily monitored, so sneaking out there would have been a surefire way to get caught and dragged back to bed.

    "The fresh air feels good," he murmured, glancing up at the luminescent moon hanging high in the night sky. Its soft glow bathed the hospital grounds in silver light, a stark contrast to the growing tension in his chest.

    Suddenly, his senses sharpened, a prickling awareness spreading across his skin. He turned his gaze toward the front gates of the hospital, where the air seemed to shimmer with unseen energy.

    "The night is a pretty one," he said quietly, his grip tightening on the two wooden staffs in his hands, "but soon, it will be flowing with blood."

    The cold gleam in his piercing blue eyes reflected the swirling energy gathering above the gates. He felt it as much as he saw it¡ªwaves of pressure that made his heart race and his muscles tense.

    BLING!

    [Staff (Melee)] - [F-Rank]

    |¡ª[Attack: ~3]¡ª|

    [Spike (Melee/Ranged)] - [F-Rank]

    |¡ª[Attack: ~2]¡ª|

    Cassius glanced at the system descriptions for his weapons. The attack values were laughably low, but they were better than nothing. Still, with no special effects attached, he knew he was going in with the bare minimum.

    Then, it happened¡­

    OOOM!

    The Gate''s energy intensified, swirling into a flickering bluish-orange portal that sent gusts of wind spiraling through the area. Pedestrians walking nearby froze in their tracks, their faces draining of color as they realized what was happening.

    "Ahh! It''s a Gate! A Gate has appeared!!"

    "A Sudden Gate?! Why would one of those appear here?! Monsters will escape within the next thirty minutes!" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Quick, call the Hunters!!"

    Panic rippled through the crowd like wildfire. Hospital staff ran out to investigate the commotion, their expressions turning to horror as they took in the flickering portal.

    The terror was justified. Everyone, from children to the elderly, knew the implications of a Sudden Gate. Unlike regular Gates, which contained their monsters for a week, Sudden Gates released them in waves, starting within the first thirty minutes. And the waves only grew stronger with time.

    The system hadn''t been exaggerating when it said everyone in the hospital would be dead by the eight-hour mark.

    Unnoticed by the panicking crowd, a lone figure approached the Gate. Cassius''s blue eyes glinted with determination as he stepped into the flickering portal.

    The sensation of crossing into the Gate was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was as if his body had been pulled through a whirlpool of energy, leaving him slightly disoriented as he emerged on the other side.

    The first thing he noticed was the forest. Vast and verdant, it stretched in every direction, the dense canopy of trees blocking out most of the light. The air was thick with humidity, and unnerving animal calls echoed through the darkness, creating a constant backdrop of noise.

    For a moment, Cassius stood frozen, taking in the alien landscape. "So this is an E-Rank Gate¡­"

    The stunning scenery was a fleeting afterthought as the sounds around him shifted. Low growls, rapid rustling, and the unmistakable sound of footsteps¡ªno, paws¡ªcrunching against the underbrush.

    "They know I''m here," Cassius realized, his body tensing.

    The glowing red eyes appeared next. Dozens of them, flickering in the darkness like embers. Blood-curdling screeches followed, each one vibrating with an unnatural intensity.

    [Effect Triggered: Fear]

    Cassius''s heart skipped a beat as the notification flashed. The screeches were laced with a Fear Effect, a psychological assault designed to paralyze prey.

    "Shit!" he hissed, gripping his staffs tightly.

    The bushes exploded in movement as the glowing eyes darted closer.

 Chapter 9 - 9: First Kill, Lvl 3

    "Shit!" Cassius growled as his limbs felt sluggish, his body refusing to respond the way he needed. The oppressive Fear Effect from the Savage Monkeys'' screeches was taking its toll, weighing him down like lead.

    "I can''t falter here," he muttered through clenched teeth, his gaze darting around the forest for anything he could use to turn the tide. But what was there to find in a forest? Trees? More trees? Moss? He cursed under his breath.

    What the hell am I supposed to do with moss? Knit them a sweater?!

    Whatever was chasing him had the clear advantage. They knew this terrain better than he ever could, and they likely had the strength to back it up. If this was a poker game, his hand was garbage, and they were holding a full house.

    As if on cue, the underbrush rustled violently. Cassius stopped dead in his tracks, his breath hitching. Shadows darted through the trees, and then¡ª

    *Thud, Thud, Thud.*

    Three figures dropped from an overhanging branch, landing directly in front of him.

    "Screech!!!"

    The creatures let loose a blood-curdling cry, their glowing red eyes gleaming in the darkness. Their sharp claws glinted as they slashed at the air, demonstrating their lethality.

    Cassius''s heart pounded as he instinctively stepped back, his mind racing. This was his first time seeing a monster, and every fiber of his being screamed at him to run. Their savagery, their predatory grace¡ªit was overwhelming.

    ''Run,'' a voice in his mind whispered. ''You can''t fight this. Get out before it''s too late!''

    For a moment, he almost gave in. His body tensed, ready to turn and sprint for his life. But then his foot stopped mid-step, and he froze.

    He thought about what running would mean¡ªwhat it would make him. A coward. A failure. The same pathetic loser he had been before the system came into his life.

    The memory of scornful gazes, mocking laughter, and cruel whispers hit him like a slap in the face. The person he had been, the person everyone had dismissed and ridiculed, clawed at the back of his mind.

    "No," he whispered, his voice trembling. Then louder, more resolute: "No!"

    With a shout of defiance, Cassius clenched his teeth and swung his bag into his hands.

    "Damn it!" he roared, spinning just in time to dodge a swipe from one of the creatures. Its claws whistled past his face, close enough for him to feel the rush of air.

    Pain exploded across his shoulder as another creature''s claws raked against his flesh. He staggered back, blood dripping down his arm, but he gritted his teeth and stood firm.

    ''If I run now, I''ll never forgive myself,'' he thought.

    [Savage Monkey (F)]

    The illuminated nametags above their heads gleamed yellow against the darkness. Cassius barely had time to take in the detail, but the color alone was enough to send a chill down his spine. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding!*

    [The difficulty of monsters is determined by the color of their nametags.]

    [Gray/White ¡ú Yellow/Orange ¡ú Red ¡ú Black]

    [Weak ¡ú Dangerous ¡ú Extremely Dangerous ¡ú Certain Death]

    "Well, isn''t that just peachy," Cassius muttered as he evaded another swipe, the monkey''s claws carving through a nearby tree trunk like butter. "Guess I don''t even rate as dangerous. Must be more like a harmless bunny sort of rating."

    The Savage Monkeys moved with terrifying agility, their claws gleaming as they closed in. Cassius swung one of his wooden staffs at the nearest monkey, but the blow barely slowed it down. Worse, when another monkey slashed at the staff, it shattered into splinters.

    "So much for my ''great'' weapons," he grumbled, ducking just in time to avoid decapitation.

    The monkeys lunged again, their screeches reverberating in his ears. Cassius bent backward like a limbo champion, narrowly dodging their claws. In the momentary gap, he reached out and grabbed the tails of two monkeys mid-flight.

    One tail slipped free, but the other monkey wasn''t so lucky.

    "Gotcha!"

    With a primal shout, Cassius swung the creature downward, slamming it against a large rock with bone-crunching force. The Savage Monkey shrieked in pain, but he didn''t stop there. Pinning the creature to the ground with his knee, he drew one of his wooden spikes and drove it down.

    "Esceetch!!!"

    The monkey let out an ear-splitting cry as the spike pierced its chest, blood pooling around the wound.

    The other two monkeys screeched in fury, rushing to save their comrade. Cassius glanced up, his breath catching as he realized they were about to overwhelm him.

    *Ding!*

    [You have 7 unspent AP.]

    Without hesitation, Cassius opened his system interface, his hand trembling as he tapped the up-arrow beside his Agility stat five times. A surge of power coursed through his body, and the speed of his next motion doubled.

    His spike fell with incredible force, driving deeper into the monkey''s chest. Instead of raw strength, Cassius had relied on gravity and speed to amplify the blow. The result was devastating.

    "Esceetch¡­!!!"

    The Savage Monkey''s body convulsed once before going limp. Blood dripped from its open mouth as its eyes glazed over.

    It was dead.

    Cassius stared down at the corpse, his chest heaving. He had just¡­

    He had just killed his first monster.

    *Ding!*

    [You leveled up!]

    [All Stats increased by 1 Point!]

    [You received 2 AP!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [All Stats increased by 1 Point!]

    [You received 2 AP!]

    The notifications flashed before his eyes, but Cassius had no time to savor the victory. The remaining two monkeys were upon him, their claws swiping wildly. He rolled off the corpse, narrowly avoiding a strike that would have torn through his neck.

    "Damn it, give me a second to breathe!" he snapped, his voice filled with both frustration and exhilaration.

    Feeling his newly gained strength settle into his muscles, Cassius turned his icy gaze to the remaining monkeys. They circled him, their glowing red eyes filled with rage, but he noticed something.

    "They''re hesitating," he muttered.

    The death of their comrade had shaken them. Cassius couldn''t afford to waste the opportunity. His grip tightened on his remaining staff, and he felt a grim smile tug at his lips.

    "Alright," he said, raising the staff. "Who''s next?"

 Chapter 10 - 10: Copper Skill Boxes

    *Ding!*

    [Achieved Lvl 2] - [Rewards]

    [Reward 1: 1 Stat Point for each Attribute] - (?)

    [Reward 2: Status Recovery] - (_)

    [Reward 3: Copper Skill Box(s) (Random)] - (_)

    [Reward 4: 2 AP] - (?)

    *Ding!*

    [Achieved Lvl 3] - [Rewards]

    [Reward 1: 1 Stat Point for each Attribute] - (?)

    [Reward 2: Status Recovery] - (_)

    [Reward 3: 2 Copper Skill Box(s) (Random)] - (_)

    [Reward 4: 2 AP] - (?)

    Cassius''s icy blue eyes darted over the rewards screen, quickly piecing together how the system operated. The first and fourth rewards were automatically received, leaving the second and third rewards for manual collection. "Makes sense," he muttered, "but couldn''t this have waited until I wasn''t fighting for my life?"

    He glanced at the two lifeless Savage Monkeys at his feet and the third green EXP bar slowly filling in his system overlay. The system''s timing wasn''t perfect, but it wasn''t a bad deal either.

    ''They seem slower,'' he thought, gripping his remaining wooden spike. The sluggishness of the last Savage Monkey''s movements confirmed his theory. The monsters weren''t weaker¡ªhe had become stronger. Each level up seemed to heighten his speed and reflexes beyond what he had considered possible.

    "If I''ve gotten this strong by just leveling up," Cassius murmured, his voice cold and calculating, "how much stronger will I get if I keep killing?"

    A ruthless gleam flashed through his eyes as his body blurred, moving faster than he ever had before. In an instant, he closed the gap between himself and the third Savage Monkey. Its glowing red eyes widened in alarm as Cassius drove the spike into the back of its neck.

    SPURT!

    The monkey let out a choked cry, its body collapsing before it even had the chance to counterattack. Cassius yanked the spike free, blood dripping from the jagged edge.

    "That makes three," he said, his voice void of emotion. Yet, as the adrenaline ebbed, a twinge of disappointment flickered across his face. No new system notifications greeted him.

    "Figures," he muttered, stepping back to inspect his situation.

    His health bar was fully restored, glowing red at the top of his vision. His green EXP bar, however, was only one-third full. "So it''s an RPG system," Cassius observed. "Health, Stamina, EXP¡­ it''s all there. But leveling up is going to get much harder, much faster."

    He glanced deeper into the shadowy jungle. The sounds of distant growls and rustling foliage made his skin prickle. He wasn''t safe¡ªnot even close.

    "If I want to stop as many waves as possible from reaching the outside world, I''ll have to keep killing," he said quietly. His grip on the bloodied spike tightened. "And if I want to leave my weak self behind, then I have no choice but to¡­ keep killing."

    Still, he paused. The immediate danger had passed, giving him a rare moment to breathe and strategize. "Before I go any further, I should check my rewards and allocate my AP."

    Cassius pulled up the reward screens, his sharp gaze taking in the information. The Status Recovery option caught his attention first¡ªit could fully restore Fatigue, Health, and Mana. "This could be a lifesaver," he muttered. "Better to save it for when I''m in serious trouble."

    The Copper Skill Boxes, on the other hand, intrigued him. He had three of them waiting in his Inventory Space, a pocket dimension the system had unlocked when he reached Level 2.

    "Let''s see what you''ve got," Cassius said, summoning the boxes with a thought.

    PIANG!

    Three cube-shaped copper boxes appeared before him, each glowing faintly with a warm light. A bold question mark was etched into each of their six sides, giving them an almost playful appearance. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius knelt, inspecting them briefly before commanding, "Open."

    The boxes levitated into the air, their copper edges shimmering brightly before bursting apart in a cascade of sparks. From within, three glowing cards emerged, each marked with an F at the top.

    Without hesitation, the cards flew toward him, bypassing his defenses and merging seamlessly with his soul.

    [Acquired F-Rank Active Skill: Slash]

    [Acquired F-Rank Passive Skill: Muscularity]

    [Acquired F-Rank Active Skill: Sprint]

    Cassius felt a surge of energy ripple through him as the skills took root in his mind. He instinctively understood their effects:

    [Slash: A simple skill that increased damage by 20% and improved sword proficiency when executed.]

    [Muscularity: A passive skill that boosted his Strength, Agility, and Endurance by 5%.]

    [Sprint: A burst-speed skill that increased movement speed by 25%, though it came at the cost of Mana.]

    "They''re good," Cassius said, his voice tinged with approval. "But they''re all tied to my current power level. As I grow stronger, their effectiveness will drop off."

    Still, he wasn''t about to complain. At his current level, every advantage counted. "Skills can level up too," he noted, examining the glowing indicators beside each skill in his interface. "The more I use them, the stronger they''ll become. It''s all about momentum¡ªkilling to level up, leveling up to kill more effectively."

    A grim smile tugged at his lips. "I can work with that."

    Cassius''s Health had increased to 350, and his Mana to 250, but he knew they would deplete quickly if he wasn''t careful. He made a mental note to conserve resources as much as possible.

    "Time to allocate my AP," he muttered, pulling up his stat screen. The system had given him 8 unspent AP from leveling up, and he needed to decide how best to use them.

    "Strength, Agility, Endurance¡­" he murmured, weighing his options. "Agility''s been my saving grace so far. I''ll put 4 points there, 2 into Endurance, and save the last 2 for emergencies."

    With his preparations complete, Cassius took a deep breath and glanced at the shadowy jungle ahead. The sounds of distant beast roars filled the air, a grim reminder of the danger lurking within.

    He stepped forward, his bloodied spike in hand. "This is only the beginning," he said quietly, his voice steady. "If I want to survive¡ªand grow stronger¡ªI have to keep moving."

    The canopy above him swallowed the moonlight, plunging him into darkness. But Cassius didn''t falter. With each step, he delved deeper into the E-Rank Sudden Gate: Savage Jungle, knowing full well that the path he was walking led straight into the jaws of danger.

    And yet, for the first time in his life, he felt¡­ alive.

 Chapter 11 - 11: Black Sparrow Guild

    ¡ª In the Headquarters of the C-Rank Guild ''Black Sparrow'' in Downtown Hoshito ¡ª

    "A Sudden Gate!? At Hoshito General Hospital!?"

    "Yes, sir! It was just reported! We have approximately twenty minutes before the first wave breaks out!"

    Two men in black suits, one a superior and the other a subordinate, exchanged frantic words. The superior, seated behind a cluttered desk, ran a hand through his graying hair, visibly agitated.

    "Of all times¡­" he muttered, glaring at the piles of paperwork threatening to topple over. "A Sudden Gate appears when most of our manpower is out dealing with the B-Rank Gates in Kyoto¡­"

    His voice rose sharply. "Get the newbies on the line and anyone else within range! I want them at Hoshito General Hospital NOW! They are to fend off the first few waves. Under no circumstances should they enter the Gate! Hold the line until reinforcements arrive!"

    "Yes, sir!"

    The subordinate bolted from the office, shouting orders as he sprinted through the multi-floored building. Phones began ringing off the hook, and the hum of the Guild HQ turned into a cacophony of voices and hurried footsteps.

    Left alone, the superior slumped into his chair, pressing his fingers against his temples. "This is going to be a migraine," he muttered, glancing at the blinking alert on his desktop monitor. A Sudden Gate was a nightmare on its own, but having it appear in a crowded area with minimal defenses? Catastrophic.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in the Steele Household ¡ª

    Aya Steele paced anxiously in her room, her footsteps echoing faintly against the hardwood floor. Her phone screen glowed in the dim light, displaying the emergency alert about the Sudden Gate at Hoshito General Hospital.

    "That''s where Cassius is¡­" she whispered, biting her lip.

    She crouched, burying her face in her hands. Memories of her stepbrother flashed through her mind¡ªhis rare smiles, the determined gleam in his eyes as he started to change for the better. And then, her thoughts turned to the brown-haired girl who was always at his side in the hospital.

    "Why am I thinking about her right now?" Aya muttered, shaking her head. The frustration bubbling inside her made no sense. Yet it wouldn''t leave her alone.

    "Will he be alright¡­?" she whispered to herself. "They''ll stop the Gate before it can affect him, right?"

    But her worry only grew, and she clenched her fists as a mix of fear and determination swirled within her. Cassius had helped her when she needed it most, standing up for her when no one else would. He had called her family.

    "I can''t just sit here," Aya decided, rising abruptly. "I have to help him. Even if I haven''t been trained as a Hunter yet, I have my stats. I can at least get him out of there!"

    *Thump. Thump. Thump.*

    Aya darted down the stairs, her speed drawing the attention of her parents.

    "Where are you going at this late hour?" Sasha, her mother, called out, narrowing her sharp blue eyes. "Did you not hear the emergency alert?"

    Aya hesitated, slipping on her sneakers. "Yeah, Mom, I got it. But I left something important at school. I''ll be back soon¡ªpromise!"

    Sasha crossed her arms, her skepticism evident. "Aya, don''t lie to me. You''re not going to the hospital, are you? Monsters aren''t something you can handle just because you''re strong for your age. Even if you can take on ten men, monsters are a completely different story."

    Aya''s shoulders stiffened, but she didn''t stop. "I know, Mom! I''ll stay away from the hospital! I''ll be back soon!"

    Before Sasha could press further, Aya bolted out the door. Her father, Adam, who had been sitting quietly in the living room, watched her leave with a contemplative look.

    "Teenagers," Sasha sighed, shaking her head. "They''re impossible to control."

    Adam remained silent, his thoughts distant. After a moment, Sasha turned to him. "You''ve noticed it too, haven''t you? The changes in Cassius?"

    Her voice softened as she spoke, but her expression was sharp. "He''s not the same as before. It''s more than just a growth spurt or mindset shift, Adam. Something''s happened to him."

    Adam hesitated, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "He''s been working hard. That''s all it is. Determination can lead to remarkable changes."

    "Don''t lie to me," Sasha said, her tone firm. "I know what I see. His transformation isn''t natural. Could it be a latent awakening?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Adam''s jaw tightened. He wanted to dismiss her theory outright, but the evidence was undeniable. He had considered the possibility himself¡ªbriefly.

    "Even if it were a latent awakening," Sasha continued, "those are one-in-a-million cases. What are the odds it would happen to him, and now of all times?"

    Adam''s mind raced. ''If Cassius has truly awakened¡­ then our mission might finally bear fruit.''

    The thought sent a shiver down his spine. For two years, their search had yielded nothing. But if Cassius''s changes were tied to an awakening, then the mysterious force they were hunting might soon reveal itself.

    Sasha misinterpreted his silence as agreement. "If he''s awakened, we need to support him. But we can''t let him get involved with these Gates¡ªnot yet."

    Adam nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. ''I need to confirm this. If he''s awakened, we''ll need to move quickly. The clock is ticking.''

    ¡ª Back on the Streets of Hoshito ¡ª

    Aya sprinted through the quiet streets, her D-Rank stats giving her an edge over the average human. Her long hair streamed behind her as she pushed herself to run faster, her heart pounding not from exertion, but from fear.

    ''I''ll just grab him and get out,'' she told herself. ''In and out. No fighting. No risks.''

    But as she neared the hospital, the glowing orange light of the Sudden Gate loomed in the distance, casting eerie shadows across the buildings. The oppressive energy radiating from it made her steps falter.

    "This¡­ is worse than I thought," Aya whispered, gripping her hands into fists.

    She wasn''t sure what she had expected, but the sheer presence of the Gate made her stomach churn. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made even the bravest soul want to turn and run.

    But Aya clenched her jaw, steeling herself. "Cassius is in there. I can''t back down now."

    ¡ª Meanwhile, at the Black Sparrow Guild ¡ª

    The Guild''s emergency response teams scrambled to prepare. Rookie Hunters suited up, their nervous energy palpable.

    "This is going to be a disaster," the Guild Leader muttered, watching the chaos unfold.

    One of his aides approached, his face pale. "Sir, none of the senior members are responding. They''re still tied up in Kyoto."

    The Guild Leader''s knuckles whitened as he gripped the edge of his desk. "Then it''s on us to hold the line."

    "Sir¡­ with all due respect, these rookies¡ª"

    "I know," the Guild Leader interrupted, his voice low. "But we don''t have a choice."

    ¡ª--------------

    *Thud.*

    Back in the Savage Jungle, Cassius took his first step deeper into the Gate, unaware of the storm brewing outside.

    The path ahead was treacherous, but he didn''t falter. ''I''m not the same as I was before,'' he thought. ''And I''ll prove it¡ªto everyone, and to myself.''

 Chapter 12 - 12: The System Being A Prick

    Adam and Sasha Steele reclined on the living room couch, the soft glow of the flatscreen TV casting faint shadows across the walls. The news anchor''s urgent tone recounted the Sudden Gate incident, but neither parent seemed particularly rattled. Sasha sipped her tea with a calm that only years of navigating crises could cultivate, while Adam''s gaze lingered on the door.

    "She''ll be fine," Sasha reassured, noticing her husband''s preoccupied look. "Aya''s tough, and she knows better than to get involved in something beyond her abilities."

    Adam nodded slightly, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He wasn''t worried about Aya. His mind kept circling back to Cassius, to the rapid changes in his ''son'', and to the unease that churned in his gut like a storm brewing on the horizon.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, Aya Steele ¡ª

    Aya moved like a blur through the dark streets of Hoshito, her D+ Rank Agility propelling her faster than most cars. Streetlights flickered past in a haze, and the faces of stunned pedestrians became indistinct blurs in her periphery.

    Her heart pounded as the towering bluish-orange Gate came into view. It loomed over the hospital like an ominous beacon, its crackling edges sparking with uncontained energy. The sheer size of the Gate¡ªroughly the height of a small building¡ªmade her breath catch in her throat. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s bigger than I thought¡­" Aya whispered, her voice trembling.

    Gates varied in size, but their dimensions didn''t necessarily correlate to the strength of the monsters inside. Still, the sight of this one was enough to send a chill down her spine. Her legs faltered for a moment, fear creeping in like an unwelcome shadow.

    "No!" Aya shook her head, forcing herself to stand tall. "I must stay strong!"

    With renewed determination, she surged forward, weaving through the crowds of panicked civilians evacuating the area. Her smaller frame allowed her to squeeze past the masses, though the occasional elbow or frantic shove reminded her of the chaos unfolding around her.

    She pushed through the packed entrance of the hospital, where the interior was a cacophony of noise. Nurses scrambled to wheel patients out, security personnel barked orders, and the cries of frightened visitors filled the air.

    Aya darted to the front desk, her voice raised above the commotion. "Can you tell me where patient Cassius is?!"

    The receptionist, a woman with weary eyes and a trembling voice, glanced up from her computer. "Patient Cassius? Hold on," she said, fingers flying across the keyboard.

    After a moment, she shook her head, her expression apologetic. "He hasn''t been discharged with the others, but¡­ it says here he went missing during the evacuation."

    Aya''s heart sank. "Missing? What does that mean?!"

    The receptionist hesitated before offering a sliver of hope. "His room is 406. You can check there, but hurry. The Sudden Gate''s first wave will begin in less than fifteen minutes. Don''t stay after that!"

    Before Aya could respond, the receptionist grabbed her belongings and joined the tide of people fleeing the hospital.

    Alone in the chaotic hallway, Aya clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. The fear gnawing at her was overwhelming, but so was the resolve burning in her chest. Cassius was family, and family meant everything.

    "I just need to find him and leave," Aya muttered to herself, her voice firm despite the quiver in her hands.

    She took off toward the staircase, her footsteps echoing sharply against the linoleum floor. Racing up flight after flight, she ignored the burning in her legs and the pounding in her chest. The urgency in her heart drowned out everything else.

    When she reached Room 406, she flung the door open, her breath hitching.

    Empty.

    The bed was neatly made, untouched. The sterile room smelled faintly of disinfectant, a cruel reminder of Cassius''s absence. Aya''s heart clenched as she searched the room, her eyes darting to the window.

    She ran over and pulled back the curtains, but there was no sign of a daring escape. No rope made from bedsheets, no broken glass. Just the faint reflection of her pale face staring back at her.

    Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the floor, tears welling in her eyes. "W-Where are you, Cassius¡­?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

    ¡ª Deep Within the Savage Jungle ¡ª

    SHING! SHING!

    Razor-sharp claws sliced through the air, their gleaming edges missing Cassius by inches. Several strands of his jet-black hair floated to the ground, severed by the deadly attack.

    Cassius darted to the left, his breath steady despite the tension crackling in the air. His icy blue eyes remained locked on the massive black panther before him, its sleek body crouched low, ready to pounce.

    [Deadly Panther (E)]

    The name floated above the beast in a menacing orange hue. Its presence radiated danger, the kind that sent a primal chill down Cassius''s spine.

    "If this were twenty minutes ago," Cassius muttered, dodging another swipe, "I''d already be dead."

    But he wasn''t the same person he had been twenty minutes ago. After killing dozens of Savage Monkeys, Cassius had leveled up twice, reaching Level 5. His stats had improved, but the Deadly Panther was still a formidable foe.

    The panther lunged, claws outstretched, its predatory grace unnerving. Cassius rolled to the side, a shallow scrape forming on his arm as he barely evaded the attack. He gritted his teeth against the pain, his mind racing.

    "There''s a pattern¡­" he murmured, his sharp eyes following the panther''s movements.

    The beast''s attacks, while fast and powerful, followed a predictable rhythm. But Cassius''s eyes struggled to keep up, with the panther''s speed pushing his reflexes to their limit.

    ''It''s not my reflexes¡ªit''s my Perception stat¡­!''

    Cassius opened his system interface mid-dodge, his fingers flying to allocate three points into Perception.

    [Perception: +3 ¡ú 18]

    The change was immediate. The panther''s movements slowed¡ªnot in reality, but in his heightened perception. What had been a blur of claws and muscle now became a clear sequence of motions.

    Cassius smirked. "That''s more like it."

    The panther lunged again, its body twisting mid-air, but Cassius sidestepped effortlessly. With a cold glint in his eyes, he drove a jagged nail¡ªharvested from a Savage Monkey¡ªinto the beast''s exposed underbelly.

    Blood sprayed across the jungle floor as the panther let out a guttural roar. Cassius didn''t flinch, his expression calm and detached as he twisted the nail, ensuring the fatal blow.

    The panther convulsed before collapsing, its body lifeless.

    *Ding!*

    [You leveled up!]

    [You obtained 1 Stat Point in all of your Main Attributes!]

    [You obtained 2 AP!]

    The system''s antics cut through the grim silence.

    [P.S. The ''Main Attributes'' do not include the Charisma stat, so if you think you can become the sexiest man alive overnight, think again! You require more Character Development!]

    Cassius rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the reminder."

    He turned to the corpse, grimacing as he began prying out the panther''s claws. Each one was as sharp as a dagger, their edges glinting ominously.

    Just as he was about to stash them in his Inventory, another notification appeared, its glowing letters casting an eerie light in the dark jungle.

 Chapter 13 - 13: Item Crafting Unlocked

    *Ding!*

    [For reaching Lvl 6, you have unlocked the second system feature of the Idle Evolution System, following the Inventory Space feature.]

    [Unlocked ''Item Crafting'']

    ¡ª[Like the caveman in your blood dictates, try smacking things together to craft something superior! Return to Monkee!]

    "..."

    Cassius stared at the system notification, his expression unreadable. He had grown somewhat accustomed to the system''s bizarre tone, yet it still managed to catch him off guard.

    "Caveman¡­ Really?" he muttered, rolling his eyes.

    Still, despite the system''s obnoxious phrasing, the feature itself intrigued him. Item crafting wasn''t something he expected to unlock this early, and the possibilities it presented could prove invaluable.

    Without wasting time, he decided to test it out. Following the system''s instructions, he placed a Deadly Panther Nail against the staff he had been safeguarding.

    BAM!

    The two items collided, and a bright, pearlescent light erupted from the point of impact, enveloping both objects. For a moment, Cassius had to shield his eyes from the blinding glow.

    When it finally faded, he found himself holding a completely new weapon.

    It was a sleek, black spear, its jagged tip gleaming with an otherworldly sharpness. A faint red aura pulsed along its edges, hinting at its lethality.

    [Deadly Spear (Melee)] - [E-Rank]

    | ¡ª [Attack: ~11] ¡ª |

    {[Effect 1: ''Bleed'' - (Depletes 1% Health every second for up to ten seconds. Can be stacked.)]}

    Cassius raised an eyebrow, impressed. "This is better than I expected."

    The spear''s Bleed effect was particularly noteworthy. Against monsters with high HP, it could become a game-changer. Testing its weight in his hands, Cassius felt a newfound confidence surge through him. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let''s see how well you perform," he murmured before venturing deeper into the Savage Forest.

    The Savage Forest ¨C Ten Minutes Later

    Cassius moved with purpose, the Deadly Spear leaving trails of crimson in its wake. F-Rank monsters fell like wheat before a scythe, their blood staining the forest floor. Even the E-Rank monsters¡ªDeadly Panthers and Berserker Apes¡ªoffered little resistance against his newfound weapon and sharpened reflexes.

    Each kill brought a fresh surge of power, and his system interface reflected his progress:

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 7]

    [Title: Gym Bro (E)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 428/450] [MP: 400]

    [FATIGUE: 25]. [AP: 14]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 29] (Can lift 500lbs with minimal effort)

    [AGILITY: 42] (A little quicker than your average car)

    [ENDURANCE: 27] (A single woman can be completely satisfied with this)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 26] (Not bad. You could enter the Top 20 of most High Schools in the Country)

    [PERCEPTION: 29] (Can you see dead people?)

    [CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)

    _______________________________

    Cassius paused briefly, leaning on the spear as he caught his breath. The system interface hovered before him, and he couldn''t help but marvel at the progress he had made.

    "I''m stronger than I''ve ever been," he muttered, a small smile tugging at his lips. But the smile quickly faded as the faint sound of screeches echoed in the distance.

    His grip on the spear tightened. "No time to rest. Only to Grind."

    ¡ª-------------

    The Outside World ¨C The First Wave

    Back at the hospital, chaos erupted as the Gate began to stir. Its crackling edges flared brighter, and faint silhouettes appeared within its depths. The onlookers'' faces turned pale as the first monsters emerged¡ªwillowy shadows that quickly solidified into screeching, bloodthirsty forms.

    "Monsters!! The first wave is here!! Call the Hunters!!"

    A panicked cry cut through the air, followed by the hurried arrival of a group of armored men and women. Their weapons glinted under the unnatural glow of the Gate, but their expressions betrayed their inexperience.

    Among them was Corra, a valiant young woman with long auburn-colored hair and a commanding presence. As a rising star in the C-Rank Black Sparrow Guild and a D-Rank Hunter herself, she had been tasked with leading this team of rookies.

    "Everyone still evacuating needs to move faster!" Corra shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "Get the critical patients out of here now!"

    Despite her authoritative tone, a flicker of unease crossed her face as she glanced at the Gate. This was her first encounter with a Sudden Gate, and the stories she had heard did little to prepare her for the real thing.

    ''Stay calm,'' she told herself, tightening her grip on her silver longsword.

    But her composure wavered as the Gate buzzed violently, and a swarm of Savage Monkeys burst forth, their shrieks laced with a palpable Fear Effect.

    "Esceetch!!!"

    The piercing sound sent shockwaves through the area. Civilians collapsed in terror, while even some of the Hunters stumbled, their faces pale. Corra gritted her teeth, shaking off the effect as best she could.

    "Stand your ground!" she commanded, raising her sword high. "We can''t let a single one through!"

    The Hunters rallied, their nervous cries mingling with the screeches of the monsters. Then, with a unified shout, they charged forward, clashing with the wave of beasts in a chaotic frenzy.

    ¡ª Hoshito General Hospital ¨C Top Floor ¡ª

    Aya sat curled in the corner of Room 406, her knees pulled to her chest. Her body trembled as the sounds of battle reached her ears¡ªscreeches, shouts, the clash of steel against claw.

    "What do I do¡­?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

    Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She had come here to find Cassius, to help him, but now she was paralyzed with fear.

    "I-I''m not ready for this," Aya stammered, burying her face in her hands. "I thought I could do it, but¡­ I''m scared¡­ Cassius¡­"

    Tears streamed down her face as the reality of the situation sank in. She wasn''t a Hunter yet. She wasn''t prepared for the horrors of a Gate.

    But then, amidst the chaos, a memory surfaced¡ªa fleeting image of Cassius standing tall, his quiet determination unwavering.

    "We''re family," he had said. "And family helps each other."

    Aya''s trembling slowed as the words replayed in her mind. She took a shaky breath, wiping her tears.

    "No," she whispered. Her voice grew steadier. "No, I can''t give up."

    Her fear didn''t vanish, but she forced herself to her feet, her fists clenched tightly. "Cassius is out there somewhere¡­ and I''m not leaving without him."

 Chapter 14 - 14: [Savage Fur Devil Den (E+)]

    SHING! SPURT!

    Cassius glided through the verdant chaos of the Savage Jungle Gate, his black spear a blur of precision and lethality. Every strike found its mark, and each E-Rank or F-Rank monster crumbled under his relentless assault. The once-lush environment now bore the grisly aftermath of his efforts¡ªcorpses sprawled across the forest floor, the air thick with the coppery scent of blood.

    *Ding!*

    [You leveled up!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You leveled up!]

    The system notifications came rapid-fire, but Cassius barely spared them a glance. He knew what they meant¡ªpower, progress, survival. Yet he also understood that the real test was still ahead.

    After roughly half an hour of unrelenting combat, Cassius reached Lvl 12. His muscles ached, his fatigue bar ticked higher, but his resolve remained unshaken as he stood before a foreboding cavern entrance.

    It was massive and dark, the mouth of the cave yawning like a predator waiting to consume him whole. Unnatural howls echoed from within, reverberating off the jagged walls. Above the entrance, a name tag floated ominously, glowing faintly in the dim light.

    [Savage Fur Devil Den (E+)]

    Cassius''s brows furrowed. The addition of the plus sign wasn''t lost on him. While an E-Rank dungeon was already a challenge, the added modifier pushed it perilously close to D-Rank territory. This wasn''t just dangerous¡ªit was potentially suicidal.

    Still, Cassius''s grip on his spear tightened. He took a deep breath, the cool, damp air of the jungle filling his lungs.

    "This is it," he muttered to himself, stepping forward. His voice echoed faintly in the cavern, swallowed by the oppressive silence. "If I want to keep evolving, this is the next step."

    Into the Den.

    The tunnel was unnervingly wide and eerily quiet. The usual sounds of skittering rodents or chirping insects were absent, replaced by an oppressive stillness.

    Cassius''s footsteps echoed with unnatural clarity as he ventured deeper. Each step splashed faintly in the puddles dotting the floor, the water reflecting the faint glow of the spear''s jagged tip.

    "This place is home to something terrifying," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Terrifying enough to scare everything else away."

    The deeper he went, the more the tension mounted. His breathing slowed, his grip on the spear tightening as his body prepared for the inevitable.

    Then, without warning, the system chimed, breaking his concentration.

    *Ding~!

    [Seeing as you are so enthusiastic about smashing things together like the monkey you are, what say you experience it yourself?]

    [For Character Development! ^=^]

    "...What?"

    Before Cassius could fully process the system''s cryptic taunt, the wall to his left exploded inward.

    CRASH!

    A massive, shadowy figure barreled through the shattered stone, its speed and size leaving no time to react. The beast rammed into Cassius with bone-crushing force, sending him hurtling backward.

    "!!!"

    BOOM!

    Cassius''s body collided with a boulder, the impact reverberating through the cavern. A wet cough escaped his lips as blood splattered onto the cold, damp ground. He slid down the boulder''s jagged surface, coming to rest in a shallow puddle. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The cold water lapped against his battered face, the ripples distorting his reflection. Through dim, unfocused vision, he could make out the colossal shape of his assailant.

    The beast was monstrous, its size dwarfing even the Deadly Panthers he had faced earlier. It had a grotesque, elongated maw brimming with jagged teeth and three pairs of glowing, basketball-sized eyes that glared at him with predatory intent.

    [Savage Fur Devil (E+)]

    The name tag hovered above the creature, its dark red hue a grim reminder of the danger he was in.

    Cassius''s body screamed in pain, every nerve alight with agony. His mind wavered, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

    ''I thought I''d become strong¡­'' he thought bitterly, his vision blurring. ''But I was wrong. So wrong.''

    The beast took a step closer, its massive frame casting a shadow over Cassius''s prone form. Each step sent tremors through the ground, the sound of its growl vibrating in his chest.

    *Ding!*

    [The First Hint:]

    [Considering that the Host''s Intelligence stat is lacking compared to his other stats, the system has provided you with a hint.]

    [What do you receive from each Level Up?]

    "What¡­ do I receive¡­?" Cassius murmured, his thoughts sluggish. His mind raced to decipher the system''s message, the words swirling in his head like a puzzle.

    Then, clarity struck.

    "Status¡­ Rec...overy," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

    He focused every ounce of his remaining strength on summoning the system interface. The glowing green text of Reward #2 shimmered before his eyes, and with a desperate thought, he activated it.

    SHING!

    A radiant green light enveloped Cassius''s body, its warmth seeping into his battered form. The pain subsided, his wounds knitting together in seconds. The puddle beneath him turned clear, washing away the blood that had pooled around him.

    When the light faded, Cassius rose to his feet. His body was fully restored, his strength renewed.

    "A miracle drug," he muttered, flexing his fingers as he turned to face the Savage Fur Devil. "And I have ten more of these."

    "ROOOOAAAARRRGGHHHH!!!!"

    The beast roared in frustration, its six eyes narrowing at the sight of its unharmed prey.

    Cassius gripped his spear tightly, his icy blue eyes locking onto the monster with renewed determination. Fear still lingered in the back of his mind, but it was drowned out by the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

    The Thrill of Battle.

    "I thought I was going to die," Cassius said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "But now¡­"

    A faint smile crossed his lips.

    "I feel alive. That feeling I felt earlier¡­ It has multiplied."

    The Savage Fur Devil charged, its claws slicing through the air with devastating speed. Cassius dodged to the side, his movements a blur as his enhanced Agility stat came into play.

    He retaliated with a sharp thrust of the Deadly Spear, the weapon''s jagged tip biting into the monster''s thick hide. The Bleed effect activated instantly, crimson lines spreading across the beast''s body as its health began to tick down.

    "ROOAAARGHH!!!"

    The creature roared in pain and fury, swiping at Cassius with wild, frenzied strikes. But he was ready.

    Each dodge, each counterattack was precise, calculated. The Savage Fur Devil was larger and stronger, but Cassius''s newfound confidence and agility made him a force to be reckoned with.

    "You''re strong," Cassius said, his voice calm as he sidestepped another attack. "But I''ve got something you don''t."

    The monster lunged, its massive jaws snapping inches from Cassius''s face. With a sharp twist, he drove the spear deep into its chest, the weapon glowing faintly as the Bleed effect stacked once more.

    "Character development."

    The battle was far from over, but for the first time since this life-or-death battle began, Cassius felt like he had the upper hand.

    More importantly, however, was how he began to better appreciate the Development of Character¡­

    *Ding~!*

    ''No¡­''

 Chapter 15 - 15: Serrated Devil Blade

    [*Crying tears of joy*]

    Cassius''s brows twitched. "I''ll make you cry tears of pain if you keep persisting in being persistently annoying."

    [:< Seems like you need more Character Development]

    "Roooarrrghh!!!"

    The savage beast suddenly charged at Cassius, forcing him to dash out of the way. Luckily, he did so, because in the spot he had just occupied, there was no longer a spot to speak of. The large boulder had been utterly obliterated, with chunks and pieces flying in all directions.

    Cassius felt like the system was controlling things somehow, but he instinctively knew it possessed no such ability. It simply had a keener and more fleshed-out intuition of events, allowing it to almost seem like it could see into the future. He was tempted to ask the system to use this unstated feature to his advantage, but he knew the only thing the system cared about was Character Development¡ªwhich exclusively involved him getting abused in every way possible.

    As the one experiencing this artificial Character Development, it was tough to tell if it was actually working. From a strictly power-driven standpoint, it had undeniably helped him evolve from the weak-willed person he once was. Yet, in moments like these¡ªwhen his life hung by a thread¡ªCassius wondered if he had truly chosen the correct path in life.

    "Well," said Cassius, his breath coming more evenly, "in this life, there is no room for regret. And if I want to keep pushing forward, I will need to suffer more."

    [You have learned well, my padawan ^_^ Go get your ass handed to you! It is good for Character Development! And it may or may not lead you to the true features of the Idle Evolution System.]

    "You really are a professional troll," Cassius lamented as he picked up the upper part of the snapped-in-half Deadly Spear. Using only half of it reduced the Attack Stat, but that was secondary to what he had in mind.

    With the grim presence of the terrifying monster reminding him not to hold back, Cassius clicked the up arrow next to a particular stat until he had no AP points left. All 24 of his AP¡ªgone just like that.

    Cassius''s piercing blue eyes flashed with a sharp electrical current as he stared at the enraged [Savage Fur Devil (E+)] charging him like a bull. Yet, for some reason, the monster''s movements appeared so slow¡ªor, rather, Cassius was simply moving too fast.

    It felt as though he had become one with the speed force as he slowly walked toward the raging monster, which still seemed sluggish in comparison. He sped up and leapt off to the side of its hideous face. As its eyes traced his afterimages, Cassius''s brows knitted together like sharpened swords, his actions emulating his steely expression.

    BZZZzzzzttt!!!

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    In an instant, Cassius unleashed dozens of strikes with his broken Deadly Spear. Not all of them hit their mark, but through sheer quantity alone, every single one of the Fur Devil''s eyes was stabbed at least once. Normally, this wouldn''t be nearly enough to kill a hearty monster like a Savage Fur Devil, but this was no normal situation¡­

    SPURT!

    The blood effect was applied dozens of times in a matter of seconds. When time resumed, Cassius reappeared a few feet behind the Savage Fur Devil. Relaxing his posture, he flicked the blood off his broken spear and watched as nearly a hundred slashes registered against the behemoth.

    It collapsed to the ground, dead.

    "Speed really is the only way to go," Cassius remarked with a razor-sharp gleam in his gaze. He watched as system notifications bombarded his vision.

    Ding!

    [You leveled up!]

    [You obtained 1 Stat Point in all of your Main Attributes!]

    [You received 2 AP!]

    [You cleared the E+ Rank Boss Dungeon Lair, Savage Fur Devil''s Den, subsequently clearing the E+ Rank Sudden Gate ''Savage Jungle.'' Kill all escaped monsters in the last three waves to obtain extra rewards.]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You¡­]

    Combining the experience from killing the Gate Boss and clearing the Gate itself, Cassius leveled up several times and obtained a large number of Stat Points. Additionally, more system notifications revealed unexpected gains.

    *Ding!*

    [Acquired E+ Rank Item ''Fur Devil Tail Spike''] S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Acquired E Rank Item ''Fur Devil Gallbladder'']

    [Acquired E+ Rank Item ''Ominous Eye'']

    "These are some unusual items, but I figure smashing them together will give me something massively more useful than my Deadly Spear." Cassius raised a brow before deciding to proceed.

    BANG! BAM!

    After smashing together a weird squishy organ, a creepy slitted eyeball, and a large jagged tail spike, a bright light flashed. All items were quickly melted and assimilated, forming something vastly superior to their individual parts. Looking at the system tag, Cassius saw:

    [Serrated Devil Blade (Melee/Extend)] - [D- Rank]

    |¡ª[Attack: ~27]¡ª|

    {[Effect 1: ''Bleed'' - (Depletes 1% Health every second for up to ten seconds. Can be stacked.)]}

    {[Effect 2: ''Serrate'' - (Partially negates the defenses of stronger opponents. Up to 30% Enemy Defense reduction.)]}

    "Ho?" Cassius mused, a contented gleam in his gaze. "It seems like this will indeed be on an entirely different level than the Deadly Spear."

    He examined the one-and-a-half-meter jagged, jigsaw-like blade planted firmly in his right hand. It stood imposingly, as if ready to seek out the blood of any who opposed its master. Moreover, there seemed to be a hidden effect related to the ''Extend'' token.

    Wishing to test it, Cassius called, "Extend." He watched in awe as the blade broke into pieces, seemingly connected by a mystical magnetic force. They dangled and swayed in systematic motion, perfectly synchronized.

 Chapter 16 - 16: Corra, Aya in Trouble

    SHING!

    Cassius whipped around the blade, tracing its dance-like movements with his crystal blue eyes. It slashed outward, cutting through the air, and produced a satisfying whistle. A few meters away, a clean cut mark appeared on a boulder, and the upper half of the boulder slid off the next second.

    BANG!

    "How interesting¡­ It feels almost supernatural."

    Although Cassius had obtained inhuman strength through his efforts and Character Development, this was the first tangible proof that he was surpassing human limits. It worked to slowly adjust him to what he would encounter more of in the future.

    After savoring the moment for a couple of seconds, Cassius conveyed his intent to the Serrated Devil Blade. Yet, instead of reverting to its intact blade form, it spun rhythmically like a coil and wrapped around his exposed right arm. It then adhered to his defined muscles and thinned, appearing almost like a thick sword tattoo.

    "Hmm?"

    Cassius didn''t feel any discomfort from this unexpected action. Instead, he felt a deeper connection with the sword, almost as if they could communicate. Through this connection, he learned that the sword could return to its original form whenever he wanted. But seeing as this form was more convenient for avoiding suspicion upon returning to the outside world, he decided to keep it this way.

    "Speaking of which," Cassius said aloud, "how do I leave a Gate? Do I find the way I came in, or¡­"

    Then, as if to answer him:

    *Ding!*

    [Approximate time till Gate Collapses (and squashes you like a bug): 14 minutes 59 seconds.]

    "Ahhh¡­" Cassius furrowed his brows before blurring from his spot. "Looks like I need to get going then."

    Retracing his steps toward the Gate''s entrance, he pulled up his system interface, curious to see how far he had come since entering his first Gate.

    BLING!

    Meanwhile, in the outside world, roughly five minutes before the Sudden Gate''s clearance:

    "Ahhhgh!!! They just keep coming!" A young man dodged an incoming claw slash, then counterattacked with his sword. "What do we do, Leader?!"

    Corra assessed the severity of the situation, quickly realizing that all of the Hunters were running low on stamina. They had been fighting continuously for nearly an hour, and it was no surprise they were running out of steam.

    Before long, they would all be dead¡­

    As the Leader, she had to make a decision. But what could she do? Even though her team consisted of F, E, and D-Rank Hunters, their actual combat experience was severely lacking. They could tank some enemy attacks through sheer stat differences, but there was a clear limit to their endurance.

    ''A few of my squad members are already severely injured!'' Corra slashed out several times in quick succession, cutting down nearly a dozen F-Rank monsters. ''But with every kill, double that number escaped the Gate. We are on wave 4 of 5; as long as we can hold them back for another half-hour, reinforcements will arrive!''

    "Leader! A few of them escaped our circle!" shouted an E-Rank Hunter, snapping Corra''s attention to his position. "They''re running for the Hospital! And we still don''t know if everyone successfully evacuated!"

    "Damn it all!" Corra ground her teeth in frustration. She cut down the monsters obstructing her path before dashing toward the ones entering the Hospital. Yet, these E-Rank Dark Apes were cunning and immediately split up.

    ''How am I supposed to chase them all?!''

    Corra''s eyes darted in multiple directions as the Dark Apes disappeared into different parts of the Hospital. Under the pressure of the moment, she furrowed her brows and bolted after the nearest one. She cleaved it down the middle, but the others had already scurried into different pathways, some ascending to higher floors.

    "Fuck!!!" Corra had no idea what else to do, so she mindlessly chased them, cutting them down one by one.

    Meanwhile, on the Hospital''s 4th floor.

    As a silver sword flashed on the first floor of Hoshito General Hospital, a beautiful blonde girl sat curled in a corner of Room 406, her face stained with sadness and fear. She was utterly unsure of what she could do during such a terrifying event. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was then that a sharp, high-pitched chattering pierced her ears, causing her to jolt her head up in alarm.

    Terror streaked across Aya''s face as her reddened eyes caught sight of a daunting, four-legged shadow clambering outside the open door. Even in her fright, Aya knew she couldn''t allow whatever was outside to come in. She stumbled to her feet and raced to the door, prepared to slam it shut.

    Yet, as she reached for the handle, a disturbing, toothy grin appeared in the hallway.

    "Ahhh!" Aya startled back in fright, colliding with the ground. A stinging sensation burned near her hip, but it paled in comparison to the terror she felt as the high-pitched chattering grew louder.

    Shaking like a leaf, Aya screamed, "S-Stay away from me!!"

    The Dark Ape didn''t care about her screaming. It advanced, each slow, deliberate step intensifying the looming dread in Aya''s heart. The creature could sense the young woman''s strength¡ªit knew she was stronger than itself. Yet¡­ she was scared.

    This forced a sadistic grin onto the Dark Ape''s face.

    Out of everything in life, it loved scenarios like this one the most.

 Chapter 17 - 17: You... Must be tired of Life...?

    "Kakaka!!"

    The Dark Ape chattered its pointy, gruesome teeth together as it stood over the terrified girl. Then, to add to her dismay, it shredded her dress with its sharp claws, leaving only her underwear to conceal her vulnerability.

    "N-Nooo!! St-Stop it!!" Aya screamed, hugging her body in absolute horror. "D-Don''t come any closer!!!"

    "Kakaka!!"

    The Dark Ape''s malicious grin widened as it ripped away the last of the fabric covering Aya''s figure. Something between its legs reared its head, and the beast readied itself to commit an unspeakable act.

    "Pl-Please¡­! N-Noooo¡­!!!" Aya''s eyes dimmed as the Dark Ape attempted to spread her legs. Yet, because of her unconscious unwillingness and superior strength, her legs wouldn''t budge.

    Annoyed, the Dark Ape slapped her across the face, leaving a dark red mark on her jerked head.

    ''Kakaka! Why even bother resisting when you can''t even properly use your strength?! Just stay still and get mated, bitch!'' The Dark Ape seemed to think this as it forced her legs apart, fully prepared to permanently scar her.

    Yet, before its hideous appendage could come within inches of Aya, an arm shot through its stomach and lifted its entire body off the ground.

    "What do you think you are doing¡­?"

    "!!!"

    The Dark Ape felt every hair on its body stand on end as it slowly turned its bloodied face. There, it met a pair of black, spiraling eyes that tunneled deeper into its psyche than any abyss. Fear overwhelmed its mind as all color drained from its previously sinister expression. It squirmed and struggled desperately for its life, but it could do nothing to escape the grasp of the terrifying figure glaring at it with an emotionless face.

    In a similarly apathetic voice, Cassius said, "You¡­" His eyes flared with uncontrollable anger as he observed the sobbing mess Aya had become. Shadows shrouded his face as he used his free hand to grip the Dark Ape by the back of its neck. "...You¡­ must be tired of life¡­?"

    "!!!"

    The Dark Ape peered into those endless abysses sunk into Cassius''s face, its body convulsing violently. The sheer terror coursing through its mind forced it into a coma.

    Cassius''s grip on its neck tightened, crushing every bone in its throat, yet he stopped just before killing it. Seeing the red mark on Aya''s tear-streaked face ignited a level of rage in Cassius that he hadn''t believed himself capable of feeling.

    No matter how she had treated him in the past, Aya was still family. To do something like this to family¡­ and to try going even further¡­

    "Tell me¡­ You must really hate living¡­?" Cassius''s abyssal gaze bore into the Dark Ape''s fragile mind, snapping it back to reality.

    The first thing the creature did upon realizing it was still alive was shriek for reinforcements.

    "Jajjkakk!!!!" It screeched deliriously, flailing like a worm.

    "...Cass¡­ius¡­?"

    Off to the side, Aya''s eyes cracked open, only to see the enchanting face of the man she had been searching for all this time. Her tears flowed even harder as her reddened face scrunched into a sorrowful state. "...I-I was¡­ l-looking f-for you¡­ B-But I¡­"

    Cassius turned toward the weeping girl. Contrary to the terrifying anger in his expression a second ago, his eyes now held a gentleness that radiated warmth, washing away the terror in Aya''s heart. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I know, Aya. Don''t worry; I''ll take care of everything from here. You can sleep."

    Too muddled to notice Cassius''s newfound strength, Aya''s vision blurred. She fell softly to the ground, her crestfallen sleeping face a grim reminder of what had happened¡ªand what almost happened.

    OOOM!

    A frigid iciness exuded from Cassius''s figure as shadows obscured his face. The tattoo on his right arm vibrated before materializing into a dark, obsidian-red sword.

    "...Since you all find amusement in watching others suffer, I shall show you what true suffering feels like¡­"

    The Serrated Devil Blade broke into pieces, hovering in midair. With an unbelievably quick flick of his hand, dozens of blade fragments whizzed through the air, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere. The room''s walls were sliced into pieces, and the dozen Dark Apes rushing through the hallways were diced up as well. Yet, none of them died outright¡ªeven though none of their limbs remained attached.

    "Kaaaa!!!!"

    The Dark Apes screamed in agony as excruciating pain erupted from every part of their bodies.

    By the end of a half-minute-long session of hollering, all that remained were a dozen bloody lumps of flesh, their twisted expressions frozen in pure anguish.

    The Dark Ape still writhing in Cassius''s grasp felt its mind slipping again, but even the reprieve of unconsciousness was a luxury it no longer had.

    "Do you honestly think dying like they did is what you''ll receive¡­?" Cassius sneered, controlling his Devil Blade to hover just above the Dark Ape''s third leg. "...Well, think again."

    SPURT!

    The Dark Ape''s third leg was slowly shredded, reduced to a mangled, unrecognizable mess. It endured a level of pain so intense it passed out multiple times, only to wake up almost immediately each time. The gruesome cycle persisted for a few agonizing seconds that felt like an eternity.

    Finally, when the Dark Ape was teetering on the verge of death, Cassius struck it in the same spot it had slapped Aya. The impact caused its head to explode in a visceral spray.

    POP!

 Chapter 18 - 18: A Sudden Change in Sasha

    Cassius emotionlessly watched as the Dark Ape''s eyeballs and pink brain matter splattered against the collapsed hospital wall. His face briefly twisted in disgust before he took off his jacket and approached the heartbroken blonde girl. He covered her exposed body, then gently lifted her into a princess carry. As the Serrated Devil Blade wrapped itself around his right arm, Cassius felt an unfamiliar sting of pain in his heart upon seeing Aya''s utter dismay.

    A part of him couldn''t help but blame himself for the incident. Yet, a bigger part of him thanked his earlier self for deciding to double-check the hospital room before assisting with the monster disposal. If he hadn''t made those choices, Aya would have¡­

    Cassius''s face froze over again, but before his mood could worsen further, a feminine voice interrupted his thoughts.

    "Are you one of the patients here? Are you not aware of the evacuation notice?! You need to leave right away¡ª"

    That was when the valiant Corra noticed the blood covering the unknown man from head to toe. Her gaze then shifted to the partially nude girl cradled in his arms. Unconsciously, her blade hand tightened, and her expression hardened.

    "What were you doing up here¡­? And who is that girl?"

    When the bloodied man turned to face her, Corra felt an uncontrollable sense of fear crawl up and down her spine, eliciting intense shivers. Stuttering, she raised her silver sword shakily and commanded, "St-Stop right there and state your identification! U-Under these emergency circumstances, I have the right to detain you!"

    Cassius''s slow, unassuming footsteps passed right by the jittery Lead Hunter as he coldly turned his face toward her before continuing on his way.

    "Even with this pitiful amount of monsters and so many of you, this was the best you could do¡­? Pathetic."

    "Y-You¡­"

    Corra couldn''t even refute his words¡ªthey were the truth.

    When she turned around to confront him out of desperation, he was already long gone, taking with him all the unanswered questions swirling in her mind. Then, her ears perked up at the distinct flashing of a sword and sparks flying all over the hospital grounds.

    Rushing outside, Corra froze in disbelief. All the monsters had been chopped into countless pieces, their Magic Shards scattered everywhere. The other Hunters shared her bewilderment as they stared at a shadowy silhouette sauntering past the hospital gates before vanishing like an illusory ghost.

    "...Leader¡­ Do you know who that monstrous man was?"

    "...No¡­ I couldn''t get a proper look at his face because of all the blood," Corra replied, still reeling from the shock.

    "Neither could we¡­"

    Silence.

    A heavy hush hung in the air, reeking of iron. None of the gathered Hunters had ever experienced anything like this before.

    Breaking the silence, an E-Rank Hunter stepped forward. "I think that man just left the Gate after clearing it. Originally, I thought my fatigued eyes were playing tricks on me. But look for yourself, Leader¡­"

    "!!!"

    Corra''s eyes widened as she followed the Hunter''s pointing finger.

    "How could this be?! The Gate is closing! To do this all by himself¡­ We need to report this to Headquarters and find a way to obtain any information about that man!"

    "Yes, ma''am!"

    The gathered Hunters trailed behind their leader, picking up all the Magic Shards along the way. If the mysterious bloodied man hadn''t taken them, surely he wouldn''t mind them making a profit in his stead?

    A few miles away.

    Cassius felt a sneeze tickle the back of his throat, getting the odd sense that someone was talking about him. He had already returned home but had to sneak in through his room''s window to avoid alerting his father and stepmother to Aya''s condition. Seeing her as she was would surely worry them. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Still, she''s probably been gone for a while. They''re likely starting to feel some trepidation anyway¡­''

    Realizing this, Cassius ran a hot shower, preparing to clean himself up before waking Aya so she could do the same. Being covered in blood would only worsen things. However, just as he put this plan into motion, a knock came at the door.

    "Cassius, dear?" Sasha''s soft voice carried a hint of worry despite her efforts to conceal it.

    "Yes?" he replied, curious as to why she was sudden referring to him like that.

    ''She has never been too openly nice to me before... This is... Weird...''

    Oblivious to the growing suspicion in his heart, Sasha said, "I was just wondering¡­ do you have any idea where Aya is? And you must have been discharged from the hospital early because of the Sudden Gate¡­ Are you doing alright?"

    Cassius faintly smiled, a stark contrast to his demeanor from just minutes ago. It felt strange to have someone care about him, but he couldn''t deny that he liked it.

    "I haven''t seen Aya lately," he said with a smirk, "but I''m sure she''s doing just fine. I mean, with a mom like hers¡ªstrong-willed, stunning, and clearly unforgettable¡ªit must run in the family, right?"

    A faint blush spread across Sasha''s cheeks. "I-I hope you''re right¡­ And you''re doing fine¡­?" she repeated.

    Cassius''s smile grew fonder. "Yes, I am. Thank you for your concern."

    "Mhmm¡­" Sasha nodded nervously, her worry still apparent as she scurried away. However, before she could leave the hallway, she heard her stepson softly call out, "Goodnight."

    She paused, then replied, "Goodnight, Cassius."

    ''For the first time in two years, I have been able to say what I meant to him... It''s a pleasant feeling... However, it feels horrible to know that I can only get like this when in times of urgency...''

    ''Well, at least this is a step forward... That matters more to me.''

    A slight sense of satisfaction replaced some of her worry. It felt like she was finally getting closer to her usually reserved stepson. His past experiences¡ªperhaps involving false accusations¡ªseemed to explain why he kept his distance, especially from women. And it wasn''t like her inability to properly articulate her thoughts helped the matter any.

    ''Still, it was nice to see him speak more freely with me, even if his tone was a bit¡­ flirtatious¡­''

 Chapter 19 - 19: Lvl 17, Tons of Skill Boxes

    After staring out his bedroom window for a bit, Cassius''s eyes fell on the distraught, half-nude girl sprawled out on his bed. A sensual memory of her fingering herself briefly flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook his head and walked toward the shower before undressing himself.

    "This is not the time to think about nonsense," he muttered before undraping his expertly chiseled body.

    Glancing at the bathroom mirror, Cassius quickly realized he had become absolutely shredded after successfully conquering his first Gate. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Things change quickly¡­ Far faster than one realizes¡­''

    His thoughts bounced around inside his head as the sound of water pattering against tiles filled the small bathroom. Cassius stepped under the stream of the shower. He winced as the hot water struck his back, the dried blood loosening and swirling down the drain in dark spirals. His muscles, tense from the day''s events, began to relax.

    The serrated devil blade''s tattoo faintly glowed on his arm, pulsating in time with his heartbeat.

    ''You''re different now,'' the blade seemed to whisper in his mind, its voice more emotional than words. It wasn''t the first time he''d felt this peculiar connection with the weapon, and after his most recent battle, it felt stronger than ever.

    Cassius leaned against the cool tiled wall, letting the water cascade over him. Images of Aya''s trembling form flashed in his mind, alongside memories he thought he''d buried long ago.

    He was younger then¡ªbarely a teenager¡ªand smaller, too. A group of boys had cornered him in the alley near the schoolyard. Their leader, a stocky brute with a cruel grin, held a stick in one hand while taunting the overweight Cassius with a barrage of insults.

    Cassius''s fists clenched, but he didn''t move. He knew better than to fight back. His family''s precarious position in the community meant any misstep from him would be blown out of proportion, used as ammunition against them.

    But the taunts escalated. They turned to threats. Then, without warning, a rock flew, striking him square in the forehead.

    The humiliation burned hotter than the pain. But what stung most was the laughter¡ªmocking, cruel, and loud enough to drown out his own cries of frustration.

    ''Weak.'' The word echoed in his mind, both then and now.

    Cassius''s eyes snapped open, his jaw tightening as steam rose around him. He wasn''t that powerless boy anymore.

    Never again.

    Shaking his head, he thought about the Extra Clear Reward mail he hadn''t opened yet.

    *Ding!*

    [You have fully conquered the E-Rank Sudden Gate ''Savage Jungle.'']

    [You received 20 AP!]

    [You obtained a Bronze- Skill Box!]

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius raised a brow in intrigue. "This is my first time obtaining a Bronze-ranked Skill Box, whereas the others were all Copper-ranked with plus, minus, or neutral ratings. I should probably open them now, but first¡­"

    He decided to check his system interface to gauge his progress.

    BLING!

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 17]

    [Title: Advent Devil (D)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 1300/1300] [MP: 1100]

    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 44]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 39] (Can throw a thousand+ pounds)

    [AGILITY: 76] (Faster than a jetplane)

    [ENDURANCE: 37] (Can satisfy three women with ease)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 36] (Could rival the Genius of a mid-ranked National Academy)

    [PERCEPTION: 39] (Verging upon a Sixth Sense)

    [CHARISMA: 22] (Exceptionally handsome)

    {[Skills:]}

    [Muscularity (P)(F-)], [Slash (A)(F)], [Sprint (A)(F)]

    _______________________________

    Satisfied, Cassius opened the Inventory Space tab at the bottom of his interface. A mostly empty grid appeared, with only four slots containing items:

    [Copper- Skill Box(s): 12]

    [Copper Skill Box(s): 7]

    [Copper+ Skill Box(s): 3]

    [Bronze- Skill Box(s): 1]

    Seeing that he had exactly 23 Skill Boxes, Cassius figured there was no point in letting them gather dust. Starting with the lowest-ranked ones, he clicked on them, watching as more than a dozen Copper Boxes materialized and popped open, throwing cards into his body.

    *Ding!*

    [Acquired - Copper Blade (A)(F-)] ¨C Basic swordsmanship skill.

    [Acquired - Iron Fist (A)(F)] ¨C Introductory hand-to-hand combat technique.

    [Acquired - Steady Aim (P)(F+)] ¨C Increases proficiency with ranged weapons by 15%.

    [Acquired - First Aid (A)(F+)] ¨C Fundamental healing skill.

    [Acquired - Earth Sense (P)(F+)] ¨C Basic environmental awareness skill.

    [Acquired - Fire Spark (A)(F+)] ¨C Entry-level fire magic.

    [Acquired - Stone Shield (A)(F-)] ¨C Basic defensive technique/shield handling.

    [Acquired - Bronze Brew (P)(F-)] ¨C Introductory potion-making comprehension.

    [Acquired - Tinker Tools (P)(F)] ¨C Basic crafting and repair skills.

    [Acquired - Swift Step (A)(F+)] ¨C Foundation-level movement skill.

    [Acquired - Mind Focus (P)(F)] ¨C Increases concentration and mental dexterity by 10%.

    [Acquired - Water Flow (P)(F+)] ¨C Beginner water manipulation skill.

    After reviewing the newly acquired Skills, Cassius felt a strange spark ignite within him, creating something from nothing. Previously unfamiliar knowledge flooded his mind, organizing itself into internal grimoires he could access at will.

    Moreover, he began sensing something new in the atmosphere.

    "Are these¡­ Magicules?" Cassius murmured. He observed the brown, blue, and red blots of energy floating around his showering body.

    Reaching out, he touched one. His fingers reacted positively to the colorful blot, forming a pleasant connection. The sensation felt natural, as though he and the Magicules were inherently linked.

    Adjusting to the Magicules'' presence, Cassius returned to opening the remaining Skill Boxes. One by one, he clicked on them, obtaining nearly a dozen more Skills. Among them, two stood out the most, introducing the lightning and wind elements, which manifested as additional floating Magicules.

    With three new elements alongside the original three, Cassius now had access to a total of six elemental energies. While unsure of their battle effectiveness, he felt the thrill of unlocking new potential.

    These discoveries unearthed hidden aspects of himself, begging to be refined and mastered.

    Finally, it was time to open the Bronze- Skill Box. Cassius hoped to gain something of D-Rank or higher, but who knew exactly what lady luck had in store for him¡­

    "The Copper Skill Boxes gave Skills ranging from F-Rank to E-Rank," he murmured. "The Bronze Box should yield something much greater."

    As he clicked on the box, a bright bronze light erupted. The question mark-covered cube popped open, spilling its contents.

 Chapter 20 - 20: [Now, to bed or not to bed? Tis the question.]

    *Ding!*

    [Acquired - Shadow Step (A)(D-)] ¨C Instantaneous Movement Skill - Blur like a shadow and reappear as a Reaper. |Scales off the Agility stat.|

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s brows furrowed in interest. "This Skill seems very useful, especially when paired up with my Agility stat, which I main in."

    He wanted to test it out right now, but the current environment wasn''t very suitable. Additionally, he still had to settle the situation with Aya¡­

    By the time Cassius stepped out of the bathroom, freshly dressed and significantly less bloodied, Aya had begun to stir. Her lashes fluttered, her lips parting slightly as she slowly emerged from her slumber. She then approached the brightly lit bathroom. Noticing the cracked door, she curiously widened it open, only to become momentarily stunned.

    "Big brother Cassius¡­?"

    Not used to hearing that form of address, Cassius took a second to register the presence of the beautiful nude girl currently standing in the bathroom''s doorway. They both locked eyes with each other at the same moment.

    Aya''s face became increasingly red. She crouched and covered her breasts, about to scream. Yet, before she could, Cassius practically teleported beside her and muffled her voice with his hand.

    Flushed redder than a tomato, Aya stuttered, "Y-Youyuu¡­" But was unable to say any more due to the thick, calloused fingers pressed over her mouth. Her eyes instantly began to water as she really felt like crying.

    She had never shown her nude body to anyone before (on purpose)! And yet now her stepbrother was close to reaching a negative distance with her! She was scared!!

    Seeing that she really was on the verge of bawling her eyes out, Cassius leaned his face next to hers. "I didn''t mean to grab you so suddenly, but explaining this situation to our parents would be¡­" He briefly glanced between the two of them, both of whom were naked.

    Aya''s face instantly dropped when she realized what he was trying to say. Yet that didn''t make her tears feel like coming down any less. To prevent that, though, Cassius let go of her and backed away before respectfully turning around. "There''s a towel right over there, which you can use until you get back to your room."

    Aya''s puffy eyes swam around the white bathroom interior, blushing every time she caught a peek at Cassius''s defined back muscles and muscular buttocks. She almost saw something far above average as well, but he stopped her eyes from traveling any further with his quizzical voice. "Have you gotten the towel yet?" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Embarrassed beyond disbelief, Aya stammered, "N-No, I''m getting it now!" Before she waddled over to the hanging towel that Cassius was originally going to use. After snuggly wrapping it around herself, she said, "D-Done."

    ''Why am I feeling so hot right now¡­? Is something wrong with me??''

    Turning around, Cassius viewed a charming side of his stepsister that he had never seen before. She sheepishly stood by the sink, twirling her curled hair strands, with a scarlet red coloring her cheeks in a burning warmth.

    Absentmindedly, he commented, "Stunning." Only to realize that this was hardly the time for that. "Sorry¡­ I didn''t mean it like that¡ª"

    "N-No, it''s okay, I-I¡­" Aya had already become indistinguishable from a beet as her pretty sapphire blue pupils erratically flickered. Smoke puffed out of the top of her head as she didn''t know where to look anymore; her eyes always seemed to find their way back to Cassius''s dashing figure. ''H-Has he always been this attractive¡­!? And his words are so sweet¡­! I don''t think I can handle this new version of him... Definitely not...! And then there was him at the Hospital¡ª''

    Aya''s mind suddenly flashed with all of the events leading up to this point in time, causing her expression to morph from despair to terror¡­ to a warmth that made her heart beat faster. Yet, there was a part of her that believed everything was just a dream; after all, how could the unawakened Cassius possibly be so strong?

    However, when she saw the dried blood on her body, she realized that all of it had undoubtedly happened.

    Upon recalling the sadistic smirk on the Dark Ape''s face and the way it slapped her, she¡­

    "D-Did it¡­?" Her eyes lifelessly dimmed, yet brightened up like a wave of spring when Cassius grabbed her and took her into a hug. "You don''t have to worry," he said warmly, his hands gently placed along the curve of her back. "That monster worm wasn''t able to get what it wanted. Live with ease of mind, Aya."

    Aya''s face suddenly scrunched up as the tears began to overflow. "T-Thank you, C-Caassius¡­ Thaankk yoouu¡­Thankk youuu.¡­" She repeated, her voice getting muffled by the snot and tears streaming down her face as she buried her head in his chest.

    Despite the wetness smearing his cleaned body, Cassius simply stood there and gently rubbed her head. A feminine orchid fragrance assaulted his nostrils, capable of flaring the urges of even a monk. Yet he resisted those urges with ease, as this was not the time to be getting caught up in the moment, especially not when Aya was in such a vulnerable state.

    [^-^ Solid Character Development!]

    [Now, to bed or not to bed? Tis the question.]

    Cassius instinctively ignored his shitty system, and after eight to nine minutes of staying silent while holding Aya, he carefully took her off of him. She seemed resistant at first, but complied after a second more of soaking in his presence.

    Her eyes misted over as she furtively glanced at every part of his body and face, yet he didn''t take her looks to heart. "You should explain things to our parents, but you will need your clothes. Well, just stay here a moment; I will grab them."

    A lot of color left Aya''s face as she stretched out her hand. "Wa-Wait, don''t leave me alone¡ª" Yet, in the very same moment Cassius vanished, he reappeared in that same spot, with a shadowy black energy seeping off of him. ''So that''s how that Skill works¡­ Extremely useful, as expected. And it even seems to give me Permutation to a certain extent, allowing me to pass through objects.''

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 21 - 21: Everything is About Luck

    *Pu!*

    A soft, womanly body suddenly collided with his, throwing him a bit off guard. Curious, Cassius looked down, only to see the reddened ears of a ravishing blonde beauty. "D-Don''t leave me again¡­ Please¡­ I don''t want to be alone¡­"

    An invisible force tugged at Cassius''s lips as he softly patted the head of the girl who was acting uncharacteristically meek and timid. ''I guess anyone has the potential to change¡­ That much I should know very well¡­''

    ''I think I understand why the system keeps insisting on Character Development, though I still don''t know what its purpose for guiding me is¡­ Well, I don''t think any protagonist in the novels I used to read ever knew what the intentions of their systems were¡­''

    After a few more moments of idle thinking, Cassius once again pushed away the unusually clingy girl, this time catching an accidental glimpse of her towel slipping down her alluring curves. "Here, your clothes," he said, averting his eyes out of respect for her privacy.

    Realizing why he was acting that way, Aya furiously blushed before nodding like a bunny rabbit. She snatched up the clothes, also noticing that he had grabbed a pair of her more risqu¨¦ underwear, which only made the blush on her beautiful face even more prominent.

    "M-Make sure¡­ t-to not look," Aya murmured softly, yet with an adorable fierceness in her voice.

    Cassius nodded.

    A lovely smile formed on Aya''s face upon seeing how considerate he was.

    As she made enticing sounds while sliding on her clothes, she reflected on her past actions, a tinge of regret streaking across her face. ''I must''ve just misunderstood him before¡­ He''s such a nice person; he even saved me¡­! And yet I¡­ said all those mean things about him¡­ Things that I hated more than anything when I was in a similar situation as him¡­''

    The silhouette of a larger, less attractive, and more rotund girl seemed to overlap with Aya''s changing figure, sending wave after wave of regret and self-hate washing over her. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After finishing putting on her clothes, Aya whipped around to Cassius, prepared to do whatever it took to apologize for all that she had done to him. Yet, as if he already knew what she was about to say, he cut her off.

    "It''s fine, Aya. The past can remain the past. I know you are not a bad person."

    "B-But I¡ª"

    "I already said it''s fine," Cassius interrupted. "Just try to find some better friends. You are too sweet and beautiful to settle for terrible characters as the people you hang around."

    Aya''s face colored red, yet she still shyly nodded. Then she remembered what she had been meaning to ask earlier. "Your power; have you somehow awakened¡­?"

    Firmly denying such a claim, Cassius shook his head. "I have not awakened, but I have come across a stroke of¡­ good fortune that enabled me to gain some power." Remembering all that the Idle Evolution System had put him through made him reconsider its presumed goodwill. But there was no denying that its methods had made him stronger, which was something virtually impossible among Hunters.

    A Hunter could increase their skill proficiencies and gain more experience, but obtaining greater base power was not possible. Unlike Cassius, who had a sadistic system, people in this world awakened, and that was it. What they got was what they got. Of course, there were differences in skills among Hunters, yet even those were designated upon awakening and capped at Level 9.

    It was rumored that a powerful S-Rank Hunter from Japan, who specialized in the katana, had once achieved the peak Level 9 of his Quick Sheath skill. With his power, he had slashed out at an Overlord S-Rank Monster that had escaped a Purple-ranked Gate, bringing the entire country to its knees. The incident had happened a little over ten years ago, but those present could still vividly recall the immensity of that man''s single slash.

    An entire evacuated prefecture had been reduced to ash. Gone, obliterated, desolated.

    Yet, even in spite of the Japanese man''s accomplishments in singlehandedly clearing a Purple-ranked Gate outbreak, he wore a soured look on his face. In the country''s greatest time of need, his power had reached its pinnacle, yet he could instinctively feel that he could progress no further in his life''s joy¡ªhis Quick Sheath S-Rank skill. In his frustrations, he hadn''t even stayed behind to receive his medal and the appreciation of the country. He left, never to be seen again, rumored to have become obsessed with something that would never grace his skill with the blade.

    This was the fate of most who refused to accept that they could progress no further. Their stats were set, their skills were designated, and those same skills had upper limits¡ªwhat was even the point of it all? They worked arduously for their entire lives as Hunters, only to find that some mysterious force prevented them from continuing to progress!

    ''Everything truly is about the luck of the pull,'' Cassius thought with a hint of melancholy. ''Even I, with a system, pulled one of the shorter strings among those who obtain systems in web novels.''

    ''Typically, their lives are smooth sailing right after acquiring their systems, with them barely having to exert any real effort. Yet I am worked, sometimes beaten to the bone, by my system¡­ All under the pretense of ''Building Character''...''

 Chapter 22 - 22: Newbie 1 Equipment Set

    Taking Cassius out of his depressing thoughts, Aya walked toward the bathroom door, only to furtively glance at him before attempting a sneaky escape. "D-Don''t mention this to anyone, okay?" she tried to demand with her usual fierceness, yet found it tough to hold his intense gaze. "And about the hospital¡­ Thank you¡­ I mean it¡­ If you weren''t there, I would have¡­"

    Cassius waved his hand dismissively. "Go on, then. And try not to get chewed out too hard by your mother," he chuckled softly, causing her heart rate to quicken. She scuttered out of his room while furiously blushing. "I-I will repay the favor¡­!" she promised before her cute, bouncy tushy vanished from view.

    "You don''t have to¡­" Cassius attempted to say, yet realized that she could no longer hear him.

    He heaved a breath of tired air before putting on a pair of underwear and finding himself sprawled out on his bed. Even though his Fatigue was not very high, the mental waves of exhaustion weighing on his mind had stacked up enough times to elicit a prompt state of slumber.

    While dozing off, he could faintly hear the soft yelling coming from downstairs, which made him wistfully try to remember if anyone had ever cared about him enough to do something like that. Yet, in the end, he couldn''t recall any such memory. When he was young, he might have experienced something similar with his father.

    However, sometime after his early childhood, something changed in him¡­ Cassius couldn''t quite put his finger on it, but his father seemed¡­ odd. Almost alien to him.

    Cassius''s ridiculous thoughts followed him as he entered the land of dreams.

    Early the next morning, he awoke even before his annoying yet sturdy alarm clock could go off. Figuring that there was no real need to keep around such an irritating clock with his almost supernatural senses, Cassius eyed it dangerously before grabbing it. He used a small fraction of his strength to crumple it, reducing it to a condensed ball of metal and scraps.

    After getting his long overdue vengeance for all the sleepless nights it had caused with its faulty behavior, he rolled off his bed. Sauntering toward his drawers, he swiftly pulled out a black dress shirt and a pair of shorts with a matching color scheme. He set them on the wide drawer, planning to wear them in a second.

    Firstly, however, it was time for the grind. Yet, just as Cassius was about to start with one hundred unbelievably fast push-ups, the system presented him with an increase in difficulty.

    *Ding!*

    [If the Daily Quest is too easy, then you aren''t properly building character!]

    [Here, have a set of newbie equipment on the house! You must complete the tasks of the Daily Quest with these if you want the rewards!]

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    Several hundred pounds of condensed sand hit the ground with resounding thuds, nearly cracking through the floor. Luckily, everyone in his house was a deep sleeper, or else he would certainly have some explaining to do. Nevertheless, upon looking at the system tags of these comically absurd weights, Cassius''s brows creased in dramatic apathy.

    [Acquired 100lb Wrist Weight X2]

    [Acquired 400lb Full-body Weight Vest]

    [Acquired 150lb Ankle Weight X2] S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...Is this really necessary¡­?" asked Cassius, his brows furrowed in frustration. "Even with my increased strength, this is¡­"

    [You are denying Character Development?]

    [For that, have another Newbie Package gift, on the house! ^_^]

    *Thud!*

    [Acquired 300lb Waist Weight]

    Veins appeared all over Cassius''s face as he found it tough to hold himself back from walloping his smug system. And weren''t Newbie Package Gifts supposed to be things like a sword, a potion, and some flexible armor? Why the hell was he receiving this crap as his Newbie Package Gifts?? What the hell did he ever do to the Idle Evolution System!?

    "Your name is a sham," Cassius indignantly murmured as he lifted and donned the surprisingly thin weights on his body. Yet, with the system''s impeccable hearing, how could it not hear his defamatory words?

    *Ding!*

    [In consideration of the Host''s lack of proper character development, as evident by his lack of etiquette, the system has decided to give an additional Daily Quest task and an opportunity for more rewards!]

    [Wear the entire ''Newbie 1 Character Development Weight Set'' for a total of 12 hours!]

    ¡ª[Reward: 1 Point in Charisma and 1 Point in Strength (on top of what completing the other tasks will allot you)]

    Cassius: "...."

    The system was blatantly bullying him, but at least the rewards were good, was all he could tell himself as he hit the floor.

    With all his ''Newbie Equipment'' on, he felt like he was carrying the whole world on his back, yet he just had to grit his teeth and push through the exercises. One by one, he completed all of them, even though sweat poured from all his pores and accentuated his constantly contracting muscles in a shimmering sheen.

    With sheer willpower, honed by the system''s sadism, Cassius finished all of the exercises he could do inside. He had woken up not even an hour ago, yet he already felt exhaustion attempting to take him away. However, that didn''t stop the Idle Evolution System from increasing his workload further.

    *Ding!*

    [Say, don''t you feel embarrassed about having to rely on the system for everything?]

    ''Rely on what exactly!? You are the Devil System, not the Idle Evolution System!''

 Chapter 23 - 23: Daily Quest #2, Road to 100 Swings

    Oblivious to Cassius''s begrudged curses, the system continued where it left off.

    [The system is feeling generous today! On top of the luxurious Newbie 1 Package Set, you will also be receiving an additional Newbie 1 item (Don''t tell my boss) and another Daily Quest that will need to be completed daily (Assuming you want your crown jewels!)]

    ''...The system is still a dick, but maybe the reward will actually be something good this time around...''

    He jinxed it.

    *Thud!*

    [Acquired ''Newbie 1 Weighted Wooden Training Sword''!]

    An eastern-style wooden katana plopped in front of Cassius, leaving a splintered floor where it fell. Its weight was higher than each individual Newbie Item given so far, coming in at over 1,000 pounds.

    Then, to add to his disgruntlement, another system notification appeared.

    *Ding!*

    {[Daily Quest 2]}

    ¡ª[You are looking awfully flabby as of late. But worry not, the system has decided to be magnanimous and add a tougher regimen!]

    ¡ª[Swing Newbie 1 Training Sword 100 times, with that number increasing daily based on the Fibonacci Sequence, starting with Day 2 being 150 times. Day 3 will be 250 times, Day 4 will be 400 times, and so on.]

    [Reward: 1 Point in Agility and 1 Point in Strength]

    [Failure: Loss of what makes you a man]

    Silence.

    Cassius didn''t even know why he bothered with the Idle Evolution System anymore. But seeing as this was another way to get stronger¡ªand he didn''t want to lose his balls and joystick¡ªhe reluctantly gave in to his fate. How hard could it possibly be to swing around a sword anyway?

    He went to pick up the sword sunken into the ground, yet quickly felt every muscle in his arm contract just to keep the weapon from dropping. His knees buckled under the pressure, with his feet smashing into the floor.

    ''I thought it was only around 1,000 pounds, but the weight of this thing immediately increased to double that as soon as I touched it! Seriously, what the hell is wrong with this sadistic system!?''

    Cassius felt like using up his saved AP to increase his Strength stat, but he had a harrowing feeling that the system would just smugly smirk and increase the Daily Quest difficulty appropriately if he did that. It had become abundantly obvious that the Idle Evolution System only wanted him to suffer! There was no escaping this fate!

    ''Why can''t I just be like the protagonists in novels when they acquire a system¡­? Is this the difference between fiction and reality¡­??''

    Even though Cassius lamented over his shitty luck in obtaining that evil system, he pumped every muscle in his body to heave the sword over his shoulder. Although it hurt a lot to leave it pressed against his deltoids, he clenched his jaw and endured. He took heavy, uncontrolled steps toward his clothes, with nearly 4,000 pounds weighing him down from the sword and weighted clothes.

    Yet, before Cassius grabbed the clothes, he figured he should swing the sword first and wipe himself off afterward.

    With that in mind, he gritted his teeth and steadily took the sword off his shoulder, briefly glancing at the red imprint it left on his right deltoid. However, as if the stinging pain weren''t even there, he faced the open space of his room. A glint of resolve flashed past his cold blue eyes as he swung downward, making use of every muscle in his body in order to not faceplant the ground.

    *Ding!*

    [1/100 Sword Swings]

    The quest counter went up by one. Now, it was time to get it to go up once more.

    Tightening the muscles that already felt like they were rupturing, Cassius raised his arms and swung down once more. The wind slightly whistled, with the force from the sword swing blowing away all the sparse dirt on the ground.

    [2/100 Sword Swings]

    Again.

    [3/100 Sword Swings]

    Again.

    [4/100 Sword Swings]

    Again. Again. Again¡­

    [13/100 Sword Swings]

    Again¡­ Just go up¡­ Again¡­ Just go up!

    [42/100 Sword Swings]

    Again. Goddamnit, just swing! Move, body! Move!

    [78/100 Sword Swings]

    Arghh!! It hurts so damn much¡­! Every fiber of my being feels like evaporating! Fuck!! Just keep on swinging!!! Stop being a pussy!!!

    [99/100 Sword Swings]

    Just one more time¡­ Just go up once more¡­ Why won''t you move¡­???

    No matter how much Cassius willed it, his body just wouldn''t budge. He put his full mental capacity toward throwing up the sword once more, yet he felt like every one of his muscles had frozen in place. The only reason he hadn''t collapsed to the ground yet was because he became so stiff that his body literally got the rest of him stuck.

    Sweat glistened off of his shredded figure, further accentuating his physique. Yet, the frustrated grimace twisted his handsome appearance into something fiercer.

    ''Damn it all!!! Just move already!!!''

    Cassius couldn''t even open his mouth anymore, but as if he exceeded some sort of physical limitation, his arms moved, and the sword cut through the air.

    [100/100 Sword Swings]

    *Ding!*

    [You have successfully completed Daily Quest #2]

    [You obtained 1 Stat Point in Strength and 1 Stat Point in Agility!]

    [Daily Quest 1 Progress: 67%]

    *Thud!*

    After the quest''s status switched to completed, Cassius let his body collapse to the ground, with his sword falling right beside him with a resounding bang.

    However, before he could enter a very deep state of sleep that could leave him unconscious for an unknown period of time, he drowsily pulled up his long list of Level-up rewards. Then, with a single click that used up strength he didn''t have, a bright golden light flashed and enveloped his body.

    [Status Recovered!] Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 24 - 24: Addition to Daily Quest #2

    [Status Recovered!]

    "Huff¡­!" Cassius felt like a new life had been granted to him as he shot up and returned oxygen to his lungs. "I hate to have to waste one of my limited Status Recoveries on something like this, but it was necessary if I want to avoid suspicions."

    After feeling a tinge of regret over the loss he incurred, Cassius finally got around to putting on his clothes. Strangely, with them on, he appeared very sharp. His slightly chiseled facial features did the black dress shirt and shorts some justice. Yet, just when he was beginning to appreciate how handsome he had become, the system made him scrunch his face.

    *Ding!*

    [The Host seems a bit narcissistic to me¡ª]

    "That isn''t it¡­"

    [¡ªSeeing as the Host has so much free time on his hands, he can surely carry around his trusty Newbie Sword along with his Newbie Armor! ^-^]

    ''You call this shit armor!? But wait¡­ Not another one¡­''

    *Ding!*

    [To supplement your deficiencies, a sudden extension to Daily Quest #2 will now be implemented!]

    {[Daily Quest 2]}

    ¨C [100/100 Sword Swings] - [?]

    ¨C [Carry around trusty ''Newbie Sword 1'' for 12 hours. Cannot leave your approximate location.] - [0/720 minutes] - [_]

    "Shit¡­" Cassius''s face drooped. He didn''t even know why he bothered hoping for any modicum of respite from his sadistic system. He sighed before picking up the sword he had planned to stay away from for the next 24 hours.

    After realizing that the sword was quite a bit lighter than before because of the 1 Strength Stat Point, he tried to find somewhere on his person to store it. However, in the end, he had no choice but to hold it with his left arm, which strained more than expected, mostly because of the thin wrist weights he had equipped. Yet, rather than wrist weights, they looked more like sweatbands, somehow being so thin while containing an absurd amount of weight.

    When everything that could be done here was settled, Cassius left his room with slow, heavy steps, still adjusting to the extreme conditions he now had to constantly endure. On his way out, he saw the charming appearance of his messy-haired stepsister, with her bird''s-nest-do only making her appear all the more attractive. Yet, instead of her stunning appearance, his eyes almost naturally fell on the sloppy, alluring way her red panda bear pajamas were sliding off of her curvaceous curves.

    Suddenly jolting awake, Aya let out a shrill shriek, which would have surely woken everyone up if they hadn''t already left for work. "W-What are¡­ you doing here¡­!?" She cupped her breasts defensively, her cheeks redder than a blood moon.

    Cassius looked at the girl as if she were kind of dumb. "I live here¡­"

    Aya only became more embarrassed over this reasonable response. Her mind seemed to keep trailing back to the night prior, when she saw his almost picture-perfect body and that¡­ long thing. A deeper blush formed on her face as smoke rose from her head, her eyes subconsciously finding their way to his especially large morning package.

    She wound up scampering away with tears bubbling up in her big, beautiful eyes. "Y-You big dummy!" she loudly grumbled before slamming her room door behind her somewhat erotic figure.

    Question marks flew off in Cassius''s mind as he found himself becoming more and more perplexed by women with each passing day. Broaching upon this subject also reminded him of the bunny-like brown-haired beauty he got hit by a truck for. Considering that he almost got isekai-ed because of her, he figured shooting his shot couldn''t hurt. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Pulling out his phone, Cassius looked through his very limited contacts, quickly finding one that said ''Grace'' with an adorable bunny emoji at the end, put there by him after deciding it fit her best.

    He clicked on the call button and stuck it up to his ear, yet not even a second later, Grace picked up on the other end. "Cassius, is that you??" she asked with a bit of concealed excitement.

    Curious, Cassius asked, "How did you know it was me? The number shouldn''t have appeared on your end."

    Grace''s eyes swam around as she lay belly-first on her pink, stuffed-animal-covered bed. She couldn''t exactly tell him that she memorized his number just in case he forgot to call¡­ "I-I just made a guess¡­!" she ended up saying in a panicky tone.

    To which Cassius said, "I see¡­ Well, you can deny my offer if you want, but would you like to go to the shopping district today? I don''t have much money, but I was looking to go somewhere¡ª"

    Grace''s eyes lit up like shimmering Christmas ornaments as she jerked off her bed in glee. "I-I will go!" But her face quickly turned a deep shade of scarlet when she realized how desperate she must sound. Yet, contrary to her expectations, Cassius chuckled softly before saying, "It''s a date, then. We can meet up at the City Square, say around 11 a.m.?"

    Glad that he didn''t see her as easy, and overjoyed that he called it a date, Grace bobbed her head several times in her room. "Yes, yes! I will definitely be there!"

    "Good, I will see you there, Grace."

    With that, the call ended, and Grace was left to bounce around in her extremely cute room, her bunny pajama ears flopping all around.

 Chapter 25 - 25: Just Stay Still

    Cassius slipped his smartphone back into his pocket, wearing a kind smile that held no semblance to the demonic way he looked when he found Aya in that horrid state. His jaw clenched just remembering that scene, but he quickly calmed his nerves and thought about what he should do for the next four or so hours.

    That was when he recalled the evil voice of the Idle Evolution System chanting, "You need more Character Development!" into his ears.

    Left with no other choice if he wanted to have an enjoyable day out with no distractions later, he made the sacrifice and lifted himself down the stairs, careful not to accidentally blow more holes through the house. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After successfully incurring very little damage to the once-pristine home, Cassius left through the front door, staying purposefully oblivious to the red panda pajama-wearing woman peeking her head over the top-floor railings.

    ''Where is he going¡­?'' Aya''s heart suddenly filled with worry. ''Is he heading out to meet another girl¡­??'' She struggled between displeasure and trepidation, not sure how to process her own feelings. ''Surely he''s not¡­ Cassius has never been good at talking with girls¡ª'' That was when she recalled how sweet and kind he was to her last night.

    Yet she still fervently believed that him going to meet a different girl was impossible.

    ''M-Maybe he''s just going out for a run like he has been doing as of late¡­! Yes, yes, that must be it! What am I even worrying for!? It''s not like I like him or anything! Right¡­?''

    Aya''s worry was now for something else entirely as she huddled into a ball on the ground, her red panda pajama hoodie hanging over her pouty yet conflicted face. After a few seconds of perplexed sulking, she figured it wouldn''t hurt to trail behind him and see what he was up to.

    So that''s precisely what she did¡­

    Aya swiftly threw on a black trench coat and a pair of gaudy black sunglasses, going full Men in Black on this operation to ensure the safety of her stepbrother, who could very well get taken advantage of! Though to any passerby who caught sight of her hiding behind metal poles and garbage cans, she earned herself the title of ''Stalker.''

    As Cassius, dressed up for the occasion, strolled through the active streets of his neighborhood, he felt like someone was following him. However, sensing that they held no ill intent, he paid them no mind and left the borders of his neighborhood. Eventually, he made it to a wide intersection, where beyond that intersection was the prosperous downtown district of Hoshito City. It wasn''t at the level of somewhere like Tokyo or the capitals of any of the nine regions, but it still remained a bustling place of commerce, with thousands of people going about their business in the city of glass and stone.

    After maneuvering through crowds of people and traveling another five or so minutes, Cassius finally made it to the City Square, where a large sprinkling fountain lay situated. Right next to the fountain, however, was an utterly breathtaking sight.

    A girl with soft brown hair and warm brown eyes sat on the side of the fountain, her fingers tracing the water''s edge. She smiled nervously, glancing around as she adjusted her flowy white dress, anticipation and hope shining in her eyes as she waited for her first-ever date to arrive.

    Seeing Cassius begin his approach toward this gorgeous girl, what Aya feared most threw a bucket of cold water over her head. A desolate summer breeze blew through her disguise, leaving her feeling empty inside. Yet that didn''t mean she could just give up here! She had to know what their relationship was!

    ''After everything he has done¡­ and seen of me, it''s the manly thing to take responsibility! He can''t shirk away under the wings of this vixen! I-I will see just how he plans to explain himself when I catch him red-handed in the act of an affair¡­!''

    ''And for it to be with that woman who stayed by his hospital bedside, basically blocking me from seeing him, no less! I won''t stand for this! I won''t stand for it¡­!''

    While remaining blissfully unaware of the fact that they weren''t in any sort of relationship that extended beyond family, Aya maintained her stalker disposition and got a little closer to the adulterers in the ''act''.

    Meanwhile, Cassius had just made it within a few dozen feet of Grace, with her seeing him as well. Her eyes lit up, and just as she was about to wave him over, some rough-looking unsavory philanderers grouped around her.

    "Hey, lovely beautiful Miss~ What are you doing here all alone~?"

    "Yeah, someone as pretty as you shouldn''t be all by herself. Why don''t you come and have some fun with us~? We promise to show you a good time~"

    Grace''s outstretched hand retracted as a bit of fear mixed with her nervousness. She wasn''t very good around groups of people. Just her getting her family''s permission to come out today and enter the pedestrian parts of the city did a number on her.

    Not sure how to respond to these strange men who huddled around her, she stuttered, "N-No, I am waiting on someone¡ª"

    "Come on, don''t be like that~" One of the blonde-haired men said flirtatiously. "Just let us show you a good time~"

    As soon as his hand landed on her shoulder, Grace''s complexion turned ashen as she raised her voice, "N-Nooo! Ple-Please don''t touch me!"

    "Just stay still, sweetheart~" the blonde-haired man''s ''friendly'' smile widened. Yet before he could go any further in his unsanctioned acts of harassment, a large, muscular hand suddenly grabbed onto his own and bent it back, nearly breaking his finger bones.

    He hollered in pain. "Ahhghh!! What the fuck are you doing, y-you damn bastard!?"

 Chapter 26 - 26: A Date

    "Ahhghh!! What the hell are you doing, you psycho!?"

    The hollering hooligan''s outburst was met with a cold, unimpressed glare. "Can''t you see you''re bothering her?" Cassius said evenly, twisting the man''s arm just enough to elicit another high-pitched shriek.

    "Who even are you!?"

    "Let go of Jacob, freak!" one of his friends yelled, though his voice cracked halfway through.

    Cassius turned his gaze to the peanut gallery, who froze like deer in headlights. "Shut up," he said flatly, his tone as sharp as a knife. The wannabe tough guys visibly shrank, suddenly unsure if they wanted to continue their catcalling careers.

    "Cassius¡­" Grace muttered, a mix of awe and relief flooding her expression. Her knight in slightly worn jeans had come to the rescue. Still, the intensity on his face gave her pause¡ªit was a little too much, like he''d been fighting¡­ monsters¡­ instead of idiots.

    Realizing he might''ve overdone it, Cassius released the blonde guy''s hand and gave him a swift kick to the rear for good measure. The man hit the ground with a yelp.

    "Scram," Cassius ordered, his voice as cold as winter frost. The hooligans exchanged nervous glances before fleeing with bruised egos and possibly a few bruised body parts. One couldn''t resist yelling back, "You''ll regret this!" as he tripped over his own feet.

    Cassius sighed and turned back to Grace, his expression softening. "So, what do you wanna eat?" he asked, attempting to shift the mood. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Grace blinked at him, then broke into a dazzling smile. "There''s this sushi place I''ve been dying to try, but my parents wouldn''t let me. Want to go there with me?"

    Her bright, hopeful expression was enough to knock the wind out of him. How could he say no to those puppy-dog eyes? "Sure," he said with a small smile. "Lead the way."

    Grace giggled, the earlier incident already forgotten, and practically skipped ahead of him. She paused a few steps later and turned back, her cheeks pink. "By the way¡­ thanks for helping me back there. You were¡­ really cool." She stumbled over the last part, turning redder by the second.

    Cassius chuckled, jogging to catch up. "I didn''t get the chance earlier, but you look lovely today," he said. "Though, honestly, you didn''t need to dress up for someone like me."

    Grace nearly tripped over her own feet. "Wha¡ªthis? It''s nothing special!" she sputtered, staring at her shoes as if they were suddenly fascinating.

    Then her gaze darted to the wooden sword strapped to his back. "Uh¡­ about the sword. Why are you carrying that around? It''s kind of¡­ unique."

    Cassius glanced at it and shrugged, shifting its weight on his shoulder. "I''ve been getting into a new hobby. Hope you don''t mind me bringing it."

    Grace waved her hands frantically. "No, no! It''s cool¡ªreally cool! Like¡­ like you''re some kind of modern knight or something¡­"

    Her voice trailed off into an unintelligible mumble, but Cassius caught enough to grin. "Modern knight, huh? I''ll take it," he said, reaching out to pat her on the head.

    Grace froze, her cheeks turning scarlet as steam practically poured from her ears. "Wha¡ªyou can''t just¡ª"

    "Too late," Cassius teased, his hand still on her head. "You''re officially knight-approved."

    Behind them, a dark aura loomed as Aya, draped in black like a discount ninja, gripped the metal pole she was hiding behind. ''Ugh, they''re not even holding hands! What is this, a Hallmark movie?'' Her eyes narrowed, and the pole creaked under her grip. ''And I was saved by him too! She''s not special! I''ve known him longer, anyway¡­''

    Grace snapped back to reality as they arrived at their destination. Cassius stopped in front of a neon sign that read "Sushi Haven." It wasn''t fancy enough to be high-end, but it was leagues above the average chain.

    "This the place?" he asked, glancing at Grace, whose wide eyes sparkled as she took in the restaurant.

    "Yep! I''ve always wanted to come here!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement. Cassius couldn''t help but smile at her enthusiasm. He reached out and ruffled her hair again, earning a muffled squeak.

    "Seriously?" Grace muttered while pretending to swat at his hand. "You''re treating me like some fluffy pet¡­"

    "If you hate it, just say so," Cassius said, laughing as he moved to pull his hand away.

    To his surprise, Grace grabbed his wrist and held it in place, her face a shade of red that could rival a fire truck. "I didn''t say I hated it¡­"

    Cassius blinked, then smiled, deciding not to push his luck. "I see," he said with a playful chuckle, letting her keep his hand where it was as they headed inside.

    Aya, meanwhile, growled from her hiding spot. ''This isn''t over, Grace. Just wait until he sees how much more girly I am!'' She crushed the pole in her grip, startling several bystanders who immediately turned and walked the other way.

 Chapter 27 - 27: An Extraterrestrial Threat...

    "Why did you take your hand off again¡­? It''s not that I don''t like the pets.¡­" Grace mumbled.

    "So you do like it? How much do you like it?" Cassius couldn''t stop himself from teasing the adorable girl a bit, both with his words and his hands..

    Although embarrassed, Grace answered, "Mhmm¡­ A-A lot¡­" with a blush seemingly glued to her peachy features. She was unable to look at him as she was, so she pulled him through the last set of spinning doors of the Sushi Haven Restaurant. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius kept his eyes on the perfectly curved back of the beautiful brown-haired girl dragging him around in an unusually forward manner. He enjoyed her presence; it was a breath of fresh air, one that he hadn''t known he needed. However, there was a large part of him that didn''t believe he deserved something so nice.

    His entire life, he lived believing the bare minimum was already too good for him¡­ Yet to suddenly encounter Grace and get to know a new side of Aya¡­ It almost felt too good to be true.

    And then there were the continuous improvements to his strength, which although acquired because of the system''s sadism, still left him joyous beyond belief.

    Yet, that once again made him think that something was amiss¡­

    ''A ploy¡­?'' Cassius''s overly cautious side got the better of him as he thought useless things.

    Why would anyone out there be plotting against someone as inconsequential as he was?

    ¡ª--------------------

    ¡ª Outside an Airport Runway in Hoshito ¡ª

    BAM!

    A small explosion occurred around the body of Adam Steele. His eruption of rage startled the flight attendant females lined up on the side. They all kept their heads down, afraid to offend Adam and the classy woman walking next to him.

    "You must calm yourself, Malakar," said the woman, her gaze cold and calculative. "I know you have been patiently waiting for ''it'' to return to her son. But you and I both know we can''t rush things."

    Adam''s face further scrunched in anger as his brows deeply furrowed. "I know that as much as you do, but I secretly checked the incompetent son of that bitch, and although his physique has miraculously improved, he''s still as useless as ever! Awakened humans are already inferior creatures as it is, and yet that one is even more useless!! If I were his mother, I would never come back to save him, so what''s even the point of keeping him around as bait!??"

    ''He''s still as short-tempered as always¡­ I really can''t understand why the Mothership decided him to be the one most fit for this assignment¡­'' The classy woman sighed heavily before ascending the stairs of a golden-plated private jet. ''Well, at least he is a decent enough actor¡­ that Sasha character we meticulously selected in hopes of activating ''its'' maternal jealousy should also be bringing forth some results. Yet we have no idea how close ''it'' is to coming out of hiding¡­ Hah¡­''

    The classy woman, whose name was Selena, rubbed her temples before finding herself a seat on the jet.

    The livid Adam (Malakar) came in a second later and sat down in the row of seats next to hers. His body seemed to rapidly expand and protrude in a few areas as a purplish shell-like material took the place of his skin. Yet, before he could revert to his original form and take up all the seats, Selena glared at him.

    "Don''t do anything rash while we''re still blending in among the humans," she said. "Though the strongest of the humans are still ants to the weakest of us, you should know as well as anybody of those anomalies. That is how you got that scar, isn''t it?"

    Following her eyes, Malakar ground his sharp teeth in anger upon seeing the large, gnarly scar strewn out from the top of his chest down to his waist. He could still faintly recall the ethereal human with his sword-like eyebrows and his long, flowing black hair. He had stood domineeringly atop a massive greatsword while looking down on him as if he were mere trash.

    "I am the Guardian of this Floor, Outsider. You and your friends up there may continue coming down here, but you will simply keep on losing. Your life; your choice. But if I see you again¡­ I''ll kill you."

    The man''s icy sharp eyes then flashed as he somehow flicked the giant greatsword around like a blur and left Malakar with his scar.

    Malakar ground his teeth to the verge of turning them to dust just remembering the sheer level of disdain that puny human had held for him.

    "Damn it all!!" Malakar bellowed as he was about to disregard everything and morph into his Kaiju form. Yet, before he could do something so foolish, Selena dispersed his aura and commanded, "Sit."

    "S-Selena, you!!!" Malakar''s eyes lit up in anger, yet he knew that it would be unbelievably stupid to go against the one who held the title of ''Intergalactic Sorcerer.''

    "Do not get ahead of yourself, Malakar," Selena said as she calmly sipped on a cup of tea. Her neutral face suddenly frosted over, with her swirling frigid gaze boring into the monstrous Malakar like the coldest of tundras.

    "You may be the one leading the mission of getting ''it'' to come out of hiding, but I am the one tasked with making sure you do your job properly. You are to get ''it'' out of hiding without angering ''it'' enough to prevent us from ascending to the next floor. With that Floor Guardian being abnormally powerful for those of a Tower like this one, we must take this backdoor method and ascend the Tower without encountering that man. To do that¡­"

    Selena pierced through all of Malakar''s defenses with just her gaze.

    "To do that, you need to get yourself together and strike at a different angle. We need to let down ''its'' guard, and the only real method we have is holding her son hostage, which means that we can''t kill him. Find a different way to force ''it'' out. You know the deadline before a replacement for you is found and sent down."

    "A different way!?" Malakar roared, concealing the fear he felt because of this unearthly beauty before him. "What other way is there!??"

    Selena''s irises frosted over at his tone. "I don''t know; that''s not my job to figure out. It''s yours." She returned to ignoring the fuming man''s presence, not caring a single bit about his grievances.

    The private jet started moving before ascending to the skies like a bird in a gust of wind. Their destination was a skull-shaped island to the far east¡ªan island that would not show up on any conventional map in the world. In that island lived several extraterrestrial existences that did not belong to this Realm¡ªmysterious beings capable of crushing S-Rank, city-destroying level humans like bugs.

    Yet, even though they were so powerful, they seemed to be constantly stepping on eggshells, afraid to so much as stick their heads out too far.

    All because of a single man¡­

    Atop the zenith point of a mountain that touched upon the clouds, a refined middle-aged man with a piece of horsetail whisk in his mouth tipped his ragged traveler''s hat to the east.

    With his entire face shrouded by blackened shadow lines, he spoke in an antiquated voice that didn''t match his handsome, youthful visage. "It seems like things are finally getting interesting." He then vanished from his spot, with slight traces of a wistful smirk flowing through the speed stream.

 Chapter 28 - 28: An Unexpected Stalker...

    ¡ª In the downtown area of Hoshito City, inside Sushi Haven, at a windowsill table ¡ª

    *Nom, Nom, Nom.*

    "You must really love sushi," said Cassius, a fond smile painting his handsome, attentive features. On the other side of the table was a bunny-like girl with long, silky brown hair and large doe eyes that squinted in joy after each voracious chew.

    Realizing that she was being a bit uncouth, Grace swallowed one last piece of sushi with a look of euphoria before reluctantly placing her chopsticks to the side. "I-I''m sorry¡­ You must think less of me now¡­" Imaginary bunny ears seemed to droop atop her head as she silently moved her small pink lips.

    Cassius rested his chin on his hands, a warm, soothing smile gracing his features. "Pay no mind to me; I think watching you eat is far more enjoyable than eating alone¡ªor even eating at all."

    "T-That is¡­" Grace''s face flushed red, yet she readily took him up on his offer. After all, she hadn''t eaten anything before coming to the date because she wanted to do more things with him.

    Cassius also began choosing from the large assortment of sushi he had ordered. At first, Grace had tried to insist that she would pay, but he firmly rejected that proposal. As a man¡ªalbeit a pathetic one¡ªhow could he let a woman pay for the date? Even though he didn''t have much money, he still had a part-time job, which he just so happened to need to show up for tomorrow morning.

    It was merely a library gig, but the people there were welcoming and kind, so it served as a comfort from the grueling training he had endured when he first started completing the system''s Daily Quests. The current Quests were just as physically difficult, but his mind had long since grown accustomed to how tough the system''s Quests were. Even the Side Quests and Urgent Quests it gave him had left him on the verge of death¡­ yet he still pushed through them.

    ''Speaking of which, on the matter of money, I wonder if I can make use of my strength to acquire more of it¡ªbut do so without attracting too much attention to myself¡­'' S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bringing this matter up to Grace, she spoke in between adorable chews. "I don''t know much about making money because my family won''t let me work, but you seem very strong. I know you''re not awakened, but if you can somehow match up to the weakest of Hunters, you can explore Gates with a Party or Guild and obtain some Magic Shards."

    "Though, it is very dangerous¡­ I would prefer you didn''t do this¡­" Her tone dampened, and her imaginary bunny ears once again drooped. "I-If you really need money that badly, then I can ask my family¡­! I''m sure they can¡ª"

    "That won''t be necessary," Cassius said gently, seemingly in deep contemplation about something. "Don''t worry; I won''t do anything I know I can''t handle. But you mentioned these ''Magic Shards''¡ªwhat are they, if you don''t mind my asking?"

    Although still worried, Grace replied, "Magic Shards are what lie inside the bodies of monsters, sort of like their cores. If you¡­ slice them open, you can find them."

    "They vary in size, color, and the number of pointed edges depending on the strength of the slain monster." She gagged a little at imagining something so gruesome yet quickly forgot about it when lines of sushi were stuffed into her gerbil-like cheeks.

    "Inside of them¡­ Ahh¡­ Damn¡­" Cassius suddenly recalled a few shiny things protruding from the corpses of the monsters he killed.

    He felt a tinge of regret over not snatching them up and obtaining some pocket money. Though, unbeknownst to him, the combined Magic Shards from all the monsters he had slain would have been enough to buy him a small house or a nice car.

    "Izzz shomthingg da matttter?" Grace asked through her munching, tilting her head cutely.

    Cassius sighed before shaking his head and returning that warm smile to his face. "It''s nothing much. Though, sometimes I wonder if I''m just empty air up here." He comically knocked on his head, which made Grace chortle. A bit of food spat out of her mouth, causing her to shrink in embarrassment. Yet Cassius only chuckled in response before eating more of the sushi himself.

    "Just make sure to eat to your heart''s content," he requested with a smile.

    "Mhmmhkay~!" Grace had no qualms. Even with a few customers staring at her beauty, she devoured the plates like she had been starved her whole life.

    "Hah¡­"

    The atmosphere inside that corner of Sushi Haven really was like a little slice of heaven. But the same could not be said for a large bush sitting directly outside the window the pair was dining at.

    ''Fucking fluffers!! Why are they acting so chummy in there!? Don''t they have any shame!? Where is the morality!?'' Aya thought as she shamelessly wiggled her plump figure all around inside a bush, successfully scaring away nearby pedestrians.

    Suddenly realizing how she was acting, she frantically corrected herself. ''I-It''s not like I''m jealous or anything¡­! I just wish they would learn some shame! Damn adulterers!!''

    Seeing the bush jump all around and hearing terrifying grumblings, several pedestrians reported it to the authorities out of fear of a pervert being inside.

    For a while, Aya had to outrun the police in a bush¡­

    When she finally managed to lose them with her D-Rank Stats and return to the restaurant window, she was distressed to find that they had already left! It wasn''t until five minutes later of extensive searching that she found the adultering couple laughing and giggling while heading toward the¡­

    "Hunter''s Association??" Aya blurted out, attracting the attention of a small child.

    "Mama, that bush over there is talking¡­!"

    "What nonsense are you speaking¡ª Wait, that''s the pervert from earlier! The police¡ªI must call them!"

    "!!!" ''They''re onto me again! Time to ditch the bush!''

 Chapter 29 - 29: Entering The Hunters Association

    Aya leapt out of the abused bush and sprinted away like a true criminal, which only further solidified the mother''s suspicions. After another series of chases by the local police, she eventually made her way just outside the massive Hunter''s Association building, where the adulterers had just ascended a flight of marbled stairs to enter.

    She once again entered incognito stalker mode and did what she did best¡ªstalking.

    "You seemed interested in the Magic Shard discussion earlier," Grace said in a soft voice. "Is that why we''re here right now? Are you planning to become¡­ a Hunter¡­?"

    As much as Cassius wanted to do just that, he knew that only death flags awaited him if he became a Hunter with what little strength he currently had. No, rather than make a fool of himself and possibly raise suspicion when he came back stronger after each raid, he wanted something else.

    "I want information on the locations of Gates," replied Cassius, his tone laced with a gentleness that made Grace feel warm inside. Yet she still asked, "Why would you wish to know the locations of Gates if you don''t plan to become a Hunter¡­?"

    Answering her question, Cassius''s lips raised mysteriously. "I don''t know; why would I want to know something like that?"

    Grace''s cheeks filled with air as she mock-pouted. "Fine then, don''t tell me. Humph!" She turned her head away, pretending to be angry, yet failing terribly.

    Cassius let a soft laugh escape his lips, which only made Grace''s charming pout more prominent. However, before she could become genuinely aggrieved, he said, "I will tell you some other time, alright?"

    Grace''s heart fluttered at these words, especially the "nother time" part, which meant they would be meeting up more often, right? Right??

    "Mhm! You promise??"

    "Yes, I promise." S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Grace could no longer restrain her giddy grin as she made a cute "Yippee!" sound before abruptly grabbing his hand. Yet, when she realized what she had done in her moment of glee, she furiously blushed and let go of his hand. "I-I didn''t mean to do that, I j-just¡­"

    "It''s fine," Cassius patted her head. "You can hold my hand whenever you feel like it. But maybe that would make you feel uncomfortable in the crowded environment inside?"

    In her excitement, Grace had completely overlooked how they had already entered the Hunter''s Association and were now in the presence of hundreds of people. She felt mortified over how she conducted herself, quickly finding a hiding spot behind Cassius, where she shrank away and soaked in the shame. He found this amusing, yet his mood soured when two F-Rank Hunters took proud strides over to them, clearly up to no good.

    Cassius was still enjoying the sight of his short, bunny-like companion and the several expansive floors of the enormous, modern Hunter''s Association branch when those idiots slipped around him. They couldn''t feel an aura from him, so they completely disregarded his existence. Their target, though, was the meek girl hiding behind him. She naturally became frightened when the two men began eyeing her up and down, failing to conceal their lust.

    "Say, you have the aura of a Healer¡ªare you looking to form a team with us?" asked the man with a Mohawk. "I am a DPS dealer, while he is a Tank. So what say you? Wanna join a reliable Hunter''s party?"

    "Yeah, we promise to treat you well, miss!"

    Although they hid their intentions behind friendly, shadowy smiles, Cassius understood them as if they were open books. He audibly scoffed before turning his back and Grace away from the men. She silently thanked him in her heart, a lovely grin forming on her small, round face as she clung a bit closer to him.

    The faces of the two men immediately scrunched up in annoyance at the trouble caused by this unawakened nobody. Even if they were only F-Rank, they were still several times stronger than a strong mortal. To dare impede them in their pursuit of a woman¡ªjust who did this foolish man think he was? Plus, he was handsome, so he was just asking for a beating!

    "Listen, dude, we know you just want to play the cool guy, but you need to learn your place," the Mohawk man scorned. The larger man beside him added, "Brother is right; this is no longer the world of 40 years ago, where you can get away with things if you''re good-looking and tall. Just back away from the girl while we''re still being nice. After all, we only wish to discuss some things with her~"

    Grace: "!!!"

    She shrank back in fright upon seeing the looks on their faces; it reminded her of the way those snake-faced distant family members used to look at her when they came by to speak with her parents.

    Feeling the poor girl''s dread through the shaky hands clutching his black dress shirt made Cassius''s face ice over. One after another, these idiots kept coming over to pester him and Grace.

    Did she have to experience this every time she went out? Was that one of the reasons she seemed so sheltered? Even on the unfortunate day they met, Grace appeared to be "awwing" and "oohing" at everything in an ordinary neighborhood.

    Seeing the two buffoons attempt to slip around to her again had Cassius on the verge of slashing them down to dust. The badass sword tattoo on his right arm started to vibrate in response to his intent, seemingly ready to reap another life at a moment''s notice. Yet, before both he and Serrated Devil Blade could take their first human life, a valiant feminine voice echoed out from atop the building''s second floor:

    "You dare harass a girl in the Hunter''s Association?? And threatening someone is grounds for egging a fight, which is strictly prohibited in the Hunter''s Association! What do you have to say for yourselves!?"

    A woman who looked akin to an armored Valkyrie gracefully leapt from the second floor of the mall-like Association building.

 Chapter 30 - 30: Corras Valiant Entrance

    Under the interested eyes of dozens of Hunters in the vicinity, the Valkyrie-like girl elegantly landed on the first floor before proceeding to draw her blade on the two unscrupulous young men. While doing so, she discreetly took glances at the icy-faced man shielding a cute girl.

    "Is that Corra? The rising star of the C-Rank Black Sparrow Guild, someone at the very peak of the D-Rank?"

    "Yes, there''s no mistaking it! That has to be her! Just how can she be any sexier? The way her armor reveals just the right amounts of her smooth, powdery skin is so¡­ ha¡­"

    "God, I''ve been a fan of hers for the longest time! How do you think I should go about sparking up a conversation with her?"

    "You, an F-minus Rank? You must surely be kidding yourself!"

    "Hey! Don''t be rude!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the chattering among the Hunters invested in this exchange became a little heated, Corra''s eyes crackled with a fierce justice. "Well, what do you two have to say for yourselves?! If you are causing trouble here, then with the backing of my Guild, I have the authority to severely punish you however I see fit!"

    The two young men felt their hair stand on end. They suddenly turned sheepish while wearing fawning smiles. "We would never dream of stirring up trouble here, Miss Corra! This is all just one big misunderstanding!" Adding to the lie, the larger man fanned, "Yes, yes, we were just worried for the safety of that girl! That is just how we, as Hunters of the Hunters Association, felt it best to assist her!"

    Not wanting to listen to any more of their nonsense, Corra shouted, "Get lost!"

    "R-right away!" The two young men then skedaddled, but not before throwing a couple of venomous glares at the emotionless Cassius, only to be further frightened by his dead stare. They promptly fucked right off, never to be seen or mentioned again.

    Corra snorted in disdain while watching them run for the hills, then turned her attention to Cassius and the bunny girl shyly peeking her head out from behind him.

    A bead of sweat formed on Corra''s temple when she thought about how close of a call that just was. If she had interfered even a second later, she feared those two would no longer have their heads¡­

    That''s right; she didn''t interfere to protect Cassius and the girl, but because she didn''t want blood to be spilled on Association grounds. Even with the non-aggression pact in Association territory in effect and the standard national laws prohibiting murder, she highly doubted this fellow cared about any of that.

    From what Corra saw of that monster yesterday, she wouldn''t put it past him to slaughter indiscriminately. And he could likely get away with it as well; after all, although she could not speak for his other qualities, his speed was absurd. It had probably already touched upon the C-Rank, surpassing even her own!

    Corra lightly coughed to clear the air, then formally introduced herself. "We met yesterday, but I wasn''t in the right state of mind back then, so I apologize for what I said. My name is Corra; may I know yours?"

    Hearing this, the spectating crowd wore slightly shocked expressions.

    "Does Miss Corra know this unknown man? Are they friends¡­ or lovers?"

    "Are you an idiot?! It''s obvious that they are acquaintances at best! Stop besmirching the reputation of our goddess like that!"

    "A-ah, yes, my bad!"

    Ignoring the stupid comments from the idlers, Cassius reciprocated Corra''s introduction. "My name is Cass, and yes, yesterday can just be seen as a misunderstanding. I was not in a¡­ pleasant mood."

    Corra briefly glanced at the hiding bunny girl, only to find that it wasn''t the same girl as yesterday, with that unknown girl likely being the reason why he was so pissed at the hospital.

    Returning her eyes to the exceptionally handsome tall man before her, she smiled graciously. "Mhmm, I completely understand. Say, if you aren''t too busy, would you be willing to discuss something with me over coffee¡ª"

    "Grrrr¡­"

    Corra: "???"

    She could''ve sworn she just heard a low growl come from the innocent-looking face of the brown-haired girl. Shaking her head to clear such ridiculous thoughts, she repeated the question. "Would you like to go and get some coffee together, perhaps¡ª?"

    "Grrrr¡­.!"

    Yet Corra once again heard that growling sound, this time fiercer than before. She looked back at Grace, only to see her appear seemingly unaware of everything happening.

    Cassius, of course, noticed what the silly girl was doing, but it was quite cute, so he let it be. And after a few rounds of getting cut off by progressively angry, cute growls, Corra heaved a tired sigh. "Another time then. I should be going now."

    "Yes, another time it is," said Cassius, unable to conceal his amusement over the whole ordeal.

    He and the innocent-seeming girl watched as the valiant Corra slugged away with a dejected air about her. She was really hoping to complete the request of her higher-ups and successfully recruit the mysterious man into their Guild, but it seemed today was not the day. Still, she would try again next time and surely win him over!

    Cassius chuckled a little when he saw the receding figure of the defeated woman suddenly regain all of her previous vivaciousness. Yet, by the side, Grace''s cheeks ballooned a bit as she silently pouted, very much unlike the boisterous grumbling that someone like Aya would do. Cassius, of course, still noticed it, but it was cute all the same.

    After relishing in the moment for a bit, he led Grace over to a counter, where a pretty receptionist stood on the other end. The receptionist''s eyes stayed on Cassius for a moment, as she wondered why she had never seen such a hot, cold man in the Association before.

    "How may I help you?" she asked, her voice cordial.

    Cassius replied, "I would like to know if I can get the locations of the Gates in the surrounding area. You see, I am planning to buy a house soon and don''t want to be next to a Gate."

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 31 - 31: Getting a Map of Gates

    The lady receptionist didn''t know if she had ever been asked this question before, yet she still smilingly responded, "I can do that for you; just give me a second to scan the records and print a copy."

    Cassius nodded in appreciation, then waited by the counter.

    Feeling something tugging at his side, he looked down, only to see Grace''s erratically flickering doe eyes. "I-It''s just¡­ I didn''t think you were looking to buy some property¡­ You seem too young to be doing something like that¡­ Unless you''re planning to get m-married¡­"

    Cassius softly chuckled at the furiously blushing girl. He patted her head and said, "I''m not doing it for now, but for the future."

    "The future¡­?" Grace''s eyes sparkled as her thoughts stirred. ''If it''s the future, then maybe he is looking to get married soon!? Could it be that he is interested in someone¡­!? C-Could it be¡­ me? B-But I don''t know if I am ready for marriage¡­!''

    Looking away from the flustered girl getting lost in her own delusions, Cassius received a paper from the amicable receptionist. On the paper was a highly detailed 4D map that somehow stuck to its surface using some kind of magic. The map depicted the City of Hoshito on a magnified scale, with numerous white, orange, and green dots of varying sizes scattered throughout.

    Noticing his confusion, the lady receptionist explained, "The dots on the map are the Gate locations you are searching for. Hoshito isn''t a hotspot area like Tokyo or Yokohama, so the quality of Gates is not nearly as severe as it is in those cities. If that were truly the case, then we would''ve long since been wiped out when our strongest Hunters are of the C-Rank and B-Rank."

    "There are a few B-Rank Hunters that occasionally pass by, but they are not residents of the city. All in all, White Tier, Orange Tier, and Green Tier Gates are the norm for Hoshito, with a select few of them remaining unclosed because the large Guilds use them to train their newer Hunters. Plus, it''s very profitable."

    After digesting the information from the receptionist''s lengthy explanation, Cassius slightly nodded. "Thank you for all the help."

    But before he could walk away with the map in hand, the receptionist''s melodious voice rang out once more. "If you click on the dots, you can see any relevant details about them. Moreover, the Gate locations and appearances change by the minute, based on real-time reports."

    "I see¡­" Cassius briefly paused. "How much do I owe you for this? It seems too valuable to be given away for free¡ª" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t worry about it, hihi," the receptionist waved dismissively. "Though, if you are that adamant about paying me back, you could do so over dinner¡ª"

    "Grrrr¡­"

    "Or, I guess not," the receptionist giggled at the adorable woman sticking to him like glue. She hadn''t noticed her before, but she was definitely a looker.

    "Well, if you ever find yourself single, feel free to come back here and find me." With a suggestive smirk, she watched as Grace hurriedly pushed the handsome man out of the building, seemingly trying to get him away from a supposed ''harlot.''

    The receptionist bemused, "I would likely do the same thing if I had a snack like that around me~." She seductively licked her lips, causing the meek bunny girl to turn oddly hostile, though she just came out looking cuter.

    When Cassius and Grace exited the packed building, an old man with a slicked-back haircut spoke without turning his head. "So he was the one who singlehandedly cleared an E-Rank Sudden Gate?"

    "Yes, sir. It has already been fact-checked several times," replied a man in a classy black suit.

    The old man clasped his hands behind his back, his wizened gaze following the movements of the seemingly ordinary man. "Then that would mean his power is roughly that of a D-Rank Hunter, with his Speed stat presumably being at the D+ Rank¡­ How have we not heard of his existence before?"

    "That is¡­" the classy man''s mouth moved around, yet no more words came out. "It seems he is past the age for awakening and is not an Awakened¡­ Sir, he doesn''t have the aura that a powerful Awakener should have. He doesn''t even have an aura to begin with¡­"

    The old man''s brows furrowed, putting him in deep thought. ''I have been in the Hunter business for more than 40 years, yet I have never heard of a case like this one. Just what sort of secrets is that boy hiding to be capable of rivaling a D-Rank Hunter without being an Awakened¡­? Was the Awakening Tester Equipment simply faulty, or is it something¡­ else?''

    "Hmm?" Cassius glanced behind him after leaving the Hunter''s Association. ''I felt someone¡­ analyzing me.''

    His eyes narrowed dangerously, as he had a bad feeling about something.

    Yet, when Grace nudged him and grabbed his hand, he left his vicious thoughts. If someone was plotting something behind his back, then he would just deal with it when it came around.

    "Cassius¡­" Grace''s eyes glazed over as she observed every unique contour of his face. Her expression suddenly erupted in a stunning glow as she smilingly said, "I don''t get out much, so I may seem a bit weird, but today I had a lot of fun¡­! S-So what I''m trying to say is¡­ thank you!"

    Seeing the girl struggle so much while squirming like a restless rabbit made Cassius unconsciously pet her head. "It has been enjoyable for me as well, but we aren''t even close to being done for the day."

    Grace sheepishly asked, "We aren''t¡­?"

    Cassius chuckled. "Well, as long as you are fine with it, I was planning to spend the entire day with you." ''I also have my 12-hour Daily Quests to complete, so having her spirited presence is just a bonus.''

    Grace''s pupils visibly sparkled as she fervently bobbed her head. "I would very much like that! I just assumed you would have grown tired of me by now¡­ so¡­"

    ...

 Chapter 32 - 32: Human Trafficking...!?

    "I would very much like that! I just assumed you would have grown tired of me by now¡­ so¡­"

    "How could that possibly be?" Cassius gently cupped Grace''s left cheek, his smile warm. "Your presence is always welcome. Even after today, you can feel free to contact me anytime."

    Scarlet colored Grace''s cheeks; his smile was far too dangerous. And the way he was considerately holding her cheek¡­ Gah¡­! She was on the verge of fainting from sweetness overload. Yet Cassius was also feeling something similar upon seeing her flawless face warm up and twist beautifully.

    He had to let her cheek go if he didn''t want to get too caught up in the moment.

    She dismayed a bit at him letting go of her so soon, but quickly found more enjoyment as they continued strolling through the city.

    Cassius had long since grown accustomed to controlling his body under the stress of so much weight, as he seemed to have a natural talent for it, so the date passed in a relaxed manner. At least, it did for them¡­

    CRACK¡ª

    Aya''s face became covered by more and more black streaks as she crushed yet another metal pole, making it the twentieth one today. She fumed and darkly mumbled to herself, scaring away anyone in the area. Meanwhile, inside her mess of a head:

    ''First, they act all lovey-dovey with each other, and now they even hold hands and go couple shopping with each other!? They have already been into over ten different stores¡ªdo they know no shame!? Have they no consideration for others!?? Gawshh!! Gah!!''

    Aya lightly banged her head on the metal pole, feeling so unbelievably vexed. She didn''t even really know what she was so angry about, but she was angry about it! She was so, so annoyed!

    Cassius had been feeling something since the date first began, but he couldn''t quite pinpoint what it was, or even if it was really all that malevolent. However, seeing as no real deathly intent was mixed into this feeling, he left it alone, same as before.

    He had a good idea of what¡ªor rather who¡ªwas producing these feelings, but it didn''t feel appropriate to confirm his suspicions just yet; therefore, he kept them to himself.

    As the jubilant day neared its end, with the sun''s rays receding into the background, Grace and Cassius stopped in front of the gates to a large mansion. A winding path ahead of the gates led up to that mansion, which was situated atop the lip of a neatly trimmed hill. Though, despite the beautiful scenery of this isolated area in the outer parts of Hoshito, Grace''s face seemed to lose a lot of its color upon seeing this home of hers.

    Puzzled, Cassius asked, "This is the correct location, right? I can check again if it isn''t¡ª"

    "No, it''s the right place. It''s just¡­ it''s complicated¡­" Grace''s voice trailed off as she left Cassius''s side, with the gates automatically opening up as soon as they sensed her presence.

    However, before ascending the winding path, she suddenly turned around and rushed up to him before pecking him on the cheek.

    Embarrassed, she mumbled, "T-Thank you again for today¡­! B-Bye¡­!!" She then ran up the hill, her face redder than that of a tomato.

    Cassius stood there, sword in hand, staring off with a blank look on his face. Although he knew of the tropes for events like this, he still hadn''t expected it to happen to someone like him¡­

    While lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice the black miasma exuding from the curvaceous figure of a blonde girl draped in all black. She tightly clenched onto a tree, with her fingers pressing down so hard that the tree cracked.

    Abusing random inanimate objects seemed to have become her new hobby.

    ''Gahh!! That damn cutesy whore! Doesn''t she know that I have known him longer!? To do something so shameless with me right over here; just Gahhh¡­!!!''

    Aya pulled at her hair while silently hollering like a lunatic. Yet, it was in her lunacy that she let that dummy get away¡­

    "Noaarr!! I can''t let him get away that easily¡­! He needs to be held accountable for this adultery!!" She jerked and bolted through the small forest that surrounded the fancy manor. To the wild animals in the vicinity, she appeared like a crazy yellow blur, with her aura spooking the hell out of them.

    By the time Aya caught up to his sauntering figure in the cityscape outside, something unexpected occurred. Three men covered in tattoos and wearing lascivious grins leapt out from a shadowy alleyway. They obstructed her path, and right before she could reach him no less.

    Her face twisted in annoyance, but that only seemed to further excite the men.

    "Listen, beautiful, you are going to come with us, okay~?"

    "We have some very high-end clients that would be interested in someone with your¡­ qualities. And you could even potentially make some good money if you do a good job."

    ''Human trafficking?? And right in our neighborhood no less???''

    Aya''s expression morphed into one of disgust. She tried to look past the men and find her stepbrother, but he was nowhere to be seen.

    "Cassius¡­"

    "Cassius?" The leading man smirked. "Is that your boyfriend or something?? If so, then you should just forget about him and let yourself succumb to the bliss of a better life!" He reached out his grubby hand, planning to catch a feel of that bountiful body that had been a feast for his eyes. ''We should get a taste of her before selling her off to the highest bidder!''

    Yet, before his hand could make it to her large breasts, a vein popped on Aya''s temple as she planted a fist straight into his stomach, causing him to violently cough up blood. He flew backward like a cannonball before crashing into a grouping of trashcans, seemingly returning to his origins.

    The other two unsavory men slowly turned their horrified expressions away from their unconscious brother, only to see a face that was nothing like how she was at the hospital.

    With a voice colder than the depths of the abyss, she intoned, "If you don''t want to spend the rest of your pathetic lives in a wheelchair, leave." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    ...

 Chapter 33 - 33: Cloak of Invisibility

    "Y-Yes!"

    Not a single one of the unsavory men still wished to mess with this insane lady and her crazy eyes. They raced over to their brother, lifted him up, and then bolted for the hills. However, after reaching a sufficient distance away, three lines of blood appeared on their necks.

    "Wha¡ª?"

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    They collapsed to the hard pavement of an abandoned alleyway, their eyes rolling to the back of their heads, with those same heads rolling away right after.

    A cold pair of glowing blue eyes faded from an adjacent rooftop of the alleyway, with this event marking the first human lives Cassius had ever taken. Though, rather than feel repulsed by his own actions, he didn''t feel much of anything. He could sense that their hands had been stained with an enormous amount of blood, with their nefarious actions likely extending beyond just their kill count.

    Taking care of them was more a matter of karma than anything.

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed a Lvl 1 Human!] S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You have killed a Lvl 1 Human!]

    [You have killed a Lvl 1 Human!]

    "¡­So killing humans also gives experience points," Cassius commented casually as he glanced at his exp bar go up by an almost unnoticeable amount. "This will definitely make things more convenient in the future¡­"

    A cold, ruthless gleam momentarily passed through his piercing gaze as he repeatedly used Shadow Step to return to where Aya was brewing up a storm of frustrations.

    ''She is far too kind-hearted to fully pull out the roots, even if it''s with deplorable scum like them. But if we were to let them be, they would surely not hesitate to go after more girls, possibly acting more viciously than now. Disposing of them was necessary¡­''

    ''And their deaths should be swept under the rug, considering the extensive criminal records that they certainly have.''

    ''On the contrary, I could wind up receiving some unwelcomed trouble because of this, as the corruption in this country runs deep¡­ But that just means I need to become stronger.''

    As if to give him a bout of encouragement, the Idle Evolution System threw up another system notification.

    *Ding!*

    [Shadow Step (D-) has leveled up from (Lvl 1) ¡ú (Lvl 2)]

    Cassius''s brows raised a bit at this pop-up. His other, lower-level Skills had already reached Lvl 2, with some even at Lvl 3, which made him worry for Shadow Step''s progress. However, it seemed that a skill''s level-up advancement speed was largely dependent on the rank of the skill, with lower-rank skills being far easier to level up.

    FWIP! FWIP!

    Cassius felt a sudden increase in his speed while using the Shadow Step skill. Its level-up had increased his speed while using it by around 15%, which was quite substantial when his base speed was hundreds of miles per hour.

    His figure looked like nothing more than an evanescent blur as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop.

    Before long, he had arrived atop a modest family house''s rooftop. His shadowy eyes fell on the black-cloaked girl who was still grumbling over not being able to confront him, and all because of those stinky bastards!

    "Damn! I should have hit those scumbags more!!"

    Hearing her quietly shout like this put a small smile on Cassius''s icy face. ''It seems like something has allowed her to quickly get over the trauma induced from that night.''

    He remained completely unaware that he was the cause of this change in his stepsister. She was just so irritated about him and Grace''s interactions that her fears blew away into the wind.

    ''If she encounters something like what happened with the Dark Ape again, and assuming she is stronger, then she should be able to handle herself just fine.''

    Cassius''s fond thoughts of the fuming girl storming through the door of their house were swiftly interrupted by a couple of pop-ups.

    ''Ding~!*

    [720/720 minutes walking around with the ''Full Newbie 1 Set''] - [?]

    [720/720 minutes carrying ''Newbie 1 Training Sword''] - [?]

    [You obtained 2 Stat Points in Charisma, 1 Point in Strength, and 1 Point in Endurance!]

    OOOM!

    Cassius suddenly felt a magical power wash over his body. It cleared his pores, made his appearance sharper, improved his overall aesthetic, and tightened his muscles. Moreover, it heightened the effectiveness of his lung capacity, making it possible for him to fight on for longer periods of time.

    "Although the struggle was real, at least the rewards are satisfying," Cassius said as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

    He lifted the Newbie 1 Training Sword higher in the air, feeling that it was significantly lighter than before. "With this level of strength, I should just barely be able to complete the Daily Quests without needing to waste a Status Recovery reward. However, if I want to keep on getting the Idle 1 Benefits, I will need to push myself further after a couple of days of stat gains."

    With that, Cassius planned to sneak through the front door and head up to his room to rest. It wasn''t too extraordinarily late, so no problems should arise. Yet, just as he was about to open the house door, an unexpected system notification rang out. It was one that he had completely forgotten he was owed.

    *Ding!*

    [Your rewards for completing Main Quest 1 have just registered, which includes your bonuses from wiping out the monsters that escaped the E-Rank Sudden Gate.]

    [Reward 1: 3 Stat Points in all Main Attributes] - [Y/N]

    [Bonus Reward: Special Grade Item ''Cloak of Invisibility''] - [Y/N]

    Cassius had mild surprise color his features, yet he quickly adjusted and accepted the rewards, then watched as his strength increased by another wide margin. After making sure he didn''t accidentally step forward and crash through a wall, he pulled up the details of the Cloak of Invisibility.

    [Cloak of Invisibility (SG)] - [Effectiveness depends on the power level of the user.]

    ¡ª[Become invisible as soon as it''s put on. Invisibility lasts for 30 minutes and can only be used once per 24 hours.]

    ¡ª[Invisibility is only effective against those 2 or fewer Major Ranks greater than the user. (Pertains strictly to the Perception Stat) (Example: if the User has D- Perception, the User will appear invisible to anyone at or below the B- Perception Rank.)]

    ...

 Chapter 34 - 34: How... Lewd...

    Cassius''s brows furrowed in interest. "This could definitely prove to be extremely useful if I ever encounter an enemy I can''t handle. And it also appears to be useful even at the higher Ranks, though I don''t know where its upper ceiling resides." He ended up storing the clear-colored Cloak of Invisibility in his Inventory Space, only planning to use it in an emergency predicament.

    After opening up the door to his house, Cassius realized that he had been idling outside for too long, as Aya stood right before him, arms crossed under her ample bosom. Her short figure, paired with her angry pout, made her look like a¡­

    "Pikachu¡­?" Cassius accidentally blurted out, which made Aya''s pout all the more prominent. She lurched forward, grabbed him by the shirt, and pulled him through the door. Yet, rather than hit him as he expected, she wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his embrace.

    Before Cassius could voice his confusion, Aya mumbled softly, "Leaving me all alone for another girl¡­ and for an entire day no less¡­ You big jerk."

    "...Ha¡­" Cassius shook his head in defeat, then waddled through the dimly lit corridor, with Aya sticking to him like an inseparable sloth. "I promise I won''t leave again without telling you first, alright?" he said warmly. Then his voice turned awkward. "Now could you please let go so I can walk¡­?"

    "Uhn-uh," Aya rejected. "Just a minute more. That woman had you all day, and you can''t even do this much with me? Am I not good enough¡­?"

    Cassius heaved a heavy sigh before petting the dismayed girl''s head, giving her the go-ahead to do whatever she pleased. A lovely smile graced her beautiful features as she rubbed her cheeks against his shirt, with small hearts and flowers seemingly leaving her head and bouncing off the exasperated man she was smothering.

    Yet, when Sasha, their stepmother, walked by with a drowsy countenance, Aya jerked back and pushed Cassius away. "M-Mother, what are you doing up this late?? I had thought you were already asleep!" she shouted in a low voice, her eyes erratically darting everywhere.

    Even in her groggy state, Sasha could clearly see the scarlet blush touching upon her daughter''s cheeks. She looked between her and the unusually handsome youth standing in the doorway. A small, insinuating smirk played her lips into a charming crescendo. "And who might this handsome young man be, my little Aya~?"

    Aya''s embarrassment was quickly replaced by confusion as she tilted her head. "...Mom, he''s Cassius¡­"

    "Hello, Miss Sasha," Cassius chimed in. "We didn''t mean to wake you, if we did. But I apologize if that''s the case."

    His respectful yet distant tone was the same, his mannerisms were similar, but his appearance and height were not what Sasha remembered! There was no way this dashing young man was Cassius! And if so, what were he and her daughter out doing after curfew??

    "...Are you really Cassius¡­?" asked Sasha, no longer half-awake. Answering, Cassius said, "Yes, Miss Sasha¡­"

    Sasha''s eyes widened in surprise. She took short, quick steps over to Cassius, sizing him up with her hands and eyes. After fondling just about every part of his chiseled body, a streak of black shrouded the expression she was making. A brief pause later, she muttered, "You''re jacked¡­"

    Cassius awkwardly chuckled, "Y-Yes¡­"

    "And you''re supposed to be Cassius¡­?? How is this possible in a few short weeks¡­!?" Sasha''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as she staggered a bit, finding it tough to keep her balance. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She hadn''t seen much more than her stepson''s receding silhouette these past weeks, but little to no interaction with him had always been the norm. Of course, when she stopped by the hospital, she noticed the changes, but she just thought that to be temporary side effects of the truck crash. Yet that didn''t seem to be the case¡­

    "Did this all happen because of your accident!?" Sasha spoke her mind. To which Cassius reluctantly nodded, "It''s something like that¡­"

    "...Unbelievable¡­" Sasha wobbled to a wall, disbelief etched across her pretty, timeless facial features. Yet, when she felt a sudden surge of hostility come from her daughter, she turned and asked, "Is something the matter, dear?"

    Aya coldly huffed, "Nope! It''s nothing, m.o.t.h.e.r!" She wasn''t thick-skinned enough to just outright admit that she didn''t like how her mom got all touchy-feely with Cassius. She hadn''t even got to hold hands with him, and yet her mother was doing as she pleased! It was infuriating! Especially when that other floozy got even further ahead!

    Question marks flew around Sasha''s head as she truly had no idea what her daughter seemed so irked about. To even go so far as to call her ''mother,'' something she never did¡ªthat was when the pieces clicked and the clues came together. She rapidly flipped her gaze between her grumbling daughter and the handsome aloof man whom she had treated like a son for two years. Realization dawned on her as she parted her lips, unable to find the proper words.

    So she spoke improperly. "How¡­ lewd¡­"

    Even Cassius was slightly taken aback by Sasha''s words, let alone the flustered tsundere mess that was Aya. Her face turned redder than a sea of blood as she rushed over to her mother to clasp her mouth, then she pulled her into the backrooms. Before disappearing from sight, Aya bit her lips while furtively glancing at Cassius, with her on the verge of tears. Using her eyes, she seemed to be telling him not to listen to a single word her stupid mother said. Then, with a door slam, she and the sexy milf in lingerie vanished into the backrooms.

    "Luckily, Dad is out on that very long business trip, or he definitely would have woken up from that," Cassius sighed, finding it harder and harder to live near two non-blood-related females. "Dad is almost always away on work for that mysterious job of his, constantly leaving me alone with these two. Though it wasn''t a problem before, because of my fugly appearance, I have changed greatly since then. I should be more careful from now on¡­"

    ...

 Chapter 35 - 35: Rise of Charisma

    With Cassius''s Charisma stat now at 25 and still on the rise, it was inevitable that those of the opposite sex would begin putting more focus on him. The system even went so far as to say (Could become an amateur model) right next to his Charisma stat. As such, Cassius had to be more mindful around family, though he had a bad omen about the direction Aya was heading in, especially when considering how she was definitely the one following him all day. He wasn''t dense enough to not see what was going on here.

    Ultimately, Cassius heaved a tired sigh before deciding to let his future self deal with everything. For now, he would let himself get some rest, prepared to get up early the next morning for work. After that would be Gate searching with the 4D map he obtained from the Hunter Association receptionist.

    The very next morning, Cassius rose his upper half from slumber, only to feel something lumpy and soft beside him. ''It can''t possibly be¡­''

    Yep, it was that clich¨¦. Sprawled out on the bed, pressing up against his arm, was the scantily dressed Aya. Through the almost see-through red blouse she was wearing, one could see her fair and tender skin. It shimmered invitingly under the rays of morning sunlight shining their glow down upon her, further accentuating her alluring mountains of milky pudding, as well as her slim stomach and plump thighs.

    Though, even with such a country-toppling sight before him, the only thing to pass through Cassius''s mind was, ''How was she able to not set off my Perception¡­? Maybe the intent needs to be malicious for it to come into effect?''

    Bingo!

    ''Well, no matter¡­ I guess I should just slip away¡ª'' Was what he wanted to do, but Aya cutely rubbing her drowsy eyes quickly made him rethink his next move. For a moment, the two of them simply stared at each other, but when she looked at where his eyes kept falling, her cheeks turned crimson red from the bottom up.

    "Eek!" Aya yelped as she covered her melon-sized breasts and scooted over to the end of the bed. "Y-You didn''t see anything, did you¡­?" she asked, appearing more like a defenseless puppy than the vixen who slipped into her stepbrother''s bed in the middle of the night.

    "Did I see anything?" Cassius stared straight ahead, then lied without blinking, "Of course not."

    Aya breathed a sigh of relief, though she still looked quite aggrieved. "You promise¡­?"

    "I promise."

    Silence.

    The room seemed to get consumed by an air of solemnity as Cassius and Aya didn''t know where next to take this conversation. Clearing up the confusion itching away at her heart, Aya said, "D-Don''t misunderstand¡­! It''s just that I had a nightmare about that day¡­ and I¡­ slept next to you because it felt safe¡­"

    ''...It seems like she isn''t as over that incident as I originally assumed,'' thought Cassius. Though, if he were being honest, he didn''t believe it to be possible for something as traumatic as that to be whisked under the rug in a single night.

    He sighed before extending his hands as if asking for a hug. Although embarrassed, Aya accepted the invitation and wrapped her arms around his muscular waist.

    Speaking softly next to her reddened ears, Cassius said, "I was just surprised when I found you laying here. But if you ever have trouble sleeping, you can feel free to welcome yourself into my bed. Though you might want to wear something a little less prone to slipping off." He chortled, faintly recalling the snowy white mountain tops that appeared through the loose collar part of her blouse.

    Instinctively knowing what he was thinking about, Aya pounded her cotton fists on his chest before murmuring, "Dummy¡­."

    "Yes, yes," agreed Cassius. "Even in school, I was not the brightest around. Who would''ve thought my ineptitude extended beyond just the books, though?" he joked, receiving a melodic laugh in return.

    Aya''s peach blossom eyes scanned the defined chest muscles she was sticking to, her blush deepening in response. She quickly burrowed her head away from sight, finding it difficult to even so much as endure his unintentionally burning gaze. However, though her cuteness was just begging to be teased, Cassius let her be.

    After a couple minutes of staying at a distance where they could hear the rhythm of each other''s heartbeats, Aya finally let go. She averted her eyes from the face that only seemed to have become more striking. "...You have work to get to, don''t you? I don''t want you to be late¡­"

    "Oh?" Cassius debated another round of teasing, yet held back at the last second. "You are right, I have to earn my keep here. Don''t want to be deemed an irredeemable bum and get kicked out of here, because then I won''t be able to see something."

    "See what¡­?" asked Aya, curiosity brimming in her moistened eyes.

    Cassius smiled warmly as he leaned off his bed and let the resplendent morning rays hit his smooth skin. While momentarily stunned, Aya failed to notice when he replied, "If I get kicked out, I won''t be able to see you anymore. Wouldn''t that be unfortunate? My eyesight would be deprived at that point."

    When Aya finally got around to his words, her eyes glimmered gold as her heartbeat quickened. No longer able to take that smoldering gaze of his, she covered her face in her long luscious locks of gold before fumbling off the bed and scurrying away like a deer caught in headlights. Yet, before Aya fully vanished into the outside corridor, she murmured, "H-Have a good day at work¡­!" Then left for good, with a door at the end of the hallway closing shut immediately after.

    Once again left alone, Cassius wondered if he had said something unusual. He shrugged dismissively. "I don''t recall saying anything unusual." While also completely forgetting about all the ''Be careful what I say around family'' stuff from earlier.

    ...¡­.

    S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 36 - 36: Increase in Weight

    After figuring that nothing he did was wrong, Cassius walked over to the weights he had set in a corner of the room. He put on the whole ''Newbie 1'' set, then got into perfect push-up form while looking like a taller, buffer Jackie Chan. His appearance was superior as well, though he wasn''t one to gloat about something so superficial.

    Leaning low to the ground, Cassius began to count.

    ''1¡­''

    Again.

    ''2¡­''

    Again.

    ''3¡­''

    Again.

    ''7¡­''

    Again.

    ''28¡­''

    Each and every push-up strained every muscle group in his upper body, as he had definitely been worrying about nothing when it came to obtaining the Idle 1 Benefits. It was clear that the Idle Evolution System would continue adjusting the weight of his Newbie 1 Equipment just enough to push him to his limits.

    If yesterday the ''Newbie 1 Equipment Set'' had a total weight of roughly 1,500 pounds, then now it was around 3,000. It surely wouldn''t be long before the weights became heavy enough to crush through the floor¡­

    Cassius was already surprised that it held up this long, but considering the nature of this new world, there were likely many improvements made to things like infrastructure compared to what they were in his previous world.

    After working up a sweat.

    Cassius let his body slowly fall to the ground. He could feel the fatigue that had built up in his body, yet he could also feel a lot of it disappear with each passing second. By the end of a thirty-second resting period, his body was ready to go again. From push-ups to sit-ups to squats¡ªCassius completed them all, and did so with¡­ extreme difficulty.

    ''Everything looked so easygoing in novels, but reality is so different¡­ Haiz¡­ Why am I so unlucky¡­?''

    Even though Cassius thought like this, he learned to find a bit of joy in pushing himself to new heights. It made him feel a sense of accomplishment that he never was able to experience because of his extreme hyperthyroidism, which had barred him from even attempting to change himself for the better.

    It wasn''t like Cassius hadn''t still tried to work out even when he was told straight to his face by a doctor that no results would come from it. However, just as the doctor had said would happen, nothing he did made a difference. He still remained morbidly obese, with his appearance akin to that of a goblin''s.

    Now, however, Cassius had the potential for improvement. And though it was incredibly tough and taxing on both his body and mind, he would still cherish and thrive on this chance.

    After finishing up all the inside exercises for the day, Cassius took a minute to recuperate, then he sauntered over to a different corner of the room, where a heavy wooden katana lay embedded in the ground. While picking it up and surprisingly feeling no difference in its weight, the Idle 1 Benefit rang out.

    *Ding!*

    [Idle 1 Benefit: 3 AP] - [?]

    "With that out of the way, I just need to swing 150 times, then get my work clothes on and leave before 6:30," Cassius commented, a small smile gracing his lips.

    With his Newbie 1 Equipment still equipped, he swung the Newbie 1 Training Sword around like a madman. Contrary to the day prior, 1,000 odd pounds no longer posed much of a challenge to him. It still pumped the veins in his arms and upper body, but it was nowhere near as coma-inducing as yesterday.

    Cassius made quick work of the swinging task for Daily Quest #2, then he wiped himself off and put on his modest work uniform while glancing at the system notifications.

    *Ding!* Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [150/150 Sword Swings] - [?]

    [15/720 minutes] - [_]

    After adorning himself in a buttoned dress shirt and a pair of long khaki pants, Cassius viewed himself in a nearby mirror. There, he saw someone with medium-length, slightly curly black hair, a thin nose, a chiseled jawline, and a pair of striking blue eyes that glowed with a docile lethality.

    For a moment, he was left standing there in shock. He knew that the Charisma stat worked in miraculous ways, but he hadn''t expected it to make him look like a model straight out of a runway magazine. The difference between his self a few weeks ago and now was like the difference between heaven and earth.

    "It''s no wonder Miss Sasha was unable to figure out who I was," Cassius commented casually as he rolled back his sleeves, unintentionally showing off his veiny forearms. "I really have changed¡­ both inside and out."

    His eyes glazed over as he took another moment to gauge his current self before heavily exhaling. His expression hardened, then softened. Walking away from the mirror, he approached the door to his room and opened it, only to once again be greeted by the charming sight of his stepsister in pajamas.

    Yet, like a deer in headlights, the moment she saw him, she ran for the hills, her soft steps on the stairs echoing through the house.

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius momentarily glanced at Aya''s reddened figure bounce down to the bottom of the stairs and run toward the door, where she then made her flustered exit.

    After making it down the stairs himself, though in a far more relaxed manner, Cassius caught a whiff of a heavenly pomegranate perfume. He looked toward the source of this divine scent, his eyes quickly making out the backend silhouette of a voluptuous woman. Cascading down her curves was her bright golden hair, its strands shimmering under the rays of sunlight seeping in through the windows of the front door.

    To Cassius, she appeared kind of¡­ sad.

    Approaching the beautiful, dazed figure in a casual way, he spooked her a little, saying, "You worry a lot about Aya, don''t you?"

    After the initial jolt, Sasha''s flickering eyes of sparkling gold settled on the tall, handsome blue-eyed young man standing to her right side. Perplexion formed on her beautiful face as she thought about what he had just said.

 Chapter 37 - 37: We are Family

    A troublesome look marred Sasha''s exquisite appearance as she let a melancholic sigh escape her perfectly parted crimson red lips. "It''s not that I don''t understand that she can take care of herself, it''s just that¡­ Haiz¡­ Sometimes, it seems like she is struggling with something that she can''t bring herself to tell me about¡­ She didn''t even eat breakfast¡­"

    Cassius glanced over at the laid-out pallet of food on the kitchen table. Seeing a total of three plates on the table made him feel especially conflicted. It was also at that moment that he realized part of this whole ordeal was his burden to bear. He turned toward Sasha''s saddened side view, prompting her to hold his smoldering gaze. Although still extremely taken aback by how much he had changed, she still listened to every word he was about to say.

    "Aya is a very hard-to-understand person, and she surely has many things troubling her at school," Cassius began with an earnest tone. "And though she believes it to be too much trouble to bother us about it, we are, after all, a family. As such, I will help figure out what has been happening with her summer school life."

    Looking at his sincere expression made Sasha feel a warmth that spread throughout her unholy figure. A kind smile soon graced her lips as her eyes domed into crescents. "I would appreciate that very much, Cassius."

    Cassius nodded. Committed, he said, "We are family; there is no need for thanks."

    "Mhmm!" Sasha''s previously glum mood improved by leaps and bounds. Radiantly smiling, she motioned to the food she had prepared not too long ago. "Would you like to have some before you head to work?"

    Seeing that almost pleading expression on the face of someone possessing such mature beauty made Cassius''s heart waver. He liked to arrive early, but denying Sasha now would surely break her heart. Realizing this, he cracked a wry smile and replied, "Sure¡­"

    "Good, good!" Sasha bubbled up in gleeful joy as she hurried over to the kitchen table in an oddly adorable manner, which greatly contrasted with her mature charm. "Please, come sit!"

    Cassius complied, and he quickly found himself dining on homemade biscuits and gravy, with his gorgeous stepmother watching his every movement with sparkling eyes. She seemed to be expecting something, and after understanding what she wanted, he wholeheartedly complimented, "What you made is extremely good, nearly on par with a top-tier restaurant."

    Seeing him speak from the heart with that gentle smile touching upon his abnormally handsome features made the jittery milf twitch a little in embarrassment. She wanted to hear his thoughts, but she hadn''t expected them to be so heartfelt. It made her squirm a bit in her seat, with her plump butt finding it difficult not to slide off the edge. A hint of scarlet colored her features, with her round golden peach blossom eyes looking slightly off to the side. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not wishing to repeat his previous mistake with Aya, Cassius changed the subject. "So, where is my father at? Another business trip?"

    Reason suddenly returned to Sasha as she nodded, trying her best to conceal her grievances. "He told me he could be gone for many weeks, possibly not returning until after summer break ends¡­ I don''t want to say this, as he is your father, but he has been acting¡­ weird as of late¡­"

    "Weird, huh¡­" Cassius could sense the loneliness in his stepmother''s gaze, yet he could also see a weariness lurking about. "Maybe the stress from work has just been doing a number on him. I am sure that he will recover soon enough."

    "I hope so¡­" Sasha sighed deeply, with her hot, fragrant breath creating a wave of¡­ pent-up lust?

    Cassius couldn''t believe it himself, but that was most definitely the case. Furthermore, it seemed like his stepmother became more and more restless the longer he stayed near her. His eyes suddenly brightened in realization. ''The Charisma Stat definitely affects more than merely my appearance. Just like all the other stats, it has its own side effects, and one of those likely has to do with appeal. This is also probably why Sasha flipped her attitude toward me in a complete ¡ã180.''

    Upon realizing this, Cassius speedily finished up his plate of food, which left Sasha feeling very pleased. Yet, when she saw him rush to his feet and make his way out the front door, a sense of emptiness filled her heart.

    "I will see you later, Miss Sasha. Oh, and thanks for the meal," said Cassius as he waved behind himself, a warm smile plastered across his face. "And don''t worry about Aya; I will figure out what is vexing her so greatly."

    "Ahh¡­ Alright¡­ Have a good day at work," replied Sasha. A complicated look formed on her face as she twitched a bit, yet still maintained a friendly smile.

    However, in the last moments before Cassius vanished from view, she murmured, "...But you really don''t have to leave so soon¡­"

    But, by that point, Cassius was already ten feet outside the driveway. And even with his improved hearing, he could not make out what Sasha murmured under her breath.

    He briefly looked behind for a moment, yet quickly shook his head and resumed his trot to work.

    Passersby whispered as he walked by, not only because of his superior appearance but also because of the wooden katana he held close to his hip. Many wondered if he was an actor heading toward a shoot. A few bold girls even approached him and asked for his snap or phone number, which he gave without further contemplation.

    It wasn''t like he especially fancied any of them, even though they were pretty. It was just that they must''ve had a good reason for asking for his contact information. Perhaps they saw his sword and assumed he was a bodyguard for hire?

    Either way, Cassius couldn''t just leave a bunch of obviously desperate girls to fend for themselves. Not after what nearly happened to Aya, or even with the hooligans that bothered both Grace and Aya.

    He was partly noble, super dense, and 100% an idiot. That was simply all there was to it.

    But along with power came change. And who knew just how much he would change over time¡­

 Chapter 38 - 38: Bookworms Paradise

    Cassius didn''t consider himself to be someone righteous, but r*pe was definitely one of the few things that could tip him over the edge.

    Yet, it wouldn''t be until later that night, when he received dozens of nudes and suggestive comments, that he realized what was actually happening with the girl number situation¡­

    The longer Cassius walked, the more attention he garnered from pedestrians, envious men, and swooning women. Yet, as if oblivious to it all, he focused on better balancing his body under the stress of so much weight. Even though his stats had improved considerably and the weight of each piece of Newbie Equipment hadn''t changed much, it was still difficult to control his body the same way as before.

    However, during his ten-minute walk to work, Cassius felt like he had become more attuned to the conditions imposed on him by his Newbie 1 Equipment set. Incidentally, the veins all over his body bulged and multiplied, which attracted even more female gazes, but at least he felt more comfortable living this way from now on.

    A few minutes later.

    By the time Cassius ultimately made it to his job, the whole town had started spreading rumors about the handsome, rogue-like actor. None of them had ever seen him on TV before, but it was certainly possible that he was a rising talent about to make his debut.

    However, many people became confused upon seeing this refined man stop in front of a two-story bookstore. Sure, the place was quite nice and had a classical, historian feel to it, but why would someone like that go to a bookstore?

    "Maybe he is a fan of literary works?"

    "That could very well be possible¡­ But I had assumed that all rich, luxurious people lived lives having not ever known the feel of a book¡­"

    "Same¡­ But now that I know this, I can''t help but find him even more¡­ attractive¡­"

    "Geez, woman! Can you stop being so damn thirsty!? It isn''t even 7, and yet you''re already slobbering at just the mere sight of him!"

    "Well, what would you know, you toad!? That man is a hundred thousand times better than you are!"

    "Hwa!?"

    Ignoring the pointless argument of a man and woman on the nearby street, Cassius walked through the front wooden glass doors of the ''Bookworm''s Paradise'' Library. A bell above the door rang, and the eloquent voice of a pretty black-haired girl drifted into his ears right after:

    "Welcome to Bookworm''s Paradise! Feel free to peruse at your own leisure¡ª Wait, you look familiar¡­"

    The girl turned around a corner. As her neatly combed ponytail swung behind her, she closely scrutinized the extraordinarily handsome man before her.

    Suddenly widening her eyes, she blurted out, "Cassius!? Is that actually you!?? What happened¡­ Did you get some of that expensive plastic surgery or something??? You shouldn''t have done something like that¡­"

    ''Bella¡­'' Cassius''s lips raised awkwardly as he replied, "It''s nothing like that, Bella. I just had another one of those late bloomer growth spurts¡­"

    Bella further narrowed her twinkling twilight eyes in suspicion. She had been hearing the same excuse for the past couple of weeks, but it just didn''t make any sense! How could someone possibly change so drastically naturally?

    Though, in the end, she coldly sniffed. "I know you''re keeping something from me, but if you don''t want to tell me what that something is, then so be it. See if I care, humph!" She cutely pouted with her arms hugging the under area of her alluring breasts. "Just make sure not to lie your way through questions with other women, lest you end up single for your entire life!"

    Cutting short her pouting, Bella glanced past him and looked through the shop''s windows. "Those people crowded outside¡­"

    Cassius looked behind him before refocusing on the black-haired beauty frustratingly tapping her perfectly carved feet. "I think they want protection services from me¡­"

    "Protection services? What does that mean¡ª" That was when Bella saw his pumped muscles, completely missing the intimidating wooden katana hanging in his veiny hands. "Have you been working out¡­?" Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...You could say that," replied Cassius as he averted his eyes from that suspicious glare of hers. "I just happened to find out that I have a knack for gaining muscle¡­"

    "And this realization came before or after your repeated ''growth spurts''?" Bella further narrowed her eyes, not believing a single thing coming out of his mouth. Yet all she received in response was an awkward chuckle and the sight of her coworker and classmate scratching his neck.

    Bella huffed, displeased.

    She stormed away in a puff of smoke and made her way toward the second floor, where she got back to organizing the library''s books from atop a tall wooden step ladder.

    Cassius, on the other hand, was left standing right beside the bookstore''s front desk, with dozens of people staring at him from outside.

    He heard things like, "So the handsome actor is actually an employee here?? How can that be???" Yet he remained oblivious to the underlying context of the situation. Instead, he put his focus on the cart of used books that were bundled off to the side of the front desk.

    While returning those returned books to their rightful spots in the bookstore, Cassius''s mind traced back to the stunning black-haired beauty who worked with him. He occasionally glanced at her industrious figure, wondering how exactly he wound up working directly alongside one of the five ravishing beauties of Hoshito High.

    ''Ahh, that''s right,'' he thought as a light bulb flashed inside his mind. ''When I first started this part-time job three''ish weeks ago, Bella had started working here for the summer as well. Yet, when she first saw me, rather than avert her eyes like most people, she appraised me with her resplendent black globes and said, "You have honest eyes," then went to treat me like a decent human being.''

    ''I still have no idea what exactly Bella meant with that comment, but she was the first person to not appear visibly repulsed at being in my presence. She even made an effort to speak to me when we were on the same shifts¡­''

 Chapter 39 - 39: Bella, the... Unusual Work Friend

    Cassius had a very fond view of the beautiful girl idolized by all in their school. And though they had never previously interacted with each other, he was sure that she would treat him just the same if given the chance.

    As the seconds turned into minutes, then hours, Bella ultimately descended from the top floor, appearing more like a graceful fairy than a human being.

    As a C-Ranked Awakener, it was only natural for her movements to appear otherworldly. In fact, it was because of the way she moved¡ªand a little bit of digging around¡ªthat scouts from major Hoshito guilds like the Black Sparrow Guild became incredibly interested in her prospects. Many times, she had been offered a direct high-ranking position in C-Rank guilds, yet she firmly denied all of them, adamantly refusing to become embroiled with Hunters and Gates at this point in time.

    Cassius had been a little curious as to why Bella seemed to steer away from all things Hunter-related, especially given her talents, but he decided not to pry. She appreciated this, which was likely one of the leading reasons she remained so friendly with him. And now, even after seeing that his appearance had changed so much, she treated him no differently than before, not caring one bit about superficial things like looks.

    From what Cassius had heard before summer break began, Bella was also this way around other students. This sometimes annoyed the generally attractive people who approached her in hopes of using their appearances to get closer to her.

    Even excluding Bella''s immense beauty, she was still a C-Rank Awakener and the daughter of the chairman of a large Hoshito conglomerate. Her family''s and business''s influence extended far beyond the small town of Hoshito, yet she still deigned to work part-time at a humble bookstore.

    "She is truly something special," Cassius murmured fondly, his eyes respectfully tracing the immaculate curves of the black-haired fairy.

    Bella''s small ears twitched cutely as she eyed the devilishly handsome man holding a wooden sword. She was going to ask if he had said something just now but quickly changed her mind when she noticed the sword in his hand.

    "What are you doing with a sword at work? Do you believe yourself to be a samurai or something?"

    Watching such a short, pretty girl berate him made Cassius overlay her image with that of an angry squirrel. "She is surprisingly cute," he accidentally blurted out. And for the first time since they''d known each other, he was able to see a charming blush grace her small features.

    "Y-You''re getting ahead of yourself as of late, humph!" Bella coldly sniffed before turning her head to the side.

    No longer wishing to see that stupid face of his, she turned on her heel and walked off.

    "There are an excessive amount of customers in here because of you, so you''d better do your job properly!" she shouted softly, yet added, "B-But don''t push yourself too much¡­" before briskly taking her mock steps of fury back to the wide second floor.

    A spark of confusion passed through Cassius''s striking blue eyes as he wondered what had gotten into her all of a sudden, utterly unaware of what he had let slip out of his loose-lipped mouth.

    ''Maybe Bella doesn''t like so many customers in the shop?'' he thought keenly. ''But she already has quite the fan base in this town because of her slightly cold yet caring personality, which only further increases the appeal garnered from her riveting appearance.''

    ''I highly doubt that the¡­ girls coming in here for bodyguard consultations outweigh the sheer quantity of people that swarm here on a daily basis to catch a glimpse of Bella¡­''

    Cassius''s eyes were suddenly pulled away from the sight of dozens of fawning men surrounding the focused beauty, instead falling on the dozen or so women huddled around the book aisle he was working on. They whispered and giggled among themselves, making sure to savor their quaint bookstore eye candy for the rest of the day.

    "I had no clue such a cute boy was working here! We should definitely come back again!"

    "Hehe~! If you think just looking at him is enough, wait until you hear that he gave me his phone number when he passionately locked eyes with me two blocks away!"

    "You did what!? He actually gave you his number!? I''m so jealous!"

    Envious stares.

    "H-Hey, come on now! Don''t look at me like that! I really won''t give it to you!"

    "Don''t be like that! Just hand it over, Vicky!"

    As several women quietly tangled with each other in a game of grab and flee, Cassius finished up his aisle. Yet, when he went to work on organizing the next aisle, a dainty painted hand suddenly met his. He jerked back instinctively, with the same thing happening to the hand that touched his.

    Yet, when he saw the owner of that delicate hand, his brows raised slightly. "Grace? What are you doing here?"

    Upon seeing a face that had only become more handsome since she last saw it, Grace''s eyes lit up in effulgent joy.

    She snatched his hand back to hers and beamed. "I never would have thought I''d be fortunate enough to meet you again so soon! And just as I was fidgeting while wondering if I should take out my phone and call you!"

    However, when she realized how forward she was being, she reluctantly let go of his hand and recoiled a few steps. "I-I didn''t mean to do that¡­ I-It''s just that I was excited to see you¡­ I even came to this bookstore because you said you were an avid book reader¡­" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She murmured the last part, but Cassius could clearly hear it with his Perception stat.

    He held his hand to his face and chortled a little, then laid a warm hand just between the imaginary bunny ears sticking up from her head. "I have been thinking about you as well, but I just wasn''t sure that you wanted to talk to me so soon after we last met up¡ª"

 Chapter 40 - 40: Protecting Ones Husband!

    "How could that be!?" Grace spoke uncharacteristically loudly, yet still held her ground. "You can contact me at any time! I will always be on the other end to answer! That is the least I can do after you saved¡­ my life¡­" She sniffled a little as her ears drooped.

    She recalled the terrible condition he was in after pushing her out of the way of that large truck. The memory made her feel terrible.

    *Pat, Pat.*

    Grace: "???"

    Cassius''s pats came down softer and more caring as his already kind smile became even kinder. "Adorable you are; a burden you are not," he said in a voice mimicking a certain green-colored wizened master. "Silly you are being; Not silly you should be."

    Grace''s beautiful face cracked into a wide smile, then outright laughter as she found what he said to be both sweet and unbelievably funny given the serious atmosphere. "...Hah¡­ Yo-You¡­ I-I think I might really like you¡­! I might like you a lot, a lot!"

    Under the peal of uncontrollable laughter and the vexed ramblings of the women still watching him, Cassius was unable to catch what exactly she said.

    "I think I might really fight you?" he parroted as best he could. "Is that what you said? But why would you want to fight me¡­? Maybe it''s because of the sword?"

    Flustered, Grace nervously waved her hands in front of his face. "N-No, that isn''t what I said¡­! J-Just forget all about it! All about it!" Her skin turned as red as a beet as she clasped his mouth with her hands, utterly unaware of their seemingly intimate skin contact.

    However, even if Grace herself hadn''t realized what she was doing, the owner of a pair of unusually swirling black eyes discreetly honed in on the hand movements of the meek brown-haired girl.

    Bella''s grip on the staircase tightened considerably, nearly shattering it, while her blackened eyes became even darker. Unknown thoughts bounced around inside her head as she put an index finger to her chin.

    Unbeknownst to all the die-hard fans gathered around Bella, an evilness tugged at her lips, briefly morphing her face into something overflowing with long-since concealed obsession and possession.

    ''...I had assumed the seal placed on his body to degrade his appearance and decrease his ability to lose weight would have lasted until adulthood, but¡­ it seems that is no longer the case¡­ The seal is weakening, which likely means that he will soon regain the unearthly charm that he had as an infant¡­''

    Bella''s eyes swirled dangerously as a black miasma seeped out of her seemingly benign visage. She secretly grated her teeth in anger, her frustration and killing intent growing the more Cassius interacted with Grace.

    ''It''s bad enough that the seal I asked my father to place on him is beginning to break, but to also have all these f*ing bitches tainting his presence with their cow tits¡­!! Damn it!!! My Cassius, near those bitches!! I won''t allow it!!!''

    Bella had meticulously planned everything out from the very beginning, even going so far as to conceal her true age and secretly repeat grades. She ensured that not even women with the lowest standards would fall in love with her man. And just as she had followed him to this bookstore and pulled some strings to get a job here, all in hopes of prematurely finalizing their soon-to-be marriage, Cassius''s seal had to go and start cracking!

    ''Daddy had promised me that my Cass''s seal would last until he turns 18, but it seems that was all a big fat lie!! Goshdammit!!!''

    Bella wanted to race over to the bothersome bitches¡ªespecially the cutesy brown-haired one¡ªand slaughter them all. But she knew very well that, even if she used her family''s power to cover up the legal consequences, her husband would begin to see her as some sort of monster. She wasn''t a monster! She just loved him so, so, so much!!

    Bella had been stalkin¡ª protecting her husband since he was in diapers, making extra sure that no whores could slip through the net and see the true him. Yet, during the few weeks that she had important business to attend to and couldn''t actively stal¡ª protect him, he had somehow become closely acquainted with a damn vixen!

    ''How could this have happened!? When!? I don''t understand why!! After all that I have done to ensure that he becomes mine through marriage and our family''s blood ritual, something like this occurs mere months before he turns 18!?''

    Since the very first moment Bella caught sight of baby Cassius when she was but five years old¡ªduring a meeting his real father held with hers¡ªshe immediately knew that there would be no one else in the world for her. His looks, even as a baby in diapers, were at the level of the gods. Just a flutter of one of his baby eyelashes was capable of inciting mass indoctrination.

    It was also because of his appearance that everyone else Bella met in the world looked exactly the same to her¡ªbland and plain. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The only one for her had always been Cassius, so she pleaded with her father to do away with his appearance, potential power, and anything else that could make him seem appealing. And after the mysterious Adam Steele suddenly disappeared one night, she was finally able to get her wish with the help of her father.

    Then came all the many years of planning, which should have led to a happily ever after¡ª

    ''Yet, what is all this shit!?'' Bella''s expression became explosively livid as she watched some dumb bitch fawning all over her Cassius. ''I want to kill her¡­! He''s mine, he''s mine! I want to kill her! I want to kill her! HE''S MINE!!!''

    She was nearly on the verge of losing it!

    Her dangerously sharp fangs gleamed under the bookstore''s romantic glow. Yet, before she exploded before the watchful eyes of so many people, she took a deep breath and calmed her twitching face.

 Chapter 41 - 41: A Yandere

    ''It was bad enough that my Cassius suddenly got a stepmother and stepsister out of nowhere, but if anyone knows Cassius best, it''s me. And I know he would never attempt anything with family,'' Bella thought evenly, trying her best to assuage her growing fury. ''But now that his appearance has partially returned, things have changed¡­''

    Black streaks covered her scary face, hiding beneath them two bottomless abysses. ''...I will truly have no other choice but to¡­ kill them. Every single one of them.''

    For but a brief instant, Bella morphed into a vampyric devil capable of eliciting absolute fear from the toughest of morsels. Yet, as quickly as it came, it disappeared just as fast.

    After a couple of minutes of conversing with the mellow-toned Grace, Cassius bid her farewell under the promise of taking her out again on their next day off. Bella, of course, saw this but did her absolute best to hold back her anger, instead replacing her livid expression with a friendly one.

    With her ''face'' put on, she made her way back down to the first floor, where she then came face-to-face with her hardworking coworker.

    "I see that you have been getting around as of late!" Bella raised her voice as she patted him on the back, causing him to stagger forward, even with the weights on his body weighing him down. "Not only are you lying to me, but you''re even secretly dating a cute girl! You sly dog~!" ''I''ll kill her.''

    Cassius felt something off but couldn''t quite put his finger on what that something was. Ultimately, though, he shrugged his shoulders and neutrally replied, "She isn''t my girlfriend. We met by chance after my accident, and then we met up afterward to wander around Hoshito."

    "Is that so¡­" ''I''ll kill her. I''ll kill her. I''ll bloody kill her!!! Wait¡­ Did he say accident? What accident??''

    Approaching this topic as best she could, Bella worriedly asked, "Accident?? Could it be that you got hurt over the last period of time??? Quick, let me see¡ª I mean, since we are on break, I am open to hearing about this incident of yours¡­" She nearly let a part of her true self slip, yet caught herself just in the nick of time.

    Cassius was really starting to feel this ominous, foreboding feeling itching at the back of his brain, but he couldn''t quite figure out what irked him so.

    ''It''s probably nothing¡­''

    His Perception Stat was not yet high enough to discern every minute detail and change of a crafty person, hence it was only natural that Bella''s nuances eluded him. Yet, to answer her question, he briefly explained to her what happened leading up to his accident and the brief period afterward.

    He could''ve sworn that he heard the faint sound of gnashing teeth toward the end of his retelling, but he also seemed to feel an intense unease and worry assault his senses.

    Cassius''s first thought was that Bella was directing these barely discernible emotions toward him, but he quickly dismissed that thought as soon as it arrived. He and the school beauty were not anywhere close enough for something like that. Yet that was also when he felt that ominous feeling again.

    Taking him out of his thoughts was the crisp, melodic voice of the girl before him. "I am sorry that all happened to you. Just let me know if you require any help from here on out; I will assist to the best of my abilities."

    "Yes¡­" Cassius replied, a bit of perplexity lingering in his pearl-blue irises. "Thanks for saying that. I will keep it in mind." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bella nodded in casual friendliness, then bowed her head slightly and walked away. She went back to conducting her work, whereas he was left standing there, feeling that something was incredibly off about that whole interaction.

    Yet, even with extensive contemplation, Cassius was unable to properly articulate his unease.

    Meanwhile, Bella stood above a wooden staircase with a mock smile etched onto her beautiful face. Under the gawks of her ''fans,'' her thoughts blazed into dangerous territories.

    ''I will have to kill all the damn vixens! That is the only way I can steer the train back on track!!''

    A creepy, malevolent giggle slightly escaped her moist throat. Yet she expertly concealed it with a cute hiccup that sent the hearts of the watching men aflutter.

    Ignoring the pestering gaze of a bunch of worms, Bella continued her train of thought. ''Once the bitches are dead, it will only be me in my Cass''s world¡­! And with his 18th birthday fast approaching, our marriage and blood contract will be cemented in stone!''

    Bella suddenly recalled the matter of his loosening seal, prompting her face to lightly twist in anger.

    ''My naive and innocent Cass could fight against the idea of the permanent blood contract, and it is unknown just how much of his power and potential he will regain before he turns 18¡­ Even though I''m confident in my strength when compared to all these blood bags, my husband is not like them¡­''

    Bella''s expression briefly emulated her complete infatuation, yet it was quickly overwhelmed by an unhealthy level of darkness.

    ''Even if it comes down to it, I''ll just need to force him down and explain everything to him afterward. He will surely understand why I did everything I did as long as I carefully explain it to him¡­! He must! It''s just me and him in this world, so what I know is something he will understand wholeheartedly!!!''

    With his enhanced hearing, Cassius could''ve sworn that he heard an insane peal of laughter resound from somewhere. However, with it disappearing in less than an instant, he had no time to track it back to its source. But with work about to end for today, he decided to cast the inexplicable matter aside and quicken his pace.

    His hands flitted across the bookshelves as he hastily grabbed returned books off a cart and precisely placed them in the right spots.

    To the onlookers, however, his movements were akin to streaks of lightning dancing to and fro from location to location. They had never seen anything quite like it, as it could only be described as a beautiful symphony of the hands.

 Chapter 42 - 42: A Confused Stalker

    For a long while, the stylish girls were left awed by the effortless display of suaveness by a young man who looked like he was preparing to take the lead role in a movie. Bella noticed this out of the corner of her eye, as she was always stealing glances at her man, but this only served to further solidify her goal to murder all the bitches who even so much as looked his way.

    Yet, there was also a part of her that was slightly astounded by the speed his hands flashed through the bookstore aisles.

    ''Has Cass already begun nearing the C-Rank in terms of speed?? But it has only been, at most, four weeks since his seal started to weaken¡­! If he keeps progressing at this rate, then even I might encounter some trouble when he turns 18!!''

    Bella was seriously debating whether she should abandon the original plan and take him away by force right here and now. However, that was when she remembered that run-down father of hers. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''My old man may be a pushover among the high nobility of Nightingale, but he is still a Duke-level vampire. As long as my hubby doesn''t exceed the limits of this world by the time he turns 18, I can just have that old codger help me take him away by force!''

    As if she had figured it all out, Bella snorted proudly and placed an especially ostentatious book on the top shelf of one of the many shelves in the large bookstore. After sorting through a few more, she shot a glance toward where Cassius just was, only to find that his cart was empty, with him now pushing it and a few other carts back to the front desk.

    Knowing that those carts were the last of the major workload for the day made Bella''s expression sour ever so slightly.

    Even though she knew it was inevitable that they had to part ways for now, it still greatly annoyed her to know that her hubby had become a delectable slab of steak to all of the blood-bag whores of this world. She wanted to kill everything again¡­ but she found herself achieving higher and higher levels of restraint.

    Bella was not usually one who knew when to take a step back, but for the sake of her happily-ever-after, she was willing to hold herself back. The last thing she wanted was her hubby''s ire and hate, which would naturally materialize if she killed all the bitches before they could be bonded by a blood contract. Yet none of that would matter after the blood contract, because a deep connection would be formed between both relevant parties.

    And once her hubby saw her immense love for him, he would certainly overlook the murder sprees she would dish out!

    Although Bella was expectant of the future, she still wore a barely visible expression of extreme sadness when she saw Cassius clock out for the day. That was when she remembered her having the same hours as he did.

    Not willing to waste even a single second of her potential time with him, she pulled upon a gust of wind from a nearby window.

    "Woah!"

    "What''s up with the wind in here!?"

    "I can''t see my goddess!"

    "Where did that handsome actor go!?"

    The intentional gust of wind temporarily obscured the vision of everyone in the bookstore, and in the same instant that the store doorbell rang with Cassius''s departure, Bella flashed from her spot. She moved so fast that not even a full afterimage could be produced in her wake.

    When she finally settled down, her elegant profile was already on the first floor, with the rest of her designated books somehow miraculously put in their correct places on the second floor.

    Bella''s tremendous speed far surpassed that of even A-Rank Hunters, yet not a single person was able to determine that she moved at all.

    When her devout fans saw their goddess briefly passing on the baton to the ones taking the next shift, they widened their eyes in bewilderment. They were put in even more of a stun lock when they saw that very same goddess race out the front door and catch up to the handsome bastard from before.

    For once, both the girls and the guys felt the same about this matter, as they seethed in frustration, envy, and jealousy¡­

    ¡ª---------

    Meanwhile, a few dozen steps outside Bookworm''s Haven.

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s senses perked up, prompting him to turn his head behind him, only to see the stunning profile of his coworker. "What are you doing out here?"

    "What? Am I not allowed to leave my shift as well?" Bella coldly sniffed, then adjusted her pace to his, with them both walking side by side.

    They received many stares due to their unnatural beauty, but neither paid any heed to the attention. Rather, they were too caught up in mulling over what the other was thinking to care about things like the ogling gawks of passersby.

    Answering her, Cassius shook his head. "You know that''s not what I meant¡­ I am just puzzled as to why you are following me."

    "Following you??" Bella snorted in displeasure. "You must really believe yourself to be quite the hotshot. Why would I purposefully follow you home? We are simply going in the same direction, as I have some business to attend to in C-block."

    Cassius nearly believed what she was saying, at least until she mentioned the name of his neighborhood. "How did you know that I lived in C-block?"

    He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, finding something especially off about the starry-eyed beauty.

    Bella''s eyelids nervously twitched, but she concealed it with an apathetic harrumph. "I just happened to see your address on your application paper when you came in at the same time as me for your interview¡­! Do you honestly think that I would have any reason to follow someone like you??"

    "Someone like me¡­" Cassius''s keen gleam quickly dimmed, instead replaced with a bit of glumness. "I guess someone like me would indeed not receive such treatment."

 Chapter 43 - 43: Youre more than just a Training Sword...?

    "A-As long as you''re aware! Hmph!" Bella struggled to retort, finding it even harder to avert her eyes from him. ''It wasn''t like I wanted to say something so mean, but if his confidence grows more than it needs to before our marriage, the bitches will be swarming him in droves!''

    ''Under no circumstances can I allow that to happen! Even if my hubby thinks less of me now, he will certainly understand why I did what I did in due time! S-Surely¡­''

    She couldn''t help but feel hesitant about the way she was doing things, but this was not the time to be getting cold feet. As long as she could hold out for another few months without caving in due to her own behavior, then her lifelong dreams would come to fruition! Just a while longer!

    Bella and Cassius were quiet most of the way back, but somewhere in the middle of the trip, he recalled that thing he had to do.

    Turning to the ethereal woman beside him, his pupils registered something that astonished him. Yet, as if it were all just an optical illusion, the crazed expression and aura he just witnessed vanished without a trace.

    Bella tilted her head in confusion, seemingly wondering why he was looking at her as if he had just seen a ghost.

    "Why are you staring at me? Are you perhaps¡­ enamored by my beauty¡ª" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No, it isn''t anything like that," replied Cassius. "I just thought I saw something there. But it must have been my imagination."

    "I see¡­" Bella''s eyes flickered a little out of focus; she was doing her utmost not to show how frustrated she was over his response. That was when she noticed the uncertain look in his gaze. "Is there somewhere you need to be? We aren''t in C-block yet¡­"

    Bella was hoping to spend more time with Cassius, but if he had to go, then it would only make her seem weird if she stopped him. And much to her dismay, he responded with a nod.

    "Yes, there is somewhere I have to go before returning home. I am sure that I have already kept you here for long enough, and my presence is likely making you very uncomfortable¡­ I know that you only trailed beside me because you thought it would hurt my feelings, and I appreciate it, but you don''t need to do something like that again. I can handle things like that, just the same as always."

    Seeing that warm smile had Bella''s heart beating like crazy. Yet she also felt a painful stinging sensation upon repeating his dispirited words inside her head.

    ''I know that he is only this way because of what I did to him, but I still feel like such a monster¡­ Love really is so very agonizing¡­''

    She forced a perfect smile on her face, then said, "I have no idea what you are talking about, but if you have somewhere you need to go, then be on your way. I won''t hold up your womanizing adventures any longer!"

    Bella spoke such things with a playfully disappointed expression, so it was no surprise that the weaker Cassius was unable to discern the truth of her feelings. He simply nodded before turning around.

    "You are wrong," he said while waving behind him. "Someone like me can only wonder what it would be like to call a woman my own. Someone pretty and nice like you, perhaps¡­?"

    "Haah¡­ What am I even saying anymore?"

    Cassius awkwardly scratched his head before turning around a corner. However, before completely vanishing from view, he spun on his heel and looked at the indiscernible expression of the black-haired goddess standing a few dozen feet away.

    "Would you like me to take you home first? I have something I need to do, but I can make time if it''s for you."

    Still utterly shell-shocked by what she had just heard come out of his mouth, Bella was left even more at a loss for words by the nonchalant sweetness oozing from his pink lips. She stood there, trembling in place. But with her sanity on the line and that irresistible man making his way back to her, she had to think fast.

    Covering her face with her hair, Bella waved her hands ahead. "T-There is no need for that! I am a C-Rank Awakener¡ªdon''t you remember¡­?? Why would I need you to walk me home? Plus, it''s not even past 4 p.m. yet! What are you¡ªmy dad??"

    Cassius stopped in his tracks, finding everything she said to make perfect sense. "I understand. Then have a nice rest of your day, Bella."

    "Y-Yes, I will. You as well¡­" Bella mumbled the last part, but he could still clearly hear it.

    ''Although she is harsh with her words some of the time, she is too nice for her own good,'' thought Cassius. ''I have no idea what that uneasy feeling was all about earlier, but it was probably nothing¡­''

    With that, he retraced his steps and once again turned around that corner, this time disappearing for good.

    Bella, on the other hand, was left in the middle of a desolate neighborhood street, with only the whistling wind and her thoughts to keep her company. There was also a black and orange cat prancing atop a brick wall, but it quickly recoiled and got the hell out of there as soon as it saw the deranged woman creepily mumbling to herself.

    None could understand what exactly she was saying, but it was most certainly a curse of some sort.

    *Achoo!*

    Cassius rubbed his nose after releasing a violent sneeze, wondering just who could be talking behind his back. Yet, after a second or two, he shook his head to disperse such distracting thoughts, instead putting all his focus on the matter he had been waiting for all day.

    "This will be my first regular Gate Experience, but I''m not really sure how I should actually go about it," he said thoughtfully, with the wooden sword by his side resonating for blood.

    "...What??" Question marks rose above his head. "You''re more than just a Training Sword¡­?"

 Chapter 44 - 44: Main Quest #2

    "...You''re more than just a Training Sword?" Cassius asked with raised brows, genuinely surprised.

    However, after half a minute of no response, he sighed in disappointment. "Seems you are not yet sentient, just bloodthirsty¡­ But who knows? Maybe that will change the more you and my Newbie Equipment get upgraded. Same thing goes for my Serrated Devil Blade¡­"

    Cassius briefly admired the intimidating tattoo etched across his right arm before pulling out a dotted holographic map. "Time to decide which one I should go to first."

    From what little he knew about the world of Hunters, the White Tier Gates correlated to the F-Rank, Orange for E-Rank, Green for D-Rank, and so on and so forth, with Purple Gates representing the A-Rank.

    Now, this begged the question: why was the highest rank only of the A-Rank? Naturally, this was because Gates became increasingly tougher the higher the Rank.

    To clear even the weakest of Purple Tier Gates would require dozens of S-Rank Hunters working together in seamless harmony. As for the strongest of Purple Gates¡­ Well, it was a good thing that Japan had only ever experienced those of the Mid-Tier. Unlike some more unfortunate countries, such as America or Russia, Japan came out on the luckier side of things.

    Yet, even though Mid-Tier Purple Gates weren''t considered world-ending Gates, Japan nearly went extinct on more than one occasion.

    FWIP!

    While casually thinking about the different Gate ranks, Cassius vanished from his spot using the D- Skill |Shadow Step|.

    *Ding!*

    [|Shadow Step (D-)| leveled up from ''Lvl 2'' ¡ú ''Lvl 3'']

    Cassius''s brows furrowed in interest, yet that didn''t stop him from blurring to and from rooftops. Even though it was midday, nobody would pay any attention to a slightly abnormal shadow, especially when the shadow in question had expertly synced up with the shadows of the surroundings.

    As he inconspicuously raced through the neighborhoods of Hoshito, Cassius realized that the Gate he was aiming for was coming up. To the left, a few hundred meters away, groups of men and women in shiny armor were speaking a whole lot of nothing with one another.

    The stealthy shadow in the distance had an exceptionally handsome man emerge from within, with his cold gaze scanning through the gathered Hunters.

    ''The D- Gate known as the ''Kobold''s Catacombs'','' thought Cassius as his eyes traced up toward the small building-sized oval-shaped mass of green cosmic energies. ''Among D-Rank Gates, it can be considered to be near the very bottom of the barrel. But as opposed to a strong E-Rank Gate like ''Savage Jungle,'' it is still leagues ahead in terms of both terrain difficulty and the strength of the monsters within. Monsters which will undoubtedly be Kobolds¡ªhuman-sized bipedal dogs that know only death and cruelty.''

    It was definitely the most optimal choice for someone''s first D-Rank Gate, but it was still something that would prove a serious challenge if Cassius were to go at it himself.

    Acquiring a few teammates from among the Hunters gathered below was certainly an option, but they would no doubt be untrustworthy. And they were also likely to just hold him back rather than assist him. Furthermore, it didn''t seem like the Idle Evolution System very much appreciated that thought¡­

    *Ding!*

    {[Main Quest 2]}

    ¡ª[Solo Conquer the D- Gate ''Kobold''s Catacombs''] - [DO NOT get the help of any others.] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª[If you do, the system will have deemed your character development as being lacking, thus creating weakness in your soul and body. As a result of this, you will lose a leg of your choice and experience 12 hours of horror in the Land of Nightmares! All to counteract the lack of character development.]

    [Reward 1: 2 Stat Points in Strength, 1 in Agility, 1 in Defense, 2 in Endurance, and 3 in Perception.]

    [Reward 2: 5 AP]

    [Reward 3: ''Troll System'' Idle Benefit #2 will be unlocked.]

    [Reward 4: ''Are you looking to get face-slapped?'']

    Cassius had a few things he was curious about upon viewing the rewards. However, he, more than anyone else, knew that the Idle Evolution System would never do anything that could be seen as coming easy to him.

    It was with a resigned sigh that he turned his attention away from the 2nd Main Quest Mission and the system itself, instead focusing on the quarantined zone below.

    ''I saw it in the nearly identical set of memories of the previous me in this body, but it seems that it really is true,'' Cassius thought keenly as he phased over a few more buildings before finding himself outside a small group of nosy onlookers. ''The Gates are like attractions in this world, with the government taking a carefree approach to the management of most Gates.''

    Looking around, he saw not a single government official or guard in the area. The only things preventing the citizens from getting too close to the Gate and accidentally getting sucked in were local police officers and a thick line of caution tape. Moreover, of the few officers that were there, not a single one had power greater than the F-Rank, with the majority of them not even having awakened.

    Cassius was intent on figuring out more about why the Gate security was so lax. Coincidentally, among the sea of busybody citizens grouped up outside the caution tape, there were those who loved to gossip.

    "Have you heard about the new law placed on the management of Gates?? It is said that our government no longer believes it to be necessary to prioritize higher manpower outside Gates, mainly because of the sudden increase in Purple Gates worldwide!"

    ''How¡­ convenient of a conversation topic¡­'' Cassius thought in passing.

    "Yep, our government, like many others, can no longer afford to station more powerful people outside the Gates that they use to farm materials. Like the Kobold''s Catacombs, which has been repeatedly cleared by the Hunter Guilds, all of the other Red-ranked and below Gates have long since been left out in the open!"

    "Yeah, well, not like the government has to worry about anyone non-related to a raid going into a Gate. That is unless they have a death wish!"

    Cassius: "...."

 Chapter 45 - 45: Main Quest 2 Urgent Quest Upgrade

    Cassius found his eyes leaving the rowdy pedestrians and instead honing in on the strapped-up Hunters chatting away with one another. Contrary to the matter of safety, they were speaking as if everything was already in the bag, with them only needing to claim all the rewards.

    "The Kobold''s Catacombs!" A young man with spiky, unorthodox hair primed his long spear as he pointed it at the large green Gate. "This is our third time entering this Gate, and it is sure to be a breeze to conquer, just like all the times before!"

    "Haiz¡­" A robust, broad-shouldered man shook his head in exasperation. "It seems that Isaac is at it again. I keep telling him not to be so cocky. After all, anything unexpected could happen in a Gate, even in ones that have been cleared repeatedly."

    "Haha!" A pirate-like woman cracked a laugh at the big man''s misfortune. "You really shouldn''t bother yourself so much with Isaac, Squad Leader. He will always be so spirited, and I highly doubt that will ever change, no matter how much you nag him about it!"

    The Squad Leader heaved a tired sigh. "I fear that you are right, Jessica," he lamented. "But even if that is the case, I should still do my best to lead him onto a path that won''t lead to his ruin."

    Jessica chortled at his chivalry but still complied with a nod before rejoining the rest of her teammates in formation.

    As one of the leading strike forces of the D-Rank Guild ''Hot Hawaiian Soup,'' they had long since memorized the motions they should make before heading into another Gate.

    The Squad Leader, John, nodded in approval at his squad''s coordination and ability to follow instructions even without being explicitly directed.

    Clearing his throat, he raised his voice enough to put his uplifting, husky tone on full display. "As you all are well aware, excluding the two newbies we have with us today, we have experienced this exact Gate before. So you should also know that the D-Rank Gate ''Kobold''s Catacombs'' needs to be cleared twice a day, and we just happen to have the second slot booked."

    "The dangers of this Gate are plentiful, as there will be Low E-Rank monsters like regular Kobolds, Peak E-Rank monsters like Kobold Elites, and then all the way up to powerful D-Rank monsters like the Kobold Chieftains and Kobold Warrior Lords. If we are fortunate, we might even encounter something stronger, such as the Mid D-Rank Kobold Titan boss monster! That would be far more lucrative to kill than the usual Low D-Rank monster boss, the Kobold Champion, which we faced the last two times we raided this Gate!"

    "All in all, we have come to better fill our pockets! And that means we need to give it our all in order to clear the Gate and take everything that it''s worth!!!" he encouraged, occasionally glancing at a short black-haired Hunter, worry filling his heart.

    "HOOORAAAAHH!!!"

    Unaware of their leader''s trepidation, the crowd of Hunters cheered in response, with all twenty-two of them marching behind him into the eerily crackling Gate. It was also during this time that a shadowy figure flipped his darkened hood up and slipped through the supportive swarms of pedestrians. That same shadow passed right by the police officers who were keeping the peace, and then with even greater ease, Cassius allowed himself to be sucked into the green Gate.

    The |Shadow Step| Skill had become an incredibly useful skill to him over this recent period of time. However, it was not the only skill that he had been working to level up, as any barely noticeable active skills and, of course, the passive skills, were being constantly performed.

    To increase the proficiency of a skill, one had to continue using it. Hence, it was only natural that Cassius burned through good chunks of his MP and stamina to ceaselessly improve his various aspects of existence.

    The Idle Evolution System would surely sing in praise at this admirable mindset. Most definitely.

    After passing over into the other side of the D-Rank Gate ''Kobold''s Catacombs,'' Cassius immediately noticed something unusual. Assaulting his nostrils was the faint smell of blood, but rather than it belonging to a Kobold, it smelled of human origins. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was also in this moment that he received another forlorn system notification¡­

    *Ding!*

    [Main Quest 2: Urgent Quest Upgrade!]

    ¡ª[Due to a freak change in the quality of Gate Energy in Japan, one or two Gates have suddenly and instantly had their ranks increased!]

    ¡ª[|D- Rank Kobold''s Catacombs| ¡ú |D+ Kobold''s Catacombs|] ¨C [It is recommended that the host learn how to roll.]

    [Bonus Reward 1]: 10 AP

    [Bonus Reward 2]: 5 Common Grade Evoballs

    [Bonus Reward 3]: 1 ''Heap of EXP''

    [Warning! Upon failure to complete the Quest, you will¡­ lose everything but your life! But even if that unfortunate eventuality does occur, you might be able to earn it all back in the Land of Nightmares!]]

    "Learn how to wha¡ª" Before Cassius could even reach the reward section of the Quest, a blade gleam flashed out of the corner of his eye, aiming to cleave off his head.

    "!!!"

    Doing just as the system suggested, he tucked and rolled, just as he had seen characters do in Damned Souls games. Yet, even that was not enough to get him entirely out of danger. After the miss of the first strike, another one thundered down, this time accompanied by two more strikes. All seemed to stem from the same blade, yet all slashed out nearly simultaneously.

    Cassius immediately recognized a high skill level being used against him, which prompted him to use a signature skill of his own.

    |Shadow Step (D-) (Lvl 3)|

    FWIP!

    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

    The three consecutive sword strikes passed harmlessly through a tangible afterimage of their target. They collided against a hard, sleek rock surface, causing sparks to fly. With the dark space suddenly brightened, the mysterious attacker''s savage eyes widened upon seeing an icy face appear directly in front of it.

    Yet, thinking unnaturally quickly and intelligently for a mere monster, it sidestepped its three-meter figure to the left.

    "It''s too late for that."

 Chapter 46 - 46: Killing Kobolds

    "It''s too late for that," Cassius said coldly, with the badass tattoo on his right arm having already transformed into a crimson glowing blade. While still holding onto his heavy training sword with his free arm, he slashed down using his entire body weight, which included the weight of his Newbie Equipment Set.

    SHING!

    Following a sparkling flash of bloody sword light, Cassius reappeared behind the tall, bipedal dog monster. His expression appeared rather displeased, despite the fact that the monster had multiple blood ruptures burst across its lifeless corpse.

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed an E+ Tall Elite Kobold!]

    [Experience bar moderately moved!]

    "With my Newbie Equipment 1 Set on, even a monster substantially weaker than I am is able to corner me as so," said Cassius. "If not for my speed being in another league, I might have had some issues without taking off my Newbie Equipment."

    Having gotten used to the sadism of the Idle Evolution System, he felt that it was only right to push himself at all times, even while in a situation like this one. This was why he felt compelled to keep his Newbie Equipment 1 Set and Newbie 1 Sword equipped. Unless death was a certain matter, he would try his best to hold on.

    "Now, with it dead, that means I can finally get one of those." Cassius''s striking blue eyes fell on an orangish three-pointed glowing object embedded in the protruding rib bones of the mangled Kobold corpse. "That is definitely a Magic Shard, and it is of the High E-Rank, which means that it''s worth upward of five hundred dollars. As far as I''m aware, something like this would normally be quite hard to come by in a Gate like this one. Yet¡­ there appear to be countless monsters just as strong if not stronger than this one here¡­"

    Cassius''s perceptive eyes caught the personal energy aura signatures of hundreds of formidable monsters, with not a single one weaker than the one whom he had just faced.

    Realizing that a tough and prolonged battle surely waited in store for him, he quickly extracted the Magic Shard and collected it inside his Inventory Space before sharpening his gaze against the sudden appearance of several giant bipedal dog monsters.

    "GRGhhhh!!!"

    The same moment that their primitive roars reverberated through the lush forest environment, Cassius felt a wave of dread wash over him. It didn''t stem from his own sense of terror, but because of the effects of Fear-inducing Skills, all similar to the ones used by the monsters in the E-Rank Savage Jungle Gate.

    Taking advantage of the period that their target needed to negate the Fear effects, the E+ Tall Kobold Elites lunged at him. Their hideous mouths were hung wide open, with their razor-sharp teeth ready to tear into some fresh meat.

    However, with a simple heel flick, Cassius evaded their yawning jaws, all while forcefully ignoring the effects of Fear through sheer willpower. The Tall Kobold Elites were still momentarily shocked over not tasting the deliciousness of human blood when, out of nowhere, a crimson jagged blade slashed the backs of their necks. Their eyelids closed for good in the very next instant, with the life in their eyes having already eluded the rest of their existence.

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed 4 E+ Tall Kobold Elites!]

    [Your EXP bar has greatly moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You obtained 2 AP!]

    [You received 1 Stat Point in each of your Main Attributes!]

    After feeling a lofty amount of power rush through every fiber of his being, Cassius briefly glanced at his system interface. He was pleased to see that he had finally advanced to Lvl 18. But with innumerable more monsters just waiting to fall under his blade in this D+ Rank Gate, he was sure to experience plenty more power-ups.

    BZZZzzzzttt¡­

    Hearing a faint buzzing sound come from his right hand, Cassius looked down. The Serrated Devil Blade was buzzing in a lively manner, with it seemingly trying to pull the blood of the Kobold corpses toward it.

    ''Is it trying to evolve as well¡­?''

    Curious to see what would happen, Cassius let the blade do what it wanted, which led to an instantaneous blood spurt for the Kobold corpses. The blood trickling out of their injuries defied gravity and levitated in an upward diagonal direction toward the upright Serrated Devil Blade. And then, completely out of expectations, the blood splashed against the blade before seeping into its surface.

    "This is¡­ unexpected¡­" Cassius watched with a bit of awe as his tattoo blade absorbed every droplet of blood from the first and last four E+ Tall Kobold Elites corpses. "What will happen next I wonder¡ª?"

    Just as he asked that, a system notification rang out, which only served to further improve his mood.

    *Ding!*

    [|Serrated Devil Blade (D-)| has devoured dozens of gallons of E+ Common monster blood!]

    [|Serrated Devil Blade (D-)| ¨C |Attack+3| ¨C |Nears the Neutral D-Rank|]

    Cassius''s brows raised in intrigue. "It seems like this Blade now has the ability to devour the blood of enemies, which it can then use to increase its own stats and potentially even rank up?"

    Realizing just what this could mean for the future, he decided to cherish the Serrated Devil Blade even more. "...Speaking of which, I think this is an appropriate time to give you a new name¡­" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Serrated Devil Blade vibrated positively in response, sending Cassius into a state of deep thought.

    After a few moments of quick thinking thanks to his Perception Stat, his eyes brightened like light bulbs. He held the sword closer to his face and tightened his grip. "Your name," he declared. "It shall be Lilith!"

    OOOM!

    Lilith erupted in an effulgent myriad of scarlet energies. For a semi-intelligent item Spirit, a name meant a lot more than a tag for which someone could call you by. It was something far more than temporary, especially when it was bestowed by the master of the item. Furthermore, it often signified the potential path that could be taken by the item and subsequently, by its master.

 Chapter 47 - 47: Devil Blade Lilith (D-Rank)

    *Ding!*

    [|Serrated Devil Blade (D-)| has evolved into the |Devil Blade: Lilith| and directly evolved to the (D) rank from the (D-) rank.]

    [Devil Blade: Lilith (Melee/Extend)] - [D Rank]

    |¡ª[Attack: ~37]¡ª|

    {[Effect 1: ''Bleed'' - (Depletes 1.5% Health every second for up to a total of ten seconds. Can be stacked.)]}

    {[Effect 2: ''Serrate'' - (Can partially negate the defenses of stronger opponents. Up to 35% Enemy Defense reduction.)]}

    {[Effect 3: ''Drain/Devour'' - (Extracts the blood from corpses and substantially weaker living beings until they dry up like empty husks. Converts the absorbed blood into strength.)]}

    "Not only has the direct attack stat improved, but the first two Effects have become better, and the third Effect has fully solidified," Cassius commented with a hint of contentment. "I was a little worried that I wouldn''t have anything to test the new and improved Lilith on, but it seems my worries were unnecessary¡­"

    *Rustle, rustle, rustle.*

    Dozens of fuzzy, gnarly heads emerged from the nearby dug-out cavern holes. Numerous E+ Tall Kobold Elites bared their bloody fangs, clearly returning from a prosperous hunt. They seemed satisfied with the human meal they had just shared with their superiors¡ªyet there appeared to be one human who lagged behind. And who were they to deny a free meal?

    Cassius''s eyes glowed coldly. "Bunch of mangy mutts," he scoffed before collecting his Magic Shards from the scattered corpses.

    After calmly storing them all away, he shifted his gaze between the gathered E+ Tall Kobold Elites. He noticed the fresh blood drizzling from their disgusting mouths, almost instantly putting two and two together.

    His eyes flashed colder, yet he maintained his composure. ''Even if they were fellow humans, this is no longer my previous world,'' he thought apathetically, his tone devoid of emotion. ''Surviving is no longer differentiated between race, nationality, religion, or ethnicity¡­ It is simply surviving. And those Hunters simply weren''t able to survive.''

    Cassius unlatched the separate pieces of Lilith, letting them sway with a dangerous flow. "I, however, will not allow myself to die." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Graaghh!!!" Ten Tall Kobold Elites bellowed furiously, just now noticing the corpses of their fallen brethren strewn about. ''You will die!!!'' they seemed to say as they rabidly leapt at him, sharp claws prepared to gouge out his throat.

    Yet, in the same instant that a good chunk of the Tall Kobold Elites cornered him, Cassius lightly spun his wrist, causing Lilith to whip around. Then, under the horrified eyes of the remaining twenty-five Tall Kobold Elites, the ten who ran out first were diced into bloody chunks.

    A cold gleam passed through Cassius''s piercing blue eyes as he beckoned Lilith to visibly shrivel up the deceased Kobolds and absorb their blood.

    *Ding!*

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has absorbed several hundred gallons of E+ Common monster blood!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| - |Attack +2|]

    While glancing over the most recent system notifications, Cassius planted his feet into the ground. Then he blurred.

    When he left the speed stream, Lilith''s jagged edges had already sunk into the skin of another fifteen Tall Kobold Elites. Just like the fifteen that came before, they too were squeezed of their lifeforce.

    POP! POP! POP!

    "Although you bunch are quite strong, you simply aren''t¡­ fast enough," Cassius uttered while casually looking at the bloody catastrophe left in his wake. "I must commend you on your ability to continue fighting even despite the odds, though."

    "Rooorgghhh!!!" The remaining ten Tall Kobold Elites roared at the top of their lungs.

    Yet that made no difference¡­

    SHING! SHING!

    Cassius effortlessly spun his dominant arm around a few times, sending the magnetic pieces of Lilith spiraling through the tough outer hides of the Kobolds. Yet, as if they were as soft as pudding, Lilith''s edges sliced through them, creating a magnificent bloody spectacle.

    Cassius''s body cracked audibly as he relaxed, calming his immense speed. After assuaging his active cells, he searched through the corpses of the Tall Kobold Elites and collected their Magic Shards.

    During the same time, a couple of system notifications rang out:

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed 35 E+ Tall Kobold Elites!]

    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has devoured thousands of gallons of E+ Common monster blood!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| - |Attack +4|]

    Cassius''s brows creased in slight disappointment. "No level up even after killing so many of them, and my bar is only a tenth of the way filled," he lamented. "...Well, I guess a level up arriving so easily wouldn''t make any sense, especially not when it comes to this masochist system¡­"

    Speaking of the devil¡­

    *Ding~!*

    {[Main Quest 2 Urgent Modification #2]}

    ¡ª[Side Quest Add-on (D+)]

    ¡ª[The strike force sent by the Hot Hawaiian Soup D-Rank Hunter Guild has been wiped out by the unusually powerful Kobolds. But there was one survivor¡­ A young raven-haired girl who was secretly brought along to experience a ''safe'' Gate by her father, the Squad Captain, John.]

    ¡ª[Save the girl known as Memphis, and be rewarded for your heroism with the tiniest bit less disdain by the system!]

    [Hint: She has been brought back to the Kobold King''s Lair in the deepest depths of the Kobold Catacombs, all so as to service him and produce heirs. (Have a heart.)]

    [Reward 1: Slightly less disdain from the Idle Evolution System]

    [Reward 2: 5 AP]

    [Reward 3: The gratitude of a pretty girl who is about to awaken as an S-Rank Awakener] ¨C (Don''t make this weird¡­)

    [Upon Failure: Just kill yourself at this point. You have no reason left to live in this world, you deplorable scum ^_^]

    Cassius''s face maintained a blank look for a few seconds, as something inside him told him the system was judging him. ''Does it think I''m a perverted criminal or something¡­? Why is it always doing this¡­? Haiz¡­''

    Ultimately, he shook his head with a sigh and accepted the quest before sliding the screen to the right. He was quite interested in what a future S-Rank Awakener would look like, so he would have done it with or without the additional rewards.

    Though, they did wonders to soothe his poverty-stricken heart¡­

 Chapter 48 - 48: Lvl 21, {[Advent Devil (D+)]}

    After casually resolving himself to search for this missing and likely terrified girl in the depths of the Catacombs, Cassius ventured toward said depths himself. He sauntered through dimly lit intersecting tunnels, all of which ended up leading deeper and deeper into the land of the Kobolds. Of which he met plenty on his journey.

    Five minutes quickly passed.

    Our intrepid protagonist now sat atop a small hill of varying-sized Kobolds, some scarier-looking than others. He nonchalantly laid his chin against his fist, with his icy blue eyes glued on the changes brought about in his system interface.

    BLING!

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 21]

    [Title: Advent Devil (D+)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 2050/2050] [MP: 3400]

    [FATIGUE: 13]. [AP: 50]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 51] (Try casually kicking cars. It might work.)

    [AGILITY: 91] (Mach 1. Produce air donuts in your wake.)

    [ENDURANCE: 46] (Try getting a woman, it might work out. But then again¡­)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 48] (Looking to obtain Sage status already?)

    [PERCEPTION: 50] (If you squint hard enough, you can probably see through a woman''s clothing.)

    [CHARISMA: 26] (Experienced Model-level)

    {[Skills:]}

    [Shadow Step (A)(D-)(Lvl3)], [Muscularity (P)(F-)(Lvl4], [Slash (A)(F)(Lvl4], [Sprint (A)(F)(Lvl3]

    [Harden (A)(E+)(Lvl3)], [Extreme Fortitude (P)(E-)(Lvl3)], [Mind Focus (P)(F)(Lvl3)], [Tinker Tools (P)(F)(Lvl3]..... ¨C[Extend to see more¡­]

    _______________________________

    "My Title ranked up?" Cassius''s interest was drawn to his Title section, where the Advent Devil Title now had a ''+'' next to it. "Now that I think about it, I never really delved into that Title. It kind of just appeared after clearing the E-Rank Gate ''Savage Jungle.''"

    Wishing to understand what this Title actually meant for him, he pulled up all relevant details, which led to another blue illusory screen materializing into view.

    BLING!

    {[Advent Devil (D+)]}

    ¡ª[Effect 1: Increased terror image before living beings of weaker strength]

    ¡ª[Effect 2: All blood stained on your hands leads to the improvement of a ''Killing Intent,'' which surrounds your body at all times, unless you will it not to. (Will appear bloody and savage to others, and will become worse the more you kill. Possibility to stun weak-willed foes.)]

    Cassius was left speechless at the seemingly useless effects of his Title. "Maybe it will obtain better effects the more it levels up," he mused optimistically.

    Not wishing to think any more on the matter, he turned his attention toward the mercilessly glowing red eyes making their appearances in the burrowed holes placed throughout the Catacombs.

    "It seems like the fun has only just started," he declared in a tone bereft of emotion. He pulled Lilith out of the massive mangled corpse of a D- Kobold Lord, his eyes now peering through the darkness and spotting nearly a dozen similar Kobold Lords. "It''s no wonder that the previous Hunter Party embraced death in these Catacombs¡­ But if you think I''ll be the same easy prey, you are sorely mistaken." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Kakaka!!!" The Kobolds jeered in response, cackling through their toothy mouths. Drool and blood spewed out of those same putrid pits as they multiplied in quantity, all surrounding a prey that was far outnumbered.

    Cassius counted hundreds of E+ Kobolds, dozens of D- Kobolds, and one who sat in the back. This one was presumably in the D Rank, which would surely¡­ be fun to fight.

    "Tell me," began Cassius, his stalwart figure blurring in and out of view, "¡ªcan you even¡­ see me?"

    Fwooop!

    Like a blur of black and scarlet, the lone human vanished from the Kobolds'' sight.

    Through many improvements to the Agility stat, Cassius had brought his speed to the very pinnacle of the D-Rank, only a few steps away from the C-Rank. Now, what did this mean for the unsuspecting Kobolds still smugly mocking the ''weak'' human?

    SHING! SHING!

    "So, were you able to see me?" asked Cassius as he reattached Lilith to his arm, causing her to euphorically shimmer in response. Yet, after a couple of seconds of hearing nothing come back, he wordlessly huffed. "It seems I expected too much from a bunch of mutts."

    SPURT! SPURT!

    Hundreds of Kobolds burst into bloody fireworks in the same instant, all dying with satirical expressions. They left for the afterlife without even knowing how they died. That was¡­ besides one¡­

    "Oh?" Cassius stopped in his tracks, yet did not take out Lilith again. "It looks like you were able to see me¡­" He cocked his head slightly to the left, presenting a terrifying view for the Kobold Titan.

    It was a D-Rank monster that had lived knowing it was one of the most powerful beings among the Kobold ranks. Other than its King and a couple dozen other strong Kobolds, it should have been the undisputed strongest Kobold around! Even when it came to the previous overconfident party of Hunters, all it needed was itself, a few Kobold Lords, and a Kobold Champion to overwhelm them!

    Now, here it was¡­ struggling to merely keep its balance after enduring an onslaught of unbelievably swift and sharp slashes. It felt its skin peel off and its blood gush out. Yet, more than that, it felt an indescribable sense of terror upon watching the tiny humanoid figure cloaked in black. Its pupils dilated and shook erratically as it staggered backward.

    The Kobold Titan didn''t know why, but seeing that monster slowly approaching it with eerily glowing blue eyes scared the wits out of it! How could something with no aura possibly be so powerful!? All of its forces had died in an instant, and the only thing it saw were the apathetic afterimages that phased through the area, following death after death!

    "Why are you just standing there?" Cassius stood just below the towering figure of the five-meter Kobold Titan. Suddenly realizing something from the excessive perspiration of the Kobold, his lips curled up into a scarily amused grin.

    "...Are you perhaps¡­ scared?"

    "!!!"

    The Kobold Titan stumbled backward, crashing into the stone wall closest to it. Pure fear was etched across its animalistic features, yet that didn''t stop the soft, thunderous footsteps from ringing out louder in its ears!

 Chapter 49 - 49: The Kobold King

    Cassius had originally contemplated taking off a couple of his Newbie Equipment 1 pieces after seeing that the Kobold Titan had survived. But it looked like his contemplation was unnecessary. The Kobold Titan had only survived due to a miraculous bout of luck, and because none of his attacks had hit its vitals.

    Now, however¡­

    "Tell me," Cassius repeated as lightning crackled beneath his soles. "...Can you even¡­"

    FWIP! SHING! SPURT!

    "¡­see me?"

    Without even taking out Lilith, Cassius blasted through the other end of the Kobold Titan using the momentum behind the front end of his Newbie 1 Training Sword. Somehow, the wooden sword emerged from this gruesome display without a single scratch on it.

    Cassius''s eyes flashed with momentary disappointment. "It seems that, in the end, you never really could see me," he muttered before disappearing from the area, taking with him the Magic Shards of all the surrounding corpses.

    While he ventured further and further into the perilous caverns of the dangerous D+ Gate, a young girl of around sixteen was being carried through various rocky corridors. Tears streamed down her face, the dread having long since settled in.

    Memphis realized very early on that resistance was futile, as the massive Kobold lugging her around like a pinto bean had¡­ killed her father with a single strike.

    She teared up more upon thinking of the cruel way her father had been split in half. However, nothing seemed to come out, as her tear stock had run dry. It was also this event that made her realize the grim truth of the situation.

    Memphis believed everything that had happened was her fault¡ªfrom the courageous death of her father after protecting her to the way she begged him to give her this opportunity to see what a Gate was really like. Every moment after they were first ambushed by abnormally powerful Kobolds had been filled with regret. She should have never come into the Gate. She should''ve just enjoyed her summer days off.

    ''M-Maybe¡­ Maybe if I never came, my dad and his friends wouldn''t have¡­ died¡­''

    Memphis''s depressing thoughts swirled around unrelentingly as the D+ monster known as the Kobold Goliath General brought her to a large metallic door. It stood in at dozens of meters tall, with deathly skulls embedded into the metal that made up its surface.

    After a brief moment of silence, the door slowly creaked open, and the Kobold Goliath, along with the other high-ranking Kobolds, began their trot into the space beyond. Large torches lined the lumpy stone walls of an area that stretched forward for a seemingly infinite distance. Yet, within minutes of walking through the hallway, the Kobold Goliath and the others reached a wide, spacious area with an even greater number of torches illuminating the surroundings.

    As soon as a three-meter, imperious figure sitting atop a bloody throne came into view, the Kobold Goliath and the other Kobolds hit the ground and bowed.

    The Kobold King raised his awe-inspiringly sturdy hand, commanding them all to rise, which they did.

    "What is this?" A deep, profoundly savage voice resounded through the gory throne room. Just his voice was enough to spike fear through the hearts of all the Kobolds, though a few of them managed to suppress their fear outwardly.

    Speaking up, the Kobold Goliath addressed its King in the Kobold tongue. "I have brought you a concubine, my Lord! This female human is very beautiful and will surely make an excellent addition to your collection!"

    "As the mightiest King of the Kobolds, you can never have too many lovers! And with those annoying races outside preventing your greatness from taking whomever you please, otherworlders like these are perfect for someone as magnificent as the King!"

    The Kobold King tapped his throne in interest. "Is what you say really the truth? Is she one of the most beautiful among the humans?" he asked, his tone brooking no falsehoods.

    The Kobold Goliath vehemently shook its head, sweat raining down its hideous, dog-like face. "I am positive that this one is among the best that the inferior human species has to offer! Here, I will present her before you, sire!!" An obsequious smile emerged on its face as it picked up the despairing girl with a single hand and placed her a few dozen feet away from its King. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even from such a distance, the Kobold King could clearly make out the exquisite facial features of the girl who had lost all hope. He repeatedly nodded, pleased with what he was seeing. "It looks like you were right this time, Goliath. But why is it crying?"

    The Kobold Goliath threw a menacing glare in Memphis''s direction, causing her to shudder in immense fright. She truly felt she was better off dead. Although she couldn''t understand what these horrid monsters were saying, the intent was practically tangible.

    For most of Memphis''s life, her father had always told her to preserve her purity for the man she truly loved and wait until after marriage. She had adhered to those words until now, even after receiving more confessions at school than she could count. Yet now¡­

    Memphis''s grayed eyes flickered in absolute horror as she noticed the presence of lust in the enormous eyes of the Kobold King. The monstrous creature scanned her from head to toe, its expression gingerly glazing over as it took in more.

    It had to admit that, of all the human females it had captured, she was the most marvelous.

    Answering the King''s question, the Kobold Goliath stuttered nervously, "M-My Lord¡­ You know how these fragile creatures are. They cry over anything¡­" Feeling something life-threatening in the King''s expression, the Goliath hurriedly added, "B-But, of course, my Lord, if this worm knew it was you whom she would be servicing and bearing children for, she would be beyond overjoyed!!"

    "Hmm¡­" The Kobold King calmed his killing intent, instead refocusing on the sorrowful human female. An invisible force suddenly pulled his lips into a crude, sadistic grin. "Well, I really don''t mind if they are crying, or even if they are resistant. After all, it is far more fun when they struggle! Jajaja!!"

 Chapter 50 - 50: Memphis, Facing the Kobold King

    A peal of boisterous laughter silenced the fears of the Kobold Goliath and any others who might''ve gotten caught in the crossfire of their king''s short temper. They heaved sighs of relief, and when their king nonchalantly waved them off without even looking their way, they immediately took their chance to skedaddle.

    However, just as they were about to vacate the pungent throne room, the distinct sound of sword clangs echoed in from outside. And then, with none of them knowing better, seven High D-Rank Kobold Royal Guards crashed through the throne room doors! They blasted all the way to the steps of the Kobold King''s throne, with their massive bodies and faces battered beyond recognition.

    No life was left in their bloodless husks.

    The Kobold King was about to dine on the small girl, wearing a disgusting look on his face, when he abruptly froze in place. Slowly, he turned his livid expression toward the source of the disturbance. Wrath washed over every fiber of his being as his slitted eyes visibly lit aflame.

    "Who dares create trouble in my Royal Throne Room!? Are you wishing for death!? Even the Orcs of the East and the Lizardmen to the West know not to come here and do as they please unless they have a death wish!! So, who are you and what faction are you from¡ª!?"

    That was when the Kobold King saw the relatively short silhouette of a smoky, hooded figure. The figure held onto the gigantic head of a D+ Kobold Royal Guard, with his deathly blue eyes searching through the unfamiliar environment for something. Blood constantly leaked out of the Royal Guard''s corpse and magically seeped into the surface of a terrifyingly sharp blade. This left the Kobold Royal Guard in the same shriveled-up state as the others.

    As everything in the throne room was still taken aback by his out-of-the-blue appearance, Cassius finally found who he was looking for. He also saw a smaller Kobold in possession of a presence that far outweighed the rest of the scrubs in the extremely wide room.

    "Are you the boss monster?" he casually asked, not caring a single bit about the venomous glares emerging among the Kobold extras. Yet, all he received in response to this silence-shattering question was a bunch of unintelligible grunting and bellowing from the three-meter Kobold.

    Realizing that questioning was surely going to get him nowhere, Cassius decided to get closer and convey his intent a different way.

    Fwooop!

    Those in the throne room were about to go berserk and murder this brazen intruder. However, they were forced to reconsider their thoughtless actions when the human lightly tapped against the floor before somehow appearing right in front of the frightened human girl.

    A deep frown formed on Cassius''s partially covered face upon seeing the terrible condition of the poor girl. "Are you okay, pretty miss?" he asked, then added comically, "I seem to have gotten lost somewhere in my travels of Japan. Hah¡­ Sometimes, I just feel so muddle-minded¡­ But I would appreciate it if you could give me some instructions! It would be invaluable to me, yep yep."

    A hoarse feminine giggle echoed through the rage-filled halls as Memphis found it difficult not to laugh. Yet, when she realized what she was doing, she quickly went to cover her mouth. Her expression was one that emulated all her troubles, as she felt like feeling an emotion that made her feel good was not meant for someone as horrible as she was. Though, to Cassius, she looked kind of like a cutely apprehensive koala or kangaroo.

    He chuckled softly, which left the pitiable girl a little dazed. Memphis couldn''t figure out what the mysterious man looked like due to the shadowy hood covering his face, but she could sense kindness in his voice. And it was also this understanding that led to her decisively urging him to leave. Even without being able to use her mouth because of a gag, she flailed her bound arms toward the smashed open door.

    Although Cassius was a bit dense, he was not stupid. He knew precisely what she wanted him to do, but did that mean he would comply? S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius bobbed his head in understanding, seemingly grasping everything Memphis was trying to convey. "So what I''m getting from all this," he began. "...is that you want me to buy you some snacks once we get out of here? Hey, if that''s what you want, then why don''t we go a step further. Dinner for tonight is on me! But dessert is¡­" He leaned next to her ear, his hot breath mingling with her lobes. "Do you have any money on hand? Because we might have to go halfsies on dessert."

    "Pfft!" Memphis once again cracked a muffled laugh, yet quickly piped down when she felt the suffocating pressure of the infuriated Kobold King pressing down on her.

    Noticing this, Cassius''s playful grin froze over as he turned his goofy expression away from the scared girl; it immediately turned terrifyingly cold.

    Looking the intimidating ruler straight in the eyes, he uttered coldly, "I don''t think anyone asked for your interference, bitch. Just sit back in your ugly throne; I will deal with you when I get around to it."

    "!?!?" Even though the Kobold King could not understand the human language of the world they came from, it could still feel the utter disrespect oozing from the human''s mouth.

    "To not only barge into my throne room and completely disregard my existence, but also prance up to my possession and converse as you please!? And then to take things a step further and disrespect me right to my face!?!? You''re truly courting DEATH, WORM!!!!!!"

    Sensing the fury on the verge of erupting like a volcano put a deep furrow on Cassius''s annoyed expression. He suddenly turned to the trembling girl, with his now warm smile shining through his shadowy mask. "Well, it looks like we''ll have to continue this conversation in a bit. For now, do you mind waiting here?"

 Chapter 51 - 51: Battling the Kobold King

    Urgency immediately appeared in Memphis''s pretty green eyes as she fervently shook her head, wiggling around in a flurry of actions that all pointed to no. She wanted him to run away and leave her to her own fate! She didn''t wish for anyone else to die because of her!

    Cassius felt a bit of anger rush up his throat upon watching such a kind girl not care a single bit about herself.

    ''To push her to this state¡­ And here I thought I was a horrible human being¡­''

    "It looks like I still have a lot to learn about being evil," Cassius sighed. "But it does seem like you are fine with remaining still for a bit, so I will get this done quick and then return to you."

    *Mmmf!! Mmmf!!*

    ''NOOooooo!!!!'' Memphis cried out inside her mind as she wiggled over to him in her tied-up state, trying to get him to understand once more. Yet, by the time she blinked her eyes, he was already gone, now standing mere feet away from the monstrous profile of the Kobold King.

    "Say, you ugly fucker," said Cassius. "Can you¡­ even see me¡­?"

    "!!!"

    The Kobold King was preparing to attack when, from down below, the audacious human blurred from his spot and sparked through the air. The Kobold King felt an imminent threat to his life, urging him to throw up his hands and defend against an onslaught of attacks, all of which contained deadly killing intent.

    "My Lord!!"

    "The human dares!?"

    "How dare he!!?!?"

    The Kobolds in the throne room were about to join the fray, but before they could, the Kobold King shot them a ferocious glare. His message was clear: If you interfere in this fight, I will kill you. And knowing how their King got when he was really spun out like this, they held their claws and patiently watched from afar. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although they didn''t possess much intelligence, they at least respected the hierarchy.

    After warning his subordinates, the Kobold King''s fierce eyes fell on the darkened silhouette stabbing him from all directions. Humiliated, he shouted, "You damn rat!! Do you really believe that these itches will do anything against my skin!??" Then he expanded his aura outward and pushed Cassius back by twenty dozen meters.

    Cassius expertly landed his flying body on the ground with a backflip. Then he stood back up and glared at the powering-up Kobold. The King''s fur began to change to a mightier, darker red color from his original light red. Moreover, his three-meter figure rapidly expanded and exploded beyond the seven-meter mark, making him the largest Kobold in attendance.

    Memphis''s worry only grew exponentially. However, Cassius simply gave her a small, gentle nod before concentrating on his battle with the Kobold King.

    The magnitude of things had definitely exceeded his expectations, for even if he were faster than the beast, he would never be able to crack deep enough into its flesh as he was. Now, the most logical solution to this would be to just increase his Strength stat with the AP left over from his grind.

    However¡­ Cassius was not a conventional person.

    His blue eyes crackled with electricity as he eyed down the dog behemoth roaring to the skies, breaking through the eardrums of everyone present. The Kobold King''s strength was now only a step away from the C-Rank, and though this meant certain death for him, he couldn''t help but feel that same anticipatory thrill he felt in his last few big fights.

    Cassius was beginning to notice a change occurring within himself. It was unknown exactly when it started, but it was definitely happening. But rather than ignore or try to suppress this change, he decided to embrace it.

    Trails of purplish-red electricity shot out from his body before surrounding him in a fantastical way. The lightning, however, was produced not from any of the elements he could use, but because of the sheer level at which his body was vibrating. The more he veered from the path of the orthodox, the more thrilling it felt to have moments like this one.

    Showing just what he meant by that, Cassius lifted up his right arm and placed it on his left arm, then forcefully pried off the weight that seemed to be glued to his skin. A resounding thud thundered out when an astounding 500 pounds hit the ground.

    Yet, that was far from the end of the spectacle to come¡­

    "..."

    "..."

    "..."

    As more and more heavy weights planted into the ground after being casually tossed away by their owner, everyone in the throne room was left at a loss for words. Some of the Kobolds looked between one another, trying to glean the truth from each other.

    Even Memphis wore an astonished look on her face as she watched thousands of pounds crash into the hard room surface. She couldn''t understand why the unknown man would purposefully place weights on himself! But when the final waist weight came off, let alone her mind, she couldn''t even believe what her eyes were transmitting to her!

    Even the Kobold King, with all his unbridled power, felt like a basin of cold water had been poured over his daunting existence when the small human began to naturally blur in and out of reality. He was not moving even a single step, yet his body looked as if it had just been freed from a mountain of stress and was now free to let loose.

    As sparks of electrified energy boomed outward, adding to the image produced from an overly charged body, the owner of said body turned his head up. Upon meeting the ferocious gaze of the Kobold King, stimulated tension formed in the distance that separated them.

    The Kobold King was ready to go all out, even if the mystery surrounding the absurd human confused him!

    Yet, as if that tension was worth less than dirt for Cassius, he shifted his gaze toward thin air. A grin formed on his shadowy face upon seeing his Agility stat well into the three-figure mark. He brought his casual smirk back to the livid dog behemoth, only to ask:

    "Say¡­ Can you¡­ even¡ª"

 Chapter 52 - 52: Unlocking Idle Benefit #2

    He had no reason to explain why, but the Kobold King felt a huge, bloody scythe hanging over his head. "I can''t let him finish that chant!!!" he roared while stomping his feet and lunging forward. His giant claws gleamed dangerously under the dim cavern light, illuminating the place in a forlorn way.

    Memphis''s saddened face ashened as she could feel the power contained within that overdriven dog-beast body. From what she had seen of Hunters because of her dad''s work, even a C-Rank Hunter would experience trouble when pitted against something of that level!

    ''He will die¡­!!'' she thought grimly, instinctively closing her eyes out of fear of what was to come.

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    However, after hearing countless ear-deafening sonic booms reverberate, Memphis pried her eyelids open against every instinct telling her not to. She then saw a sight that could only be described as unbelievable¡­

    The Kobold King''s massive, terrifying body was now split into six massive chunks of meat and blood, all of which were splattered behind its throne. There wasn''t even enough time for it to register or respond to anything, but if it had been given that time, disbelief would surely have been strewn across its hideous face.

    To add to Memphis''s astonishment, every other powerful Kobold monster in the throne room was dead. From the King to the lowliest of peons, all of them looked as if they had been quite literally hacked at until they died.

    "...Even see me¡­ Oh, wait, they''re already dead," Cassius chuckled before allowing Lilith to absorb all the blood smeared in every corner of the room. "I''ll return my Newbie 1 Set back to their proper spots while Lilith is evolving, and maybe glance at my system notifications."

    Doing just that, he stuck his limiters back on, somehow feeling a lot more comfortable than when his Agility stat of 125 was fully unleashed. He had originally used up a good chunk of his AP just before entering the throne room, just to be on the safer side. However, even if he had barely reached the C-Rank, around the 100 mark, he still probably could''ve handled the unruly mutt with ease.

    "...Well, not like I really lost anything¡­" Cassius consoled himself while looking at the barrage of pop-ups spamming his peripheral vision.

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed dozens of D-, D, and D+ Kobolds!]

    [Your Experience Bar has drastically moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level has increased from ''25'' ¡ú ''27'']

    [You have killed a D++ King Kobold!]

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level has increased from ''27'' ¡ú ''29'']

    [You received 8 Stat Points in all of your Main Attributes!]

    [You obtained 16 AP!]

    [Your Battle Power has improved by leaps and bounds!]

    Following these system notifications were the ones that came for completing the 2nd Main Quest.

    BLING!

    {[Main Quest 2:]} ¨C [?]

    ¡ª[Due to a freak change in the quality of Gate Energy in Japan, one or two Gates have suddenly and instantly had their ranks increased!]

    |Clear D+ Kobold''s Catacombs| ¨C [?]

    [Reward 1: 2 Stat Points in Strength, 1 in Agility, 1 in Defense, 2 in Endurance, and 3 in Perception.] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Reward 2: 5 AP] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Reward 3: ''Troll System'' Idle Benefit #2 will be unlocked] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Reward 4: ''Are you looking to get face-slapped?''] ¨C [Y/N]

    {[Bonus Objectives:]} ¨C [?]

    [Bonus Reward 1: 10 AP] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Bonus Reward 2: 5 Common Grade Evoballs] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Bonus Reward 3: 1 ''Heap of EXP''] ¨C [Y/N]

    After a moment of thought, Cassius said, "Accept all normal rewards." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding!*

    [You have received 2 Stat Points in Strength, 1 in Agility, 1 in Defense, 2 in Endurance, and 3 in Perception.]

    [You obtained 5 AP!]

    [Acquired ''Troll System - Idle Benefit #2'']

    [Acquired Special Grade Skill ''Are you looking to get face-slapped?'']

    Cassius felt another eruption of power course through his veins. He relished that feeling of empowerment for a moment before fixing his attention on the third reward. He had no idea what the hell a ''Troll System'' was, but for it to be the 2nd Idle Benefit, it must surely be something spectacular.

    Opening up his Idle Benefits section, his perceptive eyes quickly fell on the relevant details.

    {[Idle Benefit 2: Troll System]}

    ¡ª[You now have the ability to acquire trace amounts of AP by trolling other living beings. The stronger the target and the more numerous they are, the more AP you will acquire. (AP acquisition is most dependent on how angry or emotional you make your target.)]

    [Learn to be a good Troll as per required of your free-of-charge Character Development course! ^~^]

    "...I see¡­" Cassius was momentarily speechless, but if this was yet another thing that could improve his strength until he could truly begin idling, then he would accept it with open arms.

    "Anger¡­ I just need to make other people angry? And how far does ''emotional'' extend, I wonder¡­?"

    Ultimately, he decided to test out the feature later. In the meantime, he had some more rewards to peruse, which was exactly what he did.

    "''Are you looking to get face-slapped''?"

    Question marks sparked above Cassius''s head as he tried to figure out what this thing did. But seeing as it was a skill, he would just test it out on an enemy later and see what happens. "...Too bad it doesn''t come with a description¡­ Will kind of be going into this in the dark¡­ But oh well, next set of rewards for now."

    Upon pressing yes for all of the Bonus Rewards, more system notifications rang out.

    *Ding!*

    [You obtained 10 AP!]

    [You obtained 5 Common-grade Evoballs!]

    [You received ''1 Heap of EXP'']

    [Your Experience Bar has moved tremendously!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You leveled up!]

    "Damn, two levels up just from that?" said Cassius. "It looks like I''ll need to keep a better lookout for more Heaps of EXP in the future."

    With that, his attention was drawn to the Common-grade Evoballs, which was when a brief description for them popped up.

 Chapter 53 - 53: {[Common-Grade Evoball]}

    {[Common-grade Evoball]}

    ¡ª[Lowest-ranking Evoballs, but can still be used to capture and keep any monsters at or below the D-Rank. The stronger and more willful the monster, the less likely the Evoball is to successfully capture said target. It is recommended that the target first be beaten into submission before attempting to subdue it with an Evoball.]

    Cassius''s expression turned unreadable for a second as he wondered how something like this could be best utilized. "With so few of them, and all of them capped at the D-Rank, they won''t prove to be very useful¡­ But maybe I am missing something here?"

    Just as he said that¡­

    *Ding!*

    [The captured monsters of Evoballs can be temporarily fused with the user, which will give the user specific racial traits of the monster. This can be considered the first step of the ''Evolution'' segment of the system''s details and will eventually lead to more intricate features.]

    [Only the evolutionary qualities of a SINGLE captured monster can be fused with the user at a time. Furthermore, only 10 ''Evomonsters'' can be stored at the same time with the Host''s current capabilities.]

    "How interesting," Cassius mused, already brainstorming various ways that this could be used if he played his cards right. "For now, however, I have something more urgent to attend to."

    His striking blue eyes instinctively fell on the stunned girl tied up in bonds. Her babydoll eyelashes quivered in response as she saw the mysteriously powerful hooded man approach her.

    Memphis closed her eyes, prepared for the worst. Yet, she was bewildered to find all the ropes on her body suddenly loosen. Moreover, her gag had been taken out, allowing her to finally speak once more.

    "T-Thank you¡­ for saving me," she mumbled meekly, her pupils darting everywhere but toward where Cassius was standing. "W-Without you¡­ I would''ve ended up li-like¡­ my dad¡ª" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You don''t have to think about it if you don''t want to," said Cassius as he bent down and ruffled her hair, with only his kind smile shining through. "Say, how about we get out of here? My companion just finished the clean-up, but the decor of this place is simply horrid! Wouldn''t you agree?"

    Memphis shifted her flickering eyes to the hundreds of drained Kobold husks scattered about. Confused, she softly murmured a question. "What happened to them¡­?"

    "Oh, that?" replied Cassius, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It''s all because of my companion here." He promptly raised up Lilith in full sword form, who was currently going through a dazzling blood evolution. Her stats were being constantly improved the more blood she completely assimilated, which led to several eruptions of crimson energy tendrils.

    "Isn''t she beautiful?" asked Cassius.

    "Mhmm¡­" Memphis was left momentarily dazed, both because of Lilith''s resplendence and the mildly enamored look plastered across Cassius''s covered face. She couldn''t help but wonder what he looked like underneath. However, figuring it to be rude to ask something like that, she kept quiet.

    Noticing a bit of discontentment in the golden-eyed girl, Cassius explained, "The hood is there to shield the world from my hideous appearance¡­ Haiz, it''s rough being so ugly¡­."

    "...Are you really that ugly underneath¡­? I don''t think that''s true¡­"

    Cassius chuckled. "Maybe, maybe not. I have been told that I have terrible aesthetic taste."

    Confused, Memphis asked, "What do you mean by that?"

    "You want an example?" Cassius''s grin widened.

    Memphis got a bad feeling, but she still nodded.

    "...I would like one, please," she murmured, to which he replied, "Sure, I''ll give you an example."

    He then leaned in close, getting just close enough for her to glimpse at his thin nose. "The truth is that I believe blood to be especially beautiful, just like my Lilith here."

    Lilith vibrated happily while continuing to undergo her evolutions.

    "...You think blood is beautiful¡­?" asked Memphis, her head tilted cutely. "Isn''t blood gruesome? Often associated with¡­"

    "Death," said Cassius, his smile shining brightly. "That may be true, but is death not something beautiful as well? Death itself may be saddening to some, but the act of dying can oftentimes be charmingly poetic. I know I told you not to think of it, but your dad''s death¡­ Were the actions leading up to his death not something that weaved his death into something awe-inspiring¡­?"

    "Awe-inspiring¡­" Memphis''s eyes watered as she recalled how her father jumped out in front of her and held on until his very last moments.

    "...Yeah, it was awe-inspiring," she said as crystalline tears streamed down her dazzling, smiling expression. "It really was¡­!" She beamed, her eyes creasing up exquisitely.

    Cassius nodded warmly as he let go of her head. "You are tough, Memphis. Now, can you get up and walk out of here with me? Or would you prefer it if I carried you? I don''t mind either way¡ª"

    Embarrassment mixed with Memphis''s sorrow as she vehemently shook her head, causing her long silky black hair to sling left and right. "I-I can get up myself," she said.

    She attempted to get up, only to immediately fail to stand. Her legs were just too shaky from everything that happened to make it possible for her to walk.

    Wasting no time, Cassius swooped her up into his thick arms in a gentlemanly manner. Looking down at her, he smilingly said, "We can just pretend this never happened, alright? If you won''t tell, then I won''t tell," he joked.

    Flustered, Memphis hid her gorgeously flushed face from sight. "...Mhmm¡­" was all she mumbled before staying silent the rest of the return journey.

    As the two of them silently walked, both thinking about a multitude of complicated matters, Cassius received numerous system notifications. They also just so happened to come as he was leaving the Gate after having collected all of the valuable parts of the Kobolds, which included their Magic Shards.

    *Ding!*

    [You have trolled Memphis for 0.3 AP!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has absorbed tens of thousands of gallons of D-, D, D+, and D++ Blood!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has ranked up from the D+ Rank to the D++ Rank, achieving the peak stage of the D Realm!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| ¨C |Attack +35|]

    OOOM!

 Chapter 54 - 54: A Flustered Corra

    OOOM!

    Lilith erupted with newfound power, causing the air around her to shoot out and collapse back into itself, creating a sight that left Memphis''s golden eyes shining. She nudged Cassius.

    Puzzled, he asked, "What is it?"

    "...Your blade," mumbled Memphis. "My¡­ father and his friends never had anything as unique as it¡­ Why is yours so special¡­?"

    Cassius patted the beautiful girl tangled in his arms, his smile growing fonder. "Other items are not like my Lilith because I made her myself. She and I were just meant to be."

    "Meant to be?" Memphis parroted, her irises glazing over in confusion. "...That sounds romantic¡­"

    "Hmm?" Cassius pondered.

    "I guess it does," he chuckled. "But I would say that our relationship is something deeper¡­ Almost like our intent and intentions are clearly displayed before one another. This is also why we have never gotten into a fight."

    "Gotten into a fight¡­? With a sword¡­?" Memphis hid her face in his clothes, trying to suppress a contagious giggle. "That is silly¡­"

    Cassius awkwardly scratched his neck. "Yeah¡­ Now that you mention it, there is definitely something unusual about what I just said¡­ But you know, sometimes, the unusual things are the most pleasant to experience."

    "Is that why you''re so pleasant to be around¡ª?"

    Memphis quickly covered her mouth, embarrassed on several levels. She saw a flash of amusement pass through his mesmerizing eyes, prompting her to hide even further into his clothes.

    "J-Just forget that I¡­ said that¡­"

    "Very well," said Cassius, unable to conceal the invisible force cracking away at his straight face. Noticing this made Memphis even more mortified; she hid away for the rest of the short return trip, refusing to speak another word.

    After finishing the gathering of all the Magic Shards into his Inventory Space, Cassius overlooked the curiosity of the quiet girl in his arms and approached the Gate''s exit. Without wasting any more time inside, he walked through and reached the other side.

    However, as it became immediately clear that the people outside had realized what had happened with the Gate''s rank change, he had to slip out unnoticed.

    Cassius''s |Shadow Step| skill had already leveled up many times and ranked up twice during his time grinding monsters in the Gate, so he was able to effortlessly evade the eyes of everyone. Yet, there were a couple of exceptions¡ªthose with extraordinarily high Perception stats.

    The Branch Master of the Hoshito Hunter Branch was one such person, and his perceptive eyes traced the fast-moving shadow traversing through the sea of citizens, reporters, and the like before eventually disappearing into the distance. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A slight smile tugged at the Branch Master''s cracked lips as he spoke up, directing his voice toward a valiantly dressed woman by his side. "That mysterious man you spoke of¡ªa student at Hoshito High¡ªhow powerful did you say he seemed again?"

    Although taken aback by the abrupt question, Corra quickly regained her bearings and replied, "He was likely of the high D-Rank, with his speed being his most prominent attribute. Furthermore, his skills were unique, efficient, and unlike anything that I''ve ever witnessed among the higher-ranking Hunters."

    The Branch Master''s smile curved upward as he watched where he assumed the youngster to be right now. "It would appear that we either have a venomous snake lurking in our midst, just waiting to strike and take us by surprise¡­ or we have someone who could send Hoshito to new heights¡ªlikely even further than the fame we acquired after raising and nurturing the A-Rank Hunter, Firecracker, who is currently a rising star in Tokyo."

    Corra''s brows raised in surprise. She knew there was something special about that young man, but for him to be appraised so highly by the illustrious B-Rank Branch Master¡­ Just how much could one person be hiding?

    Luckily for her curiosity, the Branch Master spoke up again, saying:

    "You aren''t too much older than that¡­ Cassius, I think it was."

    "...Yes¡­?" Corra felt a sense of foreboding, and just as she expected, the Branch Master clasped his hands behind his back before saying, "I believe it would be in your best interest to keep close to him¡ªmaybe even close enough to be considered classmates. Wouldn''t you agree, young Corra?"

    "...Yes, sir," replied Corra, helpless to refute the obvious request being made of her.

    The Branch Master softly laughed while patting her on the back. "There is no need to appear so glum. It isn''t like I''m forcing you to do this, as I really am saying this for your sake and the relationship I had with your late parents. Becoming something like a friend of this Cassius will surely bring you many unexpected benefits. And hey, maybe if you put in a bit more initiative, you might be able to become more than friends¡ª"

    "Okay, that is enough¡­!" Corra cut through his jokes, flustered beyond belief. "I-I will do this and join his school, but not because you said so! I wish to see what exactly makes you think so highly of him!"

    The Branch Master chortled at the sudden outburst of his little niece, one which put her feisty and determined personality on display. "If that is what you truly want, then I will not impede you. But I would keep a lookout, because your competition is definitely going to be fierce," he warned as he glimpsed the faint silhouette of a gorgeous girl cuddled in Cassius''s arms.

    "W-What competition¡­!?" Corra blurted out, her mind fuzzy and her cheeks painted a deep crimson, matching her auburn hair. "Stop speaking nonsense, old man," she grumbled while taking peeks at the place where the Branch Master was looking, wondering just what he was talking about.

    Seeing his little niece react in such a manner caused the Branch Master to let out a peal of laughter. He stroked his long white beard, conveniently ignoring her irate ramblings.

    Meanwhile, in a dark location miles away from where the Kobold''s Catacombs Gate was on the verge of collapse, Cassius materialized into reality with a flushed girl in his arms. He strolled up to a brightly lit lamplight area and sat himself on a bench.

 Chapter 55 - 55: Partial 5th Idle Benefit - [Affection Ratings]

    Cassius was about to glance at the system notifications he received for saving Memphis, but before he got the chance, she spoke up, mumbling:

    "Y-You can let me down now¡­" She wiggled and squirmed in his lap. She wasn''t the least bit uncomfortable¡ªat least not physically¡ªbut something weird was messing with her insides, causing her to experience mild discomfort.

    "Ahh, yes," said Cassius, seemingly calm about the whole ordeal.

    He gently laid her on the seat beside him, then took the opportunity to ask, "Do you have any family that I could help you get into contact with¡­?"

    Realization dawned upon Memphis as reality washed over her embarrassment. A lot of color drained from her otherwise beautiful face; she clenched her fists while looking down at her feet.

    "...I have an uncle who lives a few towns over, but¡­ but I really don''t want to contact him¡­ And I would like to stay in Hoshito High if at all possible¡­ I-I really don''t know what to do¡­"

    Cassius''s brows furrowed in understanding. He could sense more to her aversion to her uncle than something merely childish. Moreover, he sympathized with her wanting to stay in the school district she had been in her whole life, even though she knew it was inconvenient to hold on.

    Yet, none of that made this situation any less convoluted¡­

    Feeling the complicated aura permeating around them, Cassius sighed. He snuggled his hand into her hair, causing her nerves to loosen up tremendously. "Don''t worry. From now on, you will be staying with me. Only if you want to, of course."

    Memphis''s eyes brightened with genuine joy. "Do you truly mean that?? I can stay with you!?"

    Cassius nearly fell off the bench from how far he had to lean away from the girl who seemed far too excited about this information.

    "Ahh¡­ I-I''m sorry¡­!"

    Upon realizing how brazen she was acting, Memphis returned to her spot, once again falling silent. However, contrary to last time, the silence was very peaceful, as she repeated his words over and over again in her mind.

    Small illusory flowers seemed to bounce off her head; she was practically overflowing with gratefulness and a sweetness that was almost sickening.

    Cassius instantly understood that there was no turning back on what he said¡ªnot unless he wanted to anger some god above. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Well, not that I was planning on reneging on my proposal to begin with¡­ Though, I will still require Sasha''s permission¡­''

    ''Until I can figure out a way to purchase her some housing of her own, I will need to somehow smooth things over¡­''

    Then, as if to reward him for a good deed while expecting nothing in return, the Idle Evolution System notified him of a few things.

    *Ding!*

    {[Side Quest - Main Quest 2]}

    [Reward 1: Slightly less disdain from the Idle Evolution System] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Reward 2: 5 AP] ¨C [Y/N]

    [Reward 3: The gratitude of a pretty girl who is about to awaken as an S-Rank Awakener] - (Don''t make this weird¡­)] ¨C [Y/N]

    As soon as Cassius saw these screens appear in front of him, he clicked accept on the first silly reward, then accepted the second one. And lastly, he accepted the final one, though that one didn''t actually do anything¡ªor, at least, that was what he originally assumed.

    {[Memphis: 16 y/o]} ¨C [Affection: 55]

    "???"

    He was extremely perplexed by what he was seeing, but as someone who considered himself to be pretty adaptive, he made his speculations about what this screen could entail. Then, as if to assist him in reaching a conclusion, another few screens expanded around the first one.

    BLING!

    {[Partial 5th Idle Benefit]} ¨C [Given due to the Host being relatively close with five or more girls.]

    [Girls (Familiar (10-25) - Close (26-50) - Affectionate (51-80) - Extremely Affectionate (81-95) - Obsessed (96-99) - Out for Blood (100):]

    [Trolling any Girls with at least a Familiar relationship status will allot the Host more AP than usual, with that bonus being greater the better the relationship status.]

    {[Memphis: 55]}

    {[Aya: 73]}

    {[Grace: 75]}

    {[Sasha: 43]}

    {[Corra: 18]}

    {[Bella: 100]}

    Cassius''s expression remained rather neutral as he read through the details of this sneak peek of the Idle Benefit that would come after his next one. That was until his eyes fell on the affection rating of his coworker and one of the most popular girls at his school. He couldn''t take his gaze away from the number and name as he tried his best to quantify what the hell he was looking at.

    ''Why would the girl who forces herself to be friendly around me have an affection rating of 100???'' Cassius thought in pure bewilderment. ''Is this thing bugged or something¡­??''

    Noticing the confusion present on his sculpted face, Memphis asked, "Is something the matter? If you''re having second thoughts about letting me stay at your place, then¡­ then I understand¡ª" But before she could finish that gloomy statement, Cassius cut her off, saying:

    "It''s nothing like that. I was simply mulling over something that seems far too silly¡­ Ha¡­ How ridiculous¡­"

    Memphis''s curiosity piqued as her ears perked up. "...This something¡­ Do you mind telling me about it¡­?"

    "Ahh¡­ Hmm, I guess it wouldn''t hurt to tell ya," replied Cassius. "What if there was this person you thought you only knew as an acquaintance. Yet, a very reliable source told you differently. In fact, this source stated that the person would quite literally kill for you!" He described with a bit of dramatic pause. "Now, tell me: how would you take this information?"

    "Well¡­" Memphis seriously thought over the matter, which made her appear earnestly adorable. Suddenly, her eyes flashed with inspiration as she said, "This person must be insane! After all, if you were left under the assumption that you weren''t even friends but mere acquaintances, yet this person felt so passionately about your relationship to kill for you, then¡­ Then that person must be clinically insane!"

    A starry-eyed girl hanging upside down in a spooky mansion blew an unnaturally loud sneeze. Frustrated over not being able to spend more time with her husband, she grumbled in annoyance while wiping her cute nose.

 Chapter 56 - 56: A Friend...?

    "Insane¡­ huh?"

    Cassius pondered deeply about this matter. Either the Idle Evolution System was trolling him, just as it wanted him to do to others, or there was something more to this matter with Bella. ''Just what is she hiding¡­?''

    A hush fell over the lit-up bench area of a street located right outside Cassius''s home as he thought about several different plausible scenarios. Memphis, on the other hand, was too preoccupied with the previous subject of living together.

    ''Living together¡­ Isn''t t-that what a man and woman do after¡­ ma-marr¡­ marriage¡­??''

    Smoke escaped her head through her ears as she turned redder than a tomato. Now that her mind was clearer, she was seriously beginning to wonder if this whole thing was a good idea. However, when she recalled the lascivious look on her uncle''s face and the innocent kindness of the young shadowy hooded man beside her, her mind resolved.

    With newfound determination, Memphis turned to the contemplative Cassius. "I want to live with you!"

    "...Is that so¡­?"

    "Yes! If you let me stay at your place for a period of time, I promise you that I will repay the favor when I eventually awaken as a Hunter!"

    "Very well."

    "And additionally¡ª Ahh, wait, what was that?" Memphis''s well-thought-out speech came to a sudden halt as she started forward.

    Cassius raised an amused brow at her adorable mannerisms. "I said that you can stay. And you can do so for as long as you need to. Of course, you and I will both need to put some effort into convincing my stepmother."

    Although Memphis didn''t understand how she managed to get away with something so monumental so easily, that didn''t mean she would say anything to refute his words.

    Giddy, she said loudly, "I will do everything I can to convince your stepmother! You can trust me!"

    Cassius chuckled softly as he rose from the bench and extended a hand in her direction. "Well, let''s see you put those skills to the test then."

    Memphis only slightly hesitated before taking his large, rough hand and pulling herself forward. "I can do it!"

    Now able to walk just fine, she took large confident strides away from the bench.

    However, somewhere in the middle of her stride, she froze in place and slowly swiveled her head around like a mechanically impaired toy.

    "Wh-Which way is your home¡­?" she asked with a twitching smile. The answer she received was a silent one, as Cassius threw up a thumb pointing behind him. "It''s right there." He pointed to the two-story Japanese house located right next to the bench.

    "...Really¡­?"

    "Yep."

    "...I see¡­"

    A hint of crimson touched Memphis''s cheeks as she awkwardly raced back over to Cassius before lightly knocking her forehead against his chest. "...You won''t mention this, right¡­?" she practically squeaked, with no evidence of her previous mojo still present.

    Cassius watched her affection for him scale close to 65, finding the difference between her actions and actual feelings quite amusing. Still, he answered, "Of course not." While smiling warmly.

    "Mhmm¡­"

    They both then walked toward the front entrance to his house.

    She gained back a lot of her confidence upon coming into contact with the door, yet lost most of it as soon as she heard faint footsteps echo out from inside. Luckily, Cassius was there to help alleviate most of the pressure she was feeling. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was also during this time that Memphis was finally able to see what lay beneath that shadowy hood of his. And for the rest of the time before the footsteps approached the other side of the door, she was left breathless, with her heart beating way out of rhythm.

    Cassius saw her affection increase by another 5 points and hit 68, but he had no idea it was solely because of his appearance, assuming that it happened because of the outward intimacy of a cannon event like this one.

    Tap, Tap, Tap!

    Sasha finally made it to the door and promptly opened it up. The moment she saw the tall, handsome figure ahead, her golden eyes slightly glossed over as she recalled the frivolous thoughts that passed through her mind earlier that day. However, when her eyes fell on the pretty girl standing beside him, they unintentionally darkened a little. This also caused her affection rating to increase by 5, which greatly confused Cassius.

    Yet, before he could broach the matter, she spoke first:

    "This girl is¡­ a friend of yours¡­?"

    "Ahh, yes." Cassius snapped out of it as he gestured to the gorgeous girl nervously squirming in place. "She is someone currently going through a rough patch, and I was hoping that you would allow her to stay here with us until she finds somewhere else to stay."

    Realizing that this was her part to add something in, Memphis bowed at a low angle, letting her silky black hair flow over her head. "I-It''s very nice to meet you, Miss Sasha! I-I am Memphis, and I would¡ª" She stuttered repeatedly, yet only worsened things when she bowed a little too much and tipped over.

    Fortunately, Cassius caught her by the back of her ripped-up dress just before she could faceplant the ground.

    Shifting his eyes back to the judging Sasha, he said, "Memphis may be a bit clumsy, but she is a good girl¡­ Just¡­ she has been through some things recently." Suddenly turning serious, he bowed as well, surprising both Sasha and Memphis. "I would be in your debt if you could permit her to stay here for the time being. Please¡­"

    "C-Cassius¡­" Memphis really didn''t like seeing him go so far for her, especially not after she messed things up so badly.

    "Fine."

    "What¡­?" Both Cassius and Memphis were confused.

    Sasha sighed as she lightly shook her head, bringing with that action the jiggling of her motherly milky white valleys, which were clearly visible in her risqu¨¦ nightwear.

    "I was never going to deny your request to begin with, but seeing you get so serious about something¡­ It makes me happy." She smiled genuinely, dazing both Cassius and Memphis.

    They would never deny it if someone said that this woman had maxed out her mature charm; it even made the latter feel a bit inferior.

 Chapter 57 - 57: {[I AM SPEED (P)(C-)]}

    "Anyway," said Sasha. "Head on in and show your friend to the guest room. I will bring some spare clothes up in a bit."

    She turned around and sashayed with her plump cheeks swaying hypnotically, yet before she fully disappeared from the hallway, she side-eyed the pair. "Just don''t be getting up to anything that kids your age would be doing at night."

    With that, she walked away.

    Memphis was left furiously blushing, whereas Cassius remained blissfully unaware of his stepmother''s slight nuances, taking full advantage of his selective-density protagonist powers.

    After making his way to the guest room and giving Memphis a brief rundown, he bid farewell to her, much to her dismay.

    Walking to his room, he crossed paths with the mildly glum blonde MILF. However, when she saw him, the glumness vanished as if it were never there to begin with. Yet, instead of starting a conversation like she would normally do, she curtly nodded before hastily breezing past him with a set of feminine nightwear in her hands.

    Cassius was a bit puzzled by this interaction but quickly shook his head to clear his mind before retreating into the whitish confines of his room. Afterward, he sat down on his bed in a lotus position and swiped up his system interface, curious to see how far he had come after his first official Gate Raid.

    BLING!

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 29]

    [Title: Advent Devil (C-)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 4360/4360] [MP: 8000]

    [FATIGUE: 4]. [AP: 25]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 57] (Juggling vans is possible.)

    [AGILITY: 133] (Mach 8. Are you trying to become the red blur?.)

    [ENDURANCE: 52] (Your appearance and temperament have really been improving as of late. You should be able to put this stamina to good use soon enough!)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 51] (Keep at it and Sage status will be left in the dust, paving way for becoming a Great Sage.)

    [PERCEPTION: 54] (Don''t do anything perverted with this level of sense¡­ No, seriously¡­)

    [CHARISMA: 26] (Experienced Model-level)

    {[Skills:]}

    [Shadow Step (A)(D+)(Lvl2)], [Muscularity (P)(D-)(Lvl4], [Slash (A)(E+)(Lvl3], [Sprint (A)(F+)(Lvl2]

    [Harden (A)(E+)(Lvl5)], [Extreme Fortitude (P)(D-)(Lvl5)], [Mind Focus (P)(D)(Lvl2)], [Tinker Tools (P)(F+)(Lvl4]..... ¨C[Extend to see more¡­]

    _______________________________

    [P.S. Only skills with high synchrony to the Host will be able to level up and rank up the fastest, even superseding the difference between lower ranks and higher ranks.]

    [Do some of that new-gen stuff and try discovering yourself! Just don''t dye your hair blue and walk around in a dress! That would signify terrible character development¡ª]

    Before the Idle Evolution System could finish its bunch of nonsense, Cassius''s voice cut through the air. "I should have a decent amount of Random Skill Boxes saved up from my level-ups, no? Try opening them instead of running your mouth."

    [...]

    [Rude >¡ê< But a cold and rude personality trait is very much considered good character development¡­]

    [Conflicted¡­]

    "...Can you please stop playing around with me and just open the boxes¡­?" Cassius was on the verge of begging at this point.

    He would just open the boxes himself if he could, but it seemed the Idle Evolution System had predicted this and locked them in the Inventory.

    [Hmm¡­ Deep pondering¡­]

    [Very well! And as a reward for playing along, the system has decided to give you an opportunity for greater benefits!]

    [You have precisely 300+ Random Skill Boxes of the Copper Minus, Neutral, and Plus Rank. Moreover, you have 50+ Random Skill Boxes of the Bronze Minus, Neutral, and Plus Rank!]

    [Would you like to convert them all into a single Silver-Specific Skill Box of the Agility Aspect? (What you receive is still randomized, but it will be within the bounds of Agility.)]

    Cassius seriously considered what the system was asking him, but then¡­

    [Offer going once!]

    [Offer going twice!]

    [Offer going¡­]

    "Fine, just do it!" Cassius bemoaned his fate as one of the pushy Idle Evolution System''s victims.

    If not for how much power it allowed him to gather, he would¡­! Haiz¡­

    [Wise choice, dear Host! ^=^]

    A lottery board then appeared in front of him, containing thousands of different colored options. Some had names that appeared more imposing than the others, but the clicker didn''t seem to discriminate as it danced along the Skill options.

    After a while, the clicker came to a gradual crawl. Then, with one final flutter, it landed on a pure black option that held a series of three words in loud white italic lettering. ''I AM SPEED,'' it read. The description, even more unusual, went as such:

    {[I AM SPEED (P)(C-)]}

    [If you thought you were fast before, then just try to move now. The larger the gap between your Agility stat and your other stats, the faster you move.]

    [No known upper limits for the skill.]

    ¨C [Current Speed Boost: 135%]

    The moment this passive Skill was acquired, Cassius felt his body uncontrollably blur. He moved all over the place at an utterly insane speed yet hadn''t moved a single inch. It was almost as if the very atoms and molecules that made up his being were struggling to remain in the same point in time as the rest of his existence.

    Some time later¡­

    Cassius managed to control his ludicrous speed to a tolerable level, then breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn''t expected an unexpected and troublesome boon like this one to come from the System''s forced decisions, but he was partly glad it did. The other, larger part of himself, however, was uncertain and weary of how this would affect his future.

    If he kept enlarging the gap between his Agility stat and the other stats, wouldn''t he be able to become so fast that he could potentially lap the whole world several times over¡­? And that was with the current rank of the Skill, completely excluding what it could become at higher ranks. Which, with his synchrony with the Agility attribute, were rank-ups that were more a matter of time than anything¡­

    S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 58 - 58: Sashas Unexpected Worry

    "Maybe I should lay off the Agility stat for a while¡­?" However, as soon as this thought entered Cassius''s frontal lobe, it left in that same instant. "Who am I kidding? I was born to go fast, and this is just a shortcut to becoming faster than everyone else."

    With that, he kept the special Skill to the back of his mind.

    Entertaining a different train of thought, he considered whether to take off his Newbie 1 Training Set before going to sleep. Even though he felt that taking his weights off was the logical thing to do, something was telling him that good things would come if he kept them on for longer. His first assumption was that the Perception stat was hinting at something, either directly or indirectly through the Idle Evolution System.

    Following a period of contemplation:

    "I guess I''ll just keep them on and also have my Newbie 1 Sword close to my person as well," Cassius decided. "And I will also do another set of exercises for the day, as I feel a connection between doing that and what my gut is telling me to do on this matter as well."

    He promptly fell to the floor with a quiet, controlled thud, then went through each of the exercise sequences. However, as he completed them all in record times, he felt that they had already become far too easy.

    Even though he barely put any AP into the Strength stat, the gains were still coming. The Strength stat, more than the others, naturally accumulated due to how much stress was constantly being placed on Cassius''s body. Endurance was also up there, but not nearly at the same level.

    Nonetheless, he figured the Idle Evolution System would soon solve his¡­ ''lack of good grinding''...? Soon enough. But before then, he would humbly accept the easy wins.

    After exceeding the 100 mark, eventually touching upon the 200 mark¡ªwhich was the absolute cap for the basic exercises¡ªhe returned to his bed. Surprise over the bed not instantly collapsing because of the weight was evident in his expression, but he once again surmised the sturdiness of everything in the household to be a result of an extremely skilled construction worker.

    When, in actuality, it was something far more complicated and mysterious than that¡­

    After settling into his covers, Cassius snoozed off into the inexplicable land of dreams, utterly unaware of the eerie shadows that lurked outside his bedroom window.

    They lingered there for a while, simply staring with their spiraling beady eyes and salivating from their long slimy tongues. However, after hearing something only they could hear, they simultaneously shot their heads in the same direction. With the same level of synchronicity, they leapt from his bedroom window and raced above the Hoshito housetops at speeds far surpassing even the B-Rank.

    They, along with many other unnervingly terrifying creatures, had their eyes set on the cosmopolitan city of Tokyo. Their intentions were unknown to all, but they appeared from every corner of the nation at the exact same time and advanced in a chaotically orderly fashion, with their destinations being the most populated area in Japan¡­

    As unexplainable undercurrents washed through the nation, Cassius unknowingly experienced the setting of the sun in the west and the rising of the sun in the east a total of seven times.

    He woke up bright and early one particular day, feeling exceptionally refreshed. This surprised him; after all, sleeping with thousands of pounds of weights pressing down on one''s body would surely be incredibly uncomfortable. But for some reason, it made him feel at home, almost as if being restricted was the only way of life he had ever known.

    ''It''s sort of depressing¡­ But at least it makes me stronger,'' he thought to himself while casually rolling out of bed.

    After dressing himself appropriately for a work day off, Cassius opened his door and walked out into the hallway. He noticed no one outside today, but he didn''t fixate on it. His footsteps echoed out softly, but with Aya''s senses, she could immediately tell it was him, prompting her to peek through her slightly ajar door.

    Usually, she would stay asleep until nearly noon during the summer, but as of late, she began waking up earlier. Her reasons were obvious, but one would never be able to hear them directly from her mouth.

    "Hmm¡­"

    Cassius felt the bear-like stare of the blonde pajama-wearing beauty silently stalking him around the house, yet he didn''t confront her, merely chuckling as he made his way to the kitchen. Waiting for him was a pair of watery golden-brown eyes who, upon seeing him, pleaded with him to save her.

    ''Memphis seems to be adjusting just fine,'' he mused before taking a seat right next to the aggrieved, mouse-like girl. She immediately clung to his shirt, averting her shaky eyes away from the cold-faced MILF sitting opposite her. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius could tell that something was up, urging him to ask, "Did something happen?"

    Memphis shuddered a little, whereas Sasha huffed. "That girl has been speaking about one day going into Gates! And no matter how I defer her away from that dangerous thought, she just keeps on nodding while retaining that unyielding glint in her gaze! It''s simply¡­! Humph!"

    ''Ahh, so they''re not fighting; Sasha is just worried.'' Cassius warmly smiled, briefly dazzling both the girls at the table and even the one hiding behind a wall. "As long as you two are getting along, I think everything else can be worked out."

    Sasha left her stupor at his words before turning her face to the side. A small pout touched upon her timeless features, which left a vast contrast to her motherly demeanor.

    "That girl is too stubborn for me to possibly get along with her! She''s already going to be attending your school for the new school year and is still a couple of years away from graduation¡ªwhy is she so adamant about venturing into Gates and getting herself killed¡­!?"

 Chapter 59 - 59: {[HELLâ€™s 1st Floor Key]} - [S+++ Rank]

    Cassius could tell that his stepmother was very passionate about this subject, which frightened the timid Memphis even further. She loved to adventure and discover new things, but when it came to this terrifying woman, she couldn''t even muster an ounce of courage. Realizing this, Cassius patted her head before concentrating on Sasha.

    "Her yearning for the Gates has a lot more to it than some rash pursuit. If that is what she wants if she awakens, then there is nothing either of us can do to persuade her otherwise."

    Although reluctant to agree, Sasha knew he was right. Yet that only seemed to increase her irritation.

    Ever since her stepson began changing, he didn''t seem to be wrong about anything. And that casual, cooling smile plastered across his normally apathetic expression only served to further her annoyance.

    Ultimately, Sasha gave in and dejectedly nodded before rising from the dining table. Her mood became a bit glum as she aimlessly wandered around the kitchen; clearly, something else entwined with the Gate matter was irking her. However, seeing as it was likely a very touchy subject, Cassius didn''t bring it up, instead redirecting his focus toward the sleepy beauty walking into the kitchen as if she had just gotten there.

    No matter how many times he observed the tendencies of these women, he couldn''t stop himself from finding them all adorable in their own ways.

    Aya, upon entering the kitchen, approached her seat at the table and began eating without saying a single word. She tried her best to keep her eyes away from the devilishly handsome man a few feet away from her, yet struggled immensely. None besides Cassius noticed this peculiar glancing session she was having with his seemingly oblivious self. But when Sasha finally simmered down enough to be more aware of her surroundings, her face once more contorted in cute frustration. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Young lady!" Sasha exclaimed. "Why have you been waking up so early?? Are you sick or something!?"

    Hearing this sudden announcement, both Cassius and Memphis hid their low laughs behind their hands. Aya, on the other hand, froze in place, with her face reddening in proportion to her immense embarrassment.

    "...Mom¡­"

    "Yes, sweetie?" replied Sasha, a bit puzzled over the concealed anger in her tone.

    The shadows covering Aya''s expression flushed away in an instant as she turned her head up and locked her golden eyes with the similarly colored eyes of her mother.

    "You suck!" she announced before storming away in a huff. She couldn''t believe that her mother had embarrassed her so publicly, and in front of Cassius no less! Gosh!!

    A silence hung over the kitchen table as Cassius and Memphis cautiously watched Sasha''s expression fall to the floor. She no longer had a peachy, vigorous complexion; it was instead replaced with a level of desolateness that reminded them of a barren desert.

    Understanding that this was their cue to skedaddle, they silently put their plates away and retreated through the house''s back door. It also just so happened to be the door that Cassius escaped through a few weeks ago, back when he nearly got caught by the recently relieved Aya.

    The vivid memory remained fresh in his mind, but with the massive changes in her attitude and stance toward him, it was hard to overlap them as the same person.

    As Cassius''s mind swirled with nonsense, Memphis, who ran beside him, could swear that she heard the shattering of something loud back where they had just come from. Yet, when she realized that she was closely sticking to him in an almost intimate manner, she furiously blushed before backing away in a fluster.

    Before Cassius had the chance to question her on her unusual behavior, she swiftly vanished from the scene, leaving him all alone in the middle of a street populated by lovey-dovey couples. "Ahh¡­" As if understanding the truth of the universe, he shook his head slightly, accompanied by a faint, bitter smile.

    Left to stroll the streets as a single duckling, he received many stares because of his appearance and purposeful isolation, as many wondered how someone so handsome could be by himself.

    Taking this time to search through his thoughts, Cassius occasionally wondered whether Memphis made it home fine. Yet, more than that, his mind traced back to the events that occurred over the last week.

    Following the successful conquest of his first Gate, he woke up the next morning and received a ''nice'' system notification informing him of the upgrade of his Newbie Training Equipment. He spoke in jest the night prior, in no way expecting his words to actually come true¡­

    From 5,000 odd pounds, the total weight of his Newbie 2 Equipment exponentially multiplied to 15,000, with just his Newbie 2 Sword making up half of that! Just performing a single sword swing for the Daily Quest had become virtually impossible, let alone doing 100 of them!

    Cassius felt scammed! But what could he do about it¡­?

    It was only after pushing his body to its limits dozens of times that he finally managed to perform 100 excruciatingly painful sword swings. It was also around this time that he received the system rewards earned for doing exactly double the necessary amount of Daily Quest exercises. From that, he received 20 AP, 2 Stat Points in Charisma, and a ''Key.''

    As opposed to the other time-system rewards that the Idle Evolution System gave out for leveling up, this ''Key'' was something far rarer and harder to acquire. Its description read as such:

    {[HELL''s 1st Floor Key]} - [S+++ Rank]

    [Normally, it is impossible for one who hasn''t achieved transcendence to traverse between the Realms of a Galactic Tower, but this key is one of the few exceptions.]

    [Use it on any door of your choice to open up an entryway that only you can see. If you so choose to risk your worthless, moocher life, then feel free to open up this entryway before achieving a prowess of the B-Rank!]

 Chapter 60 - 60: Evo Fusion

    After seeing this description and locating the system''s hidden warning message, Cassius saw a crimson-black skull key drop into his hands. It radiated death and certain demise; for him, there was no question about the veracity of the system''s words. If he leapt into what would be created by this key before achieving a B-Rank power level, he would undoubtedly die. And even with his most recent gains included, he was still far from the 250 stat mark that would indicate the B-Rank.

    Furthermore, that 250 stat mark was usually meant to be an all-around milestone, as in every single main stat should be at or above 250. Cumulatively, the weakest B-Rank Hunter would have around 1250 stat points distributed mostly evenly.

    Of course, Hunters had their strengths and weaknesses, but they never varied greatly enough to exceed a rank.

    Unlike Cassius, who had his Agility stat nearly a rank and a half above his other stats, most Hunters simply had large differences within normal scopes. Of course, there were exceptions to this, such as Mage-type Hunters, who had extremely high Intelligence stats yet would oftentimes be lacking in Strength, Agility, and Endurance, which facilitated every major physical attribute.

    Some Mage Hunters, like the S-Rank Mage Lord from Russia, had Intelligence stats that exceeded their physical stats by 2¨C3 ranks. However, no one had ever heard of someone who mained Agility so drastically.

    Well, there was one¡­ But to most in the world, he was regarded as a complete lunatic, someone who traveled around the world in search of anyone who claimed to be the fastest of their respective territories.

    The sheer number of Hunters that were lapped and viciously killed by this S-Rank Speedster Hunter had already exceeded that of small towns¡­

    To the world, he was an S-Rank menace that went by the title of ''Speed of Light Blur Devil.''

    Yet, to those who knew him on a personal level, he was Victor Rapido¡ªthe one regarded as the fastest person on the planet!

    Cassius, like Victor Rapido, was following a similar path. However, the biggest difference between the two of them was that Victor''s speed was set from awakening, whereas Cassius would only continue growing.

    How long Victor would remain as the supposed ''fastest in the world'' was still to be seen¡­

    ''After receiving HELL''s 1st Floor Key, I then went on to challenge Gate after Gate, all while remaining a complete mystery,'' Cassius continued his recap from where he left off.

    At first, the rate at which he conquered F-Rank and E-Rank Gates was rather slow, as he usually struggled with locating the Boss area and the rest of the monster stragglers.

    To temporarily leave a Gate inactive, one only needed to eliminate some Elite monsters and the Boss Monster; this method was typically used by the Government and the Guilds that had ownership over these lucrative Gates. To permanently close a Gate, on the other hand, required the participating Hunters to exterminate every last monster and then leave before the dimension collapsed on them; this method was used when a Gate too dangerous to keep around appeared.

    In an average F-Rank, E-Rank, and D-Rank Gate, there would normally be thousands of monsters, all varying in rank. And to completely clean one of such Gates, one would need to spend weeks inside the Gate, which would not only be a waste of time and resources but also pointless since the Gate would break open before all monsters inside could be killed.

    Sending in stronger Hunters would naturally solve this issue, but that would be even more of a waste when there were far more powerful Gates that needed to be managed.

    It was for these reasons that countless Gates were left open to farming in Japan and the rest of the world. In just Japan alone, the number of C-Rank and below Gates, which equated to Yellow-rank and below, had already reached the tens of thousands. And for a small country like Japan, this was a matter that was just a few mishaps away from being catastrophic¡­

    As of late, even the Japanese government had made plans to redistribute Hunter forces and focus on gradually clearing the lower-rank Gates. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not a single government official could have possibly expected someone like Cassius to appear out of nowhere and start making quick work of various Gates with the assistance of his Evomon. That was the name he decided on to easily organize his growing force of rebranded Pok¨¦mon. Only, rather than peaceful and typically chill creatures, his Evomon only knew how to shed blood in their endless slaughtering of monsters¡­

    After an entire week of clearing dozens of Gates scattered around Hoshito, Cassius was able to gather together 15 powerful D++ Rank Evomon, which used to be capped at 10 prior to his Agility stat passing 150. Now, with 15 Peak Orange-ranked Gate bosses standing by his side, he was able to effortlessly sweep through D-Rank Gates in less than 20 minutes, which was an insanely fast clear rate for someone with less than 400 cumulative stats.

    Yet, that was all without considering the most spectacular part of the whole Evomon and monster-enslaving feature which, although morally questionable, came with the benefit of ''Evolution.''

    Cassius had tried out the ''Evo Fusion'' almost right after acquiring it and beating into submission his first D++ Boss Monster. And though the qualities of him and the Evomon didn''t mesh well, he was still able to tremendously improve his power following the transformation of his body into something akin to a water bear humanoid Spirit. It was an amazing thing to experience, and his abilities even more so.

    He could shoot out large beams of water, summon miniature tsunamis, and even run on water while in ''Aqua Bear'' form, and though it was temporary, he experienced what it was like to Lord over the sea. The feeling was thrilling, to say the least.

    Moreover, this emboldened him to act more proactively in his search for more suitable Evomon to fuse with.

 Chapter 61 - 61: {[Shadow Monarchâ€™s Hoodie (C-)]}

    It wasn''t until Cassius''s sixth day of searching that he entered a D-Rank Gate and encountered a Boss Monster even more troublesome than the Kobold King from the Kobold Catacombs. The boss easily blended into the ancient ruin surroundings and seemed to appear in dozens of different locations all at the same time. Extraordinarily powerful lightning electrified the air and shot out from its innumerable clones, all while further increasing the Boss Monster''s speed.

    It wasn''t until after passing a three-hour intense struggle and finally subduing the elusive Boss Monster that Cassius threw a Common Evoball out. Yet, even with it in a half-dead state, it took five of the balls to capture it, when it would normally only take one or two. However, this only increased the feeling urging him that this monster was the one for him. Lilith vibrated in annoyance upon sensing this thought of his but calmed down after a bit more slaughtering.

    While killing monsters with Lilith, Cassius learned more about the truth of the lightning/shadow element boss monster¡ªnow Evomon.

    It was through these observations and physical intuition that he discovered the true nature of its "cloning ability," which was, in actuality, a trick of the mind, produced by a combination of its extremely quick speed, its original two elements, and the "Illusion" element. Only after all these aspects came together in seamless fashion could an enemy far surpassing its rank come into being.

    Now, though, that enemy had become Cassius''s Evomon, thus renamed "Nyxvoldar," and would likely remain as part of his strength for many moons to come.

    It was on the seventh day following Cassius''s first conquest of a normal Gate, immediately after his reminiscent recap was finished, that he noticed something up with the people in his immediate vicinity. They were all gathered around a large marble building in a part of Hoshito''s downtown city area.

    Attracted by the commotion, Cassius heard people screaming and shouting as if they had lost their minds. His first assumption was that a Sudden Gate had appeared, eliciting mass frenzy. However, after nearing the boisterous crowd and leaning over the heads, he realized exactly what was going on here¡­

    ''Celebrities¡­ Whether in this life or my previous life¡ªthey never change,'' he thought with a sigh. ''And neither do their fans¡­''

    A few dozen meters ahead of him, a group of exceptionally good-looking men and women were standing on a weirdly shaped stage. Their appearances were certainly glamorous, with many standoffish tassels and adornments attached to their persons. The men posed coolly, while the women were a mix of personalities, with some colder and others wanton enough to blow kisses and wave around in feigned glee.

    Cassius flipped up his shadowy hood and was simply going to turn around and go about his way, as he planned to meet Grace again today. Yet, before his thoughts could be put into action, he suddenly heard something interesting come from the crazed ramblings of the pop star fans.

    "The B-Rank Hunter Party, MoonShiners, actually came to our small city of Hoshito!! What have we done to deserve such good fortune!?"

    "Oh, God, I really love them! Especially Dominic! He''s my favorite!! So dashing!"

    "Dominic!? You are surely fooling yourself with that one! Lexi is clearly the best-looking among them!"

    "Lexi!? Ha! What a joke! Stella is the only one for me! Just look at how she waves and blows kisses! They are intimate gestures directed toward just me!"

    "Ha!? What a delusional fool! You are not only delusional, but you are also stupid enough to fall for her fake act!"

    Cassius zoned out the rest of the crowd''s quibbling, instead focusing on the B-Rank Hunter Party part.

    ''There are actually these types of Hunter Parties, and of such high ranking as well¡­ How very unusual¡­''

    Curious, he weaved through the sea of people and made his way toward the front of the group. Normally, with his outstanding appearance, he would stand out no matter where he went, but thanks to the item crafting system feature, he was able to create a magical shadow hood that perfected what he was previously attempting to imitate.

    {[Shadow Monarch''s Hoodie (C-)]}

    |¡ª[Defense: ~102]¡ª|

    [Effect 1 (Too ugly for viewership):] - [Can conceal the facial appearance of the User (Only applicable against those less than 3 Perception ranks higher than the User)]

    [Effect 2:] - [200% increased effectiveness with the Shadow Element]

    [Effect 3 (Night Stalker):] - [During the night, the wearer is able to blend into the darkness and remain completely undetected by all those with a Perception stat less than 4 ranks higher than yours. (As soon as you attack, this effect will be negated)]

    Cassius obviously knew that the Idle Evolution System was trolling him a bit, but what more could he expect from something that quite literally gave him a trolling system feature? Perhaps it was a bit salty that he hadn''t been using the feature to its fullest capacity.

    ''Over the past week, I''ve obtained roughly 55 AP through the ''trolling'' of those close to me, but I guess that''s not good enough for the system,'' Cassius thought as he tuned into the voice coming through the speaker system on stage. ''Maybe I should try to make some enemies and troll them¡­?''

    Unusual thoughts whirled around inside his head as the Head of the MoonShiner Hunter Party, Dominic, spoke through his microphone: Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hello, people of Hoshito!! As some of you are aware, we are the B-Rank Hunter Party, the MoonShiners!"

    His voice caused the citizens in the crowd to erupt in loud cheers.

    It was Dominic''s dignified voice that truly set the reality out before them. A real-life B-Rank Hunter Party had arrived in Hoshito! As for why they were here¡ªwell, who really cared!?

    Dominic inwardly smirked at the zealousness of the na?ve Hoshito denizens. Though, outwardly, he exhibited nothing less than the epitome of gentlemanliness, leaving the fervent girls below swooning.

    A few of the guys were jealous and envious, but more than that, the presence of an actual B-Rank Party weighed far heavier on their minds.

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 62 - 62: The B-Rank MoonShiner Hunter Party

    Continuing from where he left off, Dominic said, "We have arrived in Hoshito today to request your vocal support in our coming raid of the High-Yellow ''Tyrant''s Obsession'' Gate!"

    Hearing this, the crowd became even more rowdy, but Dominic was not yet finished. "If the more generous among you are feeling froggy, then you can even support us in the monetary sense! But again, you do not need to, and only the most loyal of fans should even consider it!"

    Like an expert at this game, Dominic was able to slip in his true objective while still making himself and the rest of the MoonShiners appear humble and magnanimous. In the eyes of the people of Hoshito, a B-Rank Hunter Party should never be in need of money; after all, they netted tens of millions of USD every year. However, what they failed to account for was the insatiable greed of the human heart.

    A couple of the MoonShiner members, such as the vivacious Stella, were secretly appalled by the behavior of their Party Leader. But they could do nothing but stand back and keep quiet while looking pretty.

    Cassius, with his heightened senses, was able to understand a lot of things. Moreover, with his Intelligence stat thrown in the mix, the truth of their appearance here was quickly surmised.

    He sighed.

    ''I expected more from a powerful party of B-Rank Hunters, but I guess the human heart is as fickle and materialistic as ever.''

    Cassius''s piercing blue eyes flickered as he wondered how people could possibly be so greedy for something so useless.

    In the last period of time, during his secret conquest of dozens of Gates, he collected too many Magic Shards to count, with some even being individually worth thousands. Yet, even after bringing them to the Hunter''s Association and selling them under an anonymous identity for reduced prices, the six figures in his once-empty bank account didn''t go to his head. He kept the money in mind, but beyond that, life for him continued as per usual.

    Cassius never stopped working at Bookworm''s Paradise, even though he could likely purchase the whole store and then some.

    He met the seemingly bipolar Bella nearly every shift; he went out with the meek Grace every now and then, yet not once had he entertained the idea of gloating about his wealth or even showing it off.

    Simply put, he found something greater than measly dollar bills to pursue¡ªstrength.

    After experiencing more than a month of the Idle Evolution System''s sadism, Cassius''s mindset hardened to the point where true, hard-earned power was the only thing that interested him. His yearning for greater character development further incensed the Idle Evolution System, subsequently prompting it to give out Side Quests left and right. And with him now needing to perform thousands of sword swings every day, everything was gradually becoming too much for him.

    However, for some stupidly weird reason, the insane hell difficulty of the system''s tasks only made Cassius more excited. This unnatural behavior pushed him to newfound heights, with his previous weak-willed self nowhere to be seen.

    Now, even without the extra benefits from the Idle Evolution System, he was bringing in nearly a dozen stat points a day, all acquired because of his absurd will to strive. His AP had reached astronomical numbers, as he hadn''t spent a single point since saving Memphis, yet his stats only kept increasing. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At his current rate of advancement, it surely wouldn''t be long before he reached the minimum suggested requirement to attempt HELL''s 1st Floor. Though, that was a matter for another time.

    With Newbie Sword 2 kept close to his hip, and veins bulging from his arms, Cassius listened to Dominic, the MoonShiner party head, go on and on about the noble aspirations of their Hunter Party. For the most part, he was the only one who spoke; however, to maximize fan benefits, those like the expressionless 1st Vice Leader Lexi and 2nd Vice Leader Issa voiced their nonsense.

    Yet, like moths to a flame, thousands of Hoshito citizens ate up their words like they were the most appetizing things ever.

    ''When faced with beings of higher and more luxurious statuses, those with sheep mentality will simply break,'' Cassius thought evenly. ''The pebbles that these people will provide to the B-Rank Hunter Party certainly won''t amount to much, yet this whole charade is occurring for that very reason¡­ It''s sad, really¡­''

    He was about to walk away and resume his weighted grind when he suddenly saw something extremely interesting. On the fair neck of the lively Stella, there was a necklace.

    The necklace was encased in beautiful blue sapphire and gold, but it was rather the symbol embedded into the necklace that truly attracted his attention. It was that of a magnificent tree, with the tree''s branches being uncountable, and the tree''s luster an eye-catching greenish iridescence.

    ''That symbol is¡­'' Cassius seemed to recall blurry memories from a time before he could even speak¡ªa time when his mother was still around. ''That''s right. My mother used to wear a necklace identical to this one, yet it was enveloped in jewels far more magnificent and polished.''

    On the surface, the necklace he was seeing on this woman and the necklace from his memories in no way looked like they were of the same origin. However, with that uncannily similar symbol, the truth was unmistakable.

    ''If this Stella has some sort of connection with my mother, then I need to figure out the truth of the matter.''

    Cassius''s eyes dangerously narrowed as he flashed away from the crowd, his destination unknown.

    After a while.

    Dominic, along with the rest of the MoonShiners, descended the stage and walked away from their passionate fans. Just as they were going to enter a luxurious golden-black limo and begin their journey toward the B-Rank Gate, Stella''s expression morphed ever so slightly.

    For the first time in a very long while, she was letting her true emotions show. Yet, with very little time to deliberate, she stopped in her tracks.

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 63 - 63: You are Speed...?

    Confused, Dominic, while still warmly smiling, turned toward her from inside the limo. "What are you doing, Stella? We have a schedule to stick to; hurry up now and get in the car. Stop wasting everyone''s time."

    Stella shivered at the sight of her Party Leader''s ''friendly'' smile as she bit her lower lip and averted her shaky eyes. "...I have to use the ladies'' room; it''s an emergency¡­"

    "Just get in the car¡ª" Dominic went to irrefutably retort, yet the other girls, Lexi and Issa, guessing what Stella was talking about, interrupted, saying:

    "There is no harm in letting Stella go her own way for now, Dominic," said Lexi. "She can always catch up to us later."

    Adding something else in, Issa said, "Furthermore, we aren''t scheduled to begin the Gate Raid of this completely unexplored Gate until six hours later, when the paparazzi and Hunter Association higher-ups arrive."

    Dominic''s expression remained unreadable for a few seconds as he silently considered.

    Black lines clouded his face, and for an instant, the other seemingly amiable B-Rank Hunters in the limo felt the looming threat of death. Yet, it came and went just as fast, with the tension in the air returning to normal.

    "Just don''t let it happen again," he said smilingly before rolling up the tinted window of the limo.

    The limo then drove off into the distance, leaving a troubled and slightly trembling Stella standing by the edge of a busy city road. Even though she had expected her Party Leader to react like he did, it was always increasingly unnerving the more times he acted like that. If not for the voice she just heard speak directly into her head, she never would''ve done something that would make her stand out like that.

    After steadying her uneven breathing and calming her nerves, Stella looked toward a certain alleyway off to the side.

    Approaching the alleyway, she thought about many things. One of which concerned the method that the voice used to speak directly into her mind; she had heard of skills that could produce similar effects, but why would someone like that mess with her and even mention her family heirloom?

    ''...If what the voice says is true, then he might have a connection with the mysterious force that my grandma used to crazily rave about¡ªthe World Tree''s Sanctuary¡­''

    Meanwhile, Cassius, casually leaning up against a dry brick wall of a restaurant, saw a silhouette come into view. She wore a flowy set of shiny, flowery armor, revealing way more skin than should be necessary for battle armor.

    Her skin was fair, her snowy white hair long and silky, and her figure capable of arousing the desires of many. If one looked close enough, they would even be able to see her two perfectly round and squishy butt cheeks leaving the confines of the short pink shorts she wore underneath her revealing dress.

    It immediately became clear to Cassius that this girl was uncomfortable while dressed like that, yet she acted in such an unscrupulous manner while on stage. Even your common person could tell that she was faking everything, but she was still doing it; why was that?

    As he pondered that very question, the girl in question walked up to this shadowy figure, her eyes emulating her weariness. "...Who are you?" she asked, not the least bit resembling the bubbly girl who was dancing around on stage earlier. "And how do you know of this symbol¡­?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although Stella maintained a cautious approach, she was, after all, a powerful B-Rank Hunter. And considering that she couldn''t feel an ounce of aura from the man in front of her, she unconsciously took an upper-ground advantage. Noticing this, Cassius figured he would do something to fully cement what would come from this discussion.

    "You," he said cryptically. "Sit down¡­ if you would?" He gestured to a pair of illusory wind chairs that he conjured from thin air. Yet, figuring that this simple request would not be enough to take the lead in the conversation, he stuck up a cloaked finger, then blurred.

    "!!!"

    "You¡ª!" Before Stella had the time to react and cast a spell, that shadowy finger made it less than a centimeter away from her tender throat.

    Sweat beads trickled down her flawless skin; she froze in place, trembling in even grander fashion than when faced with the intimidating aura of Dominic. With him, she knew that he would never actually go too far; however, with the mysterious man standing by her side, she could tell¡ªif she acted, she would die.

    Cassius, through his shadowy hood, showed an amused smirk. "Even though your Agility is your worst stat and nearly on the verge of being counted as being in the C-Rank, you were almost able to stop me. Though it is unfortunate¡­"

    "...What do you mean by that¡­?" asked Stella, her tone indicating her nervousness. "And how do you know what my stats are at¡­? The Hunter''s Association doesn''t publicly disclose personal information like that¡­"

    Answering her first question, Cassius smilingly said, "If I were someone ordinary, then you surely would have thwarted my sudden advance, but what you weren''t aware of is that¡­ I Am Speed."

    Confusion flashed past Stella''s dazzling tundra-blue irises. "...You are speed¡­?" she echoed. "What does that mean?"

    Instead of replying to that follow-up question, Cassius diverted back to the second original question. "I am able to see many things with these eyes thanks to a Skill of mine, and the approximate stats of others just so happen to be one of those things."

    Listening to his perplexing way of answering made Stella even more confused. As a B-Rank Hunter, she was privy to many things, but a Skill like the one this cloaked figure described was not one of those things.

    However, with his energy-coated razor-sharp finger lingering next to her neck, she found it hard to maintain a coherent train of thought, let alone rack her mind for information on any such skills.

    ...

 Chapter 64 - 64: Who Else But Bella...?

    Looking past the terrified expression of the girl hanging between life and death, Cassius retracted a few more steps, returning to the first questions she asked upon arriving. "My name is¡­ not something you need to know at this point in time. But I can tell you how I know about that necklace dangling on your neck."

    Stella''s eyes widened in genuine shock, as she had already surmised this entire sequence of events to be one big ploy laid out by this man and maybe an organization behind him. She assumed they had somehow figured out the importance she held for the necklace adorning her neck, as it was something given to her by her mother. But with the mysterious man''s most recent words, all of her solid speculations were thrown out the window. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With the same mildly amused smirk showing through his dark veil, Cassius went on to briefly explain the extent of his relationship with the necklace and, more specifically, the symbol.

    Half a minute later.

    "...Your mother as well¡­ How can this be¡­?"

    "As well?" Cassius questioned. "Are you saying that your mother had a similar necklace?"

    Stella shook her head. "Not just that, but this very necklace was the one she passed on to me before vanishing! She also left me with a series of warning words, but I don''t really think she was lucid at the time¡­"

    "You must tell me what she said, Stella!" Cassius urged as he took his finger away from her throat. "You have to tell me exactly what she said!"

    Stella, surprised by the mysterious man''s sudden change in demeanor, was too muddle-minded to realize that she now had a decent chance to counterattack.

    Yet, she didn''t attack.

    Instead, her eyes clouded with emotions developed because of memories from long ago, and she mumbled, "...M-My mother said, ''Beware of the creatures of nightmare; beware of the imposters, and beware of the one that descends clad in purple.''"

    "To this day, I still have no idea what she meant by anything she was talking about¡­ Surely she must''ve just been speaking nonsense because she was feeling pre-guilt over deciding to leave her family the next day¡ª"

    "No!" Cassius blurted out, his expression a mixture of several complicated emotions. "There is definitely more to your mother''s words than meets the eye, and it is very likely that she left you for a reason as well."

    "As well?" Stella was feeling reverse d¨¦j¨¤ vu. "Are you saying¡ª"

    "Yes," answered Cassius. "My mother left as well, but it happened when I was a few years younger than you. However, with our difference in age thrown into the pit, they should''ve left at around the same time. And though I have no idea what the other two things your mother said mean, I know that ''creatures of nightmare'' are the monsters in the Gates."

    "The monsters in the Gates!? But why would she¡­" Stella found herself at a loss for words, unable to understand a multitude of different things at the moment.

    Suddenly turning her head up, she asked, "Then are you also aware of the World Tree''s Sanctuary? My grandma rambles about it often, and ever since my mom vanished, she seemed to lose her mind, with the World Tree being really the only thing she talks about¡­"

    "I used to think that what she spoke about was just her one way of grieving, with it having little to no chance of actually meaning anything¡­ But if what you say is true, then there might just be something more to her crazed ravings¡­"

    "The World Tree''s Sanctuary¡­" Cassius wordlessly moved his lips, feeling something pull him toward that name and the intent behind it. "...I have never heard of that term, but I feel as if it is vastly important to the mysteries surrounding our mothers¡­ Maybe, just maybe, they left for reasons beyond mere human selfishness¡­"

    Even though she had just met this man and didn''t even know what he looked like, Stella felt a slight sense of hope bubble up within her because of his words. However, when she remembered where she needed to be, dread washed over her pretty face.

    "I want to continue this subject, but I really have to go somewhere! I forgive you for trying to kill me, and here, take my number," she hurriedly said while writing down a string of digits on a slip of paper that appeared from somewhere down below. "Make sure not to contact me! I will contact you!"

    "Ahh¡­"

    Without even receiving the opportunity to say anything of substance, Cassis saw Stella giddy up on out of there, with her final farewell words being, "Talk to you later tonight!"

    Cassius felt like he had done a terrible job at keeping her still, but what he gained from this encounter made all that inconsequential.

    He had originally assumed that nothing much would come from luring Stella out to a secluded alleyway, but trying never harmed anyone, so he tossed out the bait, hoping to snag something.

    Yet, what he caught was something far beyond what even he bargained for!

    Though, only the following period would fully articulate what exactly all of this meant for him¡­

    Three minutes later.

    Upon leaving the dark alleyway, Cassius was surprised to find a familiar face staring him down in a barely concealed accusatory manner.

    Her long black hair cascaded down her slender shoulders and plump bottom, whereas her sparkling star-like eyes bore through his soul as if they could discern everything with just a single glance. Yet, it was impossible to understand exactly what she was thinking; whether she was mad, sad, disappointed, or annoyed was a complete mystery.

    However, Cassius could still tell that she was feeling something on the negative side of the spectrum¡ªthat much was certain by the sassy way she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk.

    Who else could it be but Bella?

    "You look as lovely today as always¡ª"

    "Ha! Stop with the flowery words and tell me who that woman was!" Bella, not even giving him a chance to play coy, raised her voice and demanded.

    ...

 Chapter 65 - 65: Receiving AP For Trolling

    Cassius awkwardly laughed while averting his gaze from the pushy beauty. "...The truth is that I saw her from afar, instantly became enamored by her appearance, and then shot my shot! Unfortunately, I was turned down¡­ all because of my lacking wealth."

    "Why not your lacking appearance!?"

    "Well, that''s naturally because I''m extraordinarily handsome. Who would find fault in my appearance¡­? A blind person?"

    Silence.

    Bella coldly harrumphed, not believing a single word that came out of his shameless, lying mouth. "I am merely trying to watch out for you and make sure you don''t get mixed up with the wrong people, as any good coworker would do. And yet here you are lollygagging with random women in dark alleyways! What a lousy human being you are!"

    Oof¡­

    If there was one thing Bella was good at, it was nailing stakes into Cassius''s heart and pride. Even though everything he said was supposed to come off as a joke, everything Bella said was certainly her truth. Yet, knowing this only made his pain all the worse.

    [You obtained 0.7 AP for trolling {[Bella]}]

    "Bella¡­"

    "Don''t even bother with the pleasantries!" shouted Bella, clearly irate. "We have the same shift tomorrow morning, so I expect to see you there bright and early! And if I come to find that you are hanging around any more flooz¡ª unsavory women, then I will personally visit your house and embarrass you in front of your stepmother and stepsister!"

    *Ding!*

    [You received 1.7 AP for trolling {[Bella]}]

    With that, Bella stormed off while stamping her feet on the hot pavement.

    ''She''s obviously annoyed about several different matters,'' thought Cassius. But little did he know that every single one of those matters was one way or another related to him.

    After watching Bella''s graceful silhouette fade into the distance, Cassius''s bitter smile morphed into something a bit more apathetic. He looked toward the east, sensing several strong surges of inter-dimensional energy sprouting up.

    It was highly possible that one of those surges was due to the appearance of the High Yellow Gate Tyrant''s Obsession. As for the other two¡­

    "It seems like something is rapidly changing in Japan, and perhaps the entire world," Cassius commented plainly, his voice seemingly emulating his lack of concern. "I worry about several things, but what good does worrying do? Will worrying stop something from happening? Will worrying make all my problems disappear?"

    The answer was no.

    Cassius, having realized this during his further tempering by the system over the last week, once again brought himself to another pivotal character development moment. He made his choice on this particular day, with the Idle Evolution System supporting his decision enthusiastically.

    He definitely earned some character development brownie points for that decision, which may or may not lead to¡­ increased difficulty in something system-related?

    And for some reason, that was considered to be a good thing?

    Cassius momentarily wondered where exactly he had gone wrong on his path to be led so astray.

    Sometime later.

    While Cassius took long, heavy strides toward the source of three inter-dimensional aura signatures, Lilith, who was in arm tattoo form, vibrated with greater intensity the closer they got to the first of the three signatures.

    During the last week, she managed to advance from the D++ Rank to the C- Rank with the help of hundreds of thousands of gallons of blood. However, since then, she hadn''t been able to further advance into the neutral C-Rank. And though she was close, she still needed those last few massacres to push her over the edge.

    By the time Cassius arrived just a few hundred meters away from the massive five-story-tall High Yellow Gate, he saw the gorgeous Stella, who was currently attending to her other party members like a slave. She carried food, followed their stupid requests, and even catered to their lack of entertainment by dancing and singing, which she was proficient in.

    A few dozen meters away from the quarantined Gate area was another group of people, this time larger than before.

    Dominic enjoyed the attention he was receiving, lounging back and munching on grapes, all while watching Stella embarrass herself. He didn''t even bother to hide his lust as he traced her devastatingly beautiful curves with his lecherous eyes, wondering just how much longer it would take before she fully submitted to him. That, as well as his naturally pompous nature, was why he acted like he did around her.

    It was all to eventually get into her pants! And for it to all be her own choice!

    Scandals weren''t good, ya know? And he didn''t want any more of them. Thus, things had to be done differently this time around.

    Cassius narrowed his eyes at this sight, immediately understanding many of the underlying intents swirling around.

    ''So that is why she wears something she obviously doesn''t want to wear¡ªironically, it''s to wear down her will,'' he scoffed, not bothering to conceal his immense disdain for the man who was far stronger than he was.

    ''He might be part of the reason she fakes everything, but I suspect the root of the problem goes much deeper than just an arrogant man who''s had everything handed to him.''

    Cassius, tired of watching this show, slipped past them and entered the High Yellow Gate. But before fully vanishing, he left behind a mental message:

    "If you ever need help dealing with those supposed ''teammates'' of yours, then feel free to contact me. I have a very specific set of skills, and with these skills, I can solve a wide array of issues."

    Stella, although ignorant in a lot of things, knew right away what that reference was to. A small pout formed on her enchanting face, causing Cassius to softly chuckle before entering a different dimension.

    For a moment, Stella stood there and absentmindedly stared in the direction where she last felt his faint presence. That was until her teammates strung out several more demands, forcing her to bend to their will. Yet, even as she ran all over the place like an overworked pack mule, her mind always seemed to trace back to the mysterious hooded man.

    She became increasingly curious about his appearance, wondering if he was as handsome as he sounded¡­

    ...

    Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 66 - 66: A Monster Underground...?

    Quickly shaking her head, Stella thought, ''There''s no way someone handsome would bother covering up their face.'' before returning to her ''Party Duties.''

    Meanwhile, within the C+ Gate ''Tyrant''s Obsession.''

    Cassius stepped foot into a brand-new world, almost instantly feeling something different about this one. Although it was his first time in a C-Rank Gate, he had expected it to be pretty similar to the other Gates he had ventured into. However, it appeared that was not the case, as based just on the heaviness of his body, the gravity in this place was at least ten times stronger than it was in the outside world.

    This also made it ten times stronger than the gravity level in the other Gates, as they had no difference in gravity.

    "How interesting¡­"

    The first thought to come to Cassius''s sadism-trained mind was how well this place could function as a training ground. Yet, that thought was quickly set aside when he better observed his surroundings.

    During his time conquering dozens of lower-rank Gates, he encountered various biomes within those isolated worlds. From lands of ice to thick jungle forests, and even to ruined cities long since overrun by monsters. However, oddly enough, this was his first time arriving in a world of sand. The air was arid, and the high temperature suffocated the atmosphere, creating rolling waves of heat.

    "The monsters¡­ where are they?"

    All around Cassius were just miles and miles of brownish-yellow sand, with occasional hills of the same sand scattered here and there. Other than the scorching heat searing down on the barren desert, it was just sand. The wind whistled, but not even the chirps of a cricket could be heard from where he was standing.

    Cassius was beginning to think that this Gate was a sham, as even with his Perception stat, he could not sense any other living organisms within a few hundred feet.

    However, just as he was about to walk back out of the Gate and head to one of the other two that had appeared, the sand beneath him started to shake.

    Curious, Cassius turned around, with his icy blue eyes following the slight tremors to their source. A few dozen meters ahead of him, beyond the progressively more prominent ripples, there appeared a brown feeler. It wasn''t very large, but it playfully whipped around, almost as if it were an intrigued puppy.

    The first thing Cassius wanted to do was approach this feeler and snatch it up, but when he pieced together the tremors and the feeler, which was at the center of them, he stopped in his tracks.

    Things were certainly not as simple as they seemed.

    As he was in his Hoodie''s ''Stealth'' mode, Cassius couldn''t be normally perceived by anything below the B-Rank. And based on the spirited movements of the feeler, it was very likely to be a monster of some sort and also somehow related to the tremors. However, seeing as he was still unable to sense anything, this monster clearly possessed a proficient set of stealth Skills.

    ''Hmm¡­ I guess I should take a more direct approach for this one.''

    It became abundantly clear that he would not have the upper hand in a battle of stealth, so he decided to do something bolder. Yet, with this monster''s strength stat likely in or around the C-Rank and his only in the High D-Rank, a direct confrontation was not a wise choice. This left only one viable option for him to make¡­

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    Sonic booms abruptly exploded out from where Cassius was standing as he circled the outer radius of the tremors. He transformed into a shadowy blur, moving so fast that the attentive feeler was unable to keep up. It tried again and again to trace the unknown blur, but wound up repeatedly failing.

    Infuriated, the tremors increased in intensity, with the sand in the middle sinking further into the ground. Something seemed to be making its grand appearance, and it would no doubt be extremely large. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, as if expecting something like this to happen, Cassius merely increased his speed while making full use of the Mid-Silver Skill ''I AM SPEED.''

    Sand specks were thrown up in every direction, with the rate at which they were upturned only quickening the more the sand at the tremor''s center sank deeper. The jumpy feeler had already vanished into the waves of sand, seemingly making way for its main body. But it quickly reappeared, along with three others, as the main body felt something preventing it from fully emerging.

    That was when it realized that Cassius was purposefully tossing sand in the direction of the feelers, effectively restoring all the sand that had sunk into the ground. This action of his made the monster''s efforts pointless.

    Angered even more than before, it mustered up more of its strength, essentially turning what should have been a simple entrance-scene task into an arduous struggle against being trapped underground.

    A couple of minutes later.

    The underground monster was left in a state of disarray, as no matter how hard it pushed up, more and more sand pressured down on it. And thanks to its light feelers, it was able to figure out that the shadowy blur was becoming faster and faster, which made no sense! It kept exerting greater amounts of strength, even exceeding previously preconceived limits, yet it amounted to nothing, as the human became fast enough to void its struggles!

    Eventually, the unknown underground monster was no longer able to resist being buried deep underground.

    An entire sand mountain was stacked on top of it, and though it could survive beneath the sand to a degree, so many tens of thousands of pounds of sand crushing down on it was¡­

    At some point during his speedster display, Cassius heard the faint sound of squelching.

    Assuming that it was the sound of the underground monster being squashed, he boosted his speed with a few more AP, hoping to speed up the monster''s death and resume his exploration of the Gate.

 Chapter 67 - 67: Slaying a C- Sand Devourer

    After another minute of slowly torturing the underground monster with countless more tons of sand, Cassius finally received the system notifications, guiding him to a gradual decrease in speed. He refocused his vision back to a normal level of speed perception, then read through the notifications. That was also when he learned the name and rank of the thing he had just suffocated to death.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain a C- Sand Devourer!]

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 4 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Points!]

    OOOM!

    Cassius felt a wave of power wash over him as he experienced a level-up, something that hadn''t happened to him for a few Gates worth of grinding.

    A smirk formed on his usually apathetic expression.

    This Gate was already showing signs of being extremely lucrative. And would he really be a pursuer of Character Development if he didn''t take advantage of a dangerously profitable opportunity?

    As one guided or, rather, misguided by the Idle Evolution System, there was really only one answer to this question.

    While in the midst of his own satisfied thoughts, Cassius was slow to notice the appearance of similar tremor events all around the area. For miles on end, brown feelers sprouted up, with their owners already in the process of digging out of the ground.

    Cassius''s expression hardened at this sight.

    "No matter how confident I am in my speed, there''s simply no possible way that I can use the same trick on upwards of a dozen of them," he analyzed retrospectively. "But even if I can''t drown them to death, I have other methods¡­"

    He flicked his wrist, causing a jagged puzzle piece blade to appear in his grasp. Its crimson glow shone under the searing heat, creating a vast contrast to the icy expression plastered across its owner''s devilishly handsome face.

    Cassius lifted the blade vertically and placed it up against his chest, with the blade''s edges reflecting his chiseled features. His stance emulated the sheer level of explosive power contained within his muscles, while Lilith''s killing intent further amplified his own.

    For a moment, the tremors subsided. But in the very next moment, they returned with even greater ferocity, and then explosions of sand occurred in several different locations!

    Taking a cold glance at the appearance of these monsters, Cassius saw their yellow system tags, all of which identified them as |Sand Devourers|. Then, his frosty eyes fell on their physical appearances, which could easily be described as monstrous creatures derived straight from nightmare fuel.

    Each Sand Devourer had a similar look. Their lower half was that of a massive worm body, with each eerie segment squirming over the hot sand. Their upper halves, on the other hand, were a mixture of a worm, a mole, and a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth. The mole aspect solely consisted of their two front claws, which resembled those of the burrowing mammal.

    The other traits were obvious¡­ as they looked like smaller versions of those enormous sand worms from the Star Wars saga.

    Cassius knew he was in for a tough fight, but he was not deterred. Far from it.

    His eyes flashed with cold killing intent, further accentuated by the icy gleam exuding from them. Then, without giving a shout or warning, he slung Newbie Sword 2 over his shoulder and blurred toward the closest of the Sand Devourers.

    The Sand Devourer let out a hiss-like roar as it met the brazen human head-on. It planned to devour him in a single bite! Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet, it only took one swift movement for Cassius to kick against the ground and throw the Sand Devourer''s original plans way off track.

    SHING! SHING!

    Cassius glided past the Sand Devourer''s gaping maw, then tossed Newbie Sword 2 onto the monster''s back. But before it made contact, he magnified the sword''s weight with the assistance of a basic Gravity-type D+ Skill called ''Weight Dilation.''

    From its original 10,000 or so pounds, Newbie Sword 2 reached an astronomical 25,000 pounds, which was the upper limit of Weight Dilation''s current effectiveness!

    Unable to dodge in time and far too large to consider a counterattack, the Sand Devourer felt an insurmountable force burrow into its spine and plant itself deep into its sinew. The only thing it could do was shriek in pain and violently thrash about, forcing the other attacking Sand Devourers to slither back by a few hundred meters.

    Taking advantage of this moment, Cassius phased above the frenzied Sand Devourer and lashed out with Lilith. At first, the serrated blade pieces did little to no damage against the monster''s tough skin; however, with each further slash, more and more of the Sand Devourer''s hide was ruined.

    Two seconds later, after a series of rapid slashing, Cassius figured it was time to wrap things up.

    The Sand Devourer''s skin had been shredded by the countless serrated strikes, revealing spots of exposed red tenderness just begging to be exploited. Doing just that, Cassius erupted in multiple consecutive bursts of speed.

    Freed from the weight of Newbie Sword 2, he was able to lap the Sand Devourer''s massive body multiple times per second.

    Making use of Lilith''s ability to extend her individual pieces across large distances while maintaining a connected form, Cassius wrapped her around the entirety of the Sand Devourer. Once no part of the monster was left untouched, Cassius''s killing intent solidified. He materialized behind the disturbing monster''s body, then lightly tugged on Lilith''s bloody handle.

    SPURT!

    The Sand Devourer was shredded to bits and exploded like an overfilled canister of paint. The surrounding desert was splattered a dark shade of reddish-green, making the already desolate scenery even grimmer.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain a C- Sand Devourer!]

    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]

    Although Cassius didn''t receive a level-up system notification, there were still plenty more EXP bags for him to extract experience points from.

    "Time for a bit of Grinding Character Development," he declared coldly, his subsequent actions displaying an even greater level of coldness.

 Chapter 68 - 68: The Tyrant God (A-)

    *Ding!*

    [You slew another one!]

    [And another one!]

    [Wow!]

    [Now that one was¡­ Brutal¡­]

    [What!? Did you just¡­ Oh¡­]

    SPURT!

    [From the inside out¡­!? Can being a menace be considered as good Character Development?]

    Even the Idle Evolution System, with all its snarky sentience, was unable to properly quantify whether its Host had taken an appropriate path.

    But then again¡­

    [Gaining strength means fighting stronger enemies to gain even more strength! Being rather ruthless is only part of due effect! Mhmm, now this is good Character Development!]

    [^¡Á^ Keep it up! Murder more monsters, you insane psychotic bastard!]

    [Wait¡­]

    The Idle Evolution System suddenly realized that things seemed far too easy for its beloved Host. Knowing that good Character Development came from good suffering, this was simply unacceptable! It was truly, unacceptable unacceptable!

    [A little omnipotent interference never harmed anyone¡­]

    [^_^]

    With that, the Idle Evolution System mischievously pulled upon some strings that defied certain ethereal laws of existence. It received a substantial amount of backlash for this unwarranted interference. However, as the guider of good Character Development, how could it not withstand what it dished out??

    It was the original Masochist! Behold as it takes on the full brunt of heaven''s fury!!

    It will take it all on and then shout for more!! Nothing will be enough!!!

    [Psshh, what is Heaven in front of good Character Development!? ^?^]

    Heaven: "...."

    Even the Almighty governors of the universe felt exasperation in the face of such an existence. Nonetheless, the so-called ''punishment'' passed as a fleeting moment, with the Idle Evolution System''s tampering going off without a hitch.

    RUMBLE!

    From off in the distance, thousands of wide-ranged tremors parted the vast seas of sand, making it feel like the entire world was about to fall apart. Yet, as if to add to the chaos, roughly two hundred ridiculously large tremors spread out from dozens of miles away, with each one at least a dozen times stronger than that of a regular Sand Devourer.

    But as if all of that were just an appetizer for the true terrors of the dunes, twenty-five tremors capable of sinking multiple city blocks sprouted up. And then, to explosively spiral things out of control, five tremors with individual power five times that of the previous tremors blew through the boundless deserts!

    However, as if that weren''t enough, one final tremor took the concept of "blown out of proportion" to an entirely new level!

    This final and most powerful tremor, if unleashed in the outside world, would surely be able to threaten the structural integrity of an entire city! It was a level of power that far exceeded what even a B+ Boss Monster should possess!

    "Uhmm¡­"

    Cassius, although not very knowledgeable about higher-rank Gates, at least knew when something was not right.

    Looking through their system tags, he was left flabbergasted.

    [Elite Sand Devourer (C+)]

    There were 250 of them.

    [Sand Devourer Lord (B-)]

    There were 25 of them¡­

    [Tyrant King (Monarch of Obsession) (B+)] - [Boss Monster!]

    There were 5¡­!?

    At this point, Cassius was beginning to doubt his own eyes. How could there possibly be five Boss Monsters in a single Gate!? There was most definitely something cracked up to all high hell here!

    But as if to add to his disbelief, there was one final monster to emerge from the desert. Just behind the five crowned worm-dragon-like behemoths, there popped out something that, rather than abnormally large like the others, was instead the size of a human child. It took the form of a comparatively tiny shiny larva and didn''t even have its eyes open.

    Not even an instant later, the larva shot its eyelids open, unleashing an unquestionably dazzling burst of golden-bloody light that instinctively honed in on the tiny human in the distance. Then, with multiple rolling waves of incredibly domineering energy, it rapidly increased in size, growing one hundred times larger in a single second!

    Massive shimmering wings grew from its scaled back, increasing from one pair to two, and then finally to six. Its lower body followed suit, as its originally minuscule, stubby legs expanded and transformed into daunting hill-sized limbs befitting a genuine dragon. Similarly, its once squishy and bland head morphed into a sinuous imitation of a snowy dragon. Goldish-white scales covered its face and traced along the rest of its insurmountably massive body.

    To the tiny Cassius, even from so far away, the mysterious monster looked like a small-mountain-sized God of the Sky. He knew right then that something had definitely gone off-script!

    "Yeah, well, shit¡­" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He truly couldn''t comprehend what the hell was going on. Why everything seemed to want to slaughter all ten generations of his bloodline was also a complete mystery. And when he read the system tag of the flying monster that far outshone even the cloned Boss Monsters, his shock was only further amplified.

    {[Tyrant God (Ancestor of Tyrant''s Obsession/Overseer of the Deserted World of Obsession) (A-)] - [Anomaly! Anomaly!! Should not exist¡ª!]}

    "???"

    Before Cassius could question the forlorn message hidden in the system tag, he blinked and saw it vanish as if it had never been there to begin with.

    {[Tyrant God (Ancestor of Tyrant''s Obsession/Overseer of the Deserted World of Obsession) (A-)] - [Should definitely exist, uwu! Go and try fighting it! Good booty awaits you if you succeed in vanquishing this foe!]}

    Silence.

    It was right then that Cassius realized this was all likely a result of the system''s raging sadism boner. And although he was a bit annoyed that it always tried doing things like this just when he assumed he was becoming overpowered, his curiosity about the system''s origins far outweighed his grievances.

    However, with the certain threat of absolute death looming over him, Cassius had no choice but to set aside all the nonsense and clutch both Newbie Sword 2 and Lilith.

    Then, with no other viable options, he¡­ fled in the opposite fucking direction!

    ''Do I look like I have a damn death wish!?'' he exclaimed inside his mind while running at top speed, his figure but a blur atop the desert dunes.

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 69 - 69: Slaying a Sand Devourer Lord (B-)

    ''I am no protagonist!''

    ''Going against a force like that, where even the third strongest unit among them could slaughter me, is just plain foolish! The system must be tripping straight fucking balls to orchestrate something like this!''

    Cassius had originally planned to slowly increase his strength in this High Yellow Gate, then eventually challenge the B+ Boss Monster. But fighting them all at once and in far greater quantity?? Straight to the fuck no! He was out of there faster than a deadbeat dad aiming to acquire a carton of milk from the lands beyond!

    The gathered behemoth monsters exchanged unusual looks between each other, not expecting something like this to happen. They just wanted to eat the lone human, so why did he run away?? Did he not receive his part of the script play?

    [...This is not good Character Development¡­ :/]

    [Initiating 2nd Attempt at Good Character Development!]

    The Tyrant God suddenly twisted its terrifying scaly head and signaled for one of the Sand Devourer Lords to gather a substantial part of the weaker forces, which consisted of Sand Devourers of the normal and Elite variety. They were then instructed to chase down the fleeing human.

    It, on the other hand, would sit back and silently consider its next actions with the other Sand Devourer variants. When they eventually escaped the Gate that contained their entire world, they had plenty they wished to¡­ devour. Thus, they needed to meander.

    Meanwhile, hundreds of miles out.

    Cassius raced through the sandy dunes of the endless desert, his feet skimming over the sand like an elusive wraith. Yet, from a few thousand meters out, he sensed numerous horrifying yawning voids of teeth charging at him with relentless movements. The one at the forefront, a Sand Devourer Lord, was two and a half times larger than the Sand Devourer Elites and three times larger than the regular Sand Devourers.

    Under normal circumstances, it could be considered a Mini Boss of a High Yellow Gate, yet it was actually relegated to no more than a slightly stronger mob¡­

    Cassius felt that he could take on this monster, even with its stats boosted due to its unique status as a Mini Boss. But to be careful and not lose his life due to carelessness, he lured the Sand Devourer Lord and the hundred-odd Sand Devourers toward a crusted chasm in the ground. Its ends stretched out for tens of thousands of meters, with its edges having dried up and solidified because of unique environmental circumstances.

    To Cassius, it almost looked like the chasm had formed due to a ridiculously powerful and hot beam of sorts.

    However, regardless of the truth of the matter, he bolted into the chasm''s beginnings before coming to a standstill at a narrower part of the chasm a few hundred meters down. He turned around and calmly waited for his pursuers to catch up.

    Sure enough, after five seconds of waiting, a disturbingly large circular mouth of teeth clasped onto the entrance to his narrow part of the chasm. It repeatedly rammed its mouth into the walls, causing the chasm to slightly shake. Yet it was far from enough to destroy the place or barge into where Cassius was nonchalantly posed.

    At most, the massive Sand Devourer Lord''s ceaseless head smashes gave it minor brain damage and caused a few loose molten sandy rocks to tumble down the sides of the chasm. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius, amused by this stupid monster, brandished his enchanting Lilith and casually thrust forward with only his right hand. Lilith''s separable pieces shot forward one at a time, extending further and further from one another.

    Without the Sand Devourer even aware of what was happening, Cassius quite literally cast Lilith into the belly of the beast, all while keeping each individual piece of her from touching the monster''s inner throat. Then, when he felt the lure had sunk in deep enough, he lightly twisted his right hand, before twisting in the opposite direction. His hand blurred while doing this, which he repeated countless times in an instant.

    Cassius''s cooled expression blossomed into a wide smirk as he snapped his fingers and spoke in a glitchy tone. "C-Rank ''Bloodfire.''"

    Whoosh!!

    As one of the few C-Rank Skills that he received from Silver-rank Skill Boxes, Bloodfire took from Lilith''s and his killing intent and specialized in really only one thing.

    To burn.

    WHOOOOSH!!

    Starting from a small red fire, Lilith''s edges erupted in scarlet flames which, when added to the innumerable cuts that Cassius left inside the behemoth''s stomach, led to a truly gory display. The Sand Devourer Lord was just a little too robust to explode in the same fashion as a normal Sand Devourer, but its insides slowly became outsides, with its final agonizing screeches marking the end of its life.

    THUD!

    The Sand Devourer Lord''s carcass collapsed to the slanted chasm slope with a resounding thud. Yet, rather than retreat at the death of their strongest available ally, the Sand Devourers that were previously unable to get in because of the Lord were now slipping in through the cracks and lunging at the lone human.

    "You bunch just don''t know when to relent," said Cassius as he speedily slung Lilith out of the Sand Devourer Lord''s roasting stomach and slashed through a dozen attacking Sand Devourers.

    While fending both them and a couple of Sand Devourer Elites off with his precision lashes, various system notifications rang off inside his head.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain a B- Sand Devourer Lord!]

    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 4 AP!]

    [All your Main Attributes have increased by 2 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 5 AP!]

    [All your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Stat Points!]

    "Ahh, finally another increase in the amount I get per level up," Cassius mused while also glancing at the Skill Box rewards that weren''t normally shown after each level up. "Peak-Silver Skill Boxes, which means I''m rapidly approaching the Gold Rank, also known as the B-Rank."

    He was satisfied with his progress and, looking at the total amount of AP he had, his grin widened.

    ...¡­

 Chapter 70 - 70: Newbie 3 Equipment Set

    Cassius had an absurd amount of AP saved up, with the only thing preventing him from spending it all being his own hoarder traits.

    "If I were to put all of it into Agility, would I be able to match the Tyrant God¡­?"

    This thought lingered for a moment, yet was quickly discarded when Cassius recalled the stat interface of that monstrous existence. Every single one of its main stats was above 1000, with its cumulative stat count already exceeding 5500. Even if he had a few hundred AP in storage and dumped it all into Agility, he would still fall far short of 1000. And that was all without considering how lacking his other stats would be¡­

    So what if he could outpace the Tyrant God? He would never reach a speed in the short term that would allow him to transform his cotton punches into something more than a minor itch for the mountain-sized monster¡­

    Cassius sighed before evading the gaping mouths of several Sand Devourers. He sliced them in half the very next second, yet more just kept coming through the cracks left open by the Sand Devourer Lord''s corpse. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seconds turned into minutes, with blood and carcasses piling up in the narrow chasm entryway.

    5 minutes later.

    SHING! SPURT!

    "Esceetch!!!"

    Cassius effortlessly slid Lilith through the underbelly of an Elite Sand Devourer, effectively splitting it into two evenly cut pieces. This marked the final of the Sand Devourers. By now, the entrance to the molten sand cavern was entirely covered by mangled Sand Devourer corpses, with their stacked bodies obscuring any sunlight from seeping into the dark space.

    Flickering crimson blade in hand, Cassius''s eyes flashed with an indescribably cold iciness. He looked between all of the carcasses, then blurred.

    FWIP!

    When he reappeared, he had dozens of Magic Shards stacked up on his shoulder in the form of a small hill. Not a single one of them had less than five points, with the most prominent one being a large yellow shard that had seven points. It was the Magic Shard extracted from the Sand Devourer Lord and was the size of a car. Yet, even with them all pressing down on him, Cassius felt barely any pressure.

    "It seems that I will need a new set of Newbie Training Equipment¡­"

    While saying words that he never thought he would speak in this lifetime, he collected the various Magic Shards into his Inventory. He planned to find an opportunity to anonymously sell them later.

    Arriving sooner than expected, a system notification rang out, causing Cassius''s expression to freeze.

    *Ding~!*

    [Seeing as you are actively seeking out Character Development, the system has decided to grant your wish!]

    BLING! BLING!

    Along with constant flashes of golden light appearing all over Cassius''s body came a couple more pop-ups.

    [Newbie 2 Equipment Set has upgraded to ¡ú ''Newbie 3 Equipment Set'']

    [Newbie 2 Training Sword has upgraded to ¡ú ''Newbie 3 Training Sword'']

    {[Newbie 3 Equipment Set]}

    [Wrist Weights X2] - [5000 pounds]

    [Ankle Weights X2] - [4000 pounds]

    [Waist Weight X1] - [10000 pounds]

    [Full-Body Weight X1] - [20000 pounds]

    {[Newbie 3 Training Sword]} - [15000 pounds]

    OOOM!

    Cassius instantly felt a mountain''s worth of weight press down on him, pushing his feet into the ground. If not for his superb control honed over weeks of sadism, he surely would''ve sunk into the earth and reached the center of the planet at some point.

    Calculating the amount of weight he was carrying around, Cassius breathlessly muttered, "6-63,000 pounds¡­"

    It took him a few moments just to register that sort of number, as he was essentially heaving around 30 tons! He figured that just casually tossing his Newbie 3 Training Sword would create a cracked crater in the ground!

    And he was expected to carry that around at basically all times and do so without accidentally leveling a street and killing someone¡­

    "You really put a lot of faith in my control, System," Cassius said in a voice on the verge of slipping into insanity.

    *Ding!*

    [It is the highest honor of the Idle Evolution System to ensure that the Host remain as fit as a fiddle! And accidents happen, so fret not; the gracious system won''t blame your scumbag self if you ''accidentally'' slaughter a bunch of Innocents! ^_^]

    Helpless. That was how Cassius felt when dealing with the flippant Idle Evolution System.

    Not once had he ever figured out what it really wanted, what its true stance was, or even if it actually cared about anything other than the pursuit of ''Character Development''...

    "Speaking of which," Cassius suddenly spoke up. "Isn''t there more to Character Development than just suffering and training? I remember watching shows that described Character Development as something more emotional¡ª"

    The Idle Evolution System''s main interface flashed red, with its usually smiling emoji face twisting into something far angrier. Livid, it shouted in all caps:

    [Nonsense! All other paths of Character Development are false paths!! The only true way to Character Development is through pain, training, and suffering!!!]

    [(?¨y?) Never speak such nonsense again! It''s hearsay and will result in immediate punishment!]

    After that, the Idle Evolution System refused to talk for a good ten minutes, with Cassius still wondering why it became so mad.

    Even as he traversed toward the far ends of the endless desert, the System''s outburst remained at the front of his mind.

    ¡ª---------

    Meanwhile, in a nightmarish assembly of creatures produced straight from the stuff of nightmares.

    Tyrant God: "...."

    The extremely powerful and unnaturally intelligent monster King boss had been patiently waiting for good news of the human''s death to return. However, with more than a quarter of an hour having passed since it sent out the Sand Devourer Lord and its squadron, it was fair to say that they had failed¡­

    This caused the Tyrant God''s regal aura to violently fluctuate; its thoughts unknown.

    After a while.

    The Tyrant God finally made a move from its spot, waving a dozen Sand Devourer Lords and thousands of Sand Devourers of both the Elite and Normal variety forward. Heeding it''s silent command, they all leapt into motion and bristled into the distance.

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 71 - 71: The Difference Between 999 and 1000 Stat Points

    For the longest while, the Tyrant God simply floated above the variegated army of Sand Devourers. It occasionally glanced at the Tyrant Kings, seemingly contemplating whether it should send one to ensure that the human dies. However, with its above-average level of intelligence, it knew that was likely overkill.

    Wasting any more energy on this small matter would only make them weaker when they invaded the human world, so holding back was the wisest thing to do.

    Normally, that would have been the correct choice to make, especially when considering that it felt not the slightest bit of awakened aura from that human. But what it failed to account for with its limited intellect was that this human did not abide by the same power rules as the rest of the living organisms in the universe. Thus, it could not account for what was about to happen next¡­

    Three hours later. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    Sonic booms blasted out behind a tiny humanoid figure as he leaped from sand hill to sand hill. Behind him, however, were a countless number of Sand Devourers; they were all dozens of times his size, with some, like the largest crowned one, being more than two hundred times larger than he was.

    Cassius had spent the first two and a half hours inside the Gate fending off the combined forces of thousands of Sand Devourers, which included ten Sand Devourer Lords. He had expected that, after slaying them all, the Tyrant God would lay off his back and consider letting the matter go. Yet, it didn''t appear that the prideful Tyrant God was willing to take such affronts lying down; it made a power move and organized tens of thousands of Sand Devourers under a Tyrant King, also sending in another five Sand Devourer Lords as backup.

    Cassius should''ve already realized that things would escalate in this direction, but he hadn''t expected it to happen so fast! He was quickly approaching Level 50, but even then, a B+ Boss Monster with cumulative stats beyond 2000 was too much for him to handle!

    ''An individual Sand Devourer Lord was already bad enough, requiring me to take unconventional approaches to killing one, and they only had cumulative stats around 1400¡­'' Cassius thought pessimistically, wholeheartedly believing that he would die within a second if he faced the Tyrant King head-on.

    Stats are weighted, and that fact only becomes more noticeable the more stat points one has¡­

    Even if the difference between 1400 and 2200 cumulative stats doesn''t seem like much, if two such existences were to fight each other, the former would be flicked into oblivion.

    "Without a doubt, if I fight that Tyrant King as I am, I''ll certainly meet my demise," Cassius said half-heartedly, already feeling the headache that was to come. "Then again, it isn''t like I can continue running either. The King and the weaker ones are already closing in, and in no less than five minutes, I''ll be chilling in one of their acid pit stomachs¡­"

    Left with very few options here, Cassius decided to do the next best thing and¡­ dump more AP into his Agility stat!

    BING, BING, BING!

    The up-arrow button next to the Agility stat was clicked so many times that Cassius felt his index finger might fall off. From the 350 range to 400, then to 500, it only settled down at 660, with roughly 70% of his AP vanishing in the same period of time.

    Now, even with his Newbie 3 Equipment Set weighing him down, Cassius transformed into a barely visible blur of black. His speed, as opposed to before, was more than a dozen times greater! If he could previously travel at approximately 100,000 miles per hour, then he was now lapping ten times that!

    "Although I''m still far from achieving the speed of light, I have definitely taken one step closer," Cassius commented through blurry, almost instantaneous movement.

    If one looked at this scene from an outside perspective and they were capable of keeping up with his movements, then they would quickly realize that his speed was nearing the peak of the B-Rank!

    Thanks to the ''I AM SPEED'' skill, which increased his speed by 350% with recent gaps, he moved leagues above how he should be moving. If not for his Newbie 3 Equipment Set weighing him down, he would surely be standing at the pinnacle of the B-Rank in terms of pure speed.

    If stacked up against someone like Dominic, who didn''t main in Agility, then he would win 10 out of 10 times in a race.

    Still, the Tyrant God, an absolute unit of power, possessed stats far beyond his reach¡­ Even with his overwhelmingly stronger Agility stat, he would lose a million times out of a million times¡­

    The difference between anything below 1000 and the 1000 mark was like the difference between heaven and earth. Moreover, that gap only increased the further the number was from 1000 in the forward direction.

    Cassius sighed, realizing that he was getting a bit ahead of himself. "Before concerning myself with the Tyrant God, I have a crowned bastard to take care of."

    After their prey burst forth with incredible levels of speed, the Tyrant King no longer took a nonchalant, predatory approach. It instantly broached its limits and activated its Unique B+ Skill, ''Tyrannical Transformation,'' which rocketed its 500 Agility stat to 750 and then some. It erupted in golden flames, with illusory dragon wings appearing on its back, only second to the Tyrant God in terms of magnificence.

    Cassius, realizing he wouldn''t get away so easily, at least not without unequipping his Equipment Set, figured that if this battle was destined to happen, then it was going to happen either way.

    "And if I''m to take off my Newbie Equipment Set in both scenarios, then I''d prefer to break my Character Development code not in an act of cowardice."

    He was not a big fan of fleeing, but it seemed that fleeing was all he had been doing since entering this Gate.

 Chapter 72 - 72: Fighting a Tyrant King

    "That oughta change," said Cassius, his tone verging on sub-zero.

    He stopped racing through the vast, empty desert, the air pressure carrying along with his movements blowing past his angled pose. The extreme winds whipped his hair into a wild frenzy, yet under the searing rays of sunlight beating down on him, his appearance only seemed to become ever more otherworldly.

    However, in vast contrast to the radiance of the large sun hanging in the sky, Cassius''s expression was akin to a sheet of impermeable ice. His equally chilling gaze fixated on the massive crowned draconic wyrm blazing through dozens of sand hills, its advance unstoppable.

    It yawned its terrifyingly treacherous mouth to a degree where entire skyscrapers might just slip inside if the Gate weren''t so barren.

    It was under this very desolate atmosphere that Cassius released an icy cloud of breath, his sturdy figure settling into a deadly blade stance.

    Rather than have Lilith extend into dozens of individual pieces, he had her retain her original form and even solidified her robustness, ensuring she was poignant enough to pierce through even the heavens above. Only after confirming the integrity of his trusted C+ Devil Blade did Cassius activate every useful Active Skill in his arsenal.

    WAAA!

    His body exploded outward in an aura that suffocated the vicinity, but due to his special nature as an unofficial awakened, that aura shrank back into him and disappeared. It was like it was never there to begin with, puzzling the charging Tyrant King.

    However, seeing as it was a mere five sand hills away from swallowing the audacious human who dared to stop running, it ignored all the nonsense and shot forward, turning into a light blur itself!

    Cassius''s piercing blue eyes glazed over as he bent down low, then created a fragmented scabbard for Lilith. For this battle, he set aside his absurdly heavy Newbie Training Sword 3, putting all of his attention on the devastating move he was about to perform with the bloodthirsty Lilith.

    Even while in full control of the Devil Blade''s actions, Cassius could feel her insatiable bloodlust roll out in waves, seemingly wishing to consume everything in existence. Yet, when she fully entered the sheath made with a part of his Essence, all of her bloodlust and even her domineering presence vanished.

    It wasn''t gradual; it was like Lilith had actually left this plane of existence.

    However, as the one with the closest connection to her, Cassius could feel every little bit of her surging power, all of which flowed through her sharp edges and into his physical form. She empowered him to a level that forcefully amplified the strength contained within his muscles, temporarily slingshotting his Strength and Endurance Stats past 240.

    And though it wouldn''t last long, he would take full advantage of the unexpected boons given by Lilith.

    RUMBLE!!!

    "Are you ready, Lilith?" asked Cassius as time seemed to momentarily freeze, the sun blotted out by an enormous blackhole-like mouth.

    BZZZzzzzttt!!

    Lilith would kill the wyrm!

    Cassius faintly smiled, and in that same instant, he unequipped the last pieces of his Newbie 3 Equipment. With deathly cold eyes sparkling with unbridled electricity, he blurred through time and space.

    To any onlooker, he really did look like he had teleported. Yet, with his countless laggy afterimages to prove otherwise, his unveiled speed exceeded all expectations!

    Fwooop¡ª!

    Cassius phased out of the mouth that was about to trap him inside. He flashed above the regal draconic head of the Tyrant King, with his target being the large reptilian eye on the left side of its face.

    Before it even had time to react, he plunged Lilith into the eye, then activated ''Bloodfire.'' And then, going completely off script, he extended the Devil Blade''s individual pieces, each one digging deep into the insides of the Tyrant King''s head.

    If given a second more, Cassius would have been able to melt the Tyrant King''s brain to mush. But unfortunately, this monster was neither stupid nor slow. With an effulgent eruption of golden flames, it blurred backward, escaping the grim, bloody fate that awaited it.

    At first, the Tyrant King squinted its injured eye, feeling immense pain. However, as if thanks to some miraculous divine ability, its eye rapidly healed itself and was quickly restored to the same condition as before.

    Cassius narrowed his eyes at this sight. "It seems that you have a few cards up your sleeves¡­" He blinked, then vanished. "How troublesome."

    He teleported in front of the Tyrant King''s forehead, standing just between both of its massive slitted eyes. He aimed to do the same thing as before, this time successfully completing the attack.

    But it was obvious that the Tyrant King would not fall for the same trick twice. Predicting his attack beforehand, it struck out with its exceptionally long, spiked flame tail.

    Like a flaming skyscraper-sized sword, the Tyrant King''s tail cut through the air. In the process of searing everything in its path, it gradually increased in size and intensity before nearing the tiny human.

    Cassius dodged.

    Yet the Tyrant King wasn''t done; it swung the tail back around, but instead of striking, the tip of the tail opened up like a freshly blossomed flower. From within that tail emerged a source of golden light that became extraordinarily bright within an instant. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius widened his eyes in slight surprise.

    He hadn''t expected the Tyrant King to discern his weakness so quickly. But with little time to think about how to evade a wide-range AOE laser attack, he took the bolder approach and dashed toward the beam. In little more than a hundredth of a second, he leaned toward the beam tail with sword in hand.

    Lilith streaked forward, her fragmented pieces shooting out faster than the destructive beam could fire.

    Lilith wrapped around the side of the tail, then Cassius flicked his wrist and severed a good chunk of it. The gathering beam of golden light was naturally interrupted, with the owner of said tail roaring in angered agony.

    The human had to die! It would kill him!!!

 Chapter 73 - 73: {[I AM ATOMIC (A/P) (B-)]}

    Cassius was slightly shocked that he and Lilith were able to cut off the Tyrant King''s tail, as he was originally just hoping to cut off its circulation and stop the beam from going off.

    ''Is its tail a weak spot?'' This thought urged him to concentrate his attacks on the rest of the tail. This was not only to deal more damage to the monster but also to cloud its mind.

    And just as he wished, the Tyrant King bellowed out in fury, sending out dozens of furious slashes with its draconic mole claw! Each slash, from Cassius''s perspective, appeared like massive objects of golden fiery destruction blanketing the earth in their rage!

    Cassius, in response, effortlessly teleported between each strike, with his range of movement far exceeding that of the wyrm itself. He chuckled at this thought before zooming upward.

    From above the infuriated Tyrant King, Cassius raised Lilith into the air, then began to accumulate power. Tendrils of scarlet energy swirled above the numerous edges of the terrifying blade, with each tendril wrapping around the others and condensing into stronger forms.

    If there were more time, he could amass a truly powerful single-strike attack, but since that was not the case, he once again opted for plan B.

    OOOM!!

    The air above and around the enormous Tyrant King violently trembled. Even the Sand Devourers that had just arrived on the scene felt the awful chaotic power pressing down on them, quaking every fiber of their beings. They wanted to rush up and devour the lone human, but for some reason, they could not.

    "I learned something very interesting as of late." Cassius spoke up in a crisp, glitchy voice, with the power gathering above his head reaching higher levels of arcane insanity. "Though the entity that helped me receive so much power is a complete and utter douchebag, it at least provides me with pleasant surprises every now and then."

    The Tyrant King didn''t know what the human was talking about, but if it was foolish enough to arrogantly hover above its irresistibly powerful form, then it would devour him whole!

    It immediately flipped upward and jarred its yawning mouth wide enough to fit multiple skyscrapers! The human would not survive this attack, as it put all its strength and speed into it!

    Cassius merely smirked.

    His nonchalant figure faded in and out of reality. He flared the scarlet energy to even greater levels, blasting the Tyrant King back down to the ground, crushing it hundreds of meters into the earth.

    Continuing where he left off, Cassius said calmly, "One of those pleasant surprises came just before you and your goon squadron arrived. And it wasn''t until just a second ago that I had the time to look over my notifications."

    An invisible force tugged at the edges of his smirk, making it most prominent through his shadowy hood. "One of those very notifications informed me of a system feature that I received for reaching Level 50, also making it the latent Idle Benefit that the douchebag had been teasing me with in secret."

    "As what it does¡­ It''s a feature that allows me to¡­ combine Skills!"

    Just like his Item Crafting System feature, if he smashed together two Skills, he would receive a Skill that extracted the best aspects of each Skill to create something vastly superior. And after careful consideration, Cassius chose to go big or go home and combined his Bloodfire Skill with a C-Rank Skill called ''Supreme Single Strike,'' then took things a step further and combined the created Skill with the C+ ''I AM SPEED.''

    The result of smashing together these three different Skills in quick succession was the creation of an unbelievably powerful Transitional Skill:

    ¡ªI AM ATOMIC¡ª

    As the name suggested, it was a Skill of the B- Rank, best suited for mass destruction. Somehow, the addition of the Bloodfire Skill mutated what should''ve been a single-target speed-related Skill. Now, the resulting Skill was not only capable of exponentially amplifying Cassius''s speed as long as his Agility stat was far higher than his other stats, but it was also capable of transforming that effect into something damage-related. Specifically, it did:

    {[I AM ATOMIC (A/P) (B-)]} S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Effect 1 ''Divided Between Two'':]

    (As one who yearns to be the fastest in existence, you have to be fast. But being fast is not enough, is it? (Temporarily convert all of your Agility stat into the ''Atomic'' stat, which only activates when this Skill is being used. You will not be able to move most of your body while using the Atomic stat, but the limits of your destructive capabilities reach no bounds as long as your Agility stat is high enough.)

    [Effect 2 ''Going Atomic'':]

    (Have you ever wondered what it was like facing an atomic explosion head-on? Something as powerful as that could not possibly be withstood by any normal living being! Therefore, the solution is to become the atomic explosion yourself! (500% Increased Destructive damage.)

    [Effect 3 ''All or Nothing'':]

    (This Skill will bleed you dry, completely depleting your energy reserves. There is no middle ground, so if you use this Skill, be prepared to turn into a shriveled mummy afterwards.)

    {[300% Increased AOE Radius]}

    {[200% Blast Radius Range Extension]}

    {[800% Increased Attack]}

    {[500% Increased Radiation Damage]}

    I AM ATOMIC retained all the benefits that ''I AM SPEED'' provided, but simply improved upon the Skill''s faults. If before it was extremely difficult to deal any real damage without hitting the same spot on an enemy thousands of times, then now things were about to become overkill.

    Streaks of crimson energy gradually changed into a darker shade of violet before spreading out around Cassius''s stagnated figure. The Tyrant King, who was still trying to fly up and devour the stationary human, was pressured under a power dozens of times greater than what it had felt just a second earlier.

    BOOM!!!

    The Tyrant King collapsed into the earth.

    It struggled with all its might to resist the immeasurable pressure emanating from those cryptic purple streaks, yet failed terribly. Its hideous mouth crashed into the ground, eating tens of thousands of pounds of dirt, in no way receiving the tasty smack it was expecting.

 Chapter 74 - 74: Slaying 10s of Thousands of Sand Devourers

    Cassius, pleased with the domineering power of the Atomic stat and this Skill, raised Lilith to a zenith point, with the violet energy pulsating off her increasing accordingly.

    A cold gleam flashed past his icy blue pupils as he glared at the squirming draconic behemoth.

    "I truly have nothing against you, big worm," said Cassius, his tone void of emotion. "But you tried to eat me first."

    His voice suddenly dropped by a few dozen degrees, with each word coming out staticky and dispersed, almost like a broken tape recorder. "I¡­

    OOOM!!!

    The atmosphere exploded with a stupendous level of purple Atomic energy. The originally short-ranged streaks zoomed through the skies for thousands of feet. Soon, the entire sunny desert above the Tyrant King became shadowed by cryptic purple streaks, all seemingly disorderly placed yet connecting together in inexplicable ways.

    Cassius''s voice reached an entirely new depth, resonating like a frigid abyss. "AM¡­!!!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!!"

    Suddenly feeling an imminent threat to its life, the Tyrant King desperately called for its tens of thousands of subordinates to charge the human. Yet, when it glanced at them, it realized they were in no better condition than it was. Some of the weaker Sand Devourers had even been squashed to death, despite not being the targets of the gravitational pressure!

    The Tyrant King understood that it was alone in this endeavor, prompting it to burn through its life force and forcefully escape the shackles that pinned it to the ground. Yet, even as it bled through every pore in an attempt to stand up and devour the human, impending doom had already progressed too far for resistance to be an option¡­

    Cassius''s comparatively tiny figure blasted forth with a boundless amount of cryptic purple energy, causing his image to somehow dwarf the colossal Boss Monster kneeling before his might.

    With a cold side-eye, he looked down upon the utterly enraged, crown-wearing Tyrant King. His mouth soundlessly moved, the absurdly crisp words coming out only after the damage had already been dealt.

    "I AM¡­¡ª"

    "ATOMIC!!!"

    WHAZOOOOOM!!!

    Those three words marked the beginning of the end, and as seen from the horror-filled dilated pupils of the Tyrant King, an incredibly bright burst of purple light flashed.

    Then it saw nothing else, for it had already¡­ died.

    Even with its B+ ''Ultra Regeneration'' Skill, nothing could heal something that was instantly evaporated from this plane of existence. There was no longer anything left to heal.

    The other Sand Devourers, faring no better than their King, saw their lives flash before their eyes in shadows of purple and red. Then they, too, succumbed to the whims of destiny.

    For nearly two miles in all directions, a dazzling, profound violet sphere enveloped and lingered.

    For the ten seconds the sphere remained, razing the surroundings, the Sand Devourers dozens of miles away saw and felt the shockwaves. The Tyrant God, expressing a different kind of reaction, narrowed its oddly intelligent eyes as it sensed the lifeforce of the Tyrant King go cold. Moreover, all the other Sand Devourers, including the five Sand Devourer Lords, had perished in the blast.

    This was perplexing for the Tyrant God¡­ Somehow, a weak human without an ounce of aura had exhibited a degree of strength at that level. It was truly inexplicable¡­

    Meanwhile, back at the explosion''s radius.

    Cassius eloquently descended to the charred ground like an unearthly swan. However, contrary to his strong poise, his complexion was ashen. All of his energy, including his stamina and mana, had been drained to the very bottom of the barrel. Only enough mana to keep him conscious was left.

    "I AM ATOMIC," Cassius said as if recalling the power he felt coursing through him while activating that Skill. "It was incredible¡­"

    Yet, even with the Skill persistently floating around in his thoughts, he was a long way from thinking about using it again. Or rather, that would normally have been the case. But with the help of the Idle Evolution System¡­

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain a B+ Tyrant King Boss Monster!]

    [Your Experience Bar has drastically moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 6 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 8 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 3 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 11 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 4 Stat Points!]

    [You¡­]

    Cassius visibly watched his stats skyrocket, with several waves of power washing through his body in consecutive motion. Along with the improvements in strength came the option for Full Status Recovery. And as he had dozens of them stacked up, he spared no hesitation in using one to restore himself to peak status.

    "Ooh, that feels good¡­"

    Previously, Cassius had mostly experienced pain while using Status Recovery, but this time was different; it was almost euphoric to experience a Status Recovery.

    After a moment of relishing the feeling, Cassius observed his surroundings and realized that he might have gone a little teensie bit overboard¡­

    Although the extent of the damage was nowhere near that of a genuine Atomic Bomb, as he was far too weak to replicate something of that scale, it was still enough to level a large village.

    Of course, this display of power would normally cost him everything and thus couldn''t be used more than once. If not for the Status Recoveries, he would likely have been left vulnerable enough for even a basic Sand Devourer to devour him with little to no resistance.

    "Good thing that isn''t the case; again, the system¡ª" Just as Cassius was about to compliment the system, as if embarrassed, it threw out more system notifications to cover its coquettish emoticons.

    *Ding!!*

    [You have slain 20,000+ Sand Devourer variants of the C-, C+, and B- Ranks!]

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 15 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 5 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 20 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 6 Stat Points!]

    [Receive X1 Low-Gold Rank Skill Box?] - [Y/N]

 Chapter 75 - 75: {[Phoenix Rebirth (B-)]}

    Cassius arched his brows. "Although I only received two level-ups after killing so many of them, the latest level-up finally took my Skill Box level-up rewards into the Gold-Rank, which should correlate to the B-Rank."

    He smiled, realizing that he might soon obtain another trump card.

    Cassius originally planned to save the Skill Box openings for after he cleared this Gate, but when he felt a volcanic eruption of energy appear in the east, he quickly changed his mind. Without wasting any more time, he popped open the Golden Skill Box. He needed all the power he could get at this time.

    At approximately the same time the question mark-covered Box lid flew open, a magnificently splendiferous existence crossed absurd distances in an instant. Moving at a speed that the human could not even begin to register, the Tyrant God zapped above him.

    Its grayed, emotionless eyes briefly glared at the human, then its right hand blurred. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    KABOOOOOM!!!

    Cassius had just turned his head away from the Skill Box that had slung open with a new B-Rank Skill when, suddenly, he found that he no longer had his head connected to the rest of his body¡­

    The Tyrant God had hit him so hard and with such ruthlessness that his body shot forward like a cannonball, and it did so at a speed that made it impossible for his head to keep up. Like a bobblehead, Cassius''s head sailed through the midday sunny sky, with his eyes still in the process of widening.

    It was also in this moment that he saw the Tyrant God''s apathetic gaze, who was in its humanoid form¡ªan enchanting ashen-haired woman with charcoal-colored horns protruding from her porcelain facial features.

    ''...Sexy¡­?'' were the last words muttered inside Cassius''s shameless mind before his consciousness faded.

    It was also at this time that an annoyingly smug voice resounded.

    *Ding~!*

    [Acquired B- Skill ''Phoenix Rebirth'']

    {[Phoenix Rebirth (P) (B-)]}

    ¡ª[The inferior version of the S-Rank Skill ''Supreme Nirvana Rebirth'']

    [Effect 1 ''Rebirth'':]

    [If the user dies, he will be brought back to life, but will be depleted of all energy, stamina, and anything that sustains the User''s body.]

    [Effect 2 ''Once a Day'':]

    [Skill only works once a day, with a 24-hour cooldown applied every time the Skill is activated.]

    [Effect 3 ''To Become Immortal'':]

    [Every time the Skill is used, the User will gradually evolve and take on the traits of an Ordinary Phoenix.]

    [Current Ordinary Phoenix Transformation Rate: 0.09%]

    OOOM!

    Cassius felt his consciousness return to him, with the information provided from the recent system notifications being processed by him in record times.

    After understanding the gist of how he was still alive, he looked around. It became immediately clear that he was burrowed at the end of a tunnel of sandy rock. That was when his eyes fell on his shirtless and pantless body and how he was planted into a hard sand wall.

    Zooming out, Cassius saw that he was buried under a similar chasm to the one he had seen earlier. Presumably, this was where the Tyrant God had slapped his torso to.

    "Luckily, I didn''t reincarnate at the head part¡­" Cassius heaved an unusually relaxed breath of cold air before forcing his way out of the sturdy sand wall.

    From the beginning of his rebirth to now, he remained calm, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he''d been blasted into oblivion and came back to life. Maybe rebirth came naturally to him because he had already been violated by a truck in his past life? What difference did a second time make?

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius began to walk through the tunnel he had dug out with his rocket-like body, wondering why the Tyrant God hadn''t attacked him again. "Does it not realize that I haven''t died? Well, I guess it would be more unusual if it thought I could come back from something like that¡­"

    He continued his march through the tunnel. Then, after nearly 30 seconds of casual walking, he glimpsed a large source of bright light radiating from the tunnel''s entrance. At first, he assumed it was the sunlight produced by the blazing sun, but after exiting through the light, he realized it was not sunlight but the residual golden flame energies left behind by the Tyrant God''s laid-back attack.

    For tens of miles in a straight circular direction, raging golden flames surged. Those flames spontaneously burned the edges of the deep crevice dug out of the ground, appearing like a divine meteor had just fallen from the sky. Above, faint golden embers bristled in the air.

    Cassius shifted his icy gaze across the mass destruction, and only after soaking in the scenery did he understand just how weak he was compared to the Tyrant God, which was likely only a weak A-Rank organism. Yet, rather than despair over a mountain that seemed impossible to climb, a wide smirk formed on his devilishly handsome face.

    He vanished from his spot, his attention fixated on the massive aura signature he couldn''t even see from where he stood.

    "The Tyrant God and the other Sand Devourers have already returned to waiting; every bit of their focus is concentrated on what I assume to be the cracking of the Gate, as they are sitting by the exit I came in through," said Cassius, his voice dancing through vast expanses of space as he circled around the Sand Devourers all congregated in a single location. "If I make my reappearance, I''ll certainly wind up receiving the same grim fate as before, but this time I won''t return to the world of the living..."

    "However, it''s also not like I can just uselessly idle and wait for Hoshito to be overrun by monsters."

    Cassius knew that, if the Tyrant God escaped the Gate, not a single person in Hoshito would be able to combat its absurd level of strength. The most optimistic outcome would be the scarce B-Rank Hunters holding it off until reinforcements from Shibuya or Tokyo arrived.

    Though, that would be very optimistic¡­

 Chapter 76 - 76: Mass Leveling!!

    Cassius heaved a soft sigh.

    He knew the fate of Hoshito rested on his shoulders, but it wasn''t like he could fight the Tyrant God either. However, that didn''t mean he couldn''t still think up something that could vanquish the monster before Stella and the rest of the MoonShiner Hunter Party entered the Gate.

    A while ago, when he was running from the Sand Devourers, Cassius realized that, just like regular living organisms, the Sand Devourers needed to consume food to survive. And in this particular environment, there was really only one thing they could munch on.

    Coming upon a large fenced area on the eastern side of the barren desert, Cassius saw a countless number of large, house-sized horned cows scattered all over the place. Similar to cows, yet adapting features resembling the harsh arid environment, they appeared oddly rocky.

    They somehow knew to stay inside the fence enclosure, with the majority grazing on a specific type of weed that grew out of the molten sand. This enclosure, similar to a few others spread across the endless desert, was constructed atop a sandy, crystallized chasm. It was like the one Cassius had hidden in, but far more outwardly protruding.

    "I don''t know how these were built here or if they were left behind before the Sand Devourers arrived in these lands, but none of that really matters," said Cassius, his hands already slashing down to shatter a large portion of the fence. "The Sand Devourers have an inherent ability that allows them to sense what happens on the desert''s surface; they use this to locate and hunt. But what would happen if some of their groomed cattle suddenly left a place they shouldn''t be able to leave?"

    His brows raised in anticipation, just imagining what was about to go down.

    Just as he expected, a resounding rumble began to shake the desert, growing progressively louder. Tens of thousands of Sand Devourers were rushing toward the cattle enclosure, fury evident in their small, beady eyes. They crashed through sand hills, rammed into each other, and disregarded everything else in their advance.

    "None of them are above the Sand Devourer Lord Rank, as the Tyrant Kings and Tyrant God are smart enough to understand that they no longer have a need for their cattle," Cassius spoke with a keen gleam in his calculative eyes. "But with just those coming right now, I should both be able to level up and reduce their numbers."

    His plan was simple. If the Tyrant God was too much for him to handle in his current state, then he just had to continue leveling up. And to level up, he needed EXP bags, which would obviously come in the form of massive, ugly wyrm monsters. After amassing enough strength from grinding the Sand Devourers, he would preemptively make his move against the oddly gorgeous Tyrant God and turn her into his EXP bag as well!

    "Of course, the Tyrant God and Tyrant Kings will figure out that something is up when tens of thousands of Sand Devourers die, but by then, I will already have everything I need to begin Step 2." Cassius smiled mysteriously, his thoughts unknown to all but himself. "For now, however, it''s time to take them all out as efficiently as possible."

    He already knew what he had to do to accomplish this, and it was something related to Step 2 of his ''Exterminate the Wyrms'' plan. At once, he raised his hands above his head, Lilith in one hand and his Newbie 3 Sword in the other.

    Cassius grinned before speaking words that resonated in an awfully familiar manner, just as before. "I¡­" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    OOOM!

    The violet-colored cryptic runic lines appeared once again, erupting with an absurd level of power. Yet, before the residual energy waves could reach the Tyrant God, he condensed them, expertly controlling the emission of energy.

    ''I won''t make the same mistake as last time, and by the time you do eventually realize what''s happening, it''ll already be too late¡­!''

    "AM¡­!!!"

    The second word was spoken; the release of energy grew ever more uncontrollable!

    Cassius''s face frosted over, his words following suit. Glitchy and distorted, he finished the last of the recitation. "I AM¡ª"

    "A.T.O.M.I.C.!!!!"

    As soon as the Sand Devourers arrived at the area where the fence was broken and large cattle were running free, they were forced to look up at a rapidly expanding eruption of purple light. For a moment, they felt like they were floating above the clouds, experiencing something that could only be described as otherworldly.

    Then they died.

    The blast of purple light stretched out so fast that every single one of the cattle and Sand Devourers in this settlement was erased. Like an eraser over pencil markings, they faded into oblivion, leaving behind only a crater that spanned three miles in every direction. The damage this time was even greater than the last time the Skill was used, entirely attributable to all of Cassius''s level-ups and increases in power.

    Descending to the center of the crater, Cassius watched as the last of the purple Atomic light dispersed. He felt the same overwhelming aura signature flare up in rising anger but was far more focused on the system notifications bombarding his vision.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 95,000+ Sand Devourers, including tens of thousands of C-''s, thousands of C+''s, and ~15 B-''s!]

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously advanced!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 30 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 10 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 45 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 15 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 70 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 25 Stat Points!]

    [You¡­]

    Although each level required exponentially greater amounts of EXP than the previous one, it also came with far better rewards. And that was just referencing the automatic rewards, not even including the Gold-Ranked Skill Boxes waiting to be dumped into Cassius''s inventory.

 Chapter 77 - 77: If Not One, Then How About A Hundred!??

    OOOM!

    Cassius felt himself become several leagues stronger than he had been just moments ago, prompting an inexplicable smirk to emerge on his face. Contrary to the last time the Tyrant God raced toward his location, he could now trace its advance with far more ease.

    Of course, that didn''t mean the threat of death had lessened any. He would still die the moment the horrifying monster girl arrived.

    "Well¡­" Cassius shrugged. "If we were destined to do battle either way, then that is how it shall be. Dancing with death can be considered excellent character development. Yep, yep."

    Wasting no more time on nonsense, he swiped up his system interface and flashed a satisfied smile upon seeing how much AP he had stored up. Yet, in that same moment, his right pointer finger moved like a blur of lightning; he spammed the hell out of none other than the Agility up-arrow!

    *DING, DING, DING!*

    Cassius rubbed his finger against the system interface so fast that he was afraid fire would spark up and burn him to a crisp. From the 700 range, it quickly ascended the number bracket, breaching past 800, then 900. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And without respite, it broke through the 1000 barrier!

    Yet that was far from the end of things, as 1100 was shattered, swiftly followed by 1200! And then it finally settled down around 1230!

    Compared to his other seemingly lackluster stats, his Agility stat shone like a dazzling sun in a land littered with dark spots. His physical prospects reflected this to an intense degree, as his skin crackled with a level of forward motion that made him feel like his atoms were ready to jump out of him and zip ahead at the speed of light.

    Cassius had no real idea how fast he had become, but he instinctively knew that if he beckoned his feet forward, he would reach speeds that transcended what a feeble mortal mind could comprehend. Just one step and he would no longer be at this point on the timeline; just one step and he might accidentally splat himself against a molten sand mountain.

    "My Agility isn''t just limited to 1230, as the effects transferred from I AM SPEED have once again been improved," mused Cassius, his irises zapping with sparks of lightning. "With the boost now at 600%, my true speed likely resides somewhere around the 1400 mark¡­?"

    Leaning off the weighted stat system remark, the gap between 1230 and 1400 was comparable to that of a koi suddenly leaping up in an attempt to transform into a dragon. Simply put, the two values weren''t anywhere close to one another.

    Cassius looked ahead, quickly grasping the fact that his ability to register certain frame rates had also improved thanks to his Agility stat.

    Normally, it would require improvements in the Perception stat to have his eyes keep up with his movements. However, it seemed that he received a special bonus for exceeding the 1000 Agility point milestone.

    Now, he was able to clearly see the speedily moving golden-flamed blur bursting his way at incredibly lethal speeds. If this were an evil superhero show, the regal Tyrant God probably would''ve exploded through a few people without a single care present in her apathetic gaze.

    Cassius could feel the Almighty existence''s fury from dozens of miles away, with him being able to more vividly sense the rage bubbling up within the four Tyrant Kings trailing far behind her. The remaining Sand Devourers were even more enraged, as it seemed the level of anger they experienced over this matter scaled in relation to where they stood on the power hierarchy.

    Any sane person would feel a great sense of unease at the grand lineup of colossal monsters barreling in their direction, yet Cassius only felt a large surge of thrill that had eluded him as of late.

    Even while fighting the first Tyrant King, he hadn''t experienced this kind of excitement. It was reinvigorating!

    "Ha¡­" Cassius released a cold breath of air, then bent into a low sword stance, similar to how he had posed while fighting the Tyrant King. "I already know the same attack won''t work on someone as mighty as you," he coldly spoke, with the Tyrant God seemingly understanding his intent even from so far away. "However, if one doesn''t work¡­"

    WAAA!!!

    "Then how about I send out a hundred of them!?"

    The atmosphere surrounding Cassius buckled under the suffocating pressure emanating from his stalwart figure as his skin pores volcanically combusted!

    He was attempting something completely and unquestionably crazy¡ªsomething that could very well quench his life force and send him into the afterlife. Yet he still unhesitatingly performed it with a wide grin plastered across his enchantingly handsome face.

    "One I¡­.!!!" he began, his voice exploding like thunder. "Two¡­ AM¡­.!!!!!"

    RUMBLE!!!

    Everything for dozens of miles was crushed by this overpowering pressure, with the earth caving in layers.

    From one side of the deserted wastelands to the next, all of it felt sheer, raw Atomic power¡ªsomething far beyond even what this world had experienced before it faced its world-ending Apocalyptic Event. And such a level of power was being orchestrated by a single man¡ªa single insane man who wanted to defy the odds!

    "!???"

    The Tyrant God felt something ominous crawl throughout her body. Her pretty reptilian eyes blinked repeatedly; she realized she had to move faster. Something in the very core of her being was urging her to accelerate! To keep on accelerating until she had no gas left to give!

    And so she did.

    *Whoooop!!!*

    The Tyrant God burst forth with all-new levels of speed, achieving a hyper-movement state verging upon instantaneous teleportation. In mere milliseconds, she had already materialized above the human enveloped in purple runic lines. She emotionlessly blink-stepped in front of him, her snow-white scaled claws clasped onto his roguish face.

    Yet, just as Cassius was about to have his head ripped off in one clean strike, an amused smirk crept up his facial features.

    He then soundlessly moved his lips, with an archaic, distorted voice escaping only a moment later.

 Chapter 78 - 78: The Tyrant Gods Demise?

    "Three¡­ four¡­ five¡­ six¡­ dozen¡­ ATOMIC!!!"

    "I A.M. A.T.O.M.I.C.!!!!!!!¡ª!!!!!!!¡ª!!!!!!!"

    For a few seconds, time seemed to come to a stop. Not freeze per se, but completely stop.

    The heated, savage breath of the Tyrant God and the even breathing of the crazily smiling robed man were the only things to bypass this stasis mold. For that slim chunk of time, they looked to be unmoving, struggling against one another. The Tyrant God put everything it had into decapitating the human who had somehow resurrected, while the human unleashed subtle yet indescribably dangerous wave after wave of Atomic energy.

    Before the Tyrant God had clutched onto his face, Cassius had activated the ''I AM ATOMIC'' Skill enough times to give a normal person an aneurysm. Yet, before the consequences of this reckless action could register, he unloaded the full extent of his fingering capabilities on his poor System, causing his total number of Status Recoveries to hit rock bottom.

    And the result of this death wish:

    KA¡ªBOOoOOoOoOoOOMM!!!

    "Tell me how that one feels, you hot scaly bitch!"

    Time resumed as Cassius flipped up both his middle fingers, enjoying every moment of watching the Tyrant God''s usually icy expression flip through several uncharacteristic emotions.

    "!!!!"

    Before the successive Atomic explosions collided with her voluptuous body, the Tyrant God looked up and saw a shit-eating grin that angered her to no end. More than ever¡ªmore than she had ever felt for anything in her entire life¡ªshe wanted to slaughter this human!!!

    With one final, all-out attempt, the Tyrant God exerted the full extent of her profoundly destructive power to phase her hand through the purple light that had rebounded her hand away the first time. As the light rapidly expanded and reached past her arm, she broke past her limits, activating all her unique A-Rank Skills.

    She would kill that bastard!!!

    Although not expecting something like this to happen, Cassius did not fret. He subconsciously used another Status Recovery, then unbound his body from the frozen state that came as a side effect of using the I AM ATOMIC skill. Then, with his speed that still surpassed hers, he conjured a shadowy demonic figure that crackled under its own affinity with the lightning element.

    "Evomon fusion," Cassius called out, his voice and subsequent actions surprising the Tyrant God to no end. "Nyxvoldar, activate ultra-sonic burst."

    FWwwwoooooop!!!

    The terrifying electric shadow looming over Cassius like a giant abruptly and instantly zorped into the body of its master, urging him to undergo several ridiculously fast transformations.

    By the end of the transformations, a slightly taller, far more intimidating nightmarish figure appeared. Then, with a quick step that seemed to exceed hundreds of thousands of MPH, he phased through the hand and body of the beautiful Tyrant God, doing so with the help of an extra-evolved Permutation B-Rank Skill.

    "...Ho..w could yo¡­uu!?"

    "???"

    For the first time since they encountered one another, Cassius finally heard the Tyrant God speak. Her voice was not overly sweet, but it was still feminine and melodic enough to ring out quite nicely in his ears. Quite nicely indeed.

    Turning his head back just enough to see the deadly purple Atomic light envelop her body, Cassius casually commented, "Your lovely voice will be forever remembered in the echoes of my memories; after all, you are the first A-Rank Monster that I have ever killed. You''re also the first talking one I''ve met¡­ Hmm¡­"

    "HUMAN¡­.!!!!"

    Cassius nonchalantly dug earwax out of his demonically pointed obsidian ears. "No need to shout," he replied. "You were strong; you should feel honored just knowing that. Without my shitty system, I might really have been diced up by you¡­" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He briefly paused before continuing, "Anyway, it seems like this is where we part ways¡­"

    "Goodbye, hot scaly bitch. It was a fun fight. Maybe in another lifetime, I''ll fight you again, possibly even in a proper exchange of blows¡­"

    Suddenly shifting his gaze toward his wrist, Cassius pretended to check his watch. "Well, would you look at the time? It would appear that our time here is up. I bid you farewell, pretty young miss."

    With that, he curtly bowed before flashing away at speeds transcending common sense.

    He reappeared nearly a hundred miles away, leaving the far slower gray-haired draconic beauty to simmer in a sea of anger. The purple Atomic light had already entirely covered her up, inflicting ungodly amounts of pain, yet only working to further deepen her.... horniness¡­!?

    ''Hah¡­!!! He''s so powerful~!!!! I want to eat him up~!!!! I NEED to eat him~!!!!!''

    Draconic species, as many people knew, were infamously known for their vast appetite for anything lustful. They were rumored to screw anything with a hole.

    If there was a hole, there was a goal.

    And though the Tyrant God was a female dragon subspecies of the monster mutant variety, she still partially retained that lascivious nature.

    Moreover, her species, different from the prideful pure-blooded dragons, was one that aligned more along the lines of ''LOVE for the strong,'' which meant they only submitted to those stronger. And more often than not, if this was between an opposing male and female¡ªeven from two different species¡ªthen the defeated female would vie for a long-lasting mating session with the male.

    However, not everything was roses and dandelions. After finishing the copulation session, the female Tyrant Dragons were known to¡­ uhhh¡­ devour their male partners. Similar to how spider species functioned, except far more brutal¡ªand the sex lasted for what felt like an eternity, essentially draining the male dry long before she devoured him¡­

    ¡ª----------

    A hundred or so miles away.

    Cassius suddenly felt a shiver go up his spine, prompting him to suspiciously look around in all directions. Yet, after finding nothing of notice, he shook his head before refocusing on the extremely massive explosion growing upward like a genuine Atomic Bomb. It was, of course, still a ways away from actually reaching such a high level, but it was definitely getting up there.

    Though, he did feel it a shame that something of this caliber could only be performed if he cheated things with system rewards¡­

 Chapter 79 - 79: You... Me... F*ck!

    "A shame indeed," lamented Cassius as intense astral winds whistled past his face.

    After a while.

    With the incredibly strong winds rolling out from where a miniature atomic bomb had just hit finally subsiding, Cassius flashed back over while still fused with Nyxvoldar. He could no longer feel or see the presences of the Tyrant God or the other Sand Devourers, but one could never be too careful. Moreover, he had received a system notification for everything except the Tyrant God, which worried him.

    ''Could she still be alive after all that?'' was the harrowing question that lingered on his mind as he blurred to the center of a crater that stretched outward for dozens of miles.

    The depths of the crater also went down for thousands of meters, yet it was not dark thanks to the eternally sunny days of this place.

    Upon stopping his teleportation-like run across the sand dunes and into the crater''s epicenter, Cassius searched around for any traces of life. At around the same time, he received a single level-up notification from the system, which only further improved his strength.

    Yet, even after five minutes of meticulous searching, he was unable to find any sign of the Tyrant God''s existence.

    Natural assumption would dictate that she should''ve died during the explosion. Hell, even a neutral A-Rank Boss Monster would have died in that blast!

    Yet he had to ascertain the truth for himself.

    Then, it came.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain the Outer Embryo of the A- Tyrant God Unique Boss Monster!]

    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 120 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 40 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 150 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 50 Stat Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 200 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 75 Stat Points!]

    Cassius received a meager three level-ups even after slaying an A-Rank Unique Boss Monster, which felt extremely lackluster. More importantly, however, was what the system termed the Tyrant God as.

    "Outer Embryo¡­?" His brows curved. "What does that mean?"

    WABOOM!

    It was at that moment that something ruptured off to the side, creating an unusual explosive sound. Puzzled, Cassius shifted his gaze over, only to see a large whitish-gold and purple egg dug out of the ground and cracking. The egg was roughly the size of a car, and as more and more of its shell fractured, he witnessed something that made no sense.

    CRACK¡ª

    From within the mystical shell emerged a woman who looked like she had just escaped from a fairytale.

    With graceful steps, she landed on the charcoaled ground. Her long, luscious light gray hair cascaded over her exposed shoulders and molded her fully nude figure in a cradle of sorts. Cassius noticed her hair struggling to cover her twin peaks, which perked up proudly beneath the blazing sun.

    But more than that, his eyes traced over her exquisite face¡ªa work of art that was both round, defined, and contoured in a way that perfectly emphasized two large peach blossom eyes. Eyes that were dimmed yet contained a twinkle not previously present in her expressionless face.

    At first, the otherworldly beautiful woman seemed to be regaining her bearings, squinting her eyes and rubbing her temples. However, after a couple of seconds, clarity returned to her pupils, and she surveyed her surroundings.

    She seemed to be searching for something, clearly evident by the anticipatory glow lighting up her otherwise ice-cold facial features. Her sparkling eyes swam around the brightly lit crater depths, not stopping their flow until a mildly confused immortal-like man entered her line of sight.

    Due to Cassius''s grindset over the past week, his Charisma stat was now verging on 40, and though he was a bit lacking compared to this goddess of a woman, he still wasn''t too far behind.

    Yet, it didn''t seem like the bubbly woman cared one bit about his appearance. Her face lit up like the 4th of July as she sprinted over to him without saying a word, then proceeded to drag her cute sniffer all over his bare chest.

    ''...What is this woman doing¡­? And who even is she???'' Cassius could see a resemblance between this unknown woman and the Tyrant God in human form, yet this woman''s temperament was clearly more coy.

    Though, her current actions would not indicate as such¡­

    Cassius wanted to speak up and interrupt the girl dragging her nose all over him, but he wasn''t sure that was the right thing to do. Therefore, he stuck to keeping quiet and patiently waiting for her to finish¡­ whatever it was she was doing.

    Surprisingly, this took more than 10 minutes.

    It was only then that the ashen-haired woman fixated her gaze on the eyes of the human she had inspected like a hound dog.

    "...You¡­"

    "You?" Cassius echoed.

    "You¡­" The girl lightly pressed her index finger against his chest, then moved that finger to her ample bosom, denting into a soft spot mere centimeters away from a proudly stiff pink nipple. "Me¡­"

    "Me¡­ You¡­" Cassius repeated, puzzled by what she was trying to tell him.

    The girl''s slight smile curved upward, putting on display all of her sharp, shark-like pearly white teeth.

    "You¡­ Me¡­ Fuck!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She then went in for a tight hug that nearly squeezed the soul out of Cassius''s vessel.

    He wanted to frown at her words, but he was genuinely too shocked to do so. One second, he was fighting to the death with a Boss Monster capable of destroying an entire cosmopolitan city in minutes, and the next, he was torn between bewilderment and turning into a braindead vegetable.

    For a moment, his mind seemed to flatline, with no changes until the pearly gates began to rear their heads.

    However, when Cassius''s wandering consciousness dipped down like a free-range hawk and appeared before the flaming pits of hell with a massive ''1st Floor'' inscribed above one gate, he suddenly shot back to the mortal realm.

    Sanity returned to him, then gradually left again when he felt the squishy calcium cannons aiming to make him lose all sense of reason.

 Chapter 80 - 80: Yimin, the Tyrant God

    Luckily, Cassius''s will was not an easy one to break. Thanks to the training (torture) of Sensei System, no honey trap could ensnare him¡ª

    *Boing, Boing!*

    ''They'' sensually rubbed up and down his torso in synchronization with the giddy movements of the bouncy beauty.

    ''Must I really persevere¡­?'' S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding!!!*

    [You dare go against the ways of true Character Development!? You may have women around you in this lifetime, the more the merrier, but you cannot touch a single one with your little pecker until you have attained Idle Benefit #9! Only then can you prove yourself as a true follower of Character Development!]

    [This is the way! Resist all worldly temptations! A Buddha can do it, why can''t you!? (?¨y?)]

    It was during a moment of bitter silence on Cassius''s end that a blue illusory screen materialized in front of him. He immediately looked over while the busty beauty rubbed her nude body on him, all the while giggling and repeating, "You¡­ Me¡­ Fuck! Mate, Fuck! Harder, Harder~! Hihi~!"

    Of course, like the distinguished grinder of Character Development that he was, Cassius swallowed his desires and locked them away in a box. Then he concentrated entirely on the pop-up.

    BLING!

    {[Partial 5th Idle Benefit]} ¨C [Given due to the Host being relatively close with five or more girls.]

    [Girls (Familiar (10-25) - Close (26-50) - Affectionate (51-80) - Extremely Affectionate (81-95) - Obsessed (96-99) - Out for Blood (100):]

    [Trolling any Girls with at least a Familiar relationship status will allot the Host more AP than usual, with that bonus being greater the better the relationship status.]

    {[Memphis: 74]}

    {[Aya: 78]}

    {[Grace: 82]}

    {[Sasha: 52]}

    {[Corra: 24]}

    {[Bella: 100]}

    {[Stella: 22]}

    {[Yimin: 96]}

    Other than Corra''s, whose affection rating had somehow gone up even though they hadn''t met each other since that day, there was the biggest enigma in the character sheet. Next to the name Yimin was a beautiful profile picture with an uncanny resemblance to the naked girl presently glued to his body. And then, for a brief character introduction, it said:

    {[Yimin]} - [Pfp: ]

    ¡ª[The true form of the Tyrant God. She shed her previous status as a mutant monster dragon and returned to her true racial status as a ''Tyrant Dragon,'' a High Universal species known for their vast libidos and extreme tyrannical strength.]

    ¡ª[The strongest among the Tyrant Dragons are capable of easily lifting and crunching planets and stars within their jaws. Yet, Yimin, as a Newborn Tyrant Dragon no more than a few hours old, is still in her initial development stages. Tyrant Dragons age differently from humans, and have their own aging system, but still need around 10,000 human years to achieve full maturity¡ª100,000 years for Elder status.]

    [Current Wants: You, You, and Your cock and balls]

    [Personality Traits: Yandere, Obsessive, Possessive, Submissive (If weaker), Domineering (If stronger), shy, purposefully sexy shy, caring, loving, deadly, murderous tendencies, easily irritable (when it comes to things she doesn''t like), emotionless (when fighting), unshakable loyalty, deranged, lustful]

    [Current Power Level: A- (Rapidly Improving. Within months, she will be stronger than most S-Rank humans, so beware.)]

    ''Great¡­'' Cassius sarcastically sighed. ''Not only is she the Living Reincarnation of some overpowered universal species, but her personality traits are completely out of whack. Furthermore, due to her still being in her early development phases, her power can increase, and it can do so stupidly fast from the looks of it¡­. Awesomeness all around¡­ Yay¡­''

    Cassius really felt like drawing circles in the sand right about now, but he knew it wasn''t the time.

    Eyes falling on the snuggly girl with illusory hearts shooting out of her head, he asked, "You are the Tyrant God, right?"

    Yimin cutely tilted her head up, her chubby cheeks squishing against his chest like a chipmunk. "Tyrant God¡­?"

    "Yes," answered Cassius.

    "Mhmm¡­ Nope! That is not me! Am Yimin, not Tyrant God!" she responded while suspiciously whistling, clearly lying through her teeth.

    Cassius was speechless.

    He sighed before ripping the clingy girl off of him.

    She grumbled and bared her sharp teeth, yet still complied.

    "If you don''t want to tell me the truth, then so be it. But I suggest you find another person to stick to."

    Yimin''s eyes watered. "Yimin¡­ Yimin is not a bad girl! Let Yimin stay with Master!"

    "No."

    Silence.

    "...Yimin¡­ Why is Master being mean to Yimin¡­?" The waterworks started to fall, causing shiny crystalline liquid lines to streak down her ridiculously beautiful face. "...Yimin didn''t mean to rip Master''s head off! That was before Yimin knew how strong Master was!! Please let Yimin follow¡ª"

    "No."

    The silence was palpable. Yimin froze in place.

    Cassius had no idea what she was thinking, but black shadows soon clouded her face. Her soft, delicate aura was quickly overshadowed by a dark red aura, which then mixed with a profound purple aura. The ground around her began to crack in a spiderweb shape, rapidly escalating to dangerous degrees.

    Yet, just as Cassius got into a fighting stance, prepared for another fight to break out, Yimin''s anger subsided as she collapsed to her knees. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her weeping echoing throughout the barren wastelands.

    Her expression scrunched up in sorrow, her sadness immeasurable.

    "Y-Yimin just wants¡­ Waaa¡­!!" she cried. "Yimin just wants to follow Master!! Yimin doesn''t understand¡­ Yimin is alone... Yimin hates being alone¡­"

    Cassius: "..."

    ''Look what you got me into this time, System¡­''

    *Ding!*

    [This is just another, more advanced form of Character Development!]

    [So, what will you do? Ignore a sorrowful girl who just wants to be next to you? Or take her in and try not to get sucked dry by a Succubus disguised as a Dragon babe??]

    [Option 1 Reward: The Idle Evolution System''s scorn]

    [Option 2 Reward: 50 AP, 100 White Tier Dragon Pellets, ''Dragon Rider'' Title, Potential ''Dragon Druganaut'' Class Evolution, and ''Yimin''s'' eternal love¡­?]

    "...Why did you put a question mark after that last part? And why is this so obviously biased toward the 2nd Option?" asked Cassius, his brows narrowing in suspicion.

 Chapter 81 - 81: Main Quest #3

    [The System has no idea what you''re talking about! ^_^]

    [So, what is your decision? Option 1 or Option 2?] S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius felt like he was being toyed with here, as the answer was obvious.

    He glanced between the cheeky system interface and the naked woman bawling her eyes out. With a heavy sigh, he walked over to her, also making sure to click Option 2. What would come from this decision was yet to be seen; however, for now...

    "Yimin," said Cassius, his voice immediately attracting her attention. "You can come with me, but you must not eat any humans unless I say it''s okay. Do you understand?"

    Yimin''s blue expression brightened up more than the raging sun above. She bobbed her head before jumping into his arms like a loving golden retriever. "Yimin understands! Yimin really, really understands¡­! Master loves Yimin, so Yimin won''t eat any humans¡­!!"

    Cassius wanted to refute her words, but seeing as she was being obedient, he shook his head before taking a spare cloak out of his Inventory. He wrapped it around the giddy beauty before speeding up the restoration of his C+ ''Shadow Monarch''s Hoodie,'' which had leveled up quite a bit from all the monster materials he used as disposable upgrade material.

    After finishing the cleanup and scavenging of the Sand Devourers that he hadn''t been able to loot until now, it might even reach the B or B+ Rank, which should certainly increase its effectiveness by leaps and bounds.

    There was also his Lilith, who was currently very silent right now.

    Ever since Yimin entered the picture, Lilith had been abnormally quiet. Cassius had not an inkling what was going on with her, but it almost seemed like she was annoyed by something based on his connection with her. Nonetheless, she was sitting at the peak of the B Rank. And once she finished absorbing the monster blood scattered throughout the desert, she should reach a rank even higher than the Shadow Monarch''s Hoodie was going to reach.

    "Hmm..."

    After a brief moment of pause to consider a few different matters, Cassius said to Yimin, "We will be in this Gate for a while longer, as I need to collect some things. But once we get to the outside world, you must behave yourself. If you act up, I will have to put you up for adoption."

    Yimin''s face lost a lot of its color. With a victimized expression, she murmured, "Y-You would get rid of Yimin¡­? To adoption¡­ Yimin won''t survive in adoption¡­! Please don''t send Yimin to adoption!" She pleaded with large puppy dog eyes, nearly on the verge of tears again.

    ''She definitely has no idea what that word even means...'' Cassius sighed.

    Patting Yimin''s soft bed of gray hair, he said seriously, "I won''t put you up for adoption, but you must behave."

    Yimin furiously nodded. "Yimin will behave! No eating the humans! And no being bad! Mhmm, mhmm¡­!" She rubbed her alluring figure all over the helpless man who was now stuck with her. "Don''t worry, Master! Yimin will be on her best behavior, so no adoption! And Yimin will also satisfy Master''s urges!"

    "...Not the last part," Cassius rejected. "Just forget all about the last part."

    Yimin vehemently shook her head. "No can do, Master!" She denied. "Yimin is weaker than the master, so the master must breed Yimin! Yep, yep, fuck, fuck, fuck¡­! Yimin wants master''s babies!"

    Cassius felt like violently coughing up blood, yet held back at the last moment. His eyes seemed to listlessly wander into the distance, with him completely unresponsive to the casual urging of the lascivious dragon girl to essentially kill himself.

    ''Is it too late to change my mind on the Options¡­?'' lamented Cassius. ''I''m suddenly no longer opposed to being more hated by my shitty system...''

    As if predicting his thoughts, the Idle Evolution System flashed a blue smug face in front of him.

    [No takesies backsies! ????(? ?? ? - ? ) ?]

    Cassius was truly exasperated. Everything in life seemed to be against him. Was it illegal for him to live peacefully or something...?

    While zooming out of his general position in the endless deserts of the Gate, various system notifications rang out inside his head.

    *Ding!*

    [You have successfully cleared the B-/Low Red-rank Special Upgraded Gate ''Tyrant''s Obsession'']

    [Rewards increased appropriately!]

    {[Reward 1: ''400 AP'' - [Y/N]]}

    {[Reward 2: ''2 Equipment Rank-up Shards'' - [Y/N]]}

    {[Reward 3: ''Beast Companion ''Yimin'''' - [Yes!]]}

    {[Reward 4: ''A- Rank Hermes Boots'' - [Y/N]]}

    [Warning!] [Warning!]

    {[Main Quest #3]} - [Activated!]

    ¡ª[The Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends have set up base in the center point of Japan, Tokyo. Although the brunt of their forces are still in Tokyo, with their strongest soldiers also in Tokyo, the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends have sent out thousands of their kind all over Japan.]

    ¡ª[One of the places the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends are set to quietly and inconspicuously erase the presence of humans in will be Hoshito. They can disguise themselves as regular humans and even mimic their mannerisms and personalities. (Any one single person could be a Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend in disguise, so beware...)]

    {[Task: Discover and kill [0/20 Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends]]}

    {[Task Time limit: 2 Months, 29 Days, 23 Hours, 59 Minutes, 57 Seconds]}

    {[Reward 1 - [1000 AP]]}

    {[Reward 2 - [S-Rank ''Extraterrestrial Sight'']]}

    {[Reward 3 - [200 Uncommon Evoballs]]}

    {[Reward 4 - [S-Rank ''Stellar Flight'']]}

    ''A Flight Skill...? And Extraterrestrials...?'' Cassius couldn''t believe what he was seeing. ''Are Extraterrestrials actually real?? And the System wants me to kill them???''

    ''Set up base in Tokyo... Does that mean the Japanese Government is already compromised...?''

    He had read and watched enough Sci-fi to know exactly what it meant when aliens arrived on a planet they didn''t immediately plan to blow up.

    But why the hell were Aliens on Earth!?

    First Hunters, Gates, and Monsters, and now fucking Aliens!? Did they have large gray heads as well!? Did they fly inside circular saucer disks and get handsy with their laser beam guns!?? Was pegging with metal poles their hobby???

    "Seriously¡­ What the hell is going on as of late¡­?"

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 82 - 82: Lvl 69, 3-Digit Stats

    "Seriously¡­ What the hell is going on as of late¡­?" Cassius inaudibly mumbled while collecting blood, Magic Shards, and Monster Materials alongside the flowery dragon woman that didn''t seem to want to leave his side.

    Furthermore, she cared not a single bit about decency and flashed her perfect pudding peaks and pink kitty whenever she felt like it.

    "¡­Why can''t I just have a normal transmigration experience¡­? Maybe fight with a bunch of useless party members holding me down and then go to a Demon Castle to vanquish the Demon King¡­"

    ''I am fine with that sort of life¡­ So how did I end up with something like this¡­? Is my luck just that shitty?? Or am I simply that superior??'' S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If Cassius thought any more on the matter, he''d likely pop a blood vessel. Therefore, he instead continued his looting before the Gate''s closure in roughly 20 minutes.

    The remainder of the system notifications also finished sounding out¡­ with one in particular practically mocking him.

    *Ding~!*

    {[A Vital Decision]} - [Completed]

    [Reward: 50 AP, 100 White Tier Dragon Pellets, ''Dragon Rider'' Title, Potential ''Dragon Druganaut'' Class Evolution, and ''Yimin''s'' eternal love¡­?]

    [Yimin''s Affection Rate has increased to 100!] - [Beware!!]

    Cassius felt a dangerous purple aura leak out from the jovial dragon beauty, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. He could already foresee the trouble he would get into upon leaving the Gate and encountering the other girls¡­ But like the responsible person he was, he decided to leave these problems for his future self, instead opting to look over the rest of his system notifications.

    [Acquired A- Rank ''Dragon Rider'' Title, which can be combined with the B- Rank Title ''Advent Devil'']

    [Would you like to combine the Titles and receive a superior Title? Or do you wish to choose one over the other and permanently lose the one that wasn''t chosen?]

    Cassius immediately answered, "Combine the Titles."

    BLING!

    A silent bright light flashed and the two differently-fonted Titles spun around and combined with one another, then disappeared. After a couple of moments, an entirely new, demonically heroic-fonted title appeared.

    {[Title: Dragonfire Advent (A)]}

    {[Effect 1 ''Overflowing Killing Intent'' - [Assuming the difference in strength is great enough, the User can bring to the knees and even kill someone with just pure killing intent.]]}

    {[Effect 2 ''Loved by Dragons'' - [As one loved and idolized by a Tyrant Dragon, the User receives ''Dragon Strength'' as long as the Dragon that loves the User has love that holds strong.]]}

    {[Effect 3 ''Dragon Strength'' - [1000% increase to Physical Strength, 500% increase to Physical Defense, and a ''Berserker Trait,'' which allows the User to become stronger the more he is at a disadvantage and beaten up.]]}

    {[Effect 4 ''Extreme Fire Resistance'' - [1500% Increased Resistance to the Fire Element. Immune against most Basic Universal Fires.]]}

    {[Effect 5 ''Dragonfire'' - [Stick out your palms and unleash massive Dragonfire balls or Dragonfire beams. (1000% Fire Damage)]]}

    OOOM!

    An incredible amount of physical strength was granted to Cassius, causing his power to soar. And even better was the fact that this did not affect the stats themselves, which meant that the ''I AM ATOMIC'' Skill did not become any less effective. However, from this amplification in strength, Yimin''s attention was immediately diverted.

    She turned her head toward him with a curiously cute expression, then hopped over and got all up in his personal space.

    "Master has become stronger¡­" she announced while molesting him. "...Master is so cool¡­"

    Her eyes shone with a misty luster. "Yimin wants to fuck! Master wants to mate!?"

    "No, Master does not want to mate," Cassius firmly rejected before pushing away the brazen girl.

    She latched onto his thigh and pouted with puppy dog eyes while mumbling her grievances, yet he continued ignoring her. Instead, he finished up the perusing of the last of the system notifications, which also came along with accepting his Gate clear rewards.

    *Ding~!*

    [You received 400 AP!]

    [You received 2 Equipment Rank-up Shards!]

    [You received A- Rank ''Hermes Boots'']

    After storing the AP and Equipment Shards away, Cassius equipped the Hermes Boots.

    They originally appeared quite gaudy and looked more gold than boot; however, when they touched his skin, they transformed into something matching the rest of his get-up. From a dazzling gold to a dark matte black, they blended together with his Shadow Monarch''s Hoodie.

    As for their effects, they increased his speed by 300%, gave him an instantaneous dash ability, and improved his overall aesthetic, as they were a nice twilight color. Though that was more just his preference being satisfied than an effect¡­

    He then opened up his system interface, curious to see just how far he had come this time around.

    BLING!

    ________________________________

    [Name: Idle Evolution System]

    [Host: Cassius] - [Lvl 69]

    [Title: Dragonfire Advent (A)]

    ______________________________

    [HP: 83,000] [MP: 65,000]

    [FATIGUE: 0]. [AP: 1,800]

    ______________________________

    [STRENGTH: 380] (Throwing a skyscraper will result in success.)

    [AGILITY: 1600] (Uhhh¡­ Like Mach 1000 or something?)

    [ENDURANCE: 340] (You can run around the world and still have stamina left over. Can rapidly heal from most minor and moderate injuries.)

    [INTELLIGENCE: 362] (Supreme Sage. You even have the virginity to prove it!)

    [PERCEPTION: 375] (World''s most perverted man in the making? Anyway, don''t use this to satisfy your dirty kinks.)

    [CHARISMA: 44] (Handsome AF)

    {[Skills:]} - (Far too many to properly count¡­ Main one''s it is!)

    [I AM ATOMIC (A)(B+)(Lvl3)], [Shadow Step (A)(B-)(Lvl2)], [Bloodfire (A)(B)(Lvl3)]

    [Phoenix Rebirth (P)(B)(Lvl1)], [Dragonfire (A)(A-)(Lvl1)], and then like¡­ 500 others¡­? (Recommendation: Fuse them, you unkempt bastard!)

    ¡­.[¨C[Extend to see more¡­]

    _______________________________

    Other than the System''s snarky comments, Cassius was astonished to see just how far his stats had advanced since arriving in this Gate. Everything except for Agility lingered around 100 when he came here, and now they were nearly quadruple that!

    At this rate, the Daily Quest Rewards would give him next to nothing¡­

    "If only I could stop doing them¡ª" As soon as this thought surfaced, a smug system screen appeared.

    *Ding~!*

    [Seeing as the silly Host is doubting the intentions of the Almighty Idle Evolution System, adjustments have been made! ^~^]

    ...¡­

 Chapter 83 - 83: Newbie 5 Equipment Set

    "Adjustments¡­?"

    Before Cassius could even finish his words, a world-crushing weight smashed him into the earth. Due to the abruptness of this occurrence, he was nearly unable to stop himself from faceplanting into the dirt.

    That was when a bombardment of pesky pop-ups materialized.

    *Ding!!* sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Newbie Equipment Set has directly ranked up from ''3'' to ''5'']

    [Newbie Training Sword has directly ranked up from ''3'' to ''5'']

    {[Newbie 5 Equipment Set]}

    [Wrist Weights (5) X2 - (100,000 Tons each)]

    [Ankle Weights (5) X2 - (80,000 Tons each)]

    [Waist Weight (5) X1 - (200,000 Tons)]

    [Full-body Weight (5) X1 - (300,000 Tons)]

    {[Newbie 5 Training Sword]} - [400,000 Tons]

    "This is¡­" Cassius was left momentarily speechless over what he was seeing.

    No wonder it felt like the entire world was on his back, as he was lugging around the weight of nearly three Empire State Buildings! The system was quite literally trying to kill him!!

    All of the veins in Cassius''s body bulged as he struggled to adjust to this ridiculously absurd incline in restrictors. Each individual piece wasn''t even in the tens of thousands of pounds before, and now they were in the hundreds of thousands of tons!? What sort of absurdity was this???

    Yimin curiously looked up at the man whose thigh she was latched to. She felt something shift inside him, which led to the ground caving in beneath him. She also felt like he had become far sturdier, and then there were his muscles and vascularity...

    "Guhehe~... mooscles¡­" she crazily mumbled, hearts swimming around in her foggy eyes. "...Mate¡­ Guhehe~!"

    Cassius promptly ignored the insane woman becoming more and more crazy with each passing second. He instead diverted most of his concentration to moving around with so much weight suffocating him.

    However, there was always something good to come from every seemingly misfortunate situation. Namely, his physical stats increased by around 1 point every few minutes, which was certainly something to celebrate.

    While doing his utmost not to create a crater every time he moved a step, a few more suspicious system notifications echoed out in his head.

    *Ding!*

    __________________________

    {[Daily Quest 1 V2]}

    GOAL

    [INCOMPLETE] PUSH-UPS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] SIT-UPS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] CURL-UPS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] SQUATS ¡ª [0/100]

    [INCOMPLETE] RUNNING ¡ª [0/10km]

    [INCOMPLETE] WEIGHTED LIVING - [0/720 minutes]

    REWARD - [2 Points in Charisma, 25 Points in Agility, 14 Points in Strength, and 18 Points in Endurance]

    __________________________

    __________________________

    {[Daily Quest 2 V2]}

    GOAL

    [INCOMPLETE] WEIGHTED SWORD LIVING - [0/720 minutes]

    [INCOMPLETE] SWORD SWINGING - [0/30,000] - (Unless you can do at least this many swings, you will forever remain a virgin who doesn''t even know how to use his own sword!]

    REWARD - [12 Points in Agility, 21 Points in Strength, and 11 Points in Endurance]

    _________________________

    "Now this¡­ This might actually make me overpowered," said Cassius, his glazed irises fully emulating his anticipation for what was to come. "However, with the imminent threat of Main Quest #3 as a grim reminder, I am sure that I will need all the power I can get¡­"

    "I honestly have no clue just how powerful Extraterrestrials can be..."

    "Extraterrestrials¡­?" Yimin asked with an adorably puzzled expression. "What does that mean, Master?"

    Watching the girl dart around the deserts and help him collect monster materials while talking to him made Cassius a bit dizzy. Yet, he still responded, "Those will be our next enemies. And tell me, Yimin, do you know of any aliens? Or how to identify them?"

    "Aliens..." Yimin appeared confused for a moment, then her eyes brightened. "Alien is a snack!? Yimin loves snacks! Though Yimin just got here, Yimin knows what Yimin likes. And Yimin likes what she likes, but doesn''t like what she doesn''t like! Yep, yep, Yimin likes tasty snacks¡­!"

    Cassius didn''t even know why he bothered with that ditsy woman. ''Even though she was so eerily cold while we were fighting, now she has become like this¡­ Haiz...''

    He couldn''t help but believe that he had the worst luck with women. Though, when he recalled the soft facial features of Grace, Sasha, and Memphis, he slightly reconsidered his rash words. Still, he might need to think about a better way to begin approaching all these women that just seemed to spawn in his life.

    ¡ª--------------

    Meanwhile, directly outside the ''Tyrant''s Obsession'' Gate.

    People of both genders, slim and skinny, handsome, ugly, and pretty all crowded around seven figures adorned in shiny opulent armor and attire. A lot of them were cheering or happily conversing with one another, which Dominic and the others relished in. People like him loved nothing more than themselves and other people praising their existences.

    However, as the time to enter the Gate was brought forward by his managers, Dominic warmly smiled and waved while shouting to silence the crowd. "Calm down now, kind citizens of Hoshito!"

    Everyone quickly hushed up, their eyes focused entirely on the gallant armored man standing front, forward, and center. Dominic''s poise was immaculate, with the aura emanating from him even more incredible. Those in Hoshito had never felt something like this from someone, not even from their Governor or the Hunter Association''s Branchmaster.

    Dominic outwardly smiled and continued his speech.

    His ''speech'' basically consisted of him glorifying their ''noble'' purpose, and also hinting at the humble donations of Hoshito citizens. Some, like the naive girls swooning over his appearance and demeanor, foolishly fell into the scheme and outright screamed out their donations.

    Yet, little did they and the men fawning over Lexi and Stella realize that Dominic was inwardly scoffing at them. ''These poor plebs¡­ They are all the same¡­ A bunch of dirty, boot-licking paupers! Well, at least they''re useful for their only purposes!''

    When Dominic reached the end of his long, drawn-out speech, he heroically flung his red cape around and led his party into the crackling Yellow Gate.

    Not a single one of the B-Rank Hunters was aware that the Gate was actually masquerading as a Yellow Gate, when it was actually a Red Gate. Even the astute Stella noticed nothing unusual, with her thoughts seemingly only veering back to the hooded man that had similar circumstances as her.

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 84 - 84: What Happened Here...?

    ''I hope he made it okay while in the Gate¡­''

    Stella had been worried since earlier; after all, he never returned, and the Gate never closed. It was only natural that her trepidation progressively grew.

    Then again, she didn''t exactly know why she was so worried over a man who originally had a sharp object placed at her neck¡­

    Did she have a thing for bad boys or something?

    Surely not¡­

    ''Wait! Why am I even thinking about whether I do or don''t like him!? Gah¡­!''

    With a flustered state of mind, Stella followed behind Lexi and Issa, trying her best not to let her embarrassment show on her expression.

    Before long, they entered the Gate.

    And that was when they saw it¡­

    From one side of the boundless sand dunes to the other side, there were giant dismembered corpses and monster limbs scattered everywhere. Crimson-green blood stained the sand in a spotted fashion, making the entire place appear quite apocalyptic. Especially when considering that some of those monster wyrm corpses were the size of skyscrapers, clearly indicating their ranks as extremely powerful monsters.

    "¡­Just who could''ve done this¡­?" asked Lexi, her tone incredulous. "These are Sand Devourers and Elite Sand Devourers, which we could''ve taken care of quite easily. But what about the Sand Devourer Lord and¡ª is that a¡­ Tyrant King corpse!? And there are multiple of them! Just what is going on here!??"

    Dominic furrowed his brows.

    He looked around and noticed that all of the monsters were missing their Magic Shards and most important parts, which meant that this massacre wasn''t the result of a scuffle among the Sand Devourers. This signified that there were¡­

    "Other Hunters," said Dominic, annoyed. "And they got here before us, somehow sneaking through all surveillance measures. Furthermore, this Gate appears to have mutated, as there are far too many Sand Devourers, extra Mini Bosses, and more than one Boss Monster."

    "However, as you bunch are surely aware of: if something like this occurs, which happens on very rare occasions, then a new Boss Monster has been crowned."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "Something more powerful than a Tyrant King!? What sort of entity could possibly trump over a B+ Boss Monster!?"

    "This doesn''t make any sense!"

    "And someone finished off all these monsters before us!? Which Hunter Party could accomplish such a thing!? This backwater city doesn''t even have a single B-Rank Hunter Party!"

    Dominic silenced all of the agitated voices with an icy glare. Luckily, Stella didn''t experience this, as she kept quiet from beginning to end. "To take over the position of a Tyrant King, this new Boss Monster must either be of the B++ Rank or the¡­ A- Rank."

    Shock once again rippled through the expressions of the MoonShiner Party members.

    If what their Party Leader was saying was true, and they pulled the shorter end of the stick, then didn''t that mean they were about to come face to face with an A- Rank Boss Monster!? Something that could even face off against your average A-Rank Monster!?

    "We must retreat and inform Headquarters of this incident!" most shouted. "We aren''t properly equipped to deal with something like this! Even the weakest of A-Rank Boss Monsters are capable of single-handedly eradicating small cities!"

    "No," Dominic instantly rejected. "We will advance. And we will figure out just who has the gall to steal what should''ve been ours."

    "But, Captain¡ª"

    "Shut up!" Dominic snapped back, urging their traps to stay shut. "Am I the Party Leader or are you all the Party Leader!? Just be obedient and follow my orders!"

    Although begrudged, the MoonShiners slowly nodded. In front of their Party Leader, they were all pork chops. And though this development became exceedingly dangerous, if it really came down to it, they could just sacrifice the weakest among them and escape.

    Their eyes all instinctively fell on the vivacious girl who kept an eternally fake smile plastered on her face. Under their venomous intent, she couldn''t even muster the courage to defend herself.

    This was simply the true way of the world.

    The weak had no say in front of the strong.

    It was cruel, but it was life. Nothing could change that, no matter how outwardly peaceful a civilization appeared.

    ''I just wish¡­ wish that I had people close to me who didn''t treat me like this¡­ Like disposable trash¡­'' Stella thought despairingly, yet maintained a false bravado.

    The other members of the B-Rank MoonShiners quickly returned to venturing forward and scouting out the surroundings.

    Just like that, they disregarded Stella''s presence.

    Nonetheless, no matter how far they traveled, the number of strewn-out Sand Devourer corpses did not diminish. In fact, they only seemed to increase the further they went in.

    "To have killed so many Sand Devourers, and for them to all appear like they were one-shotted¡­ Just what sort of monstrous Hunter are we dealing with here¡­?" asked Issa, her pupils erratically flickering. "And I know it''s more likely to be a Party of Hunters, but doesn''t all of them seem like it was done by the same person? Like someone of the A-Rank¡­?"

    "The A-Rank?? Issa, you surely jest!" Lexi retorted, with John, a burly man, adding, "Yes, it can''t possibly be someone of the A Rank! Even in the capital, A-Rank Hunters are few and far between! Do you actually believe that a Hunter of a distinguished status like that came out here to butt-fuck knows where??"

    "¡­No, I guess not," Issa responded in a dejected tone, no longer speaking up. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Stella, on the other hand, was secretly scanning the vicinity, trying to find any sign of the hooded man that came in before them. ''Could he have been the one who did all of this¡­? And if so, just how strong is he actually¡­?? Or has he already died¡­?''

    She was both worried and curious about the enigma that was the hooded man. She still wanted to understand his mother''s connection with her mother, and for that to happen, he had to be alive.

    ''¡­Just be alright, okay¡­?''

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Yimins Punch

    As the B-Rank Hunter Party MoonShiners traveled deeper into the sandy terrain of the Gate Tyrant''s Obsession, they saw many more massive corpses. Yet, even after five minutes of speed walking, they saw nothing beyond that. All of the monster corpses had been cleaned of everything valuable, so there wasn''t even a profit to be had.

    Stella could feel the surging irritation of her Party Leader, prompting her to keep her head low and just continue following from behind. As an Awakener of the Low B-Rank and a less versatile Mage-class, this was the only thing she could do. It wasn''t like she had any auxiliary tracker skills or location skills, so her usefulness was extremely limited in this kind of situation.

    Dominic realized this; everyone did.

    However, it wasn''t like they had any such skills either, so they couldn''t openly criticize her about it without their reprimands backfiring on them as well. Therefore, they persisted in their trot in silence, even going so far as to breathe less loudly.

    Ten minutes later.

    Dominic, no longer able to hold back his anger, erupted. "What the hell is this!?! There''s not a single monster in sight!! How are we supposed to make a profit from this??? Someone, please bring me the fucker who killed all of our prey! I wish to see his ugly face for myself¡ªbefore I kill him!!"

    Just then, a volcanic eruption of energy blasted out from an area atop a large sand hill to the side, startling Dominic and the other MoonShiner members.

    "You dare speak of killing Yimin''s Master!?? With your measly strength!???" Yimin roared in an ear-splitting, abyssal voice. "Yimin will kill you a thousand times over!!! Yimin will use your tendons as a necklace!!!"

    "Who dares¡ª!?" Before Dominic could finish his exclamation, wind whizzed past his semi-handsome face. Reflecting from his horror-stricken irises was a razor-sharp draconic claw and an eerily beautiful woman whose expression was twisted in anger.

    BOOM!!!

    "Captain!!"

    By the time the MoonShiner Party members finally understood what was happening, Dominic had already been launched backward like a cannonball. He crashed through dozens of sand hills at many times the speed of sound.

    Blood sprayed from his nostrils as his pupils unfocused and his consciousness momentarily left him.

    "¡­Yimin¡­"

    A deep, husky voice cut through the silence enveloping the stunned figures of the MoonShiner Party, urging them all to shift their gazes in the voice''s direction. That was when they saw a hooded man, with only the lower half of his face visible.

    Unbeknownst to them all, he had somehow appeared right next to the assaulter and mere feet away from them. It was also at this moment that they received a good look at the one who had just smacked their leader to another plane of existence.

    Simultaneously, the Hunters'' eyes widened in utter shock.

    "A dragon demihuman!? How is this possible!???" they shouted, disbelief etched across their faces. "It''s said that only¡­ Unique A-Rank monsters and above are capable of transforming into a humanoid form¡­ Does that mean??"

    "Bingo!" Yimin stuck her tongue out and flashed a goofy smile. "Yimin is a powerful dragon! But now Yimin is but a humble sex slave of her Master¡ª"

    Cassius bonked the haughty woman on the back of her head. "Do not pay her any heed. Now, tell me, what do you plan to do from here?"

    While on the receiving end of a glowing, shadowy stare, the B-Rank MoonShiners instinctively shivered. That was everyone except for Stella, who was currently looking at the nonchalant hooded man with a large flux of emotions surfacing through her facade of an expression.

    ''He''s still alive¡­ That''s good¡­'' A surge of happiness coursed through her body. ''It would''ve been a shame if I never got the chance to talk to him again. But that dragon demihuman¡­ Just what is their relationship?''

    Yimin, feeling the narrowing eyes of a vixen, shot her deathly glare toward the inconspicuous Stella. "Thieving bitch!" she spat, about to lunge forward and tear out the girl''s throat. However, before she made a grave mistake, rationality returned to her. ''Master said I cannot kill any hoomans¡­ Only that way will Yimin become a fuck mate for the Master¡­''

    Yimin, although still flaring with killing intent, clicked her tongue before returning to her Master''s side and interlocking arms with him. She then lightly pulled on her right eyelid and stuck out her tongue in Stella''s direction.

    ''Shtupid thieving bitch! Master is Yimin''s!''

    For some reason, Stella felt incredibly annoyed over how that powerful dragonoid woman was staring at her. It caused an unfounded competitive spirit to bubble up, nearly making her return the favor with a smug expression of her own. However, she held herself back at the last moment when Cassius''s harrowing voice took front and center:

    "Did you not hear me before?" he asked, his question laced with concealed killing intent. "I asked what you plan to do. Will you oppose us or will you make the wiser choice and be on your way?"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The B-Rank Hunters felt an indescribable sense of fear overpower every other emotion they were feeling. Their hearts constricted, with a suffocating air free and abound. A few of them tried to speak up despite the suffocation, yet couldn''t muster a single word.

    Fortunately, John, as the one with the strongest will among the normal Party members, was able to just barely find his voice. "I-I am John, a member of the B-Rank Hunter Party Moo¡ª"

    "I know who you are; tell me your answer." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Y-Yes," replied John, beads of sweat raining down his forehead. "We will retreat¡ª"

    "YOU BASTARD!!!!!"

    OOOM!

    Erupting out with a level of power at the very peak of the B-Rank, Dominic''s booming voice bled the ears of all those present. His rageful aura engulfed the sky as he bounced off of a sand dune and blitzed toward the aloof and curious pair.

    His anger was almost entirely directed toward Yimin, as he promised himself that he would kill the bitch!!!

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 86 - 86: B-Rank Huntersâ€”Nothing Much

    Yet, in response to Dominic''s intensity, Yimin cutely tilted her head. "This hooman¡­ Who is he again? Yimin doesn''t remember."

    Dominic almost fell flat on his face mid bullet burst, whereas the others, including Cassius, were left speechless at the genuine confusion of the dog-like dragon girl.

    "I¡­ I''ll KILL YOU!!!"

    No longer able to restrain his fury, Dominic''s skin tone went from tan to purple to green to red, as his aura became even more powerful. He activated all of his B-Rank and below skills, going all out right from the get-go!! The bitch would die!!!

    In response to such intensity from Dominic, Cassius let out a heavy sigh. Then, with a single step forward, he blurred behind the charging B-Rank Hunter.

    "!!!"

    Through Dominic''s rage-filled eyes, he caught a glimpse of the terrifyingly cold expression lingering behind the shadowy hood. His eyes widened in horror as he prepared to slash to the side with his longsword. Yet, before his sword even left its sheath, a jagged jigsaw blade was already mere centimeters away from the back of his neck.

    "You can''t¡ª!!" he tried to say, yet was interrupted by the sharp edge of a serrated blade slicing through his soft, human skin in one clean cut.

    The other B-Rank Hunters gasped in terror, whereas Yimin jumped up in joy. She was mere milliseconds away from getting the job done herself, but luckily, her Master was there to prevent her from breaking the oath she promised him. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius expressionlessly watched as the decapitated head left a trail of blood sailing in its wake.

    "I was originally going to let you live, even despite your repeated aggression. But after briefly glimpsing at what little I could discern from your lengthy system description, I¡­ changed my mind," he said coldly, his eyes containing not the least bit of sympathy for the scum r*pist.

    ''And if that weren''t enough, his targets were almost always of the younger variety, below the age of 18¡­ Scum through and through,'' he spat in disgust. ''But it is also partly because of this disgusting fetish of his that the women in his party were left untouched in that regard. Or, rather, they were left for later¡­''

    There were pros and cons in everything, but this was definitely not the topic to be discussing something like that. After reading what he did, Cassius didn''t feel like eating for a week.

    Was horrid pedophilia a side effect of becoming famous or something? If so, then he hoped that he would always remain low-key¡­

    After slinging the blood off his precious Lilith with a refined sword slash, Cassius redirected his focus back to the B-Rank Hunters trembling in place. He debated what he should do with them, ultimately deciding to do the only thing that would prevent them from opening their mouths about this matter to anyone else.

    Even though what happened in a Gate stayed in a Gate, that was only the case if everyone was implicated and of the same cause. This was not one of those situations.

    "T-The Captain¡­" Lexi was finding it difficult to hold her stomach down.

    She, along with the others, was too drawn to the bloody sight of their leader''s headless corpse collapsing to the ground midway through his once domineering attack.

    However, when they felt the immense eruption of killing intent emerge from the body of the mysterious hooded man, they immediately shifted their terror-stricken expressions toward him. With every slow, unempathetic step he took in their direction, they felt more and more parts of their souls leave their bodies. Even Stella was no exception, as she felt herself freeze in place, not able to muster a peep.

    Yet, when Cassius had made it mere inches away from John and raised Lilith to slash down, he heard a feminine voice shout out to him from the side. "Y-You don''t need to kill us!" shouted Issa. "We won''t tell a single person about what transpired here! N-None of us even liked Dominic to begin with¡­!"

    "Y-Yeah, he was scum!" John agreed.

    "That bastard had it coming to him is what I would say!" said someone else.

    "Yeah, screw him!"

    "H-He''s better off dead!!"

    Seeing that everyone was so adamant about keeping their lives and were clearly sensible enough to understand their predicament, Cassius emotionlessly asked, "And how can I be sure that you won''t betray me as soon as we enter the outside world?"

    The B-Rank Hunters suddenly exchanged glances with each other, then nodded in unison. "We have slave collars here, enough to enslave all of us!" they yelled. "As long as you put these on us, with your blood as an ownership seal, then you will be able to completely control us¡­ They will become invisible shortly after being placed, but our lives will still be entirely in your hands¡­"

    Cassius could tell that they were wholeheartedly against the idea, yet their will to live was greater.

    He smiled, which caused hope to surface among the B-Rank Hunters. They assumed that they were about to make it out of this awful encounter in one piece. And just as John reached for his storage bag and took out a dozen or so semi-translucent spiked metal collars, they saw an unnerving smile appear on Cassius''s face.

    As if on instinct, they knew they were going to¡­ die.

    However, did them knowing even make a difference?

    Fwooop!

    "Y-You!!"

    Cassius blurred from his spot and slit the wrists of everyone who went to grab for their weapons. Though, to be fair, he also slit the wrists of those who didn''t grab for their weapons as well. He was a cautious man, after all.

    "Aghhh¡­!!! It hurts so much!!!"

    All besides Stella were writhing in pain while rolling around on the sandy ground. Even the females were no exception, as Cassius was a firm believer in equality. In fact, the only reason he hadn''t given the stunning Miss Stella the same treatment was because of their similar backstories and the fact that she didn''t have disgusting descriptions like the rest of them.

    Did people just arbitrarily carry around collars used to enslave other living beings? And to have so many of them¡ªwas that common?

    The answer was obviously no.

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 87 - 87: We Eat Them!

    Every single one of the Hunters of the B-Rank Hunter Party except for Stella had plenty of experience with these slave collars. Before the newbie Stella arrived, they often ventured into Gates known to have ''unique'' monster life and then enslaved them, played with them, or just straight up sold them off.

    Humanoid monsters like Elves, semi-intelligent demihumans, and similar such beings were their targets. Some of the Party members had weird fetishes, while others simply participated in this vile act for money. Whatever the case, all of them contributed one way or another, with some, like Dominic, John, and Lexi, contributing the most. They even started competitions to see who could enslave more humanoid monsters¡ªthe more innocent they were, the better.

    ''Inherently, monsters with the potential to take human form are no different from little humans in their early years,'' thought Cassius, his piercing eyes falling on the worms wiggling around. ''But it was from multiple studies that scientists learned humanoid monsters were influenced by their natural habitats, which are the Gates. This influence is what makes them so savage, with the more powerful humanoid monsters, like Yimin, becoming bloodthirsty for human blood almost instantly.''

    ''These trash knew that¡­ and they took advantage of it.''

    Cassius felt not the least bit of sympathy while glaring at the fleshbags of steaming manure hollering for their mommies.

    He loudly scoffed. "Even in the face of death, they resemble garbage."

    Yimin furiously nodded. She had no clue what was going on now or why her Master was killing those of his own kind, but Master was Master! If Master said something, then she would agree!

    ''Only this way will Master fuck Yimin! Yimin wants lots of babies!''

    Cassius suddenly felt his spine tingle, prompting him to look at Yimin, only to see a mischievous grin touching upon her enchanting face. He shook his head in exasperation before hardening his gaze while looking at the bloody cripples.

    "...You¡­ Do you really plan to kill them all¡­?" Stella abruptly spoke up, diverting his attention to her and giving the deplorable scum a bit of hope.

    Seeing as she was spared from the stupidly fast consecutive strikes of the powerful hooded man, she might just be their saving grace.

    Stella, ignoring the pleading silence of her comrades in pain, locked eyes with the pair of glowing globes beneath a shrouded hood. "I don''t know why you killed Dominic, beyond him attacking you two, or why you harmed my comrades, but don''t you think this is a bit much¡­? What have they done that''s so wrong?"

    Cassius was a bit surprised that the victim of their bullying and oppression was siding with them. A frown marred his barely visible features.

    "You are sticking up for these scum?" he asked. "Are you not aware of what they have done? The slaves, the children, the torture? Their universal crime log is not small¡­"

    The B-Rank MoonShiners opened their eyes wide in disbelief.

    "Y-You! How do you know about that??"

    "Just who are you!?"

    "I have no clue what you''re talking about! I didn''t do anything!! Those primitive elf incidents were in no way related to me!!"

    "How dare you slander us!? *Cough!* *Cough!* Even if you are powerful, this is too much!!"

    Cassius zoned out the clamoring of those monkeys, instead watching as Stella decided for herself what she believed the truth to be. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At first, she was dubious of his words, but after listening to him briefly recount everything they had done thus far and adding their guilty deflections into the mix, she eventually figured out the truth. Her complexion lost a lot of its sheen, and she averted her eyes from the garbage shouting at her to not believe the facts.

    Yet their pleas fell on deaf ears¡­

    "T-This¡­ This cannot happen to me! Do you have any idea who I am!? Who my father is???" Lexi shouted, delirious. "He will have you stripped, diced up, and hanged if you so much as touch a single strand of my hair!!"

    "Same here! My father is¡­!"

    "My father is¡­ blah, blah, blah!"

    That was all Cassius heard while listening to the buffoons babble on about a whole lot of nothing. He could tell that they already gave up on Stella believing their horseshit, which resorted to them using these simpleton''s tactics.

    It was sad, really.

    Cassius took slow, deliberately imposing steps toward the group of yapping idiots, causing them to shrink back in fright. They considered fighting him again but gave up that thought as soon as it surfaced. Even with their high Endurance stats, it would still take a while to heal injuries like this, and even if they did become as good as brand new, what difference would it make?

    So, naturally, they ran.

    Or, at least, they tried to.

    Seven consecutive shouts echoed out as Cassius teleported between the idiots, severed their Achilles'' heels, then reappeared where he was previously standing. He remained apathetic throughout.

    Even while their shrieks of anguish blared out, his expression maintained its impassiveness.

    Although this was his first time truly dealing with humans, excluding that incident with the guys attempting to kidnap and r*pe Aya, he kept a cool head during the entire experience. It may have felt a little novel to him, but he honestly couldn''t care less about what happened to people like them.

    Cassius didn''t believe himself to be a hero of justice or anything like that, but there was always a bottom line. What these worms had done was just the bottom line for the current version of him.

    "Get ''em, Master!" Yimin cheered while clinging to his back and leaning her bouncy breasts above his head. "Don''t hold back; kill those Hoomans! And then we eat them¡ª"

    "We won''t eat them," Cassius denied.

    "...B-But why¡­?" Yimin teared up, not understanding why her Master would want to kill other Hoomans but not devour them.

    Did he perhaps kill Hoomans for sport??

    ''Master is so cool!!'' Yimin thought in admiration, yet she outwardly giggled in a creepily obsessed way.

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 88 - 88: Evolving Weapons??

    Cassius¡­ felt that Yimin was a lid better not opened, so, like most inconvenient things in life, he pretended her weirdness did not exist. Instead, his eyes wandered over the bleeding-out morsels rolling through the sand a few feet away.

    He placed his right hand against a scabbard that appeared out of thin air. Then, under the averted eyes of Stella, he unsheathed Lilith as fast as lightning.

    For a moment, she looked like an Eastern-style katana soaring in an arc-shaped fashion. A fantastical crimson glow shot out from the backend of her edges, truly tying together the beautiful image that she embodied.

    Then rolled the heads which, although still beautiful in their own traumatic way, were very much a clash of elements. Stella closed her eyes, too weak-stomached to watch something like that from beginning to end. Yimin, on the other hand, was not one to shy away from gore. In fact, she welcomed it! Even going so far as to lick her lips and wag her shimmering tail while staring at the human corpses collapsing to the sand dunes.

    Following the end of a short-lived massacre:

    SHING!

    Cassius slung the human blood off his Lilith, then sheathed her back in the illusory sheath he materialized from thin air.

    He walked up to the scattered corpses and collected everything they had on their persons. Afterward, he turned to the shivering Stella, curious to see how she would react to this spectacle he had set up.

    Surprisingly, after a large gulp, she steadied her uneven breathing and stole his burning gaze. "I saw nothing!" she declared.

    Cassius''s frown curved upward at this proclamation, urging him to approach the silver-haired beauty collapsed on the ground. He stretched out a hand, which she gladly accepted after a very brief moment of hesitation.

    She got back to her feet, trying her best not to grow too curious and glance at the gruesome corpses of what used to be her teammates.

    "You understand that I had to kill them, don''t you?" asked Cassius, his naturally intoned voice startling the nervous woman. "If I hadn''t killed them and they decided to commit more of the same heinous acts as before, wouldn''t their deeds be on my head?"

    Stella seriously considered his words; she nodded meekly.

    Cassius smiled.

    He placed a warm hand on her head, then rubbed back and forth, which caused her to squirm in place. "You, unlike them, are someone who became a Hunter so you could help people. That is why I spared you, in case you were wondering. Oh, and your mom did something similar to mine¡­ There is also that necklace wrapped around your neck¡­ Well, I had numerous reasons to keep you alive. You are quite cute as well, so there''s that too."

    Stella''s cheeks immediately reddened. With her enchanting looks, she had naturally been called pretty before, but none seemed as innocently sincere as the mysterious man before her.

    "Well, anyway," said Cassius upon feeling the growing agitation of the dragon girl clinging to him. "I''ve just about finished up here, so why don''t we make our retreat? Also, do you have qualms with discarding your previous identity? It would be more than a little bit of a hassle to have you explain to people why you were the only one among your party members to make it out of the Gate alive¡­"

    "Having you come secretly live with me while letting the populace believe that the MoonShiners all died within the enigma of a Gate that closed without reason would probably be for the best."

    Stella thought about it.

    After a second, she complied with a nod. "...My father left me soon after Mother disappeared, and I don''t have any other family, so I am fine¡­ fine with living with you¡­" She blushed, struggling to maintain eye contact. "A-As long as you are fine with it, of course¡­!"

    "Mhmm." Cassius made an ¨COkay¨C sign with his right hand. "If that is what you want, then it is what we shall do." ''Though, I''ll definitely have quite the cumbersome time explaining this to Sasha and the other residents of my home¡­''

    Stella was puzzled as to why he was breathing such a tired sigh, yet she felt an unexpected surge of joy well up inside her. She didn''t know why, but she was kind of happy that he made an invitation like that one. A warm home environment was something she never had while growing up; it would be nice to experience the other side of the coin for a change.

    Cassius seemed to think of something, prompting him to look down at the slightly vibrating Lilith. "An Evolution into the A- Rank?"

    He was shocked by this revelation; however, when he saw all the drained, dry monster corpses in the desert, he suddenly felt like it made a lot of sense. "Hmm¡­ If you''re evolving to the A- Rank, then my Shadow Monarch''s Hoodie surely isn''t too far behind. Both it and my Hermes Boots rely on powerful monster materials to upgrade, so they naturally evolve slower than the versatile Lilith."

    "But there are also those Equipment Upgrade Shards¡­ From their descriptions, it seems that they can advance anything at or below the S-Rank by exactly 1 rank per shard."

    Cassius had a bold idea surface in his mind. But to commence it, he would need to wait until Lilith''s evolution concluded.

    WHIRL!!

    "Your blade¡­" Stella was astonished by what she was seeing. From the aura signatures emanating from the terrifying sword, she could tell that it was being promoted to something superior.

    ''But I have never heard of equipment capable of ranking up¡­ How is what I''m seeing possible¡­?''

    For the Hunters of this world, they could harvest the materials of monsters and use them to craft weapons with a Blacksmithing skill. However, beyond restoring an item to its original condition, no one had ever been able to upgrade the rank of an item. After all, doing something like that was akin to altering the original functions of the item, and due to the lingering personality aspects of monster materials, the adverse reactions simply made this impossible.

    Just like the rank of a Hunter, the rank of their equipment also forever stayed the same.

    ''So, what is really happening here¡­!?'' S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 89 - 89: Devil Blade Lilith (A+)

    Stella intently watched as the elusive hooded man raised his jagged crimson-black sword into the air. Energy swirled around its edges, creating a large aerial vortex that sucked everything into Lilith. Then, with a massive explosion of scarlet energy, her previous blade skin was shed!

    OOOM!

    Radiating from the sharp, shiny angular surface of the Devil Blade Lilith was a regal energy so powerful that it felt like an extremely strong A-Rank Demon Lord had descended from the skies! Stella could barely keep her balance under such an oppressive aura!

    With her eyelids flickering between opening and closing, she glimpsed the fantastical form of Lilith.

    Progressing from her previous four-foot length, she was now nearly six feet. Instead of an ancient, Gothic design, she was now shaped like a mixture between a katana and a greatsword. She was thin yet robust; wide yet sturdy. Moreover, she still retained the cracked extendable functionality, meaning that she could stretch out and retract at will.

    Cassius even had a feeling that Lilith had become far more proficient at extending. Curious to explore this feeling, he clenched her in the cusp of his right hand and¡­ pierced forward!

    Fwwoooop!!

    In the same instant Lilith was lunged forward, an enormous, impossibly long cosmically red beam of light shot out. It whizzed through the air, tearing through several known speed milestones. In less time than it took for a nanosecond to pass, the super-thin red beam that was actually a hyper-condensed sectioning of Lilith had already made it to the end of this cut-off world.

    Then came the boom¡­

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOM!!!

    Even from hundreds of miles away, Cassius and Stella felt the ground beneath them violently tremble. Looking toward the source of this disturbance, they saw a large sphere of crimson energy rapidly expand. Waves of destructive mana rolled out, leaving the area directly surrounding the explosion''s radius a true wasteland, devoid of all signs of life. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hmm¡­ I see¡­" Even Cassius himself was left speechless at what he just witnessed. "Ahh¡­ If this is still within the bounds of the A-Rank, then just how powerful are those in the S-Rank¡­?"

    That attack of Lilith''s drained approximately 30% of his energy reserves, which was still a massive amount of mana for him. However, he was sure that genuine S-Rank beings had at least a dozen times his mana storage, possibly even more than that.

    ''So how strong must they be¡­?''

    Cassius was afraid to learn of the true limits of humanity. But after realizing how effective this new form of attack could be, he decided to distribute more of his Stat Points into Intelligence from now on. Intelligence was the primary stat that affected things like mana capacity, magic damage output, intellectual capabilities, and anything else along those lines. It was essential if he wished to delve further into the art of¡­

    ''Blowing things up?'' thought Cassius, his brows arched in confusion. ''Yes, that sounds right.''

    Stella was too busy being dumbfounded over what she had just witnessed, whereas Yimin''s eyes visibly shined. Like sparkly stars in the night sky, they watched the residual energy waves of the crimson beam attack spread all over the vast desert.

    The attack was nowhere near as powerful as what her Master used on her to subdue her under his rod, but it was still so pretty to look at.

    "Master is so cool!! His spells are always the coolest!!" Yimin was so excited that she conveniently forgot all about wanting to kill and eat the silver-haired bitch.

    Fwwoooop!!

    The thin crimson beam rapidly retracted and enlarged with every retraction. By the time it made it back to Lilith''s hilt, it went from the size of a piece of paper to that of a human-sized Devil Blade.

    BZZZzzzzttt!!

    Cassius could tell from the sword''s vibrations that she was shaking in joy. He faintly smiled before softly running his hand across her black metallic surface. He then wrapped her around the right side of his body, completely oblivious to a different kind of shaking she made at his caress before going silent.

    The only thing on his mind was how much more badass her design had become after achieving the A- Rank.

    Which reminded him¡­

    "I think you deserve more than just that, Lilith, my dear." An invisible force tugged at Cassius''s smile, turning it into a devilish smirk.

    Lilith vibrated in euphoria, practically begging him to do it.

    Doing exactly what she wanted, Cassius did it. He summoned a big glorious thing and inserted it into her, then watched in anticipation as she erupted in a dark red glow¡ªone that was several times more powerful than before!

    Stella, still reeling from the first evolution, was left even more slack-jawed seeing yet another similar evolution occur. She didn''t even know what to think anymore¡­ Shock was all that remained¡­

    WAAA!!

    By the end of another lengthy evolution process, Lilith successfully reached the A Rank. However, did one believe this was anywhere good enough to satisfy either her or her Master? The answer was obviously no!

    "Another Rank up!" they both seemed to exclaim in unison, which led to another large insertion, this time sliding in even rougher.

    Five minutes later.

    *Ding!*

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| has been upgraded from the ''A-'' Rank to the ''A+'' Rank!]

    [|Devil Blade: Lilith| - |Attack +1545|] - [Increased Effectiveness of all Effects.]

    [Damn, that was really perverted¡­ (??¦Ø??)]

    Even more so than when experiencing something unbelievably powerful, Cassius was always left most speechless when the Idle Evolution System was involved. Yet, as if to distract him from the main matter at hand, it threw up a few more system notifications, informing him of all he received from killing those worms dressed in human skin.

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed several B-Rank Hunters of the B-Rank Hunter Party ''MoonShiners''!]

    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]

    ''Even after killing all of them, I didn''t receive a single level-up?'' thought Cassius, his brows furrowed in slight displeasure. ''The rewards given for each level-up are quite a lot now, so I guess the slow rate of progress will be supplemented in the end¡­''

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 90 - 90: How EXP Works

    Expecting something later down the line was all Cassius could hope for. Bemoaning something that could not be changed would only stunt progression; moving forward and¡­ slaughtering more was the ''way''.

    ''Speaking of which¡­'' Question marks appeared atop Cassius''s head as he approached the Gate''s exit with Stella and Yimin tagging along behind him. Ignoring the small sparks flying between them, he thought, ''Previously, I did not receive EXP from killing humans, but now I can¡­? What changed?''

    Answering his internal question, the Idle Evolution System appeared.

    *Ding~!*

    [The humans you killed before were terrible humans, but they were not yet at the level of being termed monsters. After all, they mostly acted like shitheads for the money! However, the B-Rank MoonShiners were not the same...]

    [With their wealth, power, and higher statuses, they could take advantage of many things that common thugs and human traffickers could not. Hence, the former humans were considered just a step away from being monsters of a different sense. The MoonShiners, on the other hand, were monsters in human skin.]

    "I see¡­" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You see what??" asked Yimin, her eyes brimming with unhinged curiosity. "You see food?? Or maybe¡­"

    Shadows clouded her rosy cheeks.

    "Are you seeing other women!? How could Master do this to Yimin!??"

    "Ahh¡­"

    Cassius truly couldn''t comprehend how this woman always seemed to jumble his words and think whatever she wanted with them.

    Sighing, he petted her head, which slightly worked to stop the tears. She even took it upon herself to grab his other hand and rub it against her cheek, though her true objective in doing this was to stop the dumb silver-bluish-haired vixen from asking for the same thing. Which Stella was doing unconsciously¡­

    Cassius, realizing what game his pet dragon was playing at, could do¡­ nothing much. He lightly shook his head before arriving mere feet away from the massive red portal. The portal on this side of the tunnel was red, while the other side was still a dark yellow, giving otherworlders the illusion that the Gate was only of the High Yellow Rank.

    Stopping just before walking through the red vortex portal, Cassius turned to the two women who were with him on this journey. Noticing his seriousness, they hushed up and focused with rapt attention.

    Pleased, he said, "When we make it to the human world, you both will need to stay incognito as we slip away from the people that are sure to be crowding out there. And this will extend beyond the short term future. Also, seeing as the two of you are like shining beacons as you are, is there any way you can morph into something else?"

    "Nope, Nope, Yimin cannot do that!"

    "No¡­ Sorry¡­"

    Cassius smiled bitterly and took two black hoodies out of his Inventory Space. He had stored them just in case he needed them, but he hadn''t expected to require them so soon.

    After throwing them on the two girls, he turned around and walked through the tunnel.

    Yimin and Stella were right behind him, both silently competing with each other to see who could stick closer to him without touching him.

    Yimin won.

    "Yimin is far superior to you, a mere human," she quietly snickered, causing veins to appear on Stella''s forehead.

    "Isn''t your ''Master'' a human as well?" she asked, clearly believing herself to now have the upper hand in the conversation.

    However, little did Stella realize that Yimin was¡ª

    "Master is Master! He doesn''t count! Yimin doesn''t like normal humans, only Master!"

    ¡ªReally, really dumb. Dumbly smug per se.

    ''She understands that she just contradicted herself, doesn''t she?'' Stella thought in silence, no longer finding it worthwhile to argue with that dumbo. Rather, she found it far more enjoyable to stare at the mysterious cloaked man''s back.

    Every woman inherently had a certain amount of attraction to the unknown. Stella was no exception to that notion. In fact, it wasn''t until meeting him that she realized just how down bad she was for strong enigmatic men.

    Blushing, she shook her head and kept her eyes just outside Cassius''s silhouette. ''I shouldn''t be thinking things like that¡­ He just killed all my comrades, and I''m not even sure if he''s a good person or not. The way he speaks and acts would indicate that he''s good, but then the image of him mercilessly slaughtering Dominic and the others pops up in my mind¡­''

    ''Someone who kills others of their kind so easily can''t possibly be a good person.''

    ''But¡­ Why am I unable to see him as someone evil¡­? I don''t understand myself¡­''

    Sometimes, good and evil are obscured by a thin veil. People on both sides of the veil might see a mix of good and evil, some might see neither, and most will either see one or the other. Whether something can be considered good or evil is always determined by the standards set by those who witness.

    As one who witnessed the cruel actions of an unfathomable hooded man, it is up to Stella to determine her own subjective opinions of his moral compass. If, in the end, she decides him to be evil¡­ she will do what she believes to be right, even if she dies because of it.

    Of course, Stella hoped things wouldn''t come down to that. After all, she would definitely die within an instant if she went against him. Furthermore, he was kind in a weird sort of way, he smelled nice, and they had a lot of things in common, such as the disappearance of their mothers.

    Did she mention that he smelled nice yet? Well, she ought to repeat important things twice.

    Oblivious to the unusual thoughts of the silverish blue-haired beauty, Cassius entered the red portal. Sticking close to his side was the feisty Yimin, with Stella just a few inches further behind.

    They quickly arrived in the outside world.

    Cassius, moving fast, swept Stella and Yimin into his large arms. Ignoring their contrasting emotions, he blurred like an evanescent shadow.

    Not a single human saw them, as they were too busy discussing the Gate and other miscellaneous topics.

    However, even though no humans saw Cassius and the two girls, it did not mean no living beings saw them¡­

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 91 - 91: Gremlin Exterrestrial Fiends

    Blinking their human eyes in an unnatural way among the swathes of people were several Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends. They eerily watched the three mushed-together humanoid figures vanish into the night sky. They remained creepily still, not even so much as breathing.

    For the longest while, they simply stared in the direction of Cassius''s home. They stared and stared, with their eyelids sometimes blinking sideways, revealing another pair of pure black eyes beneath their human eyes.

    Eventually, the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends turned their heads in unison, seemingly sensing something in the direction of Tokyo. After a few seconds, they shuddered as if shedding their skins, then returned to their completely human dispositions. One could not tell a single difference between them and a regular human; not even someone with an S-Rank Perception stat would be able to distinguish the two.

    The Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends even walked throughout the crowds of humans; they laughed, talked, and even actively started conversations. They acted more human than most humans; none would be able to discern the truth of the matter¡ªof how hungry they were. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Every time a human''s head came into view, the second set of the Gremlins'' eyes would trace it like a hound dog to a steak. They wanted to eat, they wanted to slowly savor and devour the juicy brains of every single human in the world. Yet they restrained themselves; it was not the time to act.

    Their superiors on the Mothership were more intent on reaching the 2nd Floor of the Ascension Tower, with the enslavement of all mankind a mere secondary concern.

    Of course, the lower-ranked Extraterrestrials, like the Gremlin Fiends, did not fully understand why the higher-ups and the Mothership were waiting so long to turn humankind into livestock. They were hungry¡­ beyond famished¡­ Why should they wait??

    However, as intelligent beings, they knew that if they acted up, they would be killed on the spot.

    There were countless just like them; they were neither special nor unique. They wanted to live more than they wanted to taste human meat again. It was all a matter of priority.

    But when the higher-ups did achieve their objectives¡­ Well, humankind would be no different from common farm animals, all lined up and waiting to be slaughtered. They would surely eat then.

    ''That human¡­ He is the target?'' Speaking in a slow, disturbing way, one of the Gremlins asked for confirmation, all the while happily conversing with a fellow human.

    Answering the first one, a different Gremlin said, ''Yes, that is the human we need to befriend and coerce into luring out ''it.''''

    ''Only that way can we be done with this nonsense and begin eating the humans¡­''

    ''Human meat¡­ Am now hungry¡­''

    ''Hungry as well¡­''

    ''Human meat¡­ It smells so delicious¡­ Especially their brains¡­''

    ''Hungry¡­..''

    For a while, the Extraterrestrial Gremlin Fiends repeatedly mumbled how hungry they were to each other. However, when the Yellow Gate began to turn red before abruptly spasming out and starting the closing process, they were forced to share the shock and surprise of the other humans.

    The sun set in the West and then rose in the East.

    The very next morning, Cassius shot his eyes open like a startled cat. He lay still, listening to the faint grave murmurings of the news lady on the TV downstairs. Sasha had kept the volume low so as to not wake up and worry the kiddos over the recent events in Downtown Hoshito.

    One famous idol B-Rank Hunter Party never returned after entering a Gate that turned red before mysteriously disappearing. Then, shortly after that, two other Yellow Rank Gates closed in the same manner, except they hadn''t changed colors before closing. There was a ton of controversy centered around these unexplainable events, even leading to the direct investigation of High-Rank Investigators from the higher-tier Japanese cities.

    Though, for Sasha, she was just glad that a potential calamity had been averted.

    Cassius shifted his focus away from the beautiful MILF scene downstairs, instead concentrating on whatever was pressing down on him so greatly. Even with his weight-set on him, he could feel multiple different extremely heavy things¡ª

    *Squish, Squish.*

    "Huhgnn~ Not there, Master, Yimin is sensitive~"

    All movement on Cassius''s face zeroed out, leaving him completely expressionless.

    Sprawled out on top of his muscular, half-nude body were drop-dead gorgeous women, each exotic and uniquely beautiful in their own way.

    One, a clingy dog-like dragon woman; another, a wild tsundere stepsister; then there was the stunning orphan he picked up on one of his walks¡­ yet another black-haired woman, and then a teal-haired doll whose beauty was only matched by the others dog-piled on top of him.

    They were somehow able to evenly split up his body, with their devastatingly bountiful figures exposing their glory to the world. The more conservative ones, like Memphis, Aya, and Stella, were dressed in lingerie or loose shirts, but that did little to conceal their country-toppling slopes. And the more shameless ones, like Yimin and Bella, went bare-butt nude¡ª

    ''Wait¡­ Bella¡­?? How did she get here???''

    Cassius recalled slipping back into the house late at night, which happened just shortly after he quickly cleared the two Yellow Gates and got a single level. With his new Lvl 70 status, he apologetically explained his lateness to Sasha, then went through a tiresome period of explaining why he now had two more women with him.

    If not for Yimin''s illusion magic, which she had unintentionally concealed earlier, then it would have been even more of a pain to explain to Sasha why he had a dragonoid with him.

    Fortunately, everything worked out in the end, and though Sasha left the debacle with a slight pout, things progressed rather smoothly from there. At least, that was the case until it came time for sleep.

    Memphis learned that he brought home two more women, grumbled, and then refused to allow him to sleep alone with them. She claimed it to be ''inappropriate'' unless she was there to ''supervise.''

    Aya acted along the same lines, with the only difference being that she adamantly refused to admit that she wanted it.

    Stella, on the other hand, hadn''t originally planned to sleep with him in the same bed. She instead chose to sleep on a comfy blow-up mattress to the side. But as she had a weird habit of sleepwalking, she somehow got up off her bed and found her way to Cassius''s side.

    Then, of course, there was Yimin, who was admittedly just being¡­ Yimin¡­

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 92 - 92: What are you doing in my Bedroom...?

    Without caring about a single thing, Yimin stripped naked and dived into his bed, also being the first one to sneak into his bed. Yet, from the first girl to the last girl, Cassius remained as nonchalant as always. And as he was too unconcerned to make a big deal out of anything, he just let them snuggle up to him one by one.

    But then there was Bella¡­

    Cassius truly had no idea why or how that star-eyed girl ended up sleeping on his right arm in her birthday suit.

    He stared at her for a few seconds, thinking of a wide array of possible outcomes for how this situation came to be. However, in his absentmindedness, he realized far too late that the girl in question had opened her eyes and was now staring straight into his soul.

    "¡­Bella¡­?" Cassius asked calmly, not breaking eye contact. "What are you doing in my bedroom?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bella blinked, then looked around, surveying her surroundings. Suddenly, her enchanting eyes widened. She sprang up like a deer in headlights, then sputtered, "T-This is all¡­ all a dream¡­! Yes, it''s all a dream!! And in three seconds, you will not even believe that I was here!"

    Usually, Bella was composed and cool-headed, but this development had truly taken her by surprise!

    The last thing she remembered was scouting (stalking) her husband''s neighborhood when, suddenly, she smelled something impossibly delicious. Following this smell, she found herself at her husband''s house. But from that point onward, she had no clue what occurred¡­

    When Bella woke up in the arms of her husband, she immediately passed it off as another one of her wet dreams. And so, to follow the usual plotline, she prepared herself to ravage her dream husband. However, it was at that moment that she realized this was most certainly not a spicy wet dream!

    She needed to perform a disappearing trick and act like none of it ever happened!

    "Hocus pocus, 3, 2, 1, I was never here!" shouted Bella, and then she quite literally vanished.

    Cassius blinked once, then twice, and then again.

    "She really disappeared¡­" he mumbled in disbelief. "I didn''t even see her move, nor did I see her use any magic¡­ A C-Rank Awakener shouldn''t be capable of something like that¡­"

    No matter how Cassius thought about it, he just couldn''t understand what had just gone down.

    Ultimately, he figured it to be a waste to mull over it any longer. He shook his head and refocused on the four girls that had somehow not awoken from the commotion.

    The transformed escapee bat had also been too caught up in the moment to notice the other girls, which was a fortunate thing for all parties involved¡­

    Cassius, seemingly forgetting that Bella was ever here, looked between the devastatingly beautiful appearances of the women clinging to him. Even their curvaceous bodies were equally beautiful, truly sculpted pieces of art worth dying for.

    Observing them truly did wonders in clearing his mind. Though, that wasn''t the only thing clearing part of his mind¡­

    Before Bella left, she cast a silent suggestive spell incantation. It was one capable of slightly manipulating the recent memories of even powerful S-Rank Awakeners. Yet, she had no clue what exactly she manipulated, only that she manipulated and erased anything that had to do with "Bella" and the "Most beautiful, loving wife in the world," which she obviously believed to be herself.

    Of course, that command was deemed null and void as soon as it left her frontal lobe¡­

    Five minutes later.

    No longer able to stand the complete stillness any longer, Cassius began to move his body. The weight wasn''t much to him, but the visual image that came along with that weight was a little intimidating.

    Still, he made it out of the dogpile alive, and did so without waking a single girl up.

    After stretching his arms a bit, he took his Newbie 5 Equipment Set out of his Inventory Space. Due to him not having full confidence in controlling his weight during the night like he could during the day, he stored his weights in his Inventory just before going to sleep.

    It was a shame that he couldn''t obtain those few extra Physical Stat Points while sleeping, but it was what it was. There would eventually come a time when he could wear the Newbie 5 Equipment Set 24/7, but that time just wasn''t now.

    Cassius, after equipping his slim weights and hanging his Newbie 5 Sword by his waist, decided to slip out through his room''s window. He chose not to inform anyone of his departure or even bother waking up the girls simply because¡­ it was too troublesome¡­

    ''Everyone already knows the basic layout of the land, and they have their disguises, so they should be good,'' thought Cassius as he readied the B+ Rank Shadow Step skill. ''It''s really just Yimin I''m worried about¡­ But it should all work out fine¡­ probably¡­''

    Then, just as he was about to head out and try to progress Main Quest #3 while conquering some Gates, two watery slitted eyes stared right at him. Slowly, he turned his head around, only to see a divinely cute face that looked as if it were going to balloon out and make a shrieking popping sound.

    Cassius thought quickly on his feet and Shadow Stepped to Yimin, slung her onto his back, and then vanished into the rising sun.

    It would''ve been a whole big ordeal if Yimin made a loud fuss over their matter, so taking her with him was naturally the easiest choice. Moreover, he was concerned about her behavior after he left, anyway, so this was just saving him the hassle. At least, that was what he told himself to cope.

    "Yay!" Yimin exclaimed from atop Cassius''s rapidly fleeting back.

    Hugging his head with her arms and breasts, she said, "Yimin just knew that Master wouldn''t leave her behind with those thieving whores! The only unfortunate thing was that Yimin was planning to eat them to their bones sometime today¡­ But Yimin guesses that can wait!"

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 93 - 93: Only Yimin can have a Master!

    Cassius cracked an awkward smile and wryly chuckled. ''I knew it was a good idea to take her with me¡­ I seriously fear what would''ve happened if this crazy dragon was left without supervision¡­''

    The same point of concern also applied to Bella, the other 100-scored Yandere. However, he was lucky enough to pass her tribulation without any bodily harm. Then again, he wasn''t actually aware of her¡­ mental afflictions just yet, so he remained blissfully oblivious to the calamity he had just avoided.

    "Anyway," said Cassius as he emptied his mind of all distracting thoughts. "I will be going to the Hunter''s Association to sell the Magic Shards of all the monsters I killed, which include those looted from your¡­ previous subordinates¡­"

    He mostly brought his agenda up to gauge the reaction of his dragon companion. Yet, it didn''t seem like she was the least bit bothered by this information. She adorably tilted her head, question marks flying off around her.

    Pursing her lips, Yimin giggled. "You are looking at Yimin funnily, Master! Does Yimin have something on her face??"

    Cassius, distracted by her words, let his eyes swim around her flawless facial features. Her long, babydoll eyelashes slightly quivered along with every cloud of steamy breath escaping her dark purple lips. Below her perfectly sculpted eyelashes and misty reddish-brown eyes was a boundlessly enchanting field of peachy skin. Then there were the luscious locks of gray hair draping over her head, shoulders, and ample snow-white valleys, which molded her already dazzling appearance into something blinding.

    Cassius would be lying if he claimed that her charms wouldn''t be effective against him if she actually knew how to take advantage of them. Conversely, in her present childish state, it was highly unlikely that she would ever get one over on him.

    "Hey, Master!" Yimin shouted into his ears, snapping him out of his daze. "Yimin thinks we are here!"

    "Hmm?"

    Cassius looked all around, immediately noticing the hundreds of armored Hunters walking in the area outside a massive building. ''How did we get here¡­?'' he questioned, genuinely unaware of the fact that he had zoned out and arrived at the Hunter''s Association Branch Building by using Shadow Step.

    "...I really am out of it as of late," he murmured before rubbing Yimin''s head in a job-well-done sort of way.

    Her wagging dragon tail protruded from her cloak, clearly showing how happy she was. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A faint smile shone through Cassius''s partially covered face as he took long strides toward the Hunter''s Association''s front doors. Opening them up, he walked in. As soon as he entered the establishment, it felt like he had entered an entirely different world. Even though the noise outside was abundant and diversity was everywhere, it just didn''t have the same feel as the Hunter''s Association.

    The atmosphere was something one only ever imagined to be possible in another world. Rumors spread abound, cussing and obnoxious laughter rang out, and even though the decor was that of a high-tech establishment, it still exuded the feeling one got from the Adventurers Guilds in Isekai stories.

    Listening in on the conversations flying around in the Hunter''s Association, Cassius heard some interesting things. Yimin, on the other hand, was too busy sniffing and hugging him to care about other men and women.

    "Did you hear of the mysterious personage that secretly entered and cleared three Yellow Gates¡ªone of which suddenly upgraded and became a Low Red-rank Gate!?"

    "Pish, posh, that is just a conspiracy theory! There is no actual evidence to support the claim that a powerful Awakened covertly cleared three different High-Rank Gates!"

    "Then how do you explain them closing?? Huh, big guy?? Explain it!"

    "You idiot! How are you going to explain why someone would clear Gates without vying for any recognition!? There is no one in the world who doesn''t yearn for the status and fame that come along with being a High-Rank Awakener!"

    "That is¡­ Maybe the mysterious Awakener just likes to keep a low profile¡­!"

    "What ridiculous nonsense!"

    Moving away from this particular debate between two E-Rank Hunters, Cassius heard a plethora of other Hunters talking about the same subject. He hadn''t expected his subtle and covert interference to produce an impact this large, but it seemed like he had overestimated his subtlety.

    A few moments later.

    Cassius now stood in front of a counter¡ªthe same one that he stopped by the last few times he came to sell Magic Shards and valuable Monster Materials. The receptionist on the other side of the counter looked up, almost immediately recognizing him.

    Smiling, she asked, "What have you brought in for us today, oh~ enigmatic traveler?"

    Hearing the slight tease in her voice forced a twitching smile on Cassius''s face. He hadn''t expected her to address him by the casual nickname he had announced himself with in jest. However, when he felt a dark, ominous aura seep out from atop his head, he realized that he better speed things up.

    The daggers shooting out of Yimin''s eyes were practically on the verge of materializing into tangible objects¡­

    Gently pushing her face out of the way, Cassius politely responded to the receptionist who had grown curious about his new companion. "I have¡­ a lot more than the last few times. It would be best if you take me to a larger area."

    "Hmm¡­ Well, that should be fine," replied the moderately pretty receptionist. "Though, if the shards you are bringing this time exceed the C-Rank, I will need to call the manager¡­ Then again, you don''t have anything like that, right?"

    The silence was palpable.

    "...Right¡­?" the receptionist repeated, growing increasingly nervous.

    Cassius, deliberating whether he should disclose the truth or not, ultimately decided to tell her and get it over with. "Yes, I do have Magic Shards and Monster Materials of the B-Rank. Yet, these ones, just like those I brought before, were not obtained by myself. Instead, it was my¡­ Master that gave them to me to do with as I will."

    "Your Master!?" Yimin''s expression exploded in confusion and displeasure. "Master cannot possibly have any Master! Only Yimin can have a Master, which is Master¡ª!"

    ...

 Chapter 94 - 94: Victor Radio, the Fastest Man Alive

    Despite Yimin''s weird logic, Cassius promptly clasped her mouth shut with a single hand. Redirecting his attention back to the receptionist, he asked, "Well, can this be done? Is a manager here right now?"

    "Y-Yes, of course!" Although a bit flustered over the ludicrous stuff she had just heard him say, the receptionist was still a seasoned professional. "I will call for him right away!" she said while already dialing a number on a stationary telephone right beside her.

    A few seconds later.

    A mildly corpulent man dressed in a classy suit and tie hurried ahead of the receptionist. He reached the other side of the desk and bowed his head slightly. "It is a great honor to get acquainted with you, good sir! I hear that you are looking to sell Magic Shards of the B-Rank??"

    "Yes, that is correct," answered Cassius. He briefly appraised the man, observing several beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and cheeks. "My Master is a very secretive man and doesn''t like to put himself out in the open. So, if you''re aiming to inquire about his name, location, or rank, then I cannot help you. I just wanted to get that out there before we discuss business."

    "O-Of course," the manager replied in a dejected tone.

    He was indeed interested in this powerful master, but if it wasn''t meant to be, then it wasn''t meant to be.

    Changing the topic, he asked, "Can we bring the Magic Shards to the back and look over them there right now?"

    "Yes, that is fine," Cassius responded without much thought. "Do lead the way."

    Suddenly regaining a lot of his bearings, the manager switched into serious business mode. "Right this way," he motioned ahead with his hands.

    Cassius briskly passed the silent receptionist. Yimin glared at her as they passed, but he quickly diverted her focus with a head pat. They walked through a pair of swinging doors, then waited for the manager to catch up.

    The manager was curious about why the customer and companion were hooded, but more than that, he could approximately gauge the level their items were at. And although his guess was still quite a bit off, he just knew that he was about to make a big profit today. His heavy footsteps flickered across the marble floors as he, too, passed the receptionist.

    "Good work today," he whispered to her before making it back to the hooded man''s side.

    The receptionist warmly smiled before enthusiastically returning to her desk work. Finally, she got some recognition! Life was surely going to become better from here on out!

    She couldn''t help but quietly thank the esoteric man inside her heart.

    ¡ªMeanwhile, in the spacious back area of the Hunter Association''s Hoshito Branch Building¡ª S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Oddly enough, although there were two people walking and one hitchhiking, only a single pair of footsteps echoed in the relatively silent corridors. This was solely because Cassius had reached a level in his training where he could make it seem like he was weightless, even though he was lugging around hundreds of thousands of tons.

    If it weren''t for expert control and various auxiliary skills that helped in this aspect, then just a single step of his would destroy the Hunter''s Association. That single step would collapse the Branch Building and leave the surrounding blocks in ruin.

    And the worst part was that this wasn''t even an exaggeration¡­

    Cassius quite literally had several Empire State Buildings attached to his body. If he ever lost control over his muscular functionality, then it would be as if multiple Empire State Buildings suddenly spawned out of nowhere!

    However, even knowing that, there was something crazier about this whole ordeal. That crazy thing being that his Strength Stat was not even at the A-Rank yet¡­ He pushed his body to its absolute limits at all times, causing veins to constantly bulge and intimidate people, but even that only just barely put him near the peak of the B-Rank.

    In terms of pure strength and without including the ''Dragonic Strength'' effect from his Dragonfire Advent Title, even the B-Rank Hunter Party Leader Dominic was stronger. In other words, Dominic could have also carried around what Cassius was now carrying, and he could do so with much more ease. Now, this begged the question:

    If the peak B-Rank was already so stupidly overpowered, then just how freakish were those mighty existences in the S-Rank¡­?

    ¡ª------------

    As Cassius and his grumbling Yimin sold all of his Magic Shards to the Hunter''s Association Branch Manager, a lean blonde-haired man leisurely strolled through a highly populated area of Shibuya, Japan. He wore a pair of expensive gold-edged sunglasses and could overall be termed stylish.

    His name¡ªVictor Rapido¡ªthe alleged Fastest Man Alive!

    One second, Victor was seen meandering through large crowds of people, and the next second, he was gone. He left no afterimages, no instantaneous stops, leaving nothing to indicate that he had done anything other than vanish from this dimension.

    Even the instant teleportation spells and skills of Mage Awakeners could not compare to the speed demon that was Victor Rapido.

    He was just that damn¡­ fast.

    FWIP!

    Victor Rapido silently reappeared beside a fiery-haired man on a wide podium, appearing there without leaving any indication that he had been anywhere but there. Not even his feet or clothes rippled when he appeared on that stadium; it really was like he spawned in.

    Noticing a familiar presence, the fiery red-haired man looked away from a massive sea of Hunters, all of whom ranged from the F-Rank to the A-Rank. He saw a smugly relaxed expression sitting nearly a foot below his head.

    It wasn''t that Victor Rapido was short, it was just that this bulky, viking-like man was extremely large.

    Upon confirming the blonde-haired man''s identity, the fiery red-haired man''s face twisted in anger. "For the fastest man alive, you sure do know how to run late to every single important meeting," he quietly criticized, not holding anything back.

    "Hah¡­" Victor Rapido glanced up at the livid hulking man, that smug smirk never leaving his expression.

    ...

 Chapter 95 - 95: Gathering of the S-Rank, Loss of an S-Rank

    "Listen, Thorfin, unlike you, I have a very hectic schedule," said Victor. "As my father is American and my mother Japanese, I was granted dual citizenship. This was, of course, mainly because of my unique awesomeness, as everyone wants a slice of this pie! It''s only unfortunate that there''s only so much of me to go around¡­"

    "I was in America a few seconds ago, and yet here I am for my fellow countrymen! Where is the appreciation in this gloomy place??"

    "Gloomy?" Thorfin parroted, his voice becoming dangerously high-pitched. "You actually dare to say that when we just lost Static Baron¡ªone of our country''s S-Rank Hunters¡ªin the continued attempts at clearing the Special High Purple-rank Gate!? A Gate that exceeds anything we have experienced thus far¡­!?"

    Thorfin nearly raised his voice in anger when interacting with the insufferably arrogant S-Rank Hunter beside him. However, as this was a eulogy for the S-Rank Hunter they lost in the International Gate Raid, he held himself back.

    Victor Rapido softly scoffed, which only served to further fuel the red giant''s rage. "Even if that rash prick, Static Baron, died, so what? He reaped what he sowed by charging into the Boss''s Lair head-on. His death was only his fault, and he now lies six feet under because of it!"

    "You¡ª!!"

    "I''m not done speaking yet," Victor interrupted, not caring a single bit about Thorfin''s growing frustration. "That High Purple-rank Gate is not even within the territory of Japan. We, like all the other offshore countries that could be affected if it breaks, are throwing away the lives of our strongest because we fear the inevitable."

    "However, even if the Gate''s opening is inevitable, it''s not like we have to worry about it for the next few dozen years, as it is not like any other recorded Gates. Rather than appear with a set amount of monsters of a set rank contained within, like the majority of Gates, this one seems to be¡­ evolving."

    Victor briefly paused before continuing. "It was originally around the middle stages of the Red Rank roughly two years ago, and now it is of the High Purple Rank. Keep in mind that none of the various world governments even took the unusual fluctuating Gate energy signatures seriously at the time, and now look where we are¡­"

    "Trying to prevent the inevitable is pointless, big guy. Just let it all come as it comes."

    Although it seemed like the haughty S-Rank Speedster was speaking ignorantly and out of his ass, Thorfin knew better. As much as he hated him with every fiber of his being, he recognized his physical prowess. He was also fully aware of the history that Victor had with this particular Gate located at the very center of the world, in the middle of the ocean.

    The very reason Victor hadn''t participated in the most recent Gate Raid was because he took part in the one that came before. The Gate, still of the High Purple-rank at the time, was something that instilled into him the truest meanings of fear¡­ It was agonizing¡­

    ''Against that "monster," even the most powerful Hunters in the world will be shredded to pieces¡­ Even I, as the "fastest" man alive, was completely and utterly outdone in the aspect I was most proficient in¡­ It was like a God toying with a mortal¡­''

    Victor Rapido was confident in his ability to take on any single S-Rank Hunter in a one-on-one fight. Even if he couldn''t win or was unable to penetrate the opponent''s defense, he would still be faster. The matches would all either end with him as the victor or in a tie. Yet, in the face of that "Monster"¡ªthat aberration that originated straight from the abysses of hell¡ªit wasn''t even a fight. It was simply a child playing with a new toy.

    The only reason Victor managed to make it out alive was because that "monster" felt¡­ pity for him.

    His expression scrunched up in hatred when just recalling that monstrous expression staring down at his haggard figure. His once joyful attitude was now soured, and it was all the red bastard''s fault. However, just as he was about to give him a piece of his mind, an older, more refined man, standing at the very center of the wide wooden podium, spoke up in a heroic tone:

    "With the eulogy of our brave S-Rank Hunter, Static Baron, now over, I feel it to be essential that I inform you of all the active efforts we are taking to prevent the outbreak of Gates in every prefecture and region of Japan.

    From day one of the first appearance of Gates and the terrifying monsters within over a century ago, we, as the protectors of this country, have done everything to protect our fellow countrymen. And though we have lost many along the way¡ªplenty that we cherished¡ªwe have still made it this far!

    Although we remain in the dark when it comes to where these Gates appeared from or why they are becoming more numerous, we will keep pushing back this unknown force that estranges us all! Under no circumstances will we allow our mighty country to fall!!"

    HOOORAAAAHH!!!

    The various Hunters cheered, creating a layer of patriotism that was almost contagious.

    "We, the Japanese Hunters, do not falter in the face of adversity!" shouted the refined old man. "No matter if it concerns the Gates outside our country or the tens of thousands inside it, we won''t let them weaken our will! There will eventually come a day when all the Gates in our glorious country are banished off the edges of the world! As the Chairman of the Japanese Hunter''s Association, I guarantee this to you!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "But, I cannot accomplish this seemingly impossible task alone! To make the impossible possible, I will require the assistance of every single Hunter in this auditorium! And I will also need everyone present here today to spread Japanese heroism to all those who could not make it today!"

    "To overcome the odds, all of us will need to work together¡ªslaughter monsters, gather generational wealth, close all the Gates, and make Japan a safer place for the next generations to live in without constantly fearing for their lives!"

    ...

 Chapter 96 - 96: An Unusual Amount of Shadows...

    The auditorium once again erupted into booming cheers. All of the gathered Hunters were hyped up as hell after their Chairman''s spirit-raising speech. They were raring to get back out there and massacre more monsters!

    Finishing off his speech, the white-haired Chairman said, "Make your country proud; make your family proud; save this country from certain doom. Yet, let the noble sacrifice of Static Baron engrave into your hearts what could happen to any single one of you if you are careless. Keep a good head on your shoulders, stick together, and have a good rest of your day." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He waved them off before walking away from the center point stadium microphone. As soon as he turned his face away from the tens of thousands of Hunters, his expression cooled, going from friendly and outgoing to cold and calculative.

    The Hunter Association Chairman glanced between the dozen-odd S-Rank Hunters present with him today. All of the country''s powerhouses were there, and for some reason, that worsened the face he was making.

    Scanning his narrowed eyes over the magnificent-looking Hunters, he landed on the 5''11 figure of Victor Rapido. He was going to say something in regard to his late arrival, but seeing as Victor''s expression was nearly as terrible as his own, he decided to save it for later.

    "Follow behind me," commanded the Chairman as he strode ahead of the eleven gathered S-Rank Hunters. "I have a few things I wish to inform you all of in private."

    "Yes, sir." All of them responded rather casually, then trailed behind the stern Chairman at different paces.

    Although none of them believed their Chairman to be any stronger than they were, he was far older than them and had amassed an exorbitant amount of experience over the years. It was only natural to respect someone like that, as this was a world where the strong and wise ruled.

    While following the Chairman, a tall and lean man with jet-black hair slicked back walked up beside Victor Rapido. His piercing crimson eyes, which seemed to glow in the dark, bore into the side of the similarly-sized Victor.

    He wore a dark trench coat with silver accents, always shadowed as though light avoided him. A scar was etched across his left cheek, and he exuded a sinister aura that unsettled even allies, making Victor grow increasingly uncomfortable.

    He almost immediately knew who it was, prompting him to ask, "Dante¡­ What is it this time?"

    Dante Blackthorn¡ªa master of shadows and fierce shadow beasts¡ªmatched Victor''s pace as they left the auditorium and ascended numerous flights of stairs in a larger, shinier building.

    Responding to the speedster''s exasperated question, Dante said:

    "I need you to investigate the rapid increase of shadows in Tokyo¡­ It''s unnatural, and only someone of your nature will be able to find anything substantial."

    Victor raised a brow. "And what''s in it for me? Searching around odd quantities of shadows is a little ridiculous and will surely consume a lot of my time. So, what will I receive in exchange for helping out?"

    Dante coldly stared at the suave speedster, seemingly calculating a number of things in his mind.

    After a moment, he replied, "I can keep you updated on any speedy Awakeners that awaken or show their faces in the Western, Northern, and Eastern Hemispheres. With my intelligence organization and my army of shadows, you should be well aware of what I could accomplish if given the time."

    Victor considered it, nearly rejected it, but then shrugged and accepted. "Very well, I''ll figure out why shadows have¡­"

    "Increased unnaturally in quantity, beyond what new moving creations and autonomous vehicles should be capable of producing," said Dante, his tone evenly informative. "The shadows I am searching for have all at once appeared in Tokyo, then blended in with the rest of the moving shadows. Something is not right about this, yet I can''t figure out what exactly that something is. Which is where you come in."

    Victor''s smirk widened as he turned a corner with the rest of the unique S-Rank Hunters walking beside him. Slightly side-eyeing the detached Dante, he said, "I will do just that, but it will likely take some time before anything useful comes back. Although limiting it to just moving shadows will speed things up, I will still need to individually search millions¡­ Wait, how large are the shadows I''m looking for?"

    "Around as large as humans," Dante replied instantly.

    Victor nodded. "Yep, so millions, which isn''t too much. However, even with my S-Rank Hyper Perception and Flash Memorization Skills, I will need to make countless rounds in and around the country. It will be troublesome."

    "How long?" asked Dante.

    "Maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months," replied Victor. "But no longer than a year."

    "Affirmative."

    That was the end of their conversation, with Dante silently reminding him to read up on population governmental statistics to confirm the existence of anomalies. Immediately after he left Dante''s side and faded toward the very end of the group, the Chairman had arrived in his office, where he quickly sat down on the only black leather chair behind his desk.

    Looking at the vastly contrasting Hunters, he interlocked his fingers and rested his chin atop them, with his elbows pressed against the mahogany desk. "Although I don''t want to do it, seeing as the other countries are doing the same thing, I need to as well."

    The air within the classy, Victorian-styled room constricted a lot tighter. All of the S-Rank Hunters knew precisely what their Chairman was going to say. And just as expected¡­

    "I will keep things simple and concise: You will need to decide which six among you will join the next Raid of the High Purple-rank Gate ''World''s End.''"

    "Same as the times before, you will need to temporarily pass down the leadership of your S-Rank Guilds to whoever is most suited to run your Guild while you are away."

    The expressions of everyone in the room scrunched up by varying degrees.

    ...

 Chapter 97 - 97: Facing the END

    The last time that the Japanese participated in one of these World''s End Raids, they lost the S-Rank Hunter, Static Baron. They also lost two other S-Rank Hunters in the past two years. If they were to send themselves in this time around, it was very likely that a few of them would not make it back alive.

    What their Hunter Association Chairman was asking of them was basically suicide for the sake of "upholding peace."

    Before any of the more temperamental Hunters voiced their opinions on this arrangement, a rugged man with wavy blonde hair stepped forward. He had stormy gray-blue eyes and a strong, weathered frame. His armor was sleek, adorned with lightning motifs, and often crackled with static electricity. Like Static Baron, he was also proficient in the lightning element, yet he also had skills related to the air element, making him a rare dual-element wielder.

    As the "face" of the Japanese Hunters, Arden Stormcall naturally had to be the one to speak on behalf of everyone present.

    "Chairman, sir, with all due respect, what you are asking six of us to do is to walk headfirst to our deathbeds. The world has demonstrated time and time again that this Gate is impossible to raid, so why must we keep on throwing lives away?"

    The Chairman''s brows furrowed; none knew what he was thinking.

    After a tension-filled pause, he said, "If we do not prevent this Gate from evolving any further, then the world will undoubtedly meet its¡­ END."

    The S-Rank Hunters went painfully silent. They knew as well as their Chairman what would happen if the World''s End Gate somehow managed to evolve past the Purple Rank. Its name was that for a reason, after all.

    However, that didn''t mean they were willing to throw away their lives for no reason. Even if they were all destined to die sooner or later, they would rather it occur later than sooner.

    This was the nature of all living beings. The S-Rank Awakeners were no exception.

    Arden, realizing the severity of the situation, cut through the silence. "Chairman, are there truly no other alternatives? No way for humanity to make it through this hurdle?"

    "No," replied the Chairman, his tone serious. "If the World''s End Gate evolves beyond the Purple Rank, then the world and humanity will fall. Yet, as opposed to the previous raids on this insurmountable mountain, we will be gathering more than just one or two S-Rank Hunters from each offshore country. Furthermore, we will be receiving additional reinforcements from all the countries that never bothered with the Gate before."

    "Behemoths like America, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and nearly every single country in the world will be sending some of their strongest Hunters. Even the Mage Lord from Russia and the Dragon Slayer from China will be joining the raid. This is, in every sense of the word: Earth''s Final Frontier."

    "If we cannot succeed this time, even with hundreds of S-Rank Hunters to back us up, then the world has always been destined to fall. Our only option at that point will be to find our place among the stars¡­"

    Kaida Drakenshield, a wielder of a dragon''s power, narrowed her golden eyes at the mention of the Dragon Slayer. Yet they narrowed further when escaping the bounds of Earth was mentioned.

    "Going to space¡­" Sylva Everwood, a manipulator of nature and lover of animals, also did not appreciate the Chairman''s words. "Leaving Earth is not an option for me. My home is among the lush forests and verdant biomes of Mother Nature''s loving embrace."

    "I, too, do not support the notion of evacuating Planet Earth, if that is even possible," said Gideon Ironfist, a mountain-like man who also happened to harness the rocky elements. "The mountains on Earth are the best to climb. Being trapped in a metal doohickey in space is unacceptable!"

    "I personally don''t mind the idea of leaving Earth," added Rika Starforge, a short, spiky purple-haired woman with vibrant amber eyes. "Venturing into the great beyond sounds extremely exciting!"

    "Of course you would say that," spat Ezekiel Frostbane, his disdain for the rowdy woman apparent in his expression. His snow-white hair and icy blue eyes shimmered in unison, seemingly agreeing with their owner. "If you want to go to space so badly, then go by yourself. Maybe you can find a star there that can reciprocate your feelings. And luckily for you, unlike humans on Earth, they can''t think for themselves. Your chances aren''t low."

    Rika''s feisty expression frosted over, nearly reaching the same level as the pretty boy Ezekiel. Twisting her frown, she asked, "Are ya looking for a fight, you damn snowfield twink¡­?"

    "A¡­ what?"

    OOOM!!

    The room was nearly crushed to dust because of the violent auras clashing against one another. Yet, before they could escalate the situation further, the Chairman erupted forth with a killing intent that immediately stopped both of them.

    ''Strong¡­'' The two S-Rank Hunters thought in unison. ''His strength hasn''t diminished one bit with old age¡­''

    "Quit the nonsense," ordered the Chairman, his tone non-negotiable. "We are here to discuss who among the six of you will join the World''s End Gate Raid, not who among you has the biggest pair of balls. Now, discuss among yourselves and decide who will be going and who will be staying. I don''t care how you choose, but you have six minutes¡­ starting now."

    Viola Voidweaver and Luna Astra, the quietest and most perceptive ones among the group, noticed something else bothering the Chairman. It was clearly something he wasn''t willing to disclose, but there was definitely something wrong.

    Luna immediately began calculating anything she found feasible, yet everything ended up not coming out right.

    Luna was a slender woman with silver hair that flowed like liquid moonlight. She has glowing pale blue eyes and porcelain skin. Moreover, she wore a flowing white cloak that shimmered under any light.

    Yet, her entire appearance was merely there to communicate her faith in the Goddess of the Moon, who was said to reside beyond the heavens above...

    ... Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 98 - 98: Baba Yagas Prophecy

    Similarly, Viola Voidweaver believed in space supremacy. However, unlike the silver-haired beauty, she had long, flowing dark hair that faded into a starry void at the tips. Her violet eyes seemed to contain galaxies, and her black robes rippled as though touched by unseen forces. Furthermore, her skin shimmered faintly with the reflection of distant stars.

    Like Rika, she also didn''t mind leaving planet Earth, but a larger part of her felt something was wrong with the stars¡­ S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As one deeply connected with the Space Element and the constellations, Viola had a keener sense than even the hot-headed Rika. She could instinctively sense something unusual about the sky and stars. Since awakening, she had always felt like everything above was¡­ false.

    Yet, she couldn''t pinpoint what exactly made her feel this way. It was extraordinarily odd.

    After a few moments of silence.

    Arden sighed before nodding. "Very well, we will discuss now who will take up the task of participating in the World''s End Raid."

    The other S-Rank Hunters wanted to oppose but were smart enough to know it was futile.

    Victor Rapido, on the other hand, remained silent from beginning to end. He was one of the few S-Rank Hunters who had survived the horrors of that Gate, and he, better than anyone else, knew exactly what lay in store for anyone who dared enter again. Especially if that "monster" became any more powerful than it already was¡­

    The world might just come to an end¡­

    While Victor was lost in thought, he and the other S-Rank Japanese Hunters turned around and huddled together. They began discussing who was most suited for the Raid.

    After a lengthy, often argumentative discussion, the S-Rank Hunters turned back around, their decisions final. A few of them wore soured, almost begrudging expressions, but the Chairman paid them no mind. Reluctance was expected.

    "So, who will be participating in the World''s End Gate Raid approximately one and a half months from now?" asked the Chairman.

    Arden stepped forward to announce:

    "I will now call out who among us will be joining the Raid¡ª

    Myself, Arden Stormcall, Guild Leader of the Storm Guild.

    Luna Astra, Leader of the Luminescent Guild.

    Viola Voidweaver, Leader of the Voidling Guild.

    Rika Starforge, Leader of the StarFaith Guild.

    Kaida Drakenshield, Leader of the Dragonlins Guild.

    And Thorfin Strongman, Leader of the FireLord Guild."

    As Arden called off the names, the Chairman jotted them down on a separate piece of paper. After finishing up the details, he looked up. His dead, harsh eyes scanned the six S-Rank Hunters who stepped forward. For a very brief instant, his irises flashed with regret, yet none besides Luna and Viola noticed it.

    "If this is who you have unanimously decided to join the Raid, then I will be expecting all relevant documents related to who will be taking over your duties in your Guilds," said the Chairman. "Furthermore, you will have to fill in, sign, and verify the death insurance papers that serve as the will of your Guilds. Static Baron felt no need to do this, and now with him resting six feet under, his Guild is left as a big political mess, with all the Psychic Guild''s members pointlessly fighting for the Guild Leader position."

    A deep sigh of annoyance escaped the Chairman''s lips before he waved the S-Rank Hunters off. "You are dismissed. Those of you who were chosen have 46 days to prepare; that is all."

    "Yes, Chairman."

    The S-Rank Hunters hurriedly left the Executive Office. They had important things to do, especially the six chosen for the Raid. Forty-six days was not a long time to settle all matters before potentially dying, but they had to make do with what they had.

    Enveloped in the deafening silence of the empty office room, the Chairman muttered to himself, "The end of the world edges ever closer¡­ The other Hunter Association Chairmen and even the World Leaders know precisely what this evolving Gate entails. They always knew¡­ Yet none of them took the threat seriously. None believed the words of Baba Yaga¡­"

    Roughly six years ago, during a golden age for the Hunters, Gates were numerous yet not to the point where the safety of any country was threatened. It was a period when Hunter and Gate-related businesses were the most profitable.

    However, as if all of that was akin to the last good meal for a death row prisoner, a famed prophet known as Baba Yaga stepped forward. Along with her reappearance in the material world came a message¡ªor, rather, a prophecy.

    Barging into the broadcasted meeting of the World Leaders and the most powerful Hunters, Baba Yaga shouted her prophecy through croaked breath and bloody eyes. It read:

    "At the height of humanity, Gates connected to other, shattered worlds will appear! 100 years ago, they appeared¡ªthat was the 1st Calamity!"

    "And now, at humanity''s new peak, 100 years later, the 2nd Calamity has descended! Those from beyond the stars will arrive, bringing with them the negative karma accumulated by all of humanity!"

    "At the world''s center, a hole will open¡ªan Abyss!"

    "The Abyss will bring about the World''s End¡­! T-The Abyss will¡­ There are signs¡­ beforehand¡­ The quantity¡ªthe spawn of the universe¡ªthe mirrors of the Nine Dimensions¡ªbeware of the signs!!"

    By this point in the prophecy, Baba Yaga''s eyes turned crazed, with her spit and blood spraying the World Leaders'' Meeting crimson. Yet not a single one of them stood up to stop her; it wasn''t that they respected her, they were just too taken aback by the sudden development to speak.

    "Th-The Illusion!!!" Baba Yaga hysterically shouted, her demeanor deranged. "A new Abyss will swallow up the previous Abyss! This Abyss will devour the signs!!"

    "The second Abyss will be captured¡ªa captured Abyss, a new owner¡­ The Illusion will shatter!! The Illusion!!! A New Owner will emerge!! A purple-robed God will descend from the sky! The God, the owner, the captured Abyss!! The 3rd Calamity!!! The World as we know it¡­ will END¡­"

    "Watch out for the signs!! E-Escape the¡­ inevitable¡­ T-The Cage¡­ Don''t let the Cage¡ª"

    *Cough!* *Cough!*

    *Thud!*

    "Prophet Baba Yaga!"

    Famed Prophet Baba Yaga died that day.

    ...

 Chapter 99 - 99: Not Harm Them...? But Why??

    Prophet Baba Yaga''s eyes were fully consumed by the darkness in her last moments, turning the fear etched across her withered face into an eternally fearful night. She looked like she wanted to get out a few more words of vital importance, but could not get them out in the end.

    Yet, her dreadful image imprinted itself deep into the World Leader''s minds¡­ It was harrowing.

    "Most of Baba Yaga''s message was indecipherable, but from what we can understand, this Gate is part of the 2nd Calamity."

    The Chairman''s grave tone of voice echoed out within the bounds of his office. He slumped into the back of his chair, making visible the grayed hairs that seemed to be on the verge of falling off.

    "All I can say is¡­ God help us all¡­"

    ¡ª---------------

    ¡ªMeanwhile, just outside a C-Rank Gate in downtown Hoshito¡ª

    *Step, Step, Step.*

    Although Cassius walked around as if he weighed less than a feather, Yimin did not believe in the art of being quiet. She flaunted her ample valley tops openly and without shame, all while hopping across the streets.

    ''Yimin really doesn''t care a single bit about keeping a low profile,'' thought Cassius, his icy blue eyes tracing the voluptuous gray-haired dragonoid. ''If not for that subtle illusion spell she cast on herself, things might really become troublesome. Especially when considering¡­ that¡­''

    He looked behind his shoulder, watching as a Giant Yellow Portal spasmed, fizzled, and then ultimately dissipated into nothing.

    ''If anyone were to see a dragonoid female come out of a closing Gate, then they would surely call for a manhunt¡­''

    A heavy sigh echoed as Cassius navigated his way toward the next C-Rank Gate on the Gate Map. Yimin stayed a bit ahead of him, yet seemingly knew exactly where he was going.

    During the brief trip, she often found her way back to his side and clung to him with a giddy expression for a while. However, as one with an extreme case of ADHD, she got bored easily, and just like an antsy puppy, she escaped his grasp and frolicked over to anything she found interesting.

    Keeping track of Yimin was a whole mission in and of itself, but it was because of this curious wandering that Cassius figured out something intriguing about her. He learned that, with her A- Skill ''Tyrant God''s Disguised Misfortune,'' she was extremely¡­ lucky?

    It was hard to call it luck, because every time the Passive Skill activated, Yimin would wind up in¡­ compromising positions¡­

    She once saw a butterfly, chased it, then tripped and landed with her butt and panties in the air. Another time, she was chasing a fuzzy bunny, yet ended up stuck in a bush, once again with her cheeks catching some air. Then there was the time she ran back to Cassius to recharge, only to stumble halfway through and knock him over. She wound up pushing her face into his crotch, with his face also mere centimeters away from her honey cavern.

    It was at that moment that he realized just how¡­ useless that Skill was!

    How could a Skill possibly be so useless!? And an A- one no less??

    Was this God''s way of laughing at him? Or¡­

    ''The Idle Evolution System¡­''

    Cassius knew the System would never openly admit it if that was the answer he wanted, but it was most certainly attempting to further develop his Character. All it knew how to do was throw tests and trials his way, not caring a single bit how it affected him mentally.

    ''Yimin is also one of the Character Development builders¡­ Why is the opposition around every single corner¡­?''

    The next few hours passed by rather quickly, with Cassius deep in thought about the true purpose of life, and Yimin, who was just¡­ being Yimin.

    She contributed literally nothing to any of the Gate Raids, which he wasn''t too opposed to, as it meant more EXP for himself. However, with that pesky Skill of hers, she speedily proved herself to be the largest mental hurdle that he has needed to pass so far.

    Time and time again, she landed herself in the most dastardly of positions. If not for her irresistible appearance and body, then Cassius might be able to completely zone her out, but even that became increasingly difficult to do. After all, she was drop-dead gorgeous, and it wasn''t even a matter of opinion. It was a fact.

    Cassius could already imagine the smug expression the Idle Evolution System was making as it watched him struggle so terribly. If it could sneer, then it likely would have done that already as well.

    Luckily, he was saved by the bell before he actually broke for real. The sun began to set in the hazy blue sky, which meant it was time to return home. However, as there was still something important he had to do, he sent Yimin ahead of him.

    "But Master¡­ Yimin wants to¡ª"

    "No need to speak any more on the matter, Yimin. I will only be gone for four hours at most," Cassius interrupted, his eyes averted from her puppy-dog face. "I will be right beside you again before you know it. But for now, you will need to properly behave and not harm the other girls."

    "Not harm them¡­?" Yimin''s expression dropped even more than when she heard that she couldn''t be beside her Master for upward of two hours.

    She was planning to kill and eat any human females close to the Master as soon as possible. Yet, with her Master''s new confusing order, what was she expected to do??

    ''If those bitches live, Yimin''s Master and Yimin will never live happily ever after¡­ But Master says not to kill them¡­ Why does he say that?? Is Yimin not good enough for Master¡ª!?'' S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before her thoughts could spiral any further, Cassius patted her on the head.

    His warm pets immediately soothed her nerves and cleared her mind. A goofy grin secretly crept up her divinely beautiful face. And just like all the previous times her Master used this magic trick on her, she forgot all her previous killing intent and only thought fuzzy things.

 Chapter 100 - 100: Main Quest #4, Nightmarescape?

    ''Yimin may have that weirdly useless Skill, but I have these hands,'' Cassius thought as he marveled at his own Unique talents. ''Just like a wanky Japanese Harem Protagonist, I am capable of resolving most female issues with just slight movements of the hand¡­ Truly miraculous stuff¡­''

    Even he himself had no clue how this special Ability worked, but it hadn''t failed him yet. And he certainly wasn''t one to send back free food.

    Smiling warmly, he said, "Just head back and wait for me to return, okay?"

    "Master¡­"

    "Okay?" Cassius repeated with another head pat.

    "...Mhmkay¡­" Yimin reluctantly complied while nudging the top of her head into the cup of his hand. "But don''t keep me waiting! Every second past the 4-hour mark will be another floozy female hooman head added to my collection¡­!"

    Cassius could tell she was obviously joking based on how she cutely bared her fangs, yet he still played along with her. "Just be nice to them, you silly dragon."

    "No! Will not be nice, will tolerate!" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yimin coldly snorted before turning away from her amused Master. She walked away slowly at first, yet quickly sped forward into a barely discernible blur. Looking closer, Cassius realized that her speed had improved by around 25%, which shocked him quite a bit.

    "Even without doing anything, she is able to continue becoming stronger¡­ Just how Overpowered is that?" he bemoaned, feeling that it was unfair how much effort he had to put in.

    Even though his rate of progression was in a completely different league to anything seen so far, it was still a real bummer to see power go to someone without any effort taken to acquire it.

    Still, Cassius wasn''t one to stay glum for long, and with a more important matter at hand, he hardened his expression.

    Taking out a fiery skull-adorned Key from his Inventory Space, Cassius appraised it with a couple of flips. Other than a more elaborate and almost alive design, the key didn''t seem all that different from a custom-made key. However, as one who could see descriptions, he knew better than to believe what was merely shown on the surface.

    |HELL''s 1st Floor Key| - [Use? Y/N]

    "What happens if I use it right now?" asked Cassius.

    *Ding!*

    [If you do that, the third dimension will collapse, the fourth dimension will descend, and the world will be overrun by brain-craving zombies! Never use the Key! Not under any circumstances!]

    "Will all of that really happen¡­?"

    [Why, of course!... Fucking not! Are you seriously mentally impaired? ?????????]

    "..."

    Cassius felt that if the System were the one who had the Troll System Idle Benefit, then it surely would have acquired a thousand AP from him.

    He shook his head from side to side before refocusing on the Idle Evolution System. Although it usually gave hateful remarks like this one every time he took advantage of its semi-intelligence to ask a question, it also always followed up with a genuine answer. In a sense, it was like all the verbal abuse he experienced served to pay for the actual answer.

    And just as he expected¡­

    [As soon as HELL''s 1st Floor Key is used, the Host will disappear from this dimension without a trace and without creating a commotion. He will no longer have a part of him in this Dimension, as his entire existence will be transferred over to ''HELL''¡ªthe 7th Dimension of the Ascension Tower''s Dimensions.]

    [The Host will not be able to return to this Dimension until either he dies and his essence returns here to its source to enter the Cycle of Samsara, or does the unlikely and reaches the end of the Outer Gate area, which is where the Gate Guardian ''The Hellish Sphinx'' lays in wait.]

    [Either answer correctly all of the Hellish Sphinx''s Riddles, subdue it, or kill it to be able to both venture further into HELL and temporarily/permanently leave.]

    For the most part, Cassius understood what he needed to do next. Yet there was one part that really confused him. Bringing this up to the system, he asked, "The 7th Dimension? What does that mean? And what is the Ascension Tower? Is that some sort of unique location?"

    *Ding¡­*

    [Error!] [Error!] [Error!]

    [The System cannot compute! The System cannot compute! The Host is not powerful enough to access this information!]

    "I see¡­" Disappointed he was, but crestfallen he was not. With a casual head shake, he considered his options here.

    ''The System did say a while back that I needed to have a Power Level of at least the B-Rank, but I am not too sure on where exactly I need to stand to do more than just survive right after entering¡­ That Hellish Sphinx is surely above the B-Rank, but just how much stronger is it than that Rank¡­?''

    Cassius, figuring it to be more productive to just ask the System, did precisely that.

    [Above the A+ Rank and below the World''s Transcension Rank!]

    It answered as ambiguously as possible, causing Cassius''s brows to twitch. Asking again, he heard the System say:

    [That is all I can tell you, Dear Host! And don''t even bother asking what the World Transcension Rank is, because I will not tell you anything about it! ????(???)]

    [Now, don''t look so glum! I can give you something else instead! No need to thank me!]

    Following that comment, a few blue illusory screens flashed in front of Cassius.

    *Ding~!*

    {[Main Quest #4]} - [A++ Rank]

    ¡ª[Without taking off your Newbie 5 Equipment Set, you are required to kill every single Hellish being present in the Trial Area of HELL''s 1st Floor. You are also to either slay the Hellish Sphinx or answer all of its questions correctly.]

    [Time Limit: 3 Hours, 55 Minutes, 57 Seconds]

    {[Rewards upon Completion:]}

    {[Reward 1: 1000 AP]}

    {[Reward 2: A+ Riddler''s Riddler]}

    {[Reward 3: S+++ Rank HELL''s 1st Floor Gate Key]}

    {[Reward 4: Map of HELL''s 1st Floor]}

    {[Reward 5: 72nd Demon King''s Ire]}

    {[Punishment Upon Failure: 12 Hours in ''Nightmarescape''/Land of Nightmares]}

    "The punishment is the same as the last few times," said Cassius. "But the Rewards¡­ Why is the 5th one even considered a reward? That sounds like another punishment¡­"

 Chapter 101 - 101: Demon King Bloodline (SS) - [0.002%]

    "That sounds like another punishment¡­"

    Then again, now that Cassius thought about it, the Idle Evolution System likely considered every punishment a reward in a sense. If not for Host outrage, it would probably classify everything painful as a reward. Fortunately, it had yet to stoop that low.

    "Well, anyway, time to use the Key."

    As if following Cassius''s intent, the Hellish Key in his Inventory slowly started to break apart and vanish. Then, something similar happened to the one who used the key, with his body quite literally fading away. Seconds later, his presence in the Mortal Dimension was no more.

    He was now in a better place.

    "Roooarrrghh!!!!"

    The only catch was that the "better place" was littered with flesh-craving devilspawn¡­

    It had only been seconds since Cassius arrived in the Trial Gate Area of the 1st Floor of HELL, and his position had already been locked onto by a horde of demons. Under the ashy, crimson demonic sky, thousands of Lesser Demons leaped from ruined rooftop to rooftop. They were all monstrous, varied in size, and had glowing red eyes. And although they were categorized as White-tier Threats by the System, they were also of the C-Rank.

    Every¡­ single one of them was¡­

    Cassius''s gaze hardened as he dashed in the opposite direction of the Demon Horde.

    Even if he could beat them quite easily with his overwhelming speed, he couldn''t grow too confident¡ªespecially after just arriving and knowing next to nothing about the terrain, geography, and, most importantly, the enemies. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''But seriously¡­ The System originally said the B-Rank was sufficient to enter this Dimension¡­ So what is this??''

    Even though a B-Rank Awakener would be strong enough to take on dozens of C-Rank Monsters, these Demons numbered in the thousands. Moreover, they likely had physical attribute-boosting Skills and high Strength stats. Any normal B-Rank Hunter would, without a doubt, die against such a fearsome and unknown force.

    So that begged the question¡­

    "Does the Idle Evolution System actually want me to die???" questioned Cassius as he narrowly evaded a surprise attack by a massive Demon Orc that abruptly crashed out of a passing building.

    However, with little leeway to worry about questions he would never receive the answer to, he decided to quit running and strike back. To start off, he threw out 39 Uncommon Evoballs, all of which contained B and B+ Elite Monsters and Boss Monsters.

    Feeling no need to hold back, he went all out right from the start!

    The Evoballs popped open mid-air, revealing the domineering and terrifyingly ominous figures of shadowy monsters. They loomed over even the large, crumbling skyscrapers, dwarfing all the comparatively smaller Demons rampaging through the devastated landscape.

    "Go," Cassius ordered coldly. "Slaughter them all."

    HOOORAAAAHH!!!

    The Evomon Kaiju bellowed out in what sounded like a cheer as they flashed forward from their spots, crashing through building after building. Any Demons who got caught up in their path were swiftly crushed to oblivion, with their bloody guts and organs spraying the surroundings a dark shade of red.

    "Even Demons bleed red, it seems," Cassius said calmly as he sat back on top of a tall, rustic building.

    While watching the ensuing destruction and death happening below, he glanced at all of the incoming system notifications. After the last few Gate Raids, he had only managed to level up once more to 71, as his Experience Acquisition had really slowed down. However, with this HELL Trial Gate expedition, he hoped to gain a few more levels.

    "Say, Nyxvoldar, do you believe your brethren down there could subdue an A- Demon or Monster if they worked together to do it?" Cassius suddenly asked, yet did not look away from the massacre occurring within the Hellish landscape.

    FWIP!

    A tall, lean shadowy figure materialized from thin air, appearing right beside the cloaked man calmly lounging on an illusory chair made from his own power. The shadowy figure registered its Liege''s question, and after a couple of seconds, it slowly shook its head.

    Cassius accepted Nyxvoldar''s answer with a slight side-eye. Then, he sat quietly, patiently waiting for his Evomon army to eradicate the horde of Lesser Demons.

    After half a minute.

    The Evomon made quick work of the Demon Horde, leaving the already ruined landscape in even greater shambles. They killed every single one of them, and did so without any of them experiencing shadow death.

    Shadow Death was what Cassius termed the ability the Evomons used when they received life-threatening damage. Using the Evomon Master''s Mana, they could restore themselves back to peak condition and could do so indefinitely, assuming the Evomon Master had enough Mana to support those expenditures.

    The system notifications hit Cassius like an avalanche. Moreover, from the corpses of the Demons shot out wispy black and red energy balls. They swarmed him like a barrage of homing rockets, with him having no hope of evading.

    However, seeing that they held no ill intent, he simply let it happen.

    OOOM!

    Cassius instantly felt a wave of demonic energy wash over and integrate with his body. In that same moment, the carcasses of the Demons visibly disintegrated into nothingness, leaving not even the Magic Shards, which they never had to begin with.

    By the end of a rapid successive series of demonic energy explosions around his body, Cassius felt something change inside him.

    Right beside his ''Ordinary Phoenix Transformation'' progression gauge appeared another one. This one, as opposed to the side of the spectrum that the Phoenix was on, leaned toward the negative part of things.

    ¡ªDemon King Bloodline (SS) - [0.002%]¡ª

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s expression twisted in confusion as he looked at the screen constantly flashing red in front of him. "Demon King Bloodline¡­ And it''s of the SS-Rank? So the rank following the S-Rank is the SS-Rank¡­"

    He felt varying amounts of surprise over several things right now. However, what he was more concerned about was what would happen if he kept advancing both the Demon King and Phoenix Bloodlines.

    Would he morph into some mutant hybrid that served as an illogical mix of the two opposite Bloodlines?

 Chapter 102 - 102: The Minionverse?

    Worry crept up Cassius''s icy face as he truly had no clue how to deal with something like this. It was beyond what he was equipped to manage. Though, luckily for him, the Idle Evolution System was there to make up for his insufficient knowledge.

    *Ding~!*

    [Everything listed in the System''s logs is patented, backed, and insured by the Law of Idling! You can rest assured that none of it will have negative adverse effects for the Host!]

    [^-^]

    Cassius breathed a sigh of relief.

    He would have been lying if he said he was 100% certain that he wouldn''t spontaneously combust or something after progressing both Bloodlines to 100%. Fortunately, the sadistic system usually showed its usefulness in times like these.

    Cassius was going to sincerely thank the Idle Evolution System, but then it followed up with:

    [Now, if you''ll stop being a wuss, go and slay more Demons! This time larger and stronger! Big and long! Long and hard!]

    Silence.

    Cassius truly didn''t know why he bothered anymore. Simply breathing around the System would likely end up with him being mercilessly berated. Why had he even entertained the idea of giving his thanks? For all he knew, the System got off on being treated harshly.

    Following through with that train of thought, he blatantly disregarded the System''s existence.

    He could''ve sworn he heard a female robotic moan, but that was probably just his imagination. Focusing on something else, he recalled all of his Evomon, with them quickly appearing before him less than two seconds later.

    Cassius observed a few of them visibly sulk.

    They had lost the trophies of their hunt, and all without ever knowing where they went. If not for their Liege''s presence, it was highly probable that they would have crashed out right then and there. Yet, as if completely contradicting their innately destructive natures, they behaved themselves and even shrunk down to their human-sized forms.

    None of them dared to stand too much higher than their Liege¡­ That would be criminal¡­

    ''The hidden effects of the Evoballs truly are extraordinary,'' thought Cassius as he silently appreciated his Evomon lineup. ''It almost makes it seem like I''m a Necromancer¡­ Perhaps that''ll be my Class?''

    He had asked a while back, and according to the System, he would receive a Class Trial invitation as soon as he reached Level 100. As for the Class he would receive, it depended on both luck and the attributes he possessed as a person and as an Idler. Quoting the System, the better Idler he was, the more noteworthy his Class would be.

    Now, that propped up the question: How was one supposed to be a good Idler? sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The answer to that question was not a simple one, as Cassius had many ways to become a better Idler. There was the Trolling System Idle Benefit, completing the ''Push Yourself to Your Limits'' Idle Benefit 1, improving the Relationship Ratings of every girl he had ever encountered, and Skill combining. On top of that, he could also train harder and experience greater amounts of pain, which the System enthusiastically encouraged.

    Cassius was speechless.

    Although he knew for certain that he had the Idle Evolution System, why did he feel like he had received anything but a System that had to do with Idling? Was there something seriously wrong with the naming sense of his System''s creator?

    *Ding!*

    [The Idle Evolution System is named as such, because after unlocking all 9 Idle Benefits, the Host will be able to officially embark on the Idling Journey.]

    [Until that point comes around, the Host is doing what''s called an uhh¡­ A Trial Run. Yes, that is the correct wording!]

    "...And what happens if I don''t pass the Trial Run¡­?" Cassius asked evenly.

    [You will be¡­ permanently erased!]

    [Your replacement will then be located and will take your place! Though, the System is not optimistic about finding another Host¡­]

    Cassius entered a state of deep thought, pondering a few things.

    Suddenly turning his head up, startling the Evomons, he quietly asked, "What is the next Idle Benefit? And how do I go about unlocking it?"

    *Ding!*

    [The 4th Idle Benefit is known as ''Minion Verse,'' and is the introductory version of the 6th Idle Benefit, which is the ''Grind Verse'' Idle Benefit. Contrary to the 6th Idle Benefit, which focuses on the Host''s power, the 4th Idle Benefit is related to subordinates/minions, preferably those with little to no intelligence. This will be your ''Idle Force.'']

    [The ''Minion Verse'' is a separate System Dimension. Only those part of the ''Idle Force'' can enter, and inside, they can both develop their individual power and work in order to develop things that can speed up their power acquisition.]

    [In simpler terms, the Minion Verse is like an Idle Game. You start out with a ''Lvl 1 Idle Village'' that has a singular ''Idle Point Dispenser''. The Dispenser drops out Idle Points at set intervals, and those Idle Points can be used to purchase other Idle Verse Facilities. The more Idle Facilities you have, the more you can upgrade the Idle Village.]

    [As a result of upgrading the Idle Village, more Idle Force power training facilities can be unlocked. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, the ''Basic Idle Gym,'' ''Basic Idle Track,'' ''Basic Idle Torture Chamber,'' and ''Basic Idle Ninja Training Grounds.'']

    [There are also more Auxiliary-type Idle Facilities, like the ''Basic Blacksmithing Forge,'' ''Basic Artisan Shop,'' ''Basic Leather Store,'' ''Basic Alchemy Building,'' and a plethora of other useful establishments that work to develop the Idle Force''s unique attributes.]

    [While on the subject of attributes, the higher the Idle Village Level, the higher the upper limit of the Idle Facilities is increased to. Subsequently, this leads to greater effectiveness in each Training Facility. For the ''Main Attribute'' training Facilities, this increases the amount of ''Attribute Balls'' that drop for each task successfully performed.]

    [For example, chopping a wood chunk once would drop a single Lvl 1 Strength Attribute Ball, which would be used by the Idle Minion that performed the task. These same Attribute Balls could also be used as a form of currency among only the Idle Force. There is a limit to the effectiveness of lower-level Attribute Balls on higher-level Idle Minions, so selling or trading unneeded Attribute Balls is always viable.]

 Chapter 103 - 103: Leave None Alive

    [So, do you better understand the 4th Idle Benefit now? Contrary to the subtle 3rd Idle Benefit of Skill Fusion, it is definitely more extravagant, no?]

    "...Yes," replied Cassius, his voice failing to fully conceal his awe. "This Idle Benefit will certainly change a lot of things, but the question still persists: how do I go about unlocking this Idle Benefit?"

    Answering his question, the Idle Evolution System said, [You just need to complete Main Quest #5, which will appear soon after Main Quest #4 is completed. One of the rewards for completing Main Quest #5 is the 4th Idle Benefit.]

    "I see¡­"

    Cassius speculated just what sort of Quest would follow up something at the A+ Rank, eventually leading him to only one conclusion. "This Main Quest 5¡­ It will be of the S-Rank, won''t it¡­?"

    [That is highly possible!]

    "Hmm¡­"

    He wondered if he would be appropriately powerful enough to take on a threat at that level so soon. With his current strength, it was all but impossible. However, it was hard to say for certain if that would still be the case after completing Main Quest #4 and a couple more Side Quests. Add on a number of Yellow and Red-Rank Gates, and he might just be able to touch upon the S-Rank.

    Yet, with little to nothing known about the S-Rank, Cassius had no idea how high his stats needed to be to pass into the rank. Not a single thing online was reliable in that regard, with most just rough guesses.

    In other words, he was in the dark from here on out.

    "Past the 1000 stat mark for A-Rank, I have no clue where everything scales," commented Cassius.

    He was honestly not all that bothered by this information.

    Even if he was unable to compare their strength to his through sheer stats, he could still approximate their power from their colored danger ratings.

    Nevertheless, for now, acquiring more stats and seeing how far he could go was all he could do.

    *Mhphh!* *Mhphh!*

    Hearing a funny sound from in front of him, Cassius turned to look at the Evomon. They appeared to be agitated about something, with even Nyxvoldar and Lilith acting up a little.

    Curious, he swiveled his head around to his backside, only to see where the problem lay.

    For dozens of miles, Demons, large and small, trampled through the deserted dystopian cityscape. They barbarically roared to the top of their lungs while destroying everything in their paths, not even sparing the weaker among their own kind.

    To Cassius, they were savage beasts.

    "Well, considering the environment we''re in right now, their behavior is to be expected," he muttered, his striking blue eyes analyzing their forces at a deeper level. "Around¡­ 30,000 Lesser Demons, 400 Intermediate Demons, and 5 Greater Demons. Yet, even with such immense numbers, I feel like this isn''t even a small portion of the total Demon forces in this Trial Gate area of the 1st Floor."

    Cassius really had no idea how deep the waters of HELL actually were, but he knew that more Demons meant more strength to be gained. And for him, that was what mattered most.

    Shifting his emotionless gaze back to the Evomons, he spoke up in a cold, husky voice. "Go. Go and kill them all."

    "Do not worry about getting hurt. Do not worry about dying. Do not worry about anything other than the deaths of all who breathe¡ªof all who bleed red."

    "Leave none alive."

    OOOM!!!

    The Evomons erupted forth with massive amounts of shadowy power!

    Altogether, their auras nearly matched that of an A- Rank Awakener, yet they still fell short of the 5 Greater Demons, all of whom stood at the very pinnacle of the B++ Rank. In terms of stats, all of them had Attributes in the 980-990 range.

    Pointing at their massive nightmarish figures in the distance, Cassius ordered, "Those ones are mine."

    With that, he vanished from his spot.

    While in the speed stream, Lilith glowed a crimson glow and unwrapped herself from the right side of her body. Then she took her form as a person-sized Eastern-style katana.

    Lobbing her over his shoulder, Cassius asked, "Do you want to end this quickly?"

    Lilith gave no concrete vibration in response, as she seemed to be torn between the two options she had here. Which, in the end, led to her Master deciding for her.

    "Quick it is," he declared as he called for Nyxvoldar, who quickly flew toward him and fused with his body, resulting in a complete makeover.

    From mysterious hooded man to half-beast half-monster, his transformation was a drastic one. And surprisingly enough, the Newbie 5 Equipment Set adjusted with his transformation, same with Newbie 5 Training Sword, which became a bit bigger to match his form.

    Feeling the weight covering his body briefly shift places gave Cassius a good idea for how to get this shit show started.

    While high up in the smoke-filled skies of HELL, a crackling shadowy figure holding a massive katana soared through the clouds formed from blood. He crossed insane distances while making use of his insane physical prowess to defy gravity, almost like a certain Muscle Mage.

    In mere moments, Cassius gapped the entire high-level Demon Horde. The 5 colossal Demons were now within range, and it was time to really get the party started.

    "Kowabunga, anyone?" asked Cassius, his lips curved up into a conniving smirk. "No? Well, I guess I will have to go first."

    With that, he suddenly changed trajectory and bounced off a piece of the sky like there was something physical there. Then, with an ear-deafening explosion that rang out in the dug-in ear holes of all demons in the vicinity, his figure blasted downward. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A howling whistle followed immediately after the explosion. Wind rings rolled out in all directions, with glass windows shattering in rapid succession.

    It was almost as if a Nuclear Bomb had just touched base with the surface¡­

    And when Cassius did finally make contact with the land below, it might as well have been the same as the collision of an Atomic Bomb.

    He wasn''t currently regulating the weight of his Newbie 5 Equipment Set¡­ And just this alone caused him to descend like the Grand Javelin of Heaven!

 Chapter 104 - 104: Slaughtering through HELL, Passing Lvl 70

    An unsuspecting Greater Demon had its hideous, toothy face drilled into. The head exploded, then the upper body, and without slowing down, Cassius blew through its entire hill-sized body. Blood flew into the air for thousands of meters, with the other Greater Demons only registering what happened after the earth caved in.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOM!!

    Rather than a small cracked ground, the result of Cassius colliding with the cityscape directly below the lead Greater Demon''s bloody corpse was an upward implosion so large that a mountain''s height might pale in comparison. The might of weight, momentum, and gravity.

    This was the true power of Science!

    WHhhoooo¡ªooop!!

    When the dust clouds finished billowing, an enormous protrusion of rubble was seen sticking up out of the ground. It extended to the clouds above, and on its branching spikes were the wailing figures of thousands of Lesser and Intermediate Demons. There was even another, almost-as-large Greater Demon skewered off to the side of the protrusion.

    It wasn''t dead yet, just like many of the skewered Intermediate Demons, but soon¡­ it would be.

    Seeing that the other three Greater Demons evaded just in the nick of time put a frown on Cassius''s face. However, with a swift tap of his Hermes Boots, he sprang up like a broken coil.

    The ground once again cracked beneath him but did so not nearly at the same level as just a second ago.

    With one simple slash, Lilith wrapped around the roaring, dinosaur-looking Greater Demon that was trapped on the earthly protrusion. A massive ugly head was cut clean off.

    Less than a millisecond later, the rest of the Greater Demon''s corpse quit moving; it was confirmed dead. Yet, it was also in that same period of time that Cassius rebounded off the torso of the corpse, causing it to explode like a busted-open pinata.

    Lilith was raised, then thrust forward.

    A super-thin blade beam whizzed through the air, shooting straight for a bull-like Greater Demon that was still in the process of temporarily retreating.

    BOOOM!!!

    A small atomic explosion ended the life of that bull Greater Demon, with the ensuing damage even taking off a couple of legs of the spider-like Greater Demon that was near it when Lilith struck forth. It let out a shrill shriek while hurriedly fleeing from that dangerous blast radius.

    However, with another effortless forward thrust, another thin sword beam was shot out. It pierced through the spider Greater Demon''s outer shell, through its gooey brain matter, and then out the other side. The inside of the spider''s brain melted into mush, killing it on the spot, whereas the full power of the sword beam hit its mark on the large grayish-red body of a rhinoceros-like Greater Demon.

    Another booming explosion reverberated through the land, sending large amounts of rolling radioactive winds throughout the area. And just like that, four of the five Greater Demons had died, leaving only the fifth Greater Demon, which was a tall golem/titan type.

    The Demon tried to flee, but with fear overwhelming its misty irises, it felt a ridiculously hot beam of sword light pierce through the back of its skull and tunnel through its head before exploding midway. Yet, surprisingly, even though the upper half of its massive body was eviscerated, its lower half still remained.

    To Cassius, this was intriguing.

    But it wasn''t intriguing enough to warrant any more interest. The five Greater Demons were dispatched without much of a problem, and now it was time to see how his Evomons were performing.

    "Arghhhh!!!"

    "Esceetch!!!"

    "Gah! Gah! Gah!!"

    The Lesser and Intermediate Demons were vicious and savage, with many of them ganging up on single Evomons. Because of this, several of them had experienced Shadow Death. Yet none of it was enough to dent their Master''s massive Mana Pool.

    "Though, overall, it looks like my troops have the upper hand," Cassius commented.

    Although from a third-person perspective, it seemed like the Evomons were at a disadvantage due to the vast disparity in numbers, with Shadow Death, things changed. The tide of the battle began to lean in the Evomons'' favor because of that one Skill.

    After five minutes.

    Whoosh! Whoosh!

    The battle concluded with the separated Nyxvoldar cleaving off the upper halves of nearly a dozen Lesser Demons. And with that, the opposing force was no more.

    Teleporting across the ruined landscape, Cassius let all of the Demon Bloodline Essence get absorbed into his body. He also checked out the Greater Demons'' corpses, planning to quickly throw his Evomon balls out to capture them. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Unfortunately, though, the corpses disintegrated and fused with him before that could happen.

    "A pity," Cassius sighed. "It would''ve been nice to have five Pinnacle B-Rank Evomons included in my forces, but I guess some things just aren''t meant to be."

    Individually, each one of the Greater Demons was stronger than a normal Yellow-Rank Gate Boss Monster. It was because of this that he felt it to be a great shame to miss out on potential shadow soldiers.

    "Well, there is no use crying over spilled milk."

    With that comment, Cassius vanished from his position, taking with him his entire Evomon army. Their destination was wherever the wind took them.

    [Demon King Bloodline: 0.15%]

    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline: 0.09%]

    Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into dozens of minutes.

    Two hours later.

    Time flew by like a cloud of mist and rain¡ªmomentary and fleeting. It was already past the halfway mark that Cassius promised his dragon he would be back by. And though he grew progressively more worried about what would happen if he didn''t make it back in time, his gains worked well as a tonic to distract him.

    During this brief period of time, Cassius slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Demons, with the number likely reaching past a million. From these kills, he acquired not one, not two, but a total of three levels!

    In retrospect, that didn''t sound like very much for how much he had to kill. However, as he had long since figured out: the higher your level, the harder it was to level up.

    He quickly came to realize just how true that principle was after passing Level 70.

 Chapter 105 - 105: [Lord Demon (A-Rank)] - [Danger Level: Yellowish-Red]

    The amount of EXP required for each level went upwards of a dozen times what was needed for the previous level, which was just absurd. Especially when considering that EXP acquisition was reduced for monsters or beings that had been killed too many times before.

    For example, as Cassius had killed hundreds of thousands of Lesser Demons, the amount of EXP they allotted was abysmal at best. It was to the point that he would need to kill millions more of them to level up again.

    And that number would only become ever more exaggerated in due time!

    Yet, even with everything slowing down his rate of progress, Cassius was still progressing extremely fast. Keep in mind that the rewards gained per level up also became exponentially better. Just for reaching Lvl 73 from 72, he received cumulative stat points nearly reaching 1,000!

    It was safe to say that if he kept progressing at his current rate, he would be breaking down the walls of the A-Rank with all of his stats.

    As for his Agility stat¡­ Well, it was unknown just how far it could be taken before the "fastest man in the world" title no longer belonged to Victor Rapido.

    However, it was while idling away with his Lilith slicing through the necks of hundreds of Intermediate Demons that a sudden disturbance interrupted his flow. It was a deep, disturbing rumbling that shook everything for many tens of thousands of meters. Even the air itself visibly shook.

    *Hurgh!* *Hurgh!*

    Nyxvoldar became oddly riled up when the rumbling began, even embroiling the other Evomons into a state mixed between agitation and excitement. After Cassius''s repeated power-ups, their maximum number increased to 50, and every single one of them felt their non-existent hair stand on end at the arrival of an earth-shaking calamity.

    RUMBLE!!!

    The rumbling became so loud and deafening that it reached a zenith point.

    Directly following that zenith point was a fast-moving object leaping from the distance into the desolate rubble of what used to be a City Square. Yet, as if the surroundings hadn''t suffered enough, when the massive fast-moving object touched base with the ground, everything exploded skyward!

    WHOOOSH¡ª

    When the dust clouds cleared, a colossal demon over one hundred meters tall made its grand appearance known to all.

    The Demon had a large gut belly and nothing covering its grotesque upper body. Only a thin, flappy loincloth was there to prevent any living organism from being scarred for life. On its head, however, lay a spiked goldish-red crown embedded into its skin, which worked to terrify any individual unlucky enough to witness its monstrousness.

    To further cement that notion of monstrosity, a deadly red gleam was present inside its savage eyes. Although much stronger than the Kobold King, it did not possess even a fifth of the intelligence that the Kobold King had.

    As a Demon, no matter its strength, it only knew one thing: death.

    "RRRROOOAAAARRRRRGHHHH!!!"

    Its soul-shaking bellow was terrible enough to split the sky and crack the earth, causing entire buildings to sink into chasms. However, even with all the damage to the vicinity, it had actually focused the majority of its vocal might on the lone human. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet, as if it didn''t even exist, the human blankly stared at its violent display of power, which was certainly evoked to get him to quiver in fear.

    "How pointless."

    With a cold, icy blue gleam in his narrowed gaze, Cassius calmly observed the system tag of this Demon.

    [Lord Demon (A-Rank)] - [Danger Level: Yellowish-Red]

    "A Neutral A-Rank Demon¡­ Yet you can''t even achieve a full Red danger rating?"

    Cassius''s expression morphed in disdain, as even with his other attributes holding down his overall power level, the Lord Demon couldn''t even cause the system to deem it a red threat. It truly was a big disappointment for the man who wished more than any other person to find a good fight and maybe even advance his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline.

    However, let alone kill him, this behemoth wouldn''t even be able to scratch him.

    ''I was hoping to locate an opponent of semi-intelligence so I could try out that "Are you looking to get face-slapped?" Skill, but it seems like I still have to wait¡­''

    Cassius''s only regret about this whole situation was the fact that this unintelligent being wasn''t even all that strong¡­ It was a¡­ bummer.

    "A bummer indeed," commented Cassius as he looked ahead and saw the Lord Demon lunge straight for him at ludicrous speeds.

    Sighing, he asked, "Why do you yearn for the cold embrace of death so badly?"

    All he received in response was another earth-shaking roar, then an even greater acceleration in speed. At this moment, the Lord Demon looked like a red cannonball moving at hypersonic speeds. And in less than a nanosecond, it would surely be at the throat of its target.

    "...I guess I have no choice but to fulfill your wish."

    An emotionless sigh echoed before a large gust of wind rolled out in all directions from Cassius''s position. The Evomons, deciding to stay out of this insane battle, watched in silence as their Liege''s breathing came to a standstill.

    All of time seemed to freeze in the exact same moment that the Lord Demon''s enormous fist reached a distance mere inches away from the tiny human''s covered face. Yet, in the presence of the looming feeling of death, it couldn''t even so much as react.

    It froze.

    Then it died.

    Like a reincarnated devil of speed, Cassius moved one step, performed a thousand slashes, then took another step. The sound produced from his steps hadn''t even the time to echo out before the thousandth step lightly tapped against the back of the Lord Demon''s head.

    Before dropping to a nearby rooftop, Cassius coldly peered into the depths of the massive Demon''s cruel eyes. Yet, for some reason, even though it was the Demon and he was the human, his eyes glowed far crueler¡­

    It was like the difference between prey and predator.

 Chapter 106 - 106: {[Soul Rupture (S-Rank/Low Ruby Rank)]} - [Proficiency: 0.01%]

    SHING!

    Cassius sheathed Lilith back into her sheath. Then, with his back turned, he briefly glanced at the explosion of blood that occurred when time finally rewound.

    Of course, time hadn''t actually stopped or resumed; it was just that he had been moving at such an insanely fast speed that the Lord Demon couldn''t keep up. It hadn''t mained the Agility stat to begin with, so there really was no way it stood a chance against the incarnation of speed.

    As a ridiculous amount of blood and guts rained down from the rustic skies, it froze mid-air before changing direction and flowing toward the one who owned the skill. While this was happening, a few system notifications rang out as well.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain an A-Rank Lord Demon!]

    [Your Experience Bar has moderately moved!]

    [You have completed the Side Quest ''Slay a Lord-ranked Demon from the Gate Trials of HELL'']

    [Acquired 5 Medium-sized Heaps of EXP!]

    [Acquired 300 AP!]

    [Acquired 150 Stat Points in all of your Main Attributes!]

    [Acquired 1 Ruby-Ranked Skill Box!]

    "Oh?"

    Cassius''s brows raised in interest. He hadn''t expected to finally receive a Ruby-Ranked Skill Box, as even the Level-up Skill Boxes were still lingering around the Late-Gold and Early Sapphire stages. However, now that he had received one, he wondered just what lay inside it. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His first natural assumption was that there would be an S-Rank Skill stored within the Ruby-Ranked Skill Box, but it was hard to say if that was actually the case without opening it. And just like with the Schr?dinger''s Cat Theory, he decided to see for himself what the truth of the matter was.

    BLING!

    A brilliant eruption of golden light emanated from the cracks of the Ruby-Ranked Skill Box, and did so without Cassius even completely opening it. It was almost as if the very Skill to be unveiled felt the need to announce its presence beforehand.

    "An S-Rank Skill; it has to be."

    And just as expected, a ruby-plated card with the bold italic letter ''S'' at its center flew out of the reddish-white Skill Box and revealed its name and description.

    {[Soul Rupture (S-Rank/Low Ruby Rank)]} - [Proficiency: 0.01%]

    ¡ª[Unleashes a massive, wide-distance energy attack that targets the Soul. If proficiency is raised to certain milestones, the user could even begin to mold and form the Soul Rupture attack into whatever the user wants, allowing for increased versatility, power, and effectiveness.]

    ¡ª[1000% Increased Soul Damage]

    ¡ª[1000% Increased Soul-type Attack Range]

    ¡ª[750% Increased Affinity with the ''Soul'']

    ¡ª[100% Increased EXP Acquisition]

    "It even comes with an EXP boost?" Cassius asked with a confused frown.

    *Ding~!*

    [Be happier, you ungrateful heathen! As Experience points are sorta kinda related to the Soul, you have received a boost to EXP Acquisition!]

    [Rejoice! ^~^]

    "Ahh¡­"

    That was all Cassius had to say before he moved on with his life and watched his Demon King Bloodline transformation rate go up quite a lot.

    The System grumbled in the background, but he did not care.

    [Demon King Bloodline: 1.7%]

    "Already at 1.7%... I do wonder how much longer it''ll be before I achieve 100%," Cassius muttered while feeling something strange course through every fiber of his being.

    Along with this unusual feeling came what felt like changes to his psyche and mind. Although he couldn''t prove it for certain, it almost felt like his personality was becoming more and more mellowed out. Furthermore, he grew less angry and less emotional over things.

    If it kept on like this, Cassius had no clue just how much he would change¡­

    "However, even knowing that, I must keep on progressing," he declared with a resolute gleam in his eyes. "No matter what I lose, I have to take every ounce of power I can get. There is no longer any other path left for me; I refuse to stagnate."

    In the beginning, Cassius only did what he did because of the System''s sadistic encouragement. Yet it was different now. He wished to become stronger not for the sake of the System but because he himself wanted to become stronger.

    He began to yearn for whatever peak he could grasp at. And even if that peak was far beyond his reach, he would still do his utmost to step up and grab hold of whatever lay beyond.

    This was his resolve.

    This journey through the Trial Gate area of the 1st Floor of HELL turned out to mean many things for Cassius. From obtaining greater power to realizing his own want for that power, and even these subtle changes happening to the core of what made him him.

    He still had no idea what he would become if he kept absorbing the Essence of the Demons, but he was smart enough to know that there was no turning back. Yet, even if there was a way to reverse the irreversible, he wouldn''t take it.

    The euphoria that came from gaining more power¡ªit was incredible. None other than him in this world would be able to experience it at the same level as he did, and he pitied them for that.

    "Missing out on something like this¡­ Life must''ve been extremely depressing before I acquired the Idle Evolution System," Cassius mused as he sliced through countless more Demons. "How was I living a few weeks ago? I don''t even remember now¡­"

    *Ding!*

    [Yes, yes, praise me more, lowly human! You have finally realized the greatness that is me! And for that, I shall give you a gift¡­ Or, rather, I shall inform you of something!]

    "Inform me of something¡­? Wait¡­"

    [Ding! Ding! Ding! You guessed correctly!]

    [You''re about to get your ass whooped, bad. ^_^]

    "...You surely jest¡ª"

    Before those words could even leave Cassius''s mouth, dozens of auras on the same level as the Lord Demon emerged from several different directions. Moreover, there were three presences that dwarfed the power of the Lord Demons a hundred to one. Their power exploded outward in such grandiose fashion that the ground cracked in layers for dozens of miles.

 Chapter 107 - 107: Lesser Abyssal Demons (A+ Rank)

    [Lord Demon (A-Rank)] - [Danger Rating: Orangish-Yellow] X56

    [Lesser Abyssal Demon (A+ Rank)] - [Danger Rating: Medium-Red] X3

    "Medium Red?" Cassius repeated what he saw, his expression easing up a bit. "The nearly Red Danger Rating Lord Demon from before was a lot weaker than its System Tag would indicate, so these ones surely aren''t too much stronger. At the very least, they should be manageable¡ª"

    He jinxed it.

    FWOOOOOSH¡ª!

    Cassius blinked, and one of the Abyssal Demons teleported from its original position to mere feet away from him, and it did so in an instant.

    "!!!"

    Cassius tried to evade what was coming, but it was already far too late, and ''it'' was far too fast.

    The Lesser Abyssal Demon landed a rib-breaking punch in the pit of his stomach, sending him flying backward at thousands of times the speed of sound. And then, without a shred of mercy, the Demon blink-stepped once more and appeared a few inches ahead of the barreling human before following up with a downward leg kick.

    Unlike the other, regular Demons, as an Abyssal Demon, it could transform into a smaller version of itself, thus resulting in the current apathetic humanoid form.

    "Kaaa¡­" the Lesser Abyssal Demon thinned its sinisterly demonic eyes, watching as the human smashed through a destroyed building.

    Cassius shot through floor after floor of that building. His vision blurred by the end, both because of the pain assaulting his senses and the blood painting his face almost entirely red. Most of his defenses were completely shattered after the first strike, with the second strike crushing a lot of his bones and ruining his internals.

    Overall, he would rate this experience a sh*t experience. A refund was demanded.

    BOOOOM!!!

    The earth around Cassius exploded upward when his battered body collided with the ground like a meteor. The building that was originally there was now no more; hell, even the surrounding couple of city blocks had been blasted to the heavens.

    FWIP! FWIP!

    The other two Lesser Abyssal Demons teleported beside the first one, with all three sets of their eyes scanning through the apocalyptic rubble below.

    After a couple of seconds, they exchanged glances between one another. The first Abyssal Demon prepared itself to go down there and finish the job.

    However, it was in that same moment that an evil scarlet aura seeped out from under the hundreds of thousands of tons of rubble. It started off weak yet quickly escalated to levels that exceeded all previous power levels. The entire sky for several thousands of meters was blotted out by this aura, causing even the emotionless Abyssal Demons to frown.

    They possessed enough intelligence to know when something presented a certain amount of danger to them. Furthermore, they also knew when it was most appropriate to nip a growing bud before it consumed the garden.

    Fwoooop¡ª!

    The first Lesser Abyssal Demon phased down to the source of the rubble, then used its innate telekinetic abilities to lift up all of the debris and carelessly chuck it into the distance. Looking around, the Demon once again located the target, prompting it to flash forward.

    "Too slow."

    "???"

    Confusion passed through the Lesser Abyssal Demon''s slitted eyes, and it truly was too slow to do anything. Cassius clasped his veiny hand around the Demon''s face while moving at a speed that blew the minds of all three Lesser Abyssal Demons.

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius took the Lesser Abyssal Demon for a joyride around the devastated landscape, doing so in a similar way as it had done unto him. Building through building, into one side of the ground, out the other side¡ªhe took the Demon''s face and body everywhere in the area while appearing like no more than a purplish crimson blur.

    "Do tell me," began Cassius, his tone colder than the Atlantic Ocean. "Is this enjoyable for you? Do you derive pleasure from pain?"

    He received no response.

    "Yeah, I didn''t think so." Cassius sighed before hurling the Lesser Abyssal Demon to the stars.

    Of course, there weren''t actually any stars, but the point was that the Demon was something akin to a spaceship ascending to space.

    "Now, if even a Demon straight from the pits of HELL doesn''t enjoy pain, then what makes you think I would enjoy it, oh System of mine?" asked Cassius, slightly irritated. "...You should''ve already known that I couldn''t take on anything at that level, so why did you let my head grow big¡­?"

    *Ding~~!*

    [It was better for Character Development! ^£¤^]

    [You need not be cocky, you need not grow complacent, you need not be arrogant. You need to become more cautious, you need to stay on guard at all times, you need to be more calculative, you need more back-up plans.]

    [If Plan A fails, then you have Plan B to back you up. If Plan B fails, then you have Plan C. So on and so forth¡­]

    [In this World, the only power you can count on is your own. When it matters most, no one and nothing will be by your side to help you.]

    [You will die as you are. And even if you can make it out alive for now, once the Illusion shatters, you will not live past the first day.]

    [The natural proclivity to believe that everything, everyone, and anything is working against you is what will allow you to survive the New Age. It is also what will allow you to survive in the now. Features like the Status Recovery aren''t infinite, and they also aren''t invincible. If you were to get killed in one shot, you wouldn''t even have the necessary time required to use Status Recovery.]

    [And if that happens twice, even the Phoenix Rebirth Skill will be unable to save your life.]

    [You will¡­ DIE.]

    Cassius had expected a short witty response, not an entire lecture. Yet, that didn''t mean he was unable to understand what the System was trying to tell him. Or, rather, what it was warning him would happen if he remained as careless as he was when the Lesser Abyssal Demons first appeared.

    "Believe everything is out to get me¡­ Don''t grow overconfident¡­ I see¡­"

 Chapter 108 - 108: {[Completed (A+) Emergency Quest â€˜Fight and Defeat the 3 from the Abyssâ€™]}

    The rapid power boosts that had been coming to him like old lady candy had made Cassius develop a certain level of complacency. That, and all the absurdly powerful supernatural things that he could do. All of it worked toward making him more prone to a stupid way to die.

    It had to go. All of it.

    Cassius cleared his mind, then put himself on a high state of alert, all while plowing the 2nd Lesser Abyssal Demon through the cityscape. By now, the Demon had been severely disfigured, and not just because of all the dirt it had eaten, but also because of the extreme speed at which they were moving. It was enough to make it, who mained in Agility, feel like it had only now met Mt. Tai.

    This was for good reason; after all, Cassius had not only recovered his status while on the brink of death, but he also dumped over 2000 AP into the Agility stat!

    Now, it was well over 4000, and with the silent boost from the I AM ATOMIC Skill applied, that astronomical number skyrocketed even further. And though he had no idea just how fast he had become relative to the A-Rank, he knew that this Lesser Abyssal Demon didn''t stand a chance.

    This wasn''t false overconfidence but the absolute truth of the matter.

    "Say, Demon," Cassius said coldly while briefly stopping his speed-demon rampage. "Have you ever experienced something at the intricate level of the Soul?"

    Without even giving it the opportunity to respond, he said, "No? Well, I shall give you your first today. And if you are thinking of thanking me, then there is no need. I do this out of the goodness of my heart."

    "!!!!"

    As one who held an affinity for the Abyss, the Lesser Abyssal Demon should have been incapable of feeling fear or anything like it. However, if that were truly the case, then what exactly was it feeling right now¡­?

    It feared not pain.

    It feared not death.

    But the crazed grin on this cloaked devil''s face¡ªit feared what it represented. For the first time in its life, it was¡­ scared.

    "Hmm?" Noticing something, Cassius watched as the Lesser Abyssal Demon''s face scrunched up in horror. "How interesting¡­"

    He smirked. Then, with a hand tightened, he threw the Demon up into the sky to join its brother.

    However, seeing as one was left out, Cassius slowly cocked his head back behind him and flashed the 3rd Lesser Abyssal Demon an evil grin. It immediately felt a shiver spike through its spine, urging it to flee in the opposite direction with small droplets of sweat dotting its apathetic expression.

    Yet, as if its own nature was working against it, it stopped in its tracks and turned around to face the amused human.

    The 3rd Lesser Abyssal Demon charged.

    It was smacked with the power of ATOMIC.

    It joined its brothers¡­

    "Now, as you all are of the same lineage, I felt it to be unfair to gift something to only one of you," said Cassius, his voice reverberating through the skies. "Hence, I have decided to share what I have to give to all three of you."

    He expected applause, yet received none. He frowned; he pondered. He smacked his hand against the other as a lightbulb lit up inside his mind.

    FWIP!

    Cassius blink-stepped above the clouds, appearing tens of thousands of meters in the air. The ground where he was just standing had cracked and exploded, as he hadn''t actually teleported but leapt up.

    Yet, as if the catastrophic destruction below had nothing to do with him, he activated the |Soul Rupture| Skill while standing above the rocketing Demons.

    BLALLIING!!!

    The world was flash-banged by a dazzling white light so bright that even the natural air of miasma in this part of HELL was purified. The power of the Soul was just that potent. It was so strong that not even lower-level Hellish Miasma could do anything more than fade away into oblivion.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although the Skill itself wasn''t concentrated or very cool, it was still¡­ incredibly painful.

    The three Lesser Abyssal Demons felt the power of the Soul seep into their pores, tearing away at the most fragile part of any being¡ªthe Soul. Directly attacking it was like attacking the most vital and receptive weakness of a living being. Not even the Abyssal Demons, who were engineered to resist all sorts of travesties, were an exception to the ironclad rule that was ''Soul Pain.''

    Within milliseconds of anguished, silent crying, all three Lesser Abyssal Demons had already died. They left only their lifeless husks, all of which had the most disturbing expressions strewn across their faces. The expressions accurately emulated just how much indescribable anguish they had experienced while taking on the S-Rank Skill |Soul Rupture|.

    "Let alone 30 seconds, they couldn''t even last a single second," murmured Cassius, his disappointment clear as day. "What poor excuses for Demons that hold the title of Abyss."

    No longer wishing to think any more about them, he let them disintegrate and assimilate with his existence. Then, while watching his Demon King Bloodline marker ascend past the 6% mark, he let himself plummet to the earth below.

    However, before he hit the ground, he expertly blurred and reappeared on the surface without a single scratch on him.

    The System Notifications for these most recent kills rang out right after he began his casual walk toward the dozens of Lord Demons now looking to take advantage of the chaos to finish off whoever won.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 3 Lesser Abyssal Demons (A+ Rank)]

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 400 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 150 Stat Points!]

    "Only one level up from that, but while on the verge of death, an Emergency Quest activated, so I have the rewards from that as well," said Cassius. "Might just be enough to level me up again."

    Just as he hoped¡­

    {[You have completed the (A+) Emergency Quest ''Fight and Defeat the 3 from the Abyss'']}

    [Acquired 1 Adequately-sized Heap of EXP!]

    [Acquired 10 Rare-ranked Evoballs!]

    [Acquired 1 Common Evomon Rank-up Shard! Plus an additional one as a bonus!]

 Chapter 109 - 109: The B-Rank, A-Rank, and S-Rank

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 500 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 200 Stat Points!]

    [All of your Stats have passed the 1000 Mark, meaning that you have officially achieved the all-around power level of an A-Rank Awakener!]

    "Finally achieved the A-Rank, which is good," Cassius said with a hint of disgruntlement. "...This should be a good thing, but I also feel like my speed has not improved by an amount that it could''ve been if the gap between my Agility and other stats were larger."

    After a few moments.

    He let out a troubled cloud of air while beheading the last of the Lord Demons. As soon as they all died and assimilated with his existence, he resumed his trot through the blighted wasteland. Many more demons fell at his hands, with the only unfortunate thing being that he could not yet use the Rare-ranked Evoballs.

    Cassius did, however, use the Common Evomon Rank-up Shards, which was only effective up to the A-Rank. Fortunately, Nyxvoldar was yet to exceed the A-Rank, so the Shard registered and brought its rank from B+ to A-.

    According to the Idle Evolution System, he would need 11 more of the Common Rank-up Shards to get Nyxvoldar to the A++ Rank. Two for the second rank-up, three for the third, and then six for the final rank-up. This amount would likely take quite a while to amass, especially when the Shards were so rare.

    Then again, Cassius wasn''t too worried about killing things and stealing everything they had for himself.

    Assuming one in every 100 Demon Hunting Scenarios prompted a Side Quest or Urgent Quest that gave Evomon Rank-up Shards upon completion, then he just had to murder a few¡­ million odd Demons. Which, in relation to the sheer quantity of Demons in this forsaken place, didn''t even amount to a tenth of their total forces.

    Excluding the perilous threat of deadly demons from all directions, thinking around this topic got Cassius to thinking about other Rank-up Materials.

    Lilith, for one, was sitting at the A+ Rank, yet could not rank up any further while in Hell because all of the Demon corpses disintegrated and assimilated with his existence. And though she benefited a little from that due to their connection, it was still nowhere near enough to reach the A++ or even the S-Rank.

    And then there were the White-tier Dragon Pellets that Cassius occasionally received from Quests. Even up until this point in time, he hadn''t gotten around to using them. Of course, he had read their descriptions a few times over now, and they were obviously related to his pet dragon, Yimin.

    Essentially, if he fed them to her, it would speed up her growth process and also age her appropriately.

    ''But¡­ if she becomes any more powerful than she already is, then it is highly possible that she will advance to a level greater than where I stand,'' thought Cassius, his lips pursed in exasperation. ''And normally, this wouldn''t be a problem, but with that ''unique'' personality of hers¡­ Well, I''ll probably be a shriveled-up corpse within the same day she surpasses me¡­''

    It was for that and a few other personal reasons that Cassius refused to allow himself to slack or lag behind the game.

    Even if Yimin was only getting stronger because of her natural heritage bloodline, that didn''t make any difference in his mind. He refused to be behind anyone, for if that ever happened, his life would be at the whim of someone else¡ªjust like how the Lesser Abyssal Demons could have killed him in an instant if they hadn''t wanted to toy with him first.

    For Cassius, becoming #1 was no longer an option. It was simply what he would become.

    However, did this mean he would withhold something like the Dragon Pellets from Yimin?

    The answer to that was obviously¡­ no! S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as he got out of here, he would hand the pellets over to the insane dragon. He would like to see just how she could possibly hope to keep up with him!

    In a matter of seconds, while slaughtering countless demons, Cassius''s stance on the subject of Yimin and the Pellets had switched several times. Yet it was because of this inner debate and discussion with himself that he resolved to acquire even greater amounts of power at even quicker rates.

    He would not allow anyone to advance faster than him. After all, that was the only thing he was good at.

    One hour later.

    After this period of performing Demon genocide, the number of Demons that Cassius had slain long surpassed the million milestone. Like a crimson blur, he reaped the lives of Demons at speeds that exceeded anything that even tens of thousands of them could register before they found themselves lacking heads.

    Following the first appearance of the Lesser Abyssal Demons, it was no longer a battle or war. It was simply carnage and death. Void of discrimination, he killed and killed; he killed until entire ruined cities were razed to the ground.

    They say that a B-Rank Hunter was capable of destroying towns and tiny cities if given enough time to create destruction, already making them something akin to gods. This was also one of the reasons why so many people turned into brainless fanatic lunatics when the B-Rank MoonShiner Party arrived in Hoshito.

    The B-Rank in backwater and less-known areas of the world was a rank that symbolized the first step on the road to godhood.

    The A-Rank, on the other hand, represented a state of being that exceeded anything modern-day mortal idols or celebrities could compete with. They were often seen as the limit of human capabilities, having reached a level where large cities would vanish the same night one was left to do what they wanted.

    Then there were the S-Rank Awakeners.

    If you awakened as an S-Rank Awakener, then you had ascended from the bottom to the absolute pinnacle in the eyes of the common populace. You were no longer just an icon but an actual living deity, and not just to mortals, but also to other Awakeners.

    You could become the King of a small country, you could obliterate that same country. You could even rule the entire world if you were the only one of your kind.

    This was the S-Rank¡ªthe peak of existence.

 Chapter 110 - 110: {[I AM OMEGA, I AM ATOMIC, I AM THE END]}, Preparations for a Class, Lvl 80

    "Hmm¡­"

    Cassius''s thoughts began to whirl as he whizzed forward with Lilith and cleaved a Lesser Abyssal Demon into dozens of different pieces.

    He had already killed too many of them to count in the past hour to put too much importance on them. He simply flashed around, killed everything standing in his way, then moved onto the next horde of Demons.

    What rank they were mattered not. After all, every single one of them died on the first slash.

    However, it was during one of these murder sprees, conducted in the deepest parts of the ravaged wasteland, that Cassius received a rather unusual system notification.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have reached Lvl 80!]

    {[Class/Job Preparations]} - (S- Rank)

    ¡ª[For reaching Lvl 80, you have met the prerequisites to begin your Class prep.]

    ¡ª[To ensure all fairness and prevent the Host from bitching about the results later on, the System has decided to improve upon the 3rd Idle Benefit, which is ''Skill Fusion.'' Making use of this new improvement will enable the Host to fuse Skills at a completely absurd level, which will also advance your ''Idle Score.'']

    ¡ª[Your ''Idle Score'' is what the System silently calculates to determine how good of a Class you will receive once you reach Lvl 100 and advance through the Class/Job Trial. If your Idle Score is higher, then your chances of getting a superb Class will also be higher.]

    ¡ª[Acquired 3rd Idle Benefit Modification - |Infinite Fuse|]

    "Infinite Fuse?" Cassius echoed. "I wonder what the Idle Benefit is now capable of doing¡­"

    Wishing to test out things right away, he pulled up his system interface and scrolled to the 3rd Idle Benefit section, which sat right beside the Item Crafting System Feature. He tapped and dragged the A- Shadow Step Skill, quickly noticing something different this time around.

    "Instead of there being one shaking and glowing Skill available to fuse with¡­ All of them are shaking¡­"

    Cassius, unable to believe what he was seeing, decided to tap on the tiny boxes present above each Skill.

    After clicking a total of 1200 Shadow/Movement/Agility/Darkness-related Skills, all of which were recently acquired from Silver-ranked, Gold-ranked, Sapphire-ranked, and Ruby-ranked Skill Boxes, he watched them freak the hell out. Keep in mind that a total of 5 new S-Rank Skills had been thrown into the pot, meaning that the resulting Skill would be¡­

    "Ridiculous¡­"

    That was all Cassius could mumble upon glancing at the absurdities presented before him. It might as well have been a cheat code.

    *Ding!*

    {[Fundamental Movements (S/Mid-Ruby Rank)]}

    ¡ª[Gives the User access to the ''Basic Movement Sutra,'' which will be stored within the User''s mind.]

    ¡ª[Potential Skill outlook, if mastered: Your Speed will be unrivaled by all on the Planet known as ''Earth.'']

    Seeing this was enough to make Cassius realize that, even despite its simple name, the contents of the Skill were anything but simple.

    However, it was in this moment of awe that a daring idea popped up in his mind.

    "What if¡­ What if I were to combine thousands of Skills of different types¡­? What would happen?"

    No longer able to restrain his curiosity, he spammed the fuse function on several categories of Skills, then proceeded to combine them based on good predicted effects. And by the end of this ludicrous fusing spree that defied everything commonly known by the Awakeners and the Hunters, two Skills appeared from over ten thousand, one of which was just a rewrite. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    {[Fundamental Body Refinement (S+/Late-Ruby Rank)]}

    ¡ª[Gives the User access to the ''Basic Body Refinement Manual,'' which will be stored within his mind.]

    ¡ª[Split up into 9 layers and 3 sections, making up a total of 27 layers. First Section: Movement. Second Section: Attack. Third Section: Defend.]

    ¡ª[Potential Skill Outlook, if mastered: On the mortal plane known as Earth, the User will be second to none in all three main aspects of combat. If paired with appropriate attributes, the User will be invincible in the same stage.]

    {[I AM OMEGA, I AM ATOMIC, I AM THE END]} - (S+/Late-Ruby Rank)

    ¡ª[The contents of this Skill are unable to be properly described on paper. Use the Skill, but use with caution.]

    ¡ª[This Skill, if paired with high stats and a high Atomic stat, will be the demise of human life.]

    ¡ª[Retains all previous effects of ''I AM SPEED'' and ''I AM ATOMIC,'' but further amplifies them.]

    [Again, use with caution. The main sequence of this Skill can only be used once a month, so also keep that in mind. ONLY use if all other options have been exhausted. YOU have been warned.]

    It was only of the S+ Rank, same as the other S+ Rank Skill, but for some reason, the restrictions on this one were quite substantial. It was ominous, to say the least, almost like the System was steering Cassius away from using it, lest he regret it in the end.

    "I guess I will keep the Skill on the backburner for now," said Cassius, his eyes shifting away from that harrowing Skill and back to the first one. "This one, in comparison, seems far less intimidating."

    At the exact same moment he said that, what felt like a bomb of information and knowledge exploded inside his mind, causing him to stagger backward. He tried to regain his bearings, but whatever was happening to him prevented that from happening.

    It felt like a million fire ants were crawling around on his skin! Like a stampede of elephants rampaging on top of his brain! It was so excruciatingly painful!

    A thousand severe migraines would''ve been a more pleasant thing to experience than what he was experiencing right now!

    Suicide passed through his shattered mind several times, yet he fought against those thoughts with his entire being every time they sprouted up. He refused to succumb to the pain! He refused to take the easy way out!

    After five minutes.

    The dozens of Evomon huddled around their Liege in a protective circle finally saw a change occur in his complexion, prompting the strongest among them, Nyxvoldar, to kneel down and check his pulse. Its shadowy expression fluctuated for a second before returning to normal.

    It nodded at the other Evomon, causing them to erupt in loud muffled grunts and cheers.

 Chapter 111 - 111: Body Refinement Manuals

    None of the Evomon could properly speak just yet, but they were more than capable of expressing their joy through seemingly unusual events like this one. Even the normally apathetic Nyxvoldar seemed to have brief changes occur in the shadows covering its body.

    Groggily, Cassius opened his eyes, putting his icy blue gems on display once more. "How long has it been¡­?" he asked.

    Nyxvoldar stuck up five willowy fingers shrouded in darkness.

    "Five minutes, huh?" Cassius understood right away what measurement his Evomon was using. "...It felt like an eternity¡­ Yet only five minutes had¡­ Haiz¡­"

    A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he eloquently rose from the ground and surveyed his surroundings. Everything was still more or less the same as he faintly remembered, but it all felt so unfamiliar at the same time.

    It was surreal to feel like this.

    But with more important things to gloss over, Cassius shrugged off this weird sensation breaching his psyche and instead focused on the information still being sorted out within his mind. The three sections, each one more glorious than the next, were rapidly organizing themselves in a certain department of his brain. This, too, was an odd thing to experience.

    After everything gathered together where they needed to be, Cassius was able to glimpse three Chinese characters hanging above three differently colored books. They were displayed on cloud-like podiums, with their brilliance and complementing covers doing well to emphasize the outstanding nature of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual Set.

    Without wasting any more time gawking at them, Cassius locked on to the whitish-gray book, which was the first one lined up on the left. It was also the manual that represented the Movement section of the Body Refinement Manuals.

    Blowing up its illusory pages with the power of his sturdy mind, Cassius flipped through page after page. The title, being as ordinary as they came, was literally just ''Basic Movement Manual,'' yet the contents were anything but. They were extraordinary, containing within their brittle pages Chinese characters, all of which could somehow be read by him.

    ''The power of the Body, the beginning before the beginning. To embark on the path of Immortality, one must first hone one''s body.''

    ''First, one must be as fleeting as an untraceable shadow, able to move in a way that even afterimages are unworthy of the image that you embody. As the fundamentals of the fundamentals, an aspiring Immortal must be quick, so quick that none stand in your way.''

    ''One must remain focused at all times, for Speed and Quickness do not only relate to how fast one moves. It is also about awareness. You get distracted, you die. Your opponent gets distracted, your opponent dies.''

    ''Move quickly, think quickly, react quickly. These are the three fundamentals of the basics of movement.''

    Following this introduction to the manual were numerous illustrations and brief descriptions, all describing movements that needed to be trained to master the basics of speed. And somehow, Cassius was able to understand everything he was seeing.

    That was when he recalled an S- Skill that he kept out of the fusing pool on purpose.

    Namely, it was the |Supreme Comprehension Skill|, said to be capable of enhancing mental processing and understanding speed a hundredfold. However, as he had just rolled for it, he hadn''t even really been presented with an opportunity to use it.

    But now, that was no longer the case.

    "Everything¡­ All of it is coming together inside my mind¡­ This Skill, or rather, this Manual¡­ The Path to Immortality¡ªwhat does it all mean?" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Basic Movements Manual referenced the Path to Immortality multiple times throughout the pages of the book. Yet it spoke nothing of what that actually implied.

    Cassius had, of course, heard of Immortality, and even the Chinese belief in Immortality as well as their Cultivation Culture. But he had believed that it was all just that¡ªbelief.

    Awakeners and Monsters were as real as could be in this world, and there were surely other unbelievable things festering in the world as well. However, not once had he expected something like Rudimentary Immortal Cultivation to be real.

    At least, for the Idle Evolution System, it was made a reality.

    "I have no clue if something like this exists in China, but I do know that this can tremendously benefit the current me," said Cassius. "These nine movement layers¡­ I will master them, and I will see exactly how far this Path to Immortality will take me."

    He had become so absorbed in the reading and theoretical practice of the Manual that he had long since memorized it, yet completely forgot about the other two manuals.

    "Ahh, right, I should read and memorize those as well before I begin putting anything into practical practice," Cassius declared with a wry chuckle before moving his mind to flip through and understand the contents of the Attack and Defend Basic Manuals.

    After two minutes of silent meditation.

    Cassius abruptly opened his eyes, startling the Evomons who had once again grouped around him in concern. He silently thanked them for keeping watch and protecting him before diverting his focus back to the practice of the three Manuals.

    Not wanting to idle any longer, he got into a proper stance in the middle of a deserted street. Toxic emissions and unknown chemical substances permeated and circulated throughout this deeper area of the Trail Gate part of HELL''s 1st Floor, yet none of it affected him by even the slightest degree.

    Of the Skills he kept out of the two main Fusion lines, there were the resistance and healing Skills, which he separately combined to get two Skills.

    One was the S Neutral-rank Rapid Regeneration Skill, which would surely do wonders to save him from wasting Status Recoveries in the future. There was also his Endurance stat, which was also working toward the same goal.

    The second Skill, on the other hand, was dubbed |All Elemental Resistance|.

    It was also of the S Neutral Rank, and as it sounded, it was capable of resisting nearly all common elements present on Earth. This, of course, included the unusually deadly atmosphere that encompassed HELL.

    With its utilization, Cassius became essentially immune to an area that would normally reap the lives of even A-Rank Awakeners, and slightly injure or annoy S-Rank Awakeners.

 Chapter 112 - 112: {[Oracle Sphinxs Pyramid (A++ Rank)]} - [Boss Area]

    There were a few other unique Skills that were either already there or fused with others that Cassius kept around, such as the S- Rank Flight Skill, but more than 95% of his Skills produced the two S+ Skills.

    As the seconds rolled into minutes and Cassius quickly adjusted to performing the motions recorded in the Basic Movement Manual, he realized that time was dwindling. If he didn''t make it back to Yimin within the next half an hour or so, he feared what sort of disastrous predicament she would find herself in.

    [You reached the 1st Layer of the ''Basic Movement Manual.'']

    [You reached the Peak of the 1st Layer of the ''Basic Movement Manual.'']

    [You reached the 2nd Layer of the ''Basic Movement Manual.'']

    "I guess the 2nd Layer is sufficient for now," mused Cassius as he packed himself and his Evomon up, preparing to approach the megastructure lingering in the background. "It was becoming exponentially harder to progress in proficiency after achieving the 2nd Layer anyway, and with that Hellish Sphinx surely laying in wait within that enormous pyramid building, I can set aside further practice for later."

    He had, however, worked up quite a sweat from practicing the difficult motions of the Basic Movement Manual, so he cleaned himself with the Water and Wind Elements. Then, with a precise quickness many times faster than before, he blurred toward the giant pyramid.

    A millisecond passed.

    Upon closing in on the megastructure, Cassius realized that he was a long way off from his original predictions of this place''s size. Simply put, it was astronomically massive, possibly even nearing the size of a small country. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Out in the middle of nowhere, it was akin to a beacon of light¡ªa symbol of advancement. Just the technology that went into building something as grandiose as this certainly far exceeded anything that Modern Earth could replicate.

    Now, this begged the question: What could''ve possibly occurred in this dimension for an obviously advanced civilization to be no more?

    What could transform a metallic world of wonder into a Hellish wasteland overrun by vile Demons¡­?

    After a moment of contemplation, Cassius slightly shook his head before directing his attention to the matter ahead of him.

    "The Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid¡ªlet us see how this one turns out."

    Along with the vocal announcement of the rusted pyramid he was stepping foot into was the fluctuation of a massive shadow that trailed behind him like an all-devouring void¡ªa blackhole that grew ever so ominously.

    {[Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid (A++ Rank)]} - [Boss Area]

    ¡ª[This Pyramid serves as the most prominent and unexplainable remains of a technologically advanced civilization that vanished long ago. The entity once idolized as the ''future'' of this civilization has long since had its consciousness corroded by demonic energies. Now, it eternally persists in the land of Demons as the Guardian of the Gate.]

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [The Host should remain extremely vigilant while exploring the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid! Death is likely! Uncertainties are possible!]

    {[Clear Rewards:]}

    [Reward 1 - (25 Heaps of Medium-sized Experience Points)]

    [Reward 2 - (1200 AP)]

    [Reward 3 - (Oracle Sphinx''s Heart (Oracle Sphinx''s Bloodline))]

    [Reward 4 - (20 Common Evomon Rank-up Shards)]

    [Reward 5 - (10 Orange-tier Dragon Pellets)]

    {[Punishment for Failure:]}

    ¡ª[12 hours of being trapped in the Land of Nightmares/Nightmarescape]

    "The punishment is the same as always, but the rewards are especially lucrative this time around," said Cassius, a small smile tugging at his lips. "With these rewards on top of the ones that I''ll already be receiving from clearing the Gate, I should level up a few times. And that is completely excluding what I''ll get from exploring and killing my way through this¡­ place¡­"

    Observing his surroundings, Cassius felt a chilling aura that seeped into the very metallic bricks that held the pyramid together. There were corridors, all tall and wide; they stretched in countless different directions from his position. Where they led was unknown.

    But there truly was only one way to know.

    "My only path is forward."

    Cassius''s emotionless words echoed throughout the spacious metallic corridors as he vanished into the darkness of the damaged pyramid interior. In mere moments, his presence was no more.

    However, if one listened close enough, they would hear what sounded like sword clangs. Then, within the darkness, charged sparks flew around, lighting the whole place aflame.

    Yet, after a few seconds, no more sword sparks appeared¡­

    ¡ªMeanwhile, in the world outside, at the Headquarters of the widely renowned S-Rank Guild ''Dragonlins''¡ª

    Faint steps produced sounds that bounced off the flame-adorned walls of a massive building located in the center of Shibuya. Victor Rapido, looking rather anxious, hurried through the halls of this building. Eventually, though, his figure blurred forward as he traversed the entire place in an instant.

    When he reappeared, he was standing at the outer edges of a large stadium-sized training arena. This arena, famed as the true home of the fearsome Dragonlin Guild Leader Kaida, was fortified to a level exceeding even national treasuries. There were enough formation spells set up in this place by top-class Mages to make even the safest places in the world feel a bit inferior.

    However, rather than be used to safekeep someone or something, this arena was made for the sole purpose of preventing the destruction of massive plots of land when the Dragonlin Guild members trained. This was especially the case for the one who stayed here most often.

    Kaida Drakenshield¡ªthe Japanese S-Rank Hunter most well known for her affinity with anything draconic. She herself was rumored to be able to transform into a dragon.

    An even more far-fetched rumor was that she had been raised by dragons since young and was even seen as one of the youngest S-Rank Awakeners in existence.

    When she was but 11 years old, she suddenly emerged from within a deep forest growth outside Tokyo. She wore rags, had wild flame-like hair, and had an equally savage gleam in her eyes. To the people who first reported her appearance, they said that they assumed she had been a wild animal or monster.

    It was only later revealed, after she accidentally beat up dozens of policemen and Hunters, that she was in actuality a human¡ªand one of the S-Rank no less!

 Chapter 113 - 113: Kaida, The Leviathan Deitys Corpse

    From that point in the timeline, Kaida entered Gates out of curiosity, found enjoyment from killing monsters, and then went on to found her own Guilds.

    Although an S-Rank Hunter wasn''t required to found a Guild, she saw a certain amount of appeal in building up her own forces. In one interview, she even claimed her actions were for the goal of "improving the size of her pack."

    Twenty-something odd years later, we make it back to the present.

    WHOOOOSH¡ª!!

    Even from thousands of meters away, Victor Rapido could feel the immense volcanic power being emitted from the beautiful woman known as Kaida Drakenshield. Her aura, unlike any other, resembled something more monster-like than even monsters themselves.

    To be honest, it was scary.

    Right now, in the center of the huge indoor arena, Kaida was punching an inanimate scarecrow-like object known as an Indestructible. It, like all of its fellow models, was designed for the sole purpose of taking hits, and in this case, it was made for getting the shit beaten out of it.

    Yet, even with Kaida''s country-shaking blows, the Indestructible remained intact. As its name suggested, it truly was indestructible¡ªor at least, no one so far had been able to damage its hard, shiny green outer shell surface.

    Truth be told, the materials that went into creating the Indestructible were not naturally acquired. Conversely, not a single material synthesized from planet Earth was capable of withstanding a single blow from an S-Rank Awakener. Not even diamonds, with all their hardness, stood the slightest chance of contending with the might of an S-Rank.

    But these Indestructibles¡­ They were not made with materials mined from Earth. Rather, they were only so hard because of the ridiculously tough scales of the deceased monster known only as the Leviathan Deity.

    The Leviathan Deity''s Corpse

    On an undisclosed island just a few miles offshore from the Japanese mainland, there exists an armored facility guarded day in and day out by hundreds of Awakened Guards. Within the deepest depths of this facility lies a crackling Gate, a deep, dark black in color. Housed inside this Gate exists only a wide barren desert and a¡­ corpse.

    This corpse, which belonged to the Leviathan Deity, had always been present within the Black Gate. In fact, there had never been anything alive inside the Gate to begin with. It was just a massive plot of land with a giant aquatic dragon-like corpse sprawled out in the very center of the Gate.

    Yet, even with the Gate''s interior spanning hundreds of miles, the Leviathan Deity''s corpse took up around 10% of that space, making it the centerpiece of the Gate.

    Its large, slitted eyes, which had long since been quenched of all life, looked almost as if they were about to shoot open at any moment. To make things stranger, even though analysts predicted the Leviathan Deity to have died upwards of thousands of years ago, the corpse remained completely intact. From the head to the internals to the scales, everything looked exactly as it would if the behemoth were still alive and breathing.

    But it was undoubtedly dead. There was no question about that.

    Dozens of years following the mysteriously colored Gate''s discovery, thousands of excavation and retrieval Awakener teams had gone into the Gate to extract the Leviathan Deity''s precious materials. However, even with all that manpower, less than 5% of the colossal and unknown monster had been successfully taken out of the Gate.

    Naturally, the first thing the Government did when they figured out just how unbelievably tough the Leviathan Deity''s scales were was to consider their use for military purposes. But after discovering they couldn''t be incorporated with any automated or electronic devices due to the lingering monster intent contained within them, the Government instead decided to support the Hunter Community as a "service for all their hard work."

    Of course, all of that was just an excuse they cooked up to justify the losses incurred from this seemingly fruitless endeavor. The Leviathan Deity''s scales were pretty much useless for anything other than extremely heavy, non-practical armor and training dummies. The guts and other internals, on the other hand, were poisonous to everyone¡ªeven those with poison resistance Skills. Anything more than a few ounces would result in the immediate death of the consumer.

    And then there was its Magic Shard, which looked more like a miniature sun than anything that could be considered a pocket-sized loot commodity. Though, if utilized properly, the Leviathan''s Magic Shard could power the entire world or even possibly become the most expensive object in existence.

    However, once again, not a single living being could figure out how to make use of it, as there were simply too many unknowns surrounding it and the Leviathan Deity''s existence. Thus, it, along with the majority of the Leviathan Deity''s corpse, was left to rot inside that heavily guarded offshore facility. But then again, no parts of the behemoth had shown any signs of rotting or going bad, even after all this time, so not a single person high enough in power to know of its existence doubted that it would be around for many years to come.

    Returning to the Dragolin Training Arena

    "Even now, Kaida is trying to cause damage to the scales of the Leviathan, but she, as well as any, should know that is simply impossible¡­" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Victor Rapido sighed before shaking his head.

    It was not the time to get caught up in distracting thoughts; after all, he had come here to discuss something important with someone whom he considered a friend.

    Out of all the other S-Rank Hunters, Kaida was definitely one of the few who Victor got along with the most. This could mostly be attributed to their similar yearnings to find the best of certain aspects of themselves and prove that they were superior. Victor was obsessed with speed and any who claimed to be fast, whereas Kaida simply wanted to find out who the strongest people in the world were.

    As one who embodied the prideful personality of a dragon, she naturally refused to be deemed weaker than anyone.

    Then again, after Victor''s encounter with that "monster," he fell to the lowest of lows and mostly gave up on his pursuit of finding and defeating any who were fast. After all, what was the point of being faster than a bunch of humans when something like that existed?

 Chapter 114 - 114: Dangers of the Worlds End Gate, [Demon Mummy (B+)]

    This "monster" was also the reason why Victor was here today.

    Interrupting Kaida''s violent punching session with the Indestructible, Victor shouted, "Kaida!!"

    "Hmm¡­?"

    Kaida unleashed another punch in the direction of the voice''s source, which caused a powerful gust of wind to send Victor''s blonde hair into a wild flurry.

    In that instant, he instinctively knew that if he were up close and not moving at all, that casual attack of hers would''ve immediately killed him. Fortunately, though, he was stupidly fast¡ªfast enough to run circles around Kaida, pay a visit to Africa, pet a giraffe, and then return to her before the devastating attack even touched where he was originally standing.

    However, this didn''t mean that he would for sure win in a fight against her, as her S-Rank |Draconic Defense| Skill brought her Fortitude to a level that exceeded all reason. It was to the point that even if he attacked thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of times at her weakest spots, such as the eyes, no damage would be dealt on his part.

    In their hypothetical battle scenario, the result would be a definite tie.

    "Well¡­ What are you doing here, Victor?" asked Kaida, slightly irritated over being interrupted during her training time. "Can''t you see that I''m hitting things right now??"

    "Y-Yes, I can clearly see that you''re¡­ hitting things."

    "So then why are you here? Speak up quickly, or else the next punching bug I use shall be you."

    Victor felt a suffocating pressure fall upon his shoulders, yet he knew that Kaida meant no real harm by this. Even her words, although harsh, were said only because that was just the kind of person she was. One''s Affinity, often associated with the Skills or qualities one awakened with, a lot of the time influenced the personality of the person following the awakening.

    Similar to how Cassius was subtly changing the stronger he became and the more abilities he unlocked, Kaida inherited what her affinity dictated, and it in no way happened very subtly.

    Sighing in defeat, Victor teleported next to the fierce red-haired beauty.

    Ignoring her exposed skin and scantily dressed warrior attire, he looked her in the eye.

    "If you go into World''s End, you will¡­ die," said Victor, completely serious. "Knowing your rash personality, you will surely attempt to fight ''it,'' but doing so will lead to your demise. No matter how confident you are or what you believe you can do, against that ''monster,'' you will meet your end."

    Kaida narrowed her eyes as a dangerous intent leaked from her aura. "Victor, do you believe that I''m weak or something? If so, then we can fight right now¡ª"

    "Kaida, I''m saying this for your own good." Victor''s voice cut through hers, his tone grave. "If you¡­ If you enter that Gate, you will die without a hint of doubt. If not for once in this life, just listen to me and make an excuse not to enter the Gate. Trade your spot with someone else, plead¡ªit doesn''t matter. Just don''t go into World''s End."

    Kaida, as short-tempered as she was, only selectively took what she wanted from Victor''s genuine warning. Her immensely powerful aura flared up further as she clenched the great scaled axe in her hand.

    "If you''re itching for a fight so badly, then you shall have it!" she snarled, her pretty expression scrunched up in annoyance.

    However, before she could make a move, Victor''s sigh resounded, effectively messing up her surging momentum. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Heed my words or don''t, Kaida, but as friends, I did my part," he muttered. "If you still want to seek out an early grave, then so be it. But just know that, although you are extremely strong, that ''monster'' is stronger."

    "If, even after all this, you insist on entering World''s End, then just know that I will take care of your Guild until the rest of the world meets its end as well."

    With that, Victor faded out of existence, his expression appearing rather blue and melancholic as he disappeared.

    Kaida, left all alone to simmer in the large empty arena, at some point clicked her tongue in mock anger. "That bastard Victor¡ªjust because he lost to the Boss Monster of some stupid Gate, he thinks everyone else will lose as well," she snorted. "Humph! I would like to see for myself just how powerful the one who bested Victor is! If it can withstand five of my mightiest punches, then I will consider giving it a painless death!"

    It wasn''t that Kaida was entirely stupid and incorrigible, but even if she did decide against her draconic nature and back out of the Raid, with the Dragon Slayer''s presence, she had to go.

    Due to international matters of security, she was normally unable to fight that cocky bastard. However, that would all change as soon as they were inside the Gate.

    She would knock out a few of that dragon slayer bastard''s teeth, no matter what sort of Boss Monster slept within the Gate!

    ¡ª--------------

    ¡ªIn an unknown destroyed corridor of the A++ Rank Boss Area ''Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid''¡ª

    *Whoosh¡ª!*

    Wind furiously surged behind a rapidly moving figure as he slashed through several dark yellow mummified humanoids. They, unlike the terrifying demons outside the pyramid, were neither red nor extremely large. They instead took on the form of modern-day mummies, concealing the hideous sights that lay beneath their bandaged outer layers.

    However, do not be mistaken. None of these puzzling existences were weak. At first, they moved slow, pretending to be frail and defenseless. Then, when you let your guard down, they creepily grinned through their bandages and killed you.

    [Demon Mummy (B+)]

    ¡ª[The lowest-level mobs of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid. Also the Oracle mob most rich in quantity.]

    Every single one of them was of the B+ Rank, meaning that hundreds of thousands, or even millions of town-destroying Demons were wandering around inside the Pyramid. And they were merely the weakest among everything hostile within the confines of this enormous place.

    What lay deeper into the Pyramid was still unknown.

 Chapter 115 - 115: Hours in the Pyramid

    "It has been how long again?" Cassius asked himself while sitting atop a small mountain of Mummy Demons. "Hmm¡­ Although it feels like I''ve been here for ages, my digital clock skill would indicate that it has only been a little more than 2 minutes since I entered the Pyramid. How¡­ unusual¡­"

    He could''ve sworn that he had been slaughtering Mummy Demons and avoiding the temple traps riddled about for at least 15 minutes. But apparently, it had not even been a tenth of an hour.

    Then again, this was certainly a good thing for him. After all, with the Yimin disaster outside subconsciously rushing him, he could not afford to waste any time. Every second counted, and if something were affecting the flow of time for him, then he would gladly accept the assistance.

    Five minutes later.

    The number of Mummy Demons that had been killed by Cassius had reached the hundreds of thousands. With his speed, hundreds fell to his Lilith each second, and if not for the massive inner space of the Pyramid, rivers of blood likely would''ve been formed from how many he had slain.

    "Hmm¡­?"

    While cleaving through a hundred Demon Mummies in an instant and improving his Demon King Bloodline rate past 15%, Cassius noticed something out of the corner of his eye. A few hundred meters due west of his location lay a shining corridor. The corridor itself was around the size of a normal human, and it had golden-bricked edges, clearly separating its importance from the rest of the dreary Pyramid d¨¦cor. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Naturally, Cassius approached this door of sorts. He disappeared, then reappeared right next to it.

    The first thing he did upon coming into contact with this bright door was test the waters.

    He drew a random E-Rank Iron Sword from his Inventory Space and prodded the light. Half the sword entered through the door, producing no reaction from the door itself. And when the sword was pulled out, no visible damage was present on the blade''s surface.

    It was completely fine.

    "Well¡­"

    "Kakaka!!!"

    A Demon Mummy moved many times faster than the speed of sound and lunged right at the seemingly absentminded human. However, with a single casual hand blur, the Demon Mummy was shredded into countless pieces, and it was done so without Cassius even so much as turning in the mummy''s direction.

    Cassius shrugged. "What was I saying again? I don''t remember¡­"

    He looked between the crappy sword in his hands and the shining door. "Ahh, that''s right, this thing is totally safe to enter."

    With that, Cassius walked through the cryptic door.

    While unconcernedly moving his feet one step at a time, his entire body eventually vanished into the light. He didn''t feel much discomfort, but the experience itself was certainly a surreal one. He almost felt like he was walking on clouds or something of the sort.

    When a sudden enigmatic force tugged upon his body, he was forced through a layer of space. Again, it didn''t hurt any, but it still felt extremely weird.

    FWIP!

    A short beam of golden light appeared on the 2nd floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid. When it dispersed, a shadowy hooded man appeared perfectly unscathed.

    The moment Cassius opened his eyes, he saw a similar environment to where he just came from. However, just based on how low and narrow the walls of this place were, it was obvious to him that he wound up higher above. Presumably, it was the Pyramid''s 2nd floor.

    And just as predicted:

    *Ding!*

    {[Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid (2nd Floor)]}

    ¡ª[1st Floor Clear Reward: 500 AP] - [?]

    ¡ª[2nd Floor Clear Reward: 5 Medium-sized Heaps of EXP] - [_]

    "Ahh, I get it," Cassius said thoughtfully. "It''s a floor-clearing situation."

    Looking around, he realized that there were no slowly moving Demon Mummies. In fact, he didn''t see much of anything except for rubble and evidence of the metallic paradise that this place had once been. According to his excellent deduction skills, this floor likely belonged to a higher class of people from whatever civilization used to reign supreme.

    "Well, this is certainly something else," Cassius smirked, feeling a certain sense of exhilaration from this seemingly unfortunate predicament of his. "I''ve played games in the past, and the floor-clearing kind were definitely among my favorite. Though, if this is to follow the usual script, a new type of demon should be on this floor."

    Just as expected¡­

    "Skakeech!!!"

    A giant mummified centipede-like Demon leapt from the cracked roof above Cassius, causing it to crack further. Yet, in the very same moment it attempted to bite the tiny human with its sharp pincers, he blurred as an afterimage.

    With swift, precise movements, Cassius finger-flipped Lilith, obtained a better hold of her, then slid her jigsaw edges through the centipede''s hard outer carapace. He and Lilith sparked around the Demon''s colossal body, slicing off dozens of building-sized legs in the process of cutting it to pieces.

    A moment passed.

    *THUD!*

    The centipede''s lifeless corpse hit the rocky metallic ground with a resounding thud. None of its hundreds of legs were still connected to its body, and its still-sensitive carcass was left unnervingly twitching.

    "I see¡­" Cassius mused while glancing at the whitish-orange system tag that hung above the rapidly disintegrating centipede corpse.

    {[Tombcrawler (B++)]}

    ¡ª[Most common monster on the 2nd Floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid. Has a hunting tendency to stick to any place that is not easily seen by other living organisms (typically corners of roofs or the roofs in general)]

    "A B++ Rank Demon," said Cassius, slightly intrigued. "Compared to the B+ Demon Mummies, this one gave around 30 times more Demon Essence. If there''s a lot of these in here, then I should come out with even more Demon Essence than what I got from the Pyramid''s 1st Floor."

    After coming to the conclusion that this area was extremely lucrative, he began his ''stroll'' through this floor as well.

    Every now and then, a large Tombcrawler similar to the first one jumped out at Cassius. Yet, it took little more than a couple milliseconds for him to dispose of each one. And after around 50 thousand repetitions of this, another five minutes had passed.

    Altogether, this meant that a bit over eleven minutes had vanished since his arrival in the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid.

 Chapter 116 - 116: Entering the Pyramids 5th Floor

    To be honest, it had been easy breezy for Cassius so far, with him coming out of each dangerous encounter without a scratch on him. This sort of invincibility lasted even when he entered another light door, ascended to the 3rd Floor, and encountered the next series of Demon monsters.

    On the 1st Floor, there were only Demon Mummies, with the only difference between them being that some armed themselves with unusual weapons and others did not. The 2nd Floor, on the other hand, had the Tombcrawlers. Of the Tombcrawlers, there were unique variations, all of which specialized in different attributes and even special Skills that related to their attribute types.

    However, on the 3rd Floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid, there were both Demon Mummies and the different Tombcrawler variations. Then there was also the new Demon monster type, which were mixtures between elephants and arachnids.

    Namely, they were Stompspiders.

    They were individually larger than a dozen of the massive Tombcrawlers, appeared from behind sudden secret chambers, and raged as soon as they saw Cassius. Furthermore, contrary to the rather simple differences between the Demons on the 1st and 2nd Floors, the Stompspiders not only varied in terms of size, color, and physical attributes, but they also differed in the elements they utilized. Some wielded ice and acid spells, whereas others spat fire, plasma balls, and lasers.

    There were also a few of the rarer Stompspiders that were capable of shooting out strings of silk. They could use this silk to either capture or slow down their targets or harden it to zip forward.

    Simply put, these types of Stompspiders were like freakishly large, creepy versions of Spider-Man.

    A few minutes pass in the blink of an eye.

    After decimating entire droves of Demon Mummies, Tombcrawlers, and Stompspiders, Cassius finally made it to the light door of this Floor. It went without saying that, after finishing the cleanup of the remaining Demons, his Demon King Bloodline rate had tremendously increased. In total, he entered the door with a new Demon King Bloodline rate of 36.5%.

    By now, Cassius could definitely feel the changes occurring inside and outside his body. His appearance, for one, had gone from a roguish type of humanly beauty to something more evil and devilish. Which, rather than worsening his looks, did well in improving what was already there.

    His eyes also turned a darker shade of red, his irises narrowed between slits and normal circular shapes. And to top things off, he grew a small pair of white fangs and sharp ears, both of which grew a little more the higher his Demon King Bloodline counter rose. However, this was most of all that had changed in just his facial features, completely excluding the few-inch-long blackened wings that had sprouted from his back and the gradual swirling of dark silver mixing into his natural jet-black hair.

    Fortunately, Cassius was able to temporarily suppress and conceal this new demonic side of his. If not for that, it was highly likely that when he returned to the world of humans, he would be immediately seen as a threat to humanity. This eventuality would certainly lead to his¡­ demise as a hunted monster.

    For the remainder of this expedition''s duration, though, he would let his body evolve however it wanted in real time, making sure to observe every single change. He would also keep track of the constant improvements being made to his attributes. Stats like Strength, Agility, and Endurance increased every time he absorbed a certain amount of Demon Essence. Moreover, these increases were in no way small.

    If added to what he occasionally invested with AP and what he gained from wearing his Newbie Equipment Set, then he was looking at gains of more than 1000 Stat Points every hour. Of course, this was cumulative and would only last for as long as he had Demons to kill.

    However, for right now, the grind was on, and he was here to grind it.

    ¡ªThe 4th Floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid¡ª

    Upon entering the 4th Floor, Cassius noticed yet another substantial shrink in the interior. If on the 1st Floor, a small country could comfortably fit itself inside, then now a large city would be stretching the limits of space.

    Now, what did this mean if Demons the size of small towns were meandering about uninhibited?

    Well, it was safe to say that, if not for the superb structural integrity of the Pyramid, it would have long since been obliterated by the fierce battles that Cassius was having with thousands of literal coffin Demons. They were all of the A+ Rank, had ancient coffins as the centers of their bodies, and took unusual scorpion shapes. Coincidentally, they were capable of shooting out ship-sized harpoon spikes from their curled-up tails, each one able to one-shot entire towns if shot outside.

    With such limited space inside the Pyramid''s 4th Floor, Cassius and the opposing army of Coffindemons, as well as the countless other types of Demons, were forced into a light show. By that, they were undoubtedly participating in an unfathomable AOE battle of spells and attacks. And when performed in such a tight space, it engulfed the entire area in a dazzling cacophony of death and destruction.

    Ear-deafening explosions rang out too many times to count in the same second, creating separate bubbles of sound that occasionally popped and reached decibel levels unknown to man.

    Six or so minutes later.

    A total of 22 minutes had passed since Cassius entered the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid, and the 4th Floor had been¡­ successfully cleared.

    A couple levels were gained, the 50% Demon King Bloodline milestone was exceeded, and now it was time to enter the 5th Floor.

    *Tap, Tap, Tap.*

    Cassius''s soft footsteps echoed throughout a very bleak and empty area. All was shrouded by a thick layer of darkness, obscuring from view any who wished to see what lay within the 5th Floor of the Oracle Pyramid. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The moment he reached a certain distance away from the light beam that teleported him here, he saw a dim light appear a bit to the side. Following its appearance were many others just like it, all lining up in a straight and orderly fashion. There were two rows of them, one on each side of the extraordinarily wide hall.

    Together, they brightened the place up to a degree where one could begin to make out the distant silhouette of a giant sleeping¡­ snake head.

 Chapter 117 - 117: {[Hellish Sphinx (A++)]}

    "This is¡­"

    It didn''t take a genius to figure out this 5th Floor was the last and final floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid. In other words, what resided here was none other than the Hellish Sphinx.

    Confirming his suspicions, Cassius glanced at the system tag of whatever slept before him. This was when he noticed something very strange. The system tag¡­ it was not there.

    "Wait, a snake head¡­? It''s a Sphinx, ain''t it?"

    Cassius, now confused, looked away from the snake head, attempting to locate the true boss. However, it was sometime during this period of searching that he felt a peculiar sensation breeze down his spine. The airflow of the area had inexplicably changed, and he had no idea why this had happened.

    That was when he saw it¡­

    Looming over his head, a great beastly face appeared. Its sharp teeth were massive, its savage eyes glowed with an animalistic nature, and its fiery red mane framed its femininely sculpted blocky features. If not the Hellish Sphinx, then what else could it be?

    "The Hellish Sphinx¡­ Then, that snake¡ª"

    The moment these words left his mouth, that "snake head" lifted up off the ground before whipping around to a bobbing stance right beside the Hellish Sphinx''s intimidating face. It stared at the ant-like human below, its size dwarfing the human more than ten thousand to one. At this level of relativity, even a small piece of its luscious flame-like fur would be larger than the tiny human.

    "That town-sized snake head was just¡­ a tail¡­?" Cassius murmured with a tinge of disbelief. "I see¡­"

    Observing the behemoth''s system tag, he saw:

    {[Hellish Sphinx (A++)]} - (Unique Boss Monster)

    ¡ª[As the one who guards and stands at the very top of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid, the Hellish Sphinx also serves as the last line of defense for any who wish to break past the Gate of HELL and officially embark on a perilous journey through the blistering 1st Floor of HELL.]

    ¡ª[The Hellish Sphinx, a Demon variant not yet consumed by the demonic intent to kill all, is known as the ''Most Laid-back Demon you''ll ever meet.'' That is, assuming you correctly answer all three of her riddles.]

    ¡ª[Yet, as a powerful Demon older than many civilizations, the Hellish Sphinx''s riddles are normally considered impossible to answer. In almost all cases, this will lead to the brutalization of the one who answered incorrectly.]

    ¡ª[To defeat this unfathomable existence, one must either answer all three of her riddles correctly or try their luck at killing her. But be warned, the Hellish Sphinx, when angered, can become far more powerful than she first appears. If it really comes down to it, one is recommended to flee as soon as the riddles are answered wrongly.]

    Cassius, now getting a good look at this breathtaking entity, realized that the sheer size of her was equivalent to one-third of the total space available on the 5th Floor. Simply put, she was unbelievably massive.

    Though, in this current moment, Cassius could hardly relax his nerves enough to truly register the grandiosity of this existence. He looked up, only to take another glance at her system tag and see a flashing red hue. Which, for him, meant certain death.

    ''Even after leveling up since coming to this Pyramid, I still can''t achieve a yellow danger rating for the Boss Monster? Just how much stronger could something in the A++ Rank possibly be¡­?''

    The moment Cassius thought those words, he immediately regretted them, for a stifling pressure dropped down on the entire 5th Floor. It instantly achieved levels of stuffiness that left even the sadism-trained protagonist gasping for air. It was so bad that, if not for all the resistance Skills he had been passively leveling up, his lungs would''ve been toast, and he himself cooked.

    That was when he heard it¡ªa voice.

    Instead of leaving directly through the Sphinx''s lips, it resonated with the area and rebounded off the walls with a laced feminine tone. To him, however, it bled his ears like the trumpets of death beckoning him to the true Gates of HELL:

    "Human, three riddles you will answer. Answer one wrong, your death shall await. Answer all three right, your day shall return."

    "Are you prepared to hear the riddles, human?"

    After a brief pause, Cassius turned his head up to meet the piercing crystalline eyes of the domineeringly aloof Sphinx. "I am ready for the riddles," he responded, deciding to play along with things for now.

    The ancient and rich feminine voice reverberated once more, bouncing off the walls of the enclosed chamber:

    "Riddle 1: The Eternal Cycle," began the Hellish Sphinx."

    "I am the beginning of the end,

    And the end of time and space.

    I am essential to creation,

    Yet I consume all in my embrace.

    What am I?"

    "...This riddle¡­ I don''t know it¡­''

    Cassius stood there in mock silence, finding it difficult to believe that he had never heard a single peep about this riddle before.

    ''...If I can''t make use of my own memories, then I''ll just need to figure it out myself. But what is the beginning of the end and yet also the end of time and space? And how can it also be essential to creation¡­? I just don''t understand¡­''

    Suddenly, a light bulb flashed inside of his head.

    "E!" he answered, confident in his single-letter response.

    ''E is the beginning of the word "End," and it''s also the last letter of "space." Furthermore, it is an essential letter in the word "creation,"'' thought Cassius. ''And on top of that, it consumes both the first and last letters of "embrace," therefore making it the only plausible answer. It has to be "E"!''

    The Hellish Sphinx''s irises glazed over then returned to normal. She shook a little, responding, "Correct."

    "Riddle 2: Keeper of Secrets," she started again, giving no respite to the human."

    "I am always hungry,

    I must always be fed.

    The finger I touch, S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Will soon turn red.

    What am I?"

    "This one is¡­"

 Chapter 118 - 118: The Last of the 3 Riddles...

    Cassius felt like Riddle #2 was far easier than the first one. Yet he couldn''t place his finger on which one of the potential answers it actually was. On the high chance he got this one wrong, he would have no choice but to rely on the final answer to safely get him through this crisis.

    Five seconds later.

    In the end, he went with his gut. "Fire! That is the answer!"

    The Hellish Sphinx remained eerily quiet, causing the 5th Floor''s interior to constrict further.

    Ultimately, a similar reaction as before occurred on her stony feminine expression. Afterward, she said, "Correct."

    Cassius breathed a sigh of relief. He had several different solid guesses for that question. The only reason he hadn''t gotten it wrong was because he got lucky. However, with the final riddle coming up, he had to put on his A-game face.

    If at all possible, he hoped it wouldn''t come down to a slaughter-fest between him and the Hellish Sphinx. Correctly answering all the riddles was vital to this end.

    "Riddle 3: The Silent Traveler. This is the 3rd and last riddle," quipped the Sphinx, her voice laced with concealed killing intent."

    "I pass through the hills,

    But I do not climb.

    I go through the valleys,

    Yet remain untied.

    You see me in water,

    But I stay dry.

    What am I?"

    ''I pass through the hills, but I do not climb¡­ Some sort of animal?'' Cassius questioned himself in confusion. ''No, that can''t be it¡­ "Yet remain untied" wouldn''t make any sense with the following two lines if the answer were an animal¡­''

    ''You see me in water, but I stay dry¡­ That would mean whatever the answer is has the ability to not physically connect with certain elements of the world¡­''

    Reciting the lines once more, Cassius organized them.

    ''I pass through the hills, but I do not climb. I go through the valleys, yet remain untied. You see me in water, but I stay dry¡­ Pass¡ªthat is a hint. Does not climb and does not get wet also serve as hints¡­ Ah!''

    He got it!

    "The answer is: Shadow!"

    The Hellish Sphinx froze.

    She stared down at the accomplished human, her large eyes swirling with an unknown intent. For a second, the atmospheric pressure of the 5th Floor multiplied a thousandfold, urging everything in the vicinity to bend and fold.

    Then, abruptly, the pressure ceased to be.

    "Your answer¡­ is correct," said the Sphinx.

    Yet, as soon as those four simple words left her mouth, a bright golden light erupted around her body. Miraculously, she began to shrink, with the blinding golden light becoming progressively less intense.

    Within mere moments, the Hellish Sphinx had already reached the approximate size of the human before her. And when the light covering her figure dispersed, an image beyond stunning materialized into view.

    "My child, this one is Hellion. Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx."

    Hellion''s melodic voice dripped into Cassius''s ears, yet merely passed as the introduction for the divine beauty adorned in jewelry. Her hair, like brown silk, was smooth and luscious, rivaling the most lavish of locks. Those slender, tan legs were supple yet slim in all the right places. Bountiful curves to die for, with a grace and nobility that bordered on holy royalty. Her eyes, a mix of browns and purples, acted as the gateway into a soul that a mortal could never hope to fathom.

    Hellion¡ªthe Hellish Sphinx¡ªthe Guardian of the Gate into HELL¡ªan unparalleled milf beauty through and through.

    However, if one looked past her ravishing beauty, they would see an icy cold gleam that viewed everything around it in complete fairness. Even while looking at the immortal-like Cassius, she exhibited no varied emotions.

    Unlike the frigid beauties he had previously encountered, he knew for certain that her impermeable sheet of ice was the toughest to crack.

    Yet, when faced with a challenge, he took the Idle Evolution System''s teachings to heart. Fearing away was simply impossible.

    Concealing an anticipatory smirk, Cassius extended a hand to the woman still in the process of floating down. "My name is Cassius, the one who rides the waves of Character Development."

    Neither showing shame nor hesitation, Hellion clasped his larger, rougher hand, then tapped against the ground mere inches away from the human''s face. She apathetically appraised his appearance, her expression unmoving.

    However, contrary to observing just his outward qualities, she peered deeper into his existence. And what she saw left her in an even more solitary state of emotionless silence.

    For nearly twenty seconds, Hellion remained awfully quiet.

    Then, with her swirling eyes tracing up the taller man, she stole his gaze for her own.

    Unable to escape that entrancing look in her dazzling pupils, Cassius could do nothing but stand there and stare absentmindedly. With her hand still softly laying atop his, he watched her lips move, then registered the enchanting sounds that followed.

    "Child, you have done well to make it thus far. But beyond this point, death is all that awaits. Your strength is insufficient. Unique aspects you may have, unusual abilities assimilated with your existence they may be, but your death is nevertheless guaranteed."

    Cassius frowned.

    "You can tell how strong I am? And you can also see other things? Just how much can you see¡­?" he asked, his voice approaching sub-zero. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although he appreciated the beauty, power, and elegant demeanor of this Egyptian goddess-like woman, if she knew more than she should, then she would die.

    And he would be the one to personally send her into the afterlife.

    Hellion blankly analyzed the strangely large killing intent radiating off the devilishly handsome human. Yet, without averting her gaze, she replied, "I am but a translator of the waves of fate and destiny. I stay unrelated to the worldly part of existence. Preventing those unworthy of crossing into HELL is my sole purpose."

    "You, human, are not worthy. Answer correctly all three riddles you have, but strength you have not. Several bloodlines reside within you by some miracle, yet no difference does that make. I, as HELL''s Guardian, shall not permit your entry."

 Chapter 119 - 119: {[Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx (S- - Rank) (True Form)]} - [Danger Rating: Black]

    The air within the 5th Floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid broke out into multiple layers of increasingly lethal killing intent. All of it originated from the body of a lone human. His eyes, like pools of bluish-red and black death, bore into the being of the sexy Egyptian woman.

    Conversely, the Hellish Sphinx also erupted in killing intent, yet hers was far more docile and oddly good-natured.

    Breathing coldly, Cassius asked, "Do you truly plan to stand in my way, even though I correctly answered all of your riddles?"

    "Answer them you have, but death you do not seek," replied Hellion. "Your soul burns bright with a will to live. Death does not chase; one chases death. Yet you are not destined to die just yet. Your fate threads out, reaching far beyond what even I can see. Your strength, however, is far from sufficient to amass such a fate."

    "Why is this one asks? Why are you special? I seek the answer to this question, and for that, you must live. Your death lies ahead, yet your future remains behind. Your entry I shall not permit."

    "I see¡­"

    All at once, Cassius''s killing intent subsided.

    "Your sentiment is something I appreciate," he uttered. "I doubt many in my life would say the same things when it concerns my life and death. From this, I can see that your description does not lie. You truly are kind; the answers you laid out were so difficult for this very reason, I bet."

    "Then there''s your killing intent¡­ You have never killed anything other than demons, have you?"

    Surprise briefly flashed past Hellion''s pupils, yet her stance stood unwavering. "Even if you know that, you are not to pass, human¡ª"

    "I know," Cassius interrupted, his face gradually fading. "But I simply have to make it into the 1st Floor of HELL. Only that way can I level up and become stronger."

    FWOOOP¡ª!!

    He fully vanished, then reappeared behind Hellion. With Lilith already tightly clasped in his right hand, he slashed out with every ounce of his physical strength.

    Hellion sighed. "How foolish, holder of high fate."

    BOOOM!!!

    Like getting hit by a freight train, Cassius''s muscular figure was launched backward at absurd speeds. In an instant, he planted into the floor''s sturdy wall. Yet, even with the fortitude of the Pyramid thrown into the equation, his collision against the wall created a crater that rippled out in progressively higher waves.

    "Why must one be so foolish? Your life I am trying to preserve, yet you resist. Why is this?"

    Hellion''s crisp voice, bereft of emotion, echoed throughout the Pyramid''s 5th Floor, quickly reaching the ears of the bleeding man in the process of slowly peeling himself off the wall. Yet her words, oozing a certain degree of kindness, worked opposite as intended.

    Cassius fell face-first to the ground. However, before he unceremoniously collapsed, his vision flickered. His consciousness returned thereafter, and the first thing he did was smash his fists into the floor to prevent himself from humiliating himself any further.

    A fire of unwillingness burned like a fiery, uncontrollable sun inside the core of his being.

    Slowly, he turned his head up, blood gushing from several orifices. "This is not nearly enough to deter me," he announced, his booming voice breaking through the Sphinx''s euphoric chords. "If you want me to leave, then you''ll have to kill me¡­!"

    Cassius gnashed his bloody white teeth before bouncing backward like a rigid springboard. Then, with a crackle of crimson lightning, he blurred forward. A barrage of skills shot off in rapid succession as he used everything in his arsenal, burning through more than half of his MP in one go.

    Nyxvoldar was also summoned from his shadow and fused with his existence, resulting in an even greater boost to his speed and overall power.

    Cassius was already moving thousands of times the speed of sound, even beyond that. But after activating all of his skills, he exceeded tens of thousands of times the speed of sound. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If used in relativity to the circumference of Earth, he could burst across the entire thing in mere seconds!

    "Dragonfire Atomic Burst!" Cassius called out when he made it less than a few inches away from the nonchalant Egyptian goddess.

    A massive fiery explosion erupted from the palm of the hand he used to hold Lilith. The entire interior area of the 5th Floor was immediately engulfed in flames, creating a spectacle that would surely dazzle even the strongest of A-rank Hunters.

    The fire-related skill of an inherent Dragon Title was no joke, especially not if it originated from an overpowered existence like the Tyrant Dragon.

    Just the smallest amount of a genuine Tyrant Dragon''s fire could wipe out whole solar systems!

    And though Cassius''s version was dampened by an incredible amount, he also had the sub-elemental infusions of his Atomic element to further amplify the skill''s destructive power.

    ''Although this isn''t an official skill, as I merely combined different elemental aspects into an easily susceptible flame, it should still be able to rival something of the A++ Rank. Moreover, I also have the 2nd Layer Basic Movement Manual to assist in the flame closing the distance¡ª''

    Before he could even finish getting the thought bubbles out, a wild gust of wind burst forth from the center of the Dragonfire''s explosion radius. Then, without even a second given to the fire to linger, it was all dispersed with several radiant arcs of golden wind light.

    "Why must you make this more difficult than it needs to be, Child?" asked Hellion, her voice forcing Cassius to look toward its source.

    That was when he saw it¡­

    A goddess-like woman so devastatingly beautiful that entire countries would go to war just to get the slightest glimpse of her magnificence. And though it didn''t seem possible, she had become even more beautiful than she was a few seconds ago. Furthermore, a bedazzled crown resembling a halo formed above her head, making her truly appear like some sort of deity.

    Cassius also noticed a colder, more detached gleam appear within those resplendent pupils of hers.

    {[Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx (S- - Rank) (True Form)]} - [Danger Rating: Black]

 Chapter 120 - 120: A More Pleasant Death...?

    ''An S- - Rank being, likely meaning that she isn''t even truly considered an S-Rank,'' thought Cassius, his tone growing ever more serious. ''However, even though she isn''t a true S-Rank, her danger rating is in the Black range¡­ My first Black-rating existence¡­''

    He should have been scared. Hell, he should have been terrified that such an opponent had appeared!

    Yet he wasn''t.

    For some inexplicable reason, a large surge of excitement washed over him, causing his body to tremble. More than ever before, he was thrilled. He wanted to fight an existence that exceeded his ability to an insurmountable degree!

    He needed to fight!

    Since his original encounter with the Tyrant Kings and the Tyrant God in that enigmatic Gate, Cassius had undergone many subtle changes. With each life taken by his hands and with every increase in power, his personality had shifted, little by little.

    Though he wouldn''t necessarily throw his life away against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, this time felt different. He was willing to gamble; he was willing to risk his life for the sake of power and exhilaration!

    Hellion noticed something change within the human''s determined gaze.

    "...Do you truly wish for death so badly? There is nothing to gain from progressing past this point. No lies have been spoken from my lips. I am far from the strongest in HELL, and you are incapable of defeating me. What do you hope to accomplish from this foolishness? Is there something you are trying to achieve? I don''t believe so¡­ Your path seems aimless¡­ scattered¡­"

    Cassius, still caught in the thrill of facing such a powerful opponent, paused to think over her question. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After a moment, his straight lips curved into an excited smirk. "You are right. Under normal circumstances, I would have no need to risk my life in HELL, especially when I''m so weak. But¡­"

    "But?" Hellion inquired, her gaze narrowing slightly.

    "But I can become stronger through fighting!"

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    Like a cannonball of spasming red and black energy, Cassius launched forward at speeds far surpassing anything he had previously displayed.

    Another chunk of AP had been dumped into Agility!

    "You are kind; I can see that," he said as he blazed toward Hellion. "But I have to become stronger. I want to survive, yes. Yet, to survive, I have to become more powerful. This world is not for the weak; you know that."

    Hellion''s unyielding eyes tracked the quick movements of the reckless human as though attempting to understand his intent.

    "To become strong enough to survive in HELL from your current state would be impossible," she declared, her dainty hand lifting effortlessly. "You somehow became faster just now, but that will not be enough. Leave this place; never come back."

    Flick!

    It began with a simple flick.

    Yet that flick alone was enough to quell the violent, deadly energies rolling out in waves around Cassius''s charging figure. Moreover, with that effortless motion came a gust of golden wind that pushed against him with a force far exceeding his ability to resist.

    His body rippled in slow motion as the immense force hurled him backward at hundreds of thousands of times the speed of sound. He nearly lost consciousness just from experiencing something close to the speed of light, yet the pain didn''t end there.

    Cassius struck the 5th Floor''s backside wall with a deafening crack. However, the opposing force proved too great; he crashed through the wall and was sent sailing outside the Pyramid.

    Ten seconds later.

    As his battered body finally began its descent, Cassius regained consciousness. This was the second time Hellion had knocked him out cold, and it hadn''t become any more pleasant.

    ''My bones are mostly shattered¡­ And my internal injuries are not few,'' Cassius thought as he assessed his condition. ''I seem to have already crashed into a building or something, but I can''t see anything because of the blood covering my eyes, and I can''t feel anything because of the extensive damage done to my body.''

    It became immediately clear to him that this was a warning. Albeit a cruel one, it was Hellion''s way of making him understand the danger that awaited him.

    "Heh¡­" Cassius grinned through bloodied teeth. "That woman is truly something else. *Cough!* *Cough!*"

    ''If I were relying solely on my Endurance stat, I''d likely need several hours to fully recover from injuries like this,'' he mused while activating the S-Rank |Rapid Regeneration| Skill. ''She knew just enough about my stat sheet to know I could survive something like this. Moreover, she also knew I had stealth skills capable of hiding me from bloodthirsty demons while I recovered¡­ Ha¡­''

    The more Cassius thought about Hellion, the more his opinion of her improved. ''Benevolent yet cruel. Kind yet ruthless. Decisive yet careful and precise¡ªmy interest in her grows with each passing second.''

    Slowly, Cassius rose from the crater he had created in a massive skyscraper located thousands of miles from the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid. He cracked his neck, his expectant grin evening out into a blank expression.

    ''I can''t let my excitement get the better of me. I need to focus.''

    FWIP!

    In an instant, he vanished, his destination as clear as day.

    Moments later, he was already back on the 5th Floor of the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid. The first thing he saw was the impossibly gorgeous Hellish Sphinx.

    Without turning to face him, Hellion said, "So this is the choice you''ve made. Death awaits you beyond that Gate; you''re aware. Yet you still relentlessly pursue your own demise¡­"

    "Very well¡­"

    Slowly, she shifted her frosty eyes toward the battered human standing defiantly before her. As she did, her aura grew ever more oppressive.

    "The kind of death that awaits you beyond that Gate is not a pleasant one. And though I''ve always avoided unnecessary killing, I cannot allow someone with a soul as kind as yours to meet such an end. Therefore¡­"

    She raised her hand, golden wind gathering around her fingertips.

    "I''ll have to kill you myself."

    WHOOOOOSH!!

 Chapter 121 - 121: Dying and Ranking up the Phoenix Bloodline

    The room''s airflow was redirected in a way that reflected the volatile power of the one known as the Guardian of HELL. She no longer carried the same benign coldness as before. Her demeanor, as well as her following actions, exhibited a level of coolness befitting a truly terrifying demon.

    Within half a nanosecond, Hellion teleported from her position and appeared next to Cassius. Then, with a simple punch, she obliterated him into countless bloody chunks. The death was so quick and efficient that not a single remaining piece of Cassius was left larger than a honeydew droplet.

    It was a complete fatality.

    "I am sorry that it had to be this way," Hellion said as she retraced her steps and reappeared at the very center of the 5th Floor. "Your destiny; it was unique. Your future was sure to surprise. How you managed to recover so fast also perplexes. But in the end, Fate forced my hand. Your destiny now returns to its origins, prepared to be dissimilated and reconstructed anew."

    "Farewell, Cassius of the Mortal Dimension. Let your soul rest in peace."

    With that, Hellion started to glow, undergoing a revert into her base form and then her behemoth form.

    However, in the midst of this troubling rewound process, something unexpected occurred.

    Over where Cassius''s guts had been splattered, a brilliant greenish-golden light erupted. Within milliseconds, the blood rapidly fused together and began to take on the form of a leg. A full second later, that leg grew tendons that connected to other appendages, a torso, and a head. Only after two whole seconds passed did an otherworldly handsome man shoot open his multicolored demonic eyes¡ªeyes that had undergone many transformations thanks to various Bloodline alterations.

    "Something like this¡­" For the first time in a very long time, Hellion showed genuine shock. "How can you regenerate from absolute death? Even World-Transcending-level self-regeneration Skills aren''t capable of performing healing at that level¡­"

    Cassius stretched his arms, cracked his neck, then mockingly matched Hellion''s shock. "I don''t know. How did I revive? Maybe it was some divine miracle!" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing that smirk plastered on his face transformed Hellion''s shock into a deep furrow. "...Your revival was not expected, but it matters not. You still aren''t strong enough to enter HELL. Your death is still destined."

    "Is that so¡­?" Cassius grinned, then watched as faint sweltering crimson-red feathers emerged around his revealed demonic appearance. "However, I don''t believe that I''ll die today."

    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline transformation rate has tremendously increased due to the sheer perfection that was the Host''s death. Everything about it was flawless, and if not for the unique B-Rank, now A-Rank Phoenix Rebirth Skill, such a death would have been impossible to return from.]

    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline: 0.67%]

    [|Phoenix Rebirth| has ranked up several times, advancing from ''B-'' to ''A-'' and evolved into the |Nirvana Rebirth| Skill.]

    [Total rebirth times have increased from ''1'' to ''3'' times per day!]

    [Acquired 345 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]

    "Very interesting," Cassius mused while dumping 80% of his saved-up AP into his Agility stat. "That should bring me closer to her power level, I believe."

    Just as he expected, Hellion''s black system tag lessened by one grade and turned into a flashing red system tag. Furthermore, the overall oppressive aura she was emanating had been substantially reduced.

    "If not for my insatiable greed for more loot, I might just be able to match you in terms of speed," he casually commented as he cracked his knuckles and let his Shadow Monarch''s Hood regenerate. "It''s just unfortunate that I refuse to lose out on potential benefits."

    FWIP!

    Cassius blurred forward. His afterimages moved so fast that it looked like they were moving in reverse. For Hellion, however, they were clearly visible.

    With a single punch, she whacked the smirking man out of the speed stream he created. Then, with a flash step, she phased next to his flailing body. Grabbing his broken arms, she spun him around and hurled him into a wall, where he then shot out of the 5th Floor. However, before he could mumble d¨¦j¨¤ vu, Hellion teleported outside the Pyramid.

    A golden-brownish energy built up at the tip of her right pointer finger. And before he could cast Dragonflame to counterattack, the energy building up on her fingertip condensed into an energy sphere before shooting out a hyper-condensed laser. Yet, midway through the attack, the beam enlarged tens of thousands of times its original size, making it impossible to dodge.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOOM!!!

    The bleak land for dozens of miles was blasted to all high hell, with the residual damage extending even further.

    It was almost as if an interstellar laser beam had impacted the earth, severing entire chunks of land and imploding everything in the vicinity. As chunks of metallic buildings and barren land sailed through the skies, a truly catastrophic sight was left in its wake.

    Cassius, having long since been evaporated, was unable to witness firsthand the absolute destruction still spreading out its catastrophic nature into the surrounding territories. A massive crater had been dug out of the ground, with its depths going as far down as nearly five miles, and its edges stretching out even more than that.

    "No matter how good your regeneration Skill is or what miracle you performed, ''Human attempting to become a Demon'', you could not have survived that¡ª"

    "Damn, that was nuts! That really hurt, you know?"

    Cassius''s playful voice cut through Hellion''s, prompting her to swivel her head in the direction of a fully nude demonic man. He stared at her with his lips and eyes curving upward, synchronizing.

    "What? Are you surprised or something?" asked Cassius, mildly amused. "Ya know, I came back even faster than before. Thanks to you, I am improving."

    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline: 2.6%]

    [|Nirvana Rebirth| has ranked up from the ''A-'' Rank to the ''A'' Rank thanks to the perfection of the Host''s death and the improvement in the Host''s Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline.]

    [Daily Rebirth rate increased from ''3'' to ''5'']

    [Acquired 500 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]

 Chapter 122 - 122: Battle between Man and Sphinx

    ''How overpowered,'' thought Cassius as he watched various emotions flash past Hellion''s stunning irises. ''Although I know it''s only thanks to her excellence that I can obtain so much Rebirth Essence from each death, it''s still incredible to watch it happen in real time. Furthermore, with each Skill rank-up comes a complete daily status recovery, meaning that I still have 5 more daily death chances.''

    Simply put, this meant he could now fully revive five more times while fighting the Hellish Sphinx¡ª

    SPLAT!

    [Acquired 600 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]

    Even while in death, Cassius was obtaining AP because of the surging emotions of the normally unresponsive Hellion. This resulted in her exerting even more effort to utterly obliterate the human that somehow returned to life twice now. Just once could be considered a fluke, but two would be a miracle, and three would be¡­

    "Impossible¡­"

    Right before Hellion''s widened eyes, she saw Cassius return to peak condition, with his erased blood particle state nowhere present in his current elegance. And somehow, his Newbie 5 Equipment Set died with him and returned to him, same with his Lilith tattoo and Shadow Evomon.

    In every avenue, what he was doing was impossible.

    Hellion, as perceptive as she was, also realized just how much of an enigma this man was. In quick, repeated succession, she witnessed several things that shouldn''t have even been possibilities.

    However, she immediately snapped out of her stupor after giving Cassius another 650 AP. And when she decisively struck forward, prepared to unleash multiple region-destroying level attacks, she saw his mischievous smirk blur to a level that was at least three times faster than before.

    How!?

    What was happening right now!?

    [Acquired 700 AP from trolling the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion.]

    Every time Cassius obtained AP from trolling Hellion, he dumped 80% of it into his Agility stat. Which, in addition to his ''I AM SPEED'' effects, caused his speed to rapidly approach the S-Rank.

    In other words, even without taking off his incredibly heavy Equipment Set, his speed neared the very beginning of the pinnacle stage of the world.

    This level of speed¡ªit was not something an average mortal would be able to comprehend, let alone visualize. It was absurd.

    Yet, even with all of these Agility boosts coming in, Hellion, the Gate Guardian, was still faster. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...You are an anomaly¡­" Hellion murmured in disbelief. "You also seem to be capable of becoming stronger through battle¡ªthis shouldn''t be possible to this degree. But this ability of yours, along with that regeneration ability, should enable you to survive in HELL. At least until you encounter ''true'' monsters¡­ But¡­"

    RUMBLE!!!

    An immensely powerful aura erupted from Hellion, creating rolling waves of goldish-brown energy that blasted out in an astoundingly powerful fashion. Everything, from the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid to the surrounding hundred miles, began to violently tremble. Even the stray Demons fled in fear of offending that extremely powerful presence.

    "But if the more powerful Demon Hegemonies on the highest Floors catch wind of your existence and your abilities, your death will never arrive," continued Hellion, her tone void of emotion. "You will become a guinea pig. I cannot allow this."

    "So I still have to die?" asked Cassius, rather laid-back by the entire ordeal.

    "Yes."

    "I understand."

    Silence.

    For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

    Then, the two stubborn contenders tapped forward, causing the ground around them to crack outward for miles on end. By now, the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid''s 5th Floor had been completely demolished. They were now battling each other on the 4th Floor.

    A few seconds later.

    Cassius died four times more, yet managed to upgrade his Nirvana Rebirth Skill to the A+ Rank. Moreover, he got his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline past the 10% mark, which made even more fiery red illusory feathers appear around his demonic figure.

    His improvements were immense, and he could now revive 8 times a day. But the Pyramid, on the other hand, had been utterly demolished, with every single floor mixed into rubble that was constantly being pushed back due to the two struggling humanoids. As their battle escalated in intensity, with Hellion being forced to use more of her power because of his unexplainable increases in speed, even curious Lesser Abyssal Demons became collateral.

    None in HELL''s Trial Gate area were even capable of interfering with a battle at this level. And those foolish enough to attempt to intervene ended up dying without ever knowing which one of the sides had even killed them.

    The battle between ''Man?'' and Sphinx was one that shattered layer after layer of HELL''s Trial Gate area. Moreover, that damage only became more extensive the longer that time passed, as Cassius officially reached a level that forced even the stupidly powerful Hellish Sphinx to withhold no hidden cards.

    Five minutes later.

    Cassius, now perched atop a massive circular ball of condensed scarlet energy, stared at the collapsed Egyptian beauty gasping for breath on the ball with him. At first, he appeared severely injured, but all those grievous injuries healed in the same period of time that Hellion took to exhale a single breath.

    "My strongest attack¡­ ''The Oracle of HELL,'' an S+ Skill capable of eradicating a small country," Hellion mumbled as she haggardly watched the nonchalant human heal from the damage in little more than a second. "...Child, just what are you¡­?"

    "What am I?" Cassius smirked. "I am an Acolyte of Character Development. Only because of my faith was I able to survive dying 17 times to you. Though, to be honest, even I was surprised by how many times I fell to your power. In particular, that last attack of yours¡ªthe one that made this¡­ mess¡­ killed me 3 or 4 times. I was really close to dying for real, ha¡­"

    He briefly observed the hundreds of miles of desolation around the colossal energy ball, with Hellion also struggling to follow his gaze.

    To put the destruction into perspective, the scarlet energy ball they were situated on was a variation of the Atomic Dragonfire Burst Skill¡ªan attack that Cassius had summoned just in case things went wrong. Yet, even with it being thousands of meters wide, it looked like a mere speck if one zoomed out and saw the ridiculous crater formed from Hellion''s ultimate trump card.

 Chapter 123 - 123: Plan to Kill a Demon King...

    Hellion''s trump card was one that drew upon her authority over HELL''s Trial Gate area, meaning it wasn''t even truly considered her personal power. However, even that wasn''t enough to defeat the crazy bastard of an anomaly.

    Hellion let herself fall onto the energy ball''s surface, yet rolled over a moment later.

    With bated breath and shaky eyes, she intoned, "Just end me. I am not afraid of death, and if this is what Fate has in store for me, then so be it. After all, I lost."

    Cassius''s amused expression froze in place. Then, question marks practically floated above his head. "What are you talking about? I''m not going to kill you," he stated, showing genuine confusion at her words. "From beginning to end, I know you were doing all of this for my sake, even if you went about it in a rather violent way. Well, no matter¡ªI will not kill you for something like that. You did help me become stronger, after all." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "¡­If you''re not going to kill me, then what will you do?" asked Hellion, her breathing still far from steady. "I still won''t allow you to pass."

    "Even if you die because of it?"

    "Yes."

    A deafening silence took hold of the atmosphere. Then, completely out of nowhere, Cassius broke into an almost insane peal of laughter.

    "???"

    Hellion was puzzled.

    "Y-You really are¡­ Ha¡­" Cassius calmed himself, yet could barely hold back another flood of laughter. "You know what, Hellion?"

    "What¡­?"

    "I like you. I really do," said Cassius. "And though I was originally just going to slip past you, as my Quest has already been completed, I''ve changed my mind."

    Slowly approaching the ample body sprawled out before him, he crouched down and locked eyes with Hellion. With his black-and-red hair slightly drooping, he said, "Hellion, Gatekeeper of the 1st Floor of HELL, what say you join me on my journey inside and outside of HELL? A pretty assistant with a good head on her shoulders¡ªdoesn''t this just sound like the dream of any number of men? Well? Whaddya say?"

    Hellion was speechless.

    "You want me, the Guardian of HELL, to leave with an invading human¡­?" she asked, just to make sure she had heard correctly.

    "Yeah, pretty much," Cassius responded absentmindedly. "So, wanna come with me? I have a pet dragon you could get along with. You''re both mythical creatures, so you should hit it off right away¡ª Well¡­"

    Upon recalling how destructively insane his rambunctious dragon was, he immediately changed his mind. "Then again, you still have me! I''ll pay attention to you, far more than any of the flesh-loving freaks you have as neighbors!"

    "So, whaddya say??"

    "¡­You''re¡­"

    "I''m?"

    "You''re insane¡­"

    Cassius proudly stuck up his nose. "Thanks! I think you have insane curves as well!"

    "¡­That wasn''t a compliment," Hellion sighed. "And you¡­ Are you just inviting me to join you for my body¡­?"

    She showed barely any emotion, so Cassius honestly had no idea if she was disgusted or not. However, if he stayed silent any longer, it might as well have been confirmation of her lecherous assumption.

    He shook his head, his following words sincere. "I do not lust after you. But your figure really is impressive; I am extremely curious why a mythical beast like you has an appearance like you have. My dragon also has the same thing going on for her, which really makes me wonder if all of you are shaped so perfectly¡­ Truly intriguing¡­"

    Hellion was once again left at a loss for words, even more so after determining that what he said was the truth.

    His innocent earnestness was truly baffling.

    Nonetheless, her answer remained the same¡ª

    "Did I tell you that I plan to kill a Demon King?" said Cassius, effectively interrupting her train of thought.

    "Kill a Demon King? How do you plan to do that¡­?"

    "By defeating it, of course!"

    Silence.

    "¡­You really are insane¡­" Hellion sighed, finding it extremely difficult to comprehend this perplexing man. "Even though you are able to become stronger through battle, the power level of a Demon King, even the weakest of them, is something beyond what your world could withstand. And as far as I''m aware, where you come from, the Demon Kings do not care about. At least for the 1st Floor¡­ So tell me, why find trouble with an entity like that?"

    ''The 1st Floor¡­ I feel like I heard that somewhere before¡­ But where? And what does it mean?''

    Despite his deep interest in that particular subject, Cassius responded to Hellion''s question. "The answer to that is simple: when I ascend to the 1st Floor of HELL, I have a feeling that the 72nd Demon King will start hating me. And if Earthly scriptures are any indication of the pettiness of Demons, this small level of hate will surely lead to a death feud."

    Hellion pondered what he said, realizing that he was right. ''As soon as this Child passes through the Gate, HELL will put more notice on him. The 72nd Demon King in particular, Andromalius, is known for his short temper and volatile demeanor¡­ Death will come swift if he is involved.''

    Hellion''s original reason for fighting Cassius was to save him from a painful death. All she wanted was to let him go out peacefully, as she believed he had no idea just how excruciating living yet not being permitted death could truly be.

    ''So that''s why he brought up the topic of Demon Kings¡­''

    Hellion narrowed her eyes. She received a warm, inviting smile in return.

    "You don''t want me to suffer, is that not right?" asked Cassius. "If so, then take my hand and accept being my companion. Let''s go Demon King hunting, why don''t we?"

    "Oh, and in case you''re hesitating because you fear that this arrangement might be permanent, you need not worry," he added. "I don''t know what is telling me this, but I have a feeling I won''t be staying around for very long¡­ Whether this feeling foreshadows my death or something more is still unknown, but joining me in figuring this out¡ªdoesn''t that sound like fun??"

 Chapter 124 - 124: Main Quest #4 - [Completed]

    Hellion stared straight into Cassius''s eyes, then shook her head. "Fine¡­ This one shall accept your offer. But ten years¡ªthat is all I shall be beside you for. Beyond that, it is up to Fate to intervene."

    Cassius grinned while leaning down to pick up the fallen beauty. He gently put her on his back, then said, "I won''t need you to stay around for a decade; a year is plenty. But if you wish to remain after that point¡­ Well, as you said, Fate will surely intervene."

    Hellion blinked. Feeling the firmness of his back made her feel rather comfortable. It was nice.

    "If you want to shorten the duration of our time together, then so be it," she said. "But I will tell you beforehand that I am only agreeing to this because of how¡­ unique¡­ your destiny is. It is one of the only ones that I''m unable to glimpse into."

    "And¡­ why are you carrying me?"

    "Oh, this?" Cassius chuckled. "You may be able to conceal it well, but I know what sort of condition you''re in right now. That power you used sure was something else, alright."

    Hellion remained silent.

    It continued that way for quite a while, as Cassius made his way out of the Pyramid rubble and toward the giant hellish door standing in the background.

    As opposed to common belief, the Gate to HELL was not something that served as a border between two plots of land. Rather, it was a door or gateway of sorts between separate layers of space. Similar to how the Oracle Pyramid Floor doors functioned, yet on a higher level, the Gate to HELL was one that would send you to the true 7th Dimension known as HELL.

    The massive, terrifying Gate was erected directly behind the Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid and was around the same height as it. There was nothing behind the Gate, as it was all just a blending illusion.

    In a sense, the Gate to HELL was the Edge of the sub-dimension often referred to as the ''Trial Area'' for otherworlders.

    Yet, even with the Gate being the way forward for those worthy, there had not been a successful Otherworlder for the last few thousand years. Meaning that Cassius was the first to succeed in a very, very long time.

    A few seconds passed.

    Cassius and Hellion made it to the absurdly large skull-adorned Gate, where he then took the time to scan over his system notifications and take out the necessary items to advance forward.

    *Ding!*

    [You have defeated the Hellish Sphinx, Hellion (S- -)]

    [Your Experience Bar has moved by leaps and bounds!]

    [You leveled up!] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You received 1200 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 450 Points!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 1500 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 600 Points!]

    {[Main Quest #4]} - [A++ Rank] ¡ú [S-- Rank]

    ¡ª[Without taking off your Newbie 5 Equipment Set, you are required to kill every single Hellish being present in the Trial Area of HELL''s 1st Floor. You are also to either slay the Hellish Sphinx or answer all of its questions correctly.]

    {[Rewards upon Completion:]}

    {[Reward 1: 1000 AP]} - [?]

    {[Reward 2: A+ Riddler''s Riddler]} - [?]

    {[Reward 3: S+++ Rank HELL''s 1st Floor Gate Key]} - [?]

    {[Reward 4: Map of HELL''s 1st Floor]} - [?]

    {[Reward 5: 72nd Demon King''s Ire]} - [?]

    {[Punishment Upon Failure: 12 Hours in ''Nightmare Scape'']} - [...Passed¡­ Immense Disappointment]

    Cassius felt an ominously evil intent hone in on him and peer into his existence with disdain. Yet, that intent left as quickly as it came, leaving him to wonder just how much power he felt connected to that intent.

    ''It was so much¡­ Power like that¡­ Is it even possible¡­?''

    While that question bounced around inside his head, he closely watched the rest of the system notifications.

    *Ding~!*

    [Acquired (S- - Rank) Beast Companion ''Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx'']

    [''Hellion'' added to Partial Idle Evolution System Feature #5. ''14 present Affection'']

    {[Oracle Sphinx''s Pyramid (S-- Rank)]} - [Boss Area] - [CLEARED]

    ¡ª[This Pyramid serves as the most prominent and unexplainable remains of a technologically advanced civilization that vanished long ago. The Entity once idolized as the ''future'' of this civilization has long since had its consciousness corroded by demonic energies. Now, it eternally persists in the land of Demons as the ''Guardian of the Gate.'']

    {[Clear Rewards:]}

    [Reward 1 - (25 Heaps of Medium-sized Experience Points)] - [?]

    [Reward 2 - (1200 AP)] - [?]

    [Reward 3 - (Oracle Sphinx''s Heart (Oracle Sphinx''s Bloodline))] - [?]

    [Reward 4 - (20 Common Evomon Rank-up Shards)] - [?]

    [Reward 5 - (10 Orange-tier Dragon Pellets)] - [?]

    {[Punishment for Failure:]}

    ¡ª[12 hours of being trapped in the ''Land of Nightmares''] - [...Why do you pass out on such an opportunity again? Tsk!]

    *Ding!*

    [Your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 2000 AP!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 800 Points!]

    [Acquired (S-Rank Item) Oracle Sphinx''s Heart]

    ¡ª[Would you like to assimilate with the item and obtain the S-Rank ''Oracle Sphinx''s Bloodline''?]

    "Yes," answered Cassius, puzzling Hellion.

    She was still wondering how he planned to get through the impregnable Gates of HELL. Was he going to ask her? Or did he have something else in mind¡ª?

    While in the process of asking herself these things, she felt a presence eerily similar to her own erupt from the man she was latched onto. Her eyes widened in slight surprise as she watched his appearance and demeanor undergo a complete transformation.

    At first, it was merely a change in aura to something more ancient and wise, then it turned into physical alterations. Cassius''s acquisition of the Oracle Sphinx''s Bloodline was very much unlike the SS-Rank Ordinary Phoenix and Demon King Bloodlines. Unlike them, he received the Oracle Sphinx''s Bloodline at 100%.

    This meant that a full metamorphosis was in order.

    Cassius''s hair turned a dark shade of black and blue. His eyes returned to their previous blue hue yet came along with an even deadlier gleam. Moreover, his originally peachy skin darkened significantly, giving him the appearance of someone who had just finished sunbathing in the Bahamas.

    Once again, his charm took a steep incline, and along with it came an appropriate System Notification.

 Chapter 125 - 125: Transfer of Demonic Essence

    *Ding!*

    [Charisma improved by 3 Points!]

    "Hmm¡­"

    With his new set of piercing blue eyes, Cassius observed the pop-up, then turned his head slightly to the side. Seeing the astonished expression on Hellion''s face made him chuckle, even more so when he noticed her favorability increase by five or so points.

    ''It seems like this Sphinx has taken a liking to this new appearance of mine,'' he thought, amused. ''Well, it is very Egyptian, and I can imagine the appeal.''

    "You¡­ Why do I sense the Bloodline of a Sphinx within you? What exactly have you done?" Hellion inquired, her mouth slightly agape. "...This shouldn''t even be possible¡­ Even if the Bloodline I sense is of a lower rank than mine¡­"

    ''I did notice that she looked kind of restricted when we were fighting, almost as if she were not used to moving around in her own body, but I never expected her actual Bloodline to be so high.''

    Even with Cassius''s specialized sight Skills, the most he could decipher from her description was that her Bloodline was above SS-Rank, and that she had once been some sort of deity¡­

    The deity part was extremely unclear, but just what was shown was more than enough for Cassius to determine that her true power far exceeded the S-Rank. However, somewhere along the way, likely thousands of years ago, she had lost her status as a god of the people that used to reside in this fractured land.

    She had been reduced to no more than the Boss Monster of a monotonous station, coined the ''Guardian of HELL''s 1st Floor.''

    "Are you bending the Will of Heaven?? The way you are able to grow stronger through conflict, and now this mysterious Bloodline acquisition¡­ Are you a Defyer of Heaven''s Will?"

    "Heaven''s Will?" Cassius mimicked. "No, it''s nothing like that. Hmm¡­ Who really knows how I do what I do? Perhaps it is just the hand of God at work? A miracle I am¡­ humble I am¡­ not."

    Hellion eyed the Egyptian-like man, yet backed off quickly as she instinctively knew that she would never get anything out of him.

    "Child, you are mysterious," she said. "But keep your mysteries. Revealing them when we pass into HELL''s 1st Floor will only bring you misfortune. Yet, you can rest assured; as one who holds within her vast knowledge of HELL¡ªa living guidebook of sorts¡ªI will impart unto you all the information you require."

    "But first, do you need help getting through the Gate? Although I could go unconscious if I assist, I can do it if need be." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius''s eyelashes flickered as he stared at the stunning face leaning over his right shoulder. "You truly are too kind for your own good," he said with a smile before summoning a small Hellish key. "But I will not need your help this time around; perhaps another day, though."

    For the third or fourth time that day, Hellion''s neutral expression once again reflected surprise. She watched in silence as the Human/Sphinx grabbed hold of something that shouldn''t even exist.

    "That Key¡­ It seems to contain the essence of HELL¡­ Are you planning to open up the Gate with that?" asked Hellion, genuinely confused as to why she sensed what she did.

    Cassius looked away from the curious Egyptian beauty, a slight grin plastered on his otherworldly handsome face. "Indeed I am."

    He threw the nightmarish key into the air, then watched as it shot forward and plunged itself into an opening in the Gate that hadn''t been there before. Both the key and the Gate produced a dazzling crimson light that enveloped everything within the surrounding dozen miles. A deep, thrumming creak resounded, signifying the opening of both sides of the Gate.

    "That actually¡­ worked¡­?" Hellion, although having already assumed it would, was still shocked. "Only I should have the authority to open the Gate to HELL, so how did this happen?"

    Cassius smirked but did not elaborate.

    He sauntered toward the wide opening in the Gate. Looking ahead, he saw a vast expanse of darkish-red land, with demons of varying levels of terror flying and leaping about.

    However, before he could take his first step into this Hellish world, Hellion stopped him. "Before we go in, I''ll need to give you all of the Demonic Essence I carry with me from the Trial Gate Area of HELL. You''ve somehow been absorbing Demonic Essence from the demons you''ve killed, have you not? What I sense to be the Bloodline of a Demon King in you also appears to be a byproduct of this absorption process."

    Cassius came to an abrupt halt, then observed the serious expression Hellion was making. "Will this transfer of Demonic Essence affect you in any way?"

    Although puzzled by this question, she truthfully answered, "No, the Demonic Essence I''ll be transferring to you is not my own. It is the accumulated hate and evil of the miasma that festers in this world I guard. My own Demonic Essence, on the other hand, is¡­ it''s complicated¡­"

    Cassius secretly breathed a sigh of relief, yet still asked, "Your power will be affected, won''t it?"

    "Naturally. But you don''t need me for my power, do you?"

    "¡­You are correct¡­"

    "Then let us debate this no more. I''ll give my Demonic Essence to you, as keeping it within myself will surely make your death all the swifter, with enemies tracking me and subsequently, you."

    Cassius mulled it over for a moment before nodding. He needed that Demonic Essence to further progress his Demon King Bloodline anyway. She was simply saving him the trouble of finding more powerful demons to slay and assimilate with.

    "Then stay still," Hellion ordered. "If you move too much during this process, both you and I could perish."

    Cassius showed his compliance by remaining as still as a stone statue, which then gave Hellion the go-ahead to activate a forbidden technique. It was one she hoped never to use again, yet was doing so anyway. Though, at least this time, it wasn''t her own power being taken from her.

    Without idling any longer, Hellion summoned forth a massive blood-colored sigil. Adorned with ancient, indecipherable letters and symbols, it shone with an unmatched demonic brilliance.

 Chapter 126 - 126: Becoming the 73rd Demon King of HELL

    "As soon as you feel something alien invade the core of your being, you must remain calm and not freak out," Hellion warned, beads of cold sweat rolling down her face. "If you try to push away this foreign energy, then both of us will suffer the consequences. And those consequences will be disastrous."

    Cassius didn''t say a single word, but she could understand his compliance.

    "Then let us begin," she announced.

    OOOM!

    An overpowering demonic energy erupted from Hellion''s voluptuous figure. It rolled out in immensely powerful waves, with every new wave becoming greater in intensity. Yet, after a few seconds of the energy building up to a sufficient degree, it all dipped down and lunged into the body of a lone human.

    Cassius was immediately overwhelmed by this foreign energy. He felt it dig into his skin and bones, tearing away at all of his outer defenses. Instinctively, he knew he had to ward off this energy, yet resisted everything yelling at him to do just that.

    This was not the time to falter.

    A few seconds later...

    All of the demonic energy had been transfused with Hellion''s demonic essence and converged inside Cassius''s body. It then assimilated with his Demon King Bloodline, improving upon what was already there. Though the pain and urges were extremely persuasive toward that end, he still didn''t relent.

    OOOoom¡­

    The demonic energies finally subsided, with Hellion left looking far less lively. Her complexion was pale, and her expression haggard. It was quite obvious that this demonic essence transfer had taken more than a little toll on her.

    However, from this lengthy process, Cassius emerged a new person. His previously Egyptian appearance had taken on a more demonic image, with obsidian black spiraling horns protruding from atop his head. Moreover, his canine teeth had grown sharper, his striking blue eyes took on a reddish hue, and a slick tail stuck out from his tailbone.

    He still retained his overall demonic visage, yet now had a very evil and cunning way about him.

    [Charisma has increased by 3 Stat Points!]

    [(SS-Rank Demon King) Bloodline has achieved the 100% Transformation Rate!]

    [Acquired the full (SS-Rank Demon King) Bloodline!]

    [All of your Stats have improved by 1500 Points!]

    [Acquired the ''Demonic Affinity'']

    [Acquired the ''Demonic Element'']

    [Your Battle Power has improved by leaps and bounds!]

    {[Side Quest ''Becoming the 73rd Demon King of HELL'']} - [COMPLETED]

    ¡ª[Reach 100% in your Demon King Bloodline] - [COMPLETED]

    ¡ª[Completely conquer the Trial Gate Area of HELL] - [COMPLETED]

    [Reward 1: 2000 AP] - [?]

    [Reward 2: SS-Rank Title ''73rd Demon King of HELL''] - [?]

    [Reward 3: (SS-Rank) ''Fiendish Demon King Arts'' Manual] - [?]

    [Reward 4: Extreme Ire of the 70th, 71st, and 72nd Demon Kings] - [?]

    Cassius felt wave after wave of power wash over his existence, successfully improving his stats by another few notches. He also took the time to look over his ''A++ Riddler'' item and the ''Fiendish Demon King Arts Manual'' item. The former was a deck of cards, with the entire set forming some kind of voodoo fortune-teller setup. If he could get someone to agree to play, he could slightly alter the strings of Fate to a minor degree and make happen what the cards say would happen.

    The latter item, however, was a Technique Manual. It was oddly similar to the Immortal Cultivation Techniques, yet it instead leaned more toward the demonic side of things. It could also be termed a ''Fiendish Cultivation Technique,'' which was the yin to the yang of the ''Immortal Cultivation Technique.''

    Cassius was curious to see if he could cultivate this technique in conjunction with his Fundamental Body Refinement Manual. And he had a keen intuition telling him that it was possible.

    However, that would have to wait until later, as right now, a certain Sphinx was staring into the back of his head with immense curiosity.

    First, it was the sudden acquisition of a full Oracle Sphinx''s Bloodline, and now there were multiple surges of power occurring within Cassius''s body. Hellion truly had no idea what was going on anymore.

    With her vision blurring due to exhaustion, she managed to get out the most important question:

    "¡­I can assume the demonic essence transfusion was a success¡­? Your bloodline¡­"

    Cassius nodded. "I have become a Demon King¡ªthe 73rd Demon King, to be exact."

    Surprise lit up Hellion''s beautiful face, yet her nerves quickly relaxed a second later. She had already become somewhat accustomed to the innumerable surprises this man brought with him.

    "Still, to become a Demon King¡­ You should know that more than just Andromalius will take notice of your existence," Hellion cautioned. "And though the number of interested Demon Kings may be few for now, when the others learn of your existence¡ªespecially if you plan to keep on conquering HELL¡ªyour future will dim till bleakness. Like a dying star, your light will fade until nothing remains."

    Cassius pondered, then responded with a question. "These Demon Kings; just how strong are they?"

    Hellion looked off into the distance as if reminiscing of a time long gone.

    "The strongest of the Demon Kings¡ªLucifer, Beelzebub, and Astaroth¡ªare mighty demonic beings that could wipe out an entire dimension if they so willed it. Their strength is at a level beyond your wildest imaginations. Though, you will not need to worry about them for the time being." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "However, even the weakest and lowliest of the Demon Kings exceed the limit of what you can manage. The SS-Rank¡ªthe rank that supersedes the S-Rank¡ªis the beginning for them. For this reason, I tell you that if you step foot into that Gate, you will be hunted and killed before you can become stronger through your mysterious means."

    Cassius peered into the illusions of HELL shown within the Gate to HELL. He could feel several incredibly powerful presences pressing down on him.

    ''They seem to be unable to pass through that Gate, and they also appear to be hiding in wait. If I ignore Hellion''s warnings, then what she says will happen could very well occur¡­''

 Chapter 127 - 127: {[Dragonfire Demon King (SS-Rank)]} Title

    Cassius contemplated his options. If he entered the Gate, he would definitely encounter the Demon Kings. His death was certain, but if he could survive fifteen deaths¡ªwhich was the current limit of his S- Rank ''Supreme Nirvana Rebirth'' Skill¡ªand become strong enough, he would defeat them.

    However, the question remained: would fifteen deaths be enough for him to become stronger than they were? What if they were not that emotionally charged in reaction to his feats or provocations?

    Glancing at Hellion, Cassius asked, "Relative to how much more powerful you were than I was when we first met, what would be the difference between me and¡ª"

    "Insurmountably larger," Hellion stated matter-of-factly. "The SS-Rank is no joke, and I wasn''t even considered to be of the S-Rank before I gave up my Demonic Essence to you. By my speculations, your current strength is somewhere around the absolute bottom of the S-Rank. Facing the 72nd Demon King, you will be like an ant going up against a mountain. You will die thousands of times in an instant if he so willed it, meaning that whatever trick you used against me will not work unless you can revive infinitely."

    "Can you revive infinitely¡­?" she asked, serious.

    "No¡­" Cassius answered truthfully, feeling rather reluctant to pass up on this opportunity.

    Then again, it was only for now.

    With what he gained from this expedition, he would surely come back with several times more power. Especially when he now had the different segments of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual and the Fiendish Demon King Arts, which were one rank higher than the Body Refinement Manual.

    "Let us temporarily leave HELL then," Cassius said as he turned around and beckoned the Gates of HELL to close.

    The hellish scenery inside was quickly barred from view, leaving several important demonic figures in a complex mood. Yet they knew not to grow impatient; that human-turned-Demon King would certainly return. And when he did, they would let him experience true Hell on Earth.

    Hellion silently agreed with Cassius''s decision. A part of her had expected the young man to be rash and rush in headfirst, but it was a good thing that did not happen.

    ''Cassius¡­ His fate is one that even I cannot see through¡­ My eyes, even now, after everything has been stolen from me, are still able to glimpse into the futures of beings beyond the SSS-Rank, like Lucifer. But Cassius¡­ his fate weaves out a story too much for my sight to handle¡­ It is unprecedented¡­''

    Hellion''s thoughts rang out inside her head as she quietly observed the rapidly flashing surroundings that passed them by.

    While making their way toward the hidden portal that led Cassius into this subdimension, a number of system notifications sounded out, informing him of a few things:

    *Ding!*

    [Would you like to combine the ''SS-Rank 73rd Demon King of HELL'' and ''A- Dragonfire Advent'' Titles?] - [Y/N]

    Cassius clicked Yes.

    A bright light flashed.

    [''SS-Rank 73rd Demon King of HELL'' + ''A- Dragonfire Advent'' = ''SS-Rank Dragonfire Demon King'' Title]

    ''The rank of the Title didn''t improve, but that is to be expected when the second Title was of a much lower rank than the first,'' thought Cassius as he pulled up the Title''s relevant details.

    {[Dragonfire Demon King (SS-Rank)]}

    ¡ª[The first of his kind. A mix between a Demon King and a Dragon.]

    {[Effect 1: ''Demon Dragon'' - (User receives the ''SS-Rank Demon Dragon Bloodline'' at 0.001% integration rate. To progress, the User must practice the ''Demon Dragon Integration Arts.'')]}

    {[Effect 2: ''Demon Dragon Integration Arts'' - (An SS-Rank Booklet describing what a Demon Dragon needs to do to further progress his Bloodline integration rate.)]}

    {[Effect 3: ''Flame Invincibility'' - (Ordinary Universal Flames and Fires no longer affect the User. Also immune to most basic attacks produced by other elements.)]}

    {[Effect 4: ''Dragon Quasar'' - (Unleash a conflagration of hyper-condensed and extremely deadly Dragon flames at will. Takes upon the Elements of Fire, Explosion, Demonic, Evil, Dragon, Plasma, and Destruction. S+++ Rank Skill.)]}

    {[Effect 5: ''Demon Dragon Transformation'' - (Can switch between ''Full Dragon Form,'' ''Humanoid Dragon Form,'' and ''Original Form'' at will.)]}

    Cassius was very impressed with what he glimpsed from his new Title. He was also pleased to see a similar Effect to #5 for his Oracle Sphinx Bloodline as well, meaning that he could choose between which form he wished to take. Conversely, he could choose to be all different forms at once.

    ''Though, with yet another Technique I have to practice and master, my plate is slowly but surely being filled up,'' Cassius thought. ''With all that said, I''ll definitely need to divert a lot of the following period of time into practicing all my Techniques. This should both improve my power and get me if not the slightest bit closer to the S-Rank and SS-Rank.''

    Those thoughts of his lingered even as he walked through a large portal and vanished from the Trial Gate area of HELL.

    ¡ªIn the same spot Cassius disappeared while on Earth¡ª

    An even more handsome, purely Egyptian-like man and woman appeared. Yet, as soon as their images came into view, they vanished once more.

    A few miles away.

    FWIP!

    "This is my home, Hellion," Cassius said while perched atop a rooftop in the dead of night. "I know you are not that kind of Demon, but just for safe measures, you are not to harm, kill, or eat anyone inside. Only humans I designate as enemies can you do with as you will."

    Hellion blinked. "I understand."

    "Good. Then let us enter; remember, follow my lead and act natural¡­ This isn''t the first time I have done something like this¡ª" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as those words left his mouth, something else left through his bedroom window. It was his¡­ school laptop¡­

    On its way down, he could faintly make out explicit scenes of professional men and women doing the nasty.

    Hellion''s eyes glazed over in curiosity. "So that is the sort of stuff you like. I see¡­"

    For a second, Cassius froze in place. Then he registered the distinct sound of his window glass shattering, urging him to flash forward. A moment later, he was already standing inside his room, where he saw the nerve-wracking sight of an enchantingly beautiful gray-haired girl with slitted draconic eyes.

    Though, as of right now, her mesmerizing charm was almost entirely overshadowed by her utterly livid expression.

 Chapter 128 - 128: Figuring out Boarding Arrangements

    Yimin, like the good dragon she was, had been patiently waiting for her master to return home. Her tail had been wagging for hours on end as she seemed to be in her own little world. Even with the occasional presence of the other girls, she remained blissfully oblivious to all that was going on around her.

    That was until she became a little bit bored a few minutes ago and coincidentally saw a metallic doohickey on a desk. She opened it up, guessed the complicated password right on the first try, and was then flash-banged by a man going at it with a pretty naked girl. An iconic orange-and-black symbol hung above the website''s UI.

    The laptop was then promptly thrown out the window, attracting the attention of not only the recently arrived pair but also of the girls currently playing a board game downstairs. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With thuds against steps quickly moving upward, Cassius had to act fast. First, he used a C-Rank Repair Skill to repair the broken window, then he teleported the cracked laptop into his room and repaired it as well. After which, he moved like a spectral being and went to stop the eruption of rage that could potentially demolish the whole neighborhood.

    Yet, in the same moment Cassius clasped Yimin''s pinkish lips and injected a soothing remedy, the door to his room was whacked open. This disturbance gave the perfect opportunity she needed to slip out of his loose grasp and bite him on the hand.

    One thing led to another, and Cassius was pushed over, then the two tumbled and rolled. The fierce Yimin lay sprawled out below him.

    Though, when she felt a large, rough hand press against her right breast, her surging anger was greatly alleviated.

    ''...This situation¡­ Sh*t¡­''

    Even with Cassius''s stupidly ridiculous speed, there was nothing he could do that could possibly turn back time. The damage had already been done.

    Slowly, he turned his head up, only to see five uniquely gorgeous women show signs of surprise, then anger.

    "Cassius¡­ You¡­ You lecherous bastard!!"

    It was fair to say that he received quite the earful from that point onward. It was even to the point that only after an hour passed did everyone calm down enough for him to explain the situation.

    The entire time, Hellion was just sitting in the background and enjoying the show while recuperating. Yet, even though she was enjoying the drama, she failed to emulate any of the emotions she was feeling on her face. For her, emotions were tough.

    Aya, on the other hand, was very open about her emotions.

    At least when it came to violent emotions¡­

    "Cassius, I just can''t believe you! Humph!" she snorted. "Last time, you came back with that gray-haired woman, and now you brought back this dark-skinned Egyptian woman? Are you trying to start a harem or something?? And where are these women even coming from??"

    First, it was Memphis, then Stella and that infuriating gray-haired woman, and now it was an Egyptian beauty! Her frustrations were not unfounded!

    "Well¡­" Under the intense stares of everyone in the room, including his stepmother, Cassius didn''t really know what to say. "...One thing led to another¡ª"

    "That is a terrible excuse, you idiot!" shouted Aya, her cheeks filled with air.

    "Now, now, Aya, my dear daughter, perhaps Cassius really did just have some unique encounters and felt obligated to help these girls," Sasha interjected, her expression friendly but her tone saying otherwise.

    She was slightly annoyed by all these new girls as well, but she did a far better job at sweeping her annoyances under the rug than her daughter.

    Getting back to the matter at hand, Sasha said, "But Ara Ara, with so many new tenants, we don''t have much room left in the house. And we can''t exactly have girls sleeping in the same room as our¡­ ''adventurous'' Cassius, now can we?"

    If only she knew that all of them were already sneaking into his bed every night¡­

    "What are we to do about this?"

    Stella and Memphis hadn''t felt it appropriate for them to speak up before, as they were part of the problem. But now that it came down to this question, they had no choice but to voice their opinions:

    "I-If there is not enough room, then I can contact my uncle¡­ Even if¡­ Even if he treats me like that, I''ll find a way to manage," Memphis murmured.

    "Neither do I wish to impose¡­ I can get out of everyone''s hair if¡­ if that''s what you want," Stella added, her ahoge hairs drooping.

    Everyone suddenly felt bad, especially Cassius and Sasha.

    Sighing, Sasha proposed an alternative. "Perhaps we should move out? I have been thinking of increasing our living space for a while now, but the costs are¡­ substantial. Even with our savings, I doubt we''ll have enough. Furthermore, I haven''t even informed my husband of all of you moving in. It will surely surprise him, and might even leave me with no choice but to evict you. Let alone agreeing to upsizing, just getting him to accept the existence of you girls is¡­ Haiz¡­"

    "Hmm¡­"

    Cassius himself was pondering this complicated matter.

    After selling countless Magic Shards under an anonymous identity, he had amassed hundreds of thousands of USD, which was more than enough to buy a luxurious house in Japan. However, how was he to tell Aya and Sasha about this sudden influx of wealth?

    They knew very well what type of job he worked at. That also meant they knew hundreds of thousands of USD was impossible to come by unless he slaved away for an entire lifetime.

    ''Maybe I should just say I won the lottery or something? I can fabricate a ticket with my A-Rank ''Minor Creation'' Skill right here and now.''

    Ultimately, Cassius decided he''d do just that. And without wasting any more of anyone''s brain processing power, he took out a genuine lottery ticket and let it ''slip'' out of his hands onto the floor.

 Chapter 129 - 129: Buying a New House, Winning the Lotto?

    "???"

    Aya, seeing the ticket glide across the ground, pointed it out. "What is that?"

    Everyone else in the room also looked where Aya was looking. Hellion amusingly smiled before relishing in the soothing energy still permeating throughout her body and speeding up her recovery.

    ''His Skills truly are miraculous¡­ And he''s so diversified¡­ That child really is totally unlike the rest of his kind. It even makes me believe that he was not originally born a human¡­ But I know that is not the case.''

    While Hellion was thinking completely off topic, Aya approached the shiny golden cardboard cutout and looked at its contents. Her eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, "A lottery ticket?? And one for $500k!? Is this thing for real??"

    "What??" Even Memphis and Stella were shocked by this announcement.

    Memphis grew up in the middle class, with her Hunter of a father only strong enough to bring home around $10k a month. Which, in relation to the economy of Japan, was more than enough to live comfortably. But $500k?? That was simply absurd!

    Stella, however, had been an awakened B-Rank Hunter for more than a year. Naturally, her net worth far exceeded a million. Yet that didn''t mean this number and the idea of winning the lottery interested her any less.

    Within milliseconds, all the girls except for Hellion and Yimin had gathered around the golden lottery ticket being held in Aya''s hands. They inspected it, and after confirming that this was most definitely a genuine lottery ticket, their eyes brightened up in glee.

    Stella had been prepared to purchase a place of her own (preferably one next to Cassius), but this lottery ticket changed everything!

    Simultaneously, all of the girls, including Sasha and Aya, looked to Cassius for clarification.

    He inwardly chuckled at their adorable behavior before explaining to them a completely fabricated story that he just made up. It detailed how he passed by a convenience store on his way home from work and decided to buy a total of three lotto tickets. Of those three, two were winners, with the first one only being worth $5, whereas the other was an astronomical $500k! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, as he only recently had the chance to scratch them off, he hadn''t even bothered to check the numbers. And to back this bullsh*t story, he took out the other two tickets he totally purchased at a convenience store.

    "Well? Did I actually win something from them?" asked Cassius, his acting unrivaled throughout the ages.

    "Not only did you win, you got half a million! Or 50 million yen! Do you know what we could do with 50 million yen!?"

    Although the money wasn''t even her own, Aya''s irises lit up with dollar-dollar bill signs. She got up close and personal with Cassius, making sure to show off the winning numbers.

    "Wow¡ª" Cassius said with his mouth open. "With this much money, that new house is no longer out of the question, is it? What a great stroke of fortune. What a coincidence."

    Aya''s elation was suddenly replaced with a certain amount of suspicion. Her eyes narrowed as she pushed Cassius to a wall. Pointing her polished index finger into his chest, she looked up, saying, "You aren''t playing with us here, are you?"

    Cassius did his best to hide the sweat beads drizzling down his forehead. "W-Why, of course not. This lotto ticket must just be an extreme bout of good luck."

    "Ehh¡­"

    After a moment of scrutinizing the suspicious man, Aya shrugged and went back to caressing the lotto ticket as if it were the most precious thing in the world. She was originally going to declare that part of the winnings were hers because she found out they won, but then she felt bad halfway through.

    Scuttling back over to her stepbrother, she leaned up on her tippy toes and just barely managed to reach high enough to whisper into his ear, "Can I announce that we can use the money to shop for a new house¡­?"

    ''...Cute¡­'' Cassius thought, yet answered, "Sure, just don''t get excited too soon. We still have to cash in the lotto ticket, after all."

    "Uhn!" Aya beamed before spinning on her heel and shouting to the girls, "We''re going home hunting! I call dibs on the largest room!"

    Surprisingly, no one argued her on that claim. Most of them, including her, would just find their way into Cassius''s bedroom anyway. In fact, the only reason they were even discussing this new home subject to begin with was for Sasha''s sake.

    Still, all of them gave small and large cheers depending on their personalities. Though, really only Yimin was extremely outgoing about the cheers. And she didn''t even know for certain what precisely she was cheering about.

    ''I still want to eat these vixen bitches! Is that what we''re cheering about!? But what are they so excited for??''

    Yimin herself was very, very¡­ confused.

    Ten minutes later¡­

    Cassius successfully diverted the girls'' focus away from his brief groping and rolling session with Yimin under the guise of heading out first thing tomorrow to go house searching. All in all, everyone went to bed in rather spirited moods, even in spite of the fact that it was nearly 1 AM already.

    Cassius also called in for the night some time later and fell asleep extremely fast.

    However, as the minutes turned into hours, more and more of the girls in the house found their way into his bed one way or another. Yimin spawned in his bed like it was natural, Memphis came to him when she had nightmares of that Gate and her uncle, Aya sleepwalked her way in, and Stella just liked his company while sleeping.

    Out of all of the girls close to him, only Hellion stayed out of it. Well, for the most part at least¡­

    In actuality, she sat at the bed''s headrest and used her supple thighs as pillows for Cassius. She slept this way for she believed his mysteries to unravel themselves better in this manner. Furthermore, it was quite boring to meditate and recover alone.

    The night passed quickly, and the following day even quicker.

    Cassius and the gang received many peculiar stares while walking to their destinations for the day, as all of them were exceptionally good-looking. Even the older Sasha and Hellion were beyond gorgeous and seemed to age like fine wine.

 Chapter 130 - 130: A Harem, not-Harem...?

    Sasha, suddenly feeling more competitive when around this new contender than with the younger girls, wore what she thought to be her most appealing dress on this outing. Though, when Cassius discreetly headed into the convenience store to get the lotto ticket stuff settled, Sasha harrumphed before crossing her arms underneath her ample valley tops.

    Hellion, confused, stared at this blonde MILF in bewilderment.

    After Cassius ''cashed'' in the winnings, he, along with the girls, made their way over to a few real-estate agencies. To onlookers, when they saw a man as beautiful as him surrounded by several model-level women, their first assumption was that he swung the other way and was one of the ''girlfriends.'' However, of the starstruck men that walked over and shot their shots to those they fancied, everyone soon came to realize that the man was, in fact, not¡­ gay!

    Every time an interested guy approached one of the girls, that same girl, even if it were Sasha or Hellion, would immediately latch onto Cassius''s arm. Some of the more shameless guys even tried hitting on different girls after failing with their first choice, yet that only made more of the girls cling to Cassius.

    Now, either this man was their dude repellent, or he was an absolute¡­ Chad!

    While observing their dynamics, multiple people noticed how unresponsive Cassius was to guys flirting with any of the girls in his party. As long as the guys didn''t take things too far, he didn''t seem to care. This led them to believe that he was just that much more of a¡­ Chad! There was no other explanation!

    If this handsome man was, in fact, in with the girls, then he would definitely be more emotional and even take great offense to the guys hitting on his girlfriends. However, seeing as that wasn''t the case, it became abundantly obvious that his ''girlfriends'' were the real article kind of girlfriends!

    In conclusion, handsome man had harem ¡ú was Chad! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And somehow, this scenario made even unrelated girls swoon over the suave, devilishly handsome man. For some reason, girls seemed to like it when other girls were interested in a man. This upped his value or something like that.

    Yet, when it came to girls approaching Cassius, this was an entirely different ballpark. None of the gals in his party tolerated even slightly flirtatious glances, let alone full-out flirting sessions. They usually worked together to scare away the homewreckers when this occurred.

    And like that, the day passed rather smoothly, with any lecherous fellows and ladies eventually stopping their pursuit. Cassius and the gang also found the house they were going to purchase. It had three stories, over ten bedrooms, and six bathrooms. Moreover, it also had an outdoor pool and jacuzzi, as well as a neat patio.

    For a meager half a million, it was certainly impressive.

    Though, it was believed to be just the tiny bit¡­ haunted¡­ However, that was more of an unlikely rumor than anything. There was no way the house was actually haunted¡­

    Anywho, after taking a couple of days to settle into the $450,000 house and move everything over, Cassius also took the time to tell Grace and Bella of his relocation. They were scared at first, but after hearing that he was still in the neighborhood, they both breathed sighs of relief.

    Then again, Bella and Grace didn''t quite understand why Cassius and his family were moving. Their previous house was plenty big enough. And though Grace didn''t think much of it, Bella found it more than a little suspicious.

    ''One only really moves when space is not sufficient anymore¡­ But for that to be the case, there would need to be an increase in household occupation¡­''

    Bella smelled sus. This would definitely require more investigating.

    Grace, on the other hand, was simply happy to know that Cassius would be taking her out to more places very soon. He promised as much while they were talking, and she would be anticipating every moment up until what he said came to fruition.

    As the days went by and summer break was nearing its end, Cassius began to notice something up within himself. It was subtle, but he could feel a part of him yearning for blood, of all things. He could also somewhat see through other living beings and observe what were most certainly nervous systems or the veins that connected to each other throughout one''s body. This also meant he could feel their hot, pulsating blood coursing through those same veins.

    It was extremely odd, to say the least.

    On a plus note, when weeks had already gone by since Cassius met and defeated Hellion in HELL, he had been nonstop practicing his various techniques. He got his Basic Movements Manual to the 5th Layer, the Defend Manual to the 4th Layer, and the Attack Manual to the peak of the 4th Layer. Moreover, he advanced the altruistic |Fiendish Demon King Arts| to Greater Completion, which was just two steps away from the maximum proficiency ranking of ''Integration.''

    For Techniques and Arts, they all varied greatly in terms of practice milestones. But the most prominent and commonly used milestones denoters were either Layer, Levels, and Ranks or the ''Martial Artist Technique Rankings.''

    Cassius later learned of this ranking through an S-Rank Booklet of the same name that he obtained after conquering a certain Purple-rank Gate on the other side of the world. You see, as he was no longer limited to just Japan with his speed, he could cross all sorts of wide distances very easily. This made it extremely simple to clear the weakest of Purple-rank Gates, all of which were left open for the very few S-Rank Hunter Parties to farm.

    In fact, because of one of the times that Cassius did this, the secret clearance of a Purple-ranked Gate in America ended up on the international headlines as the ''Incognito S-Rank Hunter Party crossing borders to steal resources from other countries.''

 Chapter 131 - 131: Demon King Ranks

    But getting back to the matter at hand.

    The Martial Artist Technique Rankings were ranked in this order from lowest to highest:

    1- Practiced

    2- Accomplished

    3- Minor Completion

    4- Greater Completion

    5- Mastered

    6- Integration

    Cassius being able to advance the |Fiendish Demon King Arts| to Greater Completion was already a grand accomplishment. Yet, it wasn''t the only technique he progressed to Greater Completion, as he also got his |Demon Dragon Integration Arts| to Greater Completion!

    With the former technique, he was able to embark on the Path of the Demon King, which was something that any number of Demon Kings would kill to have. However, seeing as only the Top 5 Demon Kings were privy to how to start and progress on the Path of the Demon King, the other Demon Kings could only devour each other in hopes of becoming stronger. They could also take from human blood sacrifices in the mortal realm, but that method was highly impractical.

    From the |Fiendish Demon King Arts|, Cassius learned of yet another ranking system.

    For those who progressed down the Demon King Path as Demon Kings, there were six ranks, most of which were undersaturated:

    1- Lesser Demon King - The lowest rank, newly ascended or ruling a small domain.

    2- Greater Demon King - A more powerful ruler with established authority.

    3- Archdemon - A mighty and feared leader commanding vast legions.

    4- Demon Emperor - A near-supreme ruler with dominion over multiple regions in HELL. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    5- Demon Overlord - A master of the demonic hierarchy, commanding countless Demon Kings (normally).

    6- Demon God - The highest possible rank, considered a divine-like being of absolute power.

    Each rank was further split into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak stages. Yet, for just about every single Demon King in the current era, none of these rankings even mattered.

    According to Hellion, who was surprised to figure out that he knew of the Demon King Path, the Top 5 Demon Kings were Demon Overlords. And this was where it got weird, as there were no Demon Kings below the Demon Overlord rank. Of course, this didn''t mean that no other Demon King was stronger than a Lesser Demon King; it was just that they embarked on a separate, more "unrefined" path.

    To Demon Kings of old and new, the "unrefined" path was simply the one that most other races¡ªand even their own kind¡ªused. Excluding the Angelic Path of the Heavenly Kingdom, the Demon King Path truly was the more "refined" option.

    However, as to why there were only five Demon Kings presently walking the Demon King Path, it was rumored that those same Demon Kings wiped out all others when the Demon God vanished many, many years ago. It was even said that there used to be tens of thousands of Demon Kings, and the Demon Realm was far larger than it was now.

    But with time, things change.

    The Demon King Path was now nothing more than an urban myth, something that only the five most ancient and tyrannical Demon Kings could verify the veracity of.

    So far, Cassius had progressed to the Peak stage of the Lesser Demon King Rank, which he assumed to be pretty decent. And that was with him practicing the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual and Demon Dragon Integration Arts on top of that.

    The latter was a very simple technique. All Cassius had to do was focus on the Demon Dragon Bloodline within himself and concentrate in an attempt to amplify the amount of the bloodline present inside him. By doing this, both his proficiency in the technique and his Demon Dragon Bloodline improved.

    On the note of bloodlines, his Bloodlines, as of now, looked like:

    {[Bloodline]}

    1. [(SS-Rank) Demon King] - [100%]

    2. [(SS-Rank) Ordinary Phoenix] - [42.6%]

    3. [(S-Rank) Oracle Sphinx] - [100%]

    4. [(SS-Rank) Demon Dragon] - [1.8%]

    And then there was¡­

    5. [(SSS-Rank) Duke Vampire] - [0.001%]

    "Wait¡­ Hold up! What is that last one!? And when did it get here?!" Cassius''s eyes widened in shock as he was in the process of clearing a Low Purple-rank Gate in the winterlands of Russia.

    "...This is¡­ Could this be the reason for how I can now see through people''s bodies for no apparent reason?"

    Things were beginning to piece themselves together inside his head. Yet, even if everything now made a lot more sense, why he had this Bloodline in the first place was still a complete mystery.

    "This isn''t some sort of damn spider-bites-the-man-and-the-man-turns-into-Spiderman incident, is it?"

    Cassius tried recalling if he had ever had a run-in with a bat, but his mind drew blanks!

    "If it''s not that, then was I at some point bitten by an actual¡­ vampire???" His voice, on the brink of relapse, echoed throughout a vast snowy field.

    The Yetis in the area, who populated this Gate, all turned their heads in the direction of the voice. Their eyes were quickly consumed by a savage red glow, and they charged toward the voice. As they were the size of mountains, they destroyed entire forests in their maniacal rampaging.

    Though, for Cassius, it was more annoying than anything to listen to all this rumbling.

    He casually tossed out a few Rare-ranked Evoballs, and out popped dozens of A++ and S- - Rank Evomon. Nyxvoldar, at the forefront, was the smallest and leanest of the bunch, but with his flowing shadowy electric mane to back his presence, his S-Rank aura radiated outward.

    Nyxvoldar was so powerful now that even the Cassius from a month ago would not stand a chance against it. There was no questioning its strength. And when it blurred forward at a mere two and a half meters in size, entire snow mountain ranges were uprooted and violently thrown into the air.

    Cassius threw a glance at Nyxvoldar and the massive Evomon tagging fast behind before refocusing on this new Bloodline of his. Although he still had no idea where it came from or how he acquired it, he knew of its SSS-Rank status. He also paid attention to the noteworthy word placed behind the ''Vampire'' word.

 Chapter 132 - 132: {[Duke Vampire Bloodline (SSS-Rank)]} - [0.001%]

    {[Duke Vampire Bloodline (SSS-Rank)]} - [0.001%]

    ¡ª[This Bloodline is one that any number of Vampires would kill for, as it is the second-highest bloodline in all of Nightingale, second only to the Vampire King''s direct Bloodline.] Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª[To have access to this mighty Bloodline, there are two possible scenarios. One: you are born as a vampire and are the descendant of a Vampire Duke. Two: you are bitten by either a genuine Vampire Duke or by one of the Duke''s descendants.]

    ¡ª[Bloodline grants inhuman levels of strength, agility, and defense. 2000% increases across the board.]

    ¡ª[Bloodline grants a plethora of vampyric bloodline abilities, of which there are three types. One: Basic Bloodline Abilities; every Vampire, no matter their bloodline rank, has them. Two: Rank-specific Bloodline Abilities; these are better if the rank of the Bloodline is better. Three: Individual-specific Ability(s); Typically only one Ability per person, and this Ability can be considered the trademark of that person, their Unique Ability per se.]

    Focusing on the Vampire explanation segment, Cassius automatically crossed out the option involving him having been born a vampire. The second option had to be the correct one.

    But that didn''t change the confusing matter at hand: How in the f*ck did he get bitten by a Vampire?? And for how long has he not known??

    Cassius tried asking the System, yet came back empty-handed and in a sour mood. The System definitely knew something he didn''t, as it was quite obvious by the smug emoticons it used, but it refused to tell him anything. It soaked and drenched itself in his sorrows and grievances, not caring a single bit about how this situation affected him.

    ''Even after putting on the Newbie 7 Equipment Set and weighing more than most cities, I am still being bullied by this unreasonable system¡­''

    Cassius had many hateful words he wanted to get out but felt it to be all too pointless to do something like that. Instead, he scanned through more of the intricate parts of the Duke Vampire Bloodline. It increased his stats by a substantial amount, and he read of a way to further improve these increases. But to do that, he had to progress the Bloodline.

    To do that, he had to¡­ suck the blood of other living beings.

    However, according to the description, he could also drain blood like how Lilith has been doing. With her method of draining, she even just recently managed to advance to the S+ Rank, putting her at an even higher all-around rank than her master. As he had been spending most of his time progressing in his techniques, he didn''t Gate farm as much in comparison. Thanks to this and his addiction to dumping all his AP into his Agility stat, several of his stats were even lower than Nyxvoldar''s highest stats.

    He had an addiction, yes. There was nothing after that¡­ He was simply a raging addict.

    ''But back to the topic of draining blood,'' Cassius thought, distracting himself from admitting that he had a problem. ''Even though it''s something rather unsanitary, even for me, if I wish to obtain more strength and figure out how a Vampire secretly bit me, then I''ll need to suck some blood.''

    As soon as he realized what he had to do to truly get things rolling, he called for the return of his Evomon. He made sure to order them not to completely evaporate the A++ |Frigid Ice Yetis|, instead ordering them to bring the corpses back in mostly intact conditions.

    It took a few minutes for the hordes of colossal Ice Yetis to get slaughtered by the Evomon, but once that did happen, they returned with hundreds of carcasses. And as their Liege activated a Basic Vampire Ability called ''Blood Drain'' with his own little mass absorption spin, he was also reminded of a very important matter.

    Namely, it was the Quest pertaining to the Extraterrestrial Gremlins that he had to locate and kill 10 of. As of now, not a single one had been located and not a single one had been killed. And although the time limit for the Quest gave him plenty of wiggle room, he still felt like the sooner he got the Quest done with and out of the way, the better.

    {[Main Quest #3]}

    {[Task: Discover and kill [0/20 Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends]]}

    {[Task Time Limit: 1 Month, 28 Days, 21 Hours, 54 Minutes, 37 Seconds]} - [Tic, Toc, time''s running out. Move your a*s, lard face!]

    {[Reward 1 - [1000 AP]]}

    {[Reward 2 - [S-Rank ''Extraterrestrial Sight'']]}

    {[Reward 3 - [200 Uncommon Evoballs]]}

    {[Reward 4 - [S-Rank ''Stellar Flight'']]}

    The rewards as they were weren''t all that appealing to Cassius, as he could already fly and he had plenty of AP and Evoballs. However, something within him was telling him that Stellar Flight was more than it seemed. He also believed the same thing about the Extraterrestrial Sight Skill. Instinctively, he knew that they were both mystical Skills necessary for the journey that would follow.

    Yet, he still had to figure out how in the hell he was supposed to find those aliens¡­

    Even with his rather powerful Perception Stat, he was unable to scan through thousands and tens of thousands of people''s System Tags without mixing them up as they moved. This meant that he either had to be in close proximity to one of these Gremlin Extraterrestrials or he needed to increase the Perception Stat that was already in the S- range.

    Yet, even with all that, doubt still lingered inside Cassius''s mind. A higher Perception Stat wouldn''t necessarily improve his scanning capabilities in that capacity, which meant that Auxiliary Skills were required. However, even with tens of thousands of unique and versatile Skills having come his way because of Skill Boxes, none of it seemed to make too much of a difference in that regard. Even the S-Rank/Ruby-rank Skills did nothing much to improve upon this extremely intricate problem of his.

    This meant that, until a better solution could be found, Cassius had to stick to the simplest plan of simply aimlessly wandering around until he happened upon an Imposter.

    At least he knew all 10 of them were in Hoshito, which¡­ really didn''t do much to assist him. Haha¡­ ha¡­ ha...

 Chapter 133 - 133: {[Heartless Ice Kingâ€™s Domain (Low Purple-rank)]} - [Semi-CLEARED]

    Cassius sighed while splitting up the blood of the Ice Yetis with his happily vibrating Lilith. The hundreds of Ice Yetis were swiftly drained dry, meaning that it was time to begin the hunt again. Luckily, there were several powerful S-Rank presences popping up in multiple different parts of the extremely expansive domain that was the Low Purple-rank Gate known as ''Heartless Ice King''s Domain.''

    As the name of the Gate implied, there was a mighty Monster dubbed the ''Heartless Ice King.''

    That terrifyingly domineering and massive monster resided within the very depths of this Gate the size of a moon. Naturally, it was the Boss Monster, and according to reports made by the S-Rank groups who cleared this Gate before, that behemoth was the size of a city and sat near the limit of what a small country could manage. Just a single one of its paws would be able to flatten villages and towns, leaving hundreds of thousands of deaths in its wake.

    And if the Heartless Ice King, the bigfuck of an ice bear, ever unleashed its ridiculously cold ice beam, entire countries would turn into ice cubes!

    "At least, that is what they say," muttered Cassius, his piercing bluish-red eyes zooming past the S- ''Permafrost Hawks,'' which served as the Mini Bosses of the Gate. "But as with most rumors, they''re usually exaggerated."

    He honed in on a large plot of land that appeared unnatural. The land occasionally shook and wiggled around in ways that didn''t make much sense. It was only after two windy streams of breath blew out like unstoppable air blasts that one would notice a pair of black flaring nostrils the size of small towns.

    {[Heartless Ice King (S-Rank)(Boss Monster)]} - [Danger Rating: High-Yellow]

    Cassius knew not to trust Danger Ratings anymore. That was unless they were in the Flashing Red or Black range. Otherwise, they were highly varied and didn''t do much to accurately gauge the danger he faced with his skewed attributes thrown into the mix.

    "For something like this¡­ A simple attack should work." Cassius coldly snorted as he stuck up his right index finger and concentrated a reddish-purple energy at his fingertip.

    The energy appeared as if it were frozen in place when, in actuality, it was spinning and gathering more energy at a speed so fast that the speed couldn''t even be properly perceived. It was only after two seconds of amassing energy that he spoke the name of one of his most-used Skills:

    |Dragon Quasar (S+++)| - |Single shot|

    Fwwoooop¡ª!!

    The sound barrier shattered. The barrier that signified light speed shattered right after. Then, with a straight line of destruction razing havoc through the land, the Skill finally hit its target. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!"

    The Heartless Ice King attempted to react to this sudden beam attack shot from thousands of miles away, yet it was already too late. By the time it fluttered open one of its massive eyes, half its head had been shaved clean off. Another Dragon Quasar beam cut through the air, and the other half of the head vanished as well.

    In the background, two giant colorful explosions raised into the air in the form of mushroom clouds. However, as if none of the following chaos had anything to do with him, Cassius teleported across the skies and appeared in front of the Heartless Ice King''s corpse. He indifferently floated down and started draining the Boss Monster''s blood, also making sure to allot a certain amount of it to the ever-voracious Lilith.

    Several System notifications rang out while this was occurring:

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain the (S-Rank) Boss Monster ''Heartless Ice King'']

    [Your Experience Bar has slightly moved!]

    [(SSS-Rank) Duke Vampire Bloodline progressing: 0.230%... 0.260%... 0.350%... 0.470%... 0.620%... 0.780%.]

    [You have slaughtered hundreds more A++ ''Frigid Ice Yetis'']

    [Your Experience Bar has barely moved!]

    [You have slain 10+ S- ''Permafrost Hawks'']

    [Your Experience Bar has nudged forward!]

    *Ding!*

    {[Heartless Ice King''s Domain (Low Purple-rank)]} - [Semi-CLEARED]

    [Would you like to leave the Gate now and allow it to restore all fallen monsters, or would you prefer to continue killing every single last one of the monsters in an attempt to permanently clear the Gate?] - [O1/O2]

    Cassius chose option 1.

    This wasn''t even his first time clearing this Gate under Russia''s nose, and it certainly wouldn''t be the last time. Therefore, permanently closing a prime Gate like this one was a no-go, even if it gave meager amounts of EXP after he exceeded Lvl 95. Then again, every Gate, no matter its rank, now gave barely anything, and this one was definitely one of the better ones.

    "Clearing any Gate below the Purple rank is fine, as I''ve already permanently cleared thousands of them around the world, but as the Purple-rank Gates are still few in number, it''s more profitable to keep them around," Cassius mused as he felt himself get torn apart and zorped away by force. "If only just until Purple-rank Gates no longer give me anything of value, I''ll need them to stick around."

    There were only a handful of Purple-rank Gates scattered across the globe, numbering no more than 40. And as every one of them had a certain refresh rate, Cassius was forced to clear them in rotation. Now, if he suddenly decided to start permanently closing the only Gates that gave him any decent amount of EXP, then his road to Lvl 100 would be barred off unless he ventured back into HELL. And that just wasn''t an acceptable outcome.

    ''And besides, all of the Purple-rank Gates are at or below the Middle of the rank, which is just perfect for most of the world powers to safely farm. This means that no one is being hurt or affected by these present Gates staying around,'' thought Cassius. ''Unless a freak accident occurs, even the S-Rank Hunters, who have cleared these Gates many times already, are able to clear them without incident.''

    ''It is only the newly opened and unfamiliar Gates that pose a threat to Humanity, with the annual death toll being in the tens of millions¡­''

 Chapter 134 - 134: Memphiss S-Rank Awakening

    Cassius himself was surprised by the annual human death statistics when he first heard them, and he was even more surprised when he learned that most of those deaths happened because of lower-ranking Gates. Seeing as the weaker Gates had less priority over the stronger Gates, they were neglected and tossed to the back of the line. This often led to countless daily deaths by low-level monsters that could''ve been avoided. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The way he saw it, the world governments should''ve been putting more effort into finding a way to close all Gates for good. Yet they weren''t. The source of the Gates wasn''t being actively sought out; no one even seemed to care all that much about it. And just like that, the Gate and Hunter industry transformed into the Pharmaceutical Industry, effectively making everything into a money-grab scheme.

    However, over the last couple of months, Gates have been sprouting up more frequently. This worried the bigwigs upstairs, causing some of them to resume the search for the Source of the Gates¡ªa search that was never even seriously considered to begin with.

    It was unknown what they would find, or if they would even find anything at all. But change was occurring.

    The world was changing.

    Just like it had a century ago, another great Calamity showed signs of awakening. It was on the horizon, simply waiting for the most opportune time to rear its yawning head and bring about the END.

    FWIP!

    Cassius appeared in the outside world of Russia. His appearance was still hidden underneath a shadowy cloak, yet that did little to conceal the otherworldly handsome features that lay underneath¡ªfeatures that took upon his original black-haired, blue-eyed look and improved upon it. As of now, he looked as if a heavenly immortal had descended and taken hold of his body.

    Coincidentally, the Idle Evolution System also said something similar:

    [CHARISMA: 70] - [Like an Immortal descended from heaven, you havith appeared. Grace these lowly mortal peasants with your otherworldly grace!]

    Over the past few weeks, Cassius had been grinding the Daily Quests to no end. It was thanks to this consistent grind fest that he was able to acquire so many Charisma stat points, which subsequently improved his physical aesthetics to a level that exceeded anything seen on Earth. Just a single glance of his could cause hundreds of women to fall head over heels for him. This also made him the archenemy of almost every male in existence, but that hardly mattered to him.

    On a more important note, as Cassius sped out of Russia''s territory at several times the speed of light, he felt a familiar presence in one of the Western Countries. His nose crinkled as his brows knitted together. A sigh escaped his lips.

    ''That girl is at it again¡­'' he thought with a hint of exasperation. ''Ever since she awakened as an S-Rank, and a powerful one at that, she has not returned home for over half a month. I know that she was scouted by one of the most prominent Hunter Guilds in the world¡ªEarth Crusaders¡ªbut she has been obsessed with going into Gates and killing monsters.''

    Cassius worried that the meek girl he picked up in a Gate following her father''s death was no longer the cute, quiet girl he once knew. The yearning for revenge that bubbled inside her after she learned of her newfound power drove her out of the family she had made, instead dragging her down a spiraling pit of no return.

    There was also an incident twenty or so days ago that nudged the soft-spoken Memphis further into the path of monster slaying. Specifically, it was when her uncle somehow found her location and began urging her to come into his care.

    That event scared her; the fear etched into her beautiful face was something Cassius would never forget.

    At first, he was going to deal with her uncle himself, but seeing as this was a hurdle she had to overcome, he held back until a point where his assistance was absolutely necessary. This decision led to a long, drawn-out period of time where kind-faced harassment was typical. The police even became involved at some point, but they were swiftly sent back where they came from by Cassius''s mind manipulation abilities.

    And then came an event where Memphis''s uncle tried to force himself on her when she left for a quick errand to a nearby grocery store. Cassius was prepared to end this whole thing right then and there as he had been keeping a close eye on her. But that was when it happened¡­

    A bright, effulgent light erupted from Memphis''s body as soon as her uncle attempted to grope her. This light pushed him back multiple feet, knocking him against a brick wall. Then, when the light surrounding Memphis vanished, an entirely new version of her appeared. The cold, ruthless gleam in her glowing eyes scared her uncle witless. And within mere moments, he left the area, never to return.

    She did not stop him.

    Cassius did.

    He felt it to be his obligation to clean up any messes that could potentially backfire on Memphis and the women he now considered as part of his family. If they were unable to get their hands dirty, then he would dirty his hands in their stead.

    However, after that incident concluded, Memphis never returned to how she was.

    Something that occurred must''ve made her feel that only her own power could be relied upon, because she never again asked Cassius for help. He didn''t bother explaining how he had been secretly looking out for her, and she never thought to ask; after all, very few knew just how powerful he had become.

    Memphis went to the Hunter''s Association to get her rank tested the very next day. Everyone in Hoshito was astonished to discover that an actual S-Rank Awakener had appeared in their humble city. The headlines even up till now all featured her, with even national newspapers not missing out on any coverage related to the newest S-Rank Hunter, the one who was expected to take the place of the once illustrious Static Baron.

 Chapter 135 - 135: Memphiss Departure

    Memphis left Hoshito the same day her rank was discovered. She bid farewell to Cassius and the other girls who had treated her like a sister, yet she didn''t shed a tear. Sasha and even the tsundere Aya teared up, but she did not. It wasn''t that she didn''t care or had turned into an emotionless robot; it was just that she had a new goal in mind that she had to achieve no matter what.

    All Gates in the world would permanently disappear, and she would be the one to make it happen. This was what she vowed to herself. Emotions would have to be put on the backburner.

    After taking one long and hard look at Cassius, Memphis bit her lips and held back what she wanted to say. She couldn''t even bring herself to look him in the eyes right now, let alone confess her feelings to him and tell him how she''d pay him back for everything he had done for her.

    The truth was that they lived in two different worlds. At least, that was how Memphis saw it.

    The last thing she wanted to do was get Cassius and her family mixed up in the dangerous life of a Hunter. To that end, she stayed her tongue and embarked on a path of her own, all while holding back her emotions. She bottled them up deep inside herself, hoping they would never again see the light of day. Not until all Gates in the world were gone.

    Sasha was quite gloomy for the week following Memphis''s departure. She had even prepared everything the young girl would have needed for the new school year, all of which no longer mattered. Even Aya and Stella, who got along quite well with Memphis, weren''t as chipper as usual. There was also Grace, who had been informed of Cassius''s unusual housing guest situation a while back. Although jealous that all these girls, including the mellow Memphis, had been living so intimately with the guy she liked, she eventually befriended everyone except for Yimin and Hellion, the former of whom simply didn''t like anyone besides her Master. Period.

    Hence, Grace, too, was saddened by Memphis''s departure. She understood very well why her friend had to go, but it still wasn''t a very pleasant thing to experience. She had to go on many dates with Mr. Loverboy to make up for the missing part of her heart. Aya and the others, of course, did everything in their power to prevent these outings from ever happening. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, the shy Grace was a lot more cunning than one might imagine.

    Almost every single attempt of hers to get Cassius to go on a date with her ended up in great success. She also outplayed her rivals in love, distracting them or sneaking past them with ease. All in all, she was leading in the game that was getting closer to the man so handsome that he had to wear a hood wherever he went.

    He was also so dense that light bent around him. This frustrating quality of his made it nearly impossible for him to cheat, but it also posed an unbelievable challenge for anyone who wished to leave the friend zone. All except for Hellion, who remained a third-party observer to it all, understood very well just how dense Cassius''s density wall of unimaginable density actually was.

    Hell, Yimin practically threw herself at him at every opportunity she got, yet every attempt got her no closer to sneaking into his pants. All she wanted to do was play with the dragon! Perhaps have a battle of the dragons underneath the covers! Was that so bad??

    Yet, even with one of the competitors journeying out into the vast world in pursuit of revenge, neither Yimin nor the other girls felt Loverboy becoming any more attracted to them. He was like a gawdamn Buddha, for f***''s sake! It was infuriating!

    Even Sasha, who became more and more pent up with time, gave out occasional, unintentional hints. They were all for naught, of course. This led to even more unrest in her unsatisfied nightlife.

    She knew it had been around two months since she did the deed, but that was normally nowhere near enough to have her acting up like this. If she was being honest, it wasn''t until she married Adam Steele that she felt perpetually unsatisfied. She recalled doing it with him numerous times, yet it all felt wrong somehow¡ªlike none of it even happened. Now, either his willy was too small and his technique too mediocre to satisfy, or something was¡­ amiss.

    Sasha''s conundrum was problematic and troublesome, to say the least¡­

    ¡ª--------------

    When Cassius returned home and entered through the front door, he was surprised to find Sasha cooking up a bomb of a meal for breakfast. He also noticed the clothing she was wearing. It was rather¡­

    Risque¡­ Alluring? Definitely.

    Sasha had on only her faintly see-through nightgown and a loosely tied apron. The apron did very little to hide the two mountainous lumps of jiggling gelatin in the back, with the nightgown also helping none in that regard.

    Sasha''s attire did an unparalleled job of accentuating her slim waist, ample breasts, and child-bearing hips. If a Milf-hunting contest was held in Hoshito to determine who was the hottest Milf, everyone would be searching for her.

    Today, Sasha was the only one to have her long, silky blond hair tied into an enchanting ponytail. The others, currently sitting around the dining room table, all let their luscious hair hang loose and shimmer like the most mesmerizing of waterfalls.

    "!!!"

    Yimin, upon inhaling a whiff of her Master''s intoxicating scent, immediately stood up and jumped in his direction.

    "Master, you should''ve told Yimin right away that you were coming back!! Yimin wanted to come with you, but Master said no. Yimin doesn''t understand why Master said this! Please don''t leave Yimin alone again! Waahh!"

    Cassius contemplated the thought of pushing her away, but she seemed genuinely upset, so he let her be. Noticing something while looking down at her, he thought, ''It appears that the Green-ranked Dragon Pellets I acquired from that one Gate did the trick. Her overall combat power has already exceeded the S+ Rank. It surely won''t be long before she reaches the very pinnacle of the S-Rank.''

 Chapter 136 - 136: Lingering Questions...

    The silly dragon''s speed couldn''t compare to Cassius''s, as he was a speed demon, but her other raw attributes far surpassed his. She was, after all, a high-born pure-blooded Dragon descended from a mighty Universal Species, so this was to be expected. However, even then, it was hard to say for certain if she beat him in anything if he made use of his Fundamental Body Refinement Manuals. Then again, none had been able to force out his full power since his run-in with Hellion, so nothing was for certain.

    A slightly annoyed feminine sigh echoed out while Cassius was being smothered by the busty dragonoid beauty.

    "I see that that stubborn girl still hasn''t gotten out of the habit of calling you ''Master''," Sasha said with a small pout. "I know you told me that you found her sad and alone on the side of the street, and that she''s foreign, but no matter how I think about it, no country has a Master-servant custom set in place for benefactors¡­"

    Aya narrowed her eyes along with her mother. "That dirty playboy is no good, Mother. You mustn''t believe a word that he says," she announced. "For all we know, Cassius, the stinky stoopid pervert, brought her over from some suspicious site! Same with the Egyptian one!"

    Hellion momentarily turned her head up from a book she was reading at the large table of their massive mansion before returning to her reading time. She wasn''t the least bit interested in any of the mortals she had seen so far; the only one who caught her eye was the indifferent Cassius¡ªan anomaly whose presence somehow became stronger every time she saw him. As he was, she had no clue just how powerful he had become.

    ''The END of times edges ever closer. HELL will also begin to make their move,'' she thought in passing. ''I only wonder which part this child has to play in it all.''

    The more Hellion thought about it, the wider her smirk became. She truly couldn''t wait for the time that would follow; it might just make all that she had done so far worth it.

    Cassius noticed the peculiarities present in the stupidly gorgeous Egyptian beauty, yet found it hard to decipher what she was thinking about when a pair of vicious sapphire-blue eyes was piercing into his soul. Aya, in all her beauty, knew not how to make use of it, nor did she know how to take a gentler approach. She only knew of the violent way¡ªthe Tsundere way.

    "So, Cassius!?" Aya raised her voice while taking step after step in his direction. "Are you going to tell us where Sister Stella, Sister Memphis, and the two bimbos actually came from? But knowing you, you won''t say a single thing, will you??"

    Cassius bitterly smiled, doing well to hide most of his emotions beneath his shadowy cloak. "...I truly don''t have an inkling of an idea what you are talking about, Aya love¡ª"

    "Hwa!?" Aya''s cheeks suddenly radiated a crimson flush, with her feet dancing around in place. "Y-You pervert!" she declared before leaving the kitchen in a flustered rush.

    "???"

    "Did I say something wrong?"

    Everyone looked at Cassius like they were looking at the most indestructible wall in the history of walls. If any well-renowned construction worker were here, they could surely learn a thing or two about structural density.

    "My poor daughter¡­ Haiz," Sasha sighed, a silent part of her finding it hard to believe that she was also in the same predicament as her beloved Aya. "Cassius, are you trying to seduce my daughter?"

    "Seduce her?" Cassius parroted in confusion. "How so?"

    ''He''s so¡­ hopeless¡­'' Stella and Sasha both thought in unison.

    Hellion merely chuckled, finding it very amusing how such a powerful and mysterious human could be so terrible¡ªor rather, superb¡ªwhen it came to women. ''All those around him are throwing hints of love left and right, yet he evades those things like the plague. He''s certainly a very funny man, even more so when he''s doing all this unintentionally.''

    Squishing her cheeks against his cloak, Yimin looked up with round shining eyes. "Master can seduce Yimin anytime that he wishes! Yimin is ready to be seduced! Then we can get to f*cking and making the babies¡ª"

    Cassius clasped her mouth and silenced her.

    Looking at the judging expressions of the other girls in the spacious mansion kitchen, he said, "Don''t mind her, as usual. In her home country, this is normal behavior toward someone who feels indebted to someone else. I just hope she feels a little ''less'' indebted at some point¡­" He eyed the cheeky dragon still clinging to his stomach, to which he saw her stunning eyes avert his gaze. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius huffed a little before diverting his attention back toward Sasha and Stella. "The new school year is starting tomorrow, and I still plan to go. I assume everything is good here even if I''m not here?"

    ''Perhaps I''ll find some Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends at a populated place like Hoshito General High. I''ve been constantly frequenting the malls, the police stations, the Hunter''s Association, and the City Hall, but no luck. I only need to locate 1 of 10 and follow the trail back to the rest of them, but Lady Luck has been avoiding me as of late¡ª''

    "It was good here every time you left for days on end doing whatever it is you do. Why worry about us now?" replied Sasha, her tone indicating how upset she was.

    "Indeed. Just do whatever you''re going to do anyway. Humph!" Even Stella, who was normally very laid-back, showed her displeasure over how often he left her alone.

    ''I only came to live with you for you, you big dummy. And yet you head out to either clear Gates or pick up vixens without me! If I were there, then no woman would dare get close, and I could also help with Gate clearing! What are you challenging? Yellow and Red-Rank Gates? I have gone on many such Gate raids! You big dummy!''

 Chapter 137 - 137: A Couple Pale Stalkers

    That was what Stella wanted to say, yet, like usual, she just wasn''t able to voice her grievances. It was really frustrating.

    "Ahh, would you look at the time¡­?" Cassius suddenly said, sweat beads raining down his face, his heart full of guilt. "I have to go walk the goldfish!¡ªI mean walk the go¡­ walk myself down the roads of this go~reat town and head to work. As it''s my final day, I should really settle everything. Yes, yes, I really must do this. I''ll see you both in a few hours! Talk then!"

    After looking away from his invisible watch, Cassius hurried out the door.

    "Jerk," Stella grumbled.

    "Agreed," said Sasha, her cheeks filled with air. She swayed her charming hips and buttocks before finishing up breakfast. Though, since it was just her and the similarly minded Stella eating, she had to pack the rest for the others. Fortunately, with several large fancy fridges and freezers in the house, there was plenty of room to store the leftovers.

    ¡ªMeanwhile, just outside a giant mansion surrounded by several other mansions¡ª

    On his way out, Cassius completely forgot to drop off his clingy dragon, which led to him throwing her over his shoulders.

    His path to work naturally caused many people to point and stare, as although they couldn''t make out all of his appearance, they could tell that he was tall and handsome. Add that to the silver-haired beauty happily swinging her legs while sitting on him, and they surmised this man to be the¡ª sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ªMysterious Bookstore Model¡ªthe one said to be more handsome than even the most popular K-pop idols!

    While everyone was whispering about him, Cassius was thinking about something else. ''As today is also the last day of my Daily Quests, I wonder if I''ll receive anything decent? Maybe the System will be generous this time around¡­''

    He probably jinxed it, but oh well. A man could only hope.

    During his entire walk toward Bookworm''s Paradise, Cassius failed to notice the starry-eyed girl hiding behind a couple of collapsed brick walls. She was the one to destroy them, and did so in broad daylight, yet not a single passerby so much as looked in her direction. As a Duke Vampire Descendant, her powers were simply unfathomable¡­

    With an ominous black aura seeping from her pores, Bella mumbled so quickly that her words came out in an insane sputtering. The longer she stood there and mumbled, the more her aura grew out of control. And although nobody could even see her right now, that didn''t mean they couldn''t feel their spines tingling. Even a newborn baby in a stroller began to cry when Bella''s pupils fully darkened and transformed into bottomless purple abysses.

    ''I just want to love you¡­!! Why won''t you let me love you!??''

    WHOOOSH!

    Her surging emotions caused an unusual phenomenon to emerge in the area. Esoteric miasmic energies shot out and spun around with one another before fusing and creating a violent vortex of vampyric energy. To others, however, it looked like a twister suddenly materialized in the middle of the street.

    "How in the hell could there be a twister out here!? What the sh*t is going on??"

    "Who gives a f*ck, dude! Just run!"

    Those in the vicinity, mostly unawakened, ran for the hills as soon as the twister appeared. This quick and decisive action on their part led to no casualties. And by the time the evil twister dispersed, there were only three people still present in the surroundings. One was the deranged black-haired girl, and the other two were a pair of pale-faced people in suits. One was a woman, whereas the other was a man. They were both exceptionally beautiful, but they held an eternal touch of disdain on their expressions, which lessened their aesthetics quite a bit.

    "The young miss is at it again," said the man. His eyes zoomed past the crazed Bella and landed on the distant figure of Cassius. The man''s face twisted in disdain as he said, in a scornful tone, "I just can''t fathom why someone as distinguished as the young miss became like this all because of a measly human. Tsk!"

    "Calm yourself, Leon," the woman lectured. "The young miss''s personal life is not something neither you nor I can interfere in. We are simply here to protect her. That is all."

    Despite the woman''s words, it wasn''t like she viewed the human in any better light than her male counterpart. In her mind and in the minds of most vampires, humans were just dirty, pitiful creatures, none of them deserving to be viewed as anything more than livestock. And they weren''t the only race to view humans like this, as almost every race thought along the same lines. Even their arch nemesis, the werewolves, could agree with them on this.

    Hell, even aliens saw humans as livestock and test subjects!

    "Do we really have to keep allowing that human to continue on living??" the pale man asked, his voice coming out in a low growl. He bared his sharp pearly white fangs, and his brown pupils turned a dark shade of red. "Can we not just turn him into a husk and save our princess from being tarnished any further by his presence???"

    The beautiful pale woman hesitated slightly, yet let out a sigh in the end. "...Just hold in your frustrations, Leon. I am aware of your past of pursuing the young miss, but you must learn when to give it up. Even the Lord has said not to mess with that human unless his daughter willed it. And even then, he seemed nervous while saying that¡­ It''s better¡­ It''s better if you just forget about your passion and move on."

    Leon ground his teeth while painfully watching the woman he fancied crazily obsess over another man. For more than a dozen years, he had been forced to endure the nonsensical reality that was the dynamic before him. It was insufferable! That human angered him to no end!

    ''What does the young miss even see in that blood bag anyway!?'' Leon thought, his expression livid. ''Although he doesn''t look that bad now, up until a couple months ago, he looked even more hideous than the Goblins from the Monster Realm! What could the young miss possibly see in this inferior worm!??''

 Chapter 138 - 138: Only a Thousand Deaths instead of a Million

    The more Leon mulled over it, the angrier he became. His pretty face became not so pretty. Gina, the pale woman, saw this and shook her head.

    ''He''ll never learn, will he?'' she thought. ''I just hope he doesn''t lose his mind and cause any trouble that could backfire on me.''

    She decided she would lecture her junior by more than a hundred years when they returned to Nightingale for the day. Though, knowing him, she believed it to be very likely that he''d disregard her advice and act recklessly. This would be bad¡­

    ¡ª--------------

    "Ka! Those b*tches!" Bella screamed to herself while sneaking a few hundred meters behind her husband. "And I can''t believe that my cheater of a husband has been stowing away all of these vixens until now! Does he not love me anymore!? How does he think this makes me feel!?"

    Although no one could hear her yelling out her grievances, they could feel the hair-tingling aura from miles away. As if based on instinct, everyone steered away from the block that the country-toppling beauty was venting on. They scampered away while sweating bullets, with black streaks clouding their faces. The only ones gutsy enough to stick around were Leon and Gina, Bella''s personal guards¡ªprotection she had no clue about.

    Suddenly, Bella burst out laughing, her voice creepily peeling back the edges of her pale-faced guards'' ears. "Guhehe¡­ I''ll just kill them¡­!! Yes, the solution was so simple! Why have I not thought of it until now!?"

    She definitely has.

    "If I kill all of the b*tches, then my husband will be mine and mine alone!! When his birthday happens in two days, I''ll lock him up inside a basement and then allow no one to enter¡­!! Any other whores won''t even receive the chance to seduce my hubby!! Guhehe¡­! All mine! ALL MINE!!!"

    Bella''s maniacal voice rang through the neighborhood as she faded from view. Although she couldn''t kill, slaughter, gut, and then kill again those thieving b*tches until she commenced the Vampire Marital Ritual, she would undoubtedly kill them! They would all die! Every single one of them!!

    ¡ªOutside of Bookworm''s Paradise¡ª

    Cassius sneezed, then wiped his nose in confusion. "What is this chill I''m feeling? Do I have a cold or something?"

    That should''ve been an impossibility with his high stats, but he should know better than to believe something to be impossible. Just two and a half months ago, if someone told him that he would be capable of leveling entire cities and regions with ease, he would have told them they were nuts. But now look at him. He was like a Deity on Land.

    A bit of conceit nearly formed inside his heart, then he recalled those ridiculously powerful presences laying in wait within HELL. They were the 72nd, 71st, and 70th Demon Kings, all of which resided on the 1st Floor of HELL. And every one of them could extinguish his life a thousand times over before he even knew what happened, this still being the case with all his current strength.

    Over the past month, Cassius had become an entirely different person, with his power being countless times greater than before. However, what difference did all of that make in the face of those terrifying and ancient entities?

    He was lacking.

    ''Well, at least I''ll only die a thousand times over now instead of millions of times,'' Cassius consoled himself while stepping foot into a store that smelled of earth. ''It''s good to know that books still give the same solace now as they did before.''

    With a small smile gracing his chiseled features, he looked off to the side and saw the similarly smiling Bella. She stood behind the front desk, wearing a greenish-brown work uniform, seemingly acting like she had been there the entire time. Cassius''s brows creased in slight puzzlement, as he felt something to be a bit off.

    After a brief pause, he shook his head and refocused his gaze on the charming miss Bella. "You are looking lovely as always. Do you happen to know where the Boss is? I wanted to discuss with him about this being my last day working here."

    "The Boss?" Bella repeated, while thinking, ''I killed the original one after he harassed me a while back, but with one of my servants disguised as the clone of him, sure, I''ll let you see the ''Boss.''''

    Her eyes creased upward as she modestly giggled. "I''ll go and get the Boss right away; he just so happens to be here today. Oh, and your final day, which also just so happens to be my final day, shall be shorter. The Boss mentioned something about closing shop early today, which is just such a silly coincidence." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Oh¡­ Okay¡­" Cassius, not knowing precisely what she was hinting at, just nodded and awkwardly smiled.

    When Bella brought out a larger and rounder man with a weird toupee on, Cassius got to chatting right away. He was also not focused enough to notice the sweat rolling down the Boss''s face as he secretly glanced at the shadow-faced girl standing off to the side.

    ''Why did Leon and Gina get assigned to something so distant when I had to do something where I have to get up close and personal?? This is bullsh*t!''

    The Boss let out his grievances within his mind while keeping up a friendly and professional facade on the outside. However, after the discussion concluded and he returned to the back rooms, he went back to sweating his balls off and complaining non-stop. He was also incoherently recounting everything he said to the human, scared that he might''ve said something that didn''t please his temperamental young miss.

    As someone who had seen multiple iterations of ''Bosses,'' this vampire in disguise knew very well how little of a thing one could do wrong to get axed by the young miss when it pertained to Cassius.

    And by ''axed,'' it was implied literally; you would get your head chopped off by an ax, with your subsequent revival halted until the young miss was in a good enough mood to permit it¡­

 Chapter 139 - 139: Outing with Bella

    To many in Bella''s Duke Vampire household, Bella was known as the ''Tyrant.'' And for good reason, as any who crossed paths with her, even the heirs of other Noble Vampire households, all ended up with terrible fates. Whether within her own household or outside it, none of it mattered to her. She would destroy the lives of anyone who messed with her, and that was even more the case if it involved her ''husband.''

    Bella was already someone many looked down on for claiming a mere human worm to be her husband, but when she strutted around with her marriage to him practically plastered on her smug face, nearly all of Nightingale felt ticked off. Even the older generation vampires were no exception.

    Yet, even with so much opposition to her supposed marriage, Bella cared not the least bit. In fact, she cared so little about what they thought that she asked for a special, basically permanent tattoo of her being railed by someone who had Cassius''s general appearance. Most of the naughty bits were covered up, of course, as she couldn''t show off her nude body to anyone other than her husband, but the intent was there. And that same intent annoyed the hell out of an innumerable number of young masters living in Nightingale.

    The situation became even worse when all of the young masters saw the spiritual tattoo magically move from Bella''s shoulder to the nape of her neck. She had it like that all the time while visiting Nightingale, and this enraged countless powerful vampires, all of whom wanted to tear the human in the tattoo piece by piece. On the other hand, when she was assuming her earthling identity, she had the revealing tattoo situated at her pelvis area, which she sensually touched on a daily basis.

    All in all, Bella was¡­ batsh*t crazy!

    Although her immense love was undeniable¡­ She was just missing too many screws to pursue her love in an ordinary manner. Crazy was all she could manage.

    She was also very good at hiding her extreme case of the crazies. Today, just like all the other days she ''coincidentally'' worked the same shift as her love, she acted completely normal and did her job in a way befitting a professional.

    And just like that, Bella''s and Cassius''s half shift of four hours came to a swift end. With that, neither of them would ever be working at Bookworm''s Paradise again.

    After bidding farewell to the ''Boss'' and thanking him for the opportunity, Cassius exited the bookstore without his uniform, as he made sure to bring a spare pair of dress clothes to change into. Right beside him, having done something similar to him, was the seemingly indifferent Bella. He curtly nodded at her before spinning on his heel and making his way home.

    However, after a few seconds, Cassius realized that he had a quiet stalker following his every step. He stopped and sighed. Turning around, he asked the not-so-smooth whistling girl, "I assume you want to go to the usual?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Bella''s sparkly eyes immediately brightened as she stole his gaze. "You mean the cat cafe on Dojo Street!?"

    "Mhmm."

    "Hell yeah I wanna go with you¡ª Err, I mean, it''s whatever. I''ll entertain you if you''re begging me like that!"

    "Sure¡­"

    Bella''s top-tier acting skills always slipped up at times like this, yet Cassius found it quite funny and a bit cute. She seemed so rigid most of the time, like she was living a lie of a life, so times where she let her true feelings shine through were refreshing to see.

    As for how they ended up going out and doing stuff together, it all started with the topic of cats. One thing led to another, and they ended up going to a famous cat cafe in Hoshito. The exact one they were sitting at today¡­

    "Hihi~! Jump, kitty! Cute kitties~"

    ''Well, she seems to be having fun,'' Cassius thought with a small smile. A lazy black cat hung off the top of his head, occasionally playing with his locks of black hair. This cat was the same one that came to him the last few times, and it was also the only one¡­

    A few types of animals just didn''t seem to like him much anymore after he assimilated with so many bloodlines. Cats just so happened to be one of them.

    Bella glanced over from the horde of cats dogpiling her. Those sparkling eyes of hers flashed with a bit of jealousy when she saw how close the black cat was with her man. She knew very well how irrational her jealousy was, but that didn''t mean she could just stop feeling it. Especially when the cat in question was smugly ''looking'' at her like that.

    Cassius secretly realized what he assumed was going through Bella''s head as she had reacted like this the last few times as well. ''How silly. Ha¡­'' he inwardly smiled before diverting his attention to his inner mind space. ''Both my Basic Attack and Defend Technique Manuals are about to break through to the 5th Layer.''

    He would probably only need a couple more days to officially advance them to the 5th Layer, and by then, a total of 15 Layers would have been achieved. That would mark a major milestone, possibly one that could show him some of this ''Path to Immortality.''

    As the seconds turned into minutes, Bella began to look more and more like a cat herself. While staring daggers at the black cat lounging on Cassius''s head, feisty mumbling stringed from her cherry red lips. She and the black cat were never destined to get along with one another. Never ever, ever!

    When the two-hour time they had was up, Cassius got up and pulled away the girl that seemed ready to get into a violent cat fight with an actual cat. He wasn''t sure why she was so jealous of a cat, but after profusely apologizing to the staff for her behavior, he hastily left the cafe.

    Bella, acting like nothing had even happened, giddily told the staff that they would be back. After which, she glared at the ''smug'' black cat and haughtily left.

    Who was the one leaving with Cassius?? It was her¡ªBella Crestmore! Not some feline!

    This was a win for the OG''s!

 Chapter 140 - 140: Bella breaks character, Opinion on the Girls...?

    After catching up to her ''husband,'' Bella went on a long rant about how much she liked kitties. It was only after nearly half an hour of her yapping at a dessert shop that she brought up a different subject.

    "Yoush goingzz to da schoolss tomorrow, aren''tt ya?" she asked while cupping her stuffed cheeks in delight.

    Cassius struggled to maintain his deadpan expression while staring at the normally serious girl acting like she was. Answering her question, he said, "I am indeed going to school tomorrow. Same with you?"

    "Mhmm~!" Bella responded with a euphoric look on her face. "Dis cake is sho goodz~! You wants shome!? Here, have shom!"

    Without waiting for his response, she spooned up a bit of the strawberry pastry she had been munching on. Filling his mouth with it, she expectantly waited for him to give his opinion on it. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At first, Cassius was just going to swallow it and say it was good regardless of how it actually tasted, but once the cake melted on his taste buds, his eyes lit up. After chewing and swallowing it all, he said, "It''s good."

    Bella was silent for a moment, then her face brightened up as she said, in a happy tone, "I know, right?? Hihi~"

    Cassius had been feeling that something was off with the Goddess of his school for a while now; however, it was in moments like these that he felt he had just been imagining things. A large part of him simply believed that Bella was sort of like Aya or Stella in a way, all of whom pretended to be someone they weren''t. He wasn''t certain that this was actually the case, but it was the best theory he could come up with on his own.

    ''People are complicated living organisms, and women even more so,'' Cassius thought to himself while enjoying his time with the girl that shone like a blinding star. ''Since the Idle Evolution System came into my life, I have met many unique girls, all with their own unique stories.''

    ''Stella, I feel the most kinship with as we have similar unsolved pasts. Her mysteries are my mysteries.''

    ''Memphis, I see as a younger sister, with her past also fully laid out before me.''

    Ooof. She felt that one while hunting A-Rank Monsters in Low Purple-rank Gate in New Zealand.

    ''Sasha, an excellent mother, is very unlike how she was in my previous timeline. On top of everything else that came along with this whacked Isekai, I am extremely grateful that I was able to experience the real version of Sasha. Her kindness will surely bring her daughter to great heights.''

    ''My father truly doesn''t deserve a woman like her¡­ Haiz¡­''

    After a brief pause, he continued where he left off:

    ''...Aya, she is¡­ a good girl, but has a serious case of Tsundere. Her personality will definitely bring her a lot of trouble in the future, particularly when it comes to boyfriends. But oh well, I''m sure she''ll make it through it all just fine. After all, she''s very¡­ uhm¡­ aggressive.''

    Cassius sighed while thinking about that troublesome girl, yet he still wore a fond expression.

    Suddenly recalling the faint silhouette of an angelic girl, his thoughts once more swirled:

    ''Grace, a shy girl who acts oddly forward when one least expects her to. Adorable describes her quite well. As for her past, I don''t know much besides the name of her household, that she comes from an affluent background, and¡­ nothing else¡­ I know a lot of what she likes and dislikes. She likes sweets, likes fuzzy animals, likes her pomeranian, Snow, and likes the simpler things in life. I also know that she dislikes spiders, any other creepy crawlies, and horror movies.''

    His expression turned thoughtful. ''However, I have no clue what she had been doing before she met me. I''ve never seen her family; I don''t even know their names. If not for her saying that her parents were strict, I would begin to think that they were no longer with her in this world¡­''

    Cassius originally believed that Hellion had the most mysteries surrounding her, but now he felt like Grace was up there as well.

    That was when a far-fetched idea appeared in his mind.

    ''Grace wouldn''t happen to be the Vampire that bit me, would she???'' It was a crazy thought, but it wasn''t completely out of the question. ''If she''s a Duke Vampire Descendant, then it''s very possible that she bit me without my knowledge when I was weaker. But even if this insane speculation was actually true, why would someone as sweet as Grace do something like that behind my back? It doesn''t make sense¡­''

    "Hey, Cassius, are you seeing this right now!? The waiters are bringing out a large multi-layered cake! It has sparklers sticking out of it!" an excited girly voice momentarily interrupted Cassius''s thoughts.

    He looked over and saw Bella''s pearly white canines shine through her wide toothy grin. Responding to her exhilaration, he smiled and blew out a few of the sparklers.

    Getting back to his inner thoughts, Cassius finished up the wrap sheet that compiled all of his ambiguous relationships:

    ''Grace¡­ I will look more into it later. And even if she does turn out to be the Duke Vampire Descendant that bit me, I won''t be mad. In fact, I''ll have to thank her for increasing my strength by another few notches. There''s also all the useful Abilities that the biter gave me. As I''m discovering more and more of them, I realize more and more just how versatile and powerful a Duke Vampire can become.''

    His heart filled with a little appreciation before his mind traced back to the last couple of girls on his list.

    ''Bella¡­ Hmm¡­'' He observed the happily munching girl and instantly erased anything negative that almost formed within him. ''She''s an odd one; too serious a lot of the time, and hides beneath both a mask and inside a shell, but she''s nice to be around when it really comes down to it. Her past is also transparent, as I know my father knew her father, and they were business partners or something of the sort. I also faintly recall a beautiful silhouette who should be her mother. Bella, as well as her whole family, are very wealthy to boot, though I can''t say for certain in recent years as I haven''t met them since I was but a child.''

 Chapter 141 - 141: Daily Quest #60

    Although Bella had a few unknowns centered around her existence, Cassius felt no real need to overly ponder them. But when he thought of the last girl he had a close relationship with, his whole face seemed to sporadically twitch.

    ''Yimin, she is... Yimin... Her entire history started with me, so there is nothing more to discuss there.''

    Yimin, who had been distracted by one thing or another, now found herself in France. It was nighttime, flashy lights were everywhere, and she felt something akin to an arrow pierce through her heart. It caused her to drop her baguette and shoot her eyes in the direction of Japan.

    ''Wait, where did Master go!?''

    ''Wait, where did Yimin go?''

    They thought in unison, one feeling far more urgency than the other.

    ''Hmm... I genuinely don''t remember where she went off to, but I know through our connection that she''s fine. She''s probably just hungry and feasting somewhere, the moocher.''

    Yimin experienced that same painful sensation. Dropping all that she was doing, she leapt up into the sky and sprouted shiny white draconic wings from her back.

    "Don''t worry, Master! Yimin''s coming back!"

    Now, it was Cassius''s turn to feel something unusual¡ªa spine-tingling shock that ran through his body.

    "Just thinking about that dragon gives me goosebumps," he mumbled.

    "What was that?" Bella, who was walking beside Cassius, narrowed her eyes into thin slits.

    ''Is he thinking about another woman while right next to me?? Is it one of those b*tches I have in my Death Note!?''

    She suddenly felt the urge to track down and rip out the entrails of every single one of the homewreckers but instead smiled. She smiled, smiling and trying her utmost not to make a grave mistake before her official coronation ceremony with her husband.

    Just keep smiling¡­

    Cassius noticed something weird about her smile.

    ''Is she constipated or something?'' he thought, yet outwardly said, "I was just thinking about something useless."

    Yimin coughed up blood mid-flight and crash-landed into a small country.

    "Anyway," Cassius said to change the topic. "We''ll be attending the first day of Senior Year tomorrow. I just wonder if we''re going to end up receiving the same classes." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yeah, well I hope so¡ªI mean, it''s whatever either way. But if we do end up together, then you better treat me well. I might even feel gracious enough to hook you up with a few pretty girls," said Bella, nearly fumbling her act.

    Inwardly, she evilly smirked while thinking, ''I have the whole school body under my vampyric mind control, so we ''are'' going to get the same classes. And if any whores so much as breathe within a certain distance of you, I''ll skin them alive.''

    What Bella said and what she actually felt were as if two entirely different people had taken control of her body. And the worst part being that Cassius genuinely didn''t know about what was going on inside her head. Even with his Perception stat being in the thousands range, some things just weren''t possible¡­

    When Cassius and Bella walked past the city square, he looked up at the large clock tower erected in the square''s center. Seeing that the time was [14:36], he realized that he only had a few hours left to complete his last Daily Quest.

    "Listen, Bella, I have something important I need to do," Cassius suddenly spoke up, successfully catching her attention. "Do you mind if we talk another time¡ª?"

    "Just do whatever you want to do, I have plenty of other people I can hang out with," said Bella, nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

    ''I have no friends.''

    "Don''t feel bad about leaving me behind, because I can easily replace you."

    ''No one can replace you! Please stay with me forever!''

    "Well? What are you still standing dumbly for? Get lost, virgin boy!"

    ''I¡­ I¡­ I love him so much¡­! His virginity shall be mine! I''ll take it by force if need be!''

    "???"

    Cassius felt something extremely off about the way Bella was talking, yet took the hint and walked away from her. When he got a sufficient distance away, he blended into the crowd, then vanished.

    The deadpan Bella saw him vanish because he was careless. Her brows quickly furrowed as she thought, ''His seal must be on the verge of completely shattering. I must move fast if I want everything to go right! As soon as he turns 18, I''m tying him up hog-style and throwing him into his wedding outfit! We''ll get hitched within 48 hours! It''s finally happening!''

    It was fair to say that the delusional vampire had completely lost her coco pebbles¡­

    ¡ªMeanwhile, at the top of Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan¡ª

    Cassius appeared from the shadows, with his hood coming off the very next second. Most of his otherworldly handsome appearance was covered the majority of the time, but as today was a special occasion, he figured he''d unveil himself for once. Though, when he did, the birds that were capable of flying at this altitude looked at him and immediately went mayday.

    Cassius''s looks were lethal.

    "This is why I have to stay hidden all the time¡­ I even use Illusion Skills of the Ruby Rank to conceal any new changes in my appearance. Haiz¡­"

    Shaking his planet-toppling head, he focused on the last Daily Quest pop-up¡ªDaily Quest #60. He also pulled up the last Daily Quest for his 2nd Daily Quest series.

    And boy were they bombshells of final Daily Quests...

    _________________

    [Daily Quest #60 - To Idle, one must stay proactive.]

    GOAL

    [INCOMPLETE] PUSH-UPS ¡ª [0/100,000]

    [INCOMPLETE] SIT-UPS ¡ª [0/100,000]

    [INCOMPLETE] CURL-UPS ¡ª [0/100,000]

    [INCOMPLETE] SQUATS ¡ª [0/100,000]

    [INCOMPLETE] RUNNING ¡ª [0/1,000,000km]

    [All done with Weighted Newbie Equipment!]

    REWARD - [5 Points in Charisma, 1000 Points in Agility, 1000 Points in Strength, 1000 Points in Perception, 1000 Points in Intelligence, and 1000 Points in Endurance]

    _________________

    _________________

    {[Daily Quest 2]}

    ¨C [0/1,000,000 Sword Swings] - [_]

    ¨C [Carry around trusty ''Newbie Sword 7'' for 12 hours. Cannot leave your approximate location.] - [550/720 minutes] - [_]

    [All done with Weighted Newbie Equipment!]

    REWARD 1 - [3000 AP]

    REWARD 2 - [Newbie Equipment Set 8]

    REWARD 3 - [Newbie Sword 8]

    REWARD 4 - [(SSS-Rank) ''Sword God''s Training Manual'']

    _________________

 Chapter 142 - 142: An Urgent Meeting of Japanese Hunters

    "Again¡­ Why do the rewards stated by the System always seem more like punishments?"

    Cassius was already carrying around several towns'' worth of weight on his back. If it got any worse, then he might as well be slugging the entire world on his shoulders, with his Newbie Sword weighing as much as a planet.

    Coincidentally¡­

    *Ding!*

    [When the Newbie Equipment Set and Sword advance to #10 of each, they will weigh approximately as much as planets in this universe! ^~^]

    "...Gee, thanks for that information!" Cassius exclaimed, all smiles.

    "...Sadistic bastard¡­" he mumbled underneath his breath.

    [What was that? (??? )]

    "Nothing, nothing. I was just mentioning how helpful and sweet you are. There are truly no others quite like you!"

    [(,,?©n?,,) You''re making me blush, hihi~] sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Shove your hihi up your as, you dckhead¡­!'' was what Cassius wanted to say, yet held his tongue out of fear of what sort of torture the System would make him endure next.

    "Better to just get through the last of the Daily Quests and go on with my life. Haiz¡­"

    Following a heavy sigh, he dropped down to the ground and started off the exercises with the classic. Push-up after push-up was performed by the stud muffin himself, with each one causing cracks to splinter through Mt. Fuji.

    A few S-Rank Hunters residing within Central Honshu felt something off, yet couldn''t pinpoint what exactly was making them feel this way.

    However, as time passed, even A-Rank Hunters were beginning to notice something. They looked around with puzzled expressions, eventually meeting up with one another to discuss the constant shaking.

    *Wham!*

    An old Eastern-style screen door was slammed open inside of a massive Japanese mansion, its specific age likely numbering in the hundreds of years. A figure adorned in fire and flame patterns entered a room that had dozens of powerful presences gathered inside.

    Most of them looked in the direction of the newcomer, then ignored him and returned to what they were doing. Discussions echoed out, each one slicing through the flame-adorned man like knives to his egotistical soul.

    Luckily for the A-Rank Hunter known as ''Firecracker,'' a few of the present Hunters paid him the attention he so dearly desired. Of course, none of them were above the A-Rank.

    "What are you doing here, Firecracker, bro? I heard you were in Tokyo helping out one of the lower-ranking Earth Crusader Guild Parties. What happened to that gig?"

    A man with a large frame and a hearty laugh walked toward the irksome Firecracker. The man wore a dark green kimono with a large, scary black dragon print stitched on the front.

    ''Goro, the Laughing Dragon, Takeda¡­ Why does he have to be here as well??''

    Firecracker came here as soon as he learned that the tremors were not a natural occurrence. However, he hadn''t expected an annoying man like Goro, the A-Rank Hunter, to come, too.

    Sighing, he said, "I got to Honshu a few days ago when the Earth Crusaders Guild announced that they found a new replacement for one of their S-Rank Hunter Parties."

    "You got canned, huh?" Goro burst out in low laughter, enjoying every bit of the emotions currently being shown on his friend''s face.

    Fuming, Firecracker raised his voice and shouted, "I didn''t get fired, you moron! They said I could return whenever a spot was made available¡ª"

    "Shut up!"

    A stern voice entered Firecracker''s ears, urging him to immediately shut his trap.

    ''Haruto, the Shadow Fang, is also here?? God, of course this S-Rank Hunter came to this gathering¡­!''

    Despite his thoughts, Firecracker said, "Y-Yes, I''ll shut up right away, sir!"

    A cold snort sounded. Haruto dispersed his aura pressure on the presumptuous man, then began the official introduction to the pressing matter at hand.

    "Over the past hour, an unnatural disturbance has attracted the attention of many powerful people in the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. This has led to all of our Guilds and affiliations receiving an enormous number of complaints. Now, your job is to¡­"

    Haruto, the organizer for this gathering, continued his speech, making sure to cover all of the core points of the matter. However, in the background, there were a few inconspicuous A-Rank Hunters conversing with one another, utterly overlooking the entire speech.

    "So after being canned, what do you plan to do next?" asked Goro, a wide smile plastered across his square-shaped face. "Are you going to return to that small city of¡­ What was its name again? The one with only a single B-Rank Hunter? And not even a Hunter originally from that region. Haha!"

    "Hoshito¡­"

    "What was that??"

    Ticked off, Firecracker smacked the big man on the arm.

    "I said Hoshito, you dumb deaf bastard!"

    "Hoshi¡ªwhat? What sort of name is that? Say it again!" Goro requested in all seriousness.

    "Gawddamnit! I said motherf*cking Hoshito, you id-iot!" Firecracker, no longer able to hold his temper, lashed out at the big oaf.

    Everyone in the room shot their eyes in his direction.

    "You''re in for it now," said a short Brazilian man named Orlando. He chortled under his breath, finding the dread draining his friend''s complexion to be ultra amusing.

    "T-This is¡ª" Firecracker tried to say in an attempt to defend himself, but was swiftly overshadowed by the icy voice of Haruto:

    "Did I not tell you to shut up? Or do you think your voice matters more to the focal point of this discussion than mine?"

    "O-Of course not, sir Haruto! I was just so awed by your excellent speech that I couldn''t stop myself from getting a little excited!"

    ''What a kiss-ass¡­'' Goro and Orlando thought in unison. They looked at the pathetic state of their long-time friend and felt some remorse.

    ''Oh, well. He''ll get through this predicament and come out even tougher than before!''

    Firecracker side-eyed the two people closest to him with hate in his gaze. And with every further word of reprimand that escaped Haruto''s mouth, his scorn for his two ''friends'' became all the greater.

    ''Just wait until we get out of this gathering, you back-stabbing bastards!'' he indignantly thought while shamefully retaking his seat.

 Chapter 143 - 143: Daily Quest #3

    For the remainder of the lengthy gathering discussion, Firecracker spoke no more words. Even when Orlando and Goro mercilessly poked into the open wound, he held strong and bled tears of blood. Eventually, he began to think that heading back to Hoshito wasn''t sounding like such a terrible idea anymore.

    ''The old man Branchmaster did say that I should return whenever I could¡­ Hmm¡­ It''s decided! I''m returning to Hoshito until a good job opportunity opens up! With my hundreds of millions of USD in savings, I can live comfortably for the rest of my life, so I am in no rush.''

    After the gathering came to an abrupt close with the sudden halting of the unnatural tremors, all of the gathered S-Rank and A-Rank Hunters scratched everything they proposed. The past couple of hours had been deemed a big waste of time, so it was no surprise that most of the Hunters left the old mansion in soured moods.

    At least, that was the case for everyone except for one¡­

    ''Perhaps I should retire early and quit Gate conquering altogether? I''m already filthy rich, so what is even the point anymore? The other Hunters can surely handle the high-ranking Gates on their own! What do they need me for??''

    Firecracker considered many things while leaving the area and completely ignoring the hounding by his two friends. He ignited his hands and feet and shot into the air under two streams of fire. His friends were left in his dust, with his destination being a city located on the other side of the country.

    It was retirement time!

    He was ready to truly begin enjoying life! A new kind of life!

    Screw his friends and screw his work! It was him time now!

    A trail of happy laughter rang out behind a man who looked like he was jetting through the skies with the help of two extremely powerful firecrackers. For a very long while, his once gloomy mood became chirpy as hell. Only good thoughts would enter his retired brain from here on out!

    ¡ªMeanwhile, at the summit of Mt. Fuji¡ª

    Cassius, now in the full nude, sauntered over to the lip of the overarching mountain edge. He emotionlessly stared down at the thousands of dazzling lights in the cities hiding at the mountain''s base. The luminescent glow of the full moon hanging in the dark night sky was also there to truly bring the sublime picture together.

    Breaking the initial beauty of this picturesque picture, a deep, husky voice sounded out, causing even the surrounding snow to intensely vibrate.

    "Finally¡­ Finally, I have been freed of the System''s Daily Quests¡ª"

    This unnaturally stunning man stopped his liberating words midway through as he looked ahead and saw something that nearly sucked the life right out of him.

    *Ding~*

    [After receiving all of the rewards for completing the two Daily Quest iterations, don''t you feel that they were rather lacking? ???]

    "No¡ª!"

    [Well, since the rewards were lacking, here is a little something-something to make up for all your troubles! No need to thank me, the mighty and magnanimous System!]

    {[Daily Quest 3]} - (Day 1/90)

    ¡ª[You won''t fail a Quest, you lucky, plot-armor abusing son of a b*tch! This is infuriating! And considering that everything I, the System, do, is for your sake, I have the necessary authority to bestow upon you the bestest of rewards!]

    ¡ª[Every day, at any point of the day you so designate, you will be sent to the Nightmarescape/The Land of Nightmares and you won''t be able to leave until exactly an hour has passed inside! (Approximately 3 minutes in the outside world)]

    [Quest begins ~5 to 7 days from now, as there is a grace period.]

    [0/60 Minutes (Nightmarescape)] - [_]

    REWARD 1 - [1000 AP]

    REWARD 2 - [1 Nightscare Shard]

    REWARD 3 - [10 Large-sized Heaps of EXP]

    REWARD 4 - [Resilience!]

    "What sort of fcking reward is resilience!? This piece of sit¡ª"

    [And here''s a little extra-extra on the house~] sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    {[Main Quest #5]}

    ¡ª[You have been slow in completing the Third Main Quest¡ªthis is bad. As such, maybe you just need another Quest to truly put your rusty engine in motion!]

    ¡ª[Travel to the Dimensions of HELL, Nightingale, the Land of Monsters, Wolfdom, and the Realm of Pleasure. You will need to make a name for yourself in every single one of these Dimensions. Break a leg! Or don''t¡­ wuss.] - [0/5]

    REWARD 1 - [Idle Benefit #4 ''Minionverse'']

    REWARD 2 - [(EX-Rank) Seed of the Progenitor]

    REWARD 3 - [Acknowledgement of leading figures of 5 of the 7 Realms.]

    [Time Limit: 4 Years, 364 Days, 23 Hours, 59 Minutes, 57 Seconds]

    "I hate my life¡­" Cassius lamented to himself, feeling that the System was most definitely up to something again.

    All his previous excitement vanished into the wind. He was now only left with the promise of constant harassment by a foreign entity claiming itself to be his best helper. Help his a*s! That System called for his death!

    "Wait¡­ Other Realms?" Suddenly stopping his thoughts of suicide, Cassius looked back at the specific details of the Quest. After confirming that his eyes had indeed not deceived him, he asked, "Just how many of these Realms or Dimensions are there? And what even are they?"

    *Ding~!*

    [You wish to know~? ( ?o ? ?o)]

    "...Yes¡­"

    [Keke! Beg for the information! ? (¡ä?£à)?a?a?a]

    Cassius flipped up both his middle fingers instead. After which, he walked away from the stunned-silent System Interface and made his way down the mountain top. All the while perusing the new SSS-Rank Training Manual he received from completing his Daily Quest.

    It was presumably made by an extremely powerful Human on the 6th Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity. This extraordinarily powerful man claimed himself to be the forerunner of the Art of the Sword. And this Training Manual¡­ It was the culmination of the beginning of his journey with the Sword, written by him prior to his ''Ascension.''

    After getting this far into the Introduction segment of the Sword God''s Training Manual, Cassius had many questions whirling around inside his head.

    "The Floor¡­ I have been hearing this a lot as of late," he said while in a state of pondering. "And this ''Ascension Tower''... What sort of place is it?"

 Chapter 144 - 144: The Seven Dimensions of the Ascension Tower

    Interrupting Cassius''s thoughts was the¡­System.

    [Dear Host! Why did you leave your beloved System hanging back there?? How could you leave such a cutie patootie like myself all by my lonesome, you evil Host!? (¤Å ? 3 ?)¤Å]

    An illusory blue and golden screen circled around the man trying his best to look anywhere but where it was. Eventually, however, it backed him into a corner and pushed him against a high stacked pile of snow.

    Cassius assumed he was about to be taken advantage of, but then the System did something unexpected.

    It blushed.

    "???" ''This isn''t like the sh*tty System¡ª''

    [Ahh, you dirty, dirty Host~ Even if you seduce my non-carbon components with your big naughty hands, you won''t receive any lenience. But if you¡­do a good job with your strong muscles and really get it in there good, I''ll make an exception and send you to the System-Host Exclusive Torture Chamber~]

    ''Now this is the System I know and hate¡­''

    Cassius promptly ignored the mentally impaired System and thought more on the subject of other Dimensions and the Ascension Tower of Humanity. But it was in that same moment that the Idle Evolution System spoke up again:

    [I was going to tell you either way, you obtuse of a Host, limp d*ck, noodle arm, virgin boy on the path to Supreme Sagehood! Why must you be so impatient!? Patience is a virtue! To instill that virtue into your very soul, do you wish to take a friendly visit to the Torture Chamber? First visit''s free¡ª]

    "Leave me alone," Cassius said before vanishing into the speed stream.

    FWIP!

    When he reappeared a second later, he was on the other side of the world, somewhere in Greece. And as he walked through the marbled uphill streets of a scenic area overlooking the sea, he realized that he wouldn''t get away so easily.

    *Ding!*

    [The System is only here to help you, Dear Host! Let me guess¡­ Ahh, is that what this is about? If you wanted to have makeup sex, then you should''ve just said so! All you have to do is stick your wee little willy into say~ a fire hydrant and I, the System, will take care of the rest!]

    [Though, I doubt I''ll feel anything¡­ "?? ????? ??]

    "..."

    Cassius was speechless.

    When it came to the Idle Evolution System, he really didn''t know what sort of handicapped-in-the-brain sort of person decided to bestow upon him such sh*t. Could he not receive a refund?? A newer model? Literally anything else!?

    A great big sigh echoed through the bustling streets of a large city in Greece. It was early morning here, so the blazing sun rays beat down on a wide array of foreign faces. One face in particular felt the headaches affecting his expression. And with what felt like a stab to the gut, the owner of that face let the System explain to him the general rundown of the Dimensions and the Ascension Tower. It also made sure to mention that, although this information wasn''t privy to someone like him a month ago, he had now gained basic access to such secrets.

    According to the Idle Evolution System, there were a total of Seven Parallel Dimensions in a magical existence called the ''Ascension Tower.''

    The Ascension Tower had a few other names, all more complicated than the last, but the main point was that this Ascension Tower housed several nearly identical Dimensions. Or, at least, they were identical at the beginning of the Ascension Tower''s creation. However, over time, all 7 of the Dimensions changed, becoming indistinguishable from how they were before.

    The 1st Dimension¡ªthe Mortal Dimension¡ª was part of the Ascension Tower of Humanity. And from the astounding words of the System, Earth was nothing but the Trial Area for the True Ascension Tower of Humanity, similar in design to the Trial Area of HELL.

    This information altered Cassius''s entire worldview, shattering everything he once believed. Though, there was one big question he couldn''t seem to wrap his head around.

    "Where does the Universe, or the Observable Universe of our Earth, have a part to play in all this?"

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [The Host is ten leagues too weak to be made privy to such high-level information!]

    "...Not high enough¡­?"

    With all of his various Skills, Techniques, and raw stats thrown into the mix, Cassius was sure that his Battle Power far exceeded the S+ Rank Yimin. Yet, even with that in mind, he was essentially told by the System that gaining access to this information might as well have been a pipe dream.

    This made him wonder just how powerful he had to become to learn the truth of it all.

    But regardless of the mystery regarding the stars and the observable universe encompassing planet Earth, Cassius attentively listened to the rest of what the System had to say.

    With Earth being the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, there were naturally Floors above it, just like with the Ascension Tower of HELL. However, when Cassius asked about how to get up to the higher Floors of the Ascension Tower of Humanity¡ªhis Ascension Tower¡ª it said nothing more than forceful elevation would arrive whenever he achieved the SS-Rank in terms of pure stats. In other words, he could still stay on Earth even if his Combat Power exceeded the S-Rank.

    The System didn''t go into great detail about the higher Floors of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, but it did speak of there being Seven Floors. Similarly, the Ascension Tower of HELL also had Seven Floors. In fact, every single one of the 7 Ascension Tower Dimensions had Seven Floors. They all also had their own Trial Areas, which acted as the tutorial grounds for most races in the Ascension Tower Spectrum.

    Humans were the only race of people to not develop a way to become stronger or extend their lifespans. Unlike some races, such as the Succubus race of the Realm of Pleasure, who passed on special techniques to their descendants that allowed them to suck yang to become stronger, Humanity had nothing.

    They had no racial advantages and specialized in jack diddly squat.

    S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 145 - 145: Throughout Heaven and Earth

    However, what Humanity did have was neutral ground.

    They were like Jacks of all Trades and could branch out into many different professions, some of which improved their power while in the S-Rank and SS-Rank. Now, for humans, if you were to be born in the SS-Rank and below, you would normally forever stay within that Rank unless you received unique assistance from a Lord of Humanity, who resided in the higher Floors, or if you accepted the helping hand of a different race.

    Then again, when it came to the ''help'' of other races from other Dimensions, it usually just meant you would become less and less¡­ human.

    Of course, if one were lucky enough to be born in the SSS-Rank or have an unusual encounter capable of elevating one''s rank, one would embark on a different path. This path would allow anyone¡ªeven humans¡ªto progress their strength. Yet, the exact specifics of this path were barred off from Cassius by the System. He only knew that it was a path inferior to what the System gave him, but also far superior to most anything available in the Seven Parallel Ascension Towers.

    As for how one is supposed to travel between Dimensions, one way is to have a special item that makes Dimension hopping possible. But as those items were extremely uncommon, it was far simpler to make use of the second method. Namely, it was the usage of transportation ports that those who knew about them called ''Dimensional Hubs'' or ''Dimensional Portals.''

    Earth had no such Dimensional Hubs.

    "Wait¡­ Portals? Similar to the ones that Monsters use to invade our world?"

    *Ding!* S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Not the same thing, Host! And you are also not privy to this information!]

    Cassius silently pondered by himself, yet didn''t dwell on the matter for long. If he was ready to find out about something, then he would naturally find out about it. This was what the Idle Evolution System told him quite often.

    The System then went on to say that in order for him to hop between Dimensions and complete the 4th Main Quest, he would have to take advantage of the only avenue currently open to him:

    The Key to HELL.

    It was an infinite usage item and would take the user back to the Trial Gate Area of HELL as many times as one wanted. And if one also had the Key to the 1st Floor of HELL, which Cassius had obtained after subduing Hellion, then one could advance into the 1st Floor of HELL¡ªa hellish location that also just so happened to have one of those Dimensional Hubs.

    This was Cassius''s way to travel between Dimensions and complete Main Quest #4. But seeing as he was still nowhere near strong enough to take on any of the Demon Kings of HELL, he had no choice but to postpone any Dimensional travel until after he became stronger.

    It was during this period of contemplation that Cassius brought up another curious matter.

    "The Gremlin Exterrestrial Fiends¡­ They are from space, are they not? But if there is only Earth on the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, then where did they come from? Another Dimension?"

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [The Host will not be privy to this information for a very lo~ng time! Do not even bother thinking about it! Instead, why don''t you find and slaughter those pesky Aliens and resume the Main Quest Grind!?]

    "...Another piece of information restricted to the current me¡­ And the level of classification appears to be higher than anything mentioned before. How interesting," Cassius mused, thinking about a great many things.

    [Hey, Einstein, rather than stand up here and pretend that you''re some kung fu master, why don''t you get back to hunting the Gremlin Exterrestrials?]

    Silence.

    "What an a*shole," Cassius mumbled under his breath.

    [What was that? (?_? )]

    "Nothing. Let us be on our way."

    With that, Cassius descended down a cobblestone road that snaked through a beautiful Greek town. He received many stares from passersby, even with his appearance reverting back to how he looked a month ago.

    A few dazed, pretty young ladies even built up the courage to approach the tall, handsome foreign man, but when they followed him around a corner, they found that he had mysteriously¡­ vanished.

    "Where did he go¡­?"

    "I don''t know¡­"

    "He was so good-looking, too. What a shame."

    Just then, a flying silver meteor trailed through the bright day sky. A number of Greeks looked up in bewilderment. Yet, when that ''meteor'' crashed into a lush vineyard, the confusion of the people quickly transformed into astonishment.

    "Was that an actual meteor!?"

    "We have to go and check it out!"

    Thousands of unawakened and a hundred or so weak awakened swarmed toward the crash site of the supposed meteor. However, when they arrived, all they saw was a massive crater and a butt-shaped imprint in the crater''s epicenter.

    "What the hell is that¡­? Why is something like that here?? This isn''t right¡­"

    "A buttprint? And those over there kind of look like footprints¡­"

    "Where''s the meteor??"

    ¡ªMeanwhile, just above the open water airspace outside of Greece¡ª

    "Don''t worry, Master! Yimin is coming for you! Even if Yimin has to fly all around the world, Yimin will make it back to her Master! Oh, a shiny blue fish!?"

    It was a surfacing blue whale, and Yimin immediately forgot what she was doing and went to harass it. If summed up in one word, she was¡­ hopeless.

    Throughout Heaven and Earth, only her ADHD was unparalleled!

    FWIP!

    Cassius arrived in Hoshito, Japan, and returned to his mansion out in the higher-end areas of the city. At the same time as he met with his extended family, a man akin to a fiery rocket also arrived in Hoshito. His first spot, however, was the Branch Building of Hoshito''s Hunter Association.

    After being grandly welcomed through the front door when he announced his identity, Firecracker was led by the Hunter Association''s Associates to meet with the Branch Master.

 Chapter 146 - 146: Seeing the Truth...

    "I''m glad that you''re here, Firecracker. And we''re all honored to have you, but do tell me: why have you left the big city of Tokyo and returned to your humble beginnings?"

    Hearing the Branch Master''s deep and slightly hoarse voice made Firecracker all of a sudden feel rather guilty. Although he hadn''t betrayed the country or anything of the sort, he still ghosted the city and community that might as well have raised him up from nothing. It would''ve been unusual if he hadn''t felt any guilt upon seeing the worn-down appearance of the old man whom he once saw as a mentor.

    "Teacher¡­ I¡­" Firecracker had a hard time finding the exact words he wanted to say. Though, after steadying his erratically flickering eyes on the refined Old Man, he built up the courage to say, "I apologize for leaving on those terms! I also apologize for pretending that all of you didn''t exist! Please forgive me, Teacher!"

    The Branch Master stared at the extravagantly dressed man taking a respectful bow. He wanted to stay mad, but doing so at this point would just make him seem spiteful.

    Releasing a heap of oxygen stored in his lungs, the Branch Master said, "I''ve already forgotten about the whole ordeal, so do stand properly. And you still haven''t answered my previous question: why are you here?"

    Firecracker hesitated slightly, yet still stood up and faced his ex-teacher in the end.

    "I have come to retire!" he announced without a hint of deceit. However, seeing as that wasn''t a very good point to end on, he added, "I have been going in and out of perilous Gates for nearly a decade. At any moment, I could''ve lost my life. But now that I''m 26, I no longer wish to risk my life for money that I''ll likely never use in my lifetime."

    "I just want to settle down in the area where I grew up in, and maybe even find myself a beautiful wife. Mhm¡­ That would be nice¡­"

    The Branch Master observed the earnest face that Firecracker was making.

    With a constantly changing expression, the Branch Master thought, ''He really has changed. Nine years ago, he was still in his teens, and he knew not except what lay beyond the other side of the TV screen. He dreamed of making it big one day, and when he finally awakened as an A-Rank of the Elemental Fighter Class, he knew that his dream would soon come true.''

    ''Within days, he quit the Dojo I used to teach at part-time, then he left everything behind. But now look at him¡­''

    The Branch Master saw not the young, naive child he once knew. He was now looking at a man.

    "So, Master, you know anywhere that I can find beautiful ladies? I have money, so raising a family is not out of the question, even in this economy."

    ''...Well, sort of a man¡­ Perhaps a rather lascivious man¡­''

    The Branch Master helplessly sighed before spinning his chair around to a position facing the prosperous city outside. Looking through that thin glass screen, one could see the lives of countless people, all doing whatever they had to do to make it to the next dawn that shed its light unto the world. Awakened mingled with the far greater in quantity unawakened; it created a cohabitation that was in no way perfect. But it was wonderful.

    "You know, Firecracker," the Branch Master suddenly spoke up, prompting the A-Rank Hunter to ask, "What is it, Teacher?"

    "I have lived for more than half a lifetime," began the Branch Master, his eyes still glued to the intricate world that resided outside his office window. "And my Grandfather, a man who had lived even longer than I have, was around to witness the days before Gates became a part of everyday life. He experienced a world that, although still fraught with danger, was not at the level of the fragile balance that we''re teetering on right now."

    Firecracker didn''t understand the point of this talk. What was his Teacher getting at?

    The Branch Master, knowing exactly what the flame-adorned man was thinking, only shook his head and looked beyond the point where the land touched the sky.

    "You can do whatever you wish in this city, Fashio. Just don''t break any laws and don''t abuse your status too much."

    "That is all; you can leave now if you wish."

    Fashio was really not following, but he wasn''t one to stick around under an awkward atmosphere like this one. Therefore, after bowing once more and thanking his Teacher for his grace, he left the same way he came in, still peachy as could be. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When no one was left in the large room except for the brooding Branch Master, he turned his head up into the horizon.

    "It truly is a shame that all of this could very well be gone soon. The world in my grandfather''s generation¡ªI wonder if that''s what the world will turn back into once Homosapiens vanish from the face of the Earth."

    As a Branch Master of the Hunter''s Association, and one on good terms with a plethora of highly influential figures, he was privy to many things that even the A-Rank Firecracker did not know about. He knew of the backstory behind the World''s End Gate located at the center of the world, and he knew of Baba Yaga''s Prophecy, but neither was what made him as melancholic as he was at this very moment.

    The truth was that less than a few hours ago, the Branch Master learned of some new, devastating news¡ªnews that would send ripples throughout the country and even the world.

    "Beings from beyond the stars¡­. They''ve really invaded us. I never thought a day like this would come, but it has. And it surely won''t be very long before what Prophet Baba Yaga said comes to fruition."

    The moment the Branch Master heard this information from a high-ranking friend of his in Tokyo''s Capital City, he thought it to be ludicrous.

    However, as his friend went into great detail about the subtle and peculiar changes occurring in those around him, he began to see more and more of something he didn''t want to see¡ªthe truth.

 Chapter 147 - 147: The Dissonants Poison runs Deep

    When the Branch Master''s trustworthy friend told him that he had secretly captured one of these Aliens and watched it visibly transform in front of him, he was on the verge of believing something as nonsensical as this supposed ''alien invasion''.

    But what really hammered the nail into the coffin was when the Branch Master tried contacting his friend an hour or so later. He wanted to discuss more on the subject, but the phone never¡­ picked up.

    It was left eerily ringing for hours.

    His friend always picked up the phone. He always¡­ picked it up¡­

    Following a period of grief, the Branch Master was then greeted with the appearance of someone whom he once considered his most promising student. And even as he wanted to get out some hateful comments, the entire time he was talking with Firecracker, he was reminded of the final words he would likely ever hear from his good friend.

    "They live among us."

    "You can''t trust anyone," the Branch Master murmured while leaning back in his chair. "If what he said is true, and it likely is, then I''m probably¡­ already¡­ dead. ''They'' know I was the caller from the location of the phone¡­"

    "My time¡­ It''s up, isn''t it?"

    For the next few hours, the Branch Master remained unmoving in his chair. The candles in the room neared the end of their lifespans, yet they radiated the warmest of glows.

    The Branch Master''s eyes, reflecting his lit-up city outside, no longer glowed the same as before. And just like the candles, their flames were¡­ snuffed out.

    Yet, both the snuffed candles and the snuffed man seemed oddly at¡­ peace.

    The wax from the hot candles melted and trickled off of the high places that held them, and from down the Branch Master''s eye fell the clearest of tears. His eyes still deeply immersed in the City that he called home.

    The very next morning, the kind-hearted Branch Master was found dead in his office.

    There was no evidence of there having been a murder as there were no wounds on the body of the victim. It was assumed that the old Branch Master had simply died from natural causes.

    It would indeed seem that way¡­

    From a rooftop a couple of miles away, an eerie figure stood motionless.

    The figure unnaturally blinked its double-layered eyes while watching a crying auburn-haired girl hold on to a black coffin. If Cassius were here to identify the girl, he would see that it was the valiant Corra, now crestfallen.

    She held on as if her life depended on it. She held on like if she were to let go, she would suddenly lose him for good.

    "F-Father¡­! W-Why¡­!?" she cried out repeatedly. Yet, the whole time, the unnaturally blinking figure did nothing but watch.

    If anyone else were to see the appearance of this figure, they would immediately call out, ''Prime Minister!'' and they would be correct. This figure was in fact the¡­ Highest Executive of Japan¡ªthe Prime Minister!

    FWIP!

    A different unusual figure suddenly appeared beside the Prime Minister.

    "Is it done?"

    "It is done."

    "Do any others know of this? We must rip out roots and all."

    "No. None knows. This human seemed to understand that if he told anyone else, it would only mean more deaths. Smart one he was."

    The second unnatural figure stared where the first figure was staring, and then after a few seconds, it spoke up again:

    "The Japanese Government is the first government to fall, but the others are on their way. And if we wish to have the entire world influence the offspring of ''it,'' then everything must go off without issue."

    The whole world¡­ being mind-controlled for the sake of a single person.

    That was insane¡­

    The Prime Minister blinked several times, then looked away from the gathering of people dressed in black. He matched the same non-intensity stare as the second unknown figure, and said, "I will handle everything on my side. Japan''s top brass have already all been replaced. A number of the S-Rank humans have also been¡­ taken out of commission. And all with a few effortless lures and traps. Humans¡­ they are so feeble. Threaten them with their family or those close to them and they turn stupid. Stupid makes for easy prey. They were yummy as well."

    "Let''s hope ''it'' will share some of those same human weaknesses. Only then can we ascend the Ascension Tower and take this Dimension as our own," said the Second Figure, its voice scratchy.

    Suddenly remembering something, it said, "...And the replacements of the S-Rank Japanese Hunters?"

    "No one will be able to tell the difference between the false and the real. If not for the careless greed of the peon, none of us would have been discovered," the Prime Minister answered with hatred oozing from its voice.

    "But it is taken care of¡ªthe problem?"

    The Prime Minister looked even more deeply into the second figure''s dead eyes. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The problem is taken care of."

    Silence.

    After a brief period of hush, the Second Figure began to disappear, yet left a string of harrowing words to linger in the air:

    "The world will soon descend into chaos; be prepared to act when need be. Within weeks, Seraphina, or Selena as she is known here, will clean up Malakar''s mess if he cannot succeed in the Mothership''s objective. Earth will fall at that point, but¡­ not until we lure ''it'' out."

    "Until then, do not mess up," he added, his tone bereft of sympathy. "If you do¡­ you''ll end up like the one who couldn''t control his greed."

    With that, the Second Figure vanished from the rooftop.

    "...."

    The Prime Minister didn''t say a single word.

    However, after a few seconds, he also vanished.

    Nothing except for the sorrow in the air was left as evidence that either of the mysterious figures were ever there to begin with¡­

    ¡ª---------------

    "The Branch Master has died¡­?" Cassius, unable to believe what he was seeing on the living room television, rushed over to where all the other girls were situated. After sitting down on the couch, his expression changed several times.

    He refused to believe that the lively old man who had secretly assisted him in keeping his identity hidden over the last month suddenly dropped dead overnight! It was simply impossible!

 Chapter 148 - 148: The Branch Masters Grim Fate...

    Today was the first day of the new school year, and it was also the day before Bella would begin the marriage ceremony. However, it was on such a day that tragedy struck the City of Hoshito. Melancholy permeated the citizens, making for a stark contrast to how the place seemed less than 24 hours ago. Even those who were not very close to the late Branch Master felt a sense of sadness when they heard the news¡ªespecially the Hunters.

    The Hunters of Hoshito had no complaints when it came to the late Branch Master. He had treated them well, better than any other region''s Branch Master. It was mostly thanks to him that Hoshito had as many competent Hunters as it did, and he was also the reason why their City had extremely low casualty rates.

    But now he''s dead.

    And there was no coming back from death¡­

    The conspiracy theorists had two running theories for the Branch Master''s death. Very few actually believed he died from natural causes; it was not only illogical but impossible. If the Branch Master''s doctor were still around, then they would have proof to back this belief, but he had mysteriously¡­ disappeared.

    Yet, the Doctor''s disappearance only further backed the two leading theories for how their beloved Branch Master died.

    The First Theory was centered around the complete wipeout of the B-Rank Hunter Party from a few weeks back. The MoonShiners were famous even on the international scale, not for their strength but because of their popularity. The point being that it wasn''t completely illogical that there was a deeper scheme happening behind the curtains. Perhaps die-hard fans of the MoonShiners went out of their way to secretly harm and kill the Branch Master. Or perhaps those same fans hired someone else to do the dirty work.

    In Japan and even various other countries around the world, certain Assassination Organizations paved the way for high-profile murders. Of course, every single one of these modern-day assassins were trained professionals and also Awakeners who awakened with the Assassin Class. This meant it was fully within their capabilities to assassinate a B-Rank Veteran Hunter like the Branch Master of Hoshito.

    That was assuming the price was right¡­

    The Second Leading Theory was that the higher-ups of the Hunter''s Association suddenly decided the Hoshito Branch Master to be an eyesore. He was, after all, commonly known for attenuating more to the Hunters than the Executives who governed the Hunters. In truth, if it weren''t for the Head of the Japanese Hunter''s Association stepping in and speaking up for the Hoshito Branch Master, he likely would''ve been covertly disposed of long ago.

    This brought to the table a pressing follow-up question:

    Why wait until now to take care of the Branch Master?

    It wasn''t like anything of substance had happened to the current Japanese Hunter''s Association Headmaster, so why only now eliminate the sore thumb?

    Something wasn''t adding up.

    This sense of the unknown further spurred the emotions of those who adored the Branch Master.

    They demanded the truth!

    But the truth would never come to light.

    At least not until it was already far¡­ too¡­ late.

    Hours passed by, and a group of black-clothed people wearing veils appeared outside a Graveyard located atop a hill. Rain poured heavily on this bleak afternoon, doing well to overshadow the tears staining the cheeks of several other black-clothed figures.

    The ones wearing the veils, however, were Cassius and those close to him.

    A deafening silence hung over the area being constantly abused by the large droplets of rain. Only when the muffled crying of a singular girl became loud enough did everyone snap out of their reveries.

    Thousands of people had gathered on this soaked hill to mourn the death of a man who lived in their hearts¡ªand the hearts of countless more people who couldn''t make it here today.

    The first school day had been set back by three days because of this tragedy, so many students who met the Branch Master in person were here in the moment, their faces all blue with sorrow.

    They remembered it as if it were just yesterday that the kind Branch Master spoke of the plans he aimed to implement to benefit not only them but the working adults as well.

    A better life was expected to arrive for them all.

    Yet, before the Branch Master could see the lives himself¡­

    he lost his own.

    Corra was too overwhelmed with sadness to even properly greet anyone, yet no one took offense. They simply gathered around the eloquently decorated coffin now sitting at the bottom of a six-foot-deep grave.

    It was an open coffin ceremony, so everyone could see the Branch Master''s unmoving corpse, his expression still painted with an unfounded look of peace.

    He was smiling.

    None knew why he was smiling, but none here¡­ besides one, had ever experienced death, so how could they know?

    Cassius''s face was devoid of emotion. He stared at the funeral man dumping dirt over the lifeless corpse, with each dump dealing more and more damage to Corra.

    Her mother had died when she was young due to a rough pregnancy, and now many years later, her father dies as well.

    There was now no one left in her life¡­ S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Corra loved her father; she truly did. Even if he was strict and their relationship wasn''t made public knowledge due to numerous political reasons, that didn''t mean she didn''t love him.

    After her mother died because of¡­ her¡­ a lot of fathers would grow to hate that child.

    However, the kind Branch Master did not.

    He was the prime reason for why she was able to become who she was today. He taught her how to defend herself, how to not take anything for granted, how to protect those who were unable to protect themselves.

    He¡­ taught her so many things¡­

    ...and was patient for so many years¡­

    Yet, seeing the Branch Master''s frozen expression made everything that was Corra''s life come crashing down onto her.

    It was all too much to handle, causing her to faint while leaning into the grave hole.

 Chapter 149 - 149: Deadline to Re-enter HELL

    But before Corra could fall into the hole and potentially create another tragedy, a shadowy figure phased forward and caught her in a princess carry. The figure briefly stared at the colorless face snuggled into his chest, his own expression unreadable. However, before anyone could look his way and ask who he was, he gently set down the tear-stricken girl and walked past the group he brought with him.

    All the other people dressed in black were too distracted by what happened to Corra to realize that someone had saved her before it no longer mattered.

    "Let''s go," said Cassius, his voice inaudible under the beating of the rain and the thundering of lightning.

    All of the silent women nodded their heads before following along behind him. He wasn''t moving very fast; in fact, he was trudging forward slowly, so they all caught up and descended the hill together.

    Sasha, Aya, Stella, Hellion, Grace, and even Bella had all joined him today. Only Yimin was still lost. And although the girls would normally be in quite the chipper moods, none seemed the least bit happy right now. Hellion was the only one to appear unbothered by everything; she was the same as always, calm and calculative.

    For the other girls, however, when Cassius was acting like this, they would as well. Something about him felt different today, and even the usually flirty and sinister mind of Bella was as quiet as a church hill. She simply tagged along beside him, same as the others.

    The day ended uneventfully. The next day was no different. Everyone in the Steele household hadn''t spoken much these last couple of days. Even with Bella and Grace staying over, the hours went on without event.

    It was only on the third day that Cassius finally left his meditation and exited his room on the mansion''s third floor. The other residents of the home obviously noticed this occurrence and stopped what they were doing to approach him.

    Considering that he had been nonstop meditating and cultivating the Demon Dragon Integration Arts these past 48 hours, it took Cassius a couple of seconds to return to reality and notice the nervous girls standing before him. Confused, he asked, "Bella and Grace? Why are you two here?"

    "???" "???"

    Both Bella and Grace exchanged glances before bitterly sighing. It was made abundantly clear that Cassius had been completely out of it since learning of the Branch Master''s death. Only now did he appear to have a little clarity in his eyes.

    After taking the time to explain how they wound up there, Grace cupped one hand and Bella cupped the other. "You can rely on other people, Cassius. You don''t need to keep everything to yourself all the time¡ª" they said in sync while brightly smiling, yet swiveled their heads toward each other when they realized someone was talking over them.

    "What are you doing?" Bella asked while secretly eyeing the dainty hand holding onto her husband''s other hand. ''This fcking b*tch¡­ I''ll kill her!'' In spite of her dangerous thoughts, she was still smiling.

    However, even though Grace sensed something off about this girl she barely knew, she didn''t back down. In fact, she even took things a step further and pulled Cassius''s right hand to her ample chest, then turned her smug face away from the seething Bella, where her expression then transformed into one that could melt the heart of any man.

    "Does this make you feel better¡­?" she asked as she pressed his right hand further into her squishy breasts. "You must tell me when you are uncomfortable, Cassius. I''ll do this every time if you so wish¡­"

    ''Hmm?'' Cassius looked between the two girls, feeling a tension that created sparks between them. He also noticed more surging emotions pop up from behind Bella and Grace. ''Is everyone ovulating right now or something? I know I''ve been out of it for a while, but not that much time has passed, has it¡­?''

    He kept track of their cycles so as to avoid potential disasters. And he was positive they were still half a month away from the ovulation cycles for most of them.

    As Cassius pondered something unusual with a straight face, Bella''s forehead scrunched, with veins appearing everywhere. She bit her lips, trying her best to suppress her immense anger.

    If not for Cassius breaking through the silence, she might have flipped her lid and ruined all the plans she had for tomorrow. As for what he said, it went as such:

    "I guess we missed my birthday, which was like¡­ yesterday, I think? I don''t really care about things like that, but I assume other people like going to special events like this?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Are you asking us if we want to go out somewhere today?" Sasha asked with a bit of concealed excitement.

    Cassius nodded.

    "Well, isn''t the answer already obvious then!?" said Aya, her pupils showing visions of sweets and good food.

    Even Grace was finding it hard to hide her enthusiasm. She sensually rubbed her supple thighs, yet to no avail. She was still¡­ horny for dessert¡­

    Bella, in all her hate for every single one of the women here, seemed to completely forget about everything when dessert was mentioned. She immediately let go of Cassius''s left hand and walked straight up to him, then leaned up on her tippy toes and got her face less than a few inches away from his.

    "We. Are. Going."

    It wasn''t even up for debate in Bella''s mind. Cassius received the message loud and clear, and also realized that everyone besides Hellion was anticipating the places he''d bring them as well.

    "...Then I guess we''re going," Cassius sighed helplessly before walking past the girls jittering in excitement and down a flight of marble stairs.

    While the others took a moment to drool over the goodies they would soon devour, Hellion took the chance to walk beside Cassius and discuss something important.

    "Master, you''ll need to re-enter HELL within the next few months. If you do not, then you''ll be stripped of your Demon King Bloodline. You surely understand what I''m referring to, right?"

    "Mhmm¡­"

 Chapter 150 - 150: An Extraterrestrial Stalker...?

    The Demon King Bloodline, although extremely powerful, also connected the Bloodline holder to HELL itself. If a Demon King stayed away from HELL for too long, then they would lose their Demon King Bloodline permanently. For regular Demons, this meant something worse than death, which was why, even if they found a way to leave HELL, they would prefer to never leave.

    For Cassius, however, losing the Demon King Bloodline wouldn''t be the end of the world.

    That wasn''t to say he would allow it to slip from his grasp, but he also wouldn''t die for the chance to keep the Bloodline. Yet, in this case, he was nearly ready to head back into HELL.

    With months until the deadline, he was confident that he would become strong enough to confront the weakest of the Demon Kings on the 1st Floor of HELL¡­

    ¡ªTime passed gradually¡ª

    The day that was meant to be a belated birthday for Cassius was a merry one. Everyone seemed to entirely forget about the unfortunate demise of the man who kept the City running. But in the back of his mind, Cassius remembered. And that memory haunted him.

    It was highly likely that the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends had something to do with the death of the Hoshito Branch Master¡­

    Cassius had no proof, but he just knew this was the case. And maybe¡­ maybe if he had worked a little more proactively in the search for the Gremlins, the Branch Master never would''ve died.

    And then there was the Branch Master''s only daughter¡­

    Cassius secretly heaved a heavy sigh just thinking about Corra. His outward attention may have been focused on the cherry girls around him as they walked around the city, laughing and speaking lightheartedly, yet his mind seemed to constantly trace back to the auburn-haired girl whom he had only met a few times.

    That day¡ªthe day that marked the Branch Master''s death¡ªthe City of Hoshito lost two great people. Corra, the Branch Master''s daughter, was the second one.

    Many were afraid that she would attempt to commit suicide, but she instead did something far different. Beyond anyone''s predictions, she left the City of Hoshito, even leaving the country altogether.

    She left only a note, saying, "There''s nothing left here for me¡­ I''ll be venturing west, to South Korea. There is a Scientific Institution there studying the origin of the Gates. I may not be strong enough to make a difference when it comes to individually closing Gates¡­ but I might just be able to work towards closing the Gates for good. I have to do this¡­"

    "This is goodbye."

    It was obvious that Corra blamed the Gates and the monsters inside for what happened to her father. She also secretly harbored thoughts of making grand achievements with the smarts that her father had always been proud of. If she could make a name for herself, then maybe, just maybe she could find out what really killed her father¡­ sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Corra''s only lingering regret was not being able to get to know the young man whom she was supposed to become acquainted with at a High School.

    Though, if Fate permits it, they might just encounter each other once again.

    "What are you so lost in thought for?" Bella whispered into his ear while the other girls took their turns hitting gophers in an arcade game they were all playing.

    Cassius slowly looked down, and upon seeing those starry eyes peer into his very being, he sighed. "I was¡­ just thinking about something that no longer¡­ matters."

    Bella scrutinized his expression, her eyes emulating a thoughtfulness that one wouldn''t normally think to be possible from her.

    After a moment, she averted her gaze and linked arms with him.

    "What are you doing¡ª" Cassius tried to say, but was interrupted by Bella, saying:

    "Can''t you just not ask questions every once in a while? What? Do you think I''m making moves on you or something??" She feigned a head shake before pulling him away from the distracted vixens. "Don''t ask any questions and just follow me. There''s something I want to show you."

    Cassius was puzzled, yet still did as she requested and let himself be dragged behind her.

    However, neither he nor Bella noticed two pairs of eyes watching them¡­

    One was from the gorgeous Stella, who had dressed up more than she ever had, all to impress a guy¡ªa stupid guy that made her wonder why she even bothered. Nonetheless, she became a little curious when she saw that same man get pulled outside the arcade by the black-haired newcomer.

    ''She''s pretty¡­'' Stella thought with a distinct pout puffing up her cheeks. Gently rubbing her world tree necklace, she worriedly wondered, ''...Is that the kind of girl he likes¡­?''

    Overlooking the silver bluish-haired woman''s distressed thoughts, the other pair of eyes, one that didn''t even appear to be part of this Dimension, watched the hooded man with an unnerving stare. As the Extraterrestrial tasked with keeping track of ''its'' son, it was to stalk him at all times of the day.

    Typically, the Extraterrestrial would feel that everything was fine, but as of late, it had the nagging feeling telling it that something was wrong. Whenever it stared at the target for too long, its instincts were screaming at it to¡­ cower in fear.

    This feeling only became worse with time. And even with the Camouflage Module given by the Mothership''s caretakers, the Alien couldn''t erase whatever was practically begging for it to run. In fact, the only reason it hadn''t already done just that was because of its confidence in the Mothership, the technology provided, and its fear of what would happen to it if it abandoned the mission.

    The Mothership did not tolerate the existence of those who could not follow orders¡­

    It also experienced that same unnerving feeling today, yet continued its mission as per usual.

    When Cassius and Bella moved, the Alien also moved. It used a special space-warping device to do this. And when it reappeared, it saw the target conversing with a shorter female who was pushing him against the wall and pointing at his chest.

    The Alien remained unresponsive to all that it witnessed.

 Chapter 151 - 151: Bellas Advice...?

    With a sassy way about her, Bella reworded what she just said a second ago. "With the death of the Branch Master, you have been weird. Stop being weird, for God''s sake!"

    "What were you going to show me¡ª"

    "I''m showing you some sense, you dum dum! Look all around you! And I mean really look! You basically have a harem of both young and mature women acting head over heels for you!" ''I''ll kill them all, anyway, but just acquiring this many admirers shows how much you''re worth, hoho~''

    Adding more to her point, Bella said, "You also have a nice big house and plenty of money that you obtained from luck and more lotto tickets!" ''Sure, buddy. Did those bimbos really fall for this?''

    "You also have me, your wif¡ª willy, really~ g-good friend, so why are you always overthinking things!? Like really, how much could you possibly be worrying about??" ''After we get married the day after tomorrow, you won''t have to worry about anything else for the rest of your life¡­''

    Cassius calmly observed the passionate girl berating him as such. He wondered exactly when she had become like this toward him. When did their dynamic change? He couldn''t recall.

    Softly shaking his head, he stole Bella''s gaze and said, "I think you are mistaken about something. I''m not worried; I''m thinking¡ª"

    "Same thing, same thing!" Bella''s voice cut through his, her emotions flaring. "If you''re pointlessly thinking about something you can''t control, then what is the difference between thinking and worrying??"

    Although Bella didn''t put much thought behind her words, hearing her say that made something click inside Cassius. His pupils shook a little until they refocused.

    He warmly smiled. "Thanks, Bella. I''ll keep that in mind."

    She was right. There was nothing he could do to change the past. The only thing he could do now was keep moving forward. If nothing else, he would carry on the aspirations of the old man who yearned for the extermination of all Monsters. That was the least he could do to repay the old man for letting him grow unimpeded, effectively avoiding all the usual protagonist road blocks.

    Bella was briefly stunned, then she snapped back to reality. A smug force pulled upon her cute red lips as she said, "You''re welcome! Now let''s get back to those floozi¡ª friends of yours!"

    Cassius smiled and let Bella tug him back into the brightly lit arcade, where he then received a lengthy lecture about not abruptly leaving, and especially not leaving with a singular girl!

    The rest of the day passed in a blissful manner. However, when the setting sun blended in with the far-off landscape, Cassius noticed Grace working extra hard to hide her sickly-sounding coughs from the group.

    But how could she hide them from him?

    Concerned about her worsening condition, he telepathically told her to meet him by the bathrooms. She was confused as to how he was talking to her through her mind, but after a short period of him explaining it to be his unique ability, she excused herself and maneuvered through the lavish interior of the high-end restaurant they were in.

    Cassius, realizing that he couldn''t up and head out suspiciously behind Grace, used a Skill that he didn''t use very often due to its limited effectiveness.

    |One Becomes Two (S+ / High Ruby Rank)| S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Skill was obtained through a round of Skill Box openings and it was a relatively simple Skill. It enabled the User to split both their body and mind into two. This would also mean that the User would temporarily have two split consciousnesses.

    The only apparent downsides would be that the User would have everything, from his power to the effectiveness of his Skills and Items, cut in half and distributed to both halves. Furthermore, the Skill could only stay active for around an hour, making it pretty useless in most combat scenarios. If Cassius wanted to spread out and efficiently clear Gates, then it was better to make use of his ever-growing Evomon Army. There was no need to halve his combat power for minimal returns.

    This time, however, the Skill was perfect for what he needed it for.

    ¡ªA couple moments later¡ª

    FWIP!

    By the time Grace made it to the classy bathroom area, Cassius had already materialized and was coolly leaning up against a marble pillar. However, as soon as he saw Grace''s unnaturally pale complexion, worry filled his heart. This worry further multiplied when she began to say, "What is it that you wanted to¡ª" yet began to stagger halfway through what she was saying.

    "!!!"

    Cassius''s split-half flashed forward and held Grace up just before she collapsed. Feeling the rhythm of her heartbeats and seeing her breathing turn unusually haggard made a deep frown form on his face.

    "C-Cassius¡­ I¡­ I''m fine¡­ You can let go now¡ª"

    "You are not fine," he firmly denied. "And for how long has it been since it progressed to this stage??"

    Grace hesitated.

    Biting her lip, she pushed away from him and said with her face covered by her hair, "...I''m really f-fine¡ª *Cough!*" Blood suddenly came up from her throat and spilled out onto her hands. Her eyes erratically flickered as her lip-biting worsened.

    "I¡­ I have to go¡ª"

    *Pat!*

    Before Grace had the chance to flee, Cassius grabbed her wrist and pulled her close enough that their breath mingled with one another. Her slow heartbeat quickened as she stared into his focused bluish-red eyes. Even if she wanted to say something, she couldn''t find the words.

    Grace was at the complete whim of the man who knew not when to give up.

    While Cassius seemed to be doing or looking into something within the shell-shocked Grace, two happily chattering girls walked toward the outside bathroom area. But when they saw a tall handsome man pushing a meek-looking girl against a wall, their cheeks reddened.

    "Kya! We didn''t know anyone was here d-doing something like¡­ this¡­"

    They quickly got on out of there, yet found it extremely difficult to erase that sexy spectacle from their minds.

    Grace was too absorbed in the sight of the man before her to even realize that someone saw them, whereas Cassius simply¡­ did not care. He was also very focused on scanning the complicated internal system of the short doe-eyed girl he had cornered against a wall.

    What he saw, though, left him shocked.

 Chapter 152 - 152: Graces Predicament, Tear of Yggdrasil

    A few moments later.

    "...You should''ve told me about this¡­" A deep frown marred Cassius''s features as he finally let go of the shy bunny-like girl. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As she only now got a breather, Grace took a second to steady herself. It was also at this point that she noticed that all the blood on her hands had disappeared. More importantly, however, was the contemplative expression Cassius was making.

    ''...Has he somehow figured out about my illness¡­? That can''t possibly be the case¡­ Even the most well-renowned of Spiritual Doctors in the world were unable to identify my illness. Only those of my kind were able to discern it and¡­ tell me how long I had left¡­''

    "How long?" asked Cassius.

    "How long?" Grace parroted, confused. ''It can''t be¡­''

    "How long do you have left to live? A year? Two years? Longer?"

    ''He knows¡­''

    Grace''s face drooped as her eyelashes quivered. She found it grueling to even so much as match his gaze. Though, when she realized that there was no point in hiding it anymore, she mumbled without turning her head toward him, "3¡­ 3 and a half months¡­"

    "3 months¡­? This¡­" Even Cassius''s usually inexpressive face cracked and crumbled when he registered this number in his mind.

    It took a couple of seconds for him to take a deep breath and harden his expression. "You know what your illness is, don''t you? Tell me what it is and how to acquire the cure."

    Grace went to respond, yet held her tongue at the last possible moment. With long locks of brown hair covering her face, she mumbled, "...There''s no point¡­ The cure¡­ It''s impossible to obtain¡ª"

    "Just tell me!" Cassius demanded in a low growl, scaring Grace a little. Though, realizing what he had done, he sincerely apologized, "Sorry¡­ But I''ll need you to tell me what you know. Time is running out, and you didn''t give me very much of a heads-up¡­"

    Grace cycled through a few inexplicable expressions, but ultimately told him what he wanted to know.

    After listening to a short explanation, Cassius understood the general rundown of the situation. For as long as Grace could recall, she had a frail constitution, making her prone to injury. According to her parents, she had an extraordinarily rare illness called ''¦¤¦Å¦Ê¦Á¦Å¦Í¦Í?¦Á Death Disease'' or ''Dakaenn¨¨a Death Disease'' in simple English, which meant ''Nineteen Death Disease'' in Greek. This name was fitting, for those contracting this disease would die before they turned 19.

    It was also because of this illness that Grace had such a frail body. Many of her hardships stemmed from the illness, even including how overprotective her parents were. Just like all the other times she left, she had to sneak out, and would surely be punished quite severely this time around as she had been gone more than just a few hours.

    However, the oddest part about this illness did not exist in any documented health records¡­ This meant the illness did not originate from Earth. Also meaning that¡­

    "You''re not human¡­?" Cassius couldn''t tell from his superficial scan from earlier, but there was no other explanation. And when he saw the look Grace was making, his suspicions were confirmed.

    "H-How did you¡­ Just how powerful are you, Cassius? How much do you know¡­?" Grace stuttered in disbelief.

    She had figured that he was likely an Awakened, but she never got the opportunity to accurately gauge his strength; she only knew he was strong. But if he knew about other intelligent races, then it was very likely that he was far stronger than she had originally assumed. Far, far¡­ stronger¡­

    Cassius gently laid his warm right hand against her increasingly terrified expression. She flinched in fear but was surprised to feel him do nothing more than affectionately rub his thumb up and down her cheek. She slowly opened her shaky eyes, only to see the same warm smile as always¡ªthe smile she fell in love with.

    "You don''t have to fear me, Grace. I don''t care if you''re of a different race, but you must finish telling me what the cure is and where to find it. I don''t even care which exact race you are, I just have to know how to save you."

    Grace''s eyes misted over. ''Even now¡­ Even now, he''s still thinking about how to help me¡­'' She felt incredibly warm inside, but her smile was quickly dampened when she recalled the lethality rate of her illness. ''...I like that he cares for me¡­ But it came all too late¡­ He''ll lose me¡­''

    She should be sadder, but for some reason, holding a large enough place in his heart to make him fear loss filled her heart with joy. Nonetheless, she explained everything she knew to the person who now seemed so special to her, only leaving out the parts concerning her race.

    When Grace finished the explanation, Cassius was left momentarily breathless. "...The home of the World Tree Yggdrasil¡­ The World Tree''s Sanctuary¡­ The highest quality Tear of Yggdrasil¡­ A competition between Dimensions¡­"

    To sum up what he learned, two months from now, the World Tree''s Sanctuary, which was a mystical place that presided at the top of the Ascension Towers, would be hosting a competition. In this competition held in a sentient tree as ancient as time itself and as large as the cosmos, races from every area of all Seven Dimensions would receive the opportunity to participate.

    Everyone in existence, as long as they were part of an intelligent race, would be asked to put their lives on the line to obtain various legendary rewards. One of those rewards was the ''Tear of Yggdrasil''¡ªa mythical item that was said to be capable of curing any illness, injury, or disease. As long as they weren''t dead, the Tear of Yggdrasil would fully heal them.

    This Tear of Yggdrasil was also the only known way to cure the ¦¤¦Å¦Ê¦Á¦Å¦Í¦Í?¦Á Death Disease¡­

    The way Cassius looked at Grace changed, as the worst-case scenario flashed through his mind in the form of terrible premonitions of the future. Yet, before the images could overwhelm him, he forced himself out of his stupor and steeled his resolve.

 Chapter 153 - 153: Plans for the World Trees Sanctuary

    "I will handle it all, Grace," Cassius said with a small smile as he turned around and began to walk away. "Just hold on until I return with the Tear of Yggdrasil. It shouldn''t take very long."

    "W-Wait, Cassius, you can''t! It''s too dangerous!" Grace, still trying to comprehend the insanities he was spouting, sped up toward his receding figure.

    When she just about caught up, she sputtered, "I¡­ I have already come to terms with my destiny¡­ But you can''t go to the World Tree''s Sanctuary! You have no idea just how unbelievably powerful the participants are going to be! As long as you aren''t the oldest ancestors of a Dimension, you can participate, which means there are virtually no age or power restrictions! Even SSS-Rank Hegemonies will be¡ª" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    FWIP!

    Cassius disappeared, then reappeared behind the frantically chasing Grace. He tugged at both sides of her thin waist and pulled her into his arms.

    Whispering into her reddened ears, he said, "Who told you I was doing this just for you? I have personal reasons for wanting to go to the World Tree''s Sanctuary. Your matter is simply speeding up what I planned to do to begin with."

    "B-But¡ª"

    "There''s no more buts, my dear," Cassius whispered as he lightly tickled her sides, causing her to burst out laughing.

    "???" "???" "???"

    Those dining at fancy diner tables nearby turned to look at Grace, prompting a crimson blush to form on her exquisite face. It was also then that she realized she had been bamboozled; Cassius was already gone.

    Her cheeks puffed up as she scampered back to their table in shame.

    ''That man¡­ He''s so insufferable¡­'' she ''angrily'' thought, an imperceptible grin adorning her beautiful features.

    For the remainder of the night, Grace huffed and crossed her arms every time Cassius looked her way, yet still managed to spend her time quite enjoyably. Excluding the occasional sickly coughs, she seemed just as happy as the other girls.

    Then the night eventually came to a close¡­

    ¡ªThe very next morning, in the Steele Mansion¡ª

    Cassius struggled to get up, quickly realizing that it was not his Newbie 8 Equipment Set weighing him down so heavily. Neither was it his lovely Lilith tattoo nor the Newbie 8 Training Sword.

    ''Some things just never change,'' he thought with a sigh.

    Looking around himself, he saw several bountiful womanly figures sprawled out on top of him. All of the beautiful bodies were scarcely covered by risque nightwear, with none of their owners feeling the least bit shameful about partially revealing themselves to a singular man. A man who, even now, was being mentally abused by the Entity calling itself the Idle Evolution System.

    [You dirty dog~ If not for your prevailing will to retain your virginity, then one might actually assume that you were quite the Lady Slayer under the sheets~ (?>????)]

    Cassius naturally ignored the System''s nonsense, treating it as if it were less than thin air.

    However, at this point, the System''s emoticon twisted a bit in anger as it threw something completely unexpected his way.

    *Ding!!*

    [Since the Host is clearly in dire need of some more Character Development, the System has decided to begin Daily Quest #3 starting today!]

    "But don''t I still have some days before¡ª"

    [The System is not very good with time! Daily Quest #3 starts today! Make sure to enjoy your time in the Land of Nightmares!]

    Silence.

    After a brief period of hush, Cassius shook his head in defeat and worked toward slipping out of the girls piled on top of him. After successfully accomplishing this, he regulated his Newbie 8 Equipment Set before walking over to a stylishly decorated wooden katana in a corner of the room. It was standing on top of a special A-Rank item that he bought a few days ago.

    The item had the sole effect of voiding all weight that came into contact with it, and the upper weight limit was said to be around that of a planet''s mass.

    The A-Rank item was called the ''Physical Negator,'' and it was typically used by powerful Tanks who were accustomed to taking heavy hits. Of course, the thing wasn''t invincible, as the force of the strikes against it would still be felt by the one holding its shield-like structure.

    However, this rule did not apply if no living organism was actually holding the shield¡­

    And just like that, an A-Rank item worth tens of millions was bought by Cassius on the black market, only to be used as a plate to hold a wooden sword that weighed more than entire cities.

    *Clack¡­*

    When Cassius went to grab and lift up the Newbie 8 Training Sword, it nearly felt like the force rippling through the Physical Negator would demolish all of Hoshito. But luckily for any Real Estate Agencies in the area, that did not happen. And when the wielder of this sword strapped it to his muscular back, all seemed to return to normal.

    ''It surely won''t be long before I''m no longer able to contain the weight of this heavy thing without the assistance of some divine item¡­''

    Cassius sighed before sauntering away from the girls snuggled up on his bed, all of whom seemed to be attempting to absorb his lingering warmth. He counted the heads and realized that almost everyone, even Sasha, was there. The only ones not sleeping there were the Egyptian beauty casually waiting for him downstairs and the silver-haired dragon who was presently who the f*ck knows where.

    After silently leaving his room and descending a flight of marble stairs, Cassius caught a glimpse of a fancy alarm clock hanging on a wall. The alarm clock read [04:48].

    The sun had not yet risen, yet he didn''t feel the least bit tired, despite the fact that they went from partying to bed less than three hours ago.

    "You finally reached the stage where sleep is becoming virtually useless? Your ability to continually progress in power at such a rapid rate truly never fails to amaze," said an expressionless woman sitting downstairs.

 Chapter 154 - 154: Hellions Riddle

    As soon as Cassius reached the last step of the stairs, an intoned feminine voice sounded from off to the side. There, sitting on a swiveling golden stool chair, was the extraordinarily gorgeous Hellion. Her eyes, like attentive pools of honey, watched the immortal-like man with deep intrigue.

    While sipping on a cup of homebrew coffee, she gave her master a certain kind of look.

    Cassius understood this look very well.

    Sighing, he said, "HELL¡­ I know that I have to go back, but I am not yet strong enough. Furthermore, there are some things I still need to do on Earth¡­"

    Hellion blinked. Taking another sip, she motioned to the swiveling stool chair beside her.

    Cassius took the hint and sat down next to her, where he then heard her say, "Those mortal women of yours? And that Gate¡­ World''s End, was it? Child, you know none of this will matter soon enough, don''t you?"

    Cassius appeared confused. "What do you mean by that?"

    "You really don''t know¡­?" Hellion paused to think, then shook her head and said, "Just forget about it, then. But do note that none of those ducklings are what you think they¡­ are. None of it matters. With your unique ability to become stronger faster than everyone else, you should be diverting all your attention elsewhere¡ª"

    "I know that already," Cassius interrupted, his tone raspy. "But I can''t just leave them be. Especially not after I''ve become stronger¡­ The cries of this world, they are becoming louder. I fear that if I leave again without resolving the immense threats to the world, they will no longer¡­ be here¡­"

    Hellion stared deeply into the multicolored eyes of this inexplicable man. After a couple of moments, her long eyelashes flickered as she gave him a hint. "Child, if this is your path, then so be it. What you seek lies at the illusion''s center, the beginning of all. In there, an Abyss resides. Devour the Abyss and glimpse into the truth, but see too much, and the sky will collapse."

    While appraising his emotionless expression, she added, "What is unavoidable will forever remain unavoidable. You will lose two you didn''t know you had, regret and sorrow will sink in, then you will unknowingly lose them all."

    As one older than most civilizations, Hellion had seen the rises and falls of empires. She also observed the tinier and oftentimes overlooked aspects of the wondrous thing called life. Over time, as she glimpsed more and more of existence across all Seven Dimensions, she eventually acquired the mysterious ability to glimpse not into merely what she could visibly see but also what she could not see.

    The futures of many were laid bare to Hellion, all riddles and variables. Yet, out of the many powerful beings she had vaguely seen the futures of, the only two beings she could see nothing of were herself¡­ and the bottomless void before her.

    To the Hellish Sphinx, knower of all, articulator of none, this man staring at her was a mystery.

    As a mere mortal, she should''ve been able to see his entire past, present, and future unfold before her. Yet she could see nothing except for a nigh boundless void and faint static images every time she attempted to discern his future.

    However, the weirdest thing had to be that Hellion could also not see Cassius''s past. Before a certain point, it was like he had never even existed¡­

    It was because of this and her ability to look into the futures of various people, mostly women, that Hellion decided to be subservient to the man who bested her in combat. She wished to see exactly what someone like him would do once he realizes the¡­ truth. And also what would come from that truth.

    "Do what you must, Child, but remember the deal we made," Hellion indifferently said before returning to her perusal of a newspaper while sipping tea.

    "I remember it," Cassius replied as he began to vanish from view. "I''ll inform you of when we''ll be re-entering HELL again."

    Hellion, acting a little out of character, displayed a faint smile while never turning her eyes away from the newspaper she was reading. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The headline of that newspaper read:

    "The Unconquerable Gate, World''s End, is about to experience another World-organized Raid! Will the Hunters finally be able to do the impossible!? Or will they fail¡­?"

    The article then went on to speak about the history of the Evolvable Gate before mentioning over 100 S-Rank Hunters who would be participating in the Gate Raid as the Main Striking Force. It also briefly glossed over tens of thousands of names belonging to A-Rank Hunters and B-Rank Hunters who would be waiting on standby just in case any of the Gate''s monsters escaped the unbreakable circle of S-Rank Hunters.

    This was unquestionably the single largest and most organized Gate Raid in the history of the world!

    And it would also be commencing a little less than ten days from now¡­

    ¡ª---------------

    FWIP!

    When Cassius reappeared, he materialized somewhere in the Antarctic. It was here that a massive, shiny facility covered in snow was erected. Inside this facility, however, was a large, icy blue-purple Gate. The Gate itself was as tall as a multi-storied building and was guarded by C-Rank and B-Rank Awakeners day in and out.

    Similar to the Black Gate that housed the corpse of the Leviathan Deity, this Gate was an anomaly and exceeded its apparent Peak-Purple Rank. However, unlike the Leviathan Deity Gate, the inhabitants of this Gate were very much¡­ alive.

    But contrary to how normal Gates functioned, the monsters inside this Antarctic Gate were not able to leave the Gate. And from what various governments and powerful Hunters had observed from the monsters inside, there were hundreds upon hundreds of colossal Ice Giants kneeling down in chains that made it impossible for them to fight back.

    For even the physically strongest and most adept magic users in the world, none could harm the outer shells of these enormous Ice Giants¡­

 Chapter 155 - 155: Chained Ice Giants, Sword God Training Manual Ranks

    The Mage Lord, the Fastest Man Alive, the Dragon Slayer, and many other notable Hunters had all tried to harm the chained Ice Giants, with some of their attacks capable of bringing the world to its knees!

    Yet all of them failed¡­

    Not even a scratch. Not even a scratch was left on the silent Ice Giant that all old and new Hunters tried to damage.

    Even Cassius fared no better in damaging the Ice Giants when he found out about this Gate from an article and snuck in. He used his strongest attacks, which included the infusion of the Atomic Element, yet none of it made any difference. No matter how many city-destroying Atomic Laser Beams he shot at the Ice Giants, none of them budged an inch.

    Perhaps if he utilized the complete incantation of the I AM ATOMIC, I AM OMEGA, I AM THE END Skill, he might be able to damage an Ice Giant. But seeing as that Skill, after being further upgraded due to Skill Fusions, obtained an even more catastrophic description and also a one-time usage function, it wasn''t worth it to use his ultimate trump card for something like that.

    But then why was Cassius here today? Why had he once again trespassed into private property and slipped into a seemingly endless world of ice?

    *Thud, Thud, Thud.*

    Cassius''s slow steps echoed throughout the desolate landscape as he walked around ancient, rusted structures of unknown origin, all glazed in freshly laid snow. They looked as if they had been there for many, many millennia, with their original construction materials having long since been lost to the perpetual dredges of time.

    In the far-off distance, possibly farther away than the distance between the Sun and the Earth, there stood an icy mountain. Yet, even from such a vast distance away, the ''icy mountain'' appeared around the size of a golf ball.

    After taking a few more steps, Cassius crossed millions of miles and made it to the ''icy mountain.''

    Even though he was still hundreds of miles away from touching the icy mountain, when he looked up, he was unable to see the top of the mountain. Though, once he zoomed out his magical sense, he was able to make out the entirety of the mountain, which was when he saw large gusts of hot air blowing out near the top of its snow-covered peak.

    At the same time as Cassius''s magical sense scanned all of the icy mountain, something unusual occurred. The mountain started to shake, causing everything for tens of thousands of miles to violently tremble. Cracks opened up in the ground, creating countless chasms that seemed to have no ends.

    RUMBLE!!!

    The whole world felt like it was about to collapse in on itself and forever bury everything beneath an incalculable number of tons. But before things reached a point of no return, all of the snow was shaken off of the impossibly large mountain.

    That was when Cassius saw it¡­

    A pair of eyes appeared, their sheen no longer as resplendent as they were in their prime. Rather, they were dull, hiding within them all of the weathering they had endured over the innumerable years.

    The hot gusts of air abruptly stopped, leaving just the pair of massive eyes and a far smaller pair of eyes to stare at each other.

    *Clack, Clack!* S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Massive, unusually pristine chains the size of cities rattled all over the Ice Giant''s body, with there being hundreds of them in total. Every single one of them shone with a low golden glow that culminated together to form a physical restriction capable of locking the unbelievably mighty entity in place.

    Then, something changed in this staring stalemate between insignificant mortal and entity beyond human comprehension.

    An ancient, indecipherable voice emanated, like an echo traveling throughout eternity.

    "ZHA''VRAETH NOL''QUIRA THYS''VEN DRAL''KYR...

    ? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ?

    ULN''FERATH KEL''THUREN ASHA''VIR RA''THEVRA¡­

    ? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ?

    SHYN''ETHRA LOS''VRYN KAEL''THIRAS... VAE''THROS IL''NOTH¡­"

    Silence.

    As the Ice Giant had a giant metal cage clasped over its mouth, what it spoke was akin to a broken language. Even those of the same race as the behemoth were unable to understand what the monster was saying, let alone the mortal who didn''t have even a single language converter Skill that extended beyond translating basic human languages.

    But even without actually understanding what the Ice Giant was saying, Cassius could guess the intent behind the words.

    "What reverberates among creation, echoes throughout eternity," Cassius repeated to the best of his ability. However, during the process, he broke out in a cold sweat and was forced into a lotus position.

    The reason why he had come here, even despite his futile attempts at killing these indescribable organisms, was solely because of the obscured phrases spoken by the Ice Giants. When he first arrived here, he thought their low and deep enigmatic bellows to be nothing more than nonsense. Others who came before him also thought the same thing.

    But that was when he felt a reaction resonate outward from his comprehensions of the SSS-Rank Sword God''s Training Manual. This reaction urged an unknown sensation to circulate through his mind, leading to rapid advancement in the Training Manual.

    -The SSS-Rank Sword God''s Training Manual-

    It was what an ancient human ancestor left behind before he ascended and became a higher existence. Within its translucent pages were numerous unfathomable poses, all describing training exercises that truly embodied the essence of "Train it till you break it, then make it."

    Every single one of the exercises involved experiencing pain induced from training, all while comprehending deeper profundities from one''s surroundings. Moreover, the more pain one experienced and the more complicated the profundity, the easier it would be to progress through the stages of the SSS-Rank Training Manual.

    The stages went as such:

    ________________

    1. Noob Trainer

    2. Novice Trainer

    3. Beginner Trainer

    4. Persistent Trainer

    5. Veteran Trainer

    6. Outlandish Trainer

    7. Hellish Trainer

    8. Nightmare Trainer

    9. God Trainer

    ________________

    Even as the creator of the Training Manual, the Sword God stated toward the end of the booklet that he had not achieved the final stage.

    He mentioned such a stage as one that "Even the craziest of madmen would not have the will to achieve."

 Chapter 156 - 156: Icedom Senates Prison

    In fact, let alone the God Trainer stage, the Sword God himself peaked at the Outlandish Trainer stage prior to Ascension. Even after the passing of countless years, the Sword God was still capped at the Nightmare Trainer stage, unable to advance to the stage that only existed in theories.

    In truth, the Sword God simply wasn''t crazy enough to breach the final obstacle presented before the Will of Mortals.

    It was this very Will that Cassius was trying to hone by coming to the inscrutable Gate known as the Icedom Senate''s Prison. This name, however, was what the Idle Evolution System gave to this area, with a ranking and danger rating of "???"

    The names of this enormous Ice Giant and others like it also happened to be related to the name of the area, as they were dubbed Icedom Senators. But beyond that, no more information was available to him, with the System claiming his mind would likely implode if he ever attempted to read the descriptions of these Ice Giants.

    And the scariest part was that this wasn''t even an exaggeration or a joke made by the System¡­

    From just listening to the arcane voice of the Icedom Senator, Cassius sweat buckets and took severe internal damage. Furthermore, as he continued to take in and attempt to discern the meaning of the monster''s words, his ears started to bleed. His eyes and the rest of his orifices quickly followed, and then, without his regenerative abilities being able to do a single thing, he¡­

    Exploded!

    *Pop!*

    Cassius erupted into a pile of chunky, bloody meat, with his guts and eyeballs flying all over the place.

    One would think that he had permanently died.

    But no¡­

    A few nanoseconds passed, and something miraculous occurred.

    The vaporized blood particles began to feel an attraction force pulling them together. Then, with sporadic blood shooting toward one another all at once, a humanoid figure started to take shape.

    FWIP!

    Cassius reappeared in the same place he had died, also sitting in the same position he was in before. All of the sweat and blood raining down his face was gone. In fact, he appeared as good as new¡ªhis skin flawless, his handsome facial features sharply cold.

    After feeling himself out for a moment, Cassius resumed his meditative session. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soon, the exact same thing as before happened, and with it came System Notifications¡­

    *Ding~!*

    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline slightly progressed!]

    [...75.8%...]

    [|Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill advanced to the Pinnacle Ruby/S+++ Rank!]

    [|SSS-Rank Sword God''s Training Manual| Stage has advanced!]

    [Peak-Novice Trainer ¡ú Early-Beginner Trainer]

    [Physical Prowess tremendously improved!]

    [Strength Stat +1,530]

    Thanks to this Gate Cassius discovered before the Hoshito Branch Master met his unfortunate demise, he was able to rapidly progress his newest and most powerful Technique Manual.

    It was through his blood, sweat, and deaths that he could increase his Physical Strength and Will as such. Of course, when it came to Will, there was no exact ranking that he knew of. He only knew that it was increasing, and with it came a greater tolerance for pain and torture.

    Even his own deaths no longer fazed him¡­

    But as with all great power gained in short periods of time, there was always a catch.

    The catch in this case, however, was more of a non-directly related one, as the more times Cassius died, the less and less he cared for the things around him. It reached a point where, if something like what happened with Grace happened again and there was no Quest involved, he would no longer jump out and save her¡­

    The Idle Evolution System had not made a single Character Development comment on the current direction of his development. It was unknown if it was pleased or displeased with his transformation.

    And seeing as the System was still a complete a*shole 99% of the time, Cassius would never be able to figure out what it was thinking by himself. Nonetheless, he would continue doing what he was doing. Even if a part of him was being lost in the process, it mattered not.

    No matter what, he would become the absolute strongest he could become.

    Though¡­ he seemed to have¡­

    Seemed to have forgotten why he yearned for power so much¡­

    In the beginning, Cassius aimed to acquire more strength solely because the Idle Evolution System threatened him. But with time, he himself began to want greater power. This eventually evolved into something where, even without the System''s ''encouragement,'' he would chase every little bit of power with every ounce of his being.

    It had turned from something compulsory to a personal want.

    And even now, Cassius couldn''t say for certain why he was willing to endure excruciating levels of pain and tolerate any sort of torturous exercises to acquire more strength.

    It had become more of an obsession than anything¡­

    Sure, he wouldn''t mind saving the world from imminent doom if he had the option. But was that why he struggled so much for strength?

    It wasn''t¡­

    Cassius could save unrelated people, but as he became stronger and stronger and paid exponentially heftier prices for his strength, his empathy for others lessened and lessened.

    The shell of the person he once was now only existed as the shadow of the person he had become.

    And surely, the current version of him would be no more than a distant memory of the future him¡­

    How much would he change? What would he become? Why did he work so hard for power? Who? Who¡­?

    Who was he acquiring this power for??

    While Cassius repeatedly died because of the Icedom Senator''s muffled voice, he pondered this exact question. It bounced around inside his mind, trying to find somewhere to settle down and cement itself as an answer.

    However, no matter how much Cassius thought about it, he was unable to figure out who he was striving for power for¡­

    His new family and his father crossed his mind several times, but neither of those answers seemed right.

    All the girls he somehow surrounded himself with had become somewhat irreplaceable to him, and he would feel a deep sense of sorrow if something happened to them.

    Was that it?

    So did that mean he wanted more power to protect them or ensure his peaceful life with them?

    No¡­ that wasn''t it¡­

 Chapter 157 - 157: An Abyss...

    Cassius felt that his path veered away from the usual protagonist path that he had read about in stories prior to his unusual reincarnation. In those stories, the Main Character would find himself in the company of numerous women, all of whom loved him dearly. He would also have family and friends, one or multiple lovers, and an overall blissful life.

    But then, somewhere along the way, hurdles would be thrown in front of the Main Character. Perhaps some of the people closest to him would be put in perilous predicaments. Maybe the Main Character would vow to himself to become stronger because he wouldn''t want a repeat of what happened to someone close to him? Or maybe he wanted to prevent it from ever happening to begin with¡ª

    "Preventing from the beginning¡­"

    Cassius''s expression suddenly brightened in enlightenment. He found the answer he was looking for. Or, rather, he found some of it.

    A large part of him wanted power simply to become stronger and experience what it was like to be stronger than he was the day before. This part of him wished to feel the thrill that accompanied consecutive gains in strength. This part of him did whatever it took for more strength just for the strength itself.

    One could call this part of him power-hungry.

    Then there was another equally large part of himself that wished to obtain more strength as fast as possible so as to not lose what he had. This included things like family, friends, items, Skills, and even his very lifestyle.

    One could call this part of him his Hoarder Dragon side.

    All in all, Cassius was doing everything just for himself. He would do whatever it took to become more powerful, with every bit of him wanting strength for one reason or another.

    Even if he lost more and more of what made him him on the long journey that awaited him, he was sure that his prime directive would forever remain the same. He would not lose himself.

    He would not¡­ lose himself¡­

    ¡ª--------------

    ¡ªApproximately one hour later¡ª

    *Pop!*

    Cassius had died 29 times since arriving in the Icedom Senator''s Prison. His |Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill had nearly reached the precipice of breaking through into another, higher state, but it still felt miles away from him. However, with his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline exceeding the 79% mark, it surely wouldn''t be long before the Skill advanced to whatever lay beyond the Ruby Rank.

    It was unknown just how many times Cassius would be able to die when the Skill reached the SS-Rank. But, for now, 32 deaths was the limit, and as he was an especially cautious person, he called his torturous training quits for the day.

    "It''s about time that the others wake up for the first day of school, anyway, so it''s time I take my leave¡­" Cassius muttered, his voice sounding as if it had aged by several hundred years.

    At first, his expression appeared bleak, almost as if looking at a man who had experienced something not possible to put into words. However, when his icy eyes perused the System pop-ups flashing past his face, a lot of color seemed to return to him.

    [Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline slightly progressed!]

    [.....79.1%...]

    [|SSS-Rank Sword God''s Training Manual| Stage has advanced!]

    [Late-Beginner Trainer ¡ú Peak-Beginner Trainer]

    [Physical Prowess tremendously improved!]

    [Strength Stat +3,870]

    In total, Cassius had made leap after leap in his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline and got himself a good sum of over 8,000 Strength! This brought his physical abilities to an entirely different league!

    Though, there was the downside of his Strength Stat slowly but surely catching up to his Agility Stat, which reduced the effects of ''I AM SPEED.'' Then again, with 70% of all AP going into his Agility Stat, every bit of those reductions was negated and even taken in the opposite direction!

    With a small satisfied smile, Cassius looked up at the large eyes that had been focused on him this whole time. He gave a thankful nod while saying, "I''m sorry to have disturbed you this time, big guy, and I also apologize for the next few times I''ll come and visit you. And again, thanks for killing me. I won''t forget this favor, and one day, I''ll break you and your brethren free from the chains that trap you."

    In response, he received a heavy gust of air and another string of strange words. Yet, even with his head stinging due to the pain, his smile only became ever more appreciative. And then, with a flash of crimson light, he vanished from view, and then from the Gate itself.

    Once he left, silence prevailed within the Icedom Senator''s Prison.

    Then, out of the blue, a flow of coherent thought breezed from the first Icedom Senator to the rest of the chained Icedom Senators. The thought contained just two words:

    ''An Abyss¡­''

    ¡ª-----------

    ¡ªMeanwhile, inside the spacious living room of the Steele Mansion, at [5:49]¡ª

    Cassius just materialized from the rapidly flashing speed stream, and the first thing he did was look past the calmly sitting Hellion and ascend the stairs of the mansion. He briskly made his way to one of the various rooms in the house, which also just so happened to be the only room with anyone occupying it right now. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Normally, Sasha would be sleeping in her room, but as she became blackout drunk last night, she wound up finding her way into his bed, same as the other girls. One could say that sleeping in anything other than her own bed ran in her blood, as Aya was an excellent example of that claim.

    However, as soon as Cassius made it some way into the wide and long hallway, he heard some noise coming from inside his room. Curious, he creaked open the door, only to see a group of women working together in an attempt to pull up a thin waistband being held over a Physical Negator.

    But at the same moment he took his first step into the room, all of the beautiful women took one final pull and¡­ failed. They rebounded backward and fell on their cushy bottoms.

    "So¡­ What are you bunch doing?"

 Chapter 158 - 158: Bellas Crazies

    "So¡­ What are you bunch doing?" Cassius asked with a raised brow, receiving several bashful looks in return.

    "W-We are¡­" The girls tried to think up something that made them look less pathetic, yet could come up with nothing. "That thing¡­ Why is it so heavy¡­?"

    Cassius looked away from their slightly whimpering expressions, with his eyes soon falling on the Waist Weight that he seemed to have left behind. He softly chuckled before sauntering past the blushing girls, where he then leaned down and lifted the thin Waist Weight with a single hand.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even the strongest among them, Bella, stared ahead with wide eyes, barely able to believe what she was seeing. ''He wasn''t this strong a few days ago! How is his Seal loosening so quickly?? Has it been broken already!?''

    Let alone the Duke Vampire Descendant, the other girls were even more astonished by what they were seeing. And that surprise was only further amplified when Cassius strapped the unbelievably heavy Waist Weight to his person. They then saw him walk around like normal, acting as if he hadn''t just put an entire City on him.

    "You¡­ Just what sort of freak are you¡­?" Aya, not ashamed to speak her mind, asked bluntly.

    In response, Cassius turned to her, and with a normal expression, he said, "It''s not that heavy anymore. All that weight training has really done wonders."

    Who was he expecting to believe this crap!? Everyone in that room knew full well how heavy something must need to be for all of their combined efforts to not even budge the thing! All of them were Awakened, you know!

    What would weight training possibly be able to accomplish!?

    However, while looking at that handsome man slightly tilt his head in confusion, they could do nothing but sigh in exasperation. After which, they left the room, seemingly comprehending some deeper meaning of life.

    It was only a few minutes later, after Cassius pondered their weirdness by himself, that they worked together to prepare breakfast. Then, once they were done eating, Sasha bid farewell to the younger generation. Though, as she watched her stepson''s sturdy back get farther and farther away, a tinge of loneliness struck her heart.

    Hellion, who also stayed behind, observed this Milf with a mildly perceptive glint in her frosty gaze. ''The Abyss wanders amidst turmoil, with age and relationship status becoming nothing more than a malleable construct¡­ But the darkness is unaware of the lies that wade through the uncertain waters of time¡­''

    The true meaning behind her thoughts was only known to herself. But soon, all would understand.

    Sometimes, Truth was more devastating than a Lie.

    ¡ª---------------

    After walking a bit away from the Steele Mansion, Cassius smiled and waved off Grace. As she was a bit older than he was, she no longer attended High School. And although he didn''t quite know what she did to occupy herself, he recalled her mentioning how busy she got on some days. He could also tell from the way she was anxiously fidgeting that she had important matters to attend to.

    But before she reluctantly parted ways with the group down an intersecting street, she heard a kind voice speak inside her mind. Only she and the speaker were aware of what was being said, but after the voice transmission cut off, she left with a far more joyous way about her. She even started to hopscotch.

    "What is that weirdo up to?" Aya asked in confusion, her stare clearly judging the receding figure.

    Stella was thinking something similar, but she wasn''t as shameless as Aya was. She did, however, steal glances at the tall handsome hooded man walking beside her. Images of the soft-spoken Grace returning from the bathroom last night in a fluster lingered at the forefront of her mind. But then she remembered how Cassius was with them the whole time, which left her even more puzzled.

    Bella, on the other hand, secretly eyed Cassius and the now distant Grace. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits as she thought, ''I have to hurry up and go through with the Contractual Ceremony tomorrow. The date cannot be brought back anymore! It has to happen!''

    Out of all the girls Cassius had around him, the one who put Bella the most on edge had to be the innocent-looking Grace. There was just something about her, perhaps her pheromones, that really set her off. Being around her urged Bella to constantly be on guard.

    She had to protect her man from thieving vixens!

    And the more innocent-seeming they were, the more likely they were to be the most b*tchiest b*tch around!

    From now until the moment of their deeper marriage contract, she would have no choice but to stick to her hubby like glue! If any more whores seduced him, she would slit their throats and split up their limbs all across the world!!

    And that would be just the bare minimum of punishments¡­

    ''Guhehe~''

    "Hmm?" Cassius could''ve sworn that he heard something creepy sound out from beside him, but when he turned toward Bella, the creepy sound stopped. ''Must''ve just been my imagination¡­''

    Bella heaved a breath of relief when he looked back ahead. She gave him a slightly disgusted look just to make her act truly come together; maybe that was what did it?

    Well, whatever the case may be, she was safe for now!

    Though, it was a very close call¡­

    Bella felt her soul constrict when thinking about her hubby thinking her to be a weirdo¡­

    To prevent that scenario from happening, she had to hurry up and tie him down through permanent marriage! It was really the only possible thing she could do!

    Bella inwardly giggled again while walking beside Cassius and the bimbos whom she couldn''t be bothered to remember the names of. In her life, the only person who truly mattered was her husband. Why should she go through the trouble of remembering names that would soon be scratched off the pages of her Death Note?

    It was pointless to waste such precious brain storage on those b*tches. After all, she only had 100% brain capacity available to her, and 99.5% of that was full of Cassius. Whereas the other 0.5% was filled with useless things like her Studies, Skills, Advanced Knowledge, her Family, and her Father.

    All worthless in comparison!

    Kuk!! Kuk!!!

    ...¡­.

 Chapter 159 - 159: Leons Thoughts

    Somewhere, very far away, in an entirely different Dimension, a middle-aged pale-faced man with red glowing eyes coughed up a large blot of blood and collapsed into his eerie throne. A divinely beautiful pale-faced woman who was in the same area also keeled over and felt extreme chest pain.

    The two Vampires protecting their Young Miss also felt something gnaw away at their insides, especially for Leon.

    Even further in the background, the Gremlin Exterrestrial Fiend tasked with neutrally surveilling ''its'' son at all times momentarily looked at the ridiculous pair of vampires. It had known about their presences for a long while now, but seeing as they were yucky cold zombies, it tried its best to ignore their existences. Furthermore, anything that wasn''t its target had nothing to do with it.

    And seeing as the Alien''s camouflage was much better than whatever the Vampires were using to stay hidden, it worried not about being found out. Like usual, it simply stood back and watched expressionlessly.

    Leon, however, had sinister ideas swirling around inside his head. He had been mulling over a way to covertly erase the audacious human from the picture for a while now, and he finally figured out something he could do.

    The eyesore would be gone for good if he could successfully pull his plan off.

    ''The Gate of World''s End¡­ I recall the Elders speaking about it a few hundred years ago. And now that it has finally appeared in the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, many things will begin to change,'' Leon thought with an evil inward grin. ''Who''s to say that in the immense chaos brought about from all this change, an insignificant human worm won''t go missing? Many things can happen in times when Floors of the Ascension Tower undergo their Rite to Remain.''

    With a solid plan forming within his mind, Leon stared at his gorgeous Young Miss, already imagining how his life with her would be after the worm was squashed. It would be blissful! Like a fairytale in real life!

    With various mystical beings having their own thoughts in mind, Cassius, a once overweight, cowardly, and hideous human being, was wondering how he should begin his next training regimen.

    He had quite a few techniques, ya know? There were the Three Sections of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, the Demon Dragon Integration Arts, the Fiendish Demon King Arts, and now the Sword God''s Training Manual!

    Every single one of these was very difficult to progress in, to boot. None gave Cassius an easy time, and all of them were painful as all high hell. Especially the Sword God''s Training Manual.

    However, along with various levels of excruciating pain came several significant boosts. For example, as he just advanced to the 5th Layer for all three segments of the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, he received 3,000 Stat Points in all of his Main Attributes. Furthermore, he learned a little more of the Path to Immortality¡ªsecrets that normally even those beyond the SSS-Rank would not have access to.

    Only the most powerful beings in the Ascension Tower, such as the Top 5 Demon Kings and the Originator Ancestors of the other Dimensions, were privy to the Truth of Immortality and Immortals. Though, even for them, Immortals were like Children''s Fairy Tales.

    Nonetheless, not only had Cassius been progressing his Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, but he had also been working on the Fiendish Demon King Arts and his Demon Dragon Integration Rate. The former had already taken him straight to the Early Greater Demon King stage, making him stronger than most S-Rank organisms with just his Demon King Bloodline alone.

    Similarly, his Demon Dragon Integration Arts advanced from just under 2% to over 20% in the past month!

    Give it a few more months and Cassius might just be able to achieve everything that a genuine Demon Dragon had to offer! Just imagining the improvements that would be made to his power was enough to make him drool in anticipation! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Lastly, there was the Sword God''s Training Manual.

    It was without question the most taxing Technique Cassius had to practice, but it was also the one that benefited him the most. In fact, the only apparent downside it had was that harming himself while imagining and/or practicing the motions of the Manual made only his Strength Stat increase. And with almost all of his AP going into Agility, his other three Main Attributes were neglected.

    He wasn''t sure how to solve the issue yet, but with all his stats ¡ª including the benefits from the Fundamental Training Manual ¡ª sitting well above S+ Rank, he didn''t worry too much about it. What mattered more to him was finding a way to push his Speed even higher.

    He had to go faster! He had to be the fastest!

    Perhaps Cassius had developed a little case of OCD when it came to acquiring Speed¡­ Just maybe¡­

    ¡ª--------------

    *Step, Step, Step.*

    As Cassius, Stella, Aya, and Bella strolled through the streets of Hoshito, they began to near Hoshito General High. It was only then that they received even more stares than usual. When a group of young people as good-looking as them walked side by side, others were bound to gawk, with this only becoming worse the closer the gawkers were to their age.

    Aya uncomfortably fidgeted, her clear ocean blue eyes erratically darting all over the place. She seemed to be worried about something. And when she could no longer take it anymore, she scurried away from the other three.

    They looked at her weirdly, but by then, she was already long gone.

    "Where did she head off to?" asked Stella, her irises shining in curiosity. "Did she have to use the washroom?"

    Bella glanced at the silverish-haired woman as if she were looking at an idiot, with her disdain becoming even greater than when she first saw this shameless 20-something-year-old floozy wear their school uniform. Cassius even managed to get her a new identity that would allow her to attend the same school as them!

    Just how shameless could one person possibly be!?

 Chapter 160 - 160: 1st Day of School

    ''Does that Stella b*tch have no shame!?'' Bella, the 20''ish year-old groomer vampire, shouted inside her mind. ''And that Aya stepsister-thieving whore is obviously embarrassed to be around us, so she left ahead of us. Tsk, I expect no less from a measly blood bag that isn''t my husband.''

    Her expression lightened up a bit when she thought of the oblivious man beside her. She was so ready to dig in!

    Hearts swam around inside her eyes while staring at Cassius, with her tangible obsession having long since progressed far past overwhelming.

    Cassius, perfectly playing the part of a dense wall, simply looked between the two girls and then toward the blonde-haired beauty slipping through crowds of students. He sighed a little before venturing forward, with the large fancy gates of the high school quickly coming into view.

    As the most prestigious high school in Hoshito, Hoshito General High was not located in just one area. For the highly gifted students who graduated from the lower-branching Hoshito General Middle School, they would directly advance from the 1-A Building Complex of Hoshito Middle School to the 1-A Building Complex of Hoshito High School. This was the path that Bella and Aya had taken, whereas Cassius had to later take the Transfer Test to get into the same school complex after his book smart-type intelligence increased because of the System.

    Stella, on the other hand, got in through connections and manipulations on Cassius''s part. She wasn''t much older than 18 anyway, so why not send her to something that she never had the chance to properly participate in? It was quite easy to get her in after flashing a bit of cash.

    It was at this point that the whispers among the swathes of students became particularly vocal.

    "Who are they¡­?"

    "I have no idea who the man and the silver-haired woman are, but the one who left their group was one of the prettiest girls in school, Aya! And the sparkly-eyed one standing close to that¡­ man¡­ is Bella, one of the Three Belles of the School!"

    "Really?? I''m a Freshman, so I had no idea those good-looking girls were so popular. But what about the man? He looks better than most models I''ve seen, so do you know who he is? He''s also wearing our school''s uniform."

    "...Him?" The young man scoffed. "I have no clue who he is, but he has a lot of balls being so close to two of the school''s beauties!" He said the last part just loud enough for Cassius and his group to hear.

    "Hmm¡­?"

    Cassius''s striking blue eyes traced the source of the boisterous voice, and when they locked on to the young male student, the student involuntarily shivered in place. The student wanted to lash out in anger but could not even do that. Even his moderately handsome appearance was quickly drenched in sweat, same as with the rest of his body.

    Realizing what he was doing, Cassius looked away from the young man. He kept on forgetting about his menacing presence. Even with his killing intent being constantly dampened by him, there was nothing he could do about his demeanor.

    "It''s only Day 1 and you''re already bullying people," Bella mocked from the side. "Just look at that poor guy; he seems like he''s on the verge of pissing his breeches!" She spoke the last few words just loud enough that every student in the vicinity could hear what she said.

    The young man''s mouth swung open as his cheeks flushed red in embarrassment and anger. He couldn''t believe that the girl he has liked since junior year was speaking to him in such a way, and all for the sake of some unknown loser.

    It was infuriating!

    But what could he do?

    It was with a begrudged heart that the young man clenched his fists and retreated from the scene. Until he was a good distance out of view, he not once turned his head up.

    But deep down, he would remember this shameful moment! And he would be back to make sure that his crush and that guy rued the day they messed with him¡ª!

    "Hey, it looks like you forgot your purse on your way out!" Bella shouted, concealing a devilish smirk beneath her concerned facade. "Don''t you want to come back over and pick it up?"

    The young man turned around and saw his fanny pack lying on the ground. It must''ve fallen off his shoulder just a second ago.

    But it wasn''t like he could go pick it up now! He already felt like tying a rope around his neck and hanging it on a high tree branch! If he went back over, he might just bang his head against the ground while picking up the fanny pack to make his death come quicker¡­!

    "Well?" Bella repeated. "Are you not going to retrieve your purse?"

    Dozens of students wearing the same uniform all turned their heads in the young man''s direction. They were invested in this development. Though, from his perspective, it felt like the whole world was against him.

    ''J-Just you wait, you bastards! Just wait until I get my revenge!'' the young man screamed out inside his head as he fled from the scene, with sparkling crystalline tears trailing off behind him. ''And it''s not a purse, damnit! It''s a manly, combat-ready, accessorised fanny pack!!''

    "..." "..." "..."

    Students exchanged glances with one another after they watched a senior escape in shame. He hadn''t even retrieved his belongings¡­

    Bella, on the other hand, proudly stuck her nose up and furtively glanced at her hubby for praise.

    She did a good job, didn''t she??

    She felt that deserved a petting session just like what the cutsie b*tches got! Gimme, gimme, she begged!

    "???"

    Cassius looked down at the pleading universe-like eyes of the black-haired girl before him. He wondered what it was she wanted, utterly oblivious to the obvious hints she was giving.

    ''Hmm¡­ Perhaps she''s in heat?''

    That was the only thing he could think of, and his response to this realization was a subtle hand wave of rejection. He hoped this would make his intentions clear.

    Bella''s imaginary black cat ears drooped in sadness as her once bubbly aura turned gloomy. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now Cassius was even more confused. And as he, her, and Stella walked through the open gates of the high school, he realized what the problem was.

    Seeing as he was a man of action, he acted on his realization right away!

    *Pat, Pat.*

    ...

 Chapter 161 - 161: Road to Forever Virgin

    ''If Japanese scriptures have taught me anything, then it''s that head pats are universally accepted as the only way to please a woman. That and the forbidden holding of hands¡­''

    The ''Road to Forever Virgin'' Scripture had indeed taught Cassius well. Japanese protagonists all around the world would be proud.

    Their shed tears of prideful joy would be able to create entire river systems!

    However, the moment Bella felt a large hand rub back and forth atop her bed of black wonders, a different kind of river was created between her legs. And with it came a different type of wonder¡ªone that exceeded all expectations.

    Cassius glanced down at the shadowy-faced girl, unable to read her expression.

    ''Maybe this wasn''t the solution¡­?'' he thought with a raised brow. ''...But the Scriptures don''t lie¡­''

    This matter truly perplexed him, even more so than the complexities that went into achieving the 4th Major Stage of the Sword God''s Training Manual.

    Women, above all else, were hella confusing, dawg.

    Cassius''s thoughts became a bit weird as he took his hand off the silent girl. He received a spasmed flinch in response, which made him a little nervous, even more so when he saw her lips zigzag into a creepy-ass grin. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And like the intelligent man he was, he did the most logical thing in this situation.

    He walked away.

    Like a deadbeat dad on a journey for something he hoped to never find, Cassius slipped away from the ominous forcefield permeating around Bella. He brought Stella along with him, and together, they strolled up to one of three large boards. Hundreds of students were huddled around these boards, with each of them scanning the boards with their eyes in an attempt to locate their names.

    These boards were what determined the Homeroom Class of each student. When you arrived, you were expected to read them until you found your name, then you would enter the massive, opulent Main School Building and head to your Homeroom.

    "You see yours?" asked Cassius, trying his best to zone out the darkened aura expanding out behind them.

    All of the students, no matter if they were Awakened or not, felt shivers run up and down their spines. Even nearby teachers were no exception.

    Stella, who was feeling a high sense of danger, answered with an awkward smile, "I''m in Homeroom 4-A. What about you?"

    "I got 4-A as well," replied Cassius.

    Stella beamed at that information but hid it well.

    As one of the calmer ones among the moochers who resided within the Mooching King''s abode, she was well accustomed to playing things off cool, even if she was, in actuality, freaking out on the inside.

    Stella gave an outward nod and a slight smile before following close behind Cassius. As they made their way through the loud groups of people, she took many furtive glances at his side-view. Her eyes sparkled more and more the longer she looked, but before long, her dazed trance wound up ending when they made it to the glass building''s 4th Floor.

    The 4th Floor was extremely large, including within its walls dozens of classrooms, all of which were designated to 4th Year Students. Yet, even among seniors, there were differences in statuses, and also differences in the quality of the classrooms.

    Luckily, Cassius and Stella were part of the most advanced class, which also meant the most luxurious class. But to be frank, he hadn''t accounted for this when he was throwing around wads of cash like it was a strip club.

    ''The Administration did say something about Stella needing to take a test to figure out where she would be learning, but I never asked her about it¡­ She must''ve done quite well if she''s in the A-Class as well, though¡­''

    With his stupidly overpowered Mind Skills and Knowledge Bank, Cassius breezed through the School''s Tests like a toddler playing with building blocks. However, unlike him, Stella did not have any such Skills or Cheats.

    Like most Awakeners, all of her Skills were very compatible with her Job, which was far from how the Jack-Of-All-Trades Cassius operated.

    And from what he knew of this bluish-silverish-haired beauty, she had the Job of ''Spiritualist,'' which made her a Supporter Class of sorts. She could cast spells and incantations that had the properties of ''Restrict,'' ''Confine,'' ''Stop,'' and such.

    In combat, she was invaluable as a party member, but outside of Gate Conquering, her Skills were unable to do much of anything. Though, if she cast a certain Skill, she could stop things from falling mid-air, giving the illusion of a time-stop Skill.

    But again, this utilization was pretty useless¡­ It did, however, make for a good party trick!

    Cassius chuckled a little while walking side by side with the quiet beauty. As they sauntered through the 4th Floor Hallways in search of Homeroom 1-A, they received too many stares to count. From girls to boys to even staff, everyone stole more than one glance.

    However, as if none of the attention they were getting even registered in their minds, Cassius and Stella continued thinking about one another. He wondered just how much intelligence she had been keeping a secret from him while also pondering what he speculated to be increases in breast size. Surely, her boobs weren''t growing larger, right?

    Then again, perhaps they were¡­

    As Cassius''s once serious contemplation session took an unusual turn, Stella''s mind became filled with thoughts of¡­ Well¡­

    Everything¡­

    Marriage and snu snu may have passed her mind once or twice, and the nonsensical thoughts didn''t stop there. Again and again, she shook her head, but more silly thoughts just kept surfacing.

    Even she herself didn''t know what she was thinking about anymore¡­

    ''But it is nice to finally be alone with him,'' Stella thought with a warm smile as she gently rubbed her World Tree necklace. ''I wonder when we''ll be able to talk in private again¡­ Maybe I should ask later.''

    Then, as each thought to themselves, they finally made it to a fancy golden sign hung over a closed door. The sign was written in loud italics and read ''Class 4-A.''

    They could hear a lot of noise coming from within the classroom, and they could also see bright lights flying all around.

    They both immediately knew what sort of room they were about to enter¡­

    If the students of Classroom 4-A were advanced, they were likely so in every sense of the word.

    In layman''s terms, this likely meant a good majority of them were¡­

 Chapter 162 - 162: I Challenge You to a Duel!

    SHING!

    "Awakened," Cassius and Stella tiredly murmured as they opened the door and easily dodged a flying blade arc.

    The arc threatened to destroy a good chunk of the school, but before it could, some mysterious force that encompassed the area locked onto the arc and dissipated it.

    ''A Formation?''

    Cassius''s thoughts were interrupted by a rowdy group of students.

    "Why did you dodge, you blonde pretty boy!? Are you scared of my blade skills!?" shouted a young man with spiky red hair and a feisty gaze.

    The student he was talking to scoffed aloud. "Me? Scared of you? What a joke!"

    Yet, in spite of the blonde-haired student''s growing urge to fight back, he remembered the bothersome lectures of the Headmaster and the other teachers. He snorted in disdain before returning to his seat, where he then flipped back his medium-length, shiny blonde hair.

    "You pretentious bastard¡­" The spiky red-haired student''s face twisted in anger as several veins burst on his forehead.

    However, before he could act any more rashly, the voice of a black-haired, purple-eyed woman sounded out.

    "Be quiet, guys¡­ I''m trying to sleep¡­"

    ''You''re always trying to sleep!'' the students all exclaimed as they face-palmed at the sight of their naturally seductive teacher laying against her desk at the front of the classroom.

    "Hmm?"

    Cassius curiously observed this homeroom teacher, upon which he saw a groggy face that was somehow still incredibly beautiful. She wore a tightly-fitted black and white dress shirt, with the buttons barely containing the ample, snow-white mountains that perfectly drooped over her mahogany desk.

    Her hair¡ªlong, black, and luscious¡ªreached her divinely sculpted butt and even spread out around her adorably sleepy expression, sculpting her image in a way that just did it for a lot of the male students in the school.

    The students were especially drawn into those slightly flickering violet pupils still in the process of displaying themselves to the world. They looked between all of those in her classroom with a bored way about them, until she eventually saw two new faces.

    "Huh? Who the hell are you two?" Violet Evergreen, the beautiful sleepy teacher, asked in a raunchy way not befitting her image as a C-Rank Teacher of Hoshito''s #1 School.

    It was only after her mildly annoyed announcement that the students noticed the male and female pair calmly standing at the far back of the classroom. The first thing they saw were their uniforms, meaning that they were also students of the school. Then, they scrutinized their appearances.

    "So beautiful," the blonde-haired student, Arthur, murmured in a daze. He wasn''t sure if he had ever seen a woman as stunning as the one standing before him.

    Where had she come from? Who was the man beside her? Was she single? were questions he asked himself.

    Then, something completely unexpected happened. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Please go out with me! I think you''re the hottest!" The spiky red-haired student, Alex, wasted no time and immediately confessed in his own twisted way.

    "You unruly heathen¡ª" Arthur was about to stand up and defend this queen of a woman, but before he received the chance to show off, Stella responded almost instantly, saying:

    "No. You''re too loud."

    *Kuk!*

    Alex took critical damage.

    Figuring this was his chance, Arthur confessed as well. "I''m quiet, and I promise that I''ll take good care of you¡ª"

    "No," Stella denied. "You''re too shiny, and I don''t like how skinny you are. Do gyms not exist where you live?"

    *Kuk!*

    Arthur joined the red-haired meathead as they both collapsed to the ground with blood leaking from their mouths.

    Cassius softly chuckled, whereas the other students in the classroom burst out in laughter. They didn''t care a single bit about the currently fragile hearts of the two heartbroken boys. As those two were of the C-Rank and were expected to have quite the prosperous futures ahead of them, they took every chance they got to brag.

    It was hella satisfying to finally see them taken off their high horses!

    "...."

    A pair of orangish-blue eyes pierced through the uproarious laughter of the students and honed in on the cold-faced boy with jet-black hair standing beside the ruthless silver-haired girl. Unknown thoughts flashed through those captivating eyes as they never left the view of the boy.

    However, after a couple of seconds, the owner of those eyes¡ªa girl named Flora¡ªlooked away and returned to being bored. He was exceptionally handsome, but beyond that, she hadn''t seen anything that interesting. But for some reason, he carried the scent of her sister, which was why she was initially so invested.

    Yet, there was likely no connection between her sister and this guy. They probably just passed each other on the side of the street or something.

    "So bored¡­" Flora muttered as she squished her gorgeous, decorated face against her desk. Staring out a window, she wondered when something entertaining would happen.

    "Hello?? Is no one going to tell me¡ª" Violet Evergreen started to speak, yet had a spark of realization appear midway through her question. "Ahh¡­ the rich student and the transfer student¡­ Well, whatever¡­"

    With that, the pretty homeroom teacher went back to napping, no longer bothering herself with the students she was supposed to be teaching.

    "The rich student¡­?" Cassius repeated with a twitching smile. ''I took the Assignment Test as well, you know¡­''

    Stella giggled a little while looking at the funny expression he was making.

    Arthur and Alex became incensed by this sight as they got up off the ground, wiped the blood from their lips, and valiantly spoke up:

    "I challenge you to a duel!!" X2

    "!?!?" "!?!?" "!?!?"

    The students looked at the two egotistical boys with their mouths agape. Not often were they able to witness a duel in person, let alone two at the same time. Not to mention that they were both proposed by C-Rank Awakeners, who were considered to be at the very peak of the Hoshito City Hierarchy!

    Flora''s ears perked up a little as she lazily switched the side her face was laying on.

    "Those idiots are really starting another duel¡­?"

 Chapter 163 - 163: Stellas Inner Thoughts

    Flora faintly recalled the last time they dueled. It happened a few months ago, before summer break began. At the time, they were dueling each other for the chance to ask her out. But in the end, no victor could be determined, and a deeply rooted rivalry was created. Over time, they forgot all about why they hated each other so much¡ªand also forgot about her. This was good for her, as she heavily disliked both of them.

    However, that didn''t mean she could deny their strength.

    Although they were nothing more than ants in her eyes, she could recognize that to the citizens of Hoshito, they were considered extremely powerful. The C-Rank, on a national scale, was still quite good and was what many saw as the backbone of a country, so even outside Hoshito, the two dunderheads would have a decent chance of succeeding.

    ''Still trash¡­''

    That was the limit of Flora''s interest. She could feel no aura from the new guy, and the challengers weren''t worth her while. With that said, she returned to being bored while watching tweetie birds soar outside one of the classroom windows.

    Cassius, on the other hand, tilted his head in bewilderment.

    "Duels? You can have duels in a school?"

    He had no recollection of this nonsensical notion from either this life or his previous one. It was silly¡ª

    "Of course you can, you bumpkin!" Arthur mocked. "Now, do you accept the duel or not!?"

    "Yeah, do you accept, you bastard!?" Alex added, feeling that he ought to not be outshined by the blonde-haired boy beside him.

    Cassius exchanged a look with the short silver-haired girl, where he saw her eyes crease upward in amusement. She also had no idea about school duels, but seeing him struggle with himself like that made her heart flutter a bit.

    She liked this part of him a lot¡­ He was so vulnerable¡­

    "Heh¡­"

    "What was that?" Cassius whispered under the livid stares of the blonde and red badgers.

    "What? Oh! It¡­ It was nothing¡­" Stella covered herself as best she could, trying her utmost to hide the goofy grin creeping up her magnetic features.

    Cassius raised a brow in suspicion, yet thought no more on the subject. He was used to all the ''oddities'' that surrounded him; it was better not to overthink matters centered around any of them.

    Multiple girls in several different locations all felt something puncture their hearts and mercilessly tear at their insides. For some reason, they felt like they were being repeatedly shanked¡­

    ¡ªBack at Hoshito High School¡ª

    Cassius glanced between all of the eager students, then looked to the teacher for help. However, she couldn''t care less about what was occurring in her own classroom. His lips spasmed a bit as he realized he was all alone on this one.

    An irritating laugh resounded.

    "Ha! Are you really so scared to fight us!? You must be terrified! But don''t worry! We''ll duel you one by one, so you won''t get beaten to a pummel all at once!" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was Arthur who recited those conceited words, but Alex wasn''t one to fall too far behind as he added, "Right now! Do you dare or do you not dare!?"

    Cassius blankly stared at these clowns, finding it increasingly more difficult not to soccer-punch them in their annoying smirks.

    Stella noticed this annoyance and giggled even more than before, to which she received a tickle to her side. Cassius''s finger moved like lightning, then left even faster.

    ''Y-You¡­! Hahah~!''

    Stella struggled with all her might not to embarrass herself in public. Her face turned a dark shade of red as she clenched onto the hem of his uniform and keeled over a little. While steadying her breath and holding back the laughter, she aggrievedly glared at him.

    Cassius smugly ignored the cute expression she was making and revisited the sudden proposal to duel by the young male students fiercely glaring at him. He didn''t want to have to do this so soon, but in a way, it might just help speed up the process of acquiring a peaceful school life for his last year of high school.

    As for why he wished for this¡ªeven despite the fact that he could do just about anything he wanted in this world¡ªwas because of reasons unknown to even himself.

    Perhaps he wanted to savor the mundane while it lasted because he wouldn''t get another chance¡­? Perhaps a part of him felt suffocated by all the pain and death he forced himself to go through, making him subconsciously feel inclined to revert to the simpler things in life¡­? This could also explain why he always wound up coming back to family at the end of the day¡­

    Cassius''s thoughts uselessly swirled before he noticed the growing impatience of the idiots. Sighing, he shook his head and said, "Fine. Let''s do this duel."

    Arthur and Alex inwardly grinned as they managed to get him ensnared in their trap. Though, outwardly, they showed a bit of false compassion and motioned to an open window. Outside that window were many faculty buildings and activity areas, but what they were truly referencing was the forcefield-like bubble located just a few dozen feet away from the building they were in.

    This bubble was an isolated area spanning dozens of meters in all directions and was enveloped in a powerful formation spell that prevented all attacks released inside the bubble from coming out. It could even withstand a couple of skills from the weakest of B-Rank Hunters, which was insane for a backwater city like Hoshito!

    "Am I really doing this¡­?" Cassius asked himself in exasperation.

    Stella tickled his sides as a form of revenge and teasingly said, "Good luck, you dummy."

    She didn''t receive quite the laughing reaction she expected, but seeing his expression morph a little in disgruntlement was very pleasing to the eye.

    ¡ªA few seconds later¡ª

    Cassius nonchalantly stood on one side of the bubble fighting ring.

    Alex stood on the other side, his smirk curving up in derision.

    Arthur, the blonde-haired student, waited outside the ring. His mood was soured over not winning the rock-paper-scissors match to decide who would be the first to beat up the overly handsome aura-less loser, but he still wanted to watch¡­

 Chapter 164 - 164: Vladimir Dracula!

    A few dozen meters away, on the 4th Floor of the Main School Building, dozens of students, both female and male, were staring out the windows with shining eyes. All of them were either geniuses, came from influential families, or were high-level Awakeners, so most of their schedules were jam-packed. It was only during moments like these that they received some respite from their normally hectic lives.

    Flora took an uninterested glance in the direction of the bubble fighting ring, suddenly feeling that there was no harm in watching how the fight played out to cure some of her boredom. The winner of the match was already clear as day in her eyes, but maybe something surprising would occur. That would be nice¡­

    Stella, who was also watching from the distant classroom, thought the exact opposite of the placid Flora. In fact, the victor was set in stone so hard that the center of the earth might just open up due to how guaranteed the victory would be.

    She was, however, looking forward to seeing how that dummy would deal with the aftermath of these bouts, though.

    Now that would make her happy.

    Cassius briefly looked at Stella, knowing very well what was running through her mind. He helplessly shook his head and refocused on this so-called ''Duel.''

    "Do we really have to do this?" he asked.

    Arthur''s smug smirk widened to nearly both of his ears as he replied, "Why? Scared?"

    A few of the students watching from up above laughed, causing Cassius''s frown to deepen. The more he stayed around these folks, the better he understood that status and talent did not make the person. People could still be childish, and they could still act like background characters, their names not even worth mentioning.

    With one final sigh, Cassius nodded and said, "Very well. You can make the first move."

    "Me¡­ Make the first move¡­?"

    "Bahahaha!"

    He, along with everyone else, erupted in laughter as they couldn''t believe the laid-back arrogance of this unknown boy. Even the girls who were quite taken by his looks found what he said to be incredibly funny.

    Only Flora, Stella, and the sleeping Violet made no sound. They simply kept their thoughts to themselves and quietly watched how things were bound to unfold.

    Arthur, finding it hard to stop his chest from hurting because of his intense laughter, wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. Struggling to maintain a straight face, he asked, "Do you really mean what you said, you fool??"

    "Yes," Cassius calmly replied, his humor non-existent. "Now, if you could, why don''t you make a move?" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Arthur''s expression froze. He was no longer laughing. His smile quickly faded, instead turning into a frown that marred his moderately handsome facial features. With his face twisting in anger, veins spread out all over his head.

    "...You really want me to make the first move¡­?" he repeated in a seething tone.

    Cassius apathetically looked him up and down, then answered, "Yes."

    He did not get into any proper stance. He just stood there. From Arthur''s perspective, however, his uncaringness was seen as a form of disrespect.

    His anger reached an all-time high as a yellowish aura exploded out from him, with the rolling waves of energy affecting the wills of even spectating D-Rank Awakeners.

    "Hmm¡­?"

    Somewhere else within the Private School, an elderly man''s eyes widened as he sensed Arthur''s aura. After checking out the situation with his Magic Sense, he saw who Arthur was unleashing his aura on. And when he confirmed it to be the aura-less boy who flaunted his wealth around to get someone in, he was about to get up and stop the boy from embarrassing himself.

    However, at the same moment he went to make his move, a venomous feminine voice entered his mind through a special Vampire Voice Transmission Skill. The old man was startled at first, but after a couple of moments of listening to the voice, his pupils dilated and turned a dark shade of red.

    "As you command, my Lady!" he shouted in reverence before hitting the ground in a fervent kneeling pose. "I''ll not interfere in anything that student Cassius does!"

    A cold, feminine snort resounded. After which, a shadowy figure hiding in the folds of the room vanished.

    The Principal of the Academy picked himself up off the floor a second later, with the color of his eyes returning to normal. He looked around in confusion, completely forgetting how he got out of his seat and what he had originally planned to do. But when he felt the C-Rank aura of one of his students, he instinctively decided not to do anything.

    ''Don''t worry, Hubby~!'' Bella raved inside her mind, pulsating hearts swimming within her mesmerizing eyes. ''Your wifey will make sure everything goes the way you want it!''

    *Flap, Flap, Flap!*

    A creepily giggling bat flapped her wings and disappeared from the skies above the School.

    Bella had originally wanted to stay extremely close to her husband until the moment their contractual marriage was set in stone, but when he gave her that euphoric head pat, she both creamed and had some sense knocked back into her. What that knock in the brain department told her was that she had to make sure her father was prepared for anything that might occur in the futile strugglings that were soon to happen.

    Where she was flying to right now was her home in the Human Realm. Inside that spooky house stood an eerie purple portal that served as an exclusive gateway for vampires to enter the Human Realm. On the other side of that portal, however¡­

    WHOOOOSH¡ª!

    A Great World forever enshrouded by a blanket of darkness. Ancient Castles overlooked the common blood-sucker populace, powerful vampire nobles flew overhead, traversing above Middle Eastern-style buildings that numbered in the millions. Terrifying shadowy flying creatures and reptilian land giants occupied plots of land both far and wide, with imposing vampires mounting these mountainous entities.

    But at the very center¡ªat the Highest Floor¡ªat the summit of this world of darkness stretching outward thousands of times more than that of Earth, there existed something that even Vampire Dukes feared.

    This ''something'' was so horrifying that all within the Realm of Darkness felt the breath leave their lungs when his name was brought up in conversation. His existence was akin to the terror within one''s nightmares, the savior of all Vampire-kind, and yet also the One who Knocks.

    His name?

    Vladimir Dracula¡­ The Absolute King of Nightingale¡­!!!

 Chapter 165 - 165: Time Runs Thin...

    Vlad the Impaler. Vlad III Dracula. The Vampire Progenitor. The Oldest Vampire Ancestor¡­ His titles were plenty.

    But the real deal¡­ Excluding all the names and status that lesser beings had bestowed upon him¡­

    The real him.

    That Vlad was unimaginably more terrifying than the stories depicted him to be.

    And at the very same moment a familiar bloodline inheritor entered Nightingale, Dracula''s eon-old eyes shot open.

    "...."

    The monster as old as Earth¡ªone not synonymous with the Dracula of fairytales¡ªsat in deep contemplation, seemingly thinking about things beyond mortal understanding.

    For the longest while, his cold blood-red eyes stared off into distances unknown.

    Unblinkingly, his pale purple lips began to move, and an antiquated string of words followed:

    "The END nears; the Abyss follows¡­ The Abyss lags¡­ Yet the Descender approaches¡­"

    Dracula turned his head upward, where a spark ignited within his voided crimson irises.

    "Time¡­ It runs thin¡­"

    With that, an ancient sigh echoed through cracked halls that had been empty for a very, very long time.

    No lovers and no family were there beside the horrifying entity who had been walking the dredges of existence for what felt like eternity. The only thing keeping him company were the secrets¡ªthe Truth¡ªImmortal Mysteries that prevented him from interacting with anyone.

    The price for Knowledge was a hefty one, and Count Dracula had paid a price that knew not of mercy¡­

    ¡ª-----------------

    ¡ªOutside of the Main Building of Hoshito General High, on the Trial Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity¡ª

    "Have you heard?!"

    "Why else would I be here?! It''s freaking hot as hell out here, ya know??"

    "You don''t have to be so rude¡­"

    Even students unrelated to Classroom 4-A had gathered outside, with every single one of their eyes glued to the tension-filled standoff between one of the more well-known seniors and an unknown student.

    Though some of them had seen Cassius once or twice before, none of them could possibly overlap the images of the Cassius of before and the Cassius of now.

    But what they did know was that this new guy was extremely handsome¡­ and extremely stupid¡­

    After all, only the stupidest of people would decide to fight someone in the C-Rank when they had not the slightest smidgen of aura. Foolish would be an understatement for what this guy was doing.

    More than a few girls among the gathered crowd felt it a great shame for someone so good-looking to be so stupid. For the boys, however, when they saw the girls lament the fate of the newbie, they started to cheer even louder.

    "Die!!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Drop over dead!!!"

    "Why aren''t you dead yet!?!?"

    The boys shouted, calling for the newbie''s death, even though the duels weren''t actually to the death¡­

    A few students, attracted by the commotion, paused their lessons and came out to see what the noise was about. When they saw the pandemonium about to unfold, they prepared to put an end to everything and get the students back to class.

    However, before they could act, the Principal''s voice sounded inside their heads.

    It was fair to say that all of the teachers stopped in their tracks. Afterward, they took the stance of spectators. Only if one of the students'' lives were put in danger would they interfere and call for the end of this charade.

    OOOM!

    The air separating Cassius and Arthur boiled over, with every bit of the heat produced by the enraged Arthur. If, at first, he heavily disliked the young man who hovered around the girl of his dreams, then now his heart was filled with a burning drive telling him to mangle his pretty, delicate face.

    "You said I can make the first move¡­?" He asked, taking brief pauses between each word. His raging yellow aura grew appropriately, and before long, even the weaker teachers felt the air around them tighten.

    Cassius, unbothered by the useless display of the weak aura, simply nodded and stretched out his hand. He cupped that hand and waved it toward himself, beckoning the blonde-haired young man standing opposite him.

    "!!!"

    No longer able to restrain his anger, Arthur summoned forth a mighty five-meter-long golden lance of energy. Then, with a step forward like an uncontrollable dragon, he burst forward and released a wild roar.

    "Take this, you foolish bastard!!" He bellowed, with his overwhelming filaments of golden energy hollering in unison. They surrounded the expressionless man from all sides, making escape impossible. "We can''t kill each other, but that doesn''t mean I can''t cripple you and prevent you from ever walking or reproducing!!"

    Cruel.

    A cold gleam passed through Cassius''s bluish-red eyes as he nearly counterattacked with his killing intent out of habit. But luckily for Arthur, he had enough self-control to stop himself just in the nick of time.

    "What are you doing, Arthur!? Are you trying to kill him!?!?" Several teachers yelled, worry etched across their faces.

    They had expected him to go easy at first and then gradually increase the intensity of the battle until they were forced to step in, but no! He had gone all-out right from the get-go!

    And from the looks of it, he was aiming to commit an atrocity!!

    ''Hahaha!! There''s no stopping me now!!! I''m too powerful!!!''

    A sadistic smirk formed on Arthur''s face as the sharp tip of his golden energy lance thrust forward, instantly reaching a point less than five centimeters away from Cassius''s third leg. The split-off filaments of the golden lance also struck toward the limbs they were targeting.

    Arthur was going for a complete cripple!!

    Then the beautiful silver-haired woman would be his!!

    His thoughts turned lecherous as he acted carelessly and stole glances at the bluish-silver-haired woman calmly watching from Classroom 4-A.

    In his negligence, he failed to notice the slight look of surprise appear on the groggy face of the previous girl of his dreams.

    That same surprise quickly spread to the other students and exponentially multiplied.

    Before long, even the students rushing to the scene slowed to a shocked crawl¡­ and just stared at the mind-boggling scene before them.

 Chapter 166 - 166: Flora, a Succubus...!?

    Alex, who had closed his eyes a while back due to the disappointment of not being able to beat up that cocky bastard because he was sure the guy would be crippled, slowly opened them. And just like everyone else, surprise overshadowed his other emotions ten to one.

    "???"

    Arthur, puzzled by the sudden silence, also opened the eyes filled with delusions of a future that would never come to pass. But when he saw the unbelievable sight before him, the calm way he opened his eyes turned into them rapidly widening in disbelief.

    "Th¡­ This¡­ How can this be!?"

    Right in front of him stood the emotionless man he planned to completely cripple. That same man appeared unharmed, and in between his index and thumb fingers was the devastatingly sharp tip of his golden lance!

    As for the golden energy filaments, they had all vanished without a trace¡­

    *Crack!*

    Arthur''s golden lance began to crack. The fractures quickly spiderwebbed, and all at once, the lance shattered in his hands.

    "!!!"

    Arthur stumbled backward in fright and fell on his butt, where his shaky eyes locked with the terrifyingly cold gaze of the horrifying man standing over him. In his terror, he was unable to control his bladder and shamefully soiled himself. By now, the other students would laugh, and Alex would jeer, but they were all too stunned to even consider it.

    What was even more surprising was what Arthur, the infamous playboy, did next¡­

    *Bang!*

    "P-Please don''t kill me!!" he cried out, snot and tears running down his groveling face.

    *Bang! Bang! Bang!*

    "Pl¡­Please don''t kill me¡­!"

    With each head bang against the ground came another round of begging. Right now, he was terrified out of his mind! As one of the strongest Awakeners in Hoshito, he was able to accurately discern the insurmountable gap that lay between him and Cassius after their brief exchange.

    "...."

    Cassius indifferently stared at the groveling blonde-haired student. He pondered, then shook his head and stayed his hand.

    "Just don''t let it happen again," he said as he turned to walk out of the bubble arena.

    He was referring to the cruel intent Arthur previously held for him. And as for why he hadn''t simply killed this young man and been done with it: first, he was unsure if Arthur was even over the age of 17. Second, the guy was weak; inconsequential. It was pointless to ruin things by murdering a possible minor in public, especially one who posed no threat to himself.

    ''He could come after my family¡­ Hmm¡­ I guess I''ll just kill him if such an unlikely scenario comes to pass. I am too fast, anyway. He won''t be able to do anything even if I''m in another dimension.''

    Cassius was not sparing the life of a murderer¡ªjust an angered child. One that didn''t have even the slightest bit of true killing intent.

    Feeling it to be a waste of time to think any more on the matter, he sauntered away from the snot-faced Arthur. He passed by the shell-shocked Alex on his way out, giving him slight pause.

    Turning his face toward the spiky red-haired boy, he coldly asked, "Do you still wish to fight as well?"

    "!!!"

    Alex swiveled his head in the direction of the voice that snapped him out of his reverie, only to see afterimages of afterimages.

    "Well?" Cassius asked from beside his ear.

    "Wha!?" Alex jumped back and lost his balance, same as his rival. "How did you¡­!?"

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed. "You haven''t answered my question yet." His innate icy pressure pressed down on the bewildered spiky redhead. "Do you wish to fight or not?"

    Alex''s pupils trembled as his lashes quivered. He quietly hung his head low, giving the calm black-haired freak all the answer he needed. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Very well," said Cassius, his slow receding steps weighing heavily on the minds of both defeated boys. "I hope this is the last of the animosity between us."

    "!!!" "!!!"

    A chilling sensation spiked through the spines of Arthur and Alex as they involuntarily shuddered. They dared not look up, merely nodding their heads to show they understood. All the hatred they once held for the arrogant newbie went up into a puff of smoke, instead replaced by a¡­ deeply seeded¡­ fear¡­

    When Cassius left the outside area and entered through the school building''s front doors, hundreds of students suddenly erupted in fervent cheers! They had no idea things would turn out this way!

    "Arthur lost so easily! And Alex gave up without even attempting to fight!! What awesomeness did we just witness!??"

    "What was his name again!? He''s now my idol!"

    "Cassius was his name! And from now on, he''s my big brother! Any who have a problem with him or wish to get into contact with him must first come through me!"

    "Cassius¡­? I feel like I''ve heard that name somewhere¡­ But where?"

    "Cassius¡­ It can''t be¡­ Yes, there''s no way those two are the same person! Even an Immortal invading would be more likely than such a nonsensical theory!!"

    While many people enthusiastically chatted with one another and discussed Cassius, the person in question had just returned to Classroom 4-A. Upon entering the classroom, he received the full attention of everyone inside the room except for Violet. Even the normally indifferent Flora was now looking at him in a different light.

    ''Anyone at or above the Peak C-Rank would be able to do what he did with the energy lance, but the way he moved when talking to Alex was on¡­ an entirely different level¡­''

    Although Flora was able to see his movements, it was just barely, and there was no possible way for her to react if she were to go up against him. The moment he moved, she would¡­ die.

    This fact changed Flora''s entire opinion of the boy she once deemed as nothing more than a pretty face¡­

    Seductively licking her lips, a completely different side of her came out¡ªa side that had only now been activated. A pinkish energy swirled around her pupils, and something began to wiggle around inside her dress and slightly peek out. Two small black horns also protruded from atop her head.

    Everything meshed together in such a way that only one word would pop up in the mind of any who saw her current form¡ª

    ¡ªSuccubus!!¡ª

 Chapter 167 - 167: But Im not even 18!

    ''What is this¡­!?'' Flora asked herself while fighting the urge to pounce on the young man who now looked like an appetizing steak slab. ''Is this my¡­?? But I''m not even 18 yet!''

    A girl who was normally uncaring about everything began to internally freak out as she tried to reverse the sudden changes to her body. However, as this whole experience was very novel to her, she knew not how to undo the alterations.

    In her distress, a lethargic-sounding feminine voice entered her ears. ''Focus on the spots that feel the most reactive and convey your intent. You''ll be able to more easily switch between your Succubus and Human forms¡­''

    ''Elder Protector Violet??'' Flora''s eyes flashed in surprise as she worried if other unrelated people also realized what was happening to her.

    ''Don''t worry,'' Violet Evergreen eased her nerves while outwardly sleeping. ''I even managed to slip past the Mind-control Skills of that irksome Vampire Miss. You think I can''t alter the reality that everyone perceives when they look at you¡­? You will soon learn more of it, but we Succubi specialize in the properties of the mind and illusion.''

    Flora was still wrapping her head around her premature racial awakening, but with the severity of the situation at hand, she idled no longer and followed Elder Violet''s instructions. In no time at all, she had already reversed the heart-shaped tail with a mind of its own. The rest of her unique Succubus qualities soon followed.

    Just like that, she became human again.

    Violet lazily swiped her delicate fingers and deactivated the Illusion spell she had cast on everyone in the classroom. She then voice-transmitted to Flora, saying, ''We will speak more on this when we return to your family later today. Until then, you can rest assured. No one saw your¡ª''

    Flora and Violet looked in the same direction at the exact same time, which was when they saw a striking pair of multicolored eyes curiously glancing between them. A small grin then formed on the face of the owner of those eyes, causing the two sleepy beauties'' thoughts to spiral.

    "He couldn''t have¡­"

    "Elder Violet¡­ What was that you said again¡­?"

    Under the guise of the noise produced by the students that had only now unfrozen themselves and started swarming Cassius, both young Succubus and Elder Succubus exchanged puzzled looks. Neither could explain what they had just seen.

    Perhaps it was all just their imagination¡­?

    Yeah right¡­

    Violet and Flora could no longer see the aloof man due to all the students crowding around him, but that handsome shot of him slightly grinning still lingered at the forefront of their minds. If he made that insinuating gesture because he saw something he shouldn''t have, then they were quite frankly¡­ f*cked¡­

    ''Should I kill him??'' Violet thought with unusual haste. ''Would it be easier to use higher-level Persuasion Skills on him and force him to forget??? The young mistress''s premature racial awakening cannot be known to the public just yet. If the other Dimensions were to learn of this event that foretells many things for our race, then everything we have worked to accomplish over the years will have been for naught¡­''

    ''The Young Miss must grow up,'' she declared in a tone bereft of emotion, with her usually dormant killing intent becoming tangible. ''I''ll have to kill him. It''s the simplest solution.''

    However, before the uncharacteristically ruthless Violet could make her accurate and lethal move, Flora predicted her thoughts beforehand and shouted to stop her through voice transmission.

    "???"

    ''You mustn''t kill him, Elder Violet,'' Flora hurriedly explained, a deep blush forming on her face. ''Have you already forgotten the Succubus traits¡­? He made me feel the urge to ravage him and drain him dry until he becomes akin to a barren desert¡­ You know what this means¡­''

    "!!!"

    Violet had completely overlooked it, as that had not even happened to the Eldest Miss, mostly because she had not yet had her Racial Awakening. But if what the Young Miss said was true, then¡­

    ''I can neither kill him nor alter his mind¡­ That boy has already been marked¡­''

    Like Vampires with their morally questionable ceremonies and marking rituals, the Succubus race also had one such similar permanent marking system. The specific details of the marking process were that when a Succubus underwent their Racial Awakening, the first man they felt a liking to would be ''marked.''

    However, unlike the Vampires who had contractual marriage marks, the Succubi did not mark a male in the hopes of spending all of eternity with them. Their First Mark would¡­ be the first person they had to drain all the Yang Energy from¡­

    The marked male would naturally die once the Mark''s purpose was accomplished. This meant that Cassius was set for death¡­ again¡­ by a different woman¡­

    And Flora had to be the one to personally do it.

    She furiously blushed at just the thought of participating in something so obscene, but she had no real choice in the matter. If she never slept with her First Mark and drained him dry, then her power would stagnate. Moreover, over time, her body would start to weaken, and in the most unlikely and far-off of cases, she would¡­ die.

    Violet Evergreen inhaled deeply before exhaling sharply. She laid her head back on her desk and returned to the land of dreams.

    Flora, on the other hand, had a head infected with dirty thoughts. Now, every time she thought about Cassius, only explicit scenes entered her mind. She couldn''t stop herself from repeatedly blushing, with every additional glance at him causing her beat-red condition to worsen¡­

    She had no clue what to do now¡­

    There was no way she could just approach him and ask for sex!

    ''Hey, wanna fuck?''

    ''Huh¡­?''

    Uhn uh! She was utterly incapable of doing something as frivolous and perverted as that!! But then what else!?

    Flora was also not used to talking to those of the opposite gender, or even those of the same gender.

    Yes, she was friendless! And unsocial!

    But it was all by choice¡­ Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ....

 Chapter 168 - 168: Alaric and Carmilla Crestmore

    Before this recent sequence of events, Flora hadn''t minded being alone almost all the time. But now, with everything that had happened, she had no choice but to figure out how to speak with a man. Her end goal would be to fuck! She could do it!

    With a newfound sense of determination, Flora clenched her fists and began to make her move.

    Yet, at the very same moment she quietly slammed her desk and commenced her fuckfest march, an enchanting bluish silver-haired beauty raised her voice and jumped toward Cassius.

    "You really beat them! That''s my big, strong man for ya~!"

    "...."

    ''What are you doing?'' Cassius asked calmly, acting completely unresponsive to the pair of large, squishy breasts pressing up against his chest. Others in the classroom were also staring at him with flabbergasted looks on their faces, but he ignored them all the same.

    Stella was unable to Voice Transmission the same way he could, but when she sneakily smirked, he could pretty much figure out her aim.

    She wanted to take this opportunity to cement her relationship with Cassius in front of any boys who might''ve still had thoughts about her. This way, she could both get closer to him and shoo away any and all who believed they stood a chance with her.

    It was essentially killing two birds with one stone! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Stella''s smirk turned a little smug as she snuggled up to the exasperated man. She was enjoying every bit of his suffering, even more so knowing full well that this tactic of hers was helping him, too. She knew he knew this, which was why she was being so insufferably affectionate.

    All of it was a lie!

    Cassius must remain strong and steadfast! He cannot falter!

    Meanwhile, Flora, who was sitting a few meters away, slumped into the back of her chair. Her face emulated the morass of depression she was in right now.

    She had been rejected before even getting the chance to ask¡­

    What was more depressing than this?

    Her gloomy aura multiplied when she realized that not even a few minutes ago, she couldn''t care less about this new guy. Then, out of nowhere, she was suddenly forced to pursue him with the end goal of getting into his pants! Only to then be rejected without talking to him even once!

    What better proof was there that Fate was a big b*tch than this very scenario!?

    Flora lightly banged her head on her desk a few times, causing it to slightly crack. While listening to that silver-haired girl shamelessly flirt with her First Mark, she sunk deeper and deeper into despondency.

    It wasn''t until Elder Protector Violet''s sluggish voice entered her ears once more that she left her state of misery. And her words¡­ they changed everything for her.

    ''Young Miss, why are you so hung up on human customs? As Succubi, do you truly believe that a male being in a relationship with someone else has ever stopped us?? Plus, it''s highly likely they''re simply faking it.''

    "!!!" Flora''s grayed eyes brightened up as she realized the Elder was right.

    What did it matter if he was dating someone else?? Who cared! She was a gawddamn Succubus!

    Flora turned toward the extraordinarily handsome man who was currently the center of attention. Her orangish-blue eyes glazed over as she seductively licked her lips before pondering how she should go about ensnaring her little pretty man. Greed flooded her heart as she squirmed in place.

    Just imagining how she would straddle him like a rodeo bull and drain him until nothing remained was enough to ignite the Succubus side of her! She was all in now! This man would be hers!!

    "Daddy, he has to be mine!!"

    A crazed shout bounced off the walls of a very old Castle as a deranged girl with long, luscious black hair stomped her feet below a high throne. On that throne was a pale-faced man with medium-length silver hair and a bulky physique. To the side of the throne was an unearthly beauty with similarly colored hair and eyes to her passionate daughter.

    Bella''s father, the man atop the throne, had a twitching smile scrunched up in anger. In contrast to his lividness, the drop-dead gorgeous Milf smiled fondly at the sight of her daughter.

    With a voice seething in rage, Bella''s father, Alaric Crestmore, said, "...I really was so stupid when I told that infuriating man I would give my daughter''s hand in marriage to his son¡­"

    "Fufu~" Carmilla Crestmore, mother of Bella Crestmore, giggled. Amused, she said, "Our daughter seems to strongly disagree with that, though."

    "...Carmilla¡­ You¡­" Alaric looked at his wife, his grievances clear as day. "...But my daughter¡­ My precious daughter¡­ How could she already be marrying? And to that man''s son no less¡­"

    Carmilla softly patted her husband''s shoulder, not bothering to hide her amusement. "You silly daughter-con; just give it up and accept that a big bad wolf has snatched up your daughter~ Fufu~"

    "...."

    Alaric refused to believe that he was in love with this woman. Was he blind??

    Observing her again, he immediately took back his words. He definitely wasn''t blind back in the day. He knew exactly what he wanted, and she was every bit as beautiful as the day he first met her.

    Alaric sighed before refocusing on his insane-looking daughter down below.

    ''She has already grown into a stunning woman¡­'' he internally commented while staring at her palpable case of the crazies.

    However, his fond expression quickly turned livid when he recalled the face of that womanizing bastard. And then there was that womanizing bastard''s equally womanizing son. All bastards!

    He had kept tabs on Cassius through his subservient vampires and knew full well what had happened since the boy''s seal began to loosen.

    At first, he was astonished that the boy''s seal somehow loosened ahead of schedule, but his surprise swiftly transformed into anger when he watched the movements the boy made throughout the human world.

    That kid would travel to different Gates, clear them, and then come out with one or more girls! And it didn''t happen just once, but several times! That perverted boy was just as much of a pervert as his bastard father was!

    Go one place, come out with more mouths to feed!

    It must be f*cking genetic!

    ....

 Chapter 169 - 169: Alarics Grudge

    Alaric had also been quite confused when Cassius occasionally disappeared from all radars, but with his loosening seal, it wasn''t all that surprising that there would be a few oddities. And more importantly, that little sh*t had blatantly cheated on his daughter! Multiple times!!

    This was unacceptable!!!

    But what could Alaric do to change this¡­? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He and that womanizing bastard had signed the contract years ago. The deed was done, and not even he, with his beyond SSS-Rank power, could do anything to change that fact.

    If he backed out now, the consequences would be unimaginable¡­ After all, the contract they each signed was done so in their blood. Although Alaric was unlikely to die even though he should, he would still be weakened to a state where the other Vampire Dukes could take advantage of him and his family.

    Furthermore, if he reneged on the agreement to marry off his daughter to the bastard''s son, his daughter would certainly come to loathe him. From the very first moment Bella laid eyes on Cassius, she basically orchestrated the whole marriage arrangement and even coerced him into placing one of his best seals on the boy after the womanizing bastard mysteriously disappeared.

    Even now, Alaric had no idea where the real Adam Steele went off to. He heard some birds speak of there being a new Floor Guardian for the Trial Area of Humanity; however, since no one had ever seen the new Floor Guardian, he was unable to confirm the relation.

    But the one thing Alaric did know for sure was that Adam Steele was not dead. Him dying was even more impossible than HELL freezing over tomorrow. He, more than anyone else, knew full well how true that statement was. After all, a few dozen years ago, when he had first encountered the bastard, they wound up fighting in a tournament meant to decide who would take the Princess of Yggdrasil''s hand in marriage.

    Alaric had been leading in the tournament for a good majority of the competition, and he was confident that if not for that womanizer''s interference, he would''ve made it into the Top 25. However, because of Adam''s sudden appearance when the tournament reached its final stages, Alaric was brought from Top 30 all the way down to Top 90!

    His fight with that bastard had practically taken him out of commission for the remainder of the Tournament! He only barely managed to pull through in the end and secure a spot in the Top 25!

    Naturally, this meant that when Alaric and Adam fought, the former got his ass absolutely handed to him¡­ And it wasn''t even close¡­

    Adam even went so far as to fight him with a single arm and a single leg! He also blindfolded himself and plugged his ears!

    Yet, even with all those handicaps, Adam plowed through Alaric''s confidence gained from thousands of years serving as a Vampire Duke. Moreover, he took those same handicaps and fought the rest of the Tournament Competitors with them!

    For a member of the human race¡ªa species that could only live up to a few hundred years on the highest Floors¡ªwhat Adam had done was akin to suicide! The Ascension Tower of Humanity had always been looked down upon! Humanity was supposed to be the weakest!!

    However, that day, the preconceived notions of Humanity were completely shattered! Reality came crashing down on countless of the most powerful figures in existence!

    Adam won the Tournament, did so overwhelmingly without being harmed, and came out with a Princess as a prize¡­

    Alaric''s hateful rivalry with that womanizing bastard started there, and over the years, they met each other on numerous occasions. Though, with nearly an entire century having passed since then, what was once an irrevocable hatred transformed into a friendship of sorts. (Neither would admit it.)

    And one particular day roughly 17 years ago, they went out drinking, and in their muddled states of mind, they conjured up a blood pact that would tie them by blood through the marriage of their children. Alaric regretted it the very moment he became sober, with his regret exponentially increasing when his once resistant daughter first met that ungodly baby.

    He couldn''t believe the foolish thing he had done¡­

    But when Bella proposed the whole Seal idea after Adam''s disappearance, Alaric''s depressed mood was slightly alleviated. After all, if he made the overly divine baby too hideous to look at, surely his daughter would feel repulsed and eventually forget all about the target of her overpowering infatuation.

    Unfortunately¡­ Alaric, the millennium-old Vampire Duke, with all his vast experience, underestimated just how deeply obsessed an offspring of his could be¡­

    Bella hadn''t just fancied the infant Cassius not much younger than herself, she had made him her entire world. No matter how ugly he became, no matter how generally unattractive he was, her obsessed feelings for him never lessened. In fact, they only increased over time!

    Cassius was Bella''s everything! She would do any number of indescribable things for him!! Erasing entire races from the face of the planet was not even close to being out of the equation if he asked it of her!

    Alaric, her father, realized this all too late. And before he knew what had even happened, the situation before them had come to pass¡­

    "Daddy, you must make sure that you restrain my husband! You must tie him down good! Really, really, re~ally good!!" Bella raved, her eyes darkening into swirling vortexes of obsession and love.

    But when she recalled the other troublesome matter, the darkness within her morphed into something¡­ terrifying.

    "Those stupid clingy, fcking btches¡­" she scarily mumbled. "I''ll kill them!!! I''ll f*cking kill them and rip off their ugly little heads¡­!!!"

    Alaric and his wife Carmilla watched as their daughter began to incoherently murmur with some unknown fog seeping from her lips. Alaric didn''t know whether to be pissed off, worried, or depressed.

    Whereas the lovely, curvy Milf Carmilla simply giggled while holding a hand over her bright red lips.

    ....

 Chapter 170 - 170: Who cares about Consent??

    The Vampire Duke felt an itch urging him to just give in and let his daughter do whatever she wished. But when the smug face of that womanizing bastard friend of his flashed through his mind, he once again returned to being torn between anger and dread.

    What Alaric had failed to remind himself of when thinking of Adam was the true reason why he abhorred the cocky c*nt so much.

    All those years ago, following the conclusion of the Yggdrasil Tournament, Alaric returned to Nightingale in defeat. Even the other Vampire Dukes and a couple of lower-ranking Vampire Nobles had made it further than the Top 90. Yet he fell so short of expectations¡­

    Mortified was an understatement for what he felt.

    However, in the midst of his seemingly never-ending shame, a shining star brightened up his dreary life.

    It came in the form of his wife¡ªCarmilla Crestmore!

    She, who was the glamorous daughter of a Vampire Marquis, was not someone Alaric originally planned to marry. In fact, marriage wasn''t even supposed to be in the cards for his lonely self.

    But when he first saw Carmilla, he knew right then and there that she was the one for him! His antiquated hips would finally be getting some action!!

    And that was around when his ''friend'' came by to visit him.

    Adam strutted through Nightingale like he owned the place, ascended to the 6th Floor, and barged into his home at the exact moment he managed to invite Carmilla over for a meal. Then, without a single care in the world for anything, that perverted bastard flirted with Carmilla as soon as he saw her! Right in front of him, no less!!

    Because of that incident, for nearly a decade, Carmilla talked non-stop about that sly sh*t fck!

    Alaric couldn''t understand how, even though Carmilla and Adam only spoke to each other for a brief period of time, she could become so enamored by him¡­ It didn''t make any sense!

    If not for the fact that Adam quickly realized what his best buddy Alaric was gunning for and backed off, the Vampire Duke swore he would''ve written Adam''s name in his Death Note! And the name would''ve been written in his blood!!

    Over time, however, the both of them forgot all about that small incident.

    But when the big bastard''s little bastard of a son came into the picture, Alaric was immediately reminded of the inexplicable genes of the infamous womanizer.

    He was beginning to believe that the father and son duo were not humans and were instead Incubi!

    An extremely complicated and ancient sigh echoed through the spacious halls of a bright throne room interior as Alaric''s limbs turned limp. He turned to look up at the roof as if something interesting were up there. Then, with a hoarse voice teetering on the verge of collapse, he replied to his daughter''s deranged urgings:

    "I''ll make sure to tie the boy down for you¡­ As long as he doesn''t escape to another Dimension or something beforehand, there''ll be no chance he can resist me¡­"

    Bella''s dark, obsessive pupils suddenly returned to normal as she jumped up and down in joy before leaping at the tired old man.

    "Thank you so much, Daddy~! He''ll finally be mine!! And I''ll be able to kill those whores!!"

    Alaric could only helplessly nod, with the pessimistic side of him wondering if this would be the last hug he''d ever receive from his little girl.

    Carmilla softly chortled before stretching out her arms.

    "Where''s my hug at, Bella dear?" she asked while knowing full well how annoyed this would make her husband feel.

    And just as she expected, the moment Bella switched sides and entered her mother''s embrace, the Vampire Duke lost the last bit of color in his eyes. He slumped further into his throne and inaudibly mumbled to himself, seemingly talking about how unfair life was.

    "Fufu~" Carmilla giggled aloud while thinking, ''I''m curious to see just what sort of fun that flirtatious man''s son will bring into our boring immortal lives. I really can''t wait¡­''

    While Alaric was contemplating how many stories he would need to ascend and jump off of to unalive himself, his playful wife was already imagining future trouble¡­ To be precise, she was anticipating it¡­

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    As the seconds turned into minutes and the clock of time churned in a never-ending cycle, the school day passed fleetingly on Earth.

    Stella had been sticking close to Cassius the entire day. Even when the lazy Miss Violet actually started teaching, she pulled her desk next to his.

    Because of Stella''s sudden forwardness, Flora was unable to make any moves on her target, but that didn''t mean she hadn''t been constantly thinking about what she would do when the opportunity presented itself. It was all merely a matter of time; she firmly believed that the silver-haired bimbo would eventually slip up.

    Aya, on the other hand, had barely listened to any of her lectures. She got most of the same Classes as Cassius, and during that time, she racked her mind for the best way that she should go about apologizing to him. Leaving him like that wasn''t something she even really wanted to do¡­

    And when she secretly observed his match with Arthur and Alex, she finally realized just how much she wanted to be cheering him on alongside Stella.

    Hell with her so-called friends! And screw what people thought about her! She wanted to stand by Cassius''s side!

    "I wish I had never walked away from you like I was ashamed to be beside you¡­ And even though we''re siblings and Alabama and stuff¡­ I¡­ I¡­ L... Love you¡­!" Aya blurted out in front of a bathroom mirror with full seriousness, yet became flustered the very next second.

    "Y-Yes, that''s what I''ll say to him! Well, maybe¡­ maybe not the last part, but the rest for sure!"

    With a resolute gleam in her clear blue eyes, Aya walked out of a girl''s restroom on the 1st Floor of Hoshito General High.

    Yet, in the very next moment, she heard the voice that she had been wanting to hear all day. Just not in the way she expected¡­

    ....

    Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 171 - 171: Just... act... cool...

    "Boo."

    "Kya!" Startled, Aya jumped back and tripped over her feet.

    However, before she could fall on her bum, a large, rough hand clasped onto her arm and pulled her in close. When they reached a distance where they could almost hear each other''s heartbeats, the flustered Aya finally realized who had spooked her. Yet, this only made the tinge of crimson painting her cheeks turn a darker shade of red.

    "Wh¡­What are you doing¡ª!?" she tried to say, instinctively letting her feisty tsundere side out, but Cassius interrupted, saying:

    "Say, how about just you and me go out somewhere this weekend. A few days from now? Well, whaddya say?"

    Taken aback by this out-of-the-blue proposal, Aya forgot all about what she was going to lash out about. And when a warm hand rubbed back and forth on her head, she truly didn''t know what she should be thinking anymore.

    The only thing she could do was meekly nod her head before slowly scuttering away. Without turning her beat-red face up, she backed far enough away to sidestep around a corner.

    A second later, Cassius heard a loud bang come from the same direction she left in.

    "???"

    Aya had accidentally knocked over a bucket in her hasty retreat, and when Cassius worriedly turned the same corner to check out the situation, he was unable to stop himself from chuckling. Even when he saw her rosy cheeks fill with air, he couldn''t help himself.

    "Y-You¡­" Aya grumbled.

    However, before she could become any angrier, that same warm hand from before extended out. A kind smile accompanied it as a deep voice dripped into her ears like the sweetest of honey.

    "You look good wet, but don''t you think it''s time to get up off the hard floor? Here, take my hand."

    As she was momentarily dazed, it took Aya a second to register his words. But when she did, question marks appeared above her head, prompting her to look down.

    She was soaked. Particularly in the chest area¡­

    And as the School uniform was more than thick enough in normal use, she hadn''t bothered to¡­ put on a bra¡­

    "Kya!" Aya shrieked and jumped to her feet, unfortunately barring off the tantalizing view of her twin peaks and their perky cherry tips.

    After somewhat steadying her breath and backing away, her cheeks disproportionately puffed out when she saw the hateful smirk plastered across Cassius''s face. With many grievances, she gave her piece:

    "I-I''ll never forgive you for this, you meanie! You''ll make it up to me this weekend! I won''t let you off easily¡­!"

    Then, without looking back, she bolted out of there using the full speed of someone with D-Rank Agility.

    Cassius faintly smiled before vanishing from his spot.

    FWIP!

    When he reappeared, he found a bluish-silver-haired beauty leaning up against the Front Gates of the School. She seemed to be waiting for someone.

    Obviously, it was him.

    When Stella felt a familiar presence approach her, those tranquil eyes of hers brightened up as she turned to look in his direction. An invisible force immediately tugged up on her thinned lips, and a lovely smile blossomed.

    "Are we going home now?"

    "Not yet," replied Cassius as he walked up next to her. "Aya has already taken her own path home, but Bella has yet to leave. I''ll wait by myself for her if you want to go on ahead with Aya."

    Stella shook her head and took the opportunity to interlock her arm with his, which garnered her an unusual look. Ignoring that look of his, she smilingly said:

    "I''ll stay with you. I''d wait any amount of time if it were for you."

    Cassius unblinkingly stared at the gorgeous woman''s equally stunning smile.

    ''...Well¡­ Sh*t¡­''

    He definitely f*cked himself sideways this time as well. Over and over again, he kept shooting himself in the foot!

    Was something f*cked up in his DNA or what!?

    Glancing at the Idle Evolution System, he observed Stella''s Affection Rating. It read:

    {[Stella: 83]}

    Cassius truly had no idea why her Affection Rating had increased so much, and it wasn''t even the only one. In fact, it was the same situation for all the other girls living with him!

    For some inexplicable reason, their Affection Ratings would often increase by a point or two, and it was quickly spiraling out of control¡­

    He wasn''t some Japanese Harem Protagonist for God''s Sake! He just wanted to live a normal life!

    "Haiz¡­"

    Then, out of nowhere¡­

    "Is something the matter?" Bella''s voice suddenly sounded from afar.

    "Hmm¡­??" Cassius''s eyes fell on a black-haired runway model sashaying through the open courtyards outside the School.

    On her way over to the pair, she attracted the attention of many students. Their eyes stuck to her voluptuous figure and never let go. Several boyfriends received smacks to the back of their heads for being so daring.

    The cause of multiple ongoing arguments acted oblivious to it all, with the only thing she seemed to care about being the devilishly handsome man standing in the distance. She briefly glanced at the silver-haired woman, quickly clicked her tongue, then returned to looking at her husband.

    ''What was that?'' Stella asked herself, wondering if what she had seen actually happened. But regardless of whether it did or not, she shot a smug glare in her direction, knowing full well that Bella could not do the same without showing something weird to Cassius.

    "!!!" ''This b*tch¡­ I''ll kill her¡­!''

    Unlike Stella, Bella knew exactly what she saw. And although she could do nothing right now, she would make sure to give this thieving whore some special attention when it became her time to leave this world.

    Boy, would she enjoy it, too!

    While acting all smiles, Bella finally made it to where Cassius and Stella were interlocking arms. Killing intent nearly flooded out from the very core of her being, but with every ounce of strength she possessed, she held back the urge telling her to dismember a b*tch, rip out her vertebrae, and then watch her squirm in real time. She pushed all of that down and acted cool. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Act cool. Act cool. Just act¡­ cool¡­

    ....

 Chapter 172 - 172: Aluria Succubus Family

    With a twitching face, Bella said to Stella, "What a miracle to see you here, slu¡ª my super friend."

    A vein appeared on Stella''s forehead.

    "Anyway, Cassius," said Bella, already turning away from the annoyed woman. "Have you heard of this new disease spreading around Japan and even the world outside the Country? It''s quite horrible¡­ So, so horrible¡­ Such a horrible fate it must be to die from being too promiscuous¡­ I heard that it spreads almost instantly upon having intimate physical contact¡­!"

    Leaning up to his ear, she whispered, "The Doctors say that once you contract this disease, you''ll be unable to use your¡­ reproductive organ for a very long time."

    "All I''m trying to do is warn you about who you hang around," she added while taking suggestive peeks at the silver-haired woman.

    Stella''s brows furrowed in irritation, yet she didn''t retaliate to the words quite obviously being aimed toward her. She instead smiled in a way just as fake as Bella and began to slow laugh, which Bella started to do as well.

    ''...I don''t know what''s going on between these two, but it''s probably best if I stay out of it,'' Cassius decided before slipping away from the sparks flying in between the two shadowy-faced smiling girls.

    They quickly caught up to his receding figure but did not once give up the silent battle going on against each other. And as they were too focused on appealing to an indifferent man and trying to get the upper hand over the other, they failed to notice the pair of misty purple eyes quietly watching them from behind.

    Cassius, however, did.

    A small smirk formed on his face as he wondered just how things would evolve from here. With that unique teacher of his and the oddly familiar girl to keep his life interesting, perhaps he would witness a development that far exceeded his expectations. He was, after all, very curious about the other races.

    And then there were those other pairs of eyes focused on him and the mischievous black-haired girl beside him. Two of which felt a bit like the Vampire Duke Bloodline he had not really delved into just yet.

    On a side note, the two Bloodline presences had the odd feeling of being diluted, not quite as prominent as his Bloodline¡­

    ''Hmm¡­ Are Vampires watching me right now¡­? There''s also that other, far harder to find presence¡­ I wonder what that one belongs to¡­''

    Cassius''s icy cold eyes scanned his surroundings, and within mere moments, both the Vampire protectors and the spying Extraterrestrial felt terrifying waves of permafrost spread throughout their bodies. They involuntarily shivered, and in their shock, they saw something even more mind-boggling.

    Their periphery vision had been completely covered by an all-encompassing darkness. At the very top of that darkness, looming above their heads, was a pair of illusory blue ant-like eyes as large as the sun. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    The Vampires and the Extraterrestrial instinctively back-stepped. Something within the very core of their beings was screaming at them to flee, but they battled the sensation with everything they had, refusing to let it take hold.

    Their Stealth items were flawless! There was no way a mere Mortal on a Trial Area Floor would be able to see through their camouflage!

    They persuaded themselves to remain steadfast with these thoughts anchoring them to their individual objectives.

    "Interesting¡­"

    Eventually, Cassius retracted his sight and returned to a state of nonchalantness.

    If they didn''t want to come out now, then so be it.

    He would ultimately rip them from their hiding spots regardless of their compliance, anyway, and he was in no rush to clean out the pests. At least he knew they were there now; this meant him always having his guard up was the correct move to make. Hell, there could be even more unknown pairs of eyes watching him out there!

    It was better to be cautious.

    Ha¡­

    Leon and Gina finally exhaled the breaths they were holding in. However, as soon as the former realized the shameful action he had just done, his face twisted in anger. He vowed to himself to return the shame he received today a hundredfold when the World''s End event occurs.

    Leon knew very well what sort of dangers lay in wait within a Monster Gate in or above the Black Rank. It was also because of this knowledge that he was sure humanity would fall into the clutches of the Abyss.

    And in that Chaos, he would get his revenge¡­

    He evilly smirked just imagining how he would soon tear the cocky human limb from limb¡­ It would be oh so gratifying~!

    While Cassius, the girls, and all of the various stalkers hiding in the dark finished off the day in their own unique ways, something unforeseen was occurring in a Dimension completely different from the one Earthlings called home.

    ¡ªIn the Realm of Pleasure Dimension, within a large Palace owned by the Succubus Royal Family ''Aluria''¡ª

    "My daughter has returned?" asked a woman with a voice so heavenly that it could melt the hearts of any number of men.

    Her immense beauty was staggering. Her long shimmering blackish-purple hair cascaded down her world-toppling curves, perfectly molding her figure. Her figure¡­ Oh, her figure¡­ It would without a doubt be the most filled out one Cassius had ever seen. And she wasn''t afraid to show off a lot of it, either.

    The enchanting woman sat on a large, comfy cushion, with her thin see-through pink dress doing very little to hide her curvaceous body. She sat in an alluring way that could entice even the most devout of monks. With that slightly harsh glint in her moist purple eyes thrown into the mix, even the monks with masochistic fetishes would be on their knees begging her for a chance.

    At this moment, handsome men with closed eyes catered to the seductive woman''s needs with grapes and hand massages. It was that way even when a servant woman of hers barged in and announced something quite interesting.

    ....

 Chapter 173 - 173: Amaris and Grace

    Indifferently, the pretty kneeling woman said, "Yes, My Lady Amaris. The eldest of your daughters, Grace Aluria, has just returned."

    "Ho?" Amaris Aluria slightly arched one of her delicate eyebrows before sensually rising from the large heart-shaped couch.

    She motioned for the manservants to return to their posts, then walked up to the kneeling female servant. Afterward, she amorously tilted up the female''s chin with her right index finger. With her irresistible eyes peering into the servant''s soul, she said, "Lead the way."

    "Y¡­Yes, My Lady," the female servant respectfully responded. A slight blush painted her pretty features, and her legs were a little shaky, but that didn''t prevent her from rising and walking ahead.

    Opening the giant opulent doors to the equally ostentatious room, she patiently waited for the naturally seductive woman to pass, then followed behind. After once again getting ahead of the woman whose every minute movement oozed grace and lust, she led the way through dozens of enormous hallways of an even more unimaginably large palace.

    ¡ªFive minutes later¡ª

    After such a period of time of rapid travel exceeding even the max speed of the fastest man on Earth, Amaris and the female servant made it to a certain room. Hanging on the door of this room was a magical name tag that read ''Royal Library.''

    "...She''s in here again?" Amaris inquired with a melodic way of speaking, her tone unconsciously flirtatious.

    "Yes, My Lady," replied the female servant, her expression unmoving even in the face of the goddess-like woman capable of effortlessly wooing both genders. "The Eldest Miss came to the study as soon as she arrived."

    After a brief pause.

    "Very well. You may leave now," ordered Amaris. "I wish to speak to my daughter, alone."

    The female servant nodded before disappearing from sight.

    "...."

    Amaris Aluria unblinkingly stared at the modestly decorated library door for a good few seconds before finally opening it up. The very same moment she viewed the fantastical scenery inside, her eyes automatically ignored the untold number of bookshelves stacking up in all directions across several miles and for thousands of feet. Those captivating eyes of hers instead fell on the angelic woman sitting at the very center of the palace library''s first floor.

    Surrounding her were thousands upon thousands of books, and even at this very moment, she had her nose in a book. She was so immersed in what she was reading that she hadn''t even noticed when her alluring mother entered the massive room.

    This was where Grace spent most of her free time. It was her peace space when she wasn''t hanging out with the only man who made her feel a way she had never felt before.

    Cassius was her new peace, but she was unable to forget her old flame.

    "You know, you could at least say hello to your only mother when you stop by."

    A beautiful voice suddenly sounded out from behind, causing Grace to hastily lay her book down and look in the direction of the voice''s source.

    "...Mother? What are you doing here?"

    "Now, is that any reaction you should have to seeing your lonely mother after not greeting her for the last ten times you visited?"

    "Lonely¡­?" Grace recalled all the various servants her mother surrounded herself with. "I don''t think so¡­ And the reason I hadn''t greeted you was because I assumed you were busy. The Yggdrasil Tournament is coming up soon, and I know how important that event is to you and our family¡­"

    Amaris arched an eyebrow. "Where did you learn how to speak like that? Getting so cheeky in your later years, are ya?"

    "No, Mother, it''s not that¡­"

    Grace became silent, her lips seemingly trying to get something out but failing.

    Her mother could tell that she was troubled. And as she had a bit of free time right now, she decided to sit down next to her daughter and ask what was on her mind.

    The answer she received felt unsatisfactory, but as the question itself was just a formality, she asked something she already knew the answer to. "Boy trouble? I''ve been there at one point¡­ A long time ago, long before you were ever conceived¡­"

    "N-No, that isn''t¡­ that isn''t it," Grace mumbled as her cheeks turned multiple shades of scarlet. However, under the scrutinizing gaze of her mother, she hid her adorable face behind a book and murmured, "Well¡­ It kind of is¡­" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "See? Wasn''t that easy?" Amaris revealed a mesmerizing smile before asking her daughter to disclose all the details.

    Although reluctant, Grace had little leeway to refuse the request of her graceful mother.

    ¡ªA few minutes later¡ª

    Amaris''s expression appeared thoughtful as she contemplated this matter deeply.

    She had been aware of Grace sneaking out of the mansion their family had on Earth as the ''fill-in'' parents she assigned to her daughters would report to her daily. She would be lying if she declared that she wasn''t displeased with her eldest daughter''s sudden rebellious nature, but it wasn''t that big of a deal. After all, the Trial Area of Humanity posed little to no danger to the Guardians she set up there, and thus her daughters would always be safe.

    But with the 0th Floor''s Nexus Event occurring soon, Amaris would prefer if her daughters stayed close to the Guardians at all times. Once the Nexus Event begins, even she doesn''t hold full confidence in the capabilities of the Guardians limited in power. If worse comes to worse, then she would have to send in the cavalry or personally descend, but such actions would surely put their family in a tough spot.

    Among the other royal families of the Land of Pleasures, they were already seen as a prime target to exploit. Which meant that if Amaris, the head of the Succubus Royal Family, acted recklessly, the scavengers would come out to prey.

    In conclusion, the Queen of Succubi and her three daughters were in a very tight spot right now.

    Very tight, indeed¡­

    ....

 Chapter 174 - 174: What it takes to place in the Yggdrasil Tournament

    But with the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil beginning soon, the Aluria Family might just be able to make a comeback¡ªthat is, assuming they''re able to place high enough in the Tournament Rankings, hopefully in the Top 100. If they''re able to accomplish that, then most of their political issues will be resolved.

    However¡­ with Amaris not eligible to participate and all her daughters too young to make any difference, she could only rely on those affiliated with her family. And to be honest, she didn''t feel the least bit assured with the candidates she currently had available to choose from.

    There were several Beyond SSS-Rank Awakeners in the Aluria Royal Family, and there were even more SSS-Rank Awakeners. But of those SSS-Rank Awakeners, very few stood out among the crowd. None of them seemed like Top 100 material¡ªpossibly not even Top 200 material.

    ''If only my daughters had been born hundreds of years earlier¡­ If that were the case, then by now, they would have long since developed enough of their latent bloodlines to fight for a place in the Top 100¡­''

    Amaris sighed under her breath while thinking of the unfortunate what ifs. Moreover, she also sighed at the whole ordeal involving her innocent eldest daughter.

    As Succubi, it was best if they never fell in love.

    Many years ago, Amaris made the mistake of catching feelings for a dashing male Incubus. However, as their species thrived on taking in exorbitant amounts of Yang, her Incubus husband just couldn''t keep up, and he unfortunately¡­ died.

    Some men suffer from dehydration, whereas others drown.

    That man died from snu snu¡­

    The only plus side to that whole predicament was that the male Incubus went out smiling. He sure was a happy dying man, even if his cheeks were sunken in.

    Thousands of years later, Amaris finally decided to procreate and have some descendants of her own. In total, she went through nearly a dozen Incubus candidates until they succumbed to the embrace of death the same way her late husband had. But from all those happily dying men, three different variations of her pride and joy came into creation.

    And right now, the eldest of those bundles of joy was going through a rough patch with her human¡­ boyfriend¡­? Was he her boyfriend? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Deciding to ask straight up, she said, "Hey, honey, that Cassius is your boyfriend, isn''t he?"

    "B-B¡­Boyfriend¡­??" Steam puffed out from the top of Grace''s head as she averted her eyes from her mother and began fidgeting with her hands. "...N-No¡­ We aren''t dating¡­ Why would you think that¡­?"

    Amaris tilted her flawless head in confusion. ''She did say that this boy saved her life just a moment before the guardians I set up could make a move, didn''t she? And then she told me that the boy recently vowed to find a cure for her¡­ Haiz¡­''

    The Succubus Queen felt her heart clench while thinking about the mysterious illness that ailed her eldest daughter¡ªor, rather, the¡­ curse¡­

    It was primarily because of this curse that Amaris put so much emphasis on the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil. Placing high in that Tournament would not only elevate their standing among the Seven Dimensions, but it would also make it far easier to acquire one of the Lesser Tears of Yggdrasil. The real deal, which would completely cure Grace, was something only the Gold Winner of the Tournament could obtain. But the residual essence of the genuine article¡ªthe Pseudo Tears of Yggdrasil¡ªwas more than capable of keeping Grace''s curse at bay until a more permanent solution could be found.

    And to acquire one of these Pseudo Tears, the easiest way was to place within the Top 100 of the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil¡­

    Shaking her head, Amaris took her mind off that depressing subject and stared at her daughter.

    Under the intense stare, Grace struggled to maintain eye contact. But when her mother softly commanded her not to look away, she once again found herself on the opposing end of that serious gaze.

    "This boy¡ªyou know that it''ll never work out, don''t you?" Amaris asked in all seriousness. "The lifespan of even the strongest among the human race is nothing in comparison to our own, not to mention that this pretend boyfriend of yours is from the Trial Gate Floor. This also means that he''ll never be able to become strong enough to increase his lifespan or make a difference in the Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil."

    Exhaling sharply, she added, "It may be cruel what I''m about to say, but this is just the way of the world. That boy¡ªhis resolve to help you is admirable, and under any other circumstances, I would allow whatever you two are to continue, but unfortunately, that boy is weak. And in our society, weakness is a sin. His determination means nothing if he doesn''t have the power to back it up. Let alone winning the entire Tournament, that boy will not even be able to obtain a spot that''ll enable him to enter Yggdrasil for the Tournament."

    "The Tournament itself is open to all who feel themselves worthy enough to participate, but getting into the Heart of the Ascension Tower is another matter altogether. Even our family only has three spots, and that is on the better side."

    Grace bit her lip in frustration. She knew all of this already, but something¡­ something inside her was telling her that if it were him, then he''d be able to do it. Her gut and her heart were telling her that he could do it.

    She just had to make her mother understand.

    She had to! There was no other option!

    "But, Mother, Cassius¡­ His power is able to¡ª"

    "That''s enough!" Amaris silenced her with a sharp shout. "We''ll not speak any more on this matter. My word is final, and for the next three months or until we obtain a Pseudo Tear of Yggdrasil, you shall be put under house arrest. You''re not allowed to leave the bounds of the palace anymore."

    "!?!"

    "M-Mother, you can''t¡­! I''m telling you that he''s¡ª"

    "Be quiet, I said!"

    OOOM!

    ....

 Chapter 175 - 175: Floras Scandal...

    OOOM!

    An overpowering aura fell not just on the trembling Grace but also over the entire palace, causing the infrastructure to violently shake.

    However, when Amaris realized that she had let her temper get the better of her, she apologized and motioned behind her. "Crysta and Crya, take my daughter to her room. There''s no need to guard her doors, but make sure she doesn''t leave until the morning of tomorrow."

    FWIP! FWIP!

    "Yes, My Lady!" Two icy-haired women, one tall and one short, appeared.

    They moved past the Succubus Queen and toward her crying daughter, but before they could take her away, she tried to say, "M¡­ Mother, Cassius will¡­ He''ll be able to do it¡­! I know he''ll do it!"

    Amaris hoped with all her heart that actually turned out to be the case, but she knew better than anyone that hope more often than not led to disappointment. And she didn''t know how much more of that she could take¡­

    With puffy eyes and a resistant fire burning brightly inside her, Grace was transported away from the space when the two emotionless icy-haired women touched her shoulders.

    Within that massive library, only one person was left. Her beauty unmatched, her charm immeasurable, and her knowledge as vast as the blue sea. Yet there still remained a profound sadness that made her seem somewhat¡­ melancholic¡­

    It wasn''t like she wanted to treat her beloved daughter so harshly, but what else could she do!? If she permitted her to continue interacting with that boy, it would only hurt her more when one day that boy left her all alone in the world.

    Amaris couldn''t bear to witness that happen. And she never once considered the possibility that her daughter could die before him. Even with the existence of Grace''s Curse, Amaris would do whatever it took to make sure she lived at least as long as herself.

    No parent wished to see their child pass away before them. And the Queen of the Succubi was no different.

    "The Dimensional Tournament of Yggdrasil¡­ We will have someone place within the Top 100¡­ No matter what."

    *Knock! Knock! Knock!*

    Suddenly interrupting the Succubus Queen''s bleak thoughts were three loud knocks on the doors of the library. Her face quickly scrunched up in annoyance as she shouted, "Did I not tell you to leave me be¡ª!?"

    "Mother, it''s me¡­"

    Amaris''s eyes flashed in surprise. "Flora? Why are you back here so soon?" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Entering through the library door, a stunning, stylish woman with long black hair and orangish-blue eyes walked in. Following behind her was a sleepy woman with stark purple eyes.

    "Mother, the day is already over," replied Flora, her tone slightly exasperated. "And¡­ I have something to tell you¡­ It''s important."

    ''Something important?'' Amaris looked to the silent, closed-eyed Violet for clues, yet received nothing. She was quite surprised that the loyal servant of the Evergreen Family held her tongue in the presence of the Queen, but this only worked to further emphasize the possible importance of Flora''s news.

    "Well¡­? Go ahead and say it," Amaris calmly ordered after noticing her daughter''s long pause.

    Taking a deep breath, Flora steeled her nerves and locked eyes with her mother. "I have," she began with a bit of dramatic pause. "I have undergone my Racial Awakening!"

    "You have done what¡ª!?"

    WHOOOSH!

    At that moment, Flora suddenly transformed into her Succubus Form, and a giant light film was conjured up. It spread over the entire library in an instant before solidifying its borders thousands of meters away in all directions. All sound had thus been isolated within the bubble, and no prying eyes could snoop around.

    Once the impermeable barrier was erected, Amaris''s shocked eyes fell on the sight of her daughter in Succubus form. Her expression changed several times within a very short period, making both her daughter and her daughter''s Elder Protector quite nervous.

    ¡ªAfter a moment¡ª

    Finally speaking up, Amaris broke the deafening silence with, "You have not told anyone about this, have you?"

    For a brief instant, a ruthless spark of killing intent was unleashed from her voluptuous figure. However, her nerves were immediately eased when her slightly frightened daughter said:

    "N-No, Mother¡­ The only other person who knows is Elder Protector Violet and¡­ and¡­"

    Amaris''s killing intent burst forth once more when she observed the apprehension in her daughter''s voice. Using words laced with the promise of death, she slowly uttered, "Who¡­? Who else knows?"

    Flora momentarily hesitated but quickly came to terms with the fact that she could not hide this information from her mother. While biting her light-red lips, she spoke up in a low voice:

    "...The truth is, Mother¡­"

    She then went on to explain everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. And from how her mother''s exquisite face became rather ugly, she knew that the information wasn''t being taken in too well.

    ¡ªAfter nearly two minutes of silence¡ª

    The Queen of Succubi exhaled the heavy breath she had been holding in for the longest while. While reeling in her frustrations as best she could, she looked between her lovely flower of a daughter and the Protector she reserved from the family subservient to the Aluria Family.

    Then, with yet another sigh, she said, "This boy is tall, has dark hair, and is incredibly handsome, isn''t he¡­?"

    "...Yes¡­ Wait, how did you know that, Mother??"

    Amaris hoped with every fiber of her being that she was not correct in her assumptions. But based on what she had heard so far, she doubted she would be so fortunate.

    "And this boy¡­ He''s your First Mark¡­? He''s the only other one who knows of your Racial Awakening?"

    "Yes and¡­ yes," Flora answered back-to-back, with both answers causing Amaris''s frown to deepen.

    She couldn''t believe it¡­ There was no possible way things could be this coincidental!

    Those two guys weren''t the same person! They couldn''t be!

    Steadying her breath, Amaris asked with a shaky voice, "This handsome boy¡­ His name¡­ Tell me his name¡­"

    Flora''s eyes immediately brightened as she replied, "His name is¡ªCassius!"

    *Kuk!*

    ....

 Chapter 176 - 176: Flora and Violets Collusion

    *Kuk!*

    A stream of blood trickled down the Succubus Queen''s lips following a violent fit of coughing. The shock from these devastating revelations forced her to lean back and simply stare up at all the long lines of fancy books that surrounded her. In her head, dread settled in and made its home wherever it could.

    At this point, Amaris''s brain signals flatlined.

    If only for a brief period of time, she had become a vegetable¡­

    However, when she finally came to, she saw her charming daughter shaking her shoulders. But behind her daughter, she observed faint illusions of a wolf-like man matching Cassius''s description. The wolf was staring at Flora as if she were a tantalizing five-star dinner, all while wearing a mocking gleam in his eyes.

    That mocking look haunted Amaris''s thoughts¡­ until she eventually snapped and launched to her feet.

    WAAA!!

    An incredibly powerful purple aura exploded outward from the Succubus Queen. Not just the castle, but even the land across millions of miles felt the full brunt force of the woman who was once heralded as one of the most vicious and tyrannical women in the Realm of Pleasure.

    Even now, she had not lost her touch, as even the Awakeners Beyond the SSS-Rank felt primordial fear welling up inside them. The Hegemons from outside the Aluria territory also felt this overpowering aura, and though it didn''t affect them much, they could still determine that Amaris was as powerful as ever.

    This caused several Rulers to deeply frown, especially the ones at odds with the Queen of the Succubi.

    ¡ªMeanwhile, back at the Aluria Palace, located between several pink cotton-candy-like mountains¡ª

    "I''ll just have to kill this human!!" A booming shout reverberated throughout the confines of the enormous palace as a divinely beautiful woman in scantily-dressed attire stormed out of the Palace Library. "I''ll kill him!!"

    However, before Amaris could do something foolish and regret it later, Flora, her daughter, clasped onto her hand.

    "???"

    "You mustn''t kill him, Mother!" Flora hurriedly explained upon seeing the scary face her mother was making. "He''s my First Mark, remember!? He can''t die yet! And definitely not by your hands!!"

    Amaris''s senses gradually returned to her as her mighty aura receded into her body, restoring her presence to the epitome of tranquility and lust. She turned toward her daughter and said, "I''m sorry¡­ I lost my mind for a moment there¡­ But this boy¡­ Is he trying to stick a skewer in everything I''ve been trying to achieve¡­? Where did someone like him even come from? Is he not actually from the Trial Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity??"

    Seeing that her mother had calmed down made Flora breathe a sigh of relief. Afterward, her gaze turned serious as she answered, "That is not the case, Mother. I ran a few background checks on him a little while ago, and he was indeed born on the Trial Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity. Though, I did learn that he used to look far different than he does now. Furthermore, he has several conditions that should render him unable to do what he does. And then there''s his strength¡­ Although not objectively strong, he still possesses far more power than someone who hasn''t Awakened should possess¡­ He''s even stronger than I am¡­"

    "!??" ''Even stronger than Flora¡­? And he''s not an Awakened?? Why didn''t Grace mention this earlier???''

    Amaris certainly had some things to discuss with her eldest daughter later, but for now, she needed some time to think about this convoluted sh*tstorm.

    However, before she could excuse her daughter and Elder Protector Violet, the former spoke up first, saying:

    "Mother, you reacted to Cassius like you previously knew something about him. What was that all about? Do you know him¡­?"

    Amaris''s mouth soundlessly moved before she caved in and decided to say, "I don''t know him, but your sister does. And they¡­ Haiz¡­"

    "My sister? Grace?" Flora parroted in confusion, while thinking, ''What sort of relationship do they have¡­?''

    "Now, if that is all, it''s time for you two to go," Amaris ordered plainly, with her intangible energy already pushing the duo out of the huge, resplendent library. "I''ll settle everything from here, so don''t do anything with that boy just yet."

    Although taken aback by the sudden movement displacement, Flora deferentially responded, "Yes, Mother."

    *Thwack!*

    The library doors closed behind Elder Protector Violet and Flora. And in the same moment, the latter''s thoughts betrayed her true intentions. ''I''m sorry, Mother, but I have to grow up at some point. And this is something I can do myself.''

    Her heart overflowed with resolve as she spun on her heel and began walking in a certain direction. "I''m going to see my elder sister. Are you coming with?" she asked without turning around.

    Surprise formed on Violet Evergreen''s sleepy features, but after a moment, her eyes closed again and she replied, "Yes, I''ll follow you and protect you, Young Miss."

    "Very good."

    With that, the two drop-dead gorgeous women disappeared into the folds of the Aluria Palace.

    Their destination: Grace''s Room. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª-----------------

    Like a fleeting shadow or the grains of sand in an hourglass, several hours passed by in the outside world. And now¡­ now was the day when everything would go down.

    It was marriage day!

    "Whi-whi-whistle... fweee-fweee-fwoo... tweee-tweee-fwee..."

    A clear, melodic, and light tune with a lilting, rhythmic flow echoed throughout a large mansion in the affluent part of Hoshito. Bella was singing a song that made the tune feel playful, and was currently downstairs cooking up something scrumptious.

    Surprisingly, she was the first awake today.

    "...Hmm¡­?" Groggily opening his eyes, Cassius felt the all-too-familiar weight on top of him. More importantly, however, was the mellow tune filling the air. ''Is that Bella? I had no idea she had such a nice voice¡­''

    There were many things he didn''t know about her.

    After slipping out of the pile of enticing bodies holding him down, Cassius made his way down the stairs of the mansion.

    ....

 Chapter 177 - 177: {[Urgent Side Quest #23!]} - [S++ Rank]

    When he found himself stepping into the living room, Cassius suddenly saw a short black-haired girl zip around a corner. She was wearing a loose T-shirt of his and had nothing on underneath. Her hair was also a bit wild, but it suited her quite nicely.

    However, right now, what Cassius felt most when looking at her¡­ was confusion. She was, after all, tearing up in both eyes and pointing in the direction of the kitchen.

    It was only then that he smelled the distinct odor of something burning.

    "C-Cass¡­ I¡­ The cooking¡­ W-Whyiz it so hard¡­? *Sniffle, Sniffle*"

    Bella was not even faking her emotions. She was genuinely distressed.

    A sigh resounded, and Cassius walked up to the sniffling girl. He was going to question why she was still in his house, but that would have to wait for later, it seemed.

    With a brief head pat, he said, "You trying is what matters most, I would say. And it''s not certain that what you made isn''t unsalvageable. Who knows, it might even be delicious as is."

    "Really¡­!?"

    "Mhmm¡­"

    Bella immediately leapt at him and clasped onto his waist like a spider monkey. Her tears of sadness had already transformed into tears of happiness as she snuggled her cheeks up against his shirt.

    If not for her Affection Rating of 100, Cassius definitely would''ve wondered why she was all of a sudden acting like this. But all along, he''d sorta figured she was just acting. And for the longest while, she had him convinced. Even with the constant Affection Rating chart serving as a reminder, she had him fooled on more than one occasion.

    "Danks you, Cass¡­!" Bella lovingly murmured with hearts swirling around inside her pupils.

    "Yeah¡­" was all Cassius said as he dragged her into the kitchen, where his neutral expression quickly morphed into a shocked one.

    What he saw in that kitchen¡­ Even if he had the necessary words to describe it, he wouldn''t be capable of saying them¡­

    After a dramatic pause. "This¡­ You did all this yourself¡­?"

    "Uhn!" Bella beamed as her grip on him tightened.

    "I¡­ I see¡­"

    Cassius had been enlightened.

    It wasn''t every day that he witnessed a catastrophe like the one before him.

    And was that an eyeball¡­? An eyeball swimming in some tentacle substance over a boiling stove¡­??

    Was Bella a girl or was she the wicked Witch of the East!? Why did Cassius feel like the answer was the latter???

    "So¡­?"

    Suddenly snapping back to reality, Cassius looked at the adorable face leaning over his right shoulder. Only now registering what she had said, he repeated, "So¡­ what?"

    Bella''s head bobbed cutely as one of her sharp K-9s hung over her lip, making for an even more charming display. "So, which are you gonna try first!?"

    She could barely contain her excitement.

    Cassius could barely contain his puke inside his throat.

    However, he didn''t have it in him to just outright deny her like that after he said what he did earlier. Therefore, it was with great difficulty that he walked over to the least disgusting thing of all the disgusting things inside that kitchen. A horrid smell instantly assaulted his nostrils, which made him feel the urge to slit his throat.

    But he held strong.

    He had to.

    This was just another¡­

    *Ding~!*

    Having heard something that he hadn''t seen in quite a while, Cassius glanced over at an illusory blue screen. A screen that featured a smug, almost insufferable emoticon face.

    [Character Development! I see that this fine piece of ass lass has quite the knack for building the Character of others! Good, good!]

    [Here! This is on the house, sweetheart!]

    BLING!

    {[Urgent Side Quest #23!]} - [S++ Rank]

    ¡ª[Survive the Terrorist-level Threat that is the cooking of one Miss Bella Crestmore!]

    REWARD 1 - [Life]

    REWARD 2 - [Not Death]

    REWARD 3 - [The best head you''ll ever have! Nah¡­ just kidding! The only reward you get is to continue living! But hey, maybe try farming some AP while you''re at it!]

    [Punishment for Failure: 12 Hours in Nightmarescape] - (You''re still going here¡­ Let''s say today! But why not go twice!? Double the fun, yeah!?)

    Cassius: "..."

    He truly didn''t know why the hell he even bothered living anymore.

    For who knows how many years to come, the only partner who''d be with him at any and all times would be his shithead of a System.

    Fate really was a b*tch¡­

    *Bzzzttt¡­!*

    A sword tattoo sewn across the right side of Cassius''s body started to vibrate. Though only at a level he could feel.

    Immediately realizing his mistake, he internally apologized. ''Sorry about that, Lilith. Of course, I''ll still have you. Perhaps that dickhead will catch a hint and realize how much of a third wheel it''s being, then get right the fuck on out of here. Or, at the very least, become non-sentient.''

    [....]

    The Idle Evolution System''s emoticon became rather sad-looking. A dark cloud seemed to loom over its head, and what looked like virtual tears began to appear.

    Cassius wanted so badly to simply ignore whatever it was doing. But upon recalling how much help it had done for him¡ªvirtually bringing him up from nothing¡ªhe knew he couldn''t just ignore it.

    With a sigh, he also apologized to the System while patting the floating emoticon screen. ''I''m sorry¡ª''

    [No~! You Fiend~! How could you up and touch your System like that~!? For this blatant harassment, do you accept an additional 30 hours in the Nightmarescape for today!?]

    "...But there aren''t even 30 hours in a day¡­"

    [True men always learn to find a way! ????(? ?? ? - ? ) ?]

    Cassius was on the brink of freaking the f*ck out, but thankfully for his sanity, an expectant voice sounded out from atop his right shoulder:

    "So? Which one are you going to try first!? I recommend that one!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...That one¡­?" Cassius repeated while staring directly at what looked like his final meal on Earth.

    "Yes, that one!"

    *Gulp¡­*

    Forget everything he previously thought.

    There would be no saving grace for him this day¡­

    ....

 Chapter 178 - 178: Viola Voidweaver

    With a hardened will, Cassius spent the next period of time taste-testing everything the black-haired beauty pointed out. The whole time, she seemed happy as could be, utterly oblivious to how he died a little with each further bite he took.

    And this wasn''t even an exaggeration¡­

    He quite literally died every time he ate something that Bella pointed out. Sometimes, he even died, only to then immediately die again in the very next moment!

    Bella may not have intentionally poisoned the so-called "dishes," but they were sure as hell lethal.

    Even with his S+ Rank resistances to just about everything in this "Trial Gate Area," Cassius still insta-died the moment he touched Bella''s food. This meant that it wasn''t an exaggeration to state that each spoonful of her cooking could kill hundreds of thousands of grown men.

    She could start entire genocides by herself¡­ and all with just her cooking¡­

    ''Maybe I am living in a Japanese anime¡­ God, I hate my life.''

    With tears of blood, Cassius devoured everything that Bella prepared for him. In total, he died 30 times, marking his highest number of deaths in one day. Moreover, he lost his appetite for probably the next million years or so. And most notable of all, he lost his ability to ever put his faith in Bella''s cooking again.

    In fact, after finishing off the food under her ecstatic eyes, he secretly destroyed all evidence of anything that went down here.

    It all had to be erased!

    Begone, vile devils!!

    And with that done and out of the way, Cassius and Bella could finally get on with their days. Today, more so than most others, was a day in which several important things would happen.

    First off, Bella would undoubtedly attempt to kidnap her "husband" with the help of her father. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Secondly, Cassius had to not¡­ get kidnapped. Preferably.

    Thirdly, he needed to try to avoid the System''s attempts at eternally trapping him in whatever the "Nightmarescape" actually was.

    So, all in all, yeah, it was just going to be a very hectic day filled with Cassius doing his utmost to preserve his life and freedom. Though, to be fair, it was honestly just a normal day for him but with a few more Big Boss figures at play.

    As Cassius unknowingly spent quality time with the girl who would be orchestrating his future kidnapping, a silver-haired, goddess-like woman with horns and a tail looked around in confusion.

    All around Yimin were funny-looking creatures. There were koalas, panda bears, tigers, lions, and even the hippopotamuses. She seemed all too interested in these animals not too long ago, but all that interest just now vanished from her moist eyes.

    She missed her Master¡­

    "Why did the Master abandon Yimin¡­?? Yimin just wants to fuck-fuck with the Master¡­"

    He didn''t abandon her. She ran off.

    "Hey, Momma, what is that funny-looking animal supposed to be?"

    A child''s curious voice echoed, attracting the attention of an older woman holding onto the child''s small hand. She turned to look where her son was pointing, yet saw¡­ nothing.

    "What is it, Teddy? Are you talking about the tiger exhibit?"

    "...No¡­ That other¡ª" the child looked again, rubbed his eyes, then looked once more.

    The funny-looking creature had disappeared¡­

    ¡ªMeanwhile, just outside the Steele Family mansion, a few seconds after Cassius and the girls went whichever way they were going for the day¡ª

    Sasha had decided to go out shopping while they went to school. Grace left in the same manner as the day before, and Hellion did what she usually did¡ªstayed at home and read books. When not observing him, she stuck to reading literature; it helped her pass the time that plagued all morsels under the Heavens.

    However, on their way to school, Cassius and the others were suddenly stopped by a group of three people wearing black suits. Two were men, and the last was a woman. Every single one of them had an aura of at least B- Rank, but the leading man, with a cool, suave way about him, was of the B+ Rank.

    Clearly, they were not from around here.

    "Cassius Steele, our Guild invites you," said the leading man, his tone respectful.

    But if one paid close enough attention, they would notice a certain amount of prideful disdain in the man''s voice.

    "Your Guild?"

    "Yes, our Guild¡­ The Voidling Guild! We have heard much about you from reliable sources."

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed. "Reliable sources?"

    "You needn''t worry," the leading man reassured. "No one ratted you out. We simply checked the exclusive records of the Hoshito Branch Hunter''s Association out of curiosity and found your unusual feats stated in the secret pages."

    Cassius was becoming even more suspicious.

    "You were allowed to do that¡­?" he asked.

    Cassius was unaware of this if that were the case. Was he not cautious enough?

    The leading man chuckled. "Of course not under normal circumstances, but with the unfortunate death of the Branch Master of this City, restricted data was made temporarily available."

    Shit¡­

    Cassius realized right then and there that his impaired state of mind since learning of the Branch Master''s sudden death caused him to be careless. And in that carelessness, a few problems were formed.

    For a moment, he contemplated the act of simply ignoring this invitation. But then again, it wasn''t like the invitation was necessarily given out with ill intentions. Moreover, he had heard of this Voidling Guild before. It was of the S-Rank and was led by an expert of the Void and Space Element.

    Her name¡­ What was her name again¡­?

    ''Ahh¡­ yes¡­ it was Viola¡­ Viola Voidweaver.''

    From the rumors, this woman of incredible skill was not only ridiculously beautiful and talented but also came from a family of high renown. In fact, her parents were the heads of the Japanese Commerce Association, which was the number one business corporation in Japan. The company dipped its hands into various avenues and had a wide channel of influence that extended all over the world.

    One of those avenues just so happened to include¡­ Monsters.

    ...

 Chapter 179 - 179: Violas Attention

    After a brief period of thought.

    "Very well," Cassius said evenly as he walked away from the girls. But before he left with the suited figures, he slightly turned his head behind him and said, "Go on to school without me. I should make it back before the start of the next period, but just in case I don''t, you needn''t worry. Oh, and if you can''t get into contact with me by the end of the day, then just ask Hellion for my status. She knows everything you''ll want to know."

    With that, he followed the figures to an all-black limo that was waiting around a corner.

    Everything had happened incredibly fast, and the girls who were walking with him were not the least bit pleased. Especially¡­ Bella.

    On the inside, she was about ready to erupt like a volcano!

    Today was supposed to be their day!!

    And yet these suited bastards really dared to interfere with their lovey-dovey time!?

    Did they have a death wish!?!?

    "!??" "!??"

    The three Voidling Guild members felt the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. However, after looking around cautiously and seeing nothing, they shook their heads before guiding the nonchalant young man into the limo. After which, they told the driver to speed on out of there.

    "...So, what do we do now¡­? Pretty sure Cass was just kidnapped¡­" Aya, as blunt as ever, blurted out what all of them were thinking.

    Stella awkwardly laughed while saying, "Knowing Cassius, I doubt even a famous guild like the Voidlings will even so much as faze him. What I would be more concerned about are the¡­ women¡­ of that guild¡­"

    Aya raised her brows in curiosity. She had no idea just how powerful her stepbrother had become after what she assumed to be a Double Awakening of sorts. But following this period of curiosity was a deep sense of unease.

    She furrowed her brows at the mention of other girls.

    Bella furrowed hers even further¡­

    Flora, who was stalking in the background, also furrowed her brows.

    Even the female vampire Gina furrowed her¡ª

    ''Wait¡­ Why am I doing it as well¡­?''

    The pale-faced woman tilted her head in bewilderment.

    She had no clue that Cassius''s aura was simply¡­ unmatched.

    Though, who could blame her? The poor fool beside her was bound to make the same mistake as well, but make a blunder so large that he might not be able to recover from it.

    Meanwhile, the solitary extraterrestrial was just watching all these interactions with a hard-to-read expression. However, after a few moments, it left the fold of space it was hiding in. The target it was to survey at all times had already gotten quite a bit away, and any more would surely not reflect well on its resume.

    It couldn''t slack anymore. Must stay focused!

    ¡ª------------

    Cassius''s thinned lips unknowingly curved up into a smirk as he quietly enjoyed his limo ride. If not for the briefest of instants, he noticed something extremely unusual. And if he was correct in his far-off assumptions, he knew precisely what he had to do to clear the rats out once this meet-and-greet was done with.

    Well¡­ one of the rats¡­

    The others would need to be dealt with later.

    Utterly oblivious to its target''s thoughts, the creepy-looking alien trailed the quickly-moving limo from the rooftops. It moved at such speeds as if it were standing still, with its attention being entirely focused on the limo.

    ¡ªFive Minutes Later¡ª

    "We''re here, Mr. Cassius."

    Cassius heard the placid voice of the limo driver and took the hint to open the car door. And the first thing he saw¡­

    "An airport?"

    A disdainful laugh resounded as the lead Voidling man appeared in front of Cassius. Though, when he recalled the instructions left for him by the guild leader, he reined in his laughter. Afterward, he explained the situation to the emotionless hooded man. "As the guild leader is in Tokyo right now, we''ll be taking a helicopter to reach the destination faster."

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed. He didn''t much appreciate the concealed disrespect of this Voidling member, and his overpowering killing intent nearly escaped his control.

    Fortunately, there were far more important matters to attend to right now. Disciplining an insignificant character was nowhere close to being at the top of his to-do list. Hence, it was with an expression just as apathetic as before that he nodded and once again followed behind the Voidling Guild members.

    As they walked over to a large, ostentatious golden-plated helicopter currently in the process of starting its engines, Cassius asked a question:

    "You mentioned the Voidling Guild leader. She herself extended this invitation to me?"

    The lead Voidling member ignored him.

    Cassius paid the moron no heed and turned toward the female member. When it came to those of the opposite gender, he could oftentimes get what he wanted from them. And just as he expected:

    "Y¡­Yes, Miss Viola has personally invited you to our guild''s headquarters. The focus she''s put on you¡­ Not even talented newly awakened A+ hunters have received the same treatment¡­ And we''re not even sure if Miss Viola is aiming to recruit you or not¡­"

    The female Voidling member summed up the situation quite well, albeit with a crimson blush on her face. Though, with every word she spoke, the annoyed look on the lead man''s face worsened. At this point, he was not looking too well. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "There is no need to say any more, Susan."

    Susan immediately clamped her mouth shut. She had gotten a little carried away in those mystical eyes that she forgot where she was.

    Cassius simply nodded and flashed an appreciative look before sitting himself on the far right side of the luxurious helicopter. The others sat themselves down as well. Susan was occasionally glancing at him with a furtive way about her, whereas the lead man was repeatedly clicking his tongue.

    As for the last man, he was just chilling.

    One could say that he was the embodiment of professionalism. That and chillism.

    *Whirl, Whirl, Whirl¡ª!!*

    The top rotors of the helicopter started to increase the speed at which they spun, and within seconds, the group was off the ground. The helicopter ascended higher and higher into the sky before dipping forward and taking them in the direction of the heart of Japan.

    ....

 Chapter 180 - 180: Instant Rejection!

    ¡ªTwenty Minutes Later¡ª

    The helicopter began to descend. Within moments, it was already hovering just a few meters above a yellow-painted helipad. The helipad was located at the far north side of a very large and shiny building. When it landed and the people inside stepped out, they were immediately greeted by hundreds more suited figures.

    Surprise flashed past the irises of the lead man as he hadn''t expected such a grand entourage for the man he had been tasked to brief and invite. Even he hadn''t received such a grandiose welcoming ceremony when he was recruited¡­

    One would think that the way he looked at the indifferent Cassius would change for the better, but that was simply not the case. As an extremely vain and conceited man, his previous irritation only increased.

    However, when the distinct sound of heels clacking against a hard metal surface echoed, he immediately discarded all his sinister thoughts.

    "Guild Leader!"

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    All of the gathered men and women in suits hit the floor with their fists as a very outstanding woman entered the scene. Her dress¡ªlong, purple, and flowy¡ªwas dazzling. It was only overshadowed by the far more resplendent bed of violet-colored hair that warped around her perfect figure, accentuating the work the dress was doing for her image.

    Yet, above all else, it had to be her mesmerizing purple whirlpools that truly drew people in. Those eyes¡ªthey were far more effective than any hypnotic techniques.

    However, in the face of all this immense beauty, Cassius remained unwavering. The view was a pleasant one, but that was all. He could not allow himself to be careless again.

    Never again¡­

    One could tell that the Branch Master''s death still weighed heavily on his mind. But with the goal of absolute strength pushing him forward, his subconscious did its best to push everything unrelated to the pursuit of power to the back of his mind.

    Viola raised one of her perfectly molded brows in interest. She walked through the path opened up by her innumerable men, and when she finally made it to a distance less than a few feet away from the emotionless Cassius, her interest multiplied.

    She wasn''t sure if she had ever encountered a man like him before. Unaffected by beauty at such a young age¡­ Just what had he been through?

    Death. That was the simplest answer.

    It is said that death changes a man.

    And he, who had died hundreds upon hundreds of times, was surprised that he was even capable of empathy anymore.

    Viola, still appraising Cassius, thought, ''He''s handsome as well¡­ How intriguing¡­''

    "So, why have I been invited to your Guild in this vast city?"

    Cassius''s plain voice suddenly broke through the silence encompassing the rooftop of one of the most expensive buildings in all of Tokyo. The building not only resided in the most opportune location in all of Japan, but it was also home to dozens of top-grade training facilities and lounge areas, all of which were used by Voidling Guild members.

    The man who led Cassius here immediately became incensed when he saw him speak out of turn. "Do you have no shame¡ª!?" However, before he could finish what he was saying, Viola''s deathly violet glare landed on him.

    "!!!"

    He shut his trap real quick.

    Turning her head back toward the uncaring man, Viola said, "I do apologize for the uncouth behavior of my subordinate. I hope you won''t take his offense to heart."

    Cassius coldly looked at the profusely sweating man before locking all of his focus on the enchanting beauty. "It''s not an issue."

    He would normally add an insult for the man at the end, but for some reason, he felt far less inclined to do so.

    Wonder why that is¡­

    Viola paid very close attention to every minor change in Cassius''s facial expressions, and from how he seemed to be thinking about something unrelated to this visit, she was able to confirm it.

    ''The S-Rank¡­ Another Japanese S-Rank Hunter¡­ A heaven-sent replacement for Static Baron, perhaps? Well, either way, he''s still an S-Rank Hunter¡­ That much I''m almost 100% positive of.'' sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As one of the most perceptive and intelligent people in not only Japan but the entire world, Viola was able to piece the clues together. First were the absurd number of Red and below Gates that had been secretly cleared by this man. Then there was his utter disregard for her immense authority as an S-Rank Hunter. Furthermore, there was something about his stare¡­

    There were unknowns hidden within its depths¡­

    Thankfully, Viola had been the first one to check into the hidden files left behind by the recently deceased Hunter''s Association Branch Master. If not, then she definitely would''ve been obligated to share this gem with the rest of the S-Rank Hunters and the Association.

    Getting straight to the cusp of the discussion, she said, "Say, how would you like to¡ª"

    "Sorry, I won''t join a Guild. I''m too weak."

    Instant rejection!

    "You¡­" The lead man from before once again started to speak up but was quickly silenced by the scary Viola. She even motioned for a few of her A-Rank subordinates to take him away and have him stay out of this conversation.

    It wasn''t like the other Voidling Guild members weren''t also angered by the unknown man''s rather rude way of speaking. But contrary to their recently dismissed comrade, they knew not to open their mouths when their Guild Leader was making an expression like that.

    "...If I may ask, why won''t you join my Guild? I promise you benefits greater than what any of the other Guilds can offer you¡­ So why?"

    Hearing Viola''s question, Cassius matched her burning stare and replied in a tone void of emotion:

    "I''m weak. I already told you that."

    "...." "...." "...."

    Not just the Voidling Guild Leader, but everyone gathered there couldn''t believe what they were hearing.

    Although none of them knew exactly how strong he was, those higher up among their ranks were at least aware of his recorded Gate Clears. His feats even exceeded most of their own, and they had parties to raid with! What did he have?

    Just himself!

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 181 - 181: Join Me for a Gate Raid?

    With a slightly twitching face, Viola lightly coughed before making her voice sound more coquettish. "Are you sure you wouldn''t¡ª"

    "Yeah, I''m sure. Can I go now? I have other things I need to do." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Silence.

    Viola froze in place.

    She had never done something as demeaning as that for anyone else, you know! She even pulled her especially explicit dress out of the coffers just for this meeting! From the beginning, she knew this nameless man was something special!

    No matter what, she had to have him! For the sake of the Voidling Guild! For if something happened to her inside the World''s End Gate!

    For everything above, she gave it her all! The cutesy, seductive act and everything!

    And yet¡­

    "...You really aren''t going to even consider joining the Voidling Guild? I have a benefits page here¡­ Would you like to¡­?"

    Viola gave it one last desperate shot.

    "Hmm¡­ Nope, I''m good."

    And completely missed!

    What the illustrious rich researcher failed to account for was that Cassius, after a mere two months of character development, no longer had any desire for worldly commodities. Money didn''t interest him, and he already had a lot of it. Status mattered even less to him. Fame was pointless. And any women or items that could be offered to him were things he was already swimming in.

    Just Lilith alone was likely worth more than the entire Voidling Guild building. And that wasn''t even a baseless statement¡­

    "So¡­? Is that all you wanted to discuss? Can I go now?"

    "???"

    Cassius''s bored voice snapped Viola out of her shell-shocked stupor. When she looked ahead, she now seemed to be the one whose soul got pulled into someone else''s eyes. The way he looked at her¡­ It was¡­

    *Whooosh~!*

    The distinct sound of something gushing blasted through the tense air above the Voidling Guild building.

    Many looked toward their squirming Guild Leader, but as soon as they did, waves of spatial energy spread out and obscured everyone''s vision. None were able to witness the shameful face that one of the most powerful figures in the country was making.

    None except for one¡­

    However, at this moment, Cassius was quite curious about the film of dark energy that just tried to temporarily disable one of his five senses. He poked and prodded at it, yet felt nothing even as his fingers sank into the starry purple energies interwoven inside.

    "Interesting¡­"

    FWIP!

    Cassius vanished from his spot and reappeared beside the gorgeous woman rubbing her thighs in place. She quickly became startled and attacked him on reflex, but he effortlessly clasped her space-covered arm. This time, he felt something painful damaging the outer layer of his skin. It even made an attempt to dig deeper into his hand and vaporize his bones.

    And for the sake of science¡­ he let it happen.

    *Sizzle, Sizzle!*

    Cassius felt an excruciating pain assault his senses but didn''t make a single attempt to prevent the pain from continuing. Like a clinically insane lunatic, he emotionlessly watched as the hand holding Viola''s arm vanished one chunk at a time. Within moments, his entire right arm had been transported to oblivion.

    "Wow¡­" was all Cassius had to say as he cut off the corroding part at the base of his shoulder with the assistance of Lilith. That was when an unusual thought entered his frontal lobe. ''Wait¡­ is Lilith able to absorb my body to evolve? I don''t mind dying a few times every day for her if that''s the case. I can also ramp up my regeneration skills and turn myself into some type of infinite meat generator¡ª''

    *Ding!*

    [Sorry to burst your bubble, you masochistic host of mine, but that is unfortunately not possible! Just like how absorbing too much EXP from the same organism will force you to start having reduced gains from that organism, the same thing happens for evolving items. In fact, it''s even worse! Especially with the Master of the item.]

    [Before your Lilith side chick can even so much as devour you once, there will no longer be any benefit to having her gobble your large meat¡ª]

    "Okay, that''s enough," said Cassius, his forehead crinkling.

    "What was that?" Viola asked while still trying to hide what was happening beneath her sexy dress.

    "Hmm? Oh, it''s nothing," Cassius replied as if he had no idea about the suspicious liquid leaking from an equally suspicious cavern. "But these space-related skills of yours; can you show more of them to me?"

    Quickly realizing this was her chance to turn things around, Viola responded, "I can, but I would also like something from you."

    Cassius''s breathing became a little frosty as he coldly glared at this euphorically shaking woman. Though, he immediately noticed that the more he looked at her, the more she shook¡ªall with a straight face as well.

    ''What a weird lady¡­''

    But with that being beside the point, he asked, "What is it that you want from me?"

    Viola happily shivered before walking closer to him.

    He backed up by the same distance she walked.

    "???"

    She resumed her approach.

    He continued his retreat.

    "Don''t get so close to me," said Cassius. "I don''t know what''s going on with you, but I don''t wish to catch whatever it is that you have."

    He faintly recalled Bella''s warning from the previous day. Was she being serious when she spoke of that deadly little-brother-killing disease?

    Well, either way, being cautious was the best course of action.

    For a moment, Viola couldn''t believe what she, a noble S-Rank Hunter, was being put through right now. Moreover, she felt mortified to be viewed in such a negative light by a man whom she had just met for the first time! This was terrible! Nothing was going the way she had expected!

    So then why¡­

    Why was she becoming ever more excited¡­?

    While happily shivering in place, Viola gave up her advance and let Cassius put his guard down.

    Lightly coughing to clear the air, she said, "Don''t worry, I won''t ask anything too excessive of you. But in exchange for showing you my personal secrets, I believe requesting your presence on a few Gate Raids with me isn''t too much to ask, is it?"

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 182 - 182: Violas Unusualness...

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Although the Voidling Guild members were unable to see anything right now, that didn''t mean they couldn''t hear. And what was transmitted to their brains through their eardrums was ludicrous!

    Their Guild Master rarely ever went on Gate Raids, even with her own Guild members, let alone with this man who not only rejected her once but several times! This was insane!

    "Gate Raids?" asked Cassius.

    "With me, yes."

    "And you won''t be weird¡­?"

    "I''ll try¡ª... I mean, I won''t be weird," Viola corrected herself with a small blush.

    When she saw Cassius''s icy glare, though, that small blush deepened, and her thigh rubbing came back in full swing.

    "...I don''t believe you. You''re definitely going to be weird, aren''t you¡­?" Cassius asked suspiciously.

    "I¡­ I promise that I won''t be weird, okay¡­?"

    Silence.

    "Fine."

    Viola cheered inside her heart but outwardly gave a slight smile and a small nod. "You won''t regret this decision of yours. And perhaps through this experience today, we''ll be able to become a bit closer."

    "Can we keep our distance, though? You''re quite odd. Plus, you''re leaking¡­ a lot¡­"

    Another rejection! Even harsher this time!

    Yet it only made Viola''s excitement soar higher!

    With a goofy grin, she extended her arms outward and motioned for Cassius to walk ahead. He did so, but very reluctantly. If it was at all possible, he would prefer not to follow this atypical woman anywhere, but seeing as the mysteries of the Space Element were too juicy of an opportunity to pass up, he did what he had to.

    Viola observed that cold stare of his through her slightly closed eyes and couldn''t stop herself from trembling even more. Her excitement was palpable, and if not for the fact that she temporarily blinded all of her Guild members, her esteemed reputation would surely have been sullied.

    ¡ªA few minutes later¡ª

    Cassius and Viola had been walking throughout the large Voidling Guild building for a substantial period of time. During the entire experience, they maintained silence, and in that silence, the pervy Guild Leader took furtive glances at him whenever she got the chance. However, just a couple of minutes ago, during one of these perv outs, she saw his arm regenerate from nothing!

    After being infected by her spatial powers, it should have been a very long while until his arm could regenerate. But that didn''t turn out to be the case for this anomaly of a man¡­

    When she first perused his files, she immediately realized there was something extremely special about him. No one had a rep sheet like that yet preferred to stay under the radar.

    Within the hour, she had already set up his formal invitation. Of course, considering the watchful eyes of the other S-Rank Hunters, she could only send B-Rank Hunters as escorts for this mysterious man. Furthermore, she was forced to do so in a very inconspicuous manner.

    Little did she know that around half of the S-Rank Hunters of Japan had already been killed off since the last time she saw them¡­

    The only ones who were left alive were all those gathering for the World''s End Raid and¡­ and¡­

    Well, the others still left alive were kept alive for a special reason¡­ a very special reason.

    In a way, one could say that the World''s End Gate Raid had inadvertently saved the lives of every single S-Rank Hunter who dared to participate. It was truly an odd miracle.

    ¡ª-------------

    When Cassius and Viola finally descended the massive Guild building and left through the front door, another black limo was waiting outside. It was there for them, and when two A-Rank Hunters opened the limo doors for them, they got in and sat on opposite sides of the vehicle.

    Viola didn''t mind his attempt at keeping a certain distance away from her. In fact, it only made her more excited¡­

    Cassius''s lips curled in disgust while side-eyeing her.

    She loved that.

    ''Seriously¡­ What is wrong with this girl? And why is her Guild more of a business than a monster hunter organization??''

    Cassius saw many labs and monster material separation rooms while making his way through the Voidling Guild building. If the Voidling members weren''t wearing Men-in-Black suits, then they were either wearing hazmat suits or white lab coats. Not a single one of them seemed like they actually participated in Gate Raids themselves.

    Seeing his perplexed expression through his dashing side profile, Viola asked, "Are you wondering about what the Voidling Guild actually does?"

    "How did you¡ª"

    "You aren''t the first one to make a face like that after visiting the Voidling Headquarters. Almost everyone who isn''t aware of our Guild''s internal workings makes the same face," Viola said with a lighthearted chuckle. "But if I were to give you the simplest explanation, then it''s that we''re a rather unorthodox Guild. Only a couple of foreign S-Rank Guilds operate in the same manner."

    Cassius was going to delve more into the subject, but she spoke first. "The truth is that we do indeed have members who actively clear Gates. However, the vast majority of our members are those who were merely fortunate enough to awaken with a high rank, yet not many of them wished to seek out an early death in a Gate. Therefore, they joined our Guild and pursued one of the plethora of monster-handling professions."

    With a lovely smile, she added, "The pay is not as good as actually venturing into Gates, but it isn''t too far off. Moreover, there''s a lot of versatility and wiggle room for what you''d like to learn how to do. The only catch is that if there''s a large surplus of high-ranking Gates in our territory that our Strike Forces can''t handle, you must be prepared to band together and clear the Gates."

    Finally reaching the point of the conversation she was aiming for, she shot her head toward the silent fellow and asked, "Would you like to¡ª"

    "No."

    Instantaneous rejection!

    "B-But I''ll give you a direct position as one of the Guild''s Head Managers! You''ll also be able to become the 2nd Vice Guild Leader within a very short amount of time¡ª"

    "I''m good."

    Still no!

    What da fak!? sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ....

 Chapter 183 - 183: Apocalypse Gates

    It was just no after no after no with this man! Did he not care a single bit about how pretty she was!? What of her high status?? Did he not even put her authority into the equation!?

    This was all so terrible! And it all turned her on!!

    "Mhmff~..."

    "???"

    Cassius could''ve sworn that he heard a sweet and tender moan sound out from beside him, but when he looked toward Viola, he saw that her expression was as emotionless as his. Of course, her soaked undergarments and dress gave her away, but she made a good attempt.

    It really was a solid attempt¡­

    Cassius decided not to embarrass the poor, weird lass. Instead, he leaned his palm against his chin and viewed the rapidly flashing scenery outside the limo window.

    ''Tokyo truly is very large¡­ and futuristic¡­''

    He had his suspicions for quite a while now, but it wasn''t until he came to a place of genuine innovation that he realized just how different this world was from his previous one. Tall, technological skyscrapers were erected as far as the eye could see. Skyline bullet train railways were scattered throughout the country and ran in every direction. There were even cybernetic vehicles that floated off the ground and traveled in organized paths in the sky.

    Cassius had seen similar scenes in the other countries he visited in his hunt for stronger Gates. But that didn''t mean seeing such sights now made them feel any less unreal.

    The world¡ªit had changed.

    The year was still 12500 of the Earthen Calendar, the same as before, but nothing else was the same. This world¡­ it was not Cassius''s world.

    For the remainder of the limo ride, Cassius pondered something he hadn''t really had the time to think about until now. However, when they arrived and the doors to the casino were opened, he snapped back to reality. Quickly, he realized they were at yet another airport.

    "The Gates we''re going to are not in Japan?"

    Were they not heading toward one of the many Red-rank Gates littered around Japan? There were dozens of them, all of which were regularly cleared or permanently closed by extremely powerful A-Rank Hunters and normal S-Rank Hunters.

    However, as far as he was aware, there were no Purple-rank Gates left open in Japan.

    As the country had far too few S-Rank Hunters and no S-Rank Hunter parties, every single Purple-rank Gate that appeared would be cleared by a temporary S-Rank force. After which, the S-Rank Hunters would split up and return to their own guilds.

    Only the most powerful and largest countries, like America, Russia, and China, were able to amass the necessary manpower to consistently farm weaker Purple-rank Gates. Though, even they could do nothing but permanently close any new Gates if they exceeded the Mid-Purple rank.

    As for Peak Purple-rank Gates, they could only be permanently cleared by S-Rank Hunters from all around the world. These types of Gates were dubbed¡­

    ¡­Apocalypse Gates¡­!!!

    And as of recent times, there have only been four such Gates in the world, two of which had only recently appeared in the last couple of months.

    The world leaders went through several meeting sessions because of these unprecedented events. And through multiple lengthy discussions, the world unanimously decided to be at peace with one another. All wars came to a temporary close just a few weeks ago. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

    In a way, the World''s End Gates'' continued evolution and the powerful Gates that followed were the key to achieving world peace.

    As the saying went, there were always bigger fish to fry.

    *Whirl, Whirl, Whirl¡ª!!*

    "So, are you going to tell me where we''re actually going?"

    Cassius''s dampened voice traveled through the choppy air and reached the ears of a stunning woman whose luscious purple hair was wildly flying all around. With an otherworldly way about her, she tucked her hair behind her ear and replied with a smile that held many meanings.

    "You said you were weak, didn''t you?" she asked with a bit of playfulness. "Well, I know of a restricted place that''ll truly put that weakness of yours to the test. Have you¡­ heard of Apocalypse Gates?"

    "Apocalypse Gates?" Cassius repeated, his mouth hanging slightly agape. ''If we''re going to an Apocalypse Gate, then is it¡­?''

    "The Apocalypse Gate¡ªOblivion''s Threshold! Home of the Oblivion Titans and the Oblivion Acolyte!"

    Viola''s voice, coated in space energy, eclipsed the dampening effect of the strong winds. And with it came confirmation of Cassius''s suspicions. This Gate¡­ It was one he planned to solo raid within the next few days. But now¡­ now it seemed the date would be brought forward a bit.

    Viola''s lively expression froze when she felt and saw no visible reaction from the young man sitting before her. She had expected him to at least gasp in surprise, but no. Nothing. He was like an unmoving rock.

    ''I wonder if down there¡­ is as much a hard rock as his disposition is¡­ Mhmm~...''

    Cassius could''ve sworn that a similar moan as before resounded, but because of the lack of good hearing this high up, he was even more uncertain this time around. This made him momentarily consider putting more emphasis on his Perception stat. But thinking about it again, the stat was already absurdly high. Did it really need to go higher?

    This thought lingered in his mind until the moment he was beckoned off the helicopter.

    As for where they ended up landing, it was an isolated island located a few hundred miles outside of Japan. This island, which used to be unnamed and unknown, was now the conjoined property of dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Thailand, Jordan, France, and several others. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On this island¡ªaround ten miles in length and a couple of miles in width¡ªthere resided a giant metallic dome. The dome was capable of reflecting all light that interacted with it and then used that same reflected light to camouflage itself. From a bird''s-eye view, it was as if the dome didn''t even exist.

    But for those who virtually lived inside the dome, it very much existed.

    "Follow me, Sir Cassius."

 Chapter 184 - 184: Not a single Normal Woman...

    Heeding Viola''s polite request, Cassius followed her through a jungle trail. In the not-so-distant background, the helicopter that brought them here resumed its ascent into the skies. Within seconds, it was long gone.

    Cassius turned his head back ahead and walked the trail with just him, Viola, and two A++ Rank Hunters that acted as bodyguards of sorts. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

    They, unlike the suited Hunters from before, looked like proper Hunters. They had shiny, gaudy armor and unnaturally large, high-quality weapons. Moreover, they carried with them imposing auras that unconsciously pressured everything in the vicinity. Of course, to Cassius and Viola, their mighty auras might as well have not even existed.

    Viola noticed this and further solidified her belief that this young man, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, was, in actuality, hiding a lot more than he was willing to show. Her goal here today was to better figure out exactly how much he was concealing from the world. His identity as a newly awakened S-Rank Hunter was all but certain in her mind, but the difference between those within the S-Rank was far wider than even all of the previous Realms combined.

    ''Am I about to witness the birth of an unbelievably powerful S-Rank Hunter? Or will he turn out to be just like 90% of the S-Rank Hunter population? Ordinary.''

    Viola became wet just imagining the answer to that question¡­

    Cassius felt that icky feeling again, prompting him to look toward Viola. However, yet again, she looked and acted as if everything were completely normal. Even while a suspicious liquid trickled down her supple thighs, she stared straight ahead with unmatched focus.

    "...." ''Why¡­ Why is not a single woman I know normal¡­?''

    Cassius was truly starting to believe that some god above was playing him as a fool.

    ¡ªFive minutes quickly passed¡ª

    Cassius and Viola finally made it to the metallic dome, and it was only then that he truly understood just how massive the Dome actually was. It was nearly a fifth the size of the entire island and was entirely comprised of reflective panels. Moreover, each one of the panels was only the approximate size of a fist, which meant there were likely hundreds of thousands of them.

    Viola walked ahead and approached an area that looked exactly like the jungle around it. However, when she reached out and touched the empty air, an octagon panel shone with a blue light. Ripples of similarly colored light spread from the octagon panel as the origin. Within an instant, the blue light took the rough shape of an average-sized hangar door.

    After a second of listening to whistling gusts of wind come out from every edge of the hangar door''s light shape, it made a sound similar to the opening of a tightly closed hatch. A large hangar door that matched the light shape began to slowly fall down before eventually making contact with the ground.

    *THUD!*

    With the reverberation of a loud thud, Viola''s smile slightly widened. She turned around, fully displaying her mesmerizing beauty under the bright sun, and said, "Well, are you ready to show me precisely how ''weak'' you are?"

    Cassius furrowed his brows. He looked past the gorgeous woman and saw an interior space riddled with metal escalators, overarching titanium beams, and most noticeable of all, the massive Purple Gate tied down in the very center of the dome facility.

    There had to be thousands of people in professional work attire maneuvering in every direction, all moving with purpose. Vehicles and advanced mecha machinery made up the main modes of transportation.

    He could also feel a few powerful presences¡­ each one clearly at the S-Rank.

    Viola noticed this as well. Her brows knitted together a bit in annoyance as she said, "It seems that a few troublesome characters are also here for this Gate¡­ How irksome."

    "These aren''t friends of yours¡­?" Cassius asked with narrowed eyes. If things were to go south, he was prepared to make his debut in the world a little earlier than expected. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately for the S-Rank Hunters, Viola shook her head while saying, "They''re not my friends, but they are technically classified as allies of Japan. Though, that doesn''t make them any less¡­ irritating¡­"

    Cassius''s hidden killing intent eased up as his draconic racial qualities stopped affecting his appearance. Viola had not noticed this occurrence, but if things had gone sideways, he had a Dragon Quasar Beam on standby. The force of that Skill with his current Intelligence and Atomic stat¡ªif converted¡ªwould''ve been enough to wipe this island off the face of the map. And that wouldn''t even have been the full extent of the damage that would''ve ensued¡­

    Just a couple of words from Viola were enough to set in motion a ticking time bomb that could''ve very well permanently altered the topography of the world¡­

    Viola, unaware of the disaster she just prevented from happening, looked ahead and saw several pompous figures teleport onto the scene. A second later and they were already standing right in front of the four people who had just opened up the Dome''s Hatch.

    "Well, well, well, would ya look at what the cat dragged in?" An arrogant feminine voice bled the ears of all who heard it. A powerful aura then erupted from the owner of this voice.

    OOOM!

    Multiple more incredibly strong auras blasted right after the eruption of the first woman''s aura. Altogether, their natural auras were capable of bringing to their knees both of the A++ Rank Hunters that Viola brought with her. They struggled to resist the pressure pushing them into the earth, but no matter how strong their wills were or how frustrated they became, they couldn''t accomplish anything meaningful.

    In the face of absolute power, all resistance was deemed futile.

    This was not the world of fiction. The power of friendship and the power of love meant nothing when faced with unquestionable strength. Anger and will could maybe overcome differences in power, but this difference¡­ it was not one that could be crossed so easily.

    ''More S-Rank Hunters,'' Cassius thought to himself, completely unaffected by the immensely powerful auras trying to bring him to his knees.

    ...

 Chapter 185 - 185: The Prisoners Chains

    The reason why Cassius appeared so unbothered standing before existences said to be at the very apex of the world was the same as why he acted so nonchalant with Viola. In his secret travels around the world, going from Gate to Gate, he had seen many S-Rank Hunters from afar. Of course, some were stronger than he was at the time.

    But these few¡­ they were not part of the "some."

    The female S-Rank Hunter leading the large group of S-Rank Hunters was of Russian origin, the same as the others with her. But when she cocked her head slightly and saw that someone besides Viola was still standing, her pretty face turned a bit ugly. She had never heard of a Japanese S-Rank Hunter with the appearance of the man looking past her group as if none of them even mattered.

    However, if he was so daring as to disregard their existences, then she would have no choice but to teach him a lesson.

    FWIP!

    She crackled with green lightning energy and appeared in front of the cold glare of the exceptionally handsome hooded man. Her anger soared even further when she saw his multi-colored pupils tracking her movements.

    Yet, just as she went to strike out, a filament of starry purple energy appeared in front of her fist.

    "!!!"

    *Whoooosh!!*

    Before the Russian Hunter''s fist could make contact with the solar plexus of the indifferent young man, the starry filament rapidly expanded. It threatened to devour her whole and eternally erase her existence from the world.

    "Tsk!" She clicked her tongue and waved her hand. Out came a wave of green lightning. When the green lightning collided with the spatial filament, an extremely powerful explosion of chaotic energy blasted outward.

    A sphere of destruction was created from this collision. In an instant, it expanded dozens of times its original size. Both Viola and the Russian S-Rank Hunter were pushed back. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They realized simultaneously that their collision of attacks could cause serious damage to the Dome Facility and the island. Thus, they dispersed the energies they had infused.

    While the chaotic energies slowly dissipated, Viola''s icy glare honed in on the angered Russian. "Do not get ahead of yourself, Vera. If you think the truce between our countries or the presence of the Mage Lord is enough for you to do whatever you want, then you are sorely mistaken. Next time you do something like this¡­" A scary look emerged on her normally relaxed face. "I''ll take more than just a part of your dress."

    "What!?" Vera looked down in urgency, only to see a flicker of spatial energy finishing the corrosion of her right arm sleeve. It dispersed at Viola''s behest before it could do any real damage, but just imagining what would have happened if that energy burrowed into her skin was enough to twist Vera''s expression into a mix of fury and fright.

    "...Vera¡­" The other S-Rank Hunters who had come with her sent vicious glares in Viola''s direction, but she seemed to treat them as thin air.

    Upon recalling the horrible rumors surrounding the Space Element, they dared not retaliate.

    Vera''s explosive green aura violently fluctuated as she turned around and stormed off toward the Gate in the distance. "Let''s go!" she irritably ordered.

    The S-Rank Hunters in her group hesitated for a moment while glaring at the Japanese Hunters, but they nonetheless followed the lead of their Party head. Within seconds, they were already stepping into the Peak Purple-rank Gate. But before they fully vanished, Vera''s venomous voice echoed through the Dome''s interior:

    "You know the normal tradition of this Gate, Viola! So let''s have a small competition to see who can kill more Oblivion Titans! My party or your little ragtag group of nobodies!!"

    With that, the Russian Hunter Party¡ªGreen Dragon¡ªventured into the rather special Purple-rank Gate.

    Cassius ignored the Russians from beginning to end, his focus entirely on the Spatial Element still swirling over Viola''s hand. He would definitely find a way to add that Element to his arsenal, even if the System was too stingy to give him a Space-related Skill from Skill Boxes.

    For now, though, he had a question he wanted to ask. "A tradition? What was that¡­ Russian talking about?" He took a moment to recall her very forgettable appearance, yet still forgot her name.

    *Urgh!*

    Blood sprayed from the bright red lips of Vera, the Green Dragon. She keeled over slightly while standing atop the corpse of a massive black-and-white neon-shaded behemoth the size of Manhattan.

    Meanwhile, Viola, who had just heard Cassius''s question, looked into his irresistibly attractive cold eyes and answered, "I didn''t mention it to you previously for the sake of suspense, but this Gate is not like a normal Apocalypse Gate. It was also because of this Gate''s uniqueness that it was not permanently cleared. You see, this Gate¡­ or, rather, the Boss and Mini-Bosses of the Gate, are locked down in chains that cannot be broken¡­"

    The tension in the air between them grew especially dramatic as Cassius sucked in a cold breath of air. "So this Gate and the ''tradition''... Let me guess. S-Rank Hunters from all around the world come to this Gate and make a sport out of hunting the normal mobs that reside within it?"

    Viola''s eyes flashed in surprise. "Yes, that''s a very good guess," she said, not having expected him to figure out the truth so quickly. "Tell me, have you heard of the Icedom Senator''s Prison Gate? The Black-ranked Gate?"

    Cassius nodded.

    "Well, that Gate and this one are similar in how the main contenders of each Gate are tied in chains. In fact, the material that makes up the chains appears to be the same in all cases," Viola explained, her tone dramatic. "It''s unknown what exactly tied them up or for what reason, but what those qualified to know do know is that something out there didn''t want anyone interfering with the ''prisoners'' of any Gate that has similarly bound monsters. Even if the bound monster could theoretically be killed, the chains have a built-in protection feature that prevents the captives from being harmed."

    ...

 Chapter 187 - 187: Top 100 S-Rank Hunters

    All of the illusory blue screens were what Cassius saw in the exact moment he entered the Peak Purple-rank Gate with the graceful Viola. It was fair to say that he showed a disgruntled expression in the very same period of time. The more he read, the more his emotions fluctuated.

    "???" Viola saw his perplexing state and wondered what could possibly be going through his head. ''Is he maybe thinking about me¡­? About forcing me down and dominating me until he''s satisfied!? The vile fiend of a man!!''

    Now it was Cassius''s turn to be confused.

    He looked over and saw the relatively short purple-haired beauty wiggling in place while defensively holding her breasts and body. The way she was behaving was in no way befitting that of a Guild Leader, but he hadn''t met many Guild Leaders so far, thus it was difficult for him to determine that all Guild Leaders weren''t actually as weird as this one.

    ''Perhaps they''re all weirdos¡­ They do say that the most influential figures in the world are eccentric¡­''

    Cassius''s thoughts floated around inside his head until the very moment an ear-deafening whistling sound broke through the sound barrier. Moreover, it did so not once, not tens of times, but tens of thousands of times!

    WABOOOOM!!!

    A mountain in the vicinity exploded outward, sending chunks of rock flying in every direction. Then, with a thundering appearance, a giant silverish blue metal rod shot through the air-born mountain debris and aimed straight for two calm figures.

    The two figures greatly contrasted in appearance and hidden nature, but at the exact moment the metal rod appeared, their demeanors seemed to sync up. They coldly stared at the rod that trumped them in size by a magnitude of hundreds of thousands of times. Viola went to lift her hand, with the Space-element lingering around her. But before she could send the rod to the void, a crisp sword unsheathing sound resounded. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!" She turned her head toward Cassius, but only saw a brief glimpse of a jagged katana the size of a person. Then, when she blinked, the sword had vanished.

    And when her attention was diverted to an agonizing scream echoing out from hundreds of miles away, she was astonished to find the silverish blue rod split into countless chunks. Furthermore, standing on top of a mountain range a good distance away was a colossal humanoid with glowing white lines spiderwebbed around its body. However, above all else, what attracted Viola''s attention the most was the fact that this majestic entity had a line of blood and guts splitting it in half.

    Slowly, both sides of its body tipped off to either side of the mountain range.

    The eventual conclusion was two booming thuds that cracked the distant mountain range. Yet, from this gory tragedy, there emerged a resplendently glowing black and white sphere. This was the Core of an Oblivion Titan.

    While Viola was still finding her voice, Cassius sauntered forward. His wispy Shadow Monarch''s cloak flapped in the wind as he said without turning around, "Let''s go."

    When the Voidling Guild Leader finally came to, a small pout formed on her flawless face. She looked out at the scenery and saw dozens of mountain tops currently in the process of sliding off their bases. She begrudgingly thought, ''He really had the nerve to call himself weak. What a shameless wolf-like man he is!''

    Viola huffed and puffed as she trailed behind the young man whose image kept on becoming more and more mysterious in her mind.

    When they made it to the mountain range and looked up at the massive split-in-half Oblivion Titan corpse, Cassius leapt up and landed on the corpse. After which, he ripped away at the ligaments and such attached to the Magic Shard, or now evolved Core.

    You see, once an A-Rank organism evolved to the S-Rank as a Monster-lineage user, their Magic Shard would achieve 20 points and thus transform into a sphere. This sphere was dubbed the ''Magic Core'' and was worth far more than a Magic Shard.

    On Earth, a Magic Core of the weakest variety could go for hundreds of millions of USD. And with thousands of them going up on the market every single week, the acquisition of Magic Cores became a several trillion-dollar industry.

    Of course, with very few Hunters actually capable of hunting an S-Rank Monster, the Magic Core industry was nowhere near as giant as it could be. Even among S-Rank Hunters, the weaker ones would not be able to hunt and successfully kill a racially superior S-Rank Monster by themselves. Only those within the Top 100 S-Rank Hunter list were strong enough to solo kill S-Rank Monsters.

    Vera, the Russian Hunter from before, was Rank 91 on that list.

    Viola, on the other hand, was Rank 56!

    But even though both of them were incredibly powerful, if they were to go all out against one another, Vera would die 100 times out of 100 times. The difference was insurmountable. And with power levels practically set in stone, Vera would likely forever remain at Rank 91.

    Her time for challenging stronger Hunters to determine her rank was a time long gone; her position unchanging¡­

    ¡ª-------------

    ¡ªFive minutes later¡ª

    ''If I''m Rank 56 among the S-Rank Hunters, then¡­ Then where the hell does this freakish bastard place¡­?''

    What Viola saw before her was something that she had not even heard of the Top 50 S-Rank Hunters accomplishing.

    Sprawled out across thousands of miles of rocky whitish black terrain were dozens of Oblivion Titans, nearly numbering past one hundred. All of them were either dismembered or missing 80% of their bodies, with their unusually colored black and white blood painting the surroundings.

    However, the weirdest had yet to occur, for in the very next moment, all of the blood within the Oblivion Titan corpses started to gravitate upwards. Then, simultaneously, countless gallons of the blackish white blood sailed through the air before colliding with the tiny emotionless figure perched atop a messy Oblivion Titan corpse.

 Chapter 188 - 188: Slaying Oblivion Titans

    *Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh¡ª!!*

    The blackish white blood rapidly disappeared in the same instant it touched Cassius. Within half a second, the rest of the swarming blood vanished from the skies, leaving the Oblivion Titan corpses deprived of blood and a singular man further empowered.

    His Vampire Duke Bloodline rate began to skyrocket!

    [SSS-Rank Vampire Duke Bloodline: 0.09%... 0.7%... 1.6%... 1.8%... 2.2%... 3.5%]

    The Bloodline increment indicator ultimately stopped moving once it reached 3.5%. And along with this cease of movement came a massive wave of strength that powered both the Vampire Duke Bloodline and his personal strength. From his physical prowess to his physical and elemental resistances to his speed and reaction speed¡ªeverything was tremendously improved.

    "!!!" Viola watched in real time as Cassius''s already absurdly powerful presence became even more absurd. ''How can someone possibly become stronger in this manner!? It doesn''t make any sense!''

    She had only noticed it some time ago, when Cassius first revealed what she thought to be his concealed ''aura.'' S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When, in actuality, he had no aura, with what she saw simply being the outward visual representation of his power. This was not the same as the ''aura'' of normal Awakeners.

    But regardless of that point, from the moment she first witnessed his presence, Viola saw that same presence steadily increase. Though, with this most recent Oblivion Titan massacre, she saw his aura spike up by an absurd amount!

    She had no idea what caused this spike, but the blood that smashed into him definitely had a part to play.

    That had to be it!

    But why was any of it still not making any sense¡­?

    How could blood make a set-in-stone Hunter stronger??

    Meanwhile, Cassius''s brows curved up in satisfaction as he glanced at the incoming System Notification while ripping out Magic Cores with his telekinetic abilities.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 97 Oblivion Titans (S-)]

    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [You received 1200 Stat Points in all of your Main Attributes!]

    [Acquired 4000 AP!]

    [You reached Lvl 97!]

    "Lvl 97, huh?" Cassius mused. "That means I''m only 3 levels away from achieving Lvl 100 and meeting the minimum requirement to take the Job Test and receive a Job."

    He had done much idling over the last period of time. From practicing his various Techniques and Skills to combining them to trolling anyone close to him. He had also been actively seeking out and completing Side Quests, Urgent Quests, Daily Quests, and Special Quests, all in hopes of increasing the ''Idle Score'' that would levy the Job he''d receive.

    ''If only I could complete the 3rd and 4th Main Quests soon. I would then be able to obtain the 4th Idle Benefit. The 5th Idle Benefit would also surely not be too far behind,'' Cassius thought while finishing up the Magic Core collection process. ''By that point, I''ll be gaining far more Idle Points than I am right now¡­''

    He knew precisely what he had to do to complete the 3rd Main Quest and would likely receive the rewards within a couple days, but the 4th Main Quest was where things truly became troublesome. Seeing as he had yet to receive the System pop-up informing him of his power level breakthrough into the SS-Rank, he was definitely still lacking when compared to the 72nd through 70th Demon Kings.

    They cared not a single bit that he was technically the 73rd Demon King of HELL. They would be gunning for his throat the very moment he stepped back into that Hellscape.

    And if he didn''t wish to actually enter the ranks of HELL as an undead or ghost, then he had to quickly become stronger than the weakest Demon Kings. After which, he would be required to go on a rampage of sorts through the 1st Floor of HELL, acquire a reputation for himself, and then travel between Dimensions with a Dimensional Hub. At that point, he would probably just repeat the process in the other 5 Dimensions, including Earth.

    Only then would he be able to complete the 4th Main Quest given by the System. This would also be his key to acquiring the 4th Idle Benefit and the opportunity to unlock the Idle Benefits that follow.

    However, before any of that could occur, Cassius had many tribulations that he had to first overcome on his little blue marble in space¡­

    ¡ª-----------

    With several minutes having flown by in the blink of an eye, Cassius and Viola had made their mark all over the Peak Purple-rank Gate. Of course, the former had been doing most of the work, but that didn''t mean that the Voidling Guild Leader didn''t also have her part to play.

    In total, she had personally killed 9 Oblivion Titans, which was even better than Vera and her Party were doing!

    It just wasn''t anywhere near as impressive as the number amassed by the freak currently crouching on one corpse among hundreds¡­

    "He has really single-handedly eradicated the Oblivion Titan population in this Gate¡­" Viola muttered with a great amount of awe.

    She had never experienced something quite like this, and it was making her super¡­ wet¡­

    Every further S-Rank Oblivion Titan that Cassius effortlessly chopped up, the more unhinged Viola''s fantasies became. She would often spontaneously burst down below whenever she looked at his cold eyes. Her imagination led to her usually being pinned down and ravaged by this emotionless beast. He would whisper savage threats into her ears, and she would have no choice but to oblige. After all, he was stronger than she was.

    In the beginning¡ªwhen Viola first witnessed Cassius''s strength¡ªenvy took hold of her mind. She wanted such strength and the ability to become stronger through blood absorption as well.

    Why wasn''t she allowed to have this privilege, too??

    But as the minutes stacked and turned into half an hour, Viola realized that more so than anything, she was just plain f*cking horny! She was hella horny!

    It was like a gawdamn year-round gusher blaster ten thousand down there!! It was insane just how much liquid was building and sprinkling both her clothes and the topography!!

    She might as well have been the incarnation of Gaia with how much she was watering the bleak black and white plants of this cryptic land¡­

 Chapter 189 - 189: The Mage Lord

    "Hehe¡­ Hihi~~"

    "???" Cassius looked over and saw that same goofy expression plastered across the beautiful face of a woman whom one would expect to be prim and proper.

    What expectations received instead was a raging pervert with only one thing on her mind!

    However, putting his intelligence to the test, Cassius made the most optimal decision:

    "I think it''s about time to begin the real fun."

    Conveniently ignore reality and instead focus on the Grind! The Grind above all else, baby!!

    "The real fun¡­?" Viola asked between bated, steamy breaths. She also noticed the approaching auras of a few annoying characters but cared much more about hearing what the big bad wolf had to say.

    Cassius strapped the bubbly Lilith back to the right side of his body after giving her her share of the blood. After which, he turned toward the curious purple-haired beauty and said, "Obviously the real fun means breaking the chains that hold the biggest guys in this place."

    He had said what he did so nonchalantly that it took a moment for Viola to understand what he was implying. But when she did, her eyes widened in surprise. "The biggest guys¡­ You don''t mean!?"

    Cassius smirked. ''System, do what needs to be done.''

    [...]

    [Tsk, fine! I don''t know why you''re so against going to the lovely land of Character Development that is the Nightmarescape, but you do you¡­!]

    [Heaven''s Wrath, here I come!! Welcome me home!!!]

    [>?<]

    [Ahhn~! Do me harder~! Is that all you got~!? Weak!]

    Heaven: "...."

    Following a period of maniacal moaning and laughter, Cassius was able to just barely hear a thundering blast of lightning through his connection with the System. Then, something began to change in the Gate''s atmosphere.

    CRACK¡ª

    Something started to crack. Viola''s face dropped, with the same thing happening to the small group of S-Rank Russian Hunters flying toward them from the distance.

    "This can''t be¡­" Everyone except for Cassius murmured in disbelief, their eyes glued to the sight of six stupidly powerful auras gradually unveiling themselves toward the very ends of every side of the Gate''s interior.

    The Gate from outside also started to violently shake and quake, causing the expressions of the Scientists and Government Officials to drastically change. As they scattered and checked the diagnostic modules, both fear and astonishment settled in, which led to thousands contacting whoever they could.

    Governments all over the world received this devastating news at the same time, and orders were immediately thrown around.

    Dozens of countries moved with post-haste, with them all sending out urgent requests to any S-Rank Hunter they could contact. Yet, this urgency was only further amplified when they heard from the Scientists on the scene that the numbers¡­ the numbers stated that one of the two remaining Apocalypse Gates in the world was less than three hours away from breaking¡­!

    Unlike the other two Apocalypse Gates, both of which were just recently cleared by squads of dozens of S-Rank Hunters, this Apocalypse Gate gave the world barely any time to prepare! And it happened so suddenly!! Why!?

    ''Why?'' was what world leaders and powerful Hunters all across the world asked themselves.

    Why?

    ''Why??'' Viola questioned in genuine terror.

    That was when she recalled what Cassius said just moments before the distinct sound of chains breaking began reverberating. Looking at his relaxed side profile, she thought, ''Was this his doing!? But how??? This Gate is not supposed to be like this!! Just¡­ Just what exactly is this man!???''

    The infamous space user of the Voidling Guild was torn between both utter bewilderment and uncontrollable lust as she didn''t know which one to land on!

    The correct answer was such a difficult one! How was she expected to choose when the options were so terribly hard to choose between! So, so very hard!

    ''He''s not hard, right?'' Viola asked herself while peeking at the area located between Cassius''s legs. Though, when she saw a limp bulge in his pants, the edges of her lips curled up into a cheeky smirk. ''So he is hard~... I had no idea my charms were this effective, hihi~''

    He was, in fact, NOT hard. That was all soft length, baths*t crazy lady!

    However, while Viola momentarily let her thoughts run astray, Cassius had all of his attention focused on the six extremely powerful auras. With each passing second, they became stronger and stronger, especially the one situated in the far north. That aura had already long since surpassed the others and was now verging upon a level that could only be termed as insanity. Yet, it was with each further aura increase that Cassius''s apathetic facade creaked and cracked.

    He was becoming excited!

    He wanted¡­ He wanted to once again experience a real fight!! A blood-pumping, life-threatening battle to the death!!! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª--------------

    The power of an S+++ Rank Monster Boss¡ªit was sufficient enough to strike terror in even the hearts of the strongest Hunters in history.

    With all that having been said, it was not entirely out of expectations that the Russian S-Rank Hunters were sh*tting their breeches right about now. Vera, in particular, wore an expression that made it seem like she had just eaten ten pounds of horse sh*t. The terrible faces of those beside her also worked well to put her anger and fright on display.

    Altogether, they appeared more like the sh*t-eating brigade than one of the highest power level Russian Strike Forces.

    It was also because of their high statuses that when the information of this abrupt Gate occurrence spread around the table, Russian Executives showed the most frustration. It was in this frustrated state of mind that they sent word to the strongest Hunter in Russia.

    He was one of the Top 10 Hunters in the world¡ªRank #9¡ªthe Mage Lord!

    "You say that there''s been a change in the Apocalypse Gate located outside of the Asian countries? What does that have to do with me?"

    A regal, non-comical voice bounced off the velvet-covered walls of a luxurious penthouse that overlooked the capital of Russia, Moscow. The owner of the voice, a Russian man with slicked-back blonde hair and a lean build, tipped up a cup of warm tea he held in his ring-adorned hands.

 Chapter 190 - 190: A Royale Gate

    From the first moment someone rushed into his home and knelt down, the Russian man hadn''t once looked in the kneeling man''s direction.

    The kneeling man, on the other hand, was profusely sweating from head to toe. Merely standing in the presence of the terrifying man calmly sitting before him was enough to turn his legs into jelly. Even now, while trying to speak, he felt compelled to avert his gaze from the Mage Lord''s imperious visage.

    "Do tell me," he commanded, his voice concealing a lethal coldness. "I don''t have all day. Do not waste my time."

    "Y-Yes, Sir Mage Lord!" Finally finding his voice, the kneeling A-Rank Hunter stammered. "The¡­ The President has requested that you personally oversee the closure of Oblivion''s Threshold. You see, even though the President understands that you are preparing yourself for the Raid on World''s End, he¡­"

    "Spit it out already!"

    RUMBLE!!!

    The whole skyscraper and the several city blocks that surrounded it started to violently shake. The Mage Lord''s overwhelming aura pressure forced the kneeling man from one kneeling knee to two. Furthermore, his head was now two inches away from smashing against the opulent wooden floor.

    Not willing to risk his life here, the kneeling A-Rank Hunter stammered, "T-The reason why the President wants you to accept this request is because one of our S-Rank Hunter Party''s¡ªGreen Dragon¡ªis stuck inside the Apocalypse Gate!"

    "Stuck?" The Mage Lord parroted as he finally turned around to face the kneeling Hunter, no longer staring out at the vast sparkling city below. "How are they stuck??"

    Under his burning gaze, the kneeling man replied, "T¡­ The Apocalypse Gate¡­ It has mutated. It has now become a Royale Gate¡­"

    Hearing this news put a deep frown on the Mage Lord''s handsome, rugged facial features. He remained motionless and didn''t say a single word for a whole ten seconds. Then, with a slightly annoyed sigh, he rose from his leather chair and said, "Tell the President that I''ll accept his request. But do remind him who actually runs this country. The least he could do is come¡­ personally."

    Sweating like a pig, the kneeling man smacked his head against the floor and shouted, "I''ll follow your orders, Sir Mage Lord!"

    "Good."

    FWIP!

    With that, the Mage Lord vanished from his spot.

    Along with his departure came the sudden teleportation of the long golden staff that he kept by his desk. It had long, cryptic inscriptions running down its sides and held at the top of it an ostrich egg-sized crimson red crystal. The crystal was locked in place by five diamond dragon heads, all of which passively transferred a ridiculous amount of Magicules from the crystal to the rest of the staff.

    This staff¡ªit had one name¡ªMeteor Fall.

    A powerful S+++ Rank item constructed with the materials gathered from the Apocalypse Gate Raid that put the Mage Lord in the Top 10 nearly a dozen years ago. It was also rumored to be capable of leveling entire nations if the Mage Lord went all out.

    And today¡­ today, he might just need to use it again.

    ¡ª---------------

    ¡ªMeanwhile, within the Royale Peak Purple-rank Gate ''Oblivion''s Threshold''¡ª

    "What do we do!? What do we do!?? What in the hell do we do!?!?" Vera, freaking the hell out, started to violently thrash at the crackling red barrier that now barred anyone from leaving.

    Unless the Gate gets permanently closed, no one would ever again be returning home.

    Though, to be fair, it wasn''t like anyone had much of a survival chance if they couldn''t clear the Gate, anyway. After all, the six entities that were just freed from captivity were not looking all too happy right about now¡­

    One would think that eternally trapped prisoners would be pleased beyond belief once the chains finally came off, but nope. These prisoners had long since lost their minds and now only sought to reap the lives of any who entered their line of sight. Which, at this moment, just so happened to be the tasty-looking S-Rank auras frightfully fluctuating on the other side of the Gate.

    Now, as things stand, Viola and the rest have roughly ten microseconds to ready themselves before their sh*t gets rocked¡­

    As this was occurring, Cassius saw several flashing red screens appear in front of him, prompting him to leisurely look over them. The maniacal battle-crazed smirk not once left his extraordinarily handsome face, not even while he readied multiple Skills and read the System pop-ups.

    *Ding!!!* S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [The Peak Purple-rank Gate ''Oblivion''s Threshold'' has mutated! The Prison Dimension has locked down according to preset protocols!]

    [The only way to leave the mutated ''Royale Gate'' is to erase the existence of every single prisoner eternally trapped here!]

    Cassius''s brows briefly furrowed before they tightened together. The once distant presences were now not so distant, and unless he wanted to end up splattered against whatever was behind him, he had to lock in.

    Doing just that, his eyes crackled with blood-red lightning. A jagged demonic six-foot-long katana materialized and slid into his right hand, unleashing a level of bloodthirsty killing intent that caused the surrounding S-Rank figures to snap their heads in his direction.

    Though, when they saw who it was, Vera''s face further twisted in anger.

    "It''s just that useless man without any aura! He can''t even fly, which is why he''s dumbly standing on that mountain! What an idiot!! Viola, you should come get your pet¡ª"

    In the same moment the short-tempered Russian woman went off on Cassius, he blurred from his spot and turned into a hyper-accelerated beam of shadowy light. Before Viola, Vera, and the others even had the time to properly react, his figure had already crossed insurmountable distances! All in an instant!

    Somewhere along the way, he crossed paths with five absurdly large blackish white Oblivion Titans with spiky crowns on their heads. He also saw the far bigger Oblivion Acolyte, who no longer moved through the use of its city-sized legs. It instead made use of a floating Skill that bent its legs up at a 90¡ã angle.

    The Oblivion monster itself had both its eyes as well as its hidden third eye closed. Moreover, it had levitating above its head a glowing black halo that oozed a storm of savage killing intent¡­

 Chapter 191 - 191: The Oblivion Acolytes Anticlimactic Demise

    {[Oblivion Acolyte (S+++ Rank)]} - [Threat Rating: High Red]

    [Oblivion Titan Lord (S+ Rank)] - [Threat Rating: High Yellow] x 5

    Cassius passed right by every single one of these monstrous entities. Without looking back until the very moment he made his move, his body blurred beyond belief. Then, with a razor-sharp heel turn, he swiveled around and produced shockwaves in his wake as he shot toward the Oblivion Titan Lord furthest from the Oblivion Acolyte. Just the shockwaves produced from his sudden movements were enough to vaporize surrounding mountains, yet they merely acted as a prelude to what would happen next¡ª

    "!!!"

    In that exact moment, something unexpected occurred. A loud whirring sound bled his ears, then an eruption of black light flashed from above the Oblivion Acolyte''s black halo!

    ''I can''t dodge! Shi¡ª''

    WHAZZOOOOOM¡ª!!!

    The black light transformed into a wide-area attack that melted countless mountain ranges in the blink of an eye. The entire map''s topography was altered, and even from an untold distance away, Viola, Vera, and the other S-Rank Hunters were able to make out the catastrophic damage done to the seemingly endless plot of land around them. Black, crackling smoke rose from wherever the halo''s black light hit, creating a spectacle that made the S-Rank Hunters'' hearts sink into their chests.

    They had never seen anything at this level of destruction¡­ It was insane¡­

    "Is he okay!?" Viola blurted out while scanning as far out as she could with her Magic Sense. Even though it was unable to reach the Oblivion Titans, it still should''ve been possible to perceive the existence of a certain lifeform.

    However¡­

    "Where is he??? Why can''t I feel his presence anywhere!?" Viola''s expression emulated her distress. She kept on searching, but no matter where she looked, Cassius was nowhere to be found.

    Only billowing clouds of crackling lightning and the six terrifyingly powerful entities remained¡­

    At least, that was until¡ª

    BZIP!

    Like a dot of ink appearing on a scrapped piece of paper, Cassius''s vaporized body reformed itself from nothing. Phoenix feathers fluttered around his rapidly restoring figure as he turned his mangled face up toward the towering existence.

    That existence stared down at him with its closed eyes, seemingly calculating how the tiny human had survived.

    A slit situated just between the two closed eyes of the Oblivion Acolyte suddenly shot open, and a dazzling vortex of black-and-white chaotic elements appeared. Those elements took on the shape of a spiraling abyss. From within that abyss emerged a pupil that embodied the concept of destruction¡ªor rather, of¡­ Oblivion.

    *Ding!*

    [You have died 31 times today! You can only die twice more before you enter the territory of PERMANENT DEATH.]

    [The System will not assist you if it really comes down to it, as the System''s authority is severely limited in this avenue. And considering that you still need to die hundreds more times before you can upgrade the Supreme Nirvana Rebirth Skill to its next evolutionary phase, the System suggests that you¡­ try not to die.]

    "That was indeed the plan¡­" Cassius exasperatingly muttered before refocusing on the colossal entity currently in the process of charging an attack that he had no idea if he could handle or not. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Without thinking any more about useless stuff, he vanished from his spot, summoned Lilith, and then slashed out at the floating Oblivion Acolyte. The Boss Monster indifferently blasted another wave of black light, with potency just as devastating as before. However, when the figure it shot at turned out to be nothing more than an afterimage, its cryptic third eye darted all over the place.

    When the Oblivion Acolyte''s third eye finally settled on a moving object, the black halo above its head shot out another black wave beam attack. Another few hundred miles of land were eviscerated, yet the human had still not died. He evaded both attacks, with his speed seemingly becoming faster and faster.

    The Newbie 8 Equipment Set¡ªwhich weighed as much as several cities¡ªhad just come off.

    Now, Cassius''s speed was sitting at a level so high that he had no clue just how fast he could go if he held nothing back. With each passing microsecond, his speed gradually increased as more of its untapped potential was utilized.

    *Whoooop¡ª!!!*

    Cassius blurred around the Oblivion Acolyte so quickly that the indifferent behemoth wasn''t even able to understand that all five of its Oblivion Titan Lords had already died. In fact, it was still in the process of comprehending this while he was lapping the Gate''s interior space with a trail of blackish-white blood following behind him.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 5 Oblivion Titan Lords (S+ Rank)]

    [Your Experience Bar tremendously moved!]

    [You and your Growth Weapon ''Lilith'' have absorbed the Blood of all 5 of the Oblivion Titan Lords!]

    [(SSS-Rank) Vampire Duke Bloodline: 4.2%... 4.8%... 6.5%... 7%.]

    [Devil Blade ''Lilith'' has advanced from the S+ Rank to the S++ Rank, achieving the second-to-last stage of the S-Rank.]

    [- Attack +312 -]

    WAAA!

    As his and his Growth Weapon''s power exponentially improved, Cassius flashed forward multiple times faster than he was just moving. From a few dozen times the speed of light to just over one hundred times the speed of light¡ªhis speed was only increasing with each passing moment.

    ''Let''s see what comes out on top in the end: your destruction or my speed!'' Cassius maniacally grinned as he phased through speed barrier after speed barrier.

    He had become so fast that even the concept of speed was beginning to lag behind the rate at which he accelerated! And yet he was only becoming ever faster!!

    SHING!

    One sword slash, a hundred thousand flashed.

    The Oblivion Acolyte registered the uncountable number of attacks that had just made contact with its body. But by that point, Cassius had already vanished to a place thousands of miles away.

    He flashed back while the Oblivion Acolyte was still comprehending what had just happened. He slashed out again, and another hundred thousand slashes collided with the Boss Monster''s unbelievably tough outer armor.

    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

    Lilith bounced back an astronomical number of times in an instant, almost as if she had repeatedly hacked at something too tough to penetrate.

    ''The armor¡­ It''s so hard¡­''

    There were no apparent weak points he could take advantage of, as every part of the monster''s body was covered in this same seemingly indestructible armor. Even the head and lower extremities were no exception.

    ''That leaves only its eyes¡ª''

    ...

 Chapter 192 - 192: Iâ€¦ AMâ€¦ ATOMIC! Iâ€¦ AMâ€¦ OMEGA!!! I AMâ€¦.!!!!!

    ''That leaves only its eyes¡ª''

    In the same instant this thought formed in Cassius''s mind, the black halo sitting above the Oblivion Acolyte''s head started to erratically sputter. Then, with several black light eruptions many times stronger than before, everything in every direction around the monster was lit up by a machine gun-like spray of destruction.

    BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

    KRAKA-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

    BA-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

    WHOOOOOSH¡ª!!

    When the rolling waves of endlessly high black lightning clouds dissipated, Viola and the others were only now able to open their eyes and view the horrifying scene before them.

    For thousands of miles in a circular direction around the Oblivion Acolyte, everything¡­ literally everything had been erased. The unusual landscape, the wild foreign organisms, even the very air itself¡ªall of it had been replaced by a whiteness that held nothing beyond it. In that circle surrounding the floating Boss Monster, the edges of the Dimension had been reached.

    Those edges were just¡­ white.

    If all of the Gate''s interior had been erased as well, then the scene would be no different, just shown on a higher scale.

    "This¡­" Viola, struggling to even so much as stand up right now, stared out at the circular whiteness with her mouth agape. From this far away, the enormous Oblivion Acolyte looked like a tiny blackish speck in the middle of a vast field of white.

    Cassius, on the other hand, was once again nowhere to be found¡­

    ''Will his presence reappear in the same way as before¡ª''

    Before Viola could even finish that thought, Cassius''s once voided aura resurfaced from the emptiness of nothingness. Both she and the six or so S-Rank Hunters standing beside her could do nothing but gawk and exclaim in surprise as they watched the impossible occur.

    "T¡­ This Japanese Hunter of yours¡­ Just what in the hell is he!?" No longer able to keep quiet anymore, Vera swiveled her head toward the shocked purple-haired woman. "How can someone like him possibly exist!? The power that the Boss Monster just unleashed¡ªit should''ve killed him on the spot!! And it did!! So how!?? How is he back alive again!???"

    "...I¡­ I don''t know," Viola answered with a tone that emulated just how confused she was.

    She had never been so taken aback in her entire life! What the hell was going on!?

    Who¡­ Just who was Cassius Steele, really!??

    "I AM SPEED!"

    ZOOOOOM¡ª!!!

    The very instant Cassius experienced complete rebirth was also the same instant he ramped up his speed even more than before!! All of his AP¡ªhe would dump it all into his Agility stat!!

    All or Nothing!!!

    [Agility +70]

    [Agility +150]

    [Agility +130]

    [Agility +890]

    [Agility +1800]

    [Agility +4000]

    [Agility +8000]

    All or F*cking Nothing!!!

    For the first time since Cassius acquired the Idle Evolution System, he used up absolutely every point of AP that he had! This time, he was truly going all in!!

    Newbie Equipment 8 Set off, all in on Agility, and even an Evomon Fusion with Nyxvoldar! Sh*t was going down, and he would be both the Architect, the Builder, and the Maker of his own unhinged actions!!

    Cassius''s battle-crazed smirk widened to both of his ears as he leaned downward before bursting forward so quickly that mountains and jungles thousands of miles away were blown to the high heavens. He became the embodiment of speed itself, with his rate of acceleration already at thousands of times the speed of light!

    ZING! ZING! ZING!

    Dragon Quasar Beams were launched in repeated succession, with the subsequent energy emissions becoming so volatile that they clashed with each other. Ridiculously sharp crimson sword slashes followed right behind, further adding to the symphony of powerful attacks fusing and separating from one another in absurd fashion.

    This scene not only happened in one direction of the Oblivion Acolyte but in every single direction.

    The Boss Monster was surrounded, with a limitless number of attacks obscuring its vision. Radiantly flashing streaks of red and purple blinded the monster just enough for Cassius to slip past its third eye and appear above its head. However, even through the innumerable attacks barring the view of the outside world from the Oblivion Acolyte, its third eye¡ªthe S+++ ''Oblivion Eye''¡ªworked in ways beyond human understanding. And the moment this swirling eye locked onto Cassius''s new location, it instantaneously reacted and burst-fired dozens of ''Oblivion Beams'' at him.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOOM!!!

    An ear-deafening explosion with residual effects that reached even Viola tore through the sound bubble that encapsulated them all. Yet, from the very epicenter of that dreadful explosion, a bloodied grin curved upward.

    All 33 of his lives had been used up.

    But he was simply too fast¡­

    He was so fast that even permanent death had to race him in order to hook him!

    He was so fast that even while the Oblivion Acolyte flashed its Ultimate Attack, ''Third Eye Oblivion World Render,'' his lips soundlessly moved. With each word that left his mouth, the prerequisite to an attack that could very well bring about the end of the world reverberated through both time and space.

    "I¡­ AM¡­ ATOMIC! I¡­ AM¡­ OMEGA!!! I AM¡­.!!!!!"

    Yet, just as purple, white, and crimson runic lines appeared in quantities too vast to count, and just as the final word to the sequence was to be spoken, Cassius''s crazed bloody eyes darted toward an eerie figure hiding in the folds of space.

    "Found¡ªYou."

    "!!!!"

    At that very same moment, the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend''s detached facade drastically changed. It reacted near-instantaneously and fled far, far away!!

    But not far enough¡­

    While the Alien ran and the Oblivion Acolyte erupted with its most powerful Ultimate Attack, a single word¡ªjust that single word¡ªits pronunciation altered the very fabric of reality inside the Gate.

    Everywhere, no matter where it was within the Gate¡ªall of it was unable to escape what that final word represented.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The expressions of Viola, Vera, and the other S-Rank Hunters drastically changed as a scarlet purple light flashed in their eyes. Their pupils¡ªthey failed to fully reflect the calamitous scene before them. It was¡­ It was¡­ Apocalyptic.

    "I AM THE¡ª"

    "END¡ª"

    Silence.

    They say that the worst moments of a storm happen in the silence. They say this because quietness gives one the falsehood that something is peaceful. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Then, when you least expect it¡­

    "Boom."

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 193 - 193: A Gate...Exploded...?

    "Boom. That was all I heard come from the mutated Gate when I arrived."

    Reports similar to the one above were given to the Leaders of Countries all over the world.

    Shortly after, seven figures emerged from the Apocalypse Gate known as Oblivion''s Threshold. Six of them were Russian S-Rank Hunters, whereas the last one was an S-Rank Hunter from Japan¡ªan enchanting violet-haired woman ranked in the Top 60 among S-Rank Hunters.

    There was¡­ no one else. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And after inquiring from the S-Rank Hunters who escaped the now-collapsed Gate, the World Leaders all received the exact same answer.

    "First, there was a flash of light. Then, silence. Following the silence, there was whiteness, like a blank piece of paper. The Oblivion Acolyte was no more. The Oblivion Titan Lords were no more. The Oblivion Titans were no more."

    After reiterating what he had just heard from those who arrived earlier than he did, the Mage Lord''s expression turned unreadable. Those around him¡ªall coming from different regions of the world¡ªbecame nervous just standing in his presence. Yet, none of them dared to even so much as breathe without his permission.

    Even if they were S-Rank Hunters as well, none of them wished to get on the bad side of one of the Top 10. All of whom were Calamity-level Hunters said to be capable of destroying the world if left uninhibited.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Mage Lord spoke up again, saying, "This event¡­ Are you sure there was no one else involved? None of the other World-class Hunters?"

    This was also what the Hunters in the Top 10 were termed. World-class. This was both a fermentation of their high statuses and a¡­ warning. A warning to the World Leaders that jointly governed them.

    In a way, World-class Hunters lived exempt from the rules of the world. And they managed their actions through each other. They kept each other in check, making sure that no other got ahead of themselves.

    As for the World-class Hunter Mage Lord''s question, one of the S-Rank Hunters who arrived from Thailand replied, "Sir Mage Lord, all the reports match. There was no one else present inside the Gate. Even the workers and government officials on the island said the exact same thing. The only ones to have entered Oblivion''s Threshold in the last hour were Viola Voidweaver, Vera Stromboli, and the five S-Rank Russian Hunters part of her ''Green Dragon'' Hunter Party."

    The Mage Lord deeply looked at the Thailand S-Rank Hunter. His stare caused the Thailand Hunter to uncontrollably shiver. Luckily, after a couple of seconds of this, the World-class Hunter turned away from him and said, "Very well, then. I''ll just have to verify this information for myself."

    Planning to do just that, he conjured an extremely bright tunnel of blue light that phased him up and into an unknown space. When he reappeared using the same method, he found himself standing before Vera and the other Russian S-Rank Hunters.

    When they saw him appear, their complexions lost a lot of their color. Their eyes also became shaky, not because they had anything to hide, but simply because the Mage Lord was just that damn scary.

    To Russians, the Mage Lord was both a universal icon and an existence one was supposed to revere. Even if you were lucky enough to awaken as an S-Rank Hunter, just one word from him was enough to determine your fate,

    If at all possible, they had hoped to have little to no interaction with the monster that was the Mage Lord.

    And yet here they were¡­ jumping into the maw of the beast¡­

    "Sir Mage Lord, I¡ª"

    "Quiet, Vera." The Mage Lord calmly ordered, yet his calmness told far more of his terrifying nature than anger ever could have.

    Vera immediately shut her trap. She tilted her head down and stared at the rubble beneath her. Rubble that had appeared when, for the first time in history, a Gate¡­ exploded.

    The Mage Lord''s petrifying stare flipped between all S-Rank Hunters of the Green Dragon Hunter Party. Then, with a cold, non-negotiable voice, he demanded the truth from them.

    The answer he received was the exact same as the one reported to him¡­ Not a single discrepancy¡­

    ''They wouldn''t dare lie to me, so what actually happened here? How could a mutated Apocalypse Gate just explode¡­? Viola Voidweaver; perhaps she knows something.''

    However, just as this thought passed his mind, the Mage Lord recalled a particular Japanese man who had imprinted himself in his memories.

    ''You all are the Top 10 strongest Hunters in the world, the best of the best,'' the figure said to a group of ten varying-sized shadows centered around a moonlit table. ''Do not waste what the universe has given to you. Do not mess with Japan. If you do¡­ I don''t care how powerful you believe you are. You''re all the same in my eyes¡ªfrom the weakest of F-Rank Hunters to the strongest of S-Rank Hunters. Remember what I''ve told you here today. If you ever happen to forget, then do keep in mind that the world beyond this life of yours does not discriminate.''

    The laid-back words of that man still rang vividly in the back of the Mage Lord''s mind. Yet, even though his disposition was nonchalant, the Mage Lord could tell by those striking blue eyes that the man who stood above them all was completely serious.

    "I guess the matter ends here today," the Mage Lord coldly snorted before walking away from the Green Dragon Hunter Party. "Return to Russia at once and spend the next three months at your homes, away from the nosy press."

    Vera and the others nodded with large beads of sweat running down their faces. After which, they waited a few seconds following the Mage Lord''s departure to leave as well.

    Viola, who was sitting a few dozen meters away, saw everything go down. And beside her, hiding between the folds of reality just like the Alien had done, was a shadowy cloaked man with a deadly gleam in his eyes.

    He held within his hands the mysterious amulet-like device that had somehow survived the use of his one-time Trump Card Skill.

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 194 - 194: The Aliens Amulet Device

    This amulet device came from the remains of the Alien, collected by Cassius not long after he brought about the END of the Oblivion''s Threshold Gate. During the time before everything ended, he also just barely managed to teleport everyone out and absorb part of the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend''s memories. He couldn''t get all of its memories, and there was likely no way he could have. If not for his quick thinking and acting, the Alien would''ve certainly escaped, and everything would''ve been for nothing. Instead of getting partial memories, he would have gotten no memories.

    From the very first moment Cassius heard the name of the Gate Viola would be bringing him to, he had been devising and revising a way to eliminate the thing that had been stalking him. He had his suspicions of the stalker''s intergalactic origins, but it wasn''t until his senses were heightened with the use of his Trump Card that he confirmed them. In that moment, he knew the plan he concocted was all worth it in the end.

    The loot he gained from slaying the Oblivion Acolyte was just a bonus in his mind. There were also the rewards given to him for completing the Side Quest, which were, again, just more bonuses.

    What he was after¡ªwhat he had been gunning for since the very start¡ªwere the memories of the Alien. Memories that he successfully extracted with the assistance of a Mid-Ruby Rank Skill called ''Mind Dig''. Though, that wasn''t the only Skill that had a part to play in this operation, as the Peak-Ruby Rank Skill ''Mass Indoctrination'' also did wonders in truly making everything come together as it had.

    However, although the latter Skill was used on all of the S-Rank Russian Hunters immediately after teleporting them out, it was not used on¡­

    "So, are you going to tell me what really happened in there, ''Weak'' hooded man? Is Cassius even your real name?"

    ''Viola¡­'' Cassius thought to himself as he sighed and left the folds of reality. The coast was clear, so there was no point in further concealing himself.

    After sitting down on the large chunk of rubble leaning against Viola''s rubble chunk, he corrected his shadowy hood and spoke without looking in her direction. "I have no clue what you''re talking about, Ms. Viola. Do you think I''m some CIA agent or something? The name you know me by is my real name. And why are you asking about what happened in there when you were there as well? You tell me: What happened in there?"

    Viola''s lips moved, but no words came out.

    Ultimately, she just harrumphed and crossed her slender arms under her not-so-slender bosom. "You really are such an infuriating man. Don''t you know that secretive men aren''t popular with the ladies? One might think you''re a serial killer!"

    Cassius''s brows raised. "A serial killer, huh? I¡­ I have much, much to learn if I am to play the killing game professionally. Much to learn, indeed¡­"

    After imbibing the memories of the Alien he slaughtered, he understood what it truly meant to be a killer.

    That race¡ªthe Dissonants¡ªthey were killers on a level that he was many years away from hoping to match. Entire planets and solar systems had fallen to the tyranny of the Dissonants. Billions upon billions of lives had been tallied up by them.

    However, those same Dissonants now found themselves invading Earth¡ªinvading the Ascension Tower.

    The acquired memories from there onward were incomplete, but what Cassius was able to make out were two strings of distorted dialogue. The first string spoke of how ''Earth'' and the ''Ascension Tower'' were not what they seemed and something about an ''Illusion'' or ''Delusion''¡ªit was something like that.

    And then there was the second string of distorted dialogue. This one spoke not of the setting but of a search¡­ The Dissonants were searching for something. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And he¡­ he was the key to their search.

    As for how precisely he was connected with the search, Cassius had no idea. He only knew that this Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend was not the only one tasked with keeping an eye on him. This surely meant that there would be more popping up in the future¡­ and they might even be stronger than he was.

    If Cassius wished to retain his peaceful life on Earth without some foreign big-headed martians getting in the way, then he had to do what he did best.

    Train. Train and grind.

    Coincidentally, the Idle Evolution System had something to guide him to this end.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain the Oblivion Acolyte Boss Monster (S+++ Rank)]

    [Your Experience Bar moved by leaps and bounds!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 2000 Stat Points!]

    [Acquired 6000 AP!]

    Then came the Quest completion rewards¡­

    {[Side Quest Number¡­ Something or another!]} - [Oblivion''s Threshold Clearer] - [S+++ Rank]

    GOAL 1: [Eradicate all of the Oblivion Titans in the Gate] - [?]

    GOAL 2: [Kill all Five Oblivion Titan Lord Minibosses] - [5/5] - [?]

    GOAL 3: [Slay the Oblivion Acolyte] - [1/1] - [?]

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [Attempting to clear this Quest will require the Host to abuse the authority of the System and temporarily unchain the Mini Bosses and Boss, which will summon Heaven''s Wrath!] - [After note: You really made me, the poor damsel, do it¡­ You Fiend¡­!]

    [Of course, your beloved System will take on the full brunt of Heaven! Ahhn~! But, nonetheless, it would be most advisable for the Host to forfeit the Side Quest and most graciously accept the punishment! (It''s a good one!)] - [Scratch all this! I never said a single lick of any of this nonsense! For the sake of my mental health recovery from all this defamatory material, how would you feel about adding 40 hours to today''s required amount in the Nightmarescape!?]

    [Shake head for yes, and nod head for no.]

    [Anyway, here are the Rewards¡­ Tsk¡­ Tsk again. And another Tsk! Important things must be said thrice!]

    REWARD 1: [20 Large-sized Heaps of EXP] - [Y/N]

    REWARD 2: [The immense respect and awe of the powerful S-Rank Hunter ''Viola Voidweaver,'' I.e., Hottie Mick Hotterson, awooga, awooga~!] - [Y/N]

    ...¡­..

 Chapter 195 - 195: {[(SSS-Rank) VoidWarper Skill Set (1st Part)]}

    {[Quest Continuation Rewards]}

    REWARD 3: [1st Part of the SSS-Rank ''VoidWarper Skill Set''] - [Y/N]

    REWARD 4: [Why do you need more rewards than that¡­!? Getting to live should be more than good enough for you, you lazy bum! Be grateful for what your beloved System offers you!] - [Y/N]

    Cassius accepted all of the rewards with a twitching face, then watched his once-barren experience bar get filled to the brim in green, gooey, goodness!

    Then, it arrived.

    Another Level-up!

    *Ding!*

    [You leveled up!]

    [All of your Main Attributes have increased by 2500 Stat Points!]

    [Acquired 8000 AP!]

    Following this level-up to 99 came the acquisition of a new Skill Set that he would have to add to his already hectic training regime:

    [Acquired ''SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set'']

    BING!

    A purplish book with a pitch-black sphere in the middle silently appeared in Cassius''s hands. While the pouty yet oddly excited purple-haired beauty was distracted, he quickly flipped through the book''s pages and memorized everything within an instant.

    Thinking she heard something, Viola looked over.

    However, after seeing nothing of interest and once again viewing that irritatingly handsome face of his, she returned to brooding. She was just waiting for the government officials and country messengers to finish up whatever they were doing, then she would get out of here and away from that man as fast as she could!

    That was what the illustrious Guild Leader told herself to stop her ushy, gushy, perverted side from overshadowing her quiet, elegant side¡­

    It was a tough struggle. Both her mind and body were battling for dominance¡­

    Cassius, oblivious to her internal turmoil, closed his eyes and perused the Skill details that had been transmitted directly to his mind.

    {[(SSS-Rank) VoidWarper Skill Set (1st Part)]}

    ¡ª[Thousands of years ago, prior to the dawn of modern civilization, a Void Master famed throughout the Ascension Tower of Humanity fell in battle against an Ancient Time User. When the Void Master died, her belongings were scattered throughout the Ascension Tower. One such belonging was the Spatial Manual that she wrote in her earlier years¡ªthe VoidWarper Manual.]

    ¡ª[The full VoidWarper Skill Set was split into 3 parts. Only when one obtained all three parts could they unlock the utmost potential that the VoidWarper Skills had to offer.]

    ¡ª[1st and 2nd VoidWarper Skills are available in the 1st Part of the Skill Set.]

    ¡ª[Skill 1: ''Teleport'' - (Instantaneous movement ability with a base movement range of ''1 Meter'')]

    ¡ª[Skill 2: ''Void Port'' - (Instantaneous movement ability that conjures a spatial portal that transports items through the void and out a separate spatial portal. Base transportation range of ''1 Meter'')]

    WHOOOSH!

    Cassius learned both Skills inside his mind and immediately saw two S+++ Rank Skills appear in his Skill list. Both started at the Practiced Proficiency Level, with the potential limit for them being extremely exceptional.

    Testing the Skills right away, he used ''Teleport'' and vanished from his spot on the rubble chunk to the other side of Viola''s rubble chunk. She looked at him in shock, but he was too absorbed in these new Skills to notice. That was especially the case when he saw System pop-ups appear:

    *Ding!*

    [Increased proficiency of |S+++ Rank ''Teleport''| to 0.08%]

    |¡ªSkill Sets and Various Cases¡ª|

    When the Skill ''Teleport'' reaches 100%, it will advance the Skill Set itself to the next proficiency stage of ''Accomplished.'' After which, another proficiency indicator will appear, and the process will repeat. It was the same way for the Demon King Integration Art, the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, and any other Techniques Cassius was currently improving the proficiency of.

    One thing to note was that the Skill increasing in proficiency would cap at 100% if there was no special case like the ''VoidWarper Skill Set,'' which was a Skill Set, and thus a Technique. For regular standalone Skills, this meant that one should attempt to rank up the Skill after it reaches 100% proficiency. For Skill Sets, on the other hand, the Skill''s rank was set in stone, unable to be advanced by typical methods. But with improvements in Skill Set proficiency, the Skills within the set would become better. This could be seen as indirect Skill advancements. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª-------------

    A few seconds passed, and Cassius had already teleported back and forth between his rubble chunk and Viola''s more than a thousand times.

    His absurdly high MP amount was barely affected, with such short-distance teleports expending close to none of it. Though, it was from such minuscule expenditures that his VoidWarper Skill Set rocketed up the proficiency gauge and achieved the Accomplished stage. Moreover, it was even ascending the Accomplished stage at a rapid rate, with it already breaking past 10%!

    What Cassius was doing could be considered as cheating, but did any of that really matter?

    Life was not fair. Why should he play the same way as everyone else?

    FWIP!

    1 Meter ¡ú 3 Meters.

    That was how much the Teleport and Void Port Skills had improved. The most incredible thing was that the latter Skill¡ªone that Cassius had yet to even use¡ªwas improving without him actually having to do anything!

    This method of Skill proficiency advancement was simply too OP!

    ''...Just how,'' Viola muttered inside her mind. ''I don''t understand how someone like him can exist! How is he using the Void and Space Elements!? I definitely didn''t feel a single ounce of either Element in him a few seconds ago, and yet now¡­''

    The Voidling Guild Leader was stunned beyond belief. She was unable to comprehend how someone with no affinity in either Element was all of a sudden able to perfectly use them! Furthermore, from the spatial readings she was seeing, his Space and Void Elements were somehow increasing in proficiency!

    How was any of that possible!? Common sense would tell her that it wasn''t! It shouldn''t have been!!

    And yet it was¡­

    ''This man¡­ He''s so mysterious¡­'' A scarlet blush formed on her pretty face. ''I wonder if the way he moves his hands is this mysterious as well¡­ Hihi~...''

    ...

 Chapter 196 - 196: Of course Im not Human!

    For a moment there, Viola Voidweaver actually held a modicum of seriousness within her. But all it took was a single dirty thought for her to once again return to envisioning a scandalous scenario that could only be read about in a Female Lead dark romance novel.

    Viola was¡­ she was too far gone¡­

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Cassius, conveniently ignoring the unusually giggling purple-haired woman, kept on teleporting. He also switched things up and used the Void Port Skill, which allowed him to throw Lilith into a spatial portal and catch her on the other side of the spatial tunnel. Using the Skills in this manner, he was able to spam both Skills simultaneously.

    However, after half a minute of doing this, Cassius''s MP bar finally reached a point where he didn''t want to risk losing any more. He stopped his discrete teleporting show and settled down less than a few inches away from Viola. Zoning out her weirdness, he glanced at the incoming System Notifications.

    *Ding~!*

    [Increased proficiency of |(S+++) Teleport| Skill to 43.5% of Minor Completion!]

    [|SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set| increased to 43.5% of the Minor Completion proficiency stage!]

    A small smile emerged on Cassius''s stoic face as he felt satisfied with his progress so far. With what he had, the Teleport and Void Port Skills were effective for a movement range of up to 15 meters, which was vastly superior to what it was a few minutes ago.

    Viola also noticed this visible improvement to his Space and Void Elements, prompting her to ask, "Are you¡­ sure that you''re a human¡­?"

    Cassius looked at her weirdly, before a sinister smirk appeared. "Am I human? Of course I''m not human¡­ I''m an Extraterrestrial!"

    "!!!" Fear drained all the color from Viola''s face as she leaned back in fright.

    A small chuckle echoed.

    That was when Viola realized that he was just kidding. Her cheeks filled with air as she lightly punched him in the arm. "You''re just a jerk. A big jerk!"

    Cassius''s smirk raised in amusement. "A big jerk, huh? I seem to get that title a lot¡­"

    Viola returned to staring at his side profile, with her brows furrowing a bit in annoyance. ''Why would guys call him something like that? Must be other girls¡­'' She clicked her tongue with a peeved expression before bluntly asking, "Are you single, Cassius?"

    "???" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I see that you have already gone past using ''Sir,''" said Cassius. "But yeah, apparently I''m not as much of a catch as I thought I was."

    He shrugged while thinking, ''Well¡­ my Alpha Sigma loner phase is mostly due to that bastard''s blue balling¡­''

    *Ding!*

    ''Oh no¡­''

    [You called? (??> ????)]

    ''No¡­''

    [Too bad! I just wish to inform you that your suffering is all a part of further Character Development! Everything I, the System, does, is for a purpose!]

    ''Whatever you say, you sadistic bastard¡­''

    Cassius''s conversation with the Idle Evolution System ended there, but a different conversation was resumed when Viola heard his answer. She nudged his shoulder with her shoulder, asking, "Are you not interested in a relationship? I would assume by now¡ªwith your interesting personality and handsome appearance¡ªthat you would be taken."

    Cassius pondered her question, eventually answering, "There are just¡­ some things I have to do first¡­" ''The 9 Idle Benefits¡­''

    He only hoped he didn''t lose all of his emotions before he tread far enough along the Idle Evolution Storyline to unlock all of the Idle Benefits.

    "Focusing on yourself?" Viola murmured with a curious glint shining in her mesmerizing eyes. "I can understand that¡­ But have you any plans for a future with a woman? With a family? With¡­ kids?"

    Cassius locked eyes with the enchanting Voidling Guild Leader. The hectic atmosphere that surrounded them added to the moment.

    People wearing various uniforms ran around, inspecting and jotting down everything they could see from the aftermath of the world''s first Gate explosion. There were even reporters from all around the world present. Yet not a single one of them seemed to be focused on the otherworldly beautiful pair inconspicuously sitting in the back.

    "Family¡­" Cassius muttered as he turned his face away from Viola''s all-too-close face. "I don''t think that is something in the books for me."

    The Voidling Guild Leader unblinkingly stared at him. It was unknown what she was thinking about, but after a couple of seconds, she looked ahead, same as him. "I''ve thought about having a family before. It''s a nice thought. A really nice thought¡­ But unfortunately, such a thing just wasn''t in the cards for me¡­"

    Cassius could sense something more to her words but decided not to delve further.

    However, unexpectedly, she shifted her gaze back to him and said, "You see¡­ as one of the only Space users in the world, and the strongest one at that, I awakened with a high affinity to the Space Element. I also happened to have a high affinity with the Void Element, which was even rarer than the Space Element."

    Cassius waited for her to get to the cusp of her story, which she did after a melancholic sigh. "Because of these two Elements, a sort of imbalance formed in my body, particularly in my¡­ womb area¡­ And none know how to solve the imbalance¡­ Family¡ªit was never in the cards for me."

    Cassius silently appraised her expression. ''She''s not lying,'' he thought. ''As for where the problem stems from, I''m not too sure. The Alien''s fragmented memories mention something about solving the issue with itself, but I don''t know what that means exactly.''

    "Anyway," Viola said with a false smile. "Are you ready to head on to the other Gates I had prepared for us today? And don''t worry, they are of the Red Rank this time."

    Cassius oddly looked at her, seemingly mulling over something.

    However, when she got up off the rubble, he, too, rose from his spot. On their way out of the damaged reflective dome, they had to¡ªor rather, Viola had to¡ªonce more report what she ''saw'' inside the Gate.

    None were able to see Cassius, so he didn''t have to do anything but look pretty.

    ...

 Chapter 197 - 197: A Mischievous MILF

    When the pair finally made it outside the glitchy-screened Dome, Viola spun around, her glittering eyes locking on his. "I''m interested to know more about you and how you can do what you do, but I won''t pry. And I also won''t tell anyone else what happened in Oblivion''s Threshold. I just hope you won''t one day alter my memories like you did with the Green Dragon Hunter Party."

    Cassius''s brows slightly raised. "You noticed?"

    Viola let out a small giggle before locking arms with him. "Of course I noticed, jerk. I may not look it, but I''m quite the intelligent researcher! Seeing unusual changes in other people and things is what I do best!"

    Cassius paused, then smirked. "I don''t know about you being some once-in-a-million-year genius, but you''re certainly special. Only someone incredibly special would pretend to be some quiet and introspective brooder when, in actuality, she has a bad case of the chatterbox."

    "Why thank you¡ª Wait, are you insulting me??"

    "I don''t know, you tell me," said Cassius. "You''re the genius here, while I''m but a mindless jerk."

    "You¡­"

    Viola''s cheeks puffed out as she softly hit him several times on the arm.

    Within moments, their lighthearted banter blended in with the sounds that enveloped the world. They quickly vanished from the island, then spent the next couple of hours clearing Gate after Gate. Cassius did almost 99% of the work, but with Viola''s Space Element affinity presently higher than his, she was better at transporting them from monster to monster, making for far more efficient killings.

    Of course, if he took off his now Newbie 9 Equipment Set, he would be able to move about as fast as instantaneous teleportation. But with the Set on and his Newbie 9 Training Sword by his side, his movements were severely restricted. This was where nifty Skills like Teleport came in.

    While clearing Gate after Gate all over the world, his VoidWarper Skill Set took leap after leap in terms of proficiency, especially when he started integrating Void Port into his usage of Lilith. Together, the Skill and the blade transformed the battlefield into a flash show of void portals and crimson slashes.

    Then again, this level of deadliness only became possible following the advancement of the Skill Set to Greater Completion, which increased the first two Skills'' effective movement range to 100 meters!

    Viola was, of course, extremely surprised by this method of slaying monsters. She watched many times as his jagged demonic blade vanished through a portal above his hands before appearing in front of a monster. After which, the demonic blade would pierce through the monster and instantly kill it. Sometimes, the blade would even switch things up as if it had a mind of its own, sending out bloody slashes and whatnot following its teleportation.

    It was even capable of flying around autonomously!

    Though, considering how many unbelievable things Viola had seen today, a flying sword was definitely not the craziest one.

    ¡ªSome time later¡ª

    Five or so hours had passed since Cassius and Viola first met each other. And just a few seconds ago, they parted ways with the promise of doing this again some other time. Viola left with a lovely smile plastered across her normally emotionless face, and so too did Cassius smile. But that was only at first, for in the very same moment he looked away from the stunning beauty, his smile faded and was instead replaced with a thousand-yard stare.

    His mind was filled with the fragmented memories of the Alien he had slaughtered. In his hands also appeared the mysterious device that dropped from the Alien after its death.

    ''Although I don''t know why they''re targeting me or what they''re after, if they wish to play this game of Hunter, then I shall play as well.''

    ''I just wonder which one of us will end up being hunted to extinction first¡­''

    A cold gleam flashed past his dark red eyes as he blurred through the speedstream. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    There were a few hours left until sundown, and with the prey clearly displayed on a virtual map within his mind, it was now time to begin the¡­ Hunt.

    ¡ª--------------

    Seconds rolled over into minutes, and minutes became hours.

    Impatience among a certain crazed female of the Vampire race was also on the rise¡­

    The school day had already ended. Bella felt that she had waited more than long enough! Today was supposed to be the day they eternally pledged themselves to one another! But where the hell was the groom on his big day!?

    Did he not care a single bit about how his absence affected his soon-to-be bride!? Where was the decorum!??

    It was just then that Bella''s expression drastically changed. ''It can''t be! Has he somehow figured out my plan and run away beforehand!? Has he¡­ Has he abandoned me¡­?''

    The distressed vampire could hardly believe it herself, but no matter what she did to distract herself, she couldn''t get the thought to vacate her mind. And with every passing second, her mood became worse and worse, until eventually¡­ she could no longer take it anymore.

    "That''s it! I''ll have Father find my hubby! Right now!!" she deliriously shouted while flying above Hoshito in bat form. "If my husband won''t let me love him, then I''ll make him want my love!!"

    Her crazed ramblings and giggles ceaselessly sounded out, even as she entered her old mansion house and zipped through a portal to the World of Darkness. She went on to flap her wings until reaching an absurdly massive castle, where she then found her beautiful mother.

    With mischief on her mind, the vampire MILF guided her daughter to the office that her workaholic father was currently staying in. After reaching the room and dropping off her ''gift,'' the cheeky vampire MILF closed the door behind her. She found it hard to maintain her ladylike demeanor while listening to the faint maniacal shouts of her daughter, as well as the quietness of her normally imperious husband.

    ...

 Chapter 198 - 198: {[Main Quest #6 â€˜Thwart Alien Invasionâ€™ Activated]} - [SS+ Rank]

    If anyone was deriving any enjoyment from this whole sh*t show, then it was Bella''s mother. She was having the time of her life watching everything develop as it did.

    On the other hand, everyone else¡ªexcept for her equally troublemaking daughter¡ªwas in no way enjoying any of this. And soon, there would be one more added to the list of haters¡­

    SHING!

    A long blood-red and obsidian katana effortlessly slashed through the short, gray body of an eerie Alien. Both sides of the Alien slid off one another, putting on display the blood and guts that once resided inside the body but were now outside of it.

    As soon as this Gremlin''s death was confirmed, a System Notification rang out in Cassius''s head:

    *Ding!*

    {[Main Quest #4]}

    {[Task: Discover and kill [20/20 Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends]]} - [?]

    {[Reward 1 - [1000 AP]]} - [Y/N]

    {[Reward 2 - [S-Rank ''Extraterrestrial Sight'']]} - [Y/N]

    {[Reward 3 - [200 Uncommon Evoballs]]} - [Y/N]

    {[Reward 4 - [S-Rank ''Stellar Flight'']]} - [Y/N]

    [System Note: You actually completed this Main Quest?? Damn! I, the mighty System, thought you wouldn''t be able to do it and would thus have to enter the Nightmarescape for longer¡ª I mean, good job on completing the Quest, Mr. Competent!]

    Cassius ignored the System and clicked yes on all of the rewards.

    None of the rewards were particularly good for the current him, but something was better than nothing!

    Well, actually, there was one reward in particular that brightened his face when he saw the Skill description connected to it...

    [S-Rank ''Extraterrestrial Sight'']

    [Enables the User to see through vast distances or short distances and instantly tell if something is of Extraterrestrial origin or not.]

    That was the segment that Cassius focused on. Just those words alone were enough to tell him just how effective this Skill would be for finding more Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends. Although he didn''t really have a reason to continue hunting them, he¡ª

    *Ding!*

    {[Main Quest #6 ''Thwart Alien Invasion'' Activated]} - [SS+ Rank]

    ¡ª[On the Trial Floor Area of the Ascension Tower of Humanity, locate and kill every single Extraterrestrial that holds hostile intent for your homeland]

    [All Hostile Extraterrestrials exterminated - [0/1]]

    "SS+ Rank??" Cassius''s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "I haven''t received a single SS-Rank Quest yet, and the first one I do receive is of the ''+'' Rank¡­ My luck really is horrible."

    But more importantly than that, what really surprised him was how high a Main Quest''s rank could be while still within the bounds of Earth!

    If based on the strength of the World-class Mage Lord, there should''ve been no way for anything on Earth to reach the SS-Rank. But if the Quest''s rank was accurate¡ªand it likely was¡ªthen that meant Aliens of the SS+ threat level had already invaded¡­

    "But where are they hiding¡­? Perhaps Extraterrestrial Sight will help me find them?"

    |S-Rank Extraterrestrial Sight|

    The exact moment he used that Skill and amplified its range with his Magic Sense was also when he felt several extraordinarily powerful presences hiding out on a skull-shaped island. Located in the most isolated parts of the world, the skull-shaped island had lava pouring down the skull''s various holes. And within that grim-looking skull sat terrifyingly creepy figures, each one scarier than the last.

    Yet, right when Cassius honed in on these figures, he was forced to retract his Magic Sense, for they¡­ were staring also right back at him.

    But for some reason¡ªeven though they likely possessed the necessary capabilities to chase him down¡ªthey did nothing.

    "You felt it too, didn''t you?" One of the Extraterrestrials said while still staring off into the distance.

    "Yes, but with our powers limited on this lower plane, I was unable to trace the Magic Sense back to its origin. The owner moved quickly¡­ like a rat." One of the most powerful among them crackled his horns, his expression not so happy.

    "Probably just some nosy worm or one of those World-class Hunter weaklings!" If Cassius were here, he would know this Alien as the one playing the part of his father. The only difference being that his human form constantly fluctuated with his Kaiju form, creating a spine-tingling sight. "Once I get that idiot boy to lure ''it'' out, I''ll personally head the execution of all the pesky rats on this lowly planet!"

    A silent, beautiful figure in the back¡ªyet also the strongest among those present¡ªmade no comment on the matter. She simply kept her eyes on where the invading Magic Sense last appeared, her thoughts unknown. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ªMeanwhile, on a random street just outside Hoshito¡ª

    Cassius, who had just completed his third Main Quest and caught a glimpse of a peak beyond a peak, was now making his way back to his mansion home in the hills. The immensity of the auras he sensed still lingered in his mind, yet he decided to put the matter aside for now. If they had still not acted, then that meant they either couldn''t or they didn''t care. He was leaning toward the former option being the case.

    However, suddenly, out of nowhere, a rippling blood-red human-sized portal appeared in the middle of the street ahead. Then, out walked two figures, one man and one woman, both of the pale-faced variety.

    Cassius''s eyes flashed with surprise. "...Bella¡­?"

    "Yep, it''s me, my Hubby!" Bella replied with hearts swirling around in her eyes. No longer feeling the need to withhold anything, she outright announced, "It''s time to get married, my dear!!"

    "!?!?"

    What the fck!? No really, what the fck was she saying!?? And who was the man beside her!??

    His aura¡­

    That was when Cassius felt it.

    An aura that enveloped the world¡­

    An aura so powerful that no amount of plot armor could possibly hope to save him in a frontal assault!

    Survival chances: 0%

    The absurdities that had just left Bella''s pretty mouth seemed to be all but forgotten when Cassius saw the monstrous being that stood before him. ''Tens of Thousands¡­ No, millions¡­ No, billions! Fighting him would lead to billions of deaths¡­!''

    No chance! He stood no chance in hell!!

    Their hypothetical exchange would not be a battle or even a fight¡­ It would be suicide¡­

    ...

 Chapter 199 - 199: Duke Crestmore

    "So, you''re that womanizing bastard''s son," the pale-faced man suddenly said, causing Cassius to instinctively step back. "You''re the one¡­ who seduced my daughter. I see¡­"

    Cassius had no idea what this guy was talking about! Why was he suddenly bringing up him being someone''s son? Whose son!? He didn''t understand!

    But what he did understand¡ªwhat he understood very well¡ªwas the feeling that this pale-faced, silver-haired man gave him. Looking at him was like staring at dozens of world-sized snakes, with every single one of them venomously piercing the very core of his existence.

    "Tell me, boy," Alaric Crestmore said coldly. "What is it that you hope to attain in this life of yours? What are your goals?" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius, not expecting to hear a question like this from such an unfathomable man, took a second to screw his head on straight.

    Alaric gave him that time. He even went so far as to hold his unruly daughter back, preventing her from jumping him. However, when he finally heard what the young man had to say, his expression turned unreadable:

    "I want power. I want to see the peak of everything. Why? Maybe¡­ maybe I just believe there to be more beauty the higher you go up."

    Cassius had no clue why he answered the question so truthfully, even going so far as to reveal things that he himself didn''t fully understand. However, his candid way of speaking was not yet over, as the Vampire Duke spoke once more:

    "Your belief is wrong. There is no beauty when you reach the peak. It''s all just bloodshed and suffering¡ª"

    "Perhaps you just haven''t reached the true peak, then," Cassius interrupted. "If all you see is the bloodshed, then blood has obscured your vision. Blood only touches the bodies of those below, never those on top."

    Alaric Crestmore''s expression changed in a way that emulated just how amazed he was by the young man''s words. He pondered them, with each further insight leaving him increasingly perplexed. ''He''s right¡­ This boy¡­ He really is that bastard''s son.''

    The Vampire Duke didn''t want to admit it, but that friend of his always had a way with words. And that specific gene didn''t seem to end with the womanizing bastard, for the womanizing bastard''s son also had the potential to be a wordsmith.

    Nonetheless, as a father, he had made a promise to his daughter, and he wasn''t planning to renege on that promise simply because of a few words.

    OOOM!

    Although Alaric''s aura was severely limited on this plane of existence and his power was reduced to barely anything, it was still far more than enough to qualify him as the #1 expert in the world. And when Cassius felt this aura weigh down on him, he briefly lost control of his Newbie 9 Equipment Set.

    ''Sh*t!''

    Thinking fast and moving even faster, Cassius shifted his legs forward and zipped around the globe. In an instant, he had already reappeared in the most isolated part of the Antarctic. When he did, the weight he had lost control of a moment ago finally registered.

    BOOOOM!!!

    A fourth of the Antarctic continent split in two, with polar bears, walruses, icebergs, and various other things being forced to fly down both sides. Like two table flips from hell, the tops of both sides of the broken landmass collided with one another in destructive fashion. A hailstorm of snow and chunks of ice as large as cities plummeted from the collision point of the icy table flips.

    Yet, in the same moment countless lives were put at stake, time seemed to freeze.

    But no, that wasn''t it.

    Time hadn''t frozen; Cassius had simply sped up so quickly that it might as well have been the equivalent of frozen time for everyone else.

    While wandering in the speed stream, he cautiously looked left and right, then up. That was when he saw the mesmerizingly dangerous spectacle raining down from above. Within that beautiful danger of light blue hues and sparkling blue oceans turned upside down, he also saw Gates. Those Gates were no longer stuck to the ground, for the ground had now become the falling sky.

    There were even a number of Red-ranked and a couple of Purple-ranked Gates among those falling from the sky. Furthermore, next to the aerial position of the Gates were hundreds of men and women wearing shiny armor. Beside them were also researchers, scientists, and natives of these frigid lands.

    Cassius had chosen the most isolated spot he could find on such short notice, but there was no possible way to fully contain such immense physical weight. Even if that weight was only unleashed for a fraction of a second.

    Fortunately, Cassius had become so fast that he could save everyone and everything in the blink of an eye.

    However¡­

    FWAZIP!

    The same portal that had appeared in the street outside Hoshito reappeared here, and the same father-daughter duo walked out.

    "Why did you run from me, Hubby!?" shouted Bella. "I showered multiple times for this day to make sure everything was perfect for when we consummated our marriage! I promise you that I smell really, really good!!"

    "???" Cassius had no clue who the hell this girl was, but it sure as hell wasn''t the Bella that he knew. ''Is this imposter another one of the Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiends? But my S-Rank Extraterrestrial Sight Skill isn''t going off¡­''

    Then again, there''s the existence of her 100-score Affection Rating, which is just as high as the crazy Yimin. It shouldn''t be too surprising that she had actually been concealing her true personality all this while.

    ''But what''s all that spiel about a marriage and me being her husband? What''s she talking about¡­?''

    Cassius honestly couldn''t figure anything out. His Intelligence stat wasn''t helping much in this quandary of his.

    Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw what looked like¡­ fangs¡­ sharp, deadly fangs protruding from where her canines should be. Moreover, for some reason, they looked awfully similar to the pair he gained when he¡ª

    ''Wait¡­ The fangs, the pale complexions, the bloody auras, the pale-faced man''s cape, Bella hiding her strength, Bella turning out to be crazy and delusional¡­ Ahh¡­ They are¡­''

    "Vampires."

 Chapter 200 - 200: Transforming like Crazy!

    "Vampires."

    Bella and her father were shocked to hear this word leave Cassius''s mouth. Then they figured it was only natural that he would guess their race just based on their appearances. After all, with a lot of what people saw of vampires on television being true, they could understand the stereotype guessing.

    Little did they know that what really gave it away was the recently uncovered crazy b*tch that was Bella¡­

    Cassius had read many light novels during his time as an otaku loser, and one thing he could say for certain was that every vampire, without exception, always had a screw or two loose. Sometimes, they even had too many screws missing from their heads.

    In fact, from one story involving three wives turning out to be vampires, there were so many nutso vampire chicks that it had become all but the absolute truth for him.

    That truth being: all vampires¡­ were batsh*t crazy!

    Cassius defensively backed up. Unconsciously activating his Vampire Duke Bloodline, his eyes turned red, and his pearly white teeth grew sharper. Furthermore, his presence was enhanced by a bloody aura that told tales of countless lives having fallen to his hands.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    Alaric and his daughter were shocked by what they were seeing, but their shock had only just begun.

    In the same moment Cassius''s Vampire Duke Bloodline flared, his other Bloodlines also activated. His body underwent several drastic transformations, with his physical appearance changing so many times that his facial features transcended the phrase "exotic beauty."

    However, before Bella''s sparkling, heart-shaped eyes could fully bathe in the otherworldly sight before her, Cassius experienced yet another physical alteration. Nyxvoldar¡ªwho now sat at the S++ Rank¡ªappeared from the void and fused with his body. His physique was enhanced, his height increased, and his aura became even more terrifying.

    He was utilizing so many Bloodlines and taking advantage of so many Bloodline benefits at once that his power far exceeded what it was while in the Apocalypse Gate!

    Yet¡­

    Yet he wasn''t finished.

    "Activate Demon Dragon Transformation!"

    Cassius''s body started to bulge and expand outward as he rapidly increased in size.

    3 meters¡­ 5 meters¡­ 20 meters¡­ 300 meters¡­ 2,000 meters¡­ 10,000 meters¡­

    30,000 meters!

    He had become large enough to fit several football stadiums inside him. Moreover, he had taken on the form of a mixed-racial draconic dragon, the likes of which had never before been seen.

    That was when Bella and her father heard it¡ª

    "RRRAAAAAWWWWHHHHHHHH!!!"

    A deep, guttural, echoing roar reverberated through the earth and the sky, filled with raw, ancient power.

    "Well, I''ll be damned¡­" muttered the Vampire Duke. "That womanizing bastard sure made one hell of a kid."

    He sensed multiple Bloodlines within the magnificent body of the multi-layered, multi-colored dragon. One of them was a Bloodline that felt deeply connected to his own.

    Suspiciously looking at his daughter, he asked, "Did you?"

    Bella vehemently shook her head, having already expected her father to ask this.

    While staring up in awe at the splendiferous form that her self-proclaimed husband had taken, she said, "I''ve not bitten him yet! Definitely not! I think¡­"

    "...."

    Alaric knew his daughter''s personality better than the back of his own hand. It was also because of this understanding of the troublesome girl that he was 100% certain she had likely already bitten him. And from the looks of it, he was bitten quite some time ago. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sighing, the Vampire Duke redirected his attention back to the giant, multi-horned dragon above. His antiquated voice reverberated:

    "Boy, undo every transformation you just activated. Otherwise, I won''t go easy on you."

    The demonic dragon''s soul-shaking roar finally came to a close, with its massive, slitted eyes now fixated on the two tiny figures below. Yet, even despite the vast size difference, Cassius knew for certain that he''d lose in a battle against the pale-faced, middle-aged man.

    Realizing that peace was a better option, he asked in a booming voice, "Why are you targeting me?? And what is your relationship with Bella???"

    Alaric''s lips curved up slightly after seeing how sensible this young man was. He began to speak:

    "I will briefly explain¡ª"

    But was interrupted by Bella''s infatuated voice. "You see, Hubby, the truth is that we¡­ Blah, blah, blah¡­"

    She spent the next good three minutes in slowed-down time explaining everything to Cassius in her own delusional and highly optimistic way.

    When the explanation finally reached its conclusion, he was left gobsmacked¡ªutterly flabbergasted! Dumbfounded! Bewildered!¡ªhe was all of the above!!

    Bella had not concealed a single thing from him.

    Seeing as she now considered herself his faithful wife, it would be wrong of her to hide things from her husband. Therefore, it was only right that she told him everything he wanted to know the exact moment he asked!

    In Bella''s mind, she was already on the correct track to being the #1 wifey in the whole universe!

    Little was she aware¡­ or too optimistic to realize¡­ that she had lost the fight, the battle, and the war the very moment she revealed everything to him! Because¡­ holy f*cking sht!!

    This vampire chick was actually the genuine definition of batsh*t badonkers!! She was a lunatic!!!

    Even Alaric, her father, was embarrassed after listening to her recap everything since the very moment she first laid eyes on Cassius. With every further word she joyously sputtered, another dagger pierced through Alaric''s chest and punctured his heart.

    He truly had no idea how his precious baby girl had become so far gone¡­

    ''Female vampires are notoriously known for pursuing their potential partners no matter the cost, but even her mother was not this much of a hopeless case back in the day,'' Alaric thought as he began to sympathize with the boy. ''Your entire life was essentially ruined by my fool of a daughter¡­ Haiz, even though I want to stab you silly for seducing my baby girl, I know deep down that it would''ve eventually come down to this either way¡­''

 Chapter 201 - 201: Alaric, the Pushover

    ''Poor lad,'' was all Alaric could think as he neutrally observed all the emotions filtering through the massive Demon Dragon''s sinuous expression.

    "My whole life¡­" Cassius began to mutter, his enormous form slowly shrinking and returning to what it originally was. "My Extreme Hyperthyroidism, my Dilapidating Body Deterioration Syndrome, all the isolation I was forced to endure because of my hideous looks¡­ That was all¡­ you¡­?"

    Bella repeatedly nodded, hearts still swimming inside her sparkling eyes. "Yep, yep, that was me, my love! Me and Daddy!" Suddenly realizing something, she hysterically added, "But you see it, don''t you!? That I did all of this for you!?? I couldn''t have any more thieving b*tches¡ªlike the ones you temporarily have at your home¡ªlatching onto you, so¡­ so I did the only reasonable thing!" She clasped her hands and stared at him as if he were the whole world to her.

    "Holy¡­ holy sh*t," Cassius mindlessly murmured, his gaze becoming listless. "This is¡­ this can''t honestly be true¡­"

    But it was. And he knew it was.

    Then again, how was he just supposed to accept everything he''d just heard come from the mouth of a pretty girl he had only ever known to be polite and caring!?? What in the hell was going on here?!??

    Was the script chucked out the window or some sh*t!?

    "I don''t mean to interrupt your coping time, boy," said Alaric. "But if we don''t get the Vampire Couple Contractual Ceremony done before the night''s end, we''ll have to wait another half a year for the next bloodred moon cycle in Nightingale. Then again, perhaps my daughter would be¡ª"

    "No! Now!" Bella spat out, dangerously glaring at the hesitant middle-aged man. "We must get married today!! I want him to love me today!!"

    "¡­Yes¡­ very well¡­"

    Even though Cassius was about to be kidnapped and forced into a vampire marriage by their Vampire Duke, he couldn''t help but feel a little sorry for him. Although the Duke was the one who placed this supposed ''Seal'' on him, he was, in the end, a victim, just like him.

    He was also a¡­ pushover.

    However, with far more pressing concerns on his mind¡ªlike figuring out how to escape this nightmare and never think about it again¡ªCassius''s pupils darted subtly around the scene. He was searching for any possible way out of the mess he''d found himself in.

    Time seemed to crawl as their conversation sped unnaturally fast. This slowed-time effect allowed Cassius and his two vampire captors to speak without interruption, even as powerful human presences drew closer.

    The source of their approach was unmistakable: a thunderous explosion that had shaken the very foundation of the world. Its cause? None other than the brief but overwhelming weight of the Newbie 9 Equipment Set.

    But regardless of what would happen in a short while because of his actions, Cassius was far more keen on figuring out how to escape. Fighting was not an option, and with a very limited planet as the playing turf, running also didn''t appear to be an option.

    So then¡­ what the f*ck should he do!?

    Alaric''s time-long eyes narrowed. "What are you thinking about, boy? Don''t make me regret believing that you''re smart," he said coldly. "If you foolishly attempt to escape, it''ll just make me look down on you even more. I don''t care if you''re a bloodbag human, but I don''t like cowards. Be a man¡ªconfront your problems head-on."

    ''That''s easy for you to say!'' Cassius inwardly shouted. ''You''re not the one whose entire life was basically orchestrated by an insane vampire chick who has gone off her rockers! Did you even listen to the same things I heard come out of her mouth!? She''s fcking insane!''

    Momma always said, "Don''t put your dck in crazy."

    And he wasn''t looking to f*ck around and find out!

    But with escape and fighting out of the question, what was he to do!? Was his only option to give up and let this crazy vampire family do what they wanted with him!??

    F*ck no! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He wouldn''t allow it!!

    So then what!?

    What should he do???

    That was when a lightbulb flashed inside his mind. ''If I can neither stay and fight nor run away, then I really have but one available option to take.''

    Steeling his resolve, Cassius gritted his teeth and announced inside his mind, ''I would like to enter the Nightmarescape!''

    A smug emoticon materialized for his eyes only.

    [Oh, would you now? ???]

    [How much do you want to go to the Nightmarescape? After all those times I magnanimously offered you a free ticket to the best place in the world, and yet you only now consider going? How do you think this makes me feel¡­?]

    [(¡ñ¡ä?`¡ñ)]

    ''I don''t give a f*ck how it makes you feel!'' was what Cassius wanted to shout at the top of his lungs.

    "???" "???"

    Both Bella and her father tilted their heads in confusion as they watched the handsome, half-naked man¡­ have an argument with himself?

    "Maybe my daughter and he really are a match made in heaven," Alaric mumbled to himself as he shifted his gaze between two different versions of crazy.

    Bella''s heart-shaped eyes brightened. "I know, Daddy! Aren''t we the definition of soulmates!?"

    ¡­Yes, but not for the reason you believe¡­

    Shaking his head, Alaric decided to just get things done and over with. He sauntered toward the perplexing young man. Stretching his hand out, he was prepared to restrain Cassius and take him back to Nightingale with his daughter.

    However, just as his dark, bloody energy shot out in the form of chain tendrils, something changed in the young man''s presence. Alaric instinctively retracted his hand, yet didn''t know why he did so right after. His brows furrowed as he once again stretched out his hand, this time with even more momentum behind his actions.

    OOOM!!!

    "!!!"

    Alaric immediately retreated. He covered his infatuated daughter in a translucent barrier before carrying her along with him. Then, with astonishment etched across his face, he watched as an oval-shaped black congregation materialized behind Cassius. The congregation emitted no energy waves, and there was no movement on its flat, swirling surface.

    But something¡­ something was ominously dangerous about the congregation¡­

 Chapter 202 - 202: I Hope We Never Meet Again

    But when the Vampire Duke looked into this black congregation, he was baffled to see something that even he, with all his knowledge, couldn''t comprehend. The congregation felt detached from reality, yet it contained within it a level of danger that made him cautiously activate every defensive Skill he could utilize on this Floor.

    ''What the hell is that thing!?'' Alaric questioned, his eyes widening as he saw the same black congregation tug at and pull Cassius toward it.

    At first, Cassius was surprised by what happened after telling the System to bring him to the Nightmarescape. However, when he felt no threat to his life, he relaxed his nerves and let whatever was happening happen. He did so while calmly sweeping his eyes between the vampire daughter-father pair, who had already retreated quite a distance away. In particular, his icy eyes honed in on the beautiful, worrisome expression of the girl he once considered to be something like a sister.

    If only for the briefest of moments, the way Cassius looked at Bella became rather¡­ sad.

    He was also angry.

    But what was the point of being angry? Would taking his anger out on her change anything? It wouldn''t rewrite the past. It wouldn''t accomplish anything.

    Plus, in a way, what Bella and her father had done to him was a gateway of sorts that made it possible for the Idle Evolution System to enter his life. Without everything happening as it did, it was tough to determine whether the System ever would''ve made him its Host. And without the System¡­

    Without the System, he was nothing. The System was both the cause of his pain and his salvation.

    Sighing, Cassius said to Bella, "It seems this is where we part ways¡­ You know, I honestly thought we had something going for us¡­ But I guess¡­ I guess it was all just my imagination."

    Bella''s expression drastically changed as she reached out, but was held back by her apprehensive father. "We did have something, husband! We do have something! Just come with me, and I''ll show you everything! We can be together forever!"

    Cassius faintly smiled as a reminiscent look formed on his face. "Do you remember what you told me that day at the arcade? You said, ''Just look around you. Look at all that you have.''

    "Your words meant a lot to me that day," he murmured. "But it seems I didn''t look hard enough¡­ I saw your Affection Rating; I should''ve realized sooner that something was off, and I did. Yet I didn''t further pursue the matter."

    "Perhaps I just didn''t want to lose what I already had. Perhaps I wanted to continue living in an illusion. A greedy, hoarding dragon¡­ I guess that phrase fits me well."

    All the color quickly drained from Bella''s once-spirited face as she did everything in her power to break free from her father''s grip. Something inside her was telling her that this wasn''t how things were supposed to be. This wasn''t what was supposed to happen!

    Above all else, she feared.

    She feared what would happen if she let him leave today!

    She knew¡­ she just knew that nothing would ever again be the same.

    That was when a certain thought entered her mind:

    ''Was I¡­ was I wrong¡­?''

    The moment that thought appeared, Bella''s entire world started to crumble and collapse. What she was feeling¡­ it was scary. So very scary.

    In her fright, tears streamed down her face as she hit the ground with a thud. Her father''s large hand was tightly holding her down, afraid that she would do something foolish. Yet his expression¡ªit was no better than hers. He averted his gaze from both his daughter and the warmly smiling young man whom he was originally supposed to capture.

    Through tears, Bella reached out her trembling hand toward the person whom she considered to be her whole world. "I¡­ I love you¡­ I love you so much¡­! You are my everything!!"

    "I know," Cassius said fondly. "I''m sorry that it took so long for me to realize."

    He briefly paused.

    "I''m also sorry¡­ that I''ll not be able to reciprocate your love."

    That was the final blow.

    The final strike against a heart that had been twisted for as long as Bella could remember.

    *Bzzztttt¡ª!!!*

    As the black congregation became more volatile and took away more and more stretched-out parts of Cassius''s body, a group of dark clouds appeared above the Antarctic. Large droplets of rain beat down on the world below. A girl¡ªwith a face as if her whole reality had collapsed¡ªknelt in the mushy, snowy ground. Her eyes dimmed until they turned lifeless.

    Tears ceaselessly rolled down her cheeks. Lightning struck, lighting her sorrowful face in a mixture of glowing blues and whites.

    Alaric''s expression became complicated. He had not expected something like this to occur, and yet it had¡­

    Cassius looked one final time at the heartbroken girl. His final words¡ªwhich echoed out as the last of his being passed through the black congregation¡ªfurther shredded Bella''s already dilapidated heart:

    "This is goodbye, Bella. I hope we never meet again. And I hope you forget about me. Do yourself that favor¡­ please."

    FWIP!

    With that, Cassius vanished. His entire being had been transported into the black congregation. The congregation closed up at the same moment his face was erased from the bleak-faced girl''s line of sight.

    "¡­Husband¡­ my love¡­" Bella, suddenly overwhelmed with a waterfall of emotions, deliriously screamed, "NOOOOooooo¡ª!!! Cass! Come back!! I-I¡­ I don''t want you to go¡­ Why¡­ why won''t you let me love you¡­? I¡­ I don''t understand¡­"

    She went through several complex emotions in a fraction of a second. Her puffy eyes ultimately ran out of tears, and her face froze.

    Bella was lost¡­

    She didn''t¡­

    She didn''t know who she was without Cassius.

    Who¡­?

    He was her everything. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Without him, she was¡­ she was nothing.

    ¡ªMultiple minutes passed by like a slow, agonizing crawl¡ª

    Even after the two table-flipped ice walls clashed into one another, and even after Hunters walked to and fro around the seemingly invisible vampire pair, they hadn''t moved from their spots. They now sat under a large semi-translucent crimson bubble that stopped anything from touching or seeing them. Following the aftereffects of the two ice walls'' collision, they were quickly submerged under countless tons of ice and snow, but neither seemed to care.

    They just existed in that spot, each going through a whirlwind of emotions¡­

    Until, eventually¡­

 Chapter 203 - 203: The Nightmarescape

    Alaric, feeling that it had been long enough, let go of his hand, allowing Bella to move freely.

    She didn''t move, or even make a peep.

    She just knelt there, her lifeless eyes mindlessly staring at where Cassius last stood.

    "It''s time to go," said the Vampire Duke, his voice tinged with pain from seeing her in such a state.

    No response.

    An ancient sigh rustled the snow that surrounded them as the millennium-old Vampire tenderly lifted up his daughter. Putting her in a princess carry, he teleported from his spot. The snow that once covered them quickly filled in the place where they just were.

    Nothing had gone as expected¡­ and the Vampire Duke worried over just how long it would take his precious baby girl to recover.

    He wanted so badly to blame the womanizing bastard''s son for this, but he just couldn''t¡­

    He could only blame himself for not guiding his daughter away from the insane path she wound up taking. Hell, he had even assisted her in making things worse than they already were!

    ''Haiz¡­ Hopefully something unexpected occurs¡­''

    The Crestmore Vampire Duke''s optimistic thoughts whisked through the open skies as he carried his distraught and unresponsive daughter back to Nightingale.

    ¡ª-------------

    ¡ªMeanwhile, within a space enveloped in pure darkness¡ª

    ZIP!

    A figure of color appeared in this place devoid of light. The figure raced through the pitch-black space at speeds that made no sense. For an unknown period of time, this figure was forcefully pulled through space until, eventually¡­

    FWIP!

    The figure dropped out of the skies above a town located in a small part of a country called Mistalore.

    "In the Land of Beginnings, within our great country of Mistalore, an angel of light descended from the heavens! I swear it upon the God of Beginnings! It really happened!"

    A man draped in low-quality peasant clothing theatrically spoke to a small group of similarly dressed people. He made use of grand hand gestures and even emphasized just how radiantly that descending angel had fallen.

    A larger man in slightly better clothing scoffed aloud. "You really expect us to believe what you, the boy who cries wolf, has to say? What do you take us for? Fools?"

    "Yeah, yeah, he''s the only one who says he saw this supposed Angel! The last time we listened to his crazed ravings, we organized all of the townspeople and the guards for nothing!"

    "Exactly!"

    "Randal''s probably just lying again!"

    "No¡­ That isn''t what I''m doing!" The man whom others knew as Randal defended himself in any way he could.

    Yet all his denying only made those around him believe what the larger peasant said. ''He''s lying,'' they all thought.

    "This¡­ why¡­ why won''t any of you believe me!?" Randal, feeling many grievances, smashed his hand against a table and ran out of the pub they were in.

    He ran and ran. He didn''t stop running until he made it out of the bounds of the small, quaint town he grew up in. Eventually, he reached the woods that the village of Littlegreen had barred off as a forbidden zone. Deadly monsters and mysterious creatures were rumored to wander these woods.

    When Randal finally opened his eyes and stopped to catch his breath, he dreadfully realized where he was. His expression suddenly dropped as his eyes erratically darted around. He was attempting to locate a way out of the woods.

    However, every direction looked exactly the same! S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was all just tall, spooky trees that eerily scratched against one another in the blowing wind.

    "Esceeetch¡ª!!!"

    "!!!"

    That was when he heard it¡ªa spine-tingling shriek that sent him running for the hills! He fled in the opposite direction of whatever made that sound.

    A few minutes later, and after once again needing to slow down to catch his breath, Randal saw something from the corner of his eye. He pushed away from the creepy tree he was leaning on, then approached an all-too-familiar light.

    "This light¡­ it''s the Angel''s glow¡­" As if in a dazed trance, Randal took slow steps toward a large crater.

    Above the crater was a tree canopy that looked as if a meteorite had blasted through it. Tree branches were snapped, and small red fires crackled on and below the tree canopy. Yet, with the threat of potential danger barely registering in Randal''s mind, he stepped into the crater and descended until he was less than a few feet away from the light.

    The light itself was crimson, red as blood. It was roughly the size of a door and fluctuated with an energy source that couldn''t be determined by Randal.

    "The Angel¡­ is it inside the Angel''s Glow¡­?"

    Just as those words left his mouth, the crimson light began to rapidly expand. Then, without a moment''s notice, it exploded!

    "What!? Ahhh¡ª!"

    Randal was pushed back and sent tumbling.

    When he pried open his eyes and returned his gaze toward the crimson light, he was shocked to find that the light had disappeared!

    He was even more astonished to discover an extraordinarily handsome man with long black hair and deathly blue eyes standing where the light once was.

    "Are you¡­ the Angel¡­?"

    Hearing this question, the blue-eyed man locked his gaze on the peasant. Unknown thoughts seemed to swirl inside his mind. Yet, after a moment of thought, he vanished from his spot. Or, at least, he tried to¡­

    "Hmm¡­?" The handsome man looked down at his feet, quickly realizing that he couldn''t move anywhere as fast as he previously could. According to his estimates, he was at least a million times slower now.

    The handsome man frowned, then readjusted his movements and walked toward the powerless peasant. From the peasant''s perspective, however, he looked like a willowy phantom. And before the peasant knew it, the phantom had already appeared less than a couple of feet away from him.

    Now that the peasant got a better look at this mysterious man, he saw something that didn''t feel like what an angel should feel like.

    "The Devil''s Breath¡­!?" he exclaimed, as fear gradually crept up his face.

 Chapter 204 - 204: A Devil!?

    "Devil''s Breath?" Cassius repeated. Having never heard that term before, he asked, "What do you mean by that? My Killing Intent, perhaps?"

    "The Devil''s Breath is the Devil''s Breath!" shouted Randal. "Death hangs over the dead like the breath of a yawning beast! Death just like the one that hangs over you! You¡­ You are no Angel¡­ but a Devil¡­!!"

    The scared peasant clambered to his feet, then moved his shaky legs in an attempt to escape the area.

    He had to report back to the village and tell them what he saw!

    He just hoped they''d believe him this time¡­ They had to!

    *Pat!*

    Before Randal could move even a few feet away from his original position, Cassius''s muscular right hand clamped down on his left shoulder. "Stay here for now; I have some more questions I wish to ask you," he said calmly. "Don''t worry, I won''t harm you."

    "N-No!! Stay back, you Devil!" Randal tried to resist but couldn''t do a single thing against the physical power that kept him in place.

    Cassius, while curiously looking at this peasant, thought, ''Although all parameters of my power have been severely reduced, I can still exhibit the approximate strength of a High D-Rank Hunter. But as for my Mana, Elements, and other various facets¡ªall of them are unavailable for some reason. When I go to activate one of them or one of my Elemental-based Skills, a fuse ignites, but then it gets instantly blown out.''

    He could still utilize the power of the Sword God''s Training Manual, the Fundamental Body Refinement Manual, and, of course, the System. But everything else was barred from use, including the SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set he had just acquired. Moreover, all of his Bloodlines now had large locks over them in his System Interface.

    The first thing Cassius did when he arrived was ask the System about the weirdness of his Bloodlines, but the answer he received was: [Figure it out yourself, umu!].

    Conveniently, some native human lifeform of sorts had appeared right when he arrived.

    "Well, I can give you a choice if you would like one," he said, to which Randal replied, "Y-Yes, Devil, you should give me a choice!"

    Cassius faintly smirked as he said seriously, "Your choices are simple. One: you tell me what I want to know, and I''ll let you go on your way. Or two: I extract your memories myself and watch as you writhe in pain until you eventually¡­ die."

    He wasn''t in the best of moods right now; he would do exactly what he said he would.

    Randal instinctively knew that, which was why, after hesitating with a deep grimace, he sluggishly said, "F-Fine¡­ I''ll tell you whatever you want to know¡­"

    Cassius nodded, loosening his grip on the man of around 22 years of age. "Oh, and if you dare lie to me¡ªand trust me, I''ll know¡ªI''ll just kill you anyway. But not before extracting your memories."

    Randal furiously nodded. Large beads of sweat trickled down his face of average handsomeness as he truthfully answered everything asked of him.

    ¡ªThree minutes later¡ª

    "So we''re in the Village of Littlegreen within a Kingdom called Mistalore. Hmm¡­ so I have somehow been transported to a world stuck in the Middle Ages¡­ This is supposed to be the Land of Nightmares? The Nightmarescape? Something''s not adding up¡­"

    Surprise flashed past Randal''s average face. "You know of the Land of Nightmares, good sir!?"

    The peasant''s attitude toward him had taken a total 180 in the last few minutes, but more importantly than that, it seemed like he knew something Cassius didn''t.

    "You know of the Land of Nightmares?"

    Randal nodded twice. "Yes, good sir, of course I know of the Land of Nightmares! It is what the heroic Nightmare Slayers journey into for the sole goal of protecting the Land of Beginnings and all the people inside it!"

    Cassius''s expression froze, then he narrowed his eyes while glancing at the profusely sweating System Interface. ''You fcked up, didn''t you?''

    *Ding¡­*

    [T-The Mighty Idle Evolution System does not f*ck up, you inconsiderate Host! It''s all just¡­ just a calculated mistake! Yes, that''s it. I accidentally calculated a mistake that just so happened to send you to the Secret Realm that borders the Land of Nightmares!]

    [And I may have also accidentally locked your Daily Quest to this Realm as well¡­ And you maybe, just maybe still need to get over there and spend an hour there to complete the Quest¡­ That is assuming you still want to get back to Earth¡­ Teehee¡­]

    [(?? ?3??)]

    "Don''t teehee me, you dumb bastard!"

    "???" Randal tilted his head in confusion. "Is something the matter, good sir? I heard Devils hear voices constantly ringing in their heads¡­ Is that the case here as well? But, oh no¡­ G-Good sir, don''t listen to the voice if it''s telling you to kill me! I promise you that I can be extremely useful if given the chance!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius left his frustrating conversation with his oh-so-beloved System.

    Shifting his perturbed expression toward the peasant, he asked, "The Land of Nightmares¡ªhow do I get there from here?"

    Randal, unable to believe what he was hearing, said, "Good sir, surely you don''t mean what you''re saying. Anyone who''s anyone knows that the only way to journey into the Land of Nightmares is to become a Nightmare Slayer. And to do that¡­"

    "To do that, what?"

    Sensing his growing impatience, Randal directly said, "To become a Nightmare Slayer, you need to head to the Capital of Mistalore and take the Nightmare Slayer admittance examination¡­."

    "And what''s so bad about that?" asked Cassius, confused as to why the peasant was making such a big deal out of it.

    Though, his brows did raise a bit when he heard Randal say, "The mortality rate¡­ The mortality rate for those who take the Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination is over 95%¡­ And devils aren''t allowed to participate. You''ll be executed on the spot¡­"

    Cassius coldly snorted. "Well, it''s a good thing I''m not a Devil, then. Now, tell me, which way is it to the Capital of Mistalore?"

 Chapter 205 - 205: 12th Royal Mistalore Princess

    Randal hesitatingly responded, "The Capital is that-a-way, good sir. Around 25 days of walking, 10 days by carriage, or roughly 600 miles away."

    He pointed to the North. And that was good enough for Cassius, who vanished in the next second, repeatedly dashing through the spooky forest at thousands of miles per hour.

    "What a weird Devil he was," Randal incoherently murmured before turning around and heading back out the way he came in. "Hehe¡­ I can''t wait to tell everyone about what I saw this time! They''ll definitely believe me!"

    They won''t.

    ¡ª15 Minutes Later¡ª

    FWIP!

    Now arriving at the highest point of a hill overlooking a vast and prosperous city, Cassius settled on an overhanging boulder. Surveying the area below, he saw innumerable acres of lush green fields. Some fields were yellow, and grazing on the grass that grew in those fields were animals the likes of which he had never seen before.

    A mixture between a giant lizard and a cow¡ªit couldn''t be said for certain, but from appearances alone, it sure seemed like it. Nonetheless, they were well over ten meters in length, with some even reaching as much as thirty meters. Moreover, there also appeared to be people of the human variety riding in wooden pagodas latched to the tops of their large, scaly backs.

    That was another thing¡ªthere were only humans everywhere Cassius looked.

    ''This is supposed to be some sort of Middle-Aged world in a fantasy setting, right? So then where are the beastpeople and whatnot?,'' he thought. ''Is this a human-only kingdom or something?''

    Cassius was correct.

    The Kingdom of Mistalore was strictly populated by humans. Immigration of other species, such as the Devils, was strictly forbidden, which was why Randal the Peasant reacted as he did. Even those with trace amounts of certain Bloodlines in them were often harshly persecuted and treated unfairly.

    In a way, one could say that having his Bloodlines restricted was a blessing in disguise.

    "Either way, I need to get into that city and find the quickest way to become a Nightmare Slayer," said Cassius, his feet already fluttering off the ground as he started his descent down the cliff.

    ¡ªThe Royal City of Mistalore¡ª S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the Capital of the Mistalore Kingdom, the Royal City served as the city with both the highest luxury of living and the highest cost of living. There were tens of thousands of buildings scattered across the city that spanned a distance of dozens of miles. Moreover, at the very center of the city lay the crown jewel of the Capital.

    The Church of the Land of the Beginnings. And right beside it¡ªthe Nightmare Slayer Training Grounds.

    The former was a massive gold and white marbled temple. At the top front of the temple was a magnificent pure-golden statue depicting a man holding a large chunk of floating stone land.

    The God of Beginnings and the Land of Beginnings¡ªthat was what the man as the statue and the chunk of land in his hands represented.

    And yes, this meant that the Land of Beginnings was not spherical like the planet known as Earth. Rather, it was said to be an extremely enormous continent that stretched in all directions for who knew how many miles.

    As for the God of Beginnings¡ªto devout followers of the primary religion in this realm¡ªhe was the one who created the world and planted the seed that brought about all life.

    More than 95% of the population were passionate followers or believed in the existence of the God of Beginnings. Thus, as opposed to Christianity or any other religions on Earth, it was a religion that vastly dominated the religious field.

    Coming in at around a third the size of the massive golden temple and half the size of the huge, mesmerizing palace that sat behind it was the Nightmare Slayer Training Grounds.

    These training grounds were where all off-duty Nightmare Slayers stayed while they weren''t fighting for glory in the Land of Nightmares. Furthermore, it was the place where any aspiring Nightmare Slayers went if they wished to become official Nightmare Slayers.

    The Nightmare Slayer profession.

    The pay was good, the respect was better, and the fame even better. But for the sake of a high status and a higher lifestyle, there naturally came a cost. That cost being the high fatality rate, both to become a Nightmare Slayer and to continue living as one.

    Within the bustling streets outside the Nightmare Slayer Training Grounds, thousands of people had gathered around the colossal colosseum. The traffic was higher than normal today for two simple reasons.

    One: the Annual Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination was beginning today.

    And two:

    "Have you heard?? There''s a rumor going around that the 12th Princess is going to be attempting the Nightmare Slayer Trials as a preparation ritual for her 19th birthday ceremony in a couple of days!"

    "The prodigal Princess!? There''s no way such a rumor holds any grounds! Why would a lady of such illustrious status even bother taking the Nightmare Slayer Trials??? It doesn''t make any sense!"

    "You really don''t know? The 12th Royal Princess is notoriously known for her¡­ ''unique'' personality. The point being that she''s incredibly strong-willed! Though, to the King and his 1st Wife, she''s simply¡­ rebellious¡­"

    "Isn''t that considered treason, what you just said!?"

    "Bah! What do you know?? I''m a full-blooded patriot! Rahhh¡ª!"

    Slipping through crowds of people having similar conversations was a hooded man. He wore the Shadow Monarch''s Cloak, but because of the restrictions imposed on this world, the prominent shadowy effect of the Cloak had all but been erased.

    "Make way for her Highness, the 12th Royal Princess of the Mistalore Kingdom!"

    A boisterous voice suddenly boomed, causing Cassius to slightly lift up his icy blue eyes. Observing the beautiful figure that just appeared, his expression drastically changed.

    ''She''s not¡­ human,'' he thought.

    Her appearance, or at least the appearance everyone else was able to see, was that of a stunningly pretty girl with long braided snowy white hair and lightly shaded red eyes. She possessed a petite frame, had modest¡ªnot too small, not too big¡ªbreasts, and wore a black and red, partially armored kimono.

    But overall, she just looked like any other extremely gorgeous human girl.

    When, in actuality, she was anything but¡­

 Chapter 206 - 206: Yuna Mistalore

    ''Long, upward-curved horns that glisten like the most opulent of rubies, enchantingly fluffy gray eyelashes that flutter with an inhuman grace, and her concealed aura¡­ How intriguing¡­''

    Cassius had no idea what was actually going on here, but just knowing that she was not human meant that there were likely many complicated matters deeply rooted in this kingdom. If at all possible, he would''ve preferred to stay away from all the trouble. However, as the 12th Princess indifferently walked past the large sea of people he was blending in with, her jewel-like eyes darted toward him.

    It was only for a moment, but it definitely happened.

    And in that instant, as if instinctually, Cassius subconsciously realized that the trouble would certainly be coming straight to him¡­

    After that tense moment of eye contact passed, the 12th Princess, Yuna Mistalore, shifted her gaze away from him. Looking at the intimidatingly large colosseum looming over, she briefly paused.

    Taking a slightly longer breath, she ultimately approached the cracked colosseum doors and disappeared inside.

    That was when the peasants and lower nobles congregated around the colosseum finally learned to breathe. The heated discussions then resumed in a rather loud fashion.

    "So that''s the 12th Royal Princess?? I haven''t seen her in person until now, but she''s so beautiful! Possibly the most beautiful girl in the country!"

    "Indeed, indeed. She has a quiet, mysterious way about her. It really sucks you in and makes you want her to suck something else!"

    "What did you just say, you perverted bastard!? You won''t be getting within even a hundred meters of the Princess again! Why? Because you''re about to experience what it''s like to be a cripple!!" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Har!? You bastards wanna go at it!? Fine, let''s fight!!"

    A brawl started in the streets.

    The city guards eventually had to intervene, but by the time they got around to breaking up the fight, the perverted man had already lost. He had been beaten to a pulp, with his face more like a pig''s than a human''s. Furthermore, both of his legs and both of his arms had been shattered beyond recovery.

    Unless a benevolent Saintess or Saint assisted the perverted bastard, he would likely forever remain a cripple¡­

    Anyway, making use of the commotion occurring among the crowd, Cassius discreetly approached the two large colosseum doors and slipped inside. He did so unnoticed. However, once arriving on the other side of the large doors, he was almost immediately found out.

    "Another newcomer? And this one seems to like keeping things secretive!"

    A young man of around 23 years of age with medium-length blonde hair approached Cassius with a smug look on his handsome face. Upon getting a little closer, he bent down and looked into the hood, only to stumble back a step when he saw the cold pair of icy blue eyes hiding within the darkness of the cloak.

    Though, once he realized what he had done, the blonde-haired man coldly snorted. "Yeah, well, whatever, dude. I can be all mysterious if I really wanted to as well!"

    "Yeah, right."

    A mocking feminine voice sounded out from the side, prompting the blonde-haired man to shoot a nasty glare in a black-haired woman''s direction. "Are you itching for a fight, Diana? Because I''ll give you one."

    The woman called Diana scoffed before shifting her large witch''s hat a bit to the side. "A fight with you would be like battling a mentally disabled toddler, Christopher. That is to say that it wouldn''t be much of a fight. The negative karma I''d gain from such a scenario might even cause me some serious backlash!"

    "Why you¡­!"

    Christopher and Diana butted heads as sparks of anger flew all around.

    Cassius stood in the back, acting as if none of what was happening had anything to do with him. He was going to quietly vacate the scene. At least, that was until he heard a soft feminine voice that seemed to melt into one''s ears like honey:

    "You don''t need to concern yourselves with them. They''re like this all of the time."

    Looking toward the source of this beautiful voice, Cassius saw the same white-haired woman that those outside called the 12th Royal Princess. Her eyes still mildly glowed red like a warm sunset, and the calm way about her had not changed one bit.

    Holding one hand over the other and both hands on the pelvis area of her kimono, Yuna soothingly said, "I saw you outside. You''re¡­ interesting¡­"

    After processing the initial surprise, Cassius''s expression returned to complete neutrality. "I saw you as well, and I can reciprocate the feeling of interest."

    Yuna silently appraised his barely visible face. After a second, she walked to a spot beside him and said, "You can see them, can''t you? My unique qualities?"

    "You can tell?"

    "Call it intuition."

    "I see¡­"

    They once again entered a period of silence while apathetically watching Christopher and Diana butt heads. Others who came to take the Nightmare Slayer test eventually had to interfere, and only then did the heated air thaw out. Though, with hundreds of participants gathered here in this wide colosseum space and every single one of them prideful youngsters, more arguments were bound to occur.

    But out of everyone here waiting for something to happen, the two vastly contrasting figures standing to the far back seemed to be the most unbothered. They looked ahead, yet only appeared to be focused on one another.

    "Your name?" Cassius suddenly turned his head toward her and asked, to which she did the same and answered, "My name is Yuna. Yuna Mistalore. But you already knew that, did you not? Why ask?"

    "Isn''t it only proper to ask someone''s name?"

    Yuna thought for a second, then nodded. "Makes sense."

    Silence.

    Cassius had looked away from the short beauty, but seeing as her intense stare was still drilling into his side, he said, "My name is Cassius. Cassius Steele."

    Only after hearing his name did Yuna return to staring ahead.

    After a couple of seconds.

    "How were you able to see my true appearance?" asked Yuna, once again looking in his direction. "Even the Senior Nightmare Slayers, the Court Mages, the Royal Knights, and my father were unable to view my true appearance. So how could you?"

    Cassius faintly smiled. Without locking eyes with her, he said, "Call it intuition."

    Stare....

 Chapter 207 - 207: 313th Annual Nightmare Slayer Trials

    Cassius could, of course, feel those sparkling eyes of Yuna''s never leave his side, but he remained unfazed. He swept his gaze over the hundreds of young men and women termed participants. Although they varied in social status and wore clothing of differing quality, their power levels weren''t far apart from one another.

    Even with most of his abilities limited in this world, he was still very much capable of using the "Magic Eyes" that came as a built-in System Function. This was how he could accurately determine everyone''s approximate strength.

    [Christopher (Male Human)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

    [Approximate (Earth) Rank: A++]

    [Diana (Female Human)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

    [Approximate (Earth) Rank: A++]

    From what Cassius had learned on his way through the Royal City, there were five known Realms of power among those in the Land of Beginnings. Each one was further split into seven stages, and those Realms were ranked, from lowest to highest, as follows:

    1- [Apprentice Slayer]

    2- [3rd Class Slayer]

    3- [2nd Class Slayer]

    4- [1st Class Slayer]

    5- [Transcendent Slayer]

    Those of the 1st Class Slayer Realm could already become rulers of entire kingdoms once they served their time as Nightmare Slayers and retired. In fact, the current King of the Mistalore Kingdom was a 1st Class Slayer in the 2nd Stage, making him incredibly formidable in the Land of Beginnings.

    As for Transcendent Slayers, they were all but urban myths to the people of this world. None had been seen in the last few thousand years¡ªnot since the dramatic conclusion of the Battle of Nightmare''s End.

    That day marked the sudden disappearance of all Transcendent Slayers who had bravely fought to defend the world against the Nine True Nightmares, each of whom was said to be capable of battling Transcendent Slayers head-on.

    ''Based on the A++ levels of everyone here, I can see that the ranking system of this world goes far beyond the one I come from,'' Cassius thought with great interest. ''Furthermore, this also means that my strength and abilities are not necessarily restricted, but that this world has higher-level world laws¡­ or something¡­''

    Having read many cultivation light novels in his past life, he knew the classic higher-world tropes very well. The higher you go, the more gravity pushes down on you. It was the same situation here.

    Glancing over at the gorgeous petite woman still staring holes into him with her eyes, Cassius saw another System tag. This time, however, it was a bit more complicated than the others.

    [Yuna Mistalore (Female Human/Yokai Hybrid)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (7th Stage)]

    [Approximate Rank: S-Rank]

    ''Not even at the 3rd Class Slayer Realm and yet already an S Neutral Rank Awakener equivalent? How interesting¡­ This Slayer cultivation system is truly fascinating.'' S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Through books he had glossed over at small streetside stalls, Cassius learned of the Slayer ranks and how Slayers ascended those ranks. As the name implied, the simplest and most straightforward method to advance as a Slayer was to slay Nightmares that slipped through the world net and invaded the Land of Beginnings through space-time portals.

    Once one killed a single Nightmare, they would absorb the Nightmare''s power and officially become a 1st Stage Apprentice Slayer. From there, further progression would depend both on the number of Nightmares slain and the Nightmare Talent the Slayer possessed.

    As an inherent and typically unchangeable aspect of existence, Nightmare Talent was said to depend on the innate killing intent or murderous intent of the Slayer. This rumor was further backed by the extremely high affinity that the Devil race had with the Slayer Path. Even the lowliest among them had the potential to become 3rd Class Slayers¡ªan achievement often impossible for the majority of the human population due to a lack of Nightmare Talent.

    ''Nightmare Talent¡­ I wonder if I have any¡­''

    Speaking of the devil.

    "Welcome to the 313th Annual Nightmare Slayer Admittance Examination!" a clown-faced announcer''s voice rang out from an open-air cabin in the Colosseum''s far north wing. "Time has just run out for any new participants hoping to join, which means it''s now time to begin the Examination! As for what we''ll be examining? Well, of course, it''ll be your ability to survive¡­!"

    The clown-faced announcer received loud cheers aplenty. Yet, there was no one currently present in the spectator stands. The Examination Trials were private.

    "Thank you! Thank you very much, my lovelies!" the announcer said while acting coquettish. "Anyway, let the games begin!"

    Right as those words left the clown''s mouth, Cassius''s vision suddenly turned dark. The same thing happened to Yuna and the other participants standing inside the Colosseum.

    FWIP!

    When they opened their eyes, they no longer saw the large Colosseum walls. Surrounding them on all sides were now extremely tall trees that extended far beyond the visible skyline. Within the huge canopy of person-sized leaves that obscured most of their vision, there echoed blood-curdling shrieks that sent tingles down their spines.

    "Do you know where this place is, Cassius Steele?" came a soft feminine voice belonging to the mysterious 12th Princess.

    Cassius shifted his calm gaze toward her. "No, but I assume you do."

    Yuna stole his gaze. "This is the Hunter''s Jungle."

    "Is there a reason for that name?"

    "Yes," replied Yuna. "In this jungle located in a sub-dimension to our own, you are either the hunter¡­ or the hunted."

    Just then.

    "Ahhhh¡ª!!!"

    "Robert¡­!!"

    A young woman looked up in horror. Above her, the lifeless corpse of her boyfriend lay limp, pronged by several pitch-black jagged vines. Each of the countless points on the vines were wickedly sharp, and when they lifted Robert''s corpse further off the ground, a grating sound echoed. The jagged vines sawed in different directions¡ªcarving paths through Robert''s body¡ªand created the gruesome sight that followed.

    SPLAT!

    Just like that, Robert''s already empty husk of a body was forcefully ripped apart by the jagged black vines.

    The vines¡ªnumbering a little over a dozen¡ªquickly multiplied. More and more of them whizzed forward from the numerous tall trees that made up this unknown area.

    That was when Cassius and the others saw it¡ªa large face in a tree¡ªand there was one in each of the trees¡­

 Chapter 208 - 208: A Slayer Awakening!?

    [Nightmare Treant (Late-stage Rank 1 Nightmare)] X ???

    "...You''re a princess, right? Do you know what we should do next? For this Examination?"

    Hearing Cassius''s nonchalant question, Yuna shifted her serene red eyes toward his icy blues. "My status means nothing when it comes to the Nightmare Slayers. I know just as much as you do," she said calmly. "But if I were to make a guess, then I''d assume we just have to¡ª"

    Her figure blurred as she unsheathed a short blue wakizashi mid-air. Slashing out in a spinning motion, she lunged downward.

    SHING!

    "Esceeetch!!!"

    A jagged black vine was viciously dissected, causing the large face of one of the trees to scream out in excruciating agony, its ugly expression twisting in anger and pain.

    "¡ªKill them, don''t we?" Yuna finished where she left off. Looking behind her shoulder, her stunning beauty shone under the moonlight glow¡ªa sight which left Cassius momentarily breathless.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have a hard-on, dear Host~? I can see that little garden snake rising¡ª]

    The moment was instantly ruined by the annoying voice of the Idle Evolution System. Cassius clicked his tongue before resonating with the badass sword tattoo on his arm. A brilliant light flashed, and a sword as tall as an average human appeared. This meant the sword was at least six feet in length.

    Yuna''s eyes flashed with surprise when she saw Lilith. "You have a Slayer weapon?" she asked while dozens of young men and women were being shredded to bits by the Nightmare Treants. Both she and the man she was talking to seemed to treat everything around them with indifference.

    In response to her question, Cassius said:

    "Slayer weapon? Is that some way to refer to a bonded weapon?"

    Yuna: "..."

    Walking away from the tree monster she had made cry, she approached him. Once close enough to feel his breath mingle with hers, she looked him up and down a couple of times, then said, "You¡­ you aren''t from the Land of Beginnings, are you?"

    "Arggh¨C! My arm!! Someone, please fetch my arm!!!"

    "Is it your right one???"

    "Nooo!!!"

    "Then you don''t need it!"

    Ignoring the crazed ramblings of the screaming people around them, Cassius said to Yuna, "I have no idea what you mean. The Land of Beginnings has always been my home, same as everyone else. I just come from a very secluded area, thus some gaps in knowledge are present."

    Yuna scrutinized his serious expression in silence. After a couple of seconds of listening to more blood-curdling screams, she nodded. "I don''t believe you. But we all have our secrets."

    Cassius didn''t respond. He just stared at her until she turned away from him. She started to walk in a certain direction, and he walked in a direction adjacent to hers. They effortlessly dodged flying limbs and blood splatters while making their way toward two different Nightmare Treants.

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    Their bodies sped up. Dodging jagged black vine after vine, they dashed. Once making it a certain distance away from the hideous tree faces, Yuna slashed her small katana one way and then did the same thing in the opposite direction, creating a blue flaming x-mark that hovered in front of her. Pushing forward with the small katana, the flaming x-mark shot forward.

    SHINK!

    The x-mark sheared through dozens of the black vines before colliding with the hideous face of the Nightmare Treant she was targeting. The x-mark attack was blocked by a blackish barrier that protected the face of the crying tree monster, but the barrier only held up for two seconds before cracking and shattering. Then, without anything obstructing it, the x-mark attack cut into the face of the Treant, cleaving it into four evenly cut pieces. The rest of the massive tree was also badly damaged.

    After the kill was confirmed, a light black smoky substance leaked out from the desecrated Treant. The smoky substance zipped through the air at an extremely fast speed before entering the body of the apathetic 12th princess. She didn''t resist.

    OOOM¡­!

    A slight fluctuation in her aura occurred as her progress in the 7th Apprentice Slayer Stage advanced by a small degree.

    Following the acquisition of her gains from killing a Nightmare Treant, she shifted her curious eyes over to the Nightmare Treant sitting parallel to hers. Almost immediately, her brows raised as she saw a tree similar in size to hers¡ªone that she couldn''t even tremendously damage¡ªtip over and knock against a different Nightmare Treant.

    A handsome hooded man with a gaze as cold as the tundra sat where the tree was sliced in two. A black smoky substance, like what Yuna absorbed, also flowed into his body. However, unlike what happened with her, this absorption of the black smoke made Cassius''s once non-existent aura rapidly form and emanate outward.

    This event left Yuna feeling dumbfounded. If anyone else had been focusing on them instead of fighting for their lives, they, too, would have been at a loss for words.

    "A Slayer awakening¡­ But how is that possible?"

    No matter how the 12th Princess thought about it, she just couldn''t wrap her head around how someone as seemingly strong as him had yet to even undergo his Slayer awakening.

    Hell, everyone here¡ªand even the participants from previous years¡ªhad all undergone their Slayer Awakenings prior to taking the Examination! Whether through family funds or their own efforts, they were able to acquire weak or chained Nightmares to progress their Slayer Realm! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    None in the history of the Mistalore Kingdom had been daring or stupid enough to take part in the Nightmare Slayer Examination Trials without first stepping onto the path of a Slayer!

    It was simply preposterous to even consider such a ludicrous thing!

    And yet¡­

    What Yuna was seeing was unmistakable. There was no known way to replicate a Slayer Awakening, and there was no reason to do so in this perilous predicament. But then that begged the question:

    How the hell was someone so strong not yet a Slayer!?

    What was going on here!??

 Chapter 209 - 209: 3rd Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm

    In this world dubbed the Land of Beginnings, there were no second paths available to those born of lower standing. There was nothing besides the Slayer path for more than 99% of the population. After all, it was the easiest to pursue; all you had to do was purchase a caged Nightmare, like the ones Cassius saw in the Capital. You would then kill it, absorb its Nightmare Essence, and bam¡ªyou were now a Slayer.

    The rest of your path depended on the luck of the draw from there, as your innate Nightmare Talent could very well make or break you. And over time, you would eventually receive the chance to become an official Nightmare Slayer, not just a regular Slayer.

    As for the other, far more rare paths, such as the Knight or Mage path, they were a lot more difficult to advance in.

    Like the Slayer Path, you required Talent for the Knight Path, but it didn''t stop there, as you also needed special technique booklets, all of which were typically passed down in high-status Knight Households. For the common populace, such a path was essentially impossible to choose and pursue, especially considering how much the Knight households gatekept their Knight Techniques, treating them as if they were divine objects.

    Then there was the final Major Power Path in the Land of Beginnings¡ªnamely, the Mage Path.

    Mages drew from this realm''s version of Magicules, which they also just so happened to call Magicules. They absorbed them into their bodies and into something they called a Primary Core.

    The Primary Core was what stored all of the Magicules that one had culminated thus far. It also helped determine what Rank one was on the Mage Path. However, as for how to go about forming one of these Primary Cores inside yourself, only the relevant Magician Techniques would be able to assist one in gaining insight. But again, these Path-specific Techniques were barred off from the common populace¡ªeven more so than the Knight Techniques¡ªand were gatekept by extremely high-ranking Mage Households.

    But, seeing as Yuna¡ªone of the highest nobleborns in the Mistalore Kingdom¡ªhad not seen Cassius among any of the very few Knight or Mage Families, what she was witnessing made no sense.

    ''Is he from one of the neighboring kingdoms¡­? But the oceans separating us¡­ And our people''s extreme xenophobia¡­ There''s no way¡­''

    Immigration in the island-kingdom of Mistalore was basically non-existent. You were more likely to find a flying cock than you were to find an immigrant from a different nation. This fact was due not only to Mistalore''s dislike of anyone who wasn''t them but also to the vast expanses of water that raged between each island kingdom in the Azure Archipelago.

    To anyone who was anyone, the Azure Archipelago was the whole world. It was the Land of Beginnings. Whereas everything else beyond the Archipelago was just water, water, and¡ªguess what¡ªmore water.

    But as for the water that existed between each of the hundreds of island kingdoms in the Azure Archipelago, it was not of the normal variety. It was violent¡ªwild¡ªoftentimes unpredictable.

    There also lived terrifying sea Nightmares in those very same waters. Nightmares rumored to be larger than the largest of towns and cities¡ªmonstrous creatures that made entire fleets of ships vanish in an instant, never to be seen again.

    However, to get to the point that was causing Yuna Mistalore to stress so much, there was just no way that Cassius was so strong. Even if he were a hidden child of nobility, she would still know about it.

    But she didn''t.

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    Nightmare Treant after Nightmare Treant experienced a seemingly unlimited number of crimson-colored slashes. The innumerable black vines that acted as the weapons of the living tree monsters made no difference in the face of the power of a singular man and his bloody blade. The Treants'' black barriers also instantly faltered in the face of their combined power.

    "Esceeetch¡ª!!!"

    Nearly a dozen Nightmare Treants had their hideous faces mercilessly diced into bits and pieces. The massive trees they were connected to were smashed to smithereens, leaving the approximate vicinity a complete and total mess.

    While absorbing nine strings of black smoke, Cassius clenched and unclenched his fists. "Seems you were right," he said to the girl still motionlessly standing in front of the first Treant she killed. "Just killing them turned out to work quite well."

    *Ding!*

    [Awakened as a Slayer!]

    [Absorbed Nightmare Essence of a Late-stage Rank 1 Nightmare - Nightmare Treant -]

    [You have advanced to the 2nd Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm!]

    [Your connection with the Nightmarescape slightly deepens!]

    [Absorbed Nightmare Essence of 9 Late-stage Rank 1 Nightmares - Nightmare Treant -]

    [You have advanced to the 3rd Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm!]

    [Your connection with the Nightmarescape slightly deepens!] S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hmm?" Cassius briefly looked away from the stunned-silent white-haired beauty, his focus entirely on the System pop-ups. "Am I in the Nightmarescape right now?"

    *Ding!!*

    [Affirmative! The Host is currently in a sliced-off chunk of the Nightmarescape that was gathered and placed in the Kingdom of Mistalore by an ancient Transcendent-class Slayer!]

    This informative answer made Cassius immediately follow up with yet another question. "So that means 1 hour here would allow me to leave and return home?"

    *Ding¡­*

    [Yes, that is unfortunately correct¡­ And the worst part is that you haven''t even gotten to the fun part yet!]

    [What a bummer¡­]

    [Well, anyway, you will be forcefully teleported out of this Dimension as soon as the 1 hour passes. Time here will then stop completely, making it so that you can resume where you left off when you return!]

    "Like a video game?"

    [Yep! Exactly like a video game! Oh, and another thing to note is that time passes differently in this Dimension. An hour here will only be the equivalent of around half a minute in the outside world.]

    Cassius reeled back in pleasant surprise. He had not expected there to be such a large time difference¡ªor even one at all. But now that he knew this, it meant he could continue his time in the Nightmarescape and Land of Beginnings with peace of mind.

    ''Wait¡­''

 Chapter 210 - 210: Killing Thousands of Nightmare Triants

    "Is this the secret ploy devised by the System¡­? Clever¡­"

    [Teehee¡­ (©¤??©¤) ?]

    ''Again with the teehees,'' Cassius thought in exasperation. ''Sometimes, I love this System, and sometimes I just want to, ya know? Bart Simpson Strang¡ª''

    [Ahh~ The System loves you, too, Dear Host~!]

    [( ? 3?)??]

    A vein bulged in Cassius''s forehead, forcing him to vent on the nearest Nightmare Treants.

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    Massive trees fell in every direction, leaving many of the Nightmare Slayer Examination Participants in disbelief. Looking toward the source of this repeated occurrence, they were even more shocked to find that the one killing so many Treants and destroying the trees was¡­ none other than the unknown hooded man who had been the last to appear in the Colosseum!

    Christopher and Diana¡ªwho weren''t faring too well right now¡ªwere most surprised of all. While fending off the erratically lashing vines of the Nightmare Treants, their eyes always found their way back to the shadowy figure weaving in and out of black vines. That same figure cut down Treants like they were common everyday yard weeds, doing so without remorse or hesitation.

    A few of the more cowardly among the Participants thought to rally behind the hooded figure and walk along the path he carved out for them. However, even with that hopeful notion pushing dozens of people toward Cassius, they quickly came to realize that fending for themselves was a far safer alternative. Not only was he moving incredibly fast and bouncing from one place to the next, but countless Nightmare Treants were also focused on him.

    The total number of black vines crisscrossing through the skies¡ªgunning for Cassius''s throat¡ªamounted to tens of thousands!

    It was insanity!

    Christopher and Diana were quite proud of having taken down two or three of the Nightmare Treants, but they could only dream of comparing to the monster that was the 12th Princess. She had so far killed a little over 30 of the Treants, and for them, that was already ludicrous!

    And then there was the handsome hooded figure¡­

    Hundreds upon hundreds¡­

    After more than 40% of the Trial Participants had fallen in battle, Cassius had already slain several hundred Nightmare Treants. And from the looks of things, he appeared to be becoming more efficient with every certain number of kills.

    "Just what sort of freak is he¡­?" Christopher murmured to himself, feeling an awful amount of regret over how he had previously acted toward the freak in question.

    Diana¡ªwho was covering his ass while he was lost in thought¡ªlet herself be pushed back by multiple black vines. Once she was less than a few inches away from the blonde-haired Christopher, she angrily shouted, "You better get your head out of the clouds, you idiot! Start fighting harder!!"

    "O-Oh, yes!" Snapping out of it, Christopher wielded his longsword. He slashed at a few black vines trying to stab Diana in the back. Then, with a newfound level of focus, he placed his back against Diana''s. "You handle that side while I get this side!"

    "Already on it, you idiot," Diana spat back.

    Emitting a dazzling green light from her two short daggers, her 5th Stage Apprentice Slayer power exploded outward.

    Christopher revealed a small smirk before fixing his stance and encasing his longsword in a unique energy of his own. In front of him was an incoming lot of roughly fifty razor-sharp vines, all aiming to jam themselves up his bum and disembowel him.

    "First one to die has to pay for the next round of drinks!" Christopher shouted, to which Diana replied, "Deal!"

    SHING! SHING!

    Blades clashed with the sharp vines on that front. Yet similar events were occurring all over the wide-open forest space that placed them in the middle of thousands of Nightmare Treants. Some had tried slipping through this encirclement, but every attempt ended in the near-instantaneous fatality of the one who tried.

    To successfully make it through the Nightmare Treants, they would have to kill well over a thousand of them in a straight line. This meant they not only needed to bulldoze through a ridiculous number of Late-stage 1st Rank Nightmares, but they also had to fend off the joint attacks of countless more Treants. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Frankly, it was impossible.

    And for this to be part of the Nightmare Slayer Examination Trial was just¡­ straight-up crazy.

    Many lost hope once they calmed their minds enough to survey their surroundings and confirm this common hypothesis. From their elders, they had learned that the Nightmare Slayer Examination Trials were always different from the ones that came prior, but they had all been told the same thing: the Trial would seem virtually impossible to accomplish.

    If it wasn''t that way, then it was highly likely that the true Trial hadn''t even started¡­

    For Christopher, Diana, and any other promising Slayers, this was indeed an impossible task. It was one where they couldn''t even make use of their brains; they could only fight.

    Fight after fight, then more fighting¡­ It was not only exhausting but made everyone feel hopeless. Despair began to settle in the hearts of everyone still alive and fighting. And in their despair¡ªwatching as hundreds of people just like them were brutalized¡ªmore than forty minutes had flown by unnoticed.

    Yuna¡ªwho had been constantly thinking about the mysteries centered around a man she knew almost nothing about¡ªjust exceeded the 150 total kills mark. This astronomical number placed her at 2nd among all of the Participants.

    Altogether, the Trial Participants¡ªexcluding Cassius¡ªhad a cumulative Nightmare Treant kill count of well over 3,000.

    But even with such a number to serve as proof of their immense efforts, they had barely put a dent in the Nightmare Treant population. And because of mass panic, they weren''t able to focus on sweeping out the Treants in a singular direction. This meant they were still a long way from breaking through the tree monster encirclement.

    Or, at least, that was what they believed while stuck in an endless cycle of desperate, mindless killings¡­

    However, once someone opened their eyes to reality, everyone else quickly followed.

    And what they saw¡ªit was mind-boggling.

 Chapter 211 - 211: 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm

    "That freak¡­ He actually cleared out a path," Christopher mumbled, wide-eyed. That was when he noticed a large blue light that reached the tree canopy in height. "The transportation array that leads us out of this place¡­ It''s really there!"

    His voice made Diana briefly divert her attention away from a swarm of attacking black vines. Yet, even with a battered body and blood smeared on her face, one could clearly make out the shock etched across her delicate facial features. She absentmindedly deflected black vines while walking up to Christopher, where they both then began moving toward the distant shadowy figures still fighting in the background.

    A wide, fan-shaped path had already been cleared. Only fallen and demolished trees remained, with tens of thousands of Nightmare Treant corpses strewn about. Of course, they were drained of all their Nightmare Essence, so none of the other Trial Participants were able to reap any additional boons. But at the moment, none of them cared about something so trivial.

    More than 80% of them had died, leaving only the toughest, strongest, and highest-willed Participants still alive. To be entirely honest, those who remained were just glad to be alive, and even gladder to see a saving grace.

    However, while everyone traversed over the fallen trees in hopes of quickly reaching the shadowy figure and the 12th Princess, something shifted. A suffocating aura suddenly enveloped the entire forest, causing all of the Participants below the 6th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm to feel as if an entire mountain were pressing down on them.

    That was when ''it'' appeared¡­

    Made up of hundreds of Nightmare Treants all fused together into one singular organism, this massive, horrifying creature loomed over the treeline. It menacingly stared down at all the little people in the distance before letting its hollowed eyes fall upon the equally tiny shadowy figure blitzing right toward it.

    As soon as the colossal fusion of hundreds of Nightmare Treants saw Cassius, it honed in on him with a ferocity bordering on eternal hatred. It bellowed out a soul-shaking roar, then stretched out its large right hand¡ªwhich, just like the rest of its body, was constructed from a limitless number of black vines. Each individual vine in the arm began to crazily vibrate. Then, without warning, they extended forward, each one taking a different route toward the relatively minuscule shadowy figure below.

    Cassius¡ªas emotionless as always¡ªlooked up, only to see that the sky was almost entirely blotted out by the black vines of the giant''s right arm. His eyes flashed with sharp coldness before he bent his knees and sprang up like a broken coil.

    BOOOM!

    He instantly broke through the giant''s right-hand vine barrage and ascended to a height even above the giant, giving him a good view of the giant''s System tag:

    {[Treant Singularity (Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare)]}

    [(Earth-rank) Equivalent: S+ Rank]

    "Only at the Early-stage of Rank 2 and yet already equivalent to the S+ Rank?'' Cassius mused. ''Well, no matter. It''ll die and become my strength all the same.''

    With that thought echoing behind his flashing movements, he took Lilith and pointed her downward, then lunged in the same direction. Sonic blasts reverberated in his wake as he appeared in front of the Treant Singularity''s head. In that same instant, he blasted out the other side. A large hole was drilled through the giant, but seeing as it was still alive and kicking, Cassius blurred faster.

    Another hole was created in the Treant Singularity''s head. Then another. And another. Another, and another, and another¡­

    Finally, with no head or upper torso to speak of, the Treant Singularity collapsed to the ground on its knees. It no longer moved. Right after, under the wide eyes of all the other Participants, Cassius coolly landed on the mangled giant''s corpse. A big string of black smoke and appropriate System Notifications came his way, which he also took as confirmation that the Nightmares didn''t give EXP.

    Which was¡­ odd¡­ After all, everything hostile that was also alive should give Experience Points. And yet¡­ Hmm¡­

    That topic briefly lingered while the System Notifications rang: S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding!*

    [Absorbed Nightmare Essence of an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare - Treant Singularity -]

    [You have advanced to the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm!]

    [Your connection with the Nightmarescape moderately deepens!]

    And just like that, Cassius ranked up to the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm, bringing his power level to something anyone would consider insane for a newly awakened Nightmare Slayer!

    On a side note, Yuna managed to reach the absolute pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm because of all the Nightmare Essence she absorbed. Furthermore, her Nightmare Talent was considered superb, making it far easier to get the most out of every ounce of Nightmare Essence. This Talent would also make what came next¡ªthe solitary mediation and consolidation necessary to achieve the 3rd Class Slayer Realm¡ªfar easier.

    The bottleneck that prevented countless Nightmare Slayers from breaking through would be a breeze for her to overcome.

    Anyway, those like Christopher, Diana, and the other high-born noble children also made great progress from this extremely difficult Trial. Some were even close to breaking through into the 7th Stage. Of course, none of them got anywhere close to the same gains that monsters like the 12th Princess and Cassius obtained.

    Though, to conclude this grand Trial of boons and good ol'' fashioned suffering, Cassius leapt off the Treant Singularity''s corpse. He walked toward the enchantingly beautiful white-haired woman. Her glistening horns and predatory irises were obviously noticed by him and him alone, but he paid them no mind. Instead, he sauntered next to her and motioned for her to walk by his side.

    She did so without much thought.

    They leisurely approached the giant spherical light that encompassed all sides of the Nightmare Treant Forest. Ignoring the eager Trial Participants dragging their legs behind them, they seemed to be absorbed in their own little world. A world where a pretty, mysterious girl played a glancing game with an even more mysterious man of extreme beauty.

 Chapter 212 - 212: A Slayer Weapon

    While nonchalantly wiping out any remaining Treants that still dared to mess with them, Cassius became a bit curious. The girl strolling beside him didn''t talk much and also didn''t express many emotions. To understand her thoughts, the easiest method was to simply ask.

    Yuna was, after all, quite a straightforward and direct person.

    "What is it? Do I have something on my face?" he used the classic line.

    The response he received, however, was an unusual one:

    "No," she said. "Your face is perfect."

    Although a bit taken aback, Cassius continued his line of questioning. "So then what is it? Have you already fallen in love with my immeasurable charms or something?"

    Question marks appeared above Yuna''s head. "Love?" she repeated. "I don''t know what that word means. Why would you think I love you? I don''t understand."

    Silence.

    ''Talking to this woman¡­ it''s like talking to a rock¡­''

    The 12th Princess''s density level might''ve been even higher than his, which he didn''t even think was possible.

    But regardless of that useless information, Cassius heaved a heavy sigh. "You take everything so seriously. And here I thought you were a rebel of sorts. But honestly, you don''t seem like the type. You''re more of a¡­ like a robot."

    "A ro¡­bot? What does that mean? Can you eat it?"

    Cassius, feeling compelled to do so, petted the short girl''s soft bed of snowy white hair. "You can''t eat robots, but sometimes I wish I could eat mine. Maybe then it would shut up."

    *Ding~!*

    [You wish to eat me out~? You dirty dog, you~]

    [(???>©n<???)]

    ''You¡­ f*cking bastard¡­'' Cassius''s temples grew itchy the longer he thought about his System. ''Just wait until I figure out a way to eat you for real¡ªdevour you whole! Let''s see who''ll be the one cracking jokes then!''

    [Fufu~ I''ll be patiently waiting for that day to arrive~ Don''t keep a lady waiting for too long~]

    [(¨®©n¨°?)]

    ''Yep, that''s it¡­ Enough of the Bastard for today¡­''

    With that, Cassius tuned out the frequency that was his System, which meant Channel ''Bastard A*shole'' was now off-limits for the rest of the day. And rather than have his mind filled with every useless thing that spilled out of the bastard''s mouth, he much preferred the sparse exchange of words he had going with Yuna.

    Talking to her was like talking to an adorable girl apt at providing comedic relief, only to then enjoy a very satisfying stretch of silence. And if not for the yapping youngins yapping away in the background, it might have actually turned out to be a very pleasant afternoon stroll through haunted woods.

    Noticing his sighs, Yuna took the chance to ask, "About earlier¡ªyou experienced your Slayer Awakening, did you not?"

    She knew the answer but wanted to hear it from him personally.

    Cassius nodded.

    Yuna''s gaze intensified at that subtle confirmation. For the next ten seconds of walking and slashing, she didn''t once look away from him. Eventually, it became something he could no longer ignore. He shifted his eyes toward her while still moving forward, asking:

    "Something else you want to ask?"

    Yuna nodded once, then cutely nodded again. "That weapon of yours¡ªyou never answered my question: is it your Slayer Weapon?"

    Cassius blinked at her, then blinked again, and like a sloth, he recalled. "Ah, that. Yeah, I really don''t know what a Slayer Weapon actually is."

    "...And you''re sure you''re not from somewhere beyond the Land of Beginnings?"

    Cassius awkwardly scratched his neck. "I know nothing about anything beyond the Land of Beginnings. But even if I did, I''d likely forget it. As you can see, my memory is definitely not my most noteworthy quality."

    Yuna pondered his words, seriously. So seriously, in fact, Cassius wondered what part of what he said was so profound. Yet, he was baffled to hear her say, "Your memory is not good¡­ I see¡­ My name. Do you remember my name?"

    Cassius was speechless.

    ''Does she think I''m a f*cking turtle or something?? My memory isn''t that bad!''

    Despite his thoughts, he said, "Of course¡­ of course I remember your name."

    "Say it."

    "Pardon¡­?"

    Yuna tilted her head in confusion. "So your memory really is that bad¡­"

    Cassius''s face twitched.

    Sighing, he slowly and deeply said, "Yuna Mistalore. That is your name."

    "Say it again."

    "Yuna Mistalore."

    "Again."

    "Yuna¡­ Mistalore."

    "Do it again."

    "Yu¡­na¡­ Mist¡­alore¡­"

    Yuna nodded, then did so twice more. "Mhmm, I don''t think you have memory problems."

    ''Is that what you got from all of this¡­?? What the f*ck¡­''

    However, the next words to leave the 12th Princess''s pretty candy-red lips immediately intrigued him. "You want to know more about Slayer Weapons?"

    Cassius wasted no time in responding, "Yes, if you don''t mind."

    Yuna nodded, but then paused and closed her mouth. After a moment, she turned to him, extremely serious, and said, "I can tell you, but my name."

    "What about it?" asked Cassius.

    Yuna looked him straight in the eye and said, "You must say my name more often from here on out." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''What sort of request is that??'' he questioned skeptically, yet still replied with a nod.

    It was silent for a few seconds after that¡­

    "Are you not going to tell me¡­?" Cassius asked, unable to understand what was going on here.

    Yuna¡ªhaving not once looked away from him¡ªsaid, "You haven''t said my name yet."

    Cassius: "...."

    "...Yuna¡­ if you would please tell me, I''d really appreciate that¡­"

    Yuna nodded, her voice turning grave. "Very well, I''ll tell you, Cassius Steele from Isolated Land."

    ''She makes this sound so serious¡­ Is there something more to the details of Slayer Weapons than meets the eye??''

    Turns out there wasn''t.

    To summarize what she went on to inform him of: Slayer Weapons were essentially evolving weapons that advanced with their Host. Similar to how Lilith functioned, they absorbed part of the Nightmare Essence that entered their Host''s body before amplifying the amount and strengthening both themselves and their Host. Though, the craziest part had to be how one actually acquired a Slayer Weapon, as they were not externally forged.

    Rather, they were created¡­ inside a Slayer''s body¡­

 Chapter 213 - 213: Slayer Soul, Slayer Weapon, Daily Entry

    Slayers¡ªonce having achieved the Pseudo 3rd Class Slayer Realm¡ªwould acquire something that served as proof of their journey thus far. Namely, it was something called the "Slayer Soul" and would take on the shape of various weapons, all dependent on the unique qualities of the Slayer.

    After a certain amount of time, this Slayer Soul¡ªwhich resided somewhere in the mind¡ªwould begin to outwardly project a manifestation of itself. This manifestation was the "Slayer Weapon" that Yuna had been referring to. It was also one of the key steps necessary for breaking through into the 3rd Class Slayer Realm. Yuna would soon be taking this step herself, for she had just crossed into the Pseudo 3rd Class Slayer Realm. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "So, you thought I had one of these Slayer Weapons?" asked Cassius, nearing a pillar of blue light.

    Yuna nodded before her expression became a bit complicated. "I did. Well, at least that was until I witnessed you undergoing a Slayer Awakening."

    Cassius feigned ignorance. "I have no idea what you mean. Of course, I''ve been a Slayer, and you''re right; this is my Slayer Weapon," he said while reluctantly flashing the cool tattoo on his right arm. "The truth is that¡­ I''ve been concealing my true strength all this time! But now that you''ve found out, there''s no helping it¡­ Sigh¡­ Oh, the woes¡­"

    Yuna unblinkingly stared at him. From how expressionless her face was, it was clear she didn''t believe a single word that came out of his mouth.

    "You''re not a good person¡­" Although barely noticeable, a small pout formed on her normally stoic face.

    Cassius, of course, noticed this right away. A slight smirk formed on his face as an easygoing tune began to echo out with him as the source.

    Yuna returned to staring holes into the side of his face, seemingly entranced by how softly his lips pressed against one another. Her thoughts were unknown. However, to everyone cautiously trailing behind them, they couldn''t care less about what she was thinking. They only wished to leave this accursed forest and never look back.

    But with how leisurely the two leaders at the front were treating everything, they could only patiently and anxiously slug along behind them¡­

    Eventually, though, the spherical blue light closest to them arrived. Now, it was time to walk into it and see what happens.

    Just as Cassius was about to step into the light, he turned around and bowed slightly. "Ladies and Princesses first," he said politely.

    But Yuna was no blind fool. She could clearly see the conniving smirk plastered across his handsome face. Coldly snorting, she said in passing, "Hateful man."

    As soon as Yuna touched the blue spherical light, her foot turned the same color as the light. Then the rest of her turned blue, and within an instant, she vanished.

    ZIP!

    Cassius curiously lifted his head and looked at where the icy beauty once stood.

    The other participants also looked, though they expressed far more emotional surprise. Being first-time participants in one of these Examination Trials, they had no idea something as advanced as a teleportation formation was set in place. Though they did have their suspicions when they suddenly appeared in the notorious "Hunter''s Forest" from the Colosseum.

    It also just so happened to be their first time in one of the Mini Nightmarescape Dimensions that the country normally kept highly restricted. Even as noble descendants and high-borns, they hadn''t previously been allowed anywhere near something like a Mini Nightmarescape Dimension.

    After a brief period of silence and seeing the freakish man follow behind their princess, Christopher and the others started to sprint. They kept their distance when the scary pair was around, but now that they weren''t, they felt no reason to take things slow.

    With the ominous howls and scratching of the remaining Nightmare Treants serving as motivation, they bolted right the f*ck out of there!

    One by one, they entered the blue light, until eventually, all 70 or so of them successfully escaped the creepy forest.

    The forest returned to an eerie level of silence¡­

    ¡ª------------

    ¡ª Meanwhile, back on the Ascension Tower of Humanity''s Trial Floor (Earth), on the island that once housed the Peak-Purple Rank Gate "Oblivion''s Threshold" ¡ª some time prior to Cassius''s transportation to the Nightmarescape ¡ª

    "Hmm¡­? What''s this over here?"

    A government official from the United States had been surveying the ruined area for anything of note. That was when he saw a slightly cracked clipboard lying under a large chunk of whatever unknown substance the Gates were made of.

    Picking up the clipboard, the official read the first thing he saw. Every word caused his eyes to progressively widen.

    [Daily Entry #21]

    [Name: Cassius Steele]

    [Rank: Unawakened]

    [Affiliation: None]

    [Country of Origin: Japan]

    [Return Probability: 0%...]

    "I¡­ I have to report this up the ladder right away¡­!"

    His declaration was instantaneous, and his feet were just as quick as he ran out of the damaged dome in a panic. Others looked at him weirdly, but he didn''t even register their existence. His mind was wholly focused on informing his superiors of what he found.

    ''If this is correct¡­ then that means there was someone else inside Oblivion''s Threshold when it exploded¡­! But the reports from the S-Rank Hunters¡ªthey spoke nothing of an additional person. Now, either they were lying¡­ or something unexplainable occurred inside that Gate¡­''

    The government official was unsure which option was the truth, but either way, what he discovered here would surely make the higher-ups notice him.

    ''For fame, money, and women, I''ll personally bring this clipboard back to the US!'' he thought excitedly while boarding a helicopter currently in the process of taking off.

    ¡ª A few minutes later ¡ª

    The government official had gone through several higher chains of command. However, as a global crisis in the Antarctic had just been felt around the world, the news related to it caused him to be stopped in the White House. Sitting outside the President''s Oval Office, the official''s sweaty palms fidgeted above his black khaki pants.

 Chapter 214 - 214: Let The World Burn

    *Thwack!*

    A door was abruptly opened. It led into the Oval Office. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The nervous government official shot his eyes toward the door, only to see a man of great stature standing there. The man possessed an aura well into the S-Rank, with visible aura palpitations even stronger than Vera and Viola. His gaze was stern, his posture disciplined, and his orangish hair wild like a lion''s mane¡ªthis man was like the incarnation of an animal god.

    "The President is expecting you," he said in a deep voice. "Come inside."

    The government official anxiously bobbed his head before practically jumping off his seat. He hurried past the towering man, then heard the lavishly decorated door shut behind him.

    Upon getting a good look at the room''s interior, the official''s shaky eyes fell on the wizened old man sitting behind a wide desk in the far back end of the room. The glass window behind him reflected the setting sun very well, casting an eerie glow over his wrinkled face. Yet, even with age having taken its toll on him, he still held an air of fortitude. The way he crossed his hands just a little ways away from his mouth made him appear all the more menacing from the official''s perspective.

    "I hear that you have something you wish to show me?" the President''s gravelly voice echoed, his stony eyes piercing into the official''s soul.

    Finding his voice under the oppressive atmosphere in the luxurious room, the official said, "M-Mr. President, sir, right here in my hands is something that I believe could help us better understand the unexpected situation with the Oblivion''s Threshold Gate!"

    After a brief moment of thought, the President motioned to the large, lion-maned man standing beside him. The man vanished, then reappeared with the clipboard that the official held out. Without reading it, the man quietly handed it over to the President.

    Although the government official was stunned over what had just occurred, he quickly lowered his head and patiently waited.

    ¡ª After a few seconds ¡ª

    The President, showing a face that wasn''t pure indifference, handed the clipboard over to the lion-maned man to look over. He, too, after a moment or two, showed a complicated expression. They exchanged a certain look with one another, then turned back toward the government official, all smiles.

    "We appreciate you," the President said genuinely. "Without you, this peculiar case never would''ve been brought to the table. And for that, we thank you."

    The government official''s face visibly glowed as he lifted his head, prepared to give his humble response.

    But before that could happen, he felt the world around him¡­ flip upside down¡­?

    "Wha¡ª"

    SPLURT!

    The official''s head rolled off his shoulders and tumbled against the velvety carpet a couple of times before coming to a sudden stop.

    No change was made in the President''s eerily smiling expression as he handed a white handkerchief to the lion-maned man. Seeing as the powerful man now had blood smeared across his right hand, he surely needed something to wipe it off with.

    "It''s simply unfortunate that you knew too much," the President intoned, his face becoming ever more terrifying. "Make sure that everyone who knows about this clipboard¡ªwho isn''t with us¡ªalso meets their¡­ unfortunate ends."

    The lion-maned man nodded before disappearing once more, this time for good. In his wake, the now-bloody handkerchief fluttered down from a few feet off the ground. Eventually, the handkerchief landed softly on the happy face of the man who didn''t even know he had died.

    Smiling creepily, the President of the United States sat there in his black leather chair, unmoving. Only after a few seconds did his wrinkled face begin to twitch, causing his head to knock to the left and right every so often. Yet, beyond that, nothing occurred.

    For the next indefinite period of time, the President just sat there¡­ sat there and smiled¡­

    Meanwhile, the horrifyingly powerful lion-haired man¡ªotherwise known as the Lion King, ranked #7 in the World¡ªvanished and reappeared in several places across the United States. Every time he appeared, another head would roll. Clean-up vans would arrive on the scene within seconds each time this happened.

    And before long, there were no longer any more heads that needed to be chopped off¡­

    When the Lion King finished up his part of the tasks, the eerily smiling President looked down at the clipboard lying on his desk. Seeing the name written on the board, his head whacked itself sideways a bit unnaturally before returning to normal. Though, in the very next moment, the clipboard suddenly vanished.

    "Information has been stored in the Mothership¡­ The target has evolved beyond expectations and is now capable of destroying Gates," the President robotically muttered. "This evolution changes things. Requesting for protocol #490 commencement to be granted."

    A silence ensued, until eventually, an emotionless feminine voice rang out:

    "Permission¡­ granted."

    Before the President could respond, the feminine voice continued, "Malakar has been removed from his duties and was sent back to the Mothership to be prepared for recycling. The Mothership has determined you¡ªSeminar¡ªto be the next most suitable candidate. Do whatever it takes to lure ''it'' out. That¡­ Anomaly of a Floor Guardian has still not made a move even though more than half the world''s powerhouses are no longer humans. Take advantage of this and use everything at your disposal to complete the mission."

    "Understood," said Seminar, the President.

    The feminine voice didn''t sound out again. Radio silence followed, urging the President to cut off the connection and resume his creepy smiling session with the wall facing the front of his desk.

    Protocol #490 was promptly set in motion, and within mere seconds, every Extraterrestrial in the world received the same message. The message read:

    "Chaos, cause as much of it as possible. Throw the world into turmoil, incite wars, threaten each other, let¡­ the world burn. Follow these instructions as soon as the World''s End Gate opens. Save the humans from imminent doom, avoid the Abyss, and then drag the humans back into despair. Whatever it takes¡­ Whatever it takes, ''it'' must be brought out of hiding."

 Chapter 215 - 215: Grace and Flora

    Listening to the rest of the message, Extraterrestrials worldwide heard:

    "If the first part of the instructions doesn''t produce the desired results, then begin with the second part of the instructions. Threaten, capture, and torture every single human that we have allowed ''its'' son to get close to thus far. The plants have already been planted; your objective is to use them.

    And if in the end, gruesomely eliminating those close to the target does not work in forcing the target to call ''it'' out, then even more excessive measures will be required. By the time Protocol #490 needs to be put into motion, the world will already be ours, so everything will be at our disposal. Absolutely everything. Burn¡­ Burn out the rat to catch the snake."

    The message ended there, and all at once, hundreds of millions of ''humans'' returned to whatever they were doing. They acted completely normal¡ªvery¡­ human.

    ¡ª On an unknown mountain peak on Earth ¡ª S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A man adorned in ragged traveler''s robes tipped his straw hat down enough to fully cover his rugged features. He relaxed on a red beach chair. In his hands was the latest Playboy magazine, its explicit images eliciting occasional oohs and ahhs from the man with the straw hat.

    However, suddenly, the straw hat man looked up from his naughty magazine. His Magic Sense rapidly expanded and covered the entire world in an instant, doing so unnoticed by all. Specifically, though, his Magic Sense honed in on a certain part of the Antarctic¡ªthe part that was now split into two parts and currently sliding off one another, leading up to what would most definitely be a disaster.

    Seeing an old friend in the midst of a snowfield, the straw hat man''s eyes widened a little. He also noticed the crazed black-haired chick standing beside him, which made him give a casual comment:

    "It looks like my kid needs my assistance with that little wife of his¡­ But hmm¡­ He''ll never develop a good character if I help him now," said the deadbeat dad who not once helped his only son. "I''m sure he''ll figure everything out on his own. He is my kid, after all," added the narcissistic womanizing bastard. "Well, at least I know for sure he''s mine. I mean, just look at all the girls he has fawning over him. It almost makes him a tenth as good as I was when I was his age. Haha."

    With that, he returned to immersing himself in the pages that depicted the pinnacle of cultural advancement. Even as the world around him rumbled and quaked, his eyes remained glued to the magazine. Though, when he felt his son''s presence completely disappear, he looked up once more.

    But then he shrugged, saying, "He''s probably gone off to some faraway land to bring home another daughter-in-law. My son inherited all of my good qualities, after all, ha¡­"

    Following a reminiscent sigh mirroring his good ol'' days of cummin'' n'' going, he no longer paid attention to the ongoings of the world around him. Only the crisp sounds of him flipping pages of the stuff of legends could be heard from atop his lone, green mountaintop.

    The Extraterrestrials, on the other hand, freaked out quite a lot when Cassius mysteriously vanished. Just like when he went to HELL''s Gate Trial Floor, they tasked every one of their own with finding him.

    However, unlike the last time, when he disappeared for hours, all it took was half a single minute for him to reappear as a large blip on a map that revealed his approximate location. It wasn''t able to precisely determine his location, but it was enough to verify his place on this planet.

    Then again, it was also because of how vaguely his location would appear on the map that when the Aliens saw him appear at the Oblivion''s Threshold Gate a while back, they thought nothing of it.

    It wasn''t until confirmation of him entering the Gate came through that everything unraveled itself before the beings who descended to this plane from beyond the stars¡­

    But with the target now back at home base, everything in the world returned to normal.

    However, beneath the normality of it all lay an unforgiving undercurrent that only had one thing stopping it from erasing hundreds of thousands of years of human evolution¡­

    That thing being¡­ time.

    The Extraterrestrials¡ªlike many other beings lurking in the shadows¡ªwere just biding their time¡­ waiting for the most opportune moment to send the whole world into a pit that it wouldn''t be able to climb back out of¡­

    All for the sake of a singular being.

    A singular being who would change everything.

    Or nothing at all¡­

    ¡ª A few hours after Cassius returned to Earth from the Nightmarescape, a secret conversation between sisters of the Succubus race was happening in the Realm of Pleasure ¡ª

    Lazily laying off the side of her large fluffy pink bed was a gorgeous girl with long brown hair. She seemed extremely bored. And that was, in fact, the case.

    Hugging a big body pillow of a man who looked an awful lot like a certain handsome devil, Grace rolled around. Her boredom mixed with a poutiness that left her as a giant complicated mess. "That dummy," she mumbled. "He''s already become so close with my younger sister. Humph! Just a big dummy, that''s all he is!"

    Something rustled from a chair sitting beside her bed, then a wry feminine voice sounded. "You know I''m still right here, don''t you¡­?"

    Grace briefly turned her cute pouty face toward the stylish girl sitting on one of her many bunny-shaped chairs. An adorable snort echoed, followed by Grace sharply turning her face away from her sister. She rolled over as well, leaving her sister only the sight of her in bunny pajamas to look at.

    "I''m not talking to you right now, you meanie," Grace grumbled.

    Flora sighed. "I already told you that I''d help you sneak out of here and see him again, and it''s not like I knew you felt such a way about him. At least not at first¡­"

 Chapter 216 - 216: Floras Letter

    Elder Protector Violet had filled Flora in on any of the missing details that her mother¡ªthe Succubus Queen¡ªleft out. Violet did so by looking through the records penciled down by the ''fill-in'' parents at their House on Earth. It was because of these events that Flora was able to learn the whole backstory between her dear older sister and her First Mark.

    Grace snuggled her charming face out of her covers, body pillow still in hand. "You promise that you''ll be able to sneak me out of here to see him¡­? I¡­ I just don''t want to die without¡­ without first telling him how I feel about him¡­"

    Flora rose from her seat and grabbed her older sister''s trembling hand. "You''re not going to die; stop speaking such nonsense. And, of course, I''m a Succubus who keeps her word."

    Grace revealed a lovely smile as her eyes creased up like two rays of sunshine. "Thank you, Flora¡­ I-I really mean it."

    Flora silently nodded.

    While still holding her hand, she said, "I will, however, need you to understand that because of my first mark, I''ll have to rock the bed with him. It''s unavoidable. Else I''ll probably be the first one to die out of us sisters¡­"

    A bomb was dropped on Grace, and all she could do was bite her lower lip and drop her gaze from Flora''s. Grace''s eyes erratically flickered as she let go of her sister''s hand and returned to adorably sulking in her covers. She wiggled around a lot, twisting and turning, but Flora did not interrupt her. She simply let her do whatever she had to do.

    After all, Flora believed that she had already won this little game between sisters. It was also because of this belief that her smile twitched every now and then, seemingly trying to prevent itself from growing into a wide grin.

    Finally, after several seconds of tossing around, Grace brought her pouty face back to her patiently waiting little sister. With a preciousness that was hard to come by in this toxic day and age, she softly murmured, "Fine¡­ But only once to erase the mark you put on him! After that¡ªafter that no more! No, no¡­ no¡­!"

    "I understand," Flora replied with a small smile, inwardly celebrating. "I''ll only rock the bed with him once, then I won''t initiate anymore." ''He could always bring it up himself if he wants to go to poundtown again.''

    Grace unwillingly nodded, though her brows furrowed a bit as she said, "And no more saying ''rock the bed''! It''s¡­ It''s vulgar! And I don''t like it!"

    ''You only don''t like it because you''re secretly imagining the way I''ll be throttling him when we break the bed.'' Flora evilly smirked inside her mind, yet outwardly complied.

    Another few cute snorts escaped Grace''s eternally rosy cheeks before she rolled herself up in her blanket and turned into a burrito. Facing the opposite direction of her somewhat hard-to-look-at little sister, she said, "You may excuse yourself. I want to be alone right now. And if you meet Cassius, tell him¡­ tell him that I believe in him." She brightly smiled, but then realization shocked her expression. Rolling to face her sister, she slurred her words together, "But don''t say it as if I''m pressuring him or anything! I-It''s not like he has to take part in that dangerous Yggdrasil Tournament¡­! It''s just that¡­ that if he does, I''ll be here rooting for him!"

    Her expression suddenly changed again.

    "But, oh God¡­ What if the Yggdrasil Tournament really does turn out to be too dangerous¡­!? What if he gets hurt!?? Or worse?!? This can''t happen! You must tell him to forget all about the tournament!! Tell him to forget all about me¡­! Even if I do end up dying¡­ If I do die, I don''t want him to blame himself¡­"

    Turning her head up and focusing her previously unfocused eyes, she rambled, "Tell him to not worry about anything at all! Actually, I want to see him in person¡ª"

    That was when Grace realized that her little sister had already disappeared, leaving behind a letter that slowly fell to the end of her bed. Like a cold-started engine, Grace speedily unwrapped herself and jumped on the letter. Her prettily painted hands hurriedly ripped apart the letter. As her eyes scanned the content written on the paper, her complexion switched between green, purple, and red before eventually landing on pink.

    She tightly hugged her Cassius body pillow, mumbling with a deep blush coloring her cheeks.

    On the letter, a number of words were written, each one in Flora''s handwriting. They read: sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ll keep all my promises, dear elder sister. My sacred place shall only accept his raging dragon one time of my own volition. I promise not to catch any feelings as well, so he''s all yours in that department.

    As for getting you out of here, it will have to wait a few weeks, but I promise it will happen. When the Nexus Event for Earth occurs, Mother will be busy dealing with the aftermath that follows. Many Dimensions will involve themselves with the Ascension Tower of Humanity''s business¡ªincluding our Mother and the Aluria Family. This will be the only chance that I can have Elder Protector Violet slip you out of the Palace without alerting Mother or the other Elders. Then again, it will be quite dangerous¡­

    Though, I''m sure that won''t be enough to keep you away from your lover boy, will it?

    Oh, and Big Sister, you won''t be dying anytime soon. If you can''t trust our family, then trust your Cassius. Ha¡­ You should''ve seen how livid he became when I sparked up a conversation mentioning how I was your sister and how our Mother basically put you under house arrest. He definitely knows about our supernatural origins, but I''m pretty sure he thinks we''re blood suckers¡­ lol."

    The letter ended with that.

    "Shtupids..." Grace''s large brown doe eyes charmingly watered. "Both my little sister and Cass, both of them are just shtupid dummies¡­!"

    Her time of sulking and rolling resumed¡­

    It was a period in her life that was both self-realizing and, most of all, adorable as f*ck!

 Chapter 217 - 217: The Rushans Have Taken Master!?

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in the Ascension Tower of Humanity, where a flying silver trail of light darted through the late-night skies ¡ª

    Eventually, the silver light trail came to a stop on one of the many mountains in the Himalayas, somewhere in Asia. Once the dust and soot brought up from her crash landing dispersed, Yimin''s curious eyes shot all around until they ultimately landed on a woman who could only be described as a modern-day Egyptian Goddess.

    Sitting on a high-quality Chinese-style chair, Hellion leisurely sipped on a cup of green herbal tea. She was perusing an article describing what happened at the Antarctic earlier that day; however, once a small explosion occurred right next to her, she looked up. Her calm yet emotionless eyes locked onto the goofy, voluptuous dragon woman approaching her.

    "Yimin has come! Where is Master at!?" Yimin''s chirpy voice echoed as she looked all around, her tail wagging. Though, when she saw no Master and smelled no Master, her excitement instantly died down.

    Although a malicious aura pressed down on her, Hellion calmly said, "No need to get upset. Your Master may not be here, but I know how to find him, which I stated in the letter I sent by pigeon. Did you not get the letter?"

    "The letter?" Yimin''s menacing expression turned adorably confused as she placed her right index finger against her chin. "Oh¡ª" her irises suddenly flashed in realization, "¡ªyou mean the tweetie snack?? Yimin gobbled it up! It was so yummy!"

    "...Then how did you know to come here¡­?"

    Yimin proudly slanted her nose on an incline. "Yimin smelt Master''s scent in Yimin''s poo''s and followed it here! Wait¡­ Where is the Master!?"

    Like a mix of a forgetful turtle and a territorial lion, she returned to baring her fangs and claws, with her shiny silver hair standing on end.

    Speechless.

    That was what the millennia-old Sphinx was feeling at the moment. She had never¡­ not in her thousands of years of life, met anyone so odd. Though, considering Yimin''s identity as a species that shouldn''t even exist in the Ascension Tower, it made a lot of sense that she was a¡­ weirdo.

    Shaking her head, Hellion waved forward; a chair similar to hers was summoned from thin air.

    Yimin tilted her head. "Want Yimin to eat it¡ª?"

    "No, just sit," Hellion interrupted. "We have a lot to discuss. That is, assuming you still want to find a way back to your Master."

    Yimin thought about it, then forgot why she was thinking about anything. She plopped down on the chair, her tail still wagging. "So where''s Yimin''s Master?? Is Master playing hide and seek!?"

    She became excited again.

    She really, really¡­ really loved hide and seek.

    ''This girl is truly something else¡­'' Hellion thought with twitching brows. ''I just wonder how she was able to track Master''s scent here but not to where he actually is? Maybe this location was closer to her? No, that''s just silly¡­¡ª''

    "Ooh, a colorful birdy!" Yimin bounced out of her seat and Naruto-sprinted toward a peacock that had just ascended the small mountain they were on. "Yimin was just chasing so many of these colorful birdies before pooing and going after Master! Now, there''s more!"

    She quickly grabbed the peacock before bringing it back to her chair. She then forced it to stay still in her lap, all while swinging her head left and right in a jovial way.

    Silence.

    Hellion looked at this unusual silver-haired specimen, seriously wondering if she had some severe brain damage.

    After inhaling longer than normal, she exhaled. Her face returned to complete apathy as she said, "So how about we discuss how you''re going to find your beloved Master?"

    Hellion, the Hellish Sphinx, then went on to weave out a grand tale. She depicted Yimin as the protagonist that needed to venture into dangerous lands to save the damsel in distress, which just so happened to be her¡­ Master.

    As for where these dangerous lands were, it was obviously¡­ Russia!

    "The Rushans have taken Master!? Yimin won''t allow it!"

    OOM!

    Her aura erupted outward, creating waves of immensely powerful energy. Her presence became increasingly stronger, until eventually reaching close to the Mage Lord''s approximate power level.

    Hellion faintly smiled. ''This will work,'' she thought before saying, "If you wish to save your Master before he gets eaten by the¡­ Rushans, then you''ll need to head out now. Hurry, we must not waste any time."

    Yimin furiously nodded. "Yimin will save Master from the Rushans!! Thanks, funny-looking lady I don''t know!!"

    FWIP!

    Yimin took off into the skies like a silver rocket, leaving the dumbfounded Hellish Sphinx to her own devices.

    "...We live in the same house, you know¡­? We even serve the same Master¡­"

    Hellion sighed, then vanished as well.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe ¡ª

    Cassius, after meeting up with every woman in his household, decided to contact a peculiar girl who went to the same school as him. His time since returning to this world had led to many surprises, one of which was the announced kidnapping of Grace.

    ''Can it really be called a kidnapping, though¡­? Hard to tell¡­''

    His thoughts swirled around inside his head as he waited by the only train station in Hoshito. The reason he was waiting for showed up not even two seconds later, wearing a flowy white sundress.

    Flora walked over with slow, elegant strides. A lovely smile was plastered across her face, which would give one the illusion that she was some cheerful girl. But Cassius knew better. He became abundantly aware of what sort of person she was shortly after she approached him and dropped the bombshell that was Grace''s situation. He understood very well that everything he was seeing right now was merely a facade.

    But what puzzled him was what exactly her aim was.

    He knew not if she was actually Grace''s sister or if they were even related; after all, Grace never told him her last name.

    To be honest, his first assumption was that Flora was a Gremlin Extraterrestrial Fiend, but that idea was discarded as soon as he activated his S-Rank Extraterrestrial Sight Skill. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So, then¡­ What was the truth¡­?

 Chapter 218 - 218: Floras Proposal

    However, what Cassius could 100% verify the truth of was that Flora was not human. No human had fangs like hers, or bat wings, or the ability to hypnotically control people¡ªeach of which were abilities that she showed to him. From just this fact alone, he was able to put a certain amount of trust in what she said.

    But just in case, he kept his guard up.

    One could never be too careful in this world¡ªa world where anyone could be an Alien or even a woman/man in disguise!

    But regardless of Cassius''s suspicions, when Flora approached him and curtly bowed, he returned the gesture with a slight head nod. Getting down to the matter at hand, he coldly asked, "Why have you called me out here? I have many important matters I need to attend to."

    "I''m sure you do," Flora giggled. She strode up to him and interlocked her arm with his. "Don''t you wish to know more about Grace''s current situation? My mother does not play around, you know?"

    Cassius broke free from her soft, cushiony grasp. "I have no interest in playing this game with you," he scoffed. "Just tell me how to bring her back."

    Of what Flora told him, she left out a few very important key details. One was that they were Succubi. Two was that their family was also working toward acquiring a cure for Grace. And three, Flora didn''t state precisely how long Grace was to be kept under house arrest. For all he knew, their mother would lock Grace away past the three-month deadline, thus preventing him from having any hope of giving her the cure.

    Flora had, of course, left out all of these details on purpose. How else would she have gotten him to stay hooked on the line she threw out?

    If she were stronger than him, then everything would''ve been far simpler, but even with her Succubus Awakening, she still felt inferior.

    When she looked at him, it was as if she was staring into a bottomless abyss...

    Merely imagining his Essence was enough¡ª Ahn~ ¡ªto make her feel weird¡­

    She squirmed in place after being harshly rejected by her First Mark, seemingly obtaining a similar fetish as the Voidling Guild Leader¡ªanother batsh*t crazy lady.

    Cassius''s lips curled in disgust while looking back at her. ''Another one¡­?'' He was beginning to believe that his luck with the ladies truly was the worst.

    However, for Grace''s sake, he had no choice but to entertain the antics of this extremely unusual girl. "Tell me," he said non-negotiably. "Where is Grace being held? And how strong are those in your family?"

    Flora gazed into his striking blue eyes. Unable to hold back the laughter, she gracefully placed a hand over her mouth. "You''re serious, aren''t you? Haha~ You have a far better chance of winning the entire Yggdrasil Tournament than getting my elder sister away from Mother. At that point, you might as well become one of the Ancestors of the Ascension Tower! Pfft~"

    Cassius blankly stared at the laughing girl as they boarded a train headed outside of Hoshito. They weren''t heading anywhere in particular but decided the most isolated parts of a public train to be the most optimal place to talk.

    He sat down first, with no one around him. Flora, interrupting this solitude, plopped her ample bottom on the seat right next to his. Her butt brushed up against his hand, forcing him to hold onto one of the hanging metal poles.

    "I turn 18 years old in a few weeks, you know?"

    Cassius turned his head in her direction. Her eyes sparkled with hope, a dreamy smile playing on her lips. He sighed, leaned closer, and said, "Listen, kid. I''m gonna be frank with you¡ªI don''t give a f*ck. I don''t do minors. I''m not a soda machine."

    Memphis was also a minor, but her case was different. He let her get close to him because she had no one else in her life following her father''s death. And it wasn''t like they had intercourse or anything of the sort, which was exactly what this fox-like girl sitting beside him wanted.

    Flora''s lips puckered. "Not even for little ol'' me~?"

    "Definitely not for you."

    Oof!

    Flora took critical damage, but this was not enough to keep her down. Thinking quickly, she said, "You have big dreams of saving my elder sister, don''t you? Well, to do that, you need to get into Yggdrasil and participate in the Tournament of Yggdrasil. And you need to win."

    "I know that already¡ª"

    "But do you know that the Tournament of Yggdrasil itself is open to all, but getting into Yggdrasil is virtually impossible unless you''re a high-ranking faction on the 6th Floor of any Ascension Tower? And even then, those factions only receive a very small number of Yggdrasil tickets."

    A frown formed on Cassius''s covered handsome face. ''If what she says is true, then I''ll need to rethink my plans,'' he thought. ''Also, from the smug way she''s talking, it''s obvious that her family has one of the required tickets, which means¡­''

    He assumed she was joking or exaggerating with what she said about Ancestors just a second ago, but that could very well be the truth. Just the Trial Floors of the Ascension Tower of Humanity and HELL already had S-Rank organisms residing within them. Moreover, merely the 1st Floor of HELL had Demon Kings an unknown ways into the SS-Rank.

    As for the higher Floors, it was only natural to assume that the beings became progressively stronger the higher one ascended. Using this logic, if only factions on a 6th Floor could have a chance at entering Yggdrasil, then this cheeky girl''s family¡ªher mother, who was presumably a matriarch of sorts¡­

    ''Just how powerful is she¡­? More powerful than a 2nd Class Slayer?'' S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He wasn''t positive if that were the case, but if Flora and Grace''s mother were indeed at such an insurmountable level, then his hurdles¡­ just multiplied¡­

    To understand his unrest at this information, one would need to turn back the clock to just after Cassius returned from the Hunter''s Forest in the Nightmarescape.

    He managed to make it out of the Colosseum and into the Royal Palace with the rest of the survivors. In there, he was aggressively questioned by several ridiculously powerful entities who, according to Yuna, were 2nd Class Slayers. Above them, however, sat an even more stupidly broken being¡ªKing Mistalore.

 Chapter 219 - 219: The Nexus Event?

    Although the King never said a word, his Ministers¡ªthe 2nd Class Slayers¡ªhounded him about what occurred in the Hunter''s Forest. Normally, 95+% of the Participants died when taking their Examination, but this time, only a little over four-fifths of them met their demise. This anomaly raised suspicions among the Royal Court, and with Cassius''s unknown origins, those suspicions were raised even higher¡ªespecially when they found out from the other Participants that he alone paved a path out of the forest.

    The King''s expression briefly changed when he heard all the Participants'' accounts, but he still didn''t say a word. Like a menacing man of stone he was.

    Toward the end of a borderline interrogation session, the Ministers of the Court nearly seemed to be on the verge of taking him into the back to be tortured. But just as Cassius predicted¡ªand also why he did everything as he did¡ªthe 12th Princess spoke up on his behalf. This also elicited a small reaction from the stoic and burly King. And in the end, her words silenced the Ministers. Ultimately, the decision for what to do with the freakish young man was left up to the King.

    And what the King did next was precisely what made Cassius add several additional layers to the severity of Grace''s predicament. The King, without moving an inch from his spot, merely looked at him with a bit more focus. And just that was enough to¡­ bring him to his knees.

    The pressure was so overwhelming that Cassius felt as if the countless billions of pounds he was carrying on his person weighed less than a feather in comparison. Just half a nanosecond longer of that insane pressure and he absolutely believed that he would''ve exploded on the spot.

    But in that same instant, the King reduced the intensity of his gaze. To those in the Court, he seemed oddly¡­ satisfied.

    And then, for the first time since the winning Participants were brought into the Court, King Mistalore spoke up. Though, he said but three words:

    "Leave him be."

    The Ministers all looked as if they were betrayed, but none of them dared to even so much as breathe incorrectly in their Liege''s presence, let alone question his final decision. Thus, they let the matter end there.

    Though, they did have one more question which pertained to Cassius''s eligibility to become a Nightmare Slayer. However, seeing how menacingly their King was staring at them, they knew full well what he would say if they asked him something so stupid. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And just like that, Cassius became an official Nightmare Slayer!

    But just as the Ministers unwillingly reached his name when calling out where every Newbie Nightmare Slayer would be stationed in the Nightmarescape, time froze.

    The Idle Evolution System said that an hour had already passed inside the Hunter''s Forest, but decided to do a one-off thing of extending his time. However, that same extension ended very abruptly. Then, just like turning off a gaming console, Cassius returned to reality.

    Only 20-something seconds had passed since his departure into the Land of Beginnings.

    But the chaos he left behind before leaving¡­ was still very much there to greet him upon his return¡­

    Of course, like the responsible adult he was, he slipped away from the catastrophic scene in the Antarctic, and instead spent his time in the company of gorgeous women! This was the responsible thing to do!

    Then Flora''s phone message came along, and now, here we were, on a train heading to nowhere land.

    "So what you''re telling me is that to get into Yggdrasil, I have to, what? Join your Family?"

    Hearing Cassius''s question, Flora giggled. "Yes, that''s what I''m saying," she said. "And for this to be possible, you have to¡ªone: magically become an Incubus¡ªand two: compete in the Family Yggdrasil Entrance Tournament being held in roughly two months'' time. Of course, to take part in the Tournament, you have to be a part of the Family. But worry not, because I gotchu covered! And I also know of a method to help you easily acquire an Incubus Bloodline!"

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed. Everything sounded far too good to be true. Furthermore, there was one more pressing matter of concern:

    "What is it that you get out of this?"

    His question got straight to the point, catching Flora slightly off guard. Her bubbly and friendly facade nearly cracked, but she just barely managed to save herself in time. "I have only one thing I want," she said endearingly. "My elder sister''s well-being. And if you have even the smallest chance of acquiring a cure for her illness, then I don''t care what I have to do to help you."

    It wasn''t like she was entirely lying; she truly meant what she said about her sister. But she may or may not have left out the fact that she wanted to bone the shiz out of Cassius.

    All for the sake of him being her First Mark, of course!

    Probably¡­

    Well, considering that he would be quite literally drained to death by the time she was done with him, Flora preferred not to think about catching the feels. He was handsome and cool, and oddly sweet to those around him, but¡ª

    ''This whole "remain a fortress of solitude" may turn out to be a whole lot tougher than expected¡­''

    *Skirrrrrttt¡ª*

    Flora''s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the blaring sound of the train coming to a halt. Her head jolted back before restabilizing. But when she came to, the man who was sitting beside her was now sitting directly in front of her.

    "What do I need to do?" asked Cassius, his tone colder than ice.

    Although momentarily dazed by the way he was glaring at her, Flora retained enough clarity to say, "Hit my number in 2 to 3 weeks'' time, right after the Nexus Event truly concludes. Once that time arrives¡ªassuming it does¡ªI''ll tell you exactly what you must do to obtain an Incubus Bloodline."

    Cassius silently pondered.

    ''The Nexus Event¡­ I want to ask her what that is, but I highly doubt she''ll answer for free¡­''

 Chapter 220 - 220: Allow Him To Fight In Yggdrasil!?

    After a brief pause, Cassius said, "Very well. And Flora¡­ Do not betray my faith in you. If you lied to me about any of this to get back at Grace for reasons I don''t care about, I''ll simply have to¡ªkill you."

    Even if he was almost positive this stylish girl and the meek Angel were indeed related, he knew how messy a family could get. If things really came down to it, family members could stab each other in the back¡ªthe worst kind of betrayal.

    Nonetheless, when those final words left Cassius''s mouth, the inside of the train all of a sudden turned dark. Then, with the screeching of the train''s brakes, light returned.

    But the shadowy cloaked man had mysteriously¡­ disappeared.

    Flora struggled to budge from her spot for the next ten minutes, with her thoughts still filled with Cassius''s threats. And then there was the way he looked at her¡­ Oh, that look! It was so¡­ it was so¡­ f*cking hot¡­!

    Creepy, perverted laughter bounced off the thin metal walls of the train. And it also just so happened that a purple-haired beauty was experiencing something similar from a few hundred miles away¡­

    Yet, there was one more. Someone, who less than a few hours ago, was reduced to a mere husk of the person she once was. Now, however¡­

    "My Husband! Mhm!! My Husband~!!!"

    Bella was rolling around on her large velvety bed in Nightingale. Her lips were curved up eerily, yet her beauty still remained unmatched. No matter how mentally insane she became, that fact never changed.

    During the first couple of hours following Cassius''s mysterious departure, she had been lifelessly meandering around in her own thoughts. Moreover, outwardly, she was unmoving.

    However¡­

    Once a certain amount of time passed, Bella just seemed to¡ªsnap¡ª

    She moved once more, wiped away her dried-up tears, and then began flicking her bean off to one of the countless pictures of Cassius that she kept stapled on every part of her room. Though, once she realized that such mediocre methods of self-pleasure were far from satisfactory, she quit horsing around and began devising a plan to win her Husband back.

    Although Bella understood more than anyone else how she screwed up, that in no way meant she was ready to give up! Her hubby was her light; he was the stars in the night sky!

    There was simply no possible way she''d give up so easily!!

    Her love was boundless¡ªand her insanity even more so!!!

    "I know what I must do!" Bella suddenly exclaimed, then immediately bolted out of her suspiciously drenched room.

    Once she made it in front of a pair of large, Gothic-style doors, she barged in. The first people she saw were her silver-haired father, with her s*xy mother sitting on the side of his throne. She was combing his soft hair with her hands before her daughter appeared, but, much to Alaric''s dismay, she almost instantaneously retracted her hand.

    Bella rushed past the motionless black-armored guards standing on both sides of the throne room. In an instant, she was already honing her pleading eyes on her father.

    "Please¡­!? Pwetty, pweety, please! With a cherry on top!??"

    Alaric blankly stared at his daughter. They both knew full well what was being asked of him here. But no¡ªhe wouldn''t do it.

    Under no circumstances would he allow something so disgraceful to occur in his noble Duke Family¡ª!

    "Won''t you at least consider hearing her reasoning, my dear?"

    Carmilla''s charming voice instantly silenced whatever the Vampire Duke was going to say. His awkwardly opened mouth closed, then his brows furrowed. He deliberated this matter very seriously, but under the puppy dog eyes of his precious daughter as well as the striking red eyes of his wife, he folded.

    "Fine¡­" He sighed. "You may speak."

    Bella''s vortex-like irises swirled radiantly. "Well, Daddy, first, I want to be allowed to go back to Earth¡ª!"

    "Denied."

    "Dear¡­"

    Alaric''s expression contorted rather difficultly. He clenched his throne, causing it to crack. And then, with a defeated voice, he said, "Very well¡­ But only for the next 10 or so days. The Nexus Event is occurring soon, and even Vampire Duke Descendants are not safe. Also, that bastard''s son¡ªyou''re not allowed to interact with him anymore¡ª" However, before he could speak further, Bella interrupted him, saying:

    "No can do, Daddy! Cass is my husband! No wife should be separated from their husband for too long!! Plus, the red moon is still out; we still have time!!"

    "He''s not even actually your husb¡ª"

    "He''s my husband!"

    "But, he''s really not¡ª"

    "He. Is. My. Husband," Bella slowly iterated, her eyes becoming scary. "K, Daddy?"

    Alaric helplessly looked at his even more helpless daughter. His helplessness became even worse when his mischievous wife gave him a cheeky look with her eyes. He shook his head before asking, "Beloved daughter of mine, what is it that you hope to accomplish by involving yourself with that boy again? Just entering the Humanity Tower''s Trial Floor with a mere incarnation cost me dearly; I won''t be able to go down again. The window is gone. So tell me; what do you hope to accomplish?"

    Bella lovingly grinned. "My Husband hates my guts, Daddy, you know that," she replied. "But seeing as I want him in my guts, I got to thinking!"

    Conveniently ignoring the palpable silence in the air, Bella continued, "My Cass is also someone who pursues benefits. So, then I thought: Well, what could benefit my Cassy Wassy? And the answer was so simple! I''ll just give him my ticket to enter Yggdrasil! I''ve noticed that he enjoys fighting, so¡ª"

    BANG!

    Both armrests of the Duke''s throne shattered, followed by a terrifying aura being unleashed from him. "Unacceptable!!" he roared. "I shall not allow it!!!"

    Seeing his unrest, Carmilla tenderly rubbed his shoulders. "Calm down, my love."

    "You''re also supporting such nonsense!?" Alaric flashed her a fierce glare.

    Carmilla shook her head. "Of course not," she said. "But I have an even better proposal in mind. I heard from little Bell that the boy has what should be your Vampire Duke Bloodline, or rather a diluted version of it as he is not a true descendant but instead a Turned."

    Ending on a high note, she said, "So how about this: what if we invite him into the Family and allow him to fight for one of the Yggdrasil Tickets that we''re still deciding what to do with?" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!?!?"

 Chapter 221 - 221: Perhaps He Likes Men...?

    "But he''s merely from a Trial Floor! His power will not make a difference in Yggdrasil! He''ll be out in the first round¡ª"

    "Surprises often come in the strangest of forms," said Carmilla, her voice like honey in her husband''s ears.

    That, or the words of a hypnotic she-devil¡­

    Either way, Alaric, the pushover, couldn''t retort. He frowned, then entered deep thought, and finally, he said, "Very well¡­ But only a single drop of Rank 6 Vampire Blood shall be given to him to upgrade his Bloodline! Anything past that will have to be earned by him."

    Bella furiously nodded before leaping. She wrung herself around his neck, rubbing her cheeks against his. "Thanks so much, Daddy!! I promise that you won''t regret this!! My Husband¡ªhere I come!!!"

    With that, Bella transformed into a bat and escaped through an open window before speeding off into the distance.

    "...I''ll definitely regret all of this¡­"

    "Fufu~" Carmilla giggled cheekily. "Perhaps this is how our baby girl either hooks this guy or finally comes to terms with her misdeeds and rejection. But I do wonder¡­ Is she not aware of what one of the prizes that the contestant who takes home Gold will get this Century?"

    Alaric scoffed. "It doesn''t matter. That womanizing bastard''s son will never make it past even the Preliminaries with his level of strength. Forget winning it all, I doubt he''ll even make it past the front door!"

    Carmilla giggled. "Only time will tell, my dear." Then, her eyes misted over. "Now, what say we have a little time to ourselves~? You''ve been wanting to try that hand thing, haven''t you~?"

    Alaric nearly salivated at the mouth.

    Once again, he would be bent to the will of his Succubus of a wife¡­

    Oh, the woes¡­!

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in Hoshito, Japan, Earth ¡ª

    FWIP!

    Cassius just returned home and was immediately greeted by a stunning blonde-haired beauty as soon as he walked through the front door. There she was¡ªAya¡ªstanding there in one of his loose t-shirts and a pair of pink-laced underwear. Her hands, which were sleepily rubbing her eyelids, were suddenly put down.

    She saw him.

    They looked at each other, each silent.

    Then, Aya''s cheeks became redder and redder, until, eventually, she screamed. "Ahhh! Y-You pervert¡­! S¡­ Shtupid big brother! So, so, so shtupid!!"

    *Thud, thud, thud.*

    Her hurried footsteps reverberated as she raced up the main marble stairway of their mansion. A loud door slam followed.

    "Well¡­ That could''ve gone better¡­"

    [Indeed¡­ Host has negative aura¡­ When a woman of any kind sees him, they immediately flee¡­ How does one go about acquiring this Skill? I, the System, wish to add this to the database.]

    *Bzzzztt¡ª!*

    Even Lilith¡ªin tattoo form¡ªvibrated in a low hum, clearly conveying its disappointment as well.

    "You two¡­" Cassius went to say something, but just ended up sighing. "I promised Aya that date this weekend; perhaps I can smooth a few things out with her then¡­"

    [Good luck with that! (He''s definitely going to f*ck it up.)]

    Lilith agreed with a slight buzz.

    Silence.

    It was extremely quiet¡­

    Until it wasn''t.

    "What was that scream all about?"

    A soft, melodic voice found its way into the ears of a devilishly handsome man who just couldn''t seem to catch a break today. He bleakly shifted his gaze toward the source of the voice, with him quickly laying eyes on an alluringly beautiful silverish-blue-haired woman wearing tight dolphin-patterned pajamas. But with how large her soft bosom was, several of the pajama''s buttons appeared to be on their last legs. They looked as if they were attempting to hold two parts of a massive boat from breaking away from one another.

    Magnificent.

    "Hello? Can you hear me?" Stella got close to him, with her voluptuous mountains of jelly jiggling all up in his peripheral vision.

    ''I think I need a larger field of view, because my screen just isn''t big enough to render anything else right now,'' Cassius thought to himself, yet vocally replied, "Yes, I can hear you. I was just spaced out for a second."

    Stella carefully inspected his expression. "I see¡­ Well, anyway, what was that about with Aya?"

    "Nothing much¡­ I just don''t think she was expecting male company¡ªdressed like that."

    "Ahh, yeah," said Stella. "We thought you would be gone longer than you were. Which reminds me, there''s also someone else dressing a bit¡ª"

    "What was that ruckus just now?"

    Walking around a corner was the gorgeous MILF who took up residence in the Steele Mansion. Her silky hair; long and golden, her eyes like pools of liquid gold, her milk makers like round and supple hilltops. Then, there were her child-bearing hips and donkalicious a*s, well¡­ nothing more needed to be said there. The tantalizing sight presented before Cassius''s innocent, virgin eyes was words enough.

    Sasha''s expression drastically changed when she saw just who was standing in the middle of the wide hallway. Slowly, she looked down at her barely dressed upper half, noting what was most definitely a slipped-out pink nipple. Then, with an explosion of smoke from both her ears, she ran back around the corner she just came out from.

    "C-Cassius¡­ Forg¡ª"

    "Already forgotten," said Cassius, his tone reassuring. "It''s very dark in here, after all."

    While gradually sliding down an unseen wall in embarrassment, Sasha faintly smiled. Her heartbeat quickened unnaturally, prompting her to tightly clutch the area above her heart. ''W¡­ What is this I''m feeling right now¡­? I shouldn''t be¡­ I can''t. I''m married. So then why¡­??''

    "Seems like Master is being productive as always."

    A different voice sounded out this time, coming from a small mahogany dining room table that sat under a dim lightbulb glow. Sipping tea while looking at recent news related to one of many consecutive terrorist attacks on Russia was the tan-skinned goddess-like woman¡ªHellion.

    "Why are you always sitting ominously like that¡­?" Stella asked.

    "Because my Master likes a woman who quietly observes," replied Hellion.

    "He does??" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Who knows? I was kidding."

    "...."

    Hot air escaped Stella''s pursed lips. "All the girls who call you Master are insufferable, Cassius. This one most of all. Humph!"

    She got her hopes up and everything! But nope, back to square one she went! Still completely in the dark about what Cassius''s ideal type was!

    Perhaps he likes men¡­?

    No, surely not¡­

 Chapter 222 - 222: Approaching the ArchDemon Rank

    Cassius silently observed the cute interaction between Stella and Hellion. However, his expression quickly changed when he received a mental message from the enchanting woman who was still calmly reading a news article.

    ''I sensed your connection with HELL worsen. Things have changed; assuming you still want to keep your status as the 73rd Demon King, you must enter HELL sooner than expected. And even if you wish to cut your losses on the Demon King Bloodline, I must implore you to reconsider; Bloodline retraction backlash at this stage will be disastrous. With the Nexus Event for this Floor rapidly approaching, I would not recommend taking the chance.''

    Cassius''s brows knitted together, but he nodded nonetheless. ''I understand,'' he responded back. ''We''ll return within the next few weeks. By then, I hope to still have you as my Guide through HELL. To me, you''re indispensable.'' S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hellion unnoticeably smiled. ''Of course, Master. I''ll be with you until the end. No one is more interesting than you, after all.''

    Noticing how quiet it was, Stella suspiciously eyed Cassius and Hellion. She felt something wasn''t right. But she couldn''t pinpoint exactly what that something was.

    "Humph!" was all that wound up leaving her mouth.

    Her grumbling, however, broke the concentration that Cassius and Hellion had on each other. As a result, they silently parted ways, with Hellion remaining in place and Cassius ascending the stairs of the mansion. He noticed Sasha on his way up with the help of his eye-related skills, but he didn''t do anything about it. He simply continued on his way, with Stella following closely behind.

    "You have something planned with Sasha, don''t you?" Stella asked, her tone emulating her displeasure.

    Cassius nodded.

    Stella''s cheeks puffed with air as she snorted¡ªmore than once. It wasn''t until they''d almost ascended the lengthy staircase that she tugged on the back of his cloak and said, "You''ll take me out somewhere as well, right? We still haven''t really talked about our mothers much since that incident with the MoonShiners. I¡­ I was just wondering if they were alike, you know? Since they were both related to this Sanctuary of Yggdrasil¡­"

    Cassius''s irises briefly flashed. ''With everything going on, I completely forgot about Stella''s connection to Yggdrasil¡­ and also my own¡­''

    Turning around at the topmost stair, Cassius met her gaze and said, "Your Grandma¡ªwould we be able to meet her on a day other than the day you want to go out?"

    Stella looked at him in confusion. "You don''t want to see her on the same day we go out¡­?"

    "Why would I want that? You don''t wish to have the day specially for yourself? It''s odd, but okay¡ª"

    "No, no!" Stella furiously waved her hands. "I''ll take the special day¡ªjust you and me¡­! Then, on a different day, we can go and meet Grandma!"

    Cassius tilted his head ever so slightly. After a moment, he gave up on understanding women and simply nodded. "It seems we have a plan, then."

    "Uhn!"

    With that, the confused man and ecstatic woman separated in the hallway, each returning to their personal rooms. One would likely end up in the other''s room later that night, but for now, Cassius would receive some much-warranted alone time.

    Shortly after entering his room and closing the door behind him, Cassius sat down on his bed in meditation. He was originally going to practice his movesets for the Fundamental Body Arts in an attempt to get them all to the 9th Layer but decided to reserve that for when he was in a wider space.

    For now, he would stick to his Fiendish Demon King Arts and Demon Dragon Integration Arts.

    Both of those techniques were similar to the cultivation techniques that Cassius read about in online webnovels. All he had to do was cultivate them as stated in their manuals, and he would improve both his strength and the proficiency of the techniques themselves. However, when it came to the Demon King Arts¡ªrather than improve his Bloodline like with the Demon Dragon Integration Arts¡ªhe instead cultivated the power contained within his Demon King Bloodline, which felt almost limitless.

    After more than a month of grinding away in his various techniques, Cassius had, of course, progressed his Demon King Rank quite a lot. From the 1st Rank of Lesser Demon King, he smashed straight through the 2nd Rank of Greater Demon King and found himself at the very pinnacle of such a profound stage!

    And as of now, he was only a fortuitous opportunity away from completely obliterating the wall that prevented him from achieving the 3rd Rank¡ªthe Archdemon Rank!

    ''I think I''ll be able to break through tonight.'' His resolve steeled, and the Magicules in the room started to fluctuate. ''I''ll definitely make the breakthrough tonight.''

    WAAA!

    The Magicules suddenly morphed into something far redder and far more evil. Yet, except for the blowing of his hair and the slight grimace on his face, Cassius appeared to be in the comfort of his own home¡ªwhich he was¡ªbut this was meant metaphorically.

    However, as the strong winds in the room became even more intense, Cassius was forced to utilize his Teleport skill multiple times in quick succession. Only after around a hundred spams did he make it to a mountaintop somewhere in Japan; he hadn''t paid much attention to details while teleporting.

    Though, it was good that he did this, because in the very next instant, the top of the mountain was obliterated by insanely strong winds!

    Luckily, Cassius managed to keep himself levitating in a lotus position, thus preventing himself from destroying the rest of the mountain. Nonetheless, once his mind grabbed hold of the volatile string that kept the Archdemon Rank from him, he locked straight the f*ck in and amplified the essence of his Demon King Bloodline.

    His physical appearance transformed into something much more demonic and terrifying. He grew a pair of curved obsidian horns and a long, wickedly sharp tail. Moreover, the color of his eyes became a deathly shade of red, with a couple of menacingly slitted pupils added in as well.

    WHOOOOOM¡ª!

 Chapter 223 - 223: A Moment For Prayer

    WHOOOOOM¡ª!

    Cassius''s cloak ruptured and exploded.

    If not for the Shadow Monarch Cloak''s unique ability to self-regenerate over time, he would''ve been rather pissed over this incident.

    But regardless of the what-ifs, as soon as his mind and body both crossed over into a threshold of no return, Cassius didn''t look back for even a second and dived straight in!

    OOOM!!!

    His demonic aura exploded outward, reaching such an insanely high level that living beings all over the world could feel it. Chills ran down the spines of many, but not a single one could pinpoint precisely what was making them feel this way.

    If put in layman''s terms, it was as if everyone everywhere suddenly had the weirdest feeling that the world¡­ became ever more malevolent.

    Then, with Cassius''s breakthrough concluding on a note of massive success, that feeling was heavily multiplied.

    But then, seemingly out of nowhere, that feeling vanished as if it had never been there to begin with¡­

    The widely known 10th Strongest Hunter in the World¡ªthe Mage Lord¡ªalso experienced this same phenomenon. And in his lapse in judgment, his insufferably annoying opponent took the opportunity to land a devastating gut punch right to the pit of his stomach.

    BOOOM!!

    An explosion reverberated as a straight line of destruction was drawn through the vast territory of Russia.

    But if one believed that to be the end of his opponent''s momentum, then think again! Because before he could even catch his balance and stop uncontrollably blitzing through the skies, a silver rocket moved even faster and appeared where he was heading.

    With an unwavering hand raised high, a resounding slap echoed through the air, striking with the force of a thunderclap.

    KA¡ªBOOOOOOOM!!!

    It was a slap heard around the world.

    The damage caused by this furious slap was so immense that many large regions of Russia caved in under the weight of the attack and collapsed into the ground. The damage¡ªbeing most disastrous where the Mage Lord was slapped into¡ªtook the worst of it all. No more human or animal life was present in that area, with the whole place having turned into no more than a massive, multi-layered crater.

    At first thought, one would believe that there was no way the Mage Lord could''ve possibly survived a physical attack at such a level. After all, he was a Mage-class!

    But that was where one would forget one very important fact¡­

    The Mage Lord¡ª

    RUMBLE!!!

    ¡ªwas a World-class motherf*cking Hunter¡­!!!

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOOM!!!

    The crater where the Mage Lord was planted imploded upward. Then, from within billions of tons of sailing debris, a blonde-haired man draped in mystic purple robes appeared. His incalculably high anger was visible through the flames shooting out of his eyes, and though his hair was disheveled and his clothes a mess, he was still more than capable of magically amplifying his voice:

    "YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THE NERVE!??"

    "THE NERVE TO COME INTO MY COUNTRY AND KILL MY HUNTERS!!! AND THEN TO ADD TO YOUR DEATH WISH, YOU HARM ME!!!! ME!????"

    "COURTING DEATH!!!"

    Yimin dug out her right ear and flung what she found in the seething Mage Lord''s direction. "Yimin has to kill you now, carrot-head. Otherwise, Yimin won''t be able to save Yimin''s Master!"

    "Who gives a fuck about your shitty master!?? I''LL KILL YOU!!!!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yimin''s happy expression zeroed out as dark black streaks formed over her eyes.

    The Mage Lord roared as his aura extended to the high heavens. A spiraling red and blue sphere spun around on his S+++ Rank Staff. He tossed the sphere into the sky, causing it to disappear.

    "TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE MY METEOR FALL, B*TCH!! AND TELL YOUR SH*TTY MASTER THAT I SENT YOU THERE WHEN HE MEETS YOU IN THE AFTERLIFE!!!!"

    Yimin''s face further darkened.

    |METEOR FALL| - |AQUA FIRE METEOR SHOWER| - |ULTIMATE SKILL!!|

    OoOoOM! OoOoOM! OoOoOM!

    OoOoOM! OoOoOM! OoOoOM!

    OoOoOM! OoOoOM! OoOoOM!

    From the mixed blue and red skies emerged dozens of colossal fiery bluish-red meteors, each one the size of a small country. And each one aimed in the singular direction of a shadowy-faced silver-haired woman seemingly frozen in place.

    Seeing this pitiable sight, the Mage Lord sneered. "What, girl¡ªare you scared!?? Are you terrified!?!?" Using his enhanced vision to better look her body up and down, he licked his lips. "If you want to live, then I don''t mind sparing you! But you''ll have to get down on your knees, slowly strip yourself down, and then service me until I''m satisfied! Hell, I''ll even let your sh*tty Master watch as I violate you¡ª"

    "ENOUGH!!!!"

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    A voice more terrifying than the deepest pits of HELL was followed by countless explosions as Yimin''s rage-filled face burst upward at many times the speed of light!

    "!!!"

    The Mage Lord realized all too late, and before his Ultimate Skill could speed up its descent, an obsidian claw clasped onto his head. Then, while moving at a speed beyond what he could properly deal with, Yimin rammed the back of his head straight into one of the bluish-red meteors plummeting from the sky.

    The meteor exploded instantly!

    The Mage Lord came out the other end of the exploded meteor with a bloodied face and a cracked skeleton. Every single one of his protective measures had been destroyed!

    Yet¡­

    "For insulting Yimin''s Master¡ªDEATH!!!"

    "N¡­ No!! Pl-Please, ha-have mercy¡­!!!"

    Too late.

    Yimin reeled back the crying face of one of the most powerful men on the planet, then called upon even more of her latent Tyrant Dragon Bloodline.

    A moment for prayer.

    Then, a moment for those who would be implicated because of this.

    And then, finally, one moment to view the sight of the Mage Lord''s handsome face slowly peel off in slow motion as his body blurred forward.

    However, one must not forget to give a moment of prayer to the meteors that did not sign up for this.

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOM!!!

    Another meteor exploded, this time in even grander fashion than the last one!

    But from the innumerable chunks of flying debris, Yimin''s furious expression appeared above one of them as she viciously grabbed onto the Mage Lord''s mangled face. She threw him toward a different fiery meteor, and another explosion resounded.

    But she was not anywhere close to being done.

    Another explosion. Another meteor wrecked.

    Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another¡­ Another...

 Chapter 224 - 224: Hellions Sinister Intentions

    Like a ping-pong ball being tossed around on a table, the Mage Lord''s bloody mess of a body crashed through every single meteor falling from the sky. Eventually, after less than half a nanosecond of hypertravel, the meteors were left as no more than flying debris.

    As for the Mighty and All-powerful Mage Lord¡­ calling him a bag of meat and bones would be quite generous to describe his current appearance.

    Even with an S-Rank Awakener''s insane Endurance stat, his regeneration was unable to help. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He died.

    For the first time since the Gates appeared nearly a century ago, a World-class Hunter perished from something other than natural causes. This event was a terrifying thing to imagine¡ªunbelievably terrifying.

    "Humph! That''s what you get for insulting Yimin''s Master, carrot-head!" Yimin coldly snorted as she tossed aside the gory mess in her claws.

    But if this event was such a terrifying thing to imagine, then why was there someone as cute as Yimin acting as the cause of it all¡­?

    Yimin¡ªwhile covered in some of her own blood but mostly the Mage Lord''s¡ªcasually licked off the blood trickling down her claws. "Blegh! Even his blood tastes nasty!" She coughed up whatever she had just swallowed before whipping her tail around and shooting off into the distance.

    ''Weird-looking lady said we would meet again on that mountain with the funny-looking colorful chickens, and she would tell Yimin the next step on how to find and save Master. I''ll go there!''

    Her thoughts echoed out rather joyfully as she left behind a scene of mass destruction that would leave the massive country of Russia forever scarred.

    Not only had she murdered one of the World-class Hunters¡ªonly one of two in Russia¡ªbut she also savagely brutalized thousands of the most powerful A-Rank and S-Rank Hunters, including the Green Dragon Hunter Party.

    Vera died at her hands, and so did the rest of her party.

    In total, dozens of S-Rank Hunters fell to her¡­ which meant very few S-Rank Russian Hunters still remained.

    Even the extraterrestrials disguised as high officials or powerful Hunters died at her hands, though she was none the wiser to their true identities. Then again, she did briefly wonder why they looked so weird after she killed them, even prompting her to taste-test one of them.

    However, she immediately spat out the big-headed gray freak, and that was the end of that.

    Anyhoo, the Russia that existed before Yimin killed the Mage Lord was already a land riddled with craters and devastation. But when she left the fiery meteor debris to fall upon every inch of the country, the snowy wonderland transformed into a land of¡­ death¡­ and misery.

    Fortunately, the deaths of the Russians were extremely quick, as the meteor debris rained down at a ridiculously fast speed. The common populace suffered none¡ªtheir demise merciful.

    However, of those who still remained in Russia following the greatest apocalypse event in its history, there was one¡­ one who gradually began to awaken because of all the constant rumblings.

    The man whom those under the age of 50 had no idea even existed¡ªa man classified as a 1st Generation World-class Hunter¡ªa man whom the Russians feared even more than the Mage Lord¡ª

    Igor Volkov¡ªthe Wolf Deity¡ª!!!

    Deep underground in Russia, in an extremely spacious ice chamber, a man who hadn''t opened his eyes in decades began to grow restless. The ice chains that tied him to pillars stretching upward for thousands of meters began to rattle. The ice pillars themselves also started to creak and groan.

    Then, a crack appeared.

    *Crack, crack, CRACK, CRACK!*

    More cracks appeared until, eventually, there wasn''t a single pillar without a web of fractures spreading across its surface.

    Down below, a man with white, wolf mane-like hair that reached his lower torso moved slightly from his kneeling position. His face was entirely covered by an ice mask, but even with his mouth and eyes fully obscured, one could still see the hot, steamy breath seeping out of the mask.

    "Time¡­" The voice scraped against one''s mind like rusted metal on stone, each word a jagged wound in the silence. "It''s almost time for the Ice Sovereign''s cage to shatter¡­ Nearly there¡­"

    With Igor Volkov''s voice no longer breaking the silence of the underground ice chamber¡ªand the cracking coming to a close¡ªthe camera zoomed out.

    ¡ª Back on the Himalayan Mountain, where Hellion first requested Yimin to ''save'' her Master from the Rushans ¡ª

    "You killed them all?"

    Hellion''s intoned voice immediately resounded as soon as Yimin landed on the flat mountaintop. She was sitting in the same spot as last time, and in her hands was yet another newspaper. However, the newspaper this time described a level of destruction that extended far beyond the chaos Yimin had caused before.

    The world was in a state of extreme panic, with even the world leaders and S-Rank Hunters unaware of what they should do now.

    ''It''s been around six hours since the news came out about Russia''s near utter annihilation, which means this dragon took a few more detours again¡­''

    Hellion''s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

    In response to her icy stare, Yimin chirpily said, "Yimin killed all of them! All the evil Rushans!"

    "Are you sure?"

    "Of course¡ª!" That was when she faintly recalled scenes of relatively strong humans fleeing beyond her scope of killing. "Well¡­ perhaps a few of the Rushans got away¡­ but only a few! Like¡­ erm¡­ one, two, or three!"

    Hellion blankly stared at the silver-haired girl. A silly look was plastered across her face as beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks.

    A sigh escaped Hellion''s lips as she shook her head. Though, if someone had been paying close enough attention, they would have noticed a darkness buried deep within her gaze; it was boundlessly dark. Terrifyingly evil.

    ''That Mage Lord nearly conveyed killing intent toward my Master. Death was a mercy for him,'' Hellion thought coldly. ''And those of his kind are no better¡­ They were affiliated with the man who wished harm upon my Master. For this, they all deserved to die.''

    ''As for those who slipped out of the trap¡­ I''ll have to deal with them personally.''

 Chapter 225 - 225: The Fastest Man Alive

    One thing that Hellion hid from everyone else¡ªeven her Master¡ªwas how her connection with her Master''s Demon King Bloodline caused her power to soar. And with Cassius''s most recent breakthrough into the Archdemon Realm, her power also increased by leaps and bounds, far exceeding what she previously possessed as a mere HELL Trial Floor Guardian.

    Although she still wasn''t at the same level as any of the World-class Hunters, she could easily take on your average S-Rank Hunter. In other words, ''cleaning'' up the remainder of the audacious worms would be no big deal.

    ''For conveying the intent of harming my Master¡ªeven if only briefly¡ªdeath is what you''ll receive. Everyone¡­ Everyone will die.''

    Hellion¡ªa Deity of sorts¡ªwas a woman who lived for interesting things. For too many years, she had been searching for greater sources of intrigue. And now that she finally found someone who fully satisfied her craving for intrigue, there was simply no way in hell she would allow any pesky insects to get in her way!

    The Mage Lord''s death was set in stone the very moment he dared even think about doing anything to her Master! And the desolation of Russia was the cost of his impertinence!

    His life wasn''t even counted in the price, for that was something that would''ve been taken regardless.

    ''For Master¡­ For Master, I''d do anything¡­''

    Unknowingly, and without Cassius noticing, Hellion''s once abysmally low Affection Rating skyrocketed straight to the moon¡ªstraight to the maximum value of 100!

    However, as if her inward insanity was all just an illusion, she emotionlessly shifted her eyes away from Yimin and returned to reading over the newspaper. But noticing Yimin''s growing impatience, she said, "Your Master is in the Country of Japan right now¡ªin a city called Hoshito. Make it there, and you''ll find him by scent."

    "Ja¡­pan?" Yimin struggled to pronounce the foreign word. "Can you eat it?"

    "It''s a country where your Master is trapped¡ªand no, you can''t eat it," said Hellion. "Now go; I wish to be alone right now."

    Yimin tilted her head but still did as she was told. She zipped off into the skies, beginning a new journey around the small blue space marble that she had already lapped thousands of times.

    Eventually, she would find Japan!

    Right¡­?

    Well, regardless of Yimin''s uncanny resemblance to a certain green-haired pirate with three swords, she left for good. Hellion, on the other hand, was left to read over a newspaper while meandering in her own thoughts.

    ''Now, the next most pressing matter of concern,'' she thought as her vision honed in on a skull-shaped island located far away. ''My Master''s most unwelcome visitors. They are strong, yes, and their relation to that massive organic entity hovering above is interesting. But¡­ my Master is far more interesting.''

    The Dissonants who invaded from the stars beyond the Illusion would undoubtedly die¡ªthat much, Hellion guaranteed without an ounce of a doubt.

    ''My Master''s origin to that place and those people¡ªthese invaders know full well about it, and they plan to take advantage of my Master¡­ Utterly unacceptable. They will die. Same as the Russians. And the same as anything else that dares to control or harm my Master. They''ll all die.''

    Hellion''s shimmering golden eyes darkened ever so slightly as she continued reading over the newspaper in her hands.

    Until, eventually¡­ she vanished.

    ¡ª In North America, the United States, at the Earth Crusaders Headquarters in Washington D.C. ¡ª

    The Earth Crusaders received an unexpected visitor on this particular day¡ªVictor Rapido, the alleged fastest man alive.

    "You say he''s the fastest?" sounded a feminine voice bereft of emotion.

    "Why? Is our little ice princess all of a sudden now interested in men or something~?"

    Three people¡ªall S-Rank Hunters¡ªwere walking through tall marble corridors as they maneuvered toward the Meeting Area for the S-Rank members of the Earth Crusaders Guild. All three of these S-Rank Hunters were female, each extremely powerful. And of them, there was one face in particular that anyone in the Steele Mansion would recognize within an instant.

    "Memphis, you''re actually asking about a man?? I must be dreaming right now because there''s no way that''s possible!"

    It was the third member of their little group who spoke this time. She had medium-length black hair tied up into twintails. Her beauty, if summed up in a single word, would be classic.

    However, the young woman she was looking at was anything but classic. With Memphis''s glistening golden eyes and her long, shiny black hair¡ªnot to mention her voluptuous figure¡ªshe was a goddess-like woman rarely seen throughout the ages! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If not for the fact that she was only 17¡ªwhich was below the legal age of consent in America¡ªit was highly likely that powerful and influential men from all over the world would be constantly swarming her.

    Well, there were still those who didn''t care much about her morally questionable age and still sought to pursue her. But those men were very quickly deterred by the protectiveness of the behemoth of an organization that reigned as the strongest Guild in the world.

    With a total of four World-class Hunters in their ranks¡ªall stronger than the Mage Lord¡ªas well as more than a hundred S-Rank Hunters, the Earth Crusaders were the one organization that no one dared to carelessly offend.

    Even kings who had their lascivious eyes on the newest rising S-Rank Hunter were left with no choice but to give up.

    That was just how powerful and influential the Earth Crusaders were.

    Today, however, they were gathered for reasons unknown. And with the special guest appearance of the Rank 22 S-Rank Hunter¡ªVictor Rapido¡ªeveryone was put on their toes.

    Upon arriving at the S-Rank Meeting Room¡ªlocated within a massive auditorium in the Earth Crusaders Headquarters¡ªMemphis finally received some respite from her friends. They had gone on and on about Victor Rapido for quite a while, repeatedly hinting at something that she denied time and time again.

    ''The fastest man alive,'' she thought apathetically. ''He was also especially interested in speed¡­''

    The "he" she was referring to was none other than the incarnation of speed himself¡ªa man who knew not when to slow down¡ªa man who moved so fast that she didn''t even know exactly when her heart had been stolen¡­

 Chapter 226 - 226: A Cunning Dragonoid...?

    "Are you ready, Ice Princess?"

    A playful voice broke Memphis''s strained train of thought, forcing her to turn her head up and look at the sight that lay beyond a simple door. Inside the wide auditorium lay more than a hundred high-quality chairs, each one seating a presence that by themselves felt overwhelmingly powerful. And with all of their immense auras coalesced together, an aura amalgamation beyond mortal comprehension filled the seemingly restricted space with its suffocating presence.

    This marked the first time Memphis personally experienced something as fantastical as this since joining the Earth Crusaders.

    It was a feeling like no other¡­

    "QUIET!!"

    A booming voice cut off the flow of conversations happening between the various S-Rank Hunters gathered in the room. Memphis and her two friends found their seats to the side, where they were able to clearly see a total of five figures standing on stage.

    The one in the middle¡ªalso the one who spoke up¡ªwas the strongest of the lot.

    He was an imposing old man with a rugged, battle-worn face, his deep-set eyes radiating a cold intensity. His weathered skin was marked by a network of scars, each telling a tale of violence and survival. A prominent gash ran diagonally across his cheek, a testament to a life of conflict. His silver-streaked hair was cropped short, and his wiry frame, though aged, exuded an air of unyielding strength. Dressed in dark, practical clothing, his presence alone commanded respect and wariness, as if he carried the weight of countless battles in his steely gaze.

    His name?

    John Adams¡ªRank 3 in the World¡ªthe Battlemonger.

    The three standing on his right side were also characters of immense standing in both the U.S. and the world. The first was a thin man with a long, whirly mustache and a monocle¡ªRank 9¡ªGentlemanly Saint. His special ability: Rapier Savant (S+++ Rank).

    The pretty middle-aged brunette posing beautifully beside the Gentlemanly Saint was a drop-dead gorgeous woman known far and wide for both her beauty and her unique ability to change her size at will.

    Barla¡ªRank 8¡ªMacro Mommy. Her special ability: Size Manager (S+++ Rank).

    As for the last one standing to the right of the Battlemonger, he stood just over 5 feet tall and carried a cane just as short as him. His back was hunched, and his eyelids were squinted due to the passage of time. Overall, he appeared as though the slightest wind current would be enough to send him into the afterlife for good.

    However, with an antiquated, tyrannical presence as powerful as his, none were foolish enough to judge this book by its cover.

    He had but his title as his name after discarding his birth name long ago¡ªRank 5 in the World¡ªTasmanian Bladedevil.

    His name was fitting, for he carried four thin swords on his back, each one containing a presence capable of bringing a weaker S-Rank Hunter to their knees.

    Not many knew precisely what the Bladedevil was like in battle¡ªor why he carried four swords¡ªbut it was rumored that so little was known about him simply because¡­ all who saw him fight were no longer alive to tell the tale.

    As for the lone blonde-haired man confidently standing on the Battlemonger''s left side, it was none other than Victor Rapido¡ªthe fastest man alive!

    ¡ªThree minutes later¡ª

    Once all the S-Rank Hunters in the Earth Crusaders Guild were seated in the massive auditorium, the Battlemonger''s deep, gravelly voice once more reverberated:

    "We''ve gathered you all here today¡ªregardless of whether you were raiding a Gate or not¡ªfor the sole reason of the unknown silver-haired dragonoid''s attack on Russia."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "That news was real!?"

    "I thought it was all a hoax! But with those rumblings a few hours ago¡­ everything makes so much more sense¡­"

    "Has an extremely powerful humanoid Monster actually escaped the Gates!?"

    "Is the Mage Lord actually dead!? But that means¡­ a World-class Hunter has¡ª"

    "Yes." The Battlemonger''s voice silenced every agitated fellow in the meeting room. "This silver-haired dragonoid has been confirmed to be an extremely powerful¡­ and extremely intelligent Monster that somehow escaped from a Purple-rank Gate. Could''ve happened when Oblivion''s Threshold exploded, or it could''ve happened elsewhere. But the fact is that it happened. An intelligent Monster of immense proportions has been set loose on our world."

    *Achoo!*

    That "extremely intelligent Monster" cutely rubbed her nose before resuming her chase of a group of scared sh*tless panda bears in a bamboo forest.

    "Yimin shall catch the black and white floofers! Don''t run, floofers!!"

    "Now, as I''m sure everyone is aware by now, this threat is one that could very well bring about the end of the world," said the Battlemonger. "Right here on this screen you will see multiple photos recently captured in what used to be the country of Russia."

    *Click, click.*

    Memphis and the other S-Rank Hunters watched with rapt focus as a slideshow flipped between increasingly worse images. The whole nation had been turned into an apocalyptic icy wasteland. Clouds of gray smoke permeated the air for thousands of miles, raining ash on the very few living beings who survived the battle between gods. Craters were scattered everywhere, each one containing the bones and dried blood of millions of Russians and billions of other living organisms.

    By the end of the slideshow, the atmosphere of the auditorium had turned grim. Even Memphis''s usually indifferent expression now had a slight frown¡ªnot because of the graphic scenes but because of how familiar that silver-haired dragonoid seemed. All images of her were extremely blurry, so it was hard to tell, but there was definitely something familiar about her.

    ''Do I know that humanoid Monster? But who¡­?''

    Interrupting her thoughts was the clicking off of the slideshow. The Battlemonger''s voice sounded thereafter:

    "From here on out, every single one of you are to keep a watchful eye out for this elusive and incredibly cunning dragonoid. Tell all of your subordinate A-Rank Hunters as well; have everyone on high alert. At any moment, this unknown creature could catch us by surprise and kill some of our own."

    S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 227 - 227: Protect Your Undies!

    The faces of the S-Rank Hunters turned grave as they stared up at their Guild Leader with full focus. They knew that he wouldn''t call them all here today for something like a warning or a small directive, for things like that could simply be told through email. There must be something else.

    And, just as expected:

    "Now, as this unknown Humanoid Monster is shown to be extremely fast, Victor Rapido here has been invited to test your speed and make sure you can defend against attacks that the Mage Lord could not," the Battlemonger said, his hands redirecting everyone''s attention to the suave blonde-haired man.

    It was common knowledge among the Hunter community that Victor Rapido was indeed the fastest man in the world. There was even a time when he raced one of the World-class Hunters with an S+++ Agility Stat, yet still won by a long shot. However, it was also widely known that when stacked up against anyone in the Top 50, Victor was lacking in everything except for his speed.

    If based on stats like Strength, Endurance, or Intelligence, Victor was merely considered a bit above average for an S-Rank¡ªand that was with the addition of the influence that his Agility had on his other stats. Without that, it was highly possible that he wouldn''t even be considered a fairly powerful A-Rank Hunter.

    But what he lacked in everything else, he made up for with his stupidly fast speed!

    If Victor went all out¡ªwhich he had never done before with a human¡ªthen it was unknown just how quickly he could get his legs to move! Possibly even thousands upon thousands of times the speed of light!

    And though all of the prideful S-Rank Hunters were at first taken aback and slightly offended by what their Guild Leader said, when they logically thought about it, it wasn''t a bad idea. None of them particularly cared for or even liked the arrogant fastest man alive, but it was impossible to deny his God-given talent to go really, really, really fast.

    It was because of this undeniable fact that they either stayed silent or let out barely audible snorts. This was their way of saying they were fine with such a proposition by their Guild Leader.

    The Battlemonger scanned his eyes between all of his S-Rank Hunters before turning his fierce gaze toward Victor Rapido. After a moment of staring at him, he shifted his eyes back to the hundred-plus S-Rank Hunters. "What I''ve yet to tell you about this exercise of sorts is that you''re not only doing it to counter the humanoid Monster¡ªcodename ''Draconic Silver Bullet''¡ªbut you''re also doing this because of the upcoming World''s End Gate Raid."

    Another wave of dread washed over the expressions of those present when they heard those three specific words.

    In the world of Hunters, mentioning the World''s End Gate had become somewhat of a taboo. The more superstitious folks even believed that just saying the name would bring nothing but death and misfortune.

    However, as the strongest of the strongest, those in the Auditorium knew very well what the World''s End Gate meant for not only them but the entire world.

    If they''re unable to clear it, then it''ll surely live up to its name.

    Many of those in the Auditorium today had actually personally been in the Evolving Gate during one of its many Evolutionary Periods. And when they listened to their Guild Leader, they knew exactly what he was referring to when he mentioned speed counters being necessary.

    In that Gate, there existed Monsters that moved so fast that you were only able to hear the wind whistle by before realizing that you were already¡­ dead.

    It was daunting, but it was all too real.

    This made all of the S-Rank Hunters even more inclined to follow the lead of the fastest man alive, if not just for now.

    Looking back at Victor, the Battlemonger said, "They''re all yours for today; take them out to the thousands of acres of open land we have in the back."

    "Yes, sir," Victor said before beginning to descend the stage.

    "Oh, and Victor," said the Battlemonger.

    "Yes?"

    "Do not go easy on them."

    Victor confidently smirked. "Of course, sir."

    FWIP!

    With that, Victor vanished from his spot. Then, with ludicrous levels of speed, he reappeared near the door that led outside. Looking back over his shoulder, he asked, "What are you all waiting for? Let''s get going, yeah." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Many grunted and huffed in displeasure, but none of them made any remarks. They did just as their Guild Leader instructed and rose from their seats before following behind one of the most insufferably competent bastards on the planet.

    ''Victor Rapido,'' Memphis thought while looking at his distant back. His back seemed to overlap with the back of someone whom she constantly tried her best to forget. ''I wonder who''s the fastest among the two of them¡­''

    When the hundred-plus S-Rank Hunters made it out of the Auditorium and onto the field, the ''Speed Resistance Training'' began right away.

    FWIP!

    The windflow in the area was momentarily skewered in a certain direction. But before anyone even comprehended what had occurred, Victor''s voice rang out. "See what I have here?" he asked, swinging around a tiger-striped piece of cloth. "It''s the underpants of one Mister Lester Evans."

    "???" "???" "???"

    All eyes fell on a portly man standing at the back of the S-Rank Hunters. His cheeks flushed red in embarrassment as he averted his gaze.

    "What we''re going to play is a little practice exercise I like to call ''Protect Your Undies,''" Victor said, his smirk widening ever so slightly. "You lose if you lose your underwear, and you win if you keep your underwear from being stolen. And if you''re a female or worried about consent, don''t bother. I have the permission of your Guild Leader and three Vice Guild Leaders to do whatever is necessary to sharpen your God-given talents, if not by just the smallest of amounts."

    Victor''s wolf-like eyes scanned over all the S-Rank Hunters, pausing slightly longer on the beautiful females. Especially on Memphis.

    Many felt a chill.

 Chapter 228 - 228: Memphiss Mysterious Symbol

    ''This man is¡­'' Memphis''s lips curled up in disgust. An unknown light energy seeped out of her palms, mysteriously causing the air to both freeze over and radiantly burn. ''Scum.''

    "Anyway," said Victor. "Let the games begin!"

    FWIP!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Everyone instantly went on guard, their eyes darting all over the place.

    "Boo."

    *Snatch!*

    An unsuspecting, pretty S-Rank Hunter felt something tingly travel down her neck. And then, without any hope of stopping it, her bright red panties were stolen.

    "Ahhh!" she yelped before crouching down, her face tinged red.

    "You''re going to need to try harder than that if you want to keep what''s yours," Victor said, his pointer finger twirling around the lady''s panties. He had unknowingly reappeared in the same spot as before, smack dab in the middle of the giant grassy fields. "Well, let''s go again, why don''t we?"

    Seeing his sly smirk slowly fade, all the S-Rank Hunters scrutinized their surroundings. Going a step further than before, they also activated every tracking-related skill they could think of.

    Finally, someone''s face brightened as he pointed toward the East. "He''s over there!" he exclaimed. "Right ther¡ª"

    "Your superman undies are now mine, good sir," Victor whispered into the muscular man''s ear before blurring from view.

    He materialized in the same spot as before, with that same insufferable grin etched across his face.

    "One of you can do better than that, right?" asked Victor, swinging around his finger the superman underwear of one mortified fellow.

    The way everyone was looking at him made him feel the urge to puke his guts out¡­

    Memphis''s eyes narrowed. Her stance grew more defensive, and the icy golden energy emanating from her hands became deadlier.

    However, that was when something changed¡­

    At some point during Victor''s next disappearing trick¡ªone aimed at a blonde woman a few feet away¡ªa tattoo began to form on the backside of her right hand. The tattoo depicted a cross mixed with the symbol for the female gender and was a light shade of gold.

    For but a moment, that tattoo increased in brightness, creating a small, unnoticeable flash of golden light where Memphis was standing. And during that flash, her goldish pupils underwent a change, for within their centers emerged what were without a doubt crosses of the ''Heavenly Kingdom.''

    If anyone familiar with the esoteric 7th Ascension Tower Dimension¡ªHeavenly Kingdom¡ªwere here right now, they would immediately be able to match Memphis''s eyes with the trademark of the Angels: The Eyes of Divinity. They were what all Angels under the All-Father possessed¡ªa special, extremely powerful ability that carried the Will of the All-Father.

    But the thing was¡­ Only Genuine Angels¡­ or the aberrational descendants of Angels had the Eyes of Divinity. Meaning that Memphis was without a doubt¡ª S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    WHALOOOM!

    ¡ªAn Angel!

    For a very brief period of time, Memphis''s pupils tracked the every movement of the Fastest Man Alive. She saw him casually walk toward the blonde girl and reach into her tight suit before skillfully ripping up her purple-laced underwear¡ªall while the blonde girl made no attempt to resist, almost as if she were frozen in time.

    Although Memphis was still attempting to wrap her head around what was happening, she nonetheless felt a great sense of repulsion at the speedster. ''This Victor is nothing like him... They are nowhere even close to being the same.''

    As soon as that thought finished, her pupils returned to normal, and Victor returned to the center of the field.

    "You didn''t even make it a challenge for me!" he said. Spinning on his fingers were the risqu¨¦ panties of an S-Rank woman well-respected for her modesty and conservative nature. She only realized after seeing the underwear that she had been the one to get snatched from.

    At this moment, she felt like jumping into an extremely deep hole and burying herself inside¡­

    Memphis, on the other hand, was no longer paying attention to the perverted speedster. Her eyes were trained on the dimly glowing gold symbol attached to her right hand. Ninety percent of the symbol was dull, whereas the other ten percent was a far brighter shade of gold. And curious enough, with each passing second, the brighter shade of gold overtook the duller shade.

    ''What happens when the bright gold covers the entire symbol¡­?''

    Wishing to know the answer to that question, Memphis let time pass. As more and more of her Guildmates had their underwear stolen, she watched her hand symbol, counting exactly how long it took for the bright gold to overtake the dull gold. From what she could tell, every full second made the bright shade of gold ratio increase by another ten percent of the entire symbol surface area.

    At the end of ten entire seconds, the symbol turned fully bright gold.

    As if on instinct, Memphis could feel that same eye skill become an option available to her. Though, to be certain that what she was feeling was indeed the case, she waited for Victor to perform his slow phase, then she activated the symbol.

    And¡ªsame as the first time¡ªshe could now see Victor move around as if everything was progressing at a normal speed.

    ''This symbol¡­'' Memphis thought with wonder. ''Just what exactly is it¡­?''

    Following this utterly mind-boggling discovery, she continued experimenting with it, her curiosity knowing no bounds. Then, finally¡ªafter 80 S-Rank Hunters got their underwear stolen¡ªit was her turn.

    But Memphis was prepared.

    The symbol on her right hand flashed a bright shade of gold, then Heavenly crosses appeared in her eyes. Time slowed down¡ªor, at least, that was how it looked.

    Memphis pretended to be motionless, same as all the other S-Rank Hunters. She calmly watched as the infamous fastest man alive strolled over. His eyes glazed rather lustfully upon getting a good look at his next target; her figure was unbelievably voluptuous, and her beauty a league above the second prettiest girl in the Guild.

    Victor was planning to get a little more handsy with this one, just a tad bit more. But just as his hand deviously inched toward Memphis''s plump bottom, a feminine hand suddenly clasped onto his wrist.

    "!!!"

 Chapter 229 - 229: Two Yips For Memphis!

    "!!!" ''Wha¡ª!?''

    Although he was not moving at his fastest, there still should''ve been absolutely no way that anyone other than the World-class Hunters could react to his speed! It was simply impossible!

    ''But then,'' Victor thought as he looked up and saw a splendiferous pair of eyes glaring at him. ''What the hell is this???''

    He back-stepped at once, getting his hand free from Memphis''s grasp. Time returned to normal, and everyone''s eyes fell on the two of them.

    Not once over the last couple of minutes had Victor Rapido reappeared anywhere other than the center of the field. But now, under their confused gazes, they saw the fastest man alive taking an apprehensive stance against the cold-faced newbie. They noticed her hand retracting, then saw the mild burn mark on Victor''s right wrist, and were able to connect the dots.

    "Did the Ice Princess actually see Victor move¡­?"

    "Not only that, but it seems that she was able to counterattack and force him back!"

    "How is this possible!? Her revealed Attributes were exceptional¡ªeven among the S-Rank¡ªbut they were nowhere near the level necessary to deal with Victor Rapido! He''s the fastest man alive, for God''s sake!"

    "A special, hidden Ability perhaps!? That''s definitely it!"

    "But for it to be capable of coping with Victor''s ridiculous speed¡­ the S+++ Rank¡­ It must be of the S+++ Rank, just like the Skills of the World-class Hunters!"

    Many members of the Earth Crusaders had originally overlooked Memphis¡ªnot because she was a girl or because of her backwater origins¡ªbut because of her Class. She had awakened with the ''Ice Paladin'' Class, which, although an extremely rare Class, was a very difficult Class to mesh with others in a Party.

    And considering the high-danger Purple-rank Gates that the Earth Crusaders entered on a daily basis, without a Party, they would essentially be committing suicide. Only Red-rank Gates of far less importance and value would be relegated to these sorts of Misfit S-Rank Hunters. Hence the prime cause for Memphis being overlooked.

    But now¡­ now things had changed.

    Dozens of S-Rank powerhouses started to swarm the emotionless Memphis. They hounded her with questions and showed immense amounts of interest.

    Meanwhile, Victor Rapido¡ªthe Fastest Man Alive¡ªwas left on the sidelines. His mind was still spiraling in confusion as he tried to understand what had happened.

    Suddenly, he shifted his eyes toward the indifferent girl, searching for something. But he was instantly left disappointed. Those golden crossed eyes weren''t there; they must''ve been an illusion.

    ''No!'' Victor exclaimed. ''That can''t be¡­! I definitely saw them!''

    But the fact remained that they weren''t there.

    With a clouded mind, Victor turned away from the hundred-plus S-Rank Hunters. On his way back to the Auditorium, he called out, "Training for today is over; you''re all dismissed. I''m going to speak with your Guild Leader and Vice Guild Leaders."

    The S-Rank Hunters were ecstatic over this information.

    "This is all thanks to Memphis, the Ice Princess!"

    "One yip for Memphis!"

    "Yip!!"

    "Two yips for Memphis¡­!"

    Cheers and claps resounded as everyone stared at the beautiful golden-eyed girl with joyous expressions. They were too immersed in the satisfaction that came from Victor getting a taste of his own medicine to notice Memphis not looking at them, but rather at the receding back of the suave blonde-haired speedster. ''I wonder if -he- is faster than this so-called fastest man alive¡­ And if so, will this Symbol also work on -him-?''

    She wasn''t exactly positive what the Eyes of Divinity were fully capable of, but she knew for certain that activating them didn''t directly increase her speed. Rather, they somehow adjusted her parameters to whatever parameters her target had. This, in turn, reduced her Strength, Endurance, Intelligence, and Perception to whatever Victor was using in base form.

    However, what she did not know was where exactly the limit for this ethereal ability lay¡­

    If Victor were going all-out, would she have still been able to match his speed?

    What about if she were facing -him-...?

    So many unanswered questions, and no one to answer them. Hell, she didn''t even know why this Ability suddenly appeared now of all times! What were its origins?? Why was it not a part of the original skill sheet she received from the Hunter''s Association when she went to take her Hunter''s test!?

    In the end, thinking any more on the matter would bring about nothing useful¡­

    Memphis sighed before helplessly enduring the praise and thanks of her Guildmates. Her only two friends in the Guild¡ªwho were standing in the back¡ªwere enjoying every second of her suffering. She couldn''t help but lament her fate for befriending such characters.

    --- After a while ---

    The S-Rank Hunters dispersed, each one returning to whatever it was they were doing before. Memphis, however, bid farewell to her cheeky friends and made her way toward a clearing located on the other side of the Auditorium. There, she saw the menacing Guild Leader and his three equally terrifying Vice Guild Leaders. Beside them was the arrogant Victor Rapido, his eyes wholly focused on her.

    ''I was called here telepathically, but what is it that they want from me? Did Victor say something? Likely¡­''

    "I hear that you have a particularly unusual hidden Ability," said the Battlemonger. "But you needn''t worry; none of us here will interrogate you about this Ability or how you obtained it. However¡­"

    ''However¡­?'' Memphis frowned, preparing to activate her hand symbol at the slightest sign of danger.

    "Calm, child," said Barla, her voice naturally soothing. "What this old man means to say is that we have no interest in your Ability, but we are interested in your Allegiance to the Guild. Though we do not doubt you, we need to make sure you can handle any¡­ trouble that our Guild gets into in the future."

    ''Trouble?'' Memphis parroted. ''What could possibly cause any trouble for the strongest and most influential Guild in the World¡­?'' S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Barla smiled at the beautiful girl''s confusion. "We have no issues dealing with anything on this planet, even if the threat may be the S-Rank Hunters ranked #1 and #2."

    The Battlemonger''s brows deeply furrowed at the mention of those two people¡­

 Chapter 230 - 230: A Shocking Discovery!

    After a brief pause, Barla continued, "But the threat we worry about¡­ does not originate from this planet¡­"

    "!!!"

    Memphis had no clue why she was suddenly being told all of this or what brought it about, but she knew for certain that what she''d hear next would definitely change ¡ªeverything¡ª

    Realizing that she had Memphis''s full attention, Barla said gravely, "The threat I refer to comes from places unknown. We have no idea how long they have been here, what they have been up to, or what they are planning. But what we do know is that they exist. And that they''ve taken over¡­ our Government. Even many of your comrades in the Guild are no longer who you think they are¡­"

    "!!!"

    "Are you saying that¡­" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes," said the Bladedevil, his voice scratchy. "Aliens from beyond our home planet have invaded. And their plans¡­ are huge."

    "We don''t even know how strong they are," the Battlemonger added. "But we can say for certain that they are stronger than us and even all of humanity combined. If we face them head-on, we are certain to perish. This is why¡ªeven though we know they roam among us¡ªwe''ve done nothing about them."

    Memphis''s frown deepened with every word they spoke. Eventually, she could no longer take it and got right down to asking the question pressing on her the most:

    "Why tell me all this? Why now?"

    The World-class Hunters exchanged a look. Then the Gentlemanly Saint stepped forward and said, "If it was before, you would''ve never learned of this; after all, you weren''t qualified to know. But with your recent altercation with Victor, we''ve been assured that you have the necessary strength, for flukes don''t exist when you become as powerful as we are. But, of course, even that¡ªif by itself¡ªis not enough to warrant us telling you all this."

    "So then¡­ !!!"

    "It seems you figured it out," said the Battlemonger, quite impressed. "You are new here. And since your arrival wasn''t grand enough to immediately catch the attention of those things, we could confidently rope you in. But it had to be now."

    Memphis understood what was being implied. ''Some of those who were cheering for me out there¡­ weren''t human. Rather, they were something else entirely¡­''

    "It seems you''re finally starting to understand why we did this," Barla said, pointing at the shimmering isolation barrier covering them. "That''s also why we set up this barrier to keep our conversation private. They''re always watching you know¡­"

    Memphis felt a chill.

    A slight sense of worry also began to fill her heart. Those back at home probably had no idea about these Aliens. And even if nothing had happened to them yet, what if¡­ what if they were no longer the same as before¡­?

    Memphis''s cold eyes locked onto the Battlemonger. "What happens when one of the Aliens takes the place of a human? What happens to the human?"

    The World-class Hunters paused ever so slightly, then Barla said, "Sweetie, they die."

    ''...They die¡­''

    Memphis figured as much, but hearing it told to her personally was just¡­ terrifying.

    "How do you know they exist¡­?" she asked, biting down on her lower lip. "What evidence do you have?"

    Victor''s feet tapped. "I''m the evidence," he said proudly. "Me and the big-headed gray freak we have locked up in the top-secret basement of this place."

    Memphis gave the World-class Hunters a look, requesting an explanation.

    The Bladedevil went this time, saying, "Victor Rapido, as you know, is a Japanese Hunter. But a while back, he and another Japanese S-Rank Hunter¡ªDante Blackthorn¡ªcame to us with matters concerning ''more shadows in the world than usual.''"

    "At first, we passed it off as a big joke," the Bladedevil continued. "But on one particular day not long after, we just so happened to catch one of these Aliens whilst it was in the process of assuming a human form. We promptly locked away that creature in the 49th Basement Floor of our Research Facility. This was also around when we took Victor and Dante''s matter more seriously; those extra shadows¡ªall of them are Aliens. And there are millions of them, from what Victor has told us."

    "This¡­" Memphis was finding it hard to swallow all of this information. Though, after a couple of seconds, she managed to get out, "Why¡­ Why do you think I''ll be useful in whatever it is you''re planning? What can I do against such a threat?"

    Barla warmly smiled. "Sweetie¡­ Your only purpose¡­ The only thing we want from you is your¡­ body!!"

    "!!!"

    At the same time as all the World-class Hunters'' and Victor''s faces went dark, Memphis activated her hand symbol. A brilliant flash of golden light erupted. But by then, Barla''s outstretched hand was already right at her throat. She swerved her head out of the way just in the nick of time, before following up with a sideways cartwheel.

    Barla was right on her tail, but with their stats now the same, she was not able to catch up.

    Memphis tried to break free from the Isolation Barrier erected around the whole backside of the Auditorium. But quickly, she realized that¡­ there was no escape¡­

    "Did you really believe we spent all this time talking to you for no reason?" Barla''s sickeningly sweet voice echoed. "During our entire conversation, Gentlemanly Saint has been actively making use of his ''Saint'' Class to fortify the barrier enough that even I would not be able to break out. Which brings up the second point: why do you think I''ve been taking the lead in most of the discussions? You think we wouldn''t be able to figure out how your Ability works? Or where it comes from?"

    "The Angels," said the Battlemonger, a bit annoyed. "They exist even outside this world and the Tower you live in. But it seems that their Abilities vary very little here."

    Memphis''s expression drastically changed. "So then you all are¡­"

    "Yes," the Bladedevil said, his face fluctuating between his wrinkled face and something far more horrifying. "We are not humans. These bodies¡ªthey once belonged to World-class Hunters. But now, they are ours. Everything¡ªfrom their powers to their families to their memories¡ªall ours."

    With her back pressed against the Isolation Barrier''s wall, Memphis muttered, "So everything you said¡­"

 Chapter 231 - 231: Memphiss Purpose in the Plan

    "So everything you said¡­"

    "A lot of it was partially true," Barla said, stopping her approach a few meters away. "The original owners of these bodies really did coincidentally locate and capture one of our own. But by then, the higher-ups sent out the Vanguard¡ªus¡ªto deal with the World-class Hunters who dared interrogate and torture one of our own.

    The story about Victor and Dante was also true; they did indeed come by to report their findings. But considering they were the only ones who knew about this phenomenon, we quickly disposed of them while they weren''t looking. That Victor¡ªhe was a fast worm, even faster than any on our side who wasn''t an Elder. Stabbing him in the back¡ªwhere his speed made no difference¡ªdid the trick though."

    Memphis''s mind swirled with many things; everything was so overwhelming. She should''ve known this was a trap, but how could she?? They were supposed to be her Guildmates! Why would they all of a sudden turn on her!? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s right¡­" Memphis mumbled. "Why target me? I knew nothing about any of you before you told me¡­ Why do all this?? And why do you want my body??"

    The Battlemonger cackled. "We targeted you for the same reason we want your body and also for the same reason that we''re taking the conquering of your World at a snail''s pace," he said. "Your hometown¡ªthe young man who saved you from inside a Gate and took you home. He cared for you, he gave you a place to call your own after you lost the only family you had. But one day¡ªwhen you figured out you had power¡ªyou left him. Does this ring any bells for you?"

    "!!!" ''Cassius!''

    "Bingo!" the Bladedevil said as if reading her mind. "We have eyes and ears everywhere. And you may have underestimated him¡ªwhich also may have been why you left¡ªbut deep down¡­ deep down, you knew he was special. Far more special than you could ever hope to compare with. That was why you truly left, wasn''t it?"

    Memphis felt something sting her heart, causing her emotions to vortex. She knew he was right. Why else would whenever she saw someone strong, she immediately stacked them up against Cassius and felt that they were somehow lacking in comparison?

    But what did that have to do with these imposters'' interest in Cassius? Their reason for invading was him?? Why???

    "The only thing you failed to realize," said the Battlemonger, "was precisely how special Cassius actually is. The reason we''re doing everything as we''re doing now is because of him. The reason why we were instantly there to scout you at your lowest with an offer you couldn''t refuse was also because of him.

    In fact, the only reason we''re acting now on you instead of ten days later¡ªwhen the World''s End Gate''s Final Raid happens¡ªis because of your abrupt awakening to your latest Angel Bloodline. Angels are troublesome no matter the world, and we can''t have you somehow reporting back to them."

    Memphis pondered their words, then paused. "My body," she said. "Why do you need it¡­? Wait¡­"

    The edges of Barla''s lips curved upward. "Yes, Sweetie. We plan to use you to lure Cassius into a trap, which will also serve as a trap for our true target. This is what we have been setting up since we first faced that Anomaly, and now¡ªeven if that Freak does interfere¡ªthere will be nothing he can do. A day¡ªten days from now¡ªwhen the World experiences its END¡ªthat day will mark the day we''re finally able to ascend this accursed Tower and send down the true powerhouses of our mighty race¡ªthe Dissonants!!"

    An evil laughter contagiously spread among the five Dissonants, leaving Memphis to experience wave after wave of emotions. So much was being dumped on her at once, and she barely understood a fourth of what they were talking about.

    But what she needed no context to figure out was that¡­ Cassius was being viciously hunted down¡­

    She knew not the reasons for this, but if it was to happen¡ª

    OOOM!

    ¡ªThen she had to take out a few of them before they could get anywhere close to harming her Cassius!!

    With the full power of a World-class Hunter, she burst forward¡ªher first target being Barla.

    "Did you really think we didn''t see this coming beforehand?" said the Battlemonger. "We mentioned it previously, did we not? Why we had you focus on Barla over me, the Gentlemanly Saint, or the Bladedevil? You used that pesky Angelic Ability on Barla, did you not? Well, guess who''s stronger than her?"

    "!!!"

    Before Memphis had the time to react, a powerful blow sent her cannonballing into the side of the barrier, the impact knocking the wind out of her. Blood spewed out of her mouth as soon as ripples spread from where she impacted.

    As she slid down the barrier, her vision began to blur, with her golden crossed eyes struggling to stay open.

    Once collision with the floor occurred, she nearly lost consciousness but managed to hear a few last words before that happened:

    "I guess we did go a bit overboard in this plan," said the Battlemonger. "After all¡ªeven right now¡ªthe human worm is barely able to replicate the power of Barla. It would''ve been impossible for her to replicate my power. But it matters not in the end."

    "Indeed," the Bladedevil said. "As long as the mission gets completed, nothing matters."

    The Battlemonger eerily nodded, then motioned for Barla. "Go and take her body and memories. Remember to send her husk to the Mothership, same as all the others."

    "This isn''t my first rodeo," Barla said as she approached the already knocked-out-cold girl. "I''ll teleport her husk to where we keep all the other high-profile husks. They will make good food for the Voidworms when the Voidworm Feeding Season arrives."

    Without further ado, Barla placed her hand against the unconscious Memphis. Then she made use of a technology infused into the blood of all active Dissonants called ''Nanomorph.''

 Chapter 232 - 232: A Winged Woman Descends

    ¡ªNanomorph¡ª

    It was what the Dissonants used whenever they wanted to take over an area one step at a time. In their blood existed the smallest of nanobots, and programmed into those nanobots was the ability to 100% extract and copy over the existence of another. Excluding elusive things like the Soul¡ªwhich the Dissonants were unsure even existed¡ªeverything else could be perfectly extracted and infused elsewhere.

    However, once the Nanomorph Ability was used on another living organism, that living organism would lose all that they once had. Thus giving them the name ''Husks.''

    This was exactly what was happening to Memphis right now¡­

    *Bzzzmm¡­*

    The process was completed.

    The original Memphis was no more, now replaced by someone that talked, acted, and inherited everything that she once was. But she¡­ she was no longer Memphis¡­

    "It''s done?" asked the Battlemonger.

    Memphis twitched repeatedly, then stopped. Turning toward the four other Dissonants, she replied, "It''s done. My former body is over there; give it to one of the others. This body''s husk is lying beside it and will be transported to the Mothership in a few seconds. As for the Bloodline and Abilities of this human female, they''re even more extraordinary than expected¡ªWait¡­ What!? No!!! Don''t!!!"

    "!?!?" "!?!?"

    The other Dissonants stared wide-eyed at Memphis, watching in shock as a radiant golden light erupted from all her orifices. She turned into some kind of vessel overflowing with golden light. Barla''s silent screams mixed in with the light as her pain surpassed levels she hadn''t even thought possible.

    "What is happening to her!?" the Battlemonger roared. He lunged forward in an attempt to save Barla, but some sort of golden forcefield prevented him from getting within ten inches of her.

    "Do not test your luck, outsider." An archaic voice echoed, one that sounded as if it predated the very world itself. "This one is not yours to take. Find yourselves something else to entertain you, lest I use you as my entertainment."

    The illusory visage of a ten-winged woman adorned in golden silk materialized above Memphis''s head. Her eyes were mystically enchanting and shone a deep gold, with her pupils a permanent depiction of the Eyes of Divinity. Yet, to the Dissonants below, her eyes looked akin to the piercing eyes of the cruelest of devils.

    The visage''s figure was molded beyond mortal standards and emphasized her exquisite curves to a master craftsman''s level. As for her face¡­ No words could properly describe the beauty she possessed. Through her immaculate beauty, one could see her pure golden strands of hair fluttering about. Like a goddess descended from the heavens above, she appeared to gaze down upon those not worthy to be in her presence.

    As soon as the gorgeous ten-winged woman gracefully landed on the ground, her eyes shifted over to the now unresponsive Barla. Her sight also fell upon the lifeless husk crumpled up off to the side.

    A large amount of killing intent welled up inside the winged woman. It quickly overflowed and suffocated the surroundings, causing the World-class Hunters and Speedster to feel an immense amount of pressure. Their knees buckled beneath them, and they hit the ground with loud thuds.

    But just as they thought they''d die, the pressure subsided. The winged woman''s voice followed:

    "Normally, I''d just kill you bunch and be done with it, but as Destiny would have it, a much worse fate is in store for all of you. Being locked to the Trial Tower of Humanity will be the worst thing to have ever happened to your race."

    Finishing off with those words, the enchanting winged woman tugged her fingers at Memphis. The temporarily blanked consciousness of Barla was stripped from everything that she had stolen from Memphis. Then, as if working with the hands of God, the winged woman fused Memphis''s existence back into her husk, thus restoring her to how she was.

    Feeling no need to say anything more to a bunch of weakling grunts, the illusory winged woman lifted Memphis with the power of telekinesis and then ascended in two flashes of golden light.

    ¡ª After a few minutes to digest ¡ª

    "Angels," the Battlemonger muttered. "No matter the world or place, Angels have and will always be troublesome existences. Especially the high-ranking ones with so many wings¡­"

    He looked over at Barla''s ripped-out existence. Although she managed to naturally find her way back into her original meat suit, it would still take at least a week before full recovery could be made possible.

    "What do we do now?" Bladedevil asked, his eyes also fixed on the dilapidated sight of Barla. "With our bait taken away by the Angels of this place, we need to find another way to lure ''its'' son to where we want him positioned."

    After a moment of thought, the Battlemonger replied, "We''ll just have to make do with, say¡­ threatening him with the complete annihilation of his home country," said the Battlemonger. "Everyone he knows and cares about lives there. Even if he''s able to save some in time, he won''t be able to save them all."

    "This means operation ''Burning World'' is still a go?" Bladedevil asked.

    The Battlemonger nodded. "Around when Judgement Day begins, we''ll rain fire from the sky and bring about the END of this world before the Main Entree of the Nexus Event can get to it. This will not only threaten ''it'' as planned, but it will also add a double layer of insurance as it will threaten the safety of the sub-target."

    "Very well," said Bladedevil, already lugging Barla over his decrepit shoulder. "We''ll proceed with this plan. And then ten days from now¡ª"

    "Ten days from now," the Battlemonger finished for him. "We''ll lure ''it'' out of hiding and finally achieve what we''ve been wanting to for the last two years."

    *WHIIiizzzz¡­*

    The Isolation Barrier started to go down, bringing back the original scenery of the Earth Crusaders'' massive Guild complex. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Battlemonger immediately turned toward the 100+ S-Rank Hunters eerily staring at them. Even Memphis''s ''friends'' were no different, as they twitched and spasmed all over.

 Chapter 233 - 233: Want Me To Lick It...?

    "How many of the top rankers in the United States are left unturned?" Battlemonger asked.

    Bladedevil replied, "Only the newly recruited have yet to be turned. We now have a large surplus of Husks sitting around in the Mothership."

    "Voidworm Season is indeed on the horizon, and they will be searching for tribute from the Dissonants," Battlemonger mused. "Well, when is the next Void Hunting Cycle again?"

    This time, Victor responded, "Void Hunting will start within the next few years. But until then, the Husks will be safely preserved and kept until the time arrives."

    Battlemonger nodded.

    With that, the three high-ranking Dissonants and the numerous disguised Gremlins walked away from the Auditorium in a rather organized fashion. Though, after a few seconds, they eventually dispersed and went their own ways.

    World domination and/or destruction waited for no man¡­ or alien.

    ¡ª-------------

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in Hoshito, Japan, shortly after Cassius solidified his breakthrough into the Archdemon Rank ¡ª

    As our intrepid protagonist nonchalantly made his way down one of the many empty streets leading to his mansion on the hills, a sudden, unexpected visitor arrived. One that left him greatly conflicted.

    "Hello, young fellow," said a black-haired, starry-eyed woman with a white beard and a slightly humped back. "Are you looking to try some of my goods? I promise you the quality does not disappoint."

    A woman¡ªwho was most obviously Bella dressed up as an old man¡ªwas playing the part of a streetside peddler. She sat cross-legged under a makeshift tent, but had sprawled out before her only a few random rocks and one diamond-plated vial with a single droplet of reddish-silver liquid inside it.

    It was quite clear that she wanted him to purchase whatever was in that vial.

    "...."

    Cassius had no idea what could possibly be going through the head of this girl. From how unkempt she appeared, it was fair to say that she had been waiting out here for a long while. But for what reason?

    All to sell him this suspicious vial with some mystery liquid inside?

    Not long after he totally told her to essentially p*ss off as well!

    Was there actually something wrong with her frontal lobe, or what?

    Then again, that was a given¡­

    ''Perhaps I should just ignore her¡ª'' But just as that thought entered his mind, the System picked the oddest time to pop up a description for the sole item being advertised at Bella''s stall. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    BLING!

    {[Rank 6 Vampire Duke Blood]} - (EX+++ Rank)

    ¡ª[The purest form of blood, pricked and extracted from a genuine Vampire Duke. Upon consumption, the user will either directly acquire an EX- Vampire Duke Bloodline or have their prior Vampire Bloodline upgraded appropriately.]

    ¡ª[If the user consumes several drops of this type of blood, the original EX+++ Vampire Duke Bloodline will be obtained. Though it''s unknown how many hundreds of droplets that''ll take¡­]

    The moment Cassius finished reading the item''s description, he realized right then and there that he couldn''t pass up this chance.

    ''If the SSS-Rank is after the SS-Rank, then the EX-Rank must be after the SSS-Rank,'' he thought introspectively. ''And if that''s the case, then the blood inside this vial is worth an absurd amount¡­''

    After a brief pause. "I''m quite interested in this item you have here," he said. "How much will it cost me to get it from you?"

    First off, he had to figure out what game Bella was playing at. This question should do the job just fine.

    Bella''s eyes visibly sparkled as she nearly leapt up and hugged him. But holding herself back, she said, "I can sell this extremely valuable item to you; however, you must give me two¡ªno, three kisses! Wait¡­! I mean, you must, uhmm¡­ sign this completely normal piece of paper!"

    Sweat beads trickled down her forehead as she nervously slammed an unknown thick piece of paper on the ground in front of her. She averted her erratically flickering eyes, doing a very bad job of not acting suspicious.

    "...."

    Cassius glanced over the paper set out in front of him.

    ''The Tournament of Yggdrasil?? Join the Crestmore Vampire Duke Family!? Become the wife of Bella Crestmore!??''

    The last part was not originally part of the contract, as it was written in Bella''s handwriting. Quite sloppily, at that.

    Yet, that didn''t make what he was looking at any less baffling.

    Right after he accepted Flora''s proposal to acquire a ticket to enter Yggdrasil, another opportunity found its way to his doorstep.

    However, the first opportunity was already complicated enough¡ªnot to mention how absurd this one was!

    ''Should I accept the offer?'' Cassius looked up from the contents of the contract and saw Bella''s expectant eyes. ''I want to hate her so badly¡­ But I don''t understand why I can''t¡­''

    If it were the old, more human version of him, he would''ve rudely denied whatever Bella was planning. But with how he was now and with such benefits presented before him, it was hard to do something like that. Especially when the one offering these benefits was staring at him with so much love and affection that it nearly blinded him.

    ''...I don''t know what to do here¡­''

    If Cassius accepted the terms of the contract¡ªexcluding the last unofficial part¡ªthen he would acquire both the Rank 6 Vampire Duke Blood droplet and a ticket to Yggdrasil. As for the downsides, he would be forced to join the Crestmore Vampire Duke Family, which could lead to any number of troubles. Particularly when it involved being around this insane woman.

    He wasn''t sure if he''d ever be able to forgive her for what she had done to him¡­

    But with lucrative benefits on the line¡­

    A sigh escaped Cassius''s lips. He extended a hand.

    Bella tilted her head in confusion. "Want me to lick it?"

    "???"

    Hurriedly correcting herself, Bella said, "I-I mean¡­ Do you want me to, uhmm¡­ ki-kiss it¡ª"

    "I''m asking for a pen¡­"

    "Ohh!! Y-Yes, of course!"

    Bella immediately scrambled for a pen and handed it to Cassius, her cheeks flushed red.

    ''Did she completely forget that she''s supposed to be playing the part of an old streetside vendor?? Seeing her look like that while blushing as if she were a pubescent teenage schoolgirl is¡­''

 Chapter 234 - 234: The EX-Rank

    Shaking his head in exasperation, Cassius accepted the pen. Then he wrote his full name at the bottom of the contract in a refined cursive style.

    Once he finished writing his signature, Bella wasted no time; she yanked at her hair and beard. "It''s me¡ªBella!!" she haughtily exclaimed. "You didn''t see this coming, did you, my love??"

    Cassius blankly stared at her, truly wondering if there was something seriously messed up within her brain. Though, considering how badly she seemed to want this moment, he feigned surprise with an oh-so-shocked expression.

    "How could this be¡­?" he said lazily. "How could the old street vendor be Bella¡­? What sorcery¡­"

    "Fufu~" Bella giggled victoriously while happily swinging back and forth. "I knew you''d fall for my impeccable disguise! And now you''re stuck with me forever¡ªas my husband! We should begin the Vampiric Ritual Ceremony right away¡ª"

    "You know that part of the contract wasn''t official, right?"

    "...It wasn''t?"

    "Did you not even bother to understand how the contract worked before coming and sitting here all night?" Cassius asked, slightly taken aback. "It''s clear that your father wrote down nearly all of this, but as for the last part¡­"

    Bella broke out in a guilty cold sweat. "I-I have no clue what you''re talking about! Wh¡­Who is the one who eloquently added the last segment!? Trying to tarnish the Crestmore Family''s noble name, are they!??"

    Silence.

    After a few seconds of awkwardly staring at each other, Cassius reached out and picked up the vial of blood before downing it in one gulp.

    Bella''s eyes briefly flashed in surprise. She felt his connection with her deepen greatly, causing her to bubble up in euphoria. The blood he drank was partly mixed with her primordial essence; after all. It was something she spent a great deal to extract and have primordialized.

    But for her, it was all worth it.

    ''We''re becoming so much closer~! I want to become even closer~!!''

    It took everything she had not to jump Cassius while he was undergoing a Racial Advancement. His sharp canine teeth increased in length, his wings sprouted from his back, and his icy blue eyes turned a dark crimson red. However, his appearance took an even greater step, transforming his bat-like wings into terrifyingly grim wings that stretched outward for nearly a dozen meters.

    Yet, it didn''t end there, for an overwhelmingly powerful bloodthirsty aura enveloped the area¡ªwith him as the source.

    "He''s so¡­ so¡­ so hot!!!" Bella screamed out, hearts swirling around in her eyes. "I want him so, so, so bad~!!"

    Her lust was becoming progressively worse, but she quickly snapped out of it when she realized how big a commotion this promotion could create. She acted immediately, using a high-rank Vampire Ability called |Blood Dome| to isolate everything happening with her husband.

    Fortunately, there weren''t any people on this abandoned street, so no one was trapped in the |Blood Dome| with them.

    OOOM!

    Cassius''s aura further expanded as something much darker mixed with his advancing Vampire Duke Bloodline.

    It was his Demon King Bloodline!

    As a result of his Vampire Duke Bloodline''s advancement into the EX- Rank, his Demon King Bloodline also advanced forward!

    SS-Rank ¡ú SSS+ Rank!

    Just like that, his Demon King Bloodline exceeded its limits and transformed into something that vastly improved the effectiveness of his Demon King Rank.

    His power soared!

    Yet, the chain sequence of events was nowhere close to being done¡­

    OOOM!!!

    His Oracle Sphinx Bloodline took a major leap and jumped straight to the SSS-Rank! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Demon Dragon Bloodline was not too far behind, as it leapt directly to the SSS-Rank as well!

    Then there was his Ordinary Phoenix Bloodline, which not only leveled up to the SSS-Rank but also metamorphosed into something superior¡ªthe Legendary Phoenix Bloodline!

    Cassius''s already immense aura broke through shackle after shackle, surpassing limit after limit.

    Until eventually, like a raging river returning to tranquility, his aura vanished. And he lightly tapped the ground, his disposition entirely otherworldly.

    He appeared more ethereal. Acted more ethereal. Even breathed in a more ethereal way.

    "The EX-Rank," Cassius said calmly. "It really did all this."

    The EX-Rank, unlike the ranks that came before, was one where the common evolved into something far less common. It was a rank akin to transcendence. And with transcendence¡ªor ascendance¡ªeven a chicken could be carried to heaven with oneself.

    In this case, acquiring an EX-Rank Bloodline¡ªeven if it was only of the minus status¡ªwas enough to carry the rest of Cassius''s Bloodlines closer to the EX-Rank.

    This was what caused the situation before him. From this moment onward, any and all Bloodlines obtained by him would receive the same treatment. Even if the Bloodline was only of the E-Rank, it would automatically advance to the SSS-Rank as soon as it fused with him.

    The only seemingly unfortunate part about all this was that any relevant Techniques or Skills tied to upgraded Bloodlines would not also be upgraded. This meant his Supreme Nirvana Rebirth S-Rank Skill was still at the S-Rank. The same applied to his Demon Dragon Integration Arts and Fiendish Demon King Arts.

    But on the plus side, all of those Techniques and Skills would now be far easier to level up, thanks to the improved quality of their linked Bloodlines. Before long, every single one of them would surely reach the SSS-Rank.

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius clenched and unclenched his fists, unsure of just how much power he now possessed. ''Would I be able to take on the weakest of Demon Kings as I am now?''

    He wasn''t too clear on the answer to that question. But even if he wasn''t there just yet, he certainly wasn''t far off either.

    A few more weeks of grinding his Techniques, Skills, and AP, and he might achieve the power necessary to resume his march through HELL¡­

    However, until then, he still had some matters to attend to. One of those matters was staring at him with wide, sparkly eyes as they spoke:

    "Hubby, you''re so powerful now~! Just look at you~!!" Bella screamed like a fangirl, giddily inspecting every inch of his partially exposed body. "Say, how about we consummate our marriage right now~?? I''ll call for Father~!!"

 Chapter 235 - 235: A Daddy In Trouble...

    "I''ll call Father~!!" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No thanks," Cassius firmly denied before calmly walking away from the delirious girl.

    "W-Wait, my love!" Bella called out. "What about the contract!? It states that you have to join my Crestmore Family! You have to!"

    Without looking back, Cassius said, "It stipulates that I do indeed have to join your Vampire Duke Family. It does not, however, say when. I''ll find some time another day. As for right now, I have more important things I need to attend to."

    Color drained from Bella''s complexion. "B-But¡­"

    Cassius faintly smiled. "I''ll see you around, Bella," he said before disappearing from the empty street, breaking through the |Blood Dome| with ease.

    He had decided something that day. Hating Bella¡ªit was pointless.

    There was no way he''d ever be able to escape her incalculable amount of love, and there was also no way he''d be able to find it in himself to kill her. Even if she had essentially ruined the better part of his life, she was also partly to thank for how much strength he had today. Then there was this most recent vial of blood, which surely wasn''t an easy thing to convince her father to give to him.

    All in all, Cassius figured he''d let bad bridges between them vanish. He saw no point in holding a grudge over something so¡­ mortal.

    Starting fresh was for the best.

    That, however, didn''t mean he''d be all chummy with her right from the get-go. She had to earn his affection.

    Then again, Bella had no idea about any of Cassius''s thoughts. The only thing she knew was that he had left her right after taking what he wanted from her¡­ and he did so without a second thought.

    "So cruel," she murmured, shadows obscuring her vision. "So mean¡­ So... So sexy~!!"

    Her depression might as well have not even existed to begin with, for, like a certain hopelessly lost dragon, she was¡ªin her core¡ªtoo horny for words to properly articulate.

    Though, while wiggling in place with a suspicious fragrance filling the air, Bella suddenly recalled who wrote the contract. Her eyes darkened further, and not in the good way this time.

    "Daddy¡­ He had only one job," she said coldly, "and yet he couldn''t even do it right¡­"

    A chill ran down a certain Vampire Duke''s spine as he cautiously turned his head in all directions. Carmilla, who was sitting beside him, could pretty much guess what was happening to him¡ªor, rather, what was about to happen to him. This keen intuition of hers made her signature smirk appear.

    Alaric Crestmore had a bad feeling about what was to come.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, on top of Mount Everest, a shadowy cloaked figure materialized into being ¡ª

    "It''s about time I enter the Nightmarescape again," Cassius said. "None at home have woken up yet, so they won''t even realize I''ve gone somewhere. As for those eerie eyes that follow me everywhere¡­" He smirked, then lifted his hand.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Multiple gremlin extraterrestrials felt an irresistible force grab hold of them and pull. Without even the slightest hope for resistance, they were yoinked out of their pockets in space and brought to levitate in front of a demonic man.

    "You six are quite a bit stronger than the last ones," Cassius commented casually before tightening his hand. "Yet, seeing as you''re still merely of the S++ Rank, the Elders must not see me as much of a threat."

    From the memories of dozens of aliens, Cassius had learned a lot. He knew the name of their race, he knew the strict hierarchy of their kind. He even knew the names of several of the most important figures sent down for this ''operation.''

    The only things he didn''t know¡ªor was unable to find¡ªwere how exactly they got to Earth, where they came from, and what precisely their ultimate goal was.

    "Perhaps you bunch will give me more insight into your origins," Cassius emotionlessly uttered. "Don''t worry; I''ll give you painless deaths."

    "N¨C!" the tightly bound aliens shouted, but before they could finish a single word, Cassius''s right hand clenched hard on thin air.

    POP! POP! POP!

    The aliens were first crunched up into progressively tinier balls before exploding into a shower of green blood and guts.

    Without wasting a second, Cassius activated his mind-related skills and searched through their brain matter. Many memories similar to the ones he already knew flashed before him, but after a few nanoseconds of searching, he finally found something different. A memory. In that memory, he saw the faint silhouette of something that sort of looked like a fleshy, moving spaceship.

    But just as he reached out to access the memory, warning red lights flashed around him. A large, mystically runic lock appeared on the memory. Then every memory behind and around that memory was also barred behind the same locks.

    "What the¡­?"

    Before Cassius even knew what had occurred, he was suddenly kicked out of the area where all the aliens'' memories were stored. When he tried to go back in, he was even more astonished to realize that all of the memories¡­ had vanished.

    He tried a different alien''s brain matter.

    Yet the same thing happened.

    "It seems these dissonants are not as stupid as I once believed," Cassius said with a slight grin. "Well, no matter. As I become stronger, I''ll eventually become powerful enough to force all their secrets out of them. Especially those extremely powerful ones on that skull-shaped island. Those are the aliens most likely orchestrating this whole operation centered around me and¡­"

    He was unable to finish that thought because he honestly had no clue what the answer was. The only things he could figure out from the aliens were that he had a major part to play in whatever they were planning. He also knew that aliens exceeding the S-Rank were heavily restricted in this world. But he knew for certain that they all holed up on that skull-shaped island for a reason.

    His theory was that the island somehow allowed them to use their power freely¡ªassuming they were below a certain rank. Because past a certain power level, the world would not be able to bear the weight of their presence and would thus forcefully ban them from entering the moment they tried.

    However, the SS-Rank was definitely still very much allowed.

 Chapter 236 - 236: To The Land of Nightmares

    This meant that the unseen enemies Cassius was facing could be as weak as the SS- Rank or as ridiculously powerful as the SS+++ Rank. Though, to know for certain, he''d have to take the risk and venture into their skull-shaped island. Which, frankly speaking, was impossible as he was.

    "First, the weaker Demon Kings of HELL," he muttered, "then the extraterrestrial threat that seeks something from me."

    But, as those were major goals, he still had some more minor events he had to progress. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To begin with¡ªthe Nightmarescape.

    "Even now, I don''t really know where this dimension even is, same with the Land of Beginnings," he said. "It could be part of the System, or it could be somewhere else entirely. But regardless of what the case is, I have to have the strength that comes from slaying Nightmares."

    With a reaffirming train of thought, Cassius balled his fists before asking the System to transport him into the Nightmarescape. This time, he would stay in there for six hours¡ªwhich was fine according to the System. In fact, it enthusiastically told him he could stay in there as long as he could hold out.

    Though he didn''t know just yet why exactly it said that the way it did¡­

    However, some time later, he would understand very well why the Sadistic System was so passionate when it came to the Nightmarescape.

    His Sword God Trainer Rank and Phoenix Bloodline would soon be jumping up and down in joy¡­ Same as with his AP acquisition through trolling others¡­

    Upon re-arrival in the Land of Beginnings, when time resumed:

    "Nightmare Slayer Cadet Cassius¡ªAssigned to Slayer Platoon #42!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The expressions of many people in the Mistalore Throne Room drastically changed as almost everyone looked at the nonchalant Cassius with pity. The participants that had only survived thanks to him felt like speaking up, but in the face of the 2nd Class Slayer Ministers, they could do nothing but turn their heads in shame.

    Yuna Mistalore, however, was not experiencing the same difference in status. "Father, sending him to Slayer Platoon #42 is a dishonor to someone with as much talent as him. Please convince the Ministers of¡ª"

    "That''s enough."

    The King''s booming voice silenced both his daughter and the chatter bouncing off the walls in the room. He indifferently looked down at the seemingly unresponsive raven-haired young man below. Something felt different about him as opposed to just a second ago, but he couldn''t pinpoint exactly what that something was.

    Yet, as King Mistalore met the unyielding glint in the young man''s gaze, a rare smile crossed his face. Though faint, it carried weight, marking the moment he made his decision:

    "Cadet Cassius will be assigned to Slayer Platoon #42," he announced. Then singled out the young man as he said, "Good luck, Cadet."

    The Ministers sinisterly grinned, whereas the other Cadets put their heads down and avoided eye contact with the sheep being sent out to the slaughterhouse.

    "But Father¡ª" Yuna attempted to say, but was interrupted by King Mistalore''s cold glare and his equally cold voice:

    "My decision is final, Yuna."

    Unwillingness to comply flared within the 12th Princess, but in the end, all she could do was bite her lips and hang her head low.

    Cassius, on the other hand¡ªwho had just returned¡ªhonestly had no clue why everyone was acting so dramatically over the announcement of the platoon he would be assigned to.

    What could be so bad about it?

    "Ahhh!! My legs!!! My legs were blown off!!! S-Someone, please¡ª"

    SPURT!

    A helmet-covered head was lobbed off its shoulders before sailing through the air, creating a gory blood trail behind it. The head eventually landed right in front of the blank face of one Mr. Cassius Steele.

    ''Okay¡­ Now I see why everyone looked as if they were sending me off to my funeral when I left for the Land of Nightmares¡­''

    All around him was a world shrouded in darkness. He¡ªand his platoon¡ªlay battling endless hordes of Nightmares at the bottom of a limitlessly large gorge. The gorge was formed in a way that from its entrance, everything was a downhill slope from there. It was unknown how far the downward slope declined for, but Cassius and the rest of Slayer Platoon #42 were around 3,000 meters in.

    Things were, however, not looking so optimistic for them, as they had been ambushed by groups of Rank 2 Nightmares as soon as they passed the 2,800-meter mark¡­

    Two weeks had passed since Cassius made his first return to the Land of Beginnings. Barely any time had gone by in the outside world, with the Daily Quest still waiting to be completed. Yet, when he bid farewell to the oddly distant-acting Yuna and finally set off for the Nightmarescape a day ago, he quickly met up with his new platoon. After taking a bit of time to get to know each other''s strengths and weaknesses, they set off for the ''Boundless Gorge,'' which served as one of the final frontiers for the Land of Beginnings'' defense against Nightmare Invasions.

    Although Cassius didn''t think much of the depression lingering among every member of his platoon when they were talking, it wasn''t until they were ambushed that he realized why they were so gloomy.

    They were¡­ They were sent out to die.

    And they knew that.

    Slayer Platoon #42 was a suicide platoon¡ªnever meant to return home.

    This was why not a single member of the platoon appeared older than 20¡­ for they died young¡­

    And today¡ªmore so than other days Platoon #42 set out¡ªwas one maxed out in peril.

    "Set up a line of defense!! We can survive this as long as we¡ª"

    SPURT!

    A black scorpion tail pierced through the owner of that commanding voice¡ªthe voice of the stand-in Platoon Captain.

    The previous Platoon Captain had died a few seconds prior. And now the stand-in Platoon Captain was dead. Therefore, a stand-in of the stand-in became the new captain.

    "You and you, back up that side!! We can''t let them take out our vanguard¡ª"

    SPURT!

 Chapter 237 - 237: Pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm

    SPURT!

    The Stand-in of the Stand-in was instantly slaughtered in similar fashion to the first Stand-in.

    And just like that, two 3rd Stage Class 3 Slayers were killed in combat, quickly and without remorse. Both of them were stronger than any S-Rank Hunter¡ªpossibly even stronger than SS-Rank Awakeners¡ªyet they died all the same.

    Luckily, there were Stand-ins for Stand-ins for Stand-ins!

    As deaths were extremely common for anyone assigned to Platoon #42, many precautions were set in place for terrible eventualities. So, even if a dozen Stand-ins died, there would always be more to take their places!

    "Ahhh¡ª!!"

    "Pl-Please, don''t kil¡ª!"

    Death after death occurred in the several dozen-man Nightmare Slayer Platoon. Cassius, standing to the far back, apathetically watched all his platoonmates get chopped in half, skewered, mutilated, and/or skinned and devoured.

    He wondered if he should interfere, but even as it was, he wasn''t doing too well himself. Doing any more than saving his own skin would be difficult.

    SHING! SHING!

    Lilith was being rapidly spun around, cutting through the thick black skin of several building-sized Rank 2 Nightmares. She easily pierced through them, but as they were slimy fellows, they always managed to slip away in time. This meant multiple alterations were necessary to kill just a single one of the Nightmares.

    Though, after a few seconds of chase, dodge, and chase some more, Cassius finally killed his first couple of Nightmares.

    BLING!

    [You have slain an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare (Voidstalker)!] Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Acquired a substantial amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [You have slain an Early-stage Rank 2 Nightmare (Duskscreamer)!]

    [Acquired a substantial amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from the Beginning of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Rank ¡ú Pinnacle of the 7th Stage Apprentice Slayer Rank!]

    [The remainder of your acquired Nightmare Essence has been transferred to Storage and will be automatically used as soon as the Host breaks through to the 3rd Class Slayer Rank.]

    Cassius kept that piece of information in mind as he continued slaying more of the Rank 2 Nightmares, all of which were roughly equivalent in strength to an S+ Rank Hunter. In other words, they were chump change for the current version of him.

    Then again, with how slippery they were, he certainly had some trouble efficiently farming them.

    Furthermore, there were many Nightmares stronger than the ones he was fighting. Though all of them were currently embroiled in battle with the couple dozen remaining members of his platoon, they would surely turn their focus on him as soon as the rest were wiped out.

    Of the lot, there were a few that made even Cassius''s hair stand on end.

    {[Tenebris Wraith (Peak Rank 2)]}

    [Approximate Battle Power: SS- - Rank]

    [Threat Rating: Light Red]

    {[Umbravore (Peak Rank 2)]}

    [Approximate Battle Power: SS- - Rank]

    [Threat Rating: Light Red]

    There were many such Nightmares fighting the Slayers of Platoon #42. Moreover, even more were crawling out of large tunneling holes in the Gorge''s murky walls. Although only twenty of them were out right now, the whole place would surely be swarming with them soon enough.

    "Let''s see," Cassius mused. "If I slaughter a line in that direction, I''ll be able to escape the Gorge the way I came in, but I won''t be able to keep the opening open long enough for all the survivors to make it back out. On the other hand, I could use the opposite tactic and head further into the Gorge."

    The answer was a very simple one. It was extremely logical to make this decision.

    And yet¡­

    "F*ck it," said Cassius. "I want to see just how far I can venture into this bottomless black ravine before I''m forced to turn back."

    With his decision already made, he sprang into the air like a broken coil before putting Lilith around his neck. He lunged forth, using his superb aerial balance to spin around with his domineering katana in hand. He turned into a razor-sharp beyblade and gained as much momentum as possible, stopping right before hitting one of the Peak Rank 2 Nightmares.

    The Nightmare¡ªwhich was originally focused on a Stand-in of a Stand-in¡ªimmediately noticed the lethal presence at its back. All of its dozen or so eyes darted toward the presence, their malicious intent overpoweringly strong.

    Yet, in that same instant, Cassius¡ªwho was frozen in mid-air¡ªhad purplish crimson runic lines materialize around him. The runic lines enveloped the area for thousands of meters, attracting the attention of both the other Peak Rank 2 Nightmares and Platoon #42''s 3rd Class Slayers. The Apprentice Slayers had all died very quickly when the ambush first happened, leaving only the strongest of Platoon #42 still alive.

    "An Apprentice Slayer''s actually still kicking!? And what are those cryptic symbols spreading out around him??"

    "He''s the Newbie who was essentially sent to die by the Ministers of the Royal Court! They say he''s the #1 youngster among the Nightmare Slayer lot this year!"

    "Who cares!! With his Apprentice Slayer Rank, there''s no way he''ll make a difference!! Just focus on fending for yourselves until we find a way out of here¡ª"

    RUMBLE!!!

    A loud rumbling threw all of Platoon #42 off balance as they struggled to regain their footing. One of the 3rd Class Slayers¡ªwho had been focusing on the only Apprentice Slayer¡ªwidened his eyes in shock at the sight before him.

    "Captain, look!" the Slayer shouted, his pointer finger stretched out. "The¡­ The Peak Rank 2 Nightmare that the boy was fighting¡­"

    "Huh!?" said the Captain. "What nonsense are you spouting this tim¡ª"

    That was when he saw it as well.

    Part of the Gorge¡­ now had another smaller gorge carved through one of the walls.

    "Such staggering power," the Captain mumbled. "Just what sort of attack is capable of dealing this much damage!?"

    *Tap.*

    Cassius lithely tapped against the hard ground surface, his steps waking the other members of Platoon #42 to reality. They stared at him slack-jawed, in utter disbelief of the truth.

    "This kid," said the Captain. "I know now why the Ministers wanted him dead¡­ With ungodly talent like his, the whole Kingdom could one day be turned upside down¡­"

    *Ding~!*

 Chapter 238 - 238: Making The Sacrifice

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain a Peak-stage Rank 2 Nightmare ''Umbravore''!]

    [Acquired a massive amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    Although Cassius''s Slayer strength had been capped at the 7th Stage of the Apprentice Slayer Rank, he could still feel his Skills sharpening. Especially when it came to his use of the experimental Fusion Skill ''Atomic Slash''¡ªwhich was of the SS- Rank and something he personally derived from the Atomic Element. Of course, he did so with the help of numerous Ruby-ranked Mind and Comprehension-related Skills.

    "Atomic Slash," Cassius said, gently rubbing his finger across Lilith''s reactive edges. "It''s a very useful Skill capable of being used multiple times in rapid succession."

    His icy blue eyes suddenly shifted toward an incoming scorpion tail. A Peak Rank 2 Nightmare ''Shadow Stinger'' wished to avenge its fallen brethren. Its mutant scorpion-like figure rushed at Cassius, its savage hiss hinting at its fury.

    Yet, in that same instant, similar runic lines as before appeared¡ªthis time even faster than the first time. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before the Shadow Stinger''s giant stinger could puncture a hole through Cassius''s emotionless face, an overbearing aura exploded outward from Lilith. She hummed a battle-crazed tune before suddenly enlarging in size. From a mere six feet to over 30 meters, she now loomed over the charging Shadow Stinger.

    However, completely out of expectations, Cassius did not immediately swing downward. Instead, he turned her horizontally and pumped the muscles in both his arms. Then he slashed.

    "Duck!" he shouted in the same instant.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    As if on instinct, every other member of Platoon #42 followed the directive and ducked. They did so just in the nick of time, for razing right above their heads¡ªslicing off a few strands of hair¡ªwas a colossal Atomic Sword Slash that swept through the area.

    The cries of the Nightmares sounded out all around Platoon #42. Until, eventually, there were no more screams. No more sounds at all.

    The Captain wearily got up. His shaky eyes saw something that left him even more astonished than before.

    Where the charging Shadow Stinger once was, there was now no intact scorpion. The mighty Nightmare had been cleanly cleaved into two, with both halves sliding off one another, revealing the reddish-black blood inside. However, as the Captain turned his head around, he saw many more similar events happening everywhere in their part of the Gorge. Of course, with the slight incline, not every kill was as cleanly done as with the Shadow Stinger. Some of the Rank 2 Nightmares were even crawling around with whatever remained of them¡ªstill trying to attack the Slayers.

    "This crazy freak," the Captain muttered. He felt a deep chill run down his spine when he thought about what would''ve happened if they hadn''t dodged.

    Even as 3rd Class Slayers, they would have¡­

    "Hey," Cassius said, forcing him out of his stupor. "Stop standing around and leave the Boundless Gorge. Many more are coming, and the next wave won''t be anywhere as simple as this one."

    "Simple¡­?" the Captain repeated, his fearful eyes scanning the corpses of hundreds of Rank 2 Nightmares and six previous iterations of his Captain position. ''How could any of this be called simple¡­??''

    Then, from the tunneled holes of both sides of the Gorge, thousands of presences just as powerful as Rank 2 Nightmares appeared. Some of them even exceeded Rank 2, reaching levels that would leave even veteran 3rd Class Slayers on their knees.

    "If you wish to leave here alive," Cassius said to the Captain, "then leave now. Otherwise, don''t bother leaving at all."

    The Captain hesitated. "But what about you? Are you not coming with us¡ª"

    "I will hold them back, covering your retreat," said Cassius. "Now go. Don''t let my sacrifice be in vain."

    The Captain''s knuckles turned white as he hesitantly deliberated.

    Ultimately, he gritted his teeth and shouted out to all the other Slayers. "Retreat at once! Make use of this opportunity that young hero Cadet Cassius has given to us!! Run!!!"

    The Captain''s voice acted as a wake-up call for the 3rd Class Slayers, urging their feet into motion. They took one last glance at the noble visage of Cadet Cassius before never looking back. The Captain¡ªfinding this situation the most difficult¡ªcould only vent his frustrations on the straggling Rank 2 and small-fry Rank 1 Nightmares standing in their way.

    Cassius¡ªafter seeing the members of Platoon #42 fully recede into the distance¡ªexhaled a long breath of cold air. Then he shifted his piercing gaze toward the limitless number of powerful Nightmares crawling out of their holes in the wall.

    "It looks like it''s just you and me now," he said coldly, his hands tightly gripping Lilith''s hilt. "How about we have some fun?"

    [What about me¡­? (???¦ä???)]

    Ignored.

    *Fwoooop!*

    "Esceetch¡ª!!!"

    As soon as Peak Rank 2 Nightmares appeared en masse from the wall tunnels, Cassius burst forward at many times the speed of sound. His first target was a large shadowy hippo with the head of a monkey. But before the terrifying Nightmare could get even a single attack out, Lilith''s cold edges had already made contact with its rubbery skin. Blood sprayed the area a blackish red, with the hippo being shredded to bits the only thing the other Peak 2 Nightmares saw on their way out.

    They screeched and roared out in rage. Yet Cassius could care less about their anger; his expression only became ever icier. With the speed of a phantom, he flashed through the corpse-ridden battlefield and cut off the heads of dozens of normal Rank 2 Nightmares, as well as nearly ten Peak Rank 2 Nightmares.

    None could see him move, and even fewer could match his ridiculous speed.

    For the next half a minute, he blurred around, killing hundreds of Rank 2 Nightmares and acquiring absurd amounts of Nightmare Essence. However, when a massive webbed claw forcefully smashed through a wall tunnel that was not anywhere big enough to handle its size, Cassius realized that his slaughter spree would soon come to a sudden halt.

    BOOM!

    Another webbed claw smashed through the other side of the relatively tiny tunnel; which, as a result, took the lives of dozens of Rank 2 Nightmares.

    That was when IT appeared¡­

 Chapter 239 - 239: Rank 3 Nightmare

    BOOM! BOOOM!! BOOOOOMM!!!

    Multiple more booming smashes were heard throughout the Gorge as cracks spread all over the exit of the tunnel that the two enormous claws were attempting to get in through. Each claw was roughly the size of a small town, and both were tightly dug into either side of the tunnel exit; they assisted whatever was trying to come out in coming out faster.

    CRACKA-BOOOOOM!!!

    Then, finally, with one last thundering explosion, the tunnel''s exit exploded outward, and a massive singular organism crashed through.

    {[One-Eyed Crawler (Early Rank 3)]}

    [Approximate Battle Power: SS-Rank]

    [Threat Rating: Medium Red]

    The Nightmare¡ªwhen fully extending the claws it used as both hands and feet¡ªcame in at roughly 4000 meters in height. It had long, lanky appendages attached to both of its wickedly sharp claws. Its main torso, however, was the weirdest part of this abomination, as it was shaped like a massive oval bean. And embedded in the front center part of that bean was a large swirling black eye that took up nearly 40% of its headspace. Which also served as its bodyspace, for both were one and the same.

    "Kekatal!!! Kekatata¡ª!!!!" The Nightmare Behemoth let out an unusual blood-curdling screech as it pushed its claws into the blackened floor before blurring forward.

    "!!!"

    The One-Eyed Crawler cared not about accidentally slaughtering other Nightmares as it appeared in front of Cassius in an instant. Then, with the hard flicker of one of its claws, it whacked him through several sound donuts and eventually into a far-off wall. A few Rank 2 Nightmares were crushed on impact as he hurtled toward the wall, their destruction yielding a satisfying surge of Nightmare Essence.

    Then again, it wasn''t like he had the luxury to be thinking about things he couldn''t even use right now when his entire body was on the verge of collapse.

    What seemed like gallons of blood poured out of his mouth as the aftereffects from his impact caused the wall around him to crater inward.

    Then, very anticlimactically, he died.

    *Ding!*

    [Your SSS-Rank Legendary Phoenix Bloodline has slightly progressed by 0.08%!]

    [1/110 Rebirths expended for the day]

    [|Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill has upgraded from the S+++ Rank ¡ú SS- Rank!]

    [S+++ Rank |Supreme Nirvana Rebirth| Skill has evolved into the SS- Rank |Zenith Rebirth| Skill!]

    [Maximum Daily Rebirths increased from 110 ¡ú 150]

    [Your Trainer Rank has advanced from the |Peak Beginner Trainer| stage ¡ú |Early Persistent Trainer Stage|!]

    [Strength +6000]

    WAAA!

    Cassius felt his strength soar, giving his body a much-needed upgrade.

    Yet, even with the addition of such a large amount of Strength, he still felt like this battle would be an extreme challenge. And normally, he would just dump all of his AP into Agility or take off his Newbie 8 Equipment Set. But this time around¡ªso as to further upgrade his Phoenix Bloodline/Skill and his Trainer Rank¡ªhe held back the urge to mass level himself up. Instead taking the pain and death route.

    "Time to test the limits of my strength," Cassius coldly uttered, manipulating the Space Element to |Void Port| his Lilith next to the One-Eyed Crawler.

    Then he himself used |Teleport| to reappear right next to where Lilith was teleported. He clasped onto her before flaring the Atomic Element.

    |Atomic Slash|

    A devastating purple runic sword arc crossed the distance separating Cassius from the One-Eyed Crawler. Then, with a massive cloud-like explosion, the One-Eyed Crawler was hit.

    ''Did that do any damag¡ª'' Before he could even finish that thought, the One-Eyed Crawler''s left hooked claw emerged through the cloud of atomic energies. And with a resounding bang, Cassius was hit straight on. First, his skin cracked, then his bones broke, then the rest of him followed. Slowly and painfully, his body was vaporized.

    BOOOOOM!!!

    The aftershocks of the head-on collision caused waves of rolling, volatile atomic energy to careen outward. The waves cut up the Boundless Gorge''s walls, also killing hundreds of nearby Rank 2 Nightmares as a consequence.

    It was also at this time¡ªas Cassius experienced a full rebirth¡ªthat two more horrifying presences just as powerful as the One-Eyed Crawler appeared. Rumblings echoed out from several directions as tunnels too small to fit them were crashed through and destroyed. This left numerous Nightmares in danger of being squashed by either pieces of the walls or the bloodthirsty Rank 3 Nightmares themselves.

    FWIP!

    Cassius fully regenerated just in time to see two gaping mouths and a pair of claws rocketing toward his face. All three of the Rank 3 Nightmares were vying for his life, and they worked together in sync to take it.

    They hadn''t once bothered wondering why he was capable of reviving. They had not the mind for it. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They had but one primary directive: mercilessly kill anything that wasn''t a native of this world.

    ''This will definitely give me a lot of Trainer Rank progres¡ª''

    SPLAT!

    Cassius evaporated, with even his blood not able to stay airborne for more than half a nanosecond before being reduced to nothing. Same as with the rest of his existence¡ªall turned to nothing.

    Yet, it was from nothing that something could be born.

    OOOM!

    He once more reappeared¡ªhis Atomic Slashes already getting sent out in the hundreds per second. He even utilized the unique ability of his Dragonfire Demon King Title¡ªQuasar Beam¡ªto both push himself back from recoil and deal some minor burn damage to the momentarily stunned Rank 3 Nightmares.

    However, within seconds, the nightmarish behemoths were already right back on his tail. They relentlessly pursued and lashed out at him with devastatingly powerful attacks, which left both the area and the other, weaker Nightmares in terrible condition.

    ''Damn,'' Cassius thought as he expertly evaded multiple attacks that would''ve insta-killed him. ''If not for the fact that I just recently loosened some of the elemental restrictions that both of the worlds placed on me, then I would be faring better right now.''

    Unfortunately for his sanity, that was not the case.

    SPLAT!

    Another blood mist explosion occurred. He died¡­ yet again.

    But he came back once more¡ªthis time even stronger than before.

    This was also when AP from trolling started coming in:

    *Ding!*

 Chapter 240 - 240: The Formation of a Slayer Weapon

    *Ding!*

    [Trolled ''Rank 3 Nightmares'' for 3500 AP!]

    A small smirk formed on Cassius''s still-recovering face. ''Time to begin the grind cycle.''

    With that, he shot forward, his attacks becoming ever more lethal. As time passed, the restrictions placed on everything that wasn''t pure physical strength gradually weakened, bringing out more of his potential.

    ¡ª Ten minutes later ¡ª

    SHING! SHING!

    The ridiculously-sized heads of two freakish behemoths were lobbed off in glorious, bloody fashion. The rest of the bodies of those two behemoths were also shredded until their singular selves turned into tens of thousands of meat chunks.

    *Whisp¡ª!*

    Two rather large and overpowering streams of black Nightmare Essence flew out of the corpses of the Rank 3 Nightmares. They entered Cassius''s grim figure, adding to his already massive storage of Nightmare Essence.

    Looking around, Cassius saw thousands upon thousands of dead Rank 2 Nightmares, as well as more than three dozen Rank 3 Nightmares. In less than a fourth of an hour, he had managed to slaughter enough Nightmares to qualify him for the position of Battalion Commander. Such a position would warrant him control over 10 Platoons, making him a far more influential figure than he currently was. Far, far more influential.

    The only unfortunate thing was that he would never see that Battalion Commander position, for no one was there to vouch for his feats.

    It all felt like a bit of a waste¡­

    But it was what it was.

    "I think that''s the last of them in this part of the Gorge," said Cassius, his cruel eyes scrutinizing the surroundings for any stragglers. "I''ve already descended to roughly 5,000 meters, with around¡­ how many¡­? How many times did I die¡­?"

    He clutched the sides of his head in pain, yet merely squinted as what felt like billions of fire ants crawled around inside his brain.

    The mere thought of his countless, agonizing deaths etched phantom echoes into his memory. Each recollection of his demise sent waves of indescribable pain cascading through his very being, a torment that defied explanation.

    "654 times," Cassius muttered through clenched teeth. "I lost my life in battle 654 f*cking times¡­" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His temper uncharacteristically flared as his stifling killing intent suffocated the air around him. His pupils dilated and briefly turned a deathly crimson red. The aura emanating from him followed suit, turning a dark, bloody red. Moreover, his SSS-Rank Demon King Bloodline showed itself, further amplifying his already terrifying presence.

    "Kaskeeeetch¡ª!!!"

    Yet, with the banshee-like shrieks of more Nightmares, Cassius''s oppressive aura subsided. The air around him returned to tranquility, but it was not the peaceful kind; it was deadly. Silent but deadly.

    "The killing must continue," he uttered coldly, his legs already blurring the rest of him forward. "I must become stronger and stronger. No matter how many times I have to die, I will keep on."

    Thousands more Nightmares emerged from the deeper parts of the Gorge, with nearly a hundred of them being at the Early-stage of Rank 3.

    The endless battle between man and the creatures lurking in the darkness went on¡­ ceaseless and torturous¡­

    ¡ª ??? Hours later ¡ª

    Cassius¡ªhaving died thousands of times¡ªno longer looked or felt the same as he once had. His eyes seemed far more worn down, his gaze grimly serious, and his presence overbearing. He was sitting on the corpse of what was once an extremely powerful Middle-stage Rank 3 Nightmare. The corpse was badly mutilated, showing clear signs of it having greatly struggled before its death.

    He should''ve been happy; after all, this was his first time killing something so powerful. But for some reason, he looked the same as always, his expression bereft of emotion. His listless stare gazed above, his thoughts unknown.

    "No more howls." His voice¡ªboth raspy and gravelly¡ªtraveled throughout the dimly lit, endlessly deep Gorge. "It seems¡­ it seems I''ve reached a point in this place where no more Nightmares shall appear. Good¡­"

    Cassius had amassed a ludicrous amount of Nightmare Essence since he first began his killing spree. And with his Slayer Rank still capped at the 7th Stage of the Apprentice Slayer Rank, a breakthrough was far overdue.

    WASHING¡ª!

    A crisp sword slice resounded as Cassius and Lilith dug out a perfectly shaped cave-like hole in the side of a wall. He walked into the cave, threw out some fireballs to act as permanent torches, then covered the cave''s entrance with a Diamond-ranked Illusion Skill¡ªwhich equated to the SS-Rank and was the rank after the Ruby Rank.

    He had only just recently started receiving Skill Boxes beyond the Ruby Rank, with this Illusion-related one being one of a handful of Diamond-ranked Skills in his arsenal.

    After everything was set up and his security ensured, Cassius sat down in a lotus position and began circulating the vast sea of Nightmare Essence stored inside him. He called upon a minuscule amount of it¡ªthe amount that accounted for his current Slayer Rank¡ªthen molded it into the shape that felt the most synonymous with his existential aspects.

    This would soon be his Slayer Weapon.

    OOOM!!

    Violent energies swirled within the dug-out cave as the small piece of Cassius''s vast Nightmare Essence storage took on the form of a¡­ scythe.

    The scythe started off as dark gray¡ªsymbolizing the purest version of Nightmare Essence¡ªbut ultimately extracted the qualities of its owner. Cassius¡ªbecause of the influence of his nigh-limitless killing intent¡ªcaused the scythe to turn black, then red, then a mixture of both black and red. The red transformed into a bloody effect and lined the edges of the ten-foot-long scythe blade. The black, on the other hand, morphed into an obsidian glossy shade of twilight, making up the majority of the scythe''s surface.

    This was all happening inside Cassius''s body, with the slow formation of the immaculate scythe making big waves within the massive Nightmare Essence sea it resided over. The whole place felt the immensity of his Slayer Weapon''s formation.

    And finally, after just over twenty minutes of meticulously guiding the formation process¡ªan act that felt almost instinctive to him¡ªthe blood-black scythe took its final, complete form.

    WAAA!!

 Chapter 241 - 241: Mass Bloodline Upgrades, 5th Stage 3rd Class Slayer

    WAAA!!

    The moment the scythe was finished forming, an unbearable aura spread out from Cassius and engulfed both the cave and the space outside. The Nightmare corpses¡ªwhich he had not bothered to do anything about¡ªwere rapidly corroded by this smothering aura. Then, without Cassius commanding it, the blood of the Nightmares¡ªwhich had previously been uselessly poisonous to both him and Lilith¡ªnow flew toward them of its own volition.

    In an instant, the blackish-red blood of tens of thousands of Rank 1, 2, and 3 Nightmares swarmed the figure floating ever so slightly off the ground. The countless gallons of blood slipped through the illusion before dividing itself between Master and Blade, urging forth evolution after evolution.

    Furthermore, when Cassius''s Slayer Weapon outwardly projected itself¡ªofficializing the breakthrough process¡ªthe absurd amount of blood progressing his Vampire Duke Bloodline even more seamlessly fused with him. A similar effect occurred for Lilith as she underwent an extreme advancement process.

    Then, after a few seconds of rapid, uncontrollable changes, a plethora of system notifications rang out:

    *Ding~!*

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''7th Stage Apprentice Slayer'' ¡ú ''1st Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    However, the Slayer Rank advancements did not stop there, as the sea of Nightmare Essence within Cassius started to rage and rise into the air above it. Then a stupid amount of the Nightmare Essence crashed into his Slayer Weapon like waves against the shore.

    His Slayer Rank skyrocketed¡­

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''1st Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''2nd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''2nd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''3rd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''3rd Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''4th Stage 3rd Class Slayer'']

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced from ''4th Stage 3rd Class Slayer'' ¡ú ''5th Stage 3rd Class Slayer''] sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His Rank eventually settled down in the middle of the 5th Stage, with his aura exploding outward less than a second later. All of his Main Physical Attributes took leap after leap, yet the stats shown in his System Interface remained unchanged. Since his Slayer Rank was an external source of power, the System did not include it in his stats, which also meant that he had still yet to technically exceed the S-Rank on the Awakener scale.

    This also meant forceful Ascension would not occur when he returned to the Trial Floor of the Ascension Tower of Humanity.

    Though, even if his overall cumulative stats did break into the SS-Rank, Cassius could still prevent a forceful Ascension. In a similar fashion to the powerful foreign invaders, he could either fool the world into thinking he was outside the world by staying in one small space, or he could restrict his stats. Either way, he could delay his ascension until the time was opportune.

    But regardless of what he might or might not do, as his breakthroughs were deemed a huge success, he required some time to consolidate his strength. Which, frankly speaking, was massive. Massive enough to make it so that he couldn''t even feel the ridiculous amount of weight he carried on his person because of his Newbie 8 Equipment Set and Newbie 8 Sword.

    However, with his luck, the Idle Evolution System was likely to throw out one, maybe even two Newbie Equipment upgrades in the near future¡­

    "Should I feel happy or sad about that?"

    Cassius honestly didn''t know anymore. He wasn''t sure about anything regarding his feelings or emotions¡­

    It was terrifying¡ªutterly horrifying¡ªbut that same haunting sensation from before began to rear its head once more. The unsettling realization that pieces of himself were steadily, inexorably slipping into oblivion. Especially after enduring death hundreds of times... no, thousands of times¡­

    He didn''t even know if he could recognize himself anymore.

    Only the phantom pain from his every death was there to accompany him every step of the way. That¡­ that he could recognize.

    ''The pain,'' he thought. ''I just have to follow the pain. I''ll never lose my sense of being that way. That is what I must do.''

    But then again, how would someone who couldn''t even recognize himself possibly be able to tell if he has or has not lost more of himself?

    It was all rigged. Every single bit of it.

    But with the pursuit of more strength taking front, line, and center, Cassius spent the next couple of hours solidifying his strength. Then he rose from his meditative position and stared at the incoming System Notifications, informing him of both his Bloodline upgrades and Lilith''s upgrades.

    *Ding!*

    [|Duke Vampire Bloodline (EX-)| has rapidly progressed from < 10% ¡ú 100%, causing it to evolve to the EX-Rank!]

    [|Duke Vampire Bloodline (EX)| has progressed to 0.8%!]

    [All other Bloodlines below the EX-Rank have been forcefully advanced by a single minor Rank!]

    [|Demon King Bloodline (SSS+) ¡ú |Demon King Bloodline (SSS++)|]

    [|Legendary Phoenix Bloodline (SSS+++) ¡ú |Mythic Phoenix Bloodline (EX-)|]

    Cassius''s Phoenix Bloodline¡ªwhich had advanced by leaps and bounds because of all the times he died¡ªnow took one humongous jump into the transcendent EX-Rank.

    Now, he had two EX-Rank Bloodlines, both of which were immensely powerful and useful!

    But with more pop-ups appearing, Cassius had little time to pause on just a single upgrade:

    [Maximum Daily Rebirths have increased from 1500 ¡ú 2500]

    [|Oracle Sphinx Bloodline (SSS)| ¡ú |Oracle Sphinx Bloodline (SSS+)|]

    [|Demon Dragon Bloodline (SSS)| ¡ú |Demon Dragon Bloodline (SSS+)|]

    [Growth Weapon ''Devil Blade Lilith'' has advanced from the ''S+++'' Rank to the ''SS++'' Rank!]

    [|Lilith''s Attack + 38,600|]

    RUMBLE!!!

    Just Lilith''s presence alone caused a good chunk of the Boundless Gorge to shake and quake. Her outer appearance transformed from her already domineering design to something even more oppressive. She took on the form of a mighty 4-meter-long greatsword¡ªone that required Cassius to levitate off the ground to avoid letting dig into the floor.

    Lilith retained her original black-and-red color scheme, but there was also a newly added glowing purple hue that traveled up and down her razor-sharp edges like streams of a river. Those same glowing purple streams ignited the rest of her surface, making blackish-red flames flare from all over. An additional bloody effect lined her edges, similar in function to his now completely formed Slayer Scythe.

 Chapter 242 - 242: The Truth About Memphis

    WAAA!!

    When Lilith''s evolution concluded, Cassius rubbed her sides and received a euphoric reaction in return. She happily hummed, seemingly describing to him how nice she was feeling.

    For the first time in what felt like days, Cassius smiled.

    Though, in the very next instant, his smile faded. He couldn''t even remember smiling at all.

    "Time to name my Slayer Weapon," he said, as if to distract himself from this lurching feeling digging away inside him. "A name¡­ What''s a good name for a scythe¡­"

    He summoned forth his bloody scythe for some inspiration. And after a few minutes of deliberation, he finally decided on the name for this large, menacing scythe:

    "Mora," Cassius declared. "Your name shall be Mora, Rivers of Blood."

    As a rough translation, Mora meant ''Death'' in Latin. It was a fitting name for what he had planned for this sickly sharp weapon of his. Rivers of blood would truly begin to flow with every attack of hers.

    WAAA!

    A resplendent and mesmerizingly dangerous aura spread out from the large scythe looming over Cassius''s head. The aura enveloped the area for thousands of meters around them, pressuring every disfigured Nightmare carcass nearby. The scythe was marking. Marking the beginning of endless bloodshed.

    Normally, Lilith would''ve been rejoicing over such an absurd amount of bloodlust, but for some reason, she was being oddly silent. Almost pouty, even.

    [Seems like the Ladykiller is at it again!] the System said playfully. [Even inanimate objects can''t resist your irresistibly s*xy loner, boner, virgin-loser charm!]

    [(???©n???)]

    [Teach me your ways, oh master Lady Slayer~!]

    Cassius: "...."

    Perhaps all it took was the System''s usual absurdity to reignite some of his emotions. Particularly his disgust and disbelief, both of which were especially active right now.

    In the end, a heavy sigh escaped his lips before he moved his attention to the outside of his humble abode.

    "I''ve been here for around 50 hours," he said apathetically. "And seeing as the System hasn''t once bothered trying to goad me into returning home, I assume I can stay here forever."

    [Only this one time¡ªand not forever. The next time, you''ll require Nightscare Shards to extend the duration of your stay!]

    Cassius kept the System''s message to the back of his mind. Now, the only thing he worried about was how much more continuous pain and death he could take before he lost the rest of his sanity¡­

    Even still:

    "I must get stronger," said Cassius, his quiet steps slowly leaving the bounds of his cave. "I must."

    He couldn''t quite explain why he needed to grow so much stronger than he already was, but something deep within him¡ªan unshakable, primal instinct¡ªscreamed that he would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn''t do whatever it took to achieve greater power.

    If before, he did it mostly for the sake of his own self-interest, then this time, it was like a signal being sent to him from some higher force above. Otherworldly. Daunting. Terrifying. There were many words to describe this inexplicable feeling, and every single one of them screamed of terrible misfortune occurring in the near future.

    And based on that esoteric feeling alone, Cassius lumbered forward, with each further step leaving behind rivers of blood¡­

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within a land of golden towers that extended far above the aurum-shaded clouds that littered a mystical land where winged humanoids darted about ¡ª

    Starting with a sudden jolt, Memphis looked around with a weary gaze. "W¡­Where am I¡­?" she questioned skeptically.

    Painting a clear picture, the place she found herself in was a quaint little white gazebo situated right outside acres and acres of shiny gold-spotted sunflowers. A few short hills dotted the landscape, with the same sunflowers growing atop them as well. A tiny pond of around ten cubic meters in length and width sat right beside the gazebo.

    As for the gazebo itself, it was very simply decorated. There was only a moderately sized cotton bed, as well as flowy white curtains hanging off a high-hanging headrest for the bed.

    Memphis was only able to gaze out at the scenery outside the gazebo when the subtle spring-like breeze blew the bed curtains around. Through them, she could see both the picturesque environment¡­ as well as an angelic woman whose beauty surpassed everything around her. She was as if a Goddess herself had decided to grace the human world.

    Except¡­ this was not the Human World, was it?

    Zooming out ever so briefly, one could see that Memphis was stranded on a floating island. Yet, it was but one of countless islands gradually orbiting around an enormous golden palace, with equally shimmering golden towers that breached above the clouds.

    However, this palace and even the many islands surrounding it were merely one formation of dozens of similar formations. Golden palaces sprinkled out all over this paradise in the sky, with each one slightly different from the others. The heavenly songs and tunes being played by angel harpists also varied between the palace formations, all dependent on the music taste of each of the high-ranking Archangels.

    Yet, in the Heavenly Kingdom¡ªbelow the All-Father himself¡ªthere was but one Archangel recognized as being #1.

    "Mikeala," said the divinely beautiful woman standing outside the gazebo Memphis was in. "That''s my name, oh daughter of mine."

    "!!!"

    Memphis''s expression experienced multiple drastic changes as she looked at the angelic woman eloquently approaching her. Mikeala''s ten, magnificent wings were neatly folded into her relatively revealing white dress. Her eyes were closed¡ªher golden-stranded hair elegantly flowing. And yet none of her perfect physical appearance could possibly hope to dampen the impact that her casual words had on the stunned girl before her. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "We have a lot to catch up on, it seems," Mikeala said with a small, dazzling smile. "You must remember to keep in mind that what I''m about to tell you may make me seem cruel, but if you continue listening, you''ll understand exactly why I did what I did."

    Memphis, still reeling from both her sudden revival and this Angel''s words, was unable to give pause to the woman now sitting at the end of her bed. The blowing bed curtains stopped moving around and stood motionless above the bed frame, almost as if the very fabric of the curtains was afraid to mess with the drop-dead gorgeous Angel.

    "Where shall we begin? Oh¡­ How about I tell you of your actual father and my feud with the Fallen Angel, Lucifer?"

    "!!!"

    With a warm, inviting smile etched across her flawless face, Archangel Mikeala went on to explain in great detail everything that had happened since Memphis''s birth.

 Chapter 243 - 243: Mikaela, the Arch-Angel

    ¡ª Ten minutes later ¡ª

    To summarize what the Archangel told Memphis: some years ago¡ªright after she was born¡ªthe prodigal son of Heaven, Lucifer Morningstar, decided that since he couldn''t physically harm his Father, he''d settle for emotionally harming Him. He did so by battling his way through the Heavenly Kingdom, knowing full well that his Father would be naive enough to regard this as one of his "tantrums."

    It was then that Lucifer revealed his true intentions. He took both the All-Father and the Archangels by surprise by focusing all his power on restraining and capturing the #1 being under the All-Father in the Heavenly Kingdom: Mikaela Celestine.

    Surprisingly, Lucifer was successful in this endeavor. All his planning paid off, and he managed to slip out of the Heavenly Kingdom''s Sixth Floor with the divine beauty in his grasp.

    The other Archangels immediately became incensed by this incident and angrily discussed countermeasures to rescue Mikaela Celestine. However, when they sought the opinion of the All-Father, they received a revelation that left many of them dumbfounded. This revelation was also one of the prime reasons why God hadn''t stopped Lucifer Morningstar at all costs.

    As it turned out, Lucifer¡ªjust a few hundred years ago¡ªhad been involved with the illustrious #1 Archangel. However, the night right after they consummated their fleeting relationship, Mikaela never spoke to him again and returned to the Heavenly Kingdom.

    Basically, she ghosted him.

    Heartbroken, Lucifer did whatever he could think of to mend the bridge between him and Mikaela. But as the coldest Goddess in the Heavenly Kingdom, she was not easily wooed. Considering that night to be a grave mistake on her part, she did her utmost to forget it ever happened.

    And yet Lucifer would always be there to remind her of that day¡­

    This strange dynamic of Lucifer as the lovesick romantic and Mikaela as the emotionless heartbreaker led to an unhealthy obsession forming on Lucifer''s side. Over time, his once pure feelings of love and devotion became twisted, and he began regarding the Archangel as some sort of personal property. It became so extreme that whenever Lucifer heard whispers of a man even so much as approaching Mikaela, he would freak out and unleash his fury upon the upper reaches of HELL.

    The Hellish dimension had experienced numerous tribulations because of the furious tantrums of one of their tyrannical Hegemons¡­

    It wasn''t until many years later¡ªwhen the kidnapping incident occurred¡ªthat the Angels of the Heavenly Kingdom learned groundbreaking information from their God.

    As it turned out, when Mikaela and Lucifer had that scandalous one-night stand all those years ago, Mikaela became¡­ pregnant.

    This meant that Mikaela''s pregnancy was not the result of some illicit relationship with a mortal. Rather, it stemmed from something even more forbidden: the Fallen Angel, Lucifer. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing as Angel pregnancies¡ªextremely rare as they were¡ªnormally lasted for hundreds of years with no visible belly deformation, it wasn''t until the baby arrived and the All-Father''s revelation that everyone learned the truth.

    That baby was Memphis¡ªa baby girl who, right after her birth and the kidnapping of her mother, was sent down to the Trial Floor of Humanity on a secret operation by her mother. The Angels tasked with sending her down and keeping her away from the danger of the Heavenly Kingdom and HELL were also instructed to find her a good new family.

    The leader of that small D-Rank Hunter Party and his wife became that family. Though, with the early death of the wife, it was really only the leader who was left to act as a parental figure for the barely three-year-old Memphis. But with the passing of time, he eventually died as well.

    If not for Cassius and the rest of the Steele Household''s warmth, she might''ve truly been left all alone¡­

    However, 17-some-odd years following Memphis''s birth, something changed in Mikaela''s predicament. After so long of being pampered and treated like an absolute queen by Lucifer¡ªyet giving nothing in return¡ªhe finally couldn''t take it anymore and ran to a famous Succubus whorehouse to drown his sorrows.

    For hundreds of years, he had patiently and excruciatingly waited to taste that divinely sculpted body again. Yet that time never came.

    Even as he did whatever she requested of him, he received not even a small smooch in return¡­

    Life truly was so cruel!

    And with her power not much different from his¡ªbeyond locking her on the Sixth Floor of HELL¡ªhe was unable to do much else. Forcing her into his bed was, naturally, out of the question.

    Thus, when he finally became so pent up that he couldn''t take it anymore, but was brutally rejected by Mikaela, he resorted to prostitution to alleviate some of his pent-up desires. In his lustful negligence, he completely forgot about maintaining the trap he had set for the Archangel. Within the day, she broke free with ease.

    That day was today.

    The first thing she did upon her return¡ªafter informing the other Angels and the All-Father of her arrival¡ªwas to break a few laws and once again descend to the Trial Floor of Humanity. It was then that she encountered those pesky invaders, whom she learned had snuck into the Ascension Tower in recent years.

    But with "him" guarding that particular area of Humanity''s Ascension Tower, Mikaela knew full well that the invaders would never succeed in whatever they were planning.

    Nonetheless, returning to the present¡­

    "My father¡­" Memphis murmured, her expression slightly listless. "No! Even if he was not my blood-related father, he was still the only father in my heart! Not some prodigal son of¡­ Wait¡ªHELL!? And you said this was the Heavenly Kingdom¡­ So Heaven??"

    "Yes, my dear," Mikaela said with a small smile. "HELL is real, and Heaven is real, and you¡ªyou are someone of one of the highest statuses in Heaven. As my daughter, your lineage is second to none here."

    "I see¡­"

    Memphis had a lot to process.

    But just moments ago, she was suddenly marked to be a skin-suit for extraterrestrial beings, so nothing should surprise her anymore.

 Chapter 244 - 244: Descending 10s of Thousands of Meters into the Boundless Gorge

    ¡ª After a few seconds ¡ª

    Exhaling deeply, Memphis steeled her gaze and locked eyes with her ever-so-graceful mother. "You are my mother," she said.

    "Yes, that is correct," replied Mikaela, her smile as dazzling as always. "I am the one who gave birth to you. And though I don''t deserve the title, from this day forward, I shall do everything in my power to make it up to you. If you want or require something, just name it, and it shall be done."

    Memphis unblinkingly stared at her. "Anything?" she asked.

    "Anything."

    "...Then there''s this guy. He took care of me and gave me a home and family after¡­ father passed away. Can you bring him up here to safety? Away from those things?"

    Mikaela''s eyes squinted slightly as her gold-crossed pupils increased in luminosity. "His name?" she asked.

    "It''s¡­ It''s Cassius." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!"

    Mikaela¡ªwho was in the process of utilizing her Eyes of Divinity¡ªalmost immediately stopped in her tracks. She looked at her confused daughter with a new level of seriousness. "His name¡­ Say his full name¡­"

    Although puzzled, Memphis said, "His name is Cassius¡ªCassius Steele."

    "...It''s as I figured," Mikaela said with a sigh, fully deactivating the mystical abilities of her eyes. "What you requested is impossible. Ask for something else¡ªanything else."

    Memphis''s irises flashed in bewilderment. "Just a second ago¡ªbefore you learned his name¡ªyou didn''t seem the least bit opposed to fulfilling the request. Why did saying his name change things? What made you react like that¡ª"

    "That boy¡ªhis origins are not so simple," Mikaela said, the reflection in her gaze reminiscent of a shameless man who knew not when to relent. "But you can rest assured; if he''s anything like that man, then he''ll get by just fine without my assistance. Fret not, dear daughter."

    Memphis opened her mouth to say something but held back in the end. She turned her head down, appearing if not the slightest bit disappointed. Sure, she wanted him safe; she really, really wanted him to be safe. But just as passionately, she yearned to see him again.

    And if not now, then when¡­? Would she ever see him again¡­?

    Noticing the troubled state her daughter was in, Mikaela delicately shook her head before saying, "You have feelings for that boy, don''t you?"

    "W¡­ What!? No!" Memphis''s cheeks flushed a dark shade of crimson as she twirled the ends of her hair strands in embarrassment. "W-What gave you that assumption?!"

    Mikaela softly chuckled. "You need not be shy with me, my dear daughter," she said, amused. "I may not have ever experienced that sort of love myself, but I have been around since the beginning of time. I know precisely what you''re thinking. But I must warn you; that bloodline is not something you wish to involve yourself in. That boy''s father¡­ He''s not a good man¡­"

    She could still vividly recall that flirtatious pimp bastard flaunting his stuff around the higher Floors of the Heavenly Kingdom like he owned the place. Without a care in the world for anyone or anything''s authority, he vulgarly hit on numerous eye-catching female Angels. It was only because of the female Angels'' willingness to accept him that she and the other Archangels hadn''t kicked him out of Heaven right away.

    However, even if that man had acted out of line, it was highly unlikely they would''ve been capable of doing anything to stop him¡­

    Possibly only the All-Father would be able to do something like that.

    A tired breath of air escaped Mikaela''s perfectly pursed red lips. She then returned her focus to her daughter. "The bottom line is that this Cassius Steele is likely not a good fit for you. Promiscuous lechery runs in his blood."

    Memphis didn''t really understand what her mother was trying to say. Sure, Cassius had a few¡­ a lot of infatuated women around him, but it wasn''t like he did anything of that nature with them. At least as far as she was aware!

    "I think you''re wrong, Mother."

    "!?!?" Mikaela was too overjoyed to hear her daughter refer to her by such a name to even realize how serious she was when she said what she did.

    "Sure, sure," said Mikaela, her face all smiles. "Well, regardless of that boy''s private ongoings, you''ll surely see him again. Those of his lineage are not prone to staying in one place for too long. It''s possible that, even at this very moment, that boy is off on some epic adventure through undiscovered lands."

    Memphis pressed the doubt button.

    She knew her Cassius, and he was not one to do anything dangerous. In fact, in all the time they spent together, he rarely even left the house, and when he did come back from Gates and whatnot, he not once had even a scratch on him.

    There was simply no way he was doing anything dangerous if he always came back unharmed, right?

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    A black, shadowy figure smashed through hard, slick walls one after the next as he was being slung around by the limitlessly long, spiky tentacles of freakish Peak Rank 3 Nightmares. The Nightmares took the form of a mixture between a kraken and a dragon, and they floated off the ground. Each one of these monstrous behemoths hovered in every observable direction.

    ''How many days now¡­?'' Cold, emotionless thoughts echoed in the grievously wounded ping pong''s head as he died time and time again. ''10 days? 20? 40¡­?''

    Cassius had no idea just how long he had been down in the Boundless Gorge¡ªendlessly battling and endlessly descending¡ªthe monotony knew no end.

    He only knew pain and suffering¡­

    Yet, every so often, his pain and suffering would be temporarily soothed with the feeling of gaining more power.

    More and more power¡ªthat was all he could think about¡ªthat was the only thing driving him forward.

    10,000 meters¡­ 20,000 meters¡­ 40,000 meters¡­ 65,000 meters¡­

    Cassius had descended so far into the Boundless Gorge and slaughtered so many hundreds of thousands¡ªmillions of Nightmares. The exact amount was incalculable.

    And now¡ªsurrounded on all sides by 8 [Dark Kraken Dragons]¡ªeach equivalent to the SS++ Rank¡ªCassius felt that he might just meet his end for real.

    ''Good,'' he thought. ''It''s finally over¡­''

 Chapter 245 - 245: I REFUSE!

    He had suffered enough, had he not? Was dying tens of thousands of times not enough to grant him some respite?

    He could give up, couldn''t he¡­?

    ''If I just close my eyes and let nature take its course, then I''ll die,'' Cassius thought, his bloodied, mangled body slingshotting through the Gorge.

    The [Dark Kraken Dragons] took turns sticking him with their spiky tentacles and ramming him through both other Nightmares and walls. Over and over again¡ªthousands of times per second¡ªthey violently thrashed him about, creating a rapidly flashing arc of light that knew no tranquility.

    ''Yes¡­'' Cassius muttered to himself, his consciousness fading. ''I''m allowed to give up¡­ I''m allowed to die¡­ What do I even require so much power for? I decided that I was obtaining power for just myself, did I not? If that''s the case, then I, myself, decide that I''ve had enough. More than enough¡­ I can''t take it anymore.''

    ''I''m done.''

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOOM!!!

    With one final booming explosion, Cassius''s mangled figure planted itself deep into the Gorge''s walls. He was shot thousands of meters into the wall, losing more than a dozen lives in the process.

    [7,496/7,500 Daily Rebirths]

    [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!]

    [If you don''t stop fooling around now, then you''ll die for real! There won''t be any coming back!]

    With a lifeless gaze, Cassius turned his head toward the bright blue screen flashing beside him. "You wanted me to build character, did you not¡­? I have built the character¡­ Can''t I stop now? I want to stop¡­ I don''t want to continue building character¡­ I don''t¡­"

    WHABOOOOM!

    A massive spiked tentacle broke through thousands of meters of obsidian-like stone in an instant. Cassius''s whole left side was impacted by the tentacle, sending him barreling through countless tons of stone and out into the wide Gorge pathway. Meeting the eyes of his still-flying figure were the eight extraordinarily powerful [Dark Kraken Dragons].

    The hundreds of eyes embedded in their sinuous heads stared down at the bloodied Cassius, seemingly laughing at the pathetic state he was in.

    Then, with the closing of the curtains, he lost another life.

    Only three remained.

    ''To die¡­'' Cassius''s vision grew hazy and unfocused as he completely zoned out the tentacle coming back for round two. ''Is permanent death really so different from temporary death¡­? Why should I fear it? I want to die, do I not¡­?''

    BOOOOM!!!

    Cassius was once again launched into the air, all the bones in his body broken.

    He blitzed through the Gorge''s walls but was almost instantaneously punted back out by the tentacle of a different [Dark Kraken Dragon].

    [7,500/7,500 Daily Rebirths] - [No More Chances!]

    Then, as if Cassius''s whole reality suddenly shattered¡ªwhen he saw that pop-up¡ªrealization hit him like the front end of a freight train. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I¡­" he muttered through his own gurgling blood.

    With one of the giant tentacles pressing him against a wall, draining away the last of his lifeforce, a fire unlike any other ignited within his eyes. A sudden surge of strength came to him as he unequipped his Newbie 10 Equipment Set. His once limp and numb arms bulged, and with inextinguishable resolve, he grabbed onto both sides of the tentacle.

    "I DON''T WANT TO DIE!!!"

    With a banshee-like howl, Cassius activated all his Bloodline Transformations, unequipped the rest of his Newbie Equipment, and fiercely dug his fingers into the tentacle. The tentacle started to bleed from all over, immense pressure causing it to distort weirdly. But before the [Dark Kraken Dragon] got the chance to retract its tentacle, Cassius firmly planted his feet into the wall and gritted his teeth as he lifted up with everything he had.

    "!!!!!"

    The [Dark Kraken Dragon] let out a soul-shaking roar of resistance as it worked against the puny human''s unnaturally high might.

    Yet, the human wouldn''t budge! It was being lifted upwards against its will!

    "I REFUSE TO DIE!!! NOT HERE!! NOT EVER!!!!!"

    OOOM!!!

    A massive, stifling aura erupted from Cassius''s badly wounded figure as all the veins in his body bulged. And as if by some divine miracle of strength, he took the [Dark Kraken Dragon] up off the ground. Its first instinct was to shoot its dozens of tentacles into the ground before it could be raised any higher. But in the same moment that thought formed, Cassius cast the [(SS-Rank) Stasis Movement] skill to freeze the Kraken''s grabbed tentacle in place. This made the tentacle stiff, and with its length factored into the equation, Cassius managed to lift it to a height nearly four times that of its main body size, which was also the rough length of one of its tentacles fully stretched out.

    The [Dark Kraken Dragon]¡ªnot knowing what to do and unable to deeply stick its other tentacles into the ground as tethers¡ªdid the next best thing. It called out for help from its fellow Krakens. They left their stupors almost immediately and came to its aid, but by then, Cassius''s fury had already reached its limits.

    He bellowed out and worked his body in hyperdrive. With one good swing, the [Dark Kraken Dragon] in his hands began to spin, and by carrying forward the initial momentum, the behemoth became nothing more than an extremely large blur. It was swung in circles at utterly ridiculous speeds.

    As soon as the other [Dark Kraken Dragons] got close, they were cut up and injured by the sharp tornado-like creature above the insignificantly tiny human''s hands.

    "DID YOU NOT HEAR ME THE FIRST TIME!??" Cassius deliriously shouted, blood gushing from all his orifices. "I SAID I''M NOT DYING!! I REFUSE!!!!"

    KA¡ªBOOOOOM!!!

    The original [Dark Kraken Dragon] was launched toward the other seven of its kind at thousands of times the speed of sound. It was thrown at such a ludicrously fast speed that the first four [Dark Kraken Dragons] weren''t even able to properly react in time before being shredded to bits. Blackish-red blood and guts sprayed the Gorge pathway, dousing the weaker and smaller Nightmares in a shower of gore.

 Chapter 246 - 246: Half-step 2nd Class Slayer

    The other three [Dark Kraken Dragons]¡ªwhich were lingering at the back¡ªwere hit by the weaponized [Dark Kraken Dragon] the same as the others. However, by the time it reached them, both the speed of the Kraken and the state of its body were massively reduced. Thus, they came out of the unexpected attack relatively unharmed.

    But they had little time to celebrate, for Cassius''s wrathful expression had already crossed five mountains of blood. He [Teleported] next to the 6th [Dark Kraken Dragon]''s scaly face and forced Lilith to expand tens of thousands of times her original size. She quickly became nearly a third the size of a [Dark Kraken Dragon]¡ªand with the consecutive cast of ''Atomic Slash,'' the 6th [Dark Kraken Dragon] was unable to even blink before being eviscerated.

    The last two [Dark Kraken Dragons] were also severely injured by the blast radius of the Atomic Slashes. But with their lives on the line, they ignored the damage and lashed out with nearly half a hundred wickedly sharp tentacles. In an attempt to unleash everything they possibly could, they even opened their large dragon-like mouths and formed black spheres of flames that rapidly condensed and burst forward.

    Two casts of |Black Dragon Incineration Cannon| blasted from the [Dark Kraken Dragons], each beam attack creating a wide-ranged line of destruction that took the lives of thousands of Rank 2 and Rank 3 Nightmares.

    The attacks seemed virtually unstoppable, their collisions inevitable.

    Yet, with nothing more than the crisp metallic sound of a sword being repeatedly sheathed and unsheathed, time seemed to stop.

    The black beams froze. The owners of those attacks froze. Even the Nightmares in the vicinity froze.

    Amidst it all, an otherworldly man¡ªhis face looking as though it had just been dipped into the coldest, most intolerably hot pits of HELL¡ªwalked among the terrifying Nightmares. Every single one of them¡ªeven the weakest of them¡ªtowered over him in size, and yet his steps reverberated louder than the silence that accompanied their eternal stasis in time.

    Cassius spoke no words. With his now-shrunken Lilith in his left hand, he summoned Mora, Rivers of Blood, in his right. Both gleamed dangerously red, their killing intent only matched by their not-so-subtle dislike for one another.

    "Mora¡­" Cassius robotically muttered. "Fraj Rose Frontier ¡ª 1st Ultimate Move ¡ª Scythe Symphony."

    RUMBLE!!!

    The ground beneath the lone humanoid figure began to violently tremble as the air around him and his bloody scythe convulsed. Ripples spread throughout space and time as Mora increased to three times her original size. Then she multiplied: from one to two, two to four, then to a hundred. And then to a thousand. Then a hundred thousand.

    All replicas of Mora materialized above the two [Dark Kraken Dragons], their lethally sharp edges looming dauntingly overhead.

    "Kill."

    With that single command from Cassius, he swung down Mora, and the rest of her replicas followed suit. Along with these slashes came scythe arcs so vast in quantity that the whole sky was blotted out. If the [Dark Kraken Dragons] hadn''t been moving on an entirely different scale of speed right now, the last thing they would''ve seen before meeting their demise would''ve been complete and utter¡­ darkness.

    The black scythe arcs¡ªnumbering in the hundreds of thousands¡ªsliced into every inch of the enormous Peak Rank 3 Nightmares. Less than a second later, nothing but a long-lasting rainfall of blood remained of the once horrifying creatures.

    A flood of System Notifications poured in as the cold-faced, immortal-like man stood beneath the blood rain that served as the gruesome aftermath of his enemies'' slaughter. His eyes flicked over the messages, calm and detached, as if the chaos around him was nothing more than a passing storm.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain 8 Peak Rank 3 Nightmares (Dark Kraken Dragons)]

    [You have absorbed a massive amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [Your Slayer Rank has advanced by leaps and bounds!]

    ''7th Stage 3rd Class'' ¡ú ''Half-step 2nd Class (Pinnacle)''

    [Your Battle Power has advanced by leaps and bounds!] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Your Trainer Rank has tremendously improved!]

    [Your Mythic Phoenix Bloodline has drastically improved!]

    [Your ''Godly Nirvana Rebirth'' SSS- Rank Skill has advanced to the SSS-Rank stage with a Mastered Proficiency level!]

    Following these System Notifications, the Idle Evolution System delved deeper into the specific improvements to his Trainer Rank and Bloodlines. It also sent out notifications for all the blood currently being absorbed by him, Lilith, and Mora, with the latter two refining and copying their share of the blood before sending it back to him.

    *Ding~!*

    [Glad you survived, by the way! (?????)]

    [Finding a new Host at this stage in the game wouldn''t have been easy. Plus, I''ve really gotten used to you¡­]

    There was almost a heartwarming moment. At least, until the Idle Evolution System continued with:

    [Torturin¨C... I mean, building character with you is just so entertainin¨C... I mean, enjoyabl¨C... I mean, so very fun!]

    Any other time, Cassius would''ve popped a blood vessel, but right now, he was too distracted by the residual effects of the existential crisis he had just faced.

    It made him wonder if it was time to leave the Boundless Gorge for now¡ªlest he experience something similar again and not come back from it¡­

    Nonetheless, the remainder of the System Notifications were still ringing out. Along with them came a long string of various power-ups.

    *Ding!*

    [Your Trainer Rank has advanced from the ''Mid-Veteran Stage'' ¡ú ''Late-Veteran Stage'']

    |Strength +46,000|

    This breakthrough brought Cassius one step closer to the Outlandish Trainer Stage, the Trainer Rank that the Sword God himself had capped at prior to his ascension. When he reached the pinnacle of the SSS-Rank, this was the Stage he had achieved. And now Cassius¡ªwho was merely at the S-Rank¡ªwas nearing the same league of power.

    Everything in this world had a cost. And to acquire greater strength, both the Sword God and his successor, Cassius Steele, knew what needed to be done to attain the strength they so desired. Pain. Lots of it. That was what they were willing to endure.

    Even at the loss of their own sanity, they continued pushing forward¡­

 Chapter 247 - 247: The Shadowy Mountains In The Boundless Gorge

    Cassius''s dimly glowing eyes sparked slightly before he returned to glancing over his System Notifications.

    [Your ''Mythic Phoenix Bloodline (EX)'' has progressed to 37.8% proficiency rate!]

    [Growth Weapon ''Devil Blade Lilith'' has advanced from the ''SS++'' Rank to the ''SS+++'' Rank!]

    |Lilith''s Attack +70,000|

    [Slayer Weapon ''Mora, Rivers of Blood'' has advanced by leaps and bounds, going from ''Middle-Rank 3'' ¡ú ''Peak-Rank 3'']

    Slayer Weapons¡ªmuch like how a Slayer advanced¡ªdid so by absorbing essence. In this case, it was Blood Essence. With it, they could progress down a path that was essentially a one-to-one copy of a Nightmare''s progression path.

    Nightmares¡ªoddly enough¡ªdevoured each other and other living beings to become stronger. They, too, absorbed Blood Essence. This created a strange, almost synchronized cycle between Man, Slayer Weapon, and Nightmare. Each one was, in some way or another, intrinsically connected to the others.

    OOOM¡­

    As the energy gathered from several different advancements settled down, Cassius and his two precious partners felt a newfound level of strength inside them. Yet, with all their unique personalities being rather cold, none displayed much excitement over this mass leveling spree.

    Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Speaking of leveling," Cassius said plainly, "I''ve been sitting at Lvl 99 for a while now. Perhaps it''s about time I return to Earth and grind out that last level. Then I''ll be able to take the Job Class Advancement Quest."

    Following through with that thought, he stepped over the dried-up corpses of countless giant Nightmares. Blood from the strongest of them still poured down on him from above, but he paid it no mind. Lonely¡ªalmost distorted¡ªsteps softly echoed through the Boundless Gorge as a man who had fought his way through untold levels of torture began his return trip home.

    However, deep within the Boundless Gorge¡ªmillions of meters in¡ªseveral shadowy mountains began to rustle. They were each the size of entire planets and numbered above 5.

    "He''s not going further¡­" an ancient, raspy, and cryptic voice echoed off the walls of an insurmountably large black chamber located at the very end of the Gorge. "If he leaves now, then¡­"

    "Worrying is pointless," said another equally ancient voice. "The destined Dreamwalker will not be able to resist the temptations this place has to offer. And when the time finally comes, we''ll finally rid ourselves of the shackles that tie us to this cage. An eternal cycle. It''s close to being broken."

    A third shadowy mountain stopped rustling. "What of the Transcendent Class Slayers?" it eventually asked.

    "The Azure Archipelago is our entry point, and as such, the Transcendent Class Slayers know nothing of what we plan to do," said the first shadowy mountain. "And when they ultimately do, it will already be far too late, for we''ll have most of our power back. Even the strongest among them won''t be capable of preventing us from escaping this cage."

    A fourth and fifth shadowy mountain fluctuated harder than before as they pondered this matter.

    "What about the Darkdoms and the Nightmare Kings? They were treasonous enough to trap us here once¡ªyou don''t think they''ll do it again and ensure we stay locked away for good?"

    The fourth shadowy mountain posed the question, and the second shadowy mountain responded:

    "It has been so many eons since our entrapment that those youngling traitors no longer even send guards to these discarded wildernesses on the edge of the Dimension. This barren land filled with mindless Nightmare spawn¡ªthe Forgotten Shores¡ªis a place that lives up to its name. Forgotten. Only we remain here, the fossils washed up and buried in the sands beneath the soles of traitors. The Darkdoms and Nightmare Kings likely no longer even remember this place exists. In their minds, we are not threats to their reign¡ªwe are just another fragment of the forgotten¡ªrelics of a time predating the Great Eclipse."

    Oppressive silence lingered for the longest while, until, eventually, the oldest and wisest among them spoke again:

    "The Dreamwalker is our salvation," said the first shadowy mountain. "He''ll be the key that finally allows us to leave¡­ And to that end, he must¡­ die."

    "He must die," all the shadowy mountains chanted in unison. "For the sake of the eternally trapped beings of a world torn by Darkness and scorned by the Light¡ªfor the sake of our freedom¡ªthe Dreamwalker must die. And both worlds must cease to exist. Everything on two sides and everything in between must cease to remain."

    "It all must be erased¡­"

    The pitch-black chamber then returned to silence, with even the scarce air particles seemingly waiting patiently for the destined day.

    ¡ª-----------

    The moment Cassius reached the entrance of the Boundless Gorge, he decided to ''pause and logout,'' leaving his progress where it was.

    FWIP!

    Upon returning to Earth, Cassius was welcomed by a refreshing and revitalizing air, vastly unlike the grimness of the Nightmarescape. Although only 15 days had passed since he entered the Nightmarescape¡ªless than a couple of hours in the outside world¡ªit was still good to be back.

    A lively, piercing glow gradually returned to Cassius''s eyes as he wholeheartedly took in the mesmerizing sight of the mountain he reappeared on. Everything below the large mountain appeared so tiny in comparison to himself¡ªinsignificant¡ªboth in relative distance and in existential value. Yet, something about it attracted his battle-worn eyes.

    Perhaps it was the simplicity of it all. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Or perhaps it was how much the scenery reminded him of the person he once was.

    But going back further, Cassius glimpsed into distant memories of a time before he acquired the Idle Evolution System¡ªa time marked by an entirely different timeline. A terrible time. A time when he felt even more helpless than he did while fighting the [Dark Kraken Dragons].

    "I''ll continue acquiring greater power," he said. "And I''ll keep on torturing myself until I have the necessary strength to no longer feel helpless. No more. No more¡­"

    Phantom memories of his time in the Boundless Gorge remained deeply ingrained in his mind and soul. And every so often, they inflicted great pain on him, forcing him to remember.

    *Ding¡­*

 Chapter 248 - 248: Nearing Level 100

    *Ding¡­* Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [As his Character Development Building System, I should be proud of how far along my little prot¨¦g¨¦ has come. But for some inexplicable reason, I feel as if I messed up somewhere along the way...¡­ ( ? -?)?]

    [Oh, well! He''ll eventually get over it and emerge as an even more developed character! Yep, yep!]

    The Idle Evolution System was partially correct, as Cassius did eventually return to the way he once was¡ªputting aside most of his Alpha Sigma loneliness¡ªbut the time it took to reach that point turned out to be¡­ longer than expected.

    ¡ª 9 Days Later ¡ª

    This day was one day before the start of the Raid on the World''s END Gate. It was also rapidly approaching the time when its energy readings were expected to be at their highest, indicating the approaching Gate Break.

    The world''s only Evolving Gate¡ªon the verge of breaking.

    This was naturally a time when the unrest of nearly everyone in the world was at an all-time high. Many looked to the powerful Hunters for reassurance, and they gave it.

    But for some reason, this reassurance felt¡­ almost eerie. Something wasn''t right. Nobody could discern exactly what that something was or if it was all merely a figment of their agitated imaginations. Thus, in the end, all anyone could do was leave their lives in the hands of those higher up on the hierarchical ladder.

    However, in reality, what many were feeling was not actually too far from the truth. After all, just about every single S-Rank and A-Rank Hunter outside of Japan had long since been switched out for their Extraterrestrial counterparts.

    Aliens¡ªDissonants¡ªhad successfully taken over 99+% of the world governments and Hunter agencies. Only the Japanese S-Rank Hunters remained mostly unaffected by the subtle alien takeover. Save for Dante and Victor Rapido¡ªwho had been unlucky enough to leave the country¡ªand a few others, the rest of them were still human. S-Rank Hunters: Kaida, Arden, Luna, Viola, and Rika¡ªall members of the Japanese World''s End Hunter Party¡ªwere still themselves.

    This phenomenon was, of course, not because they were more special than the other S-Rank Hunters in the world but rather because the Dissonants were unable to progress their plans any further in the country of Japan. All because of one man¡ªtheir sub-target.

    It was merely coincidental that, when Cassius started proactively eradicating all Dissonants in the country, only the six World''s End Raid members remained. Viola, in particular, wouldn''t have been turned regardless of the order the Dissonants conquered in. After all, she was personally on the sub-target''s protection list.

    Being able to switch Viola out without Cassius noticing and stopping it would''ve been impossible. And when the high-ranking Dissonants realized this, they gave up on taking over Japan for now, instead leaving it for the grand finale. It wouldn''t be long now, anyway.

    Doomsday was quickly approaching.

    However, Cassius¡ªwho was mere centimeters away from completely filling up his Experience Bar and reaching Lvl 100¡ªwas far too focused on the grind to fully map out all the undercurrents happening in the world. Many pieces on the chessboard were being moved around, with numerous mysterious figures vying for a checkmate.

    From the Dissonants to the prisoners of the Gates to even the forces planted by the other six Dimensions¡ªeveryone wanted to come out of this Nexus Event on top.

    Yet, in the midst of it all, just a day ago, the legendary Russian Hunter¡ªIgor Volkov¡ªescaped from the Ice Sovereign''s Cage in a show of grand splendor.

    As a follow-up to the disastrous events in the Antarctic and in Russia, the commotion created by his reappearance was monumental. A plethora of news stations wished to have an interview with him. Yet, without placing a single one of them in his eyes, the Wolf Deity announced the primary purposes for his return.

    Firstly, he would take his revenge for the decimation of Russia by challenging and killing Yimin. Then he would dish out some more revenge by challenging and killing the #1 World-Class Hunter in the world¡ªthe Ice Sovereign.

    Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

    The Ice Sovereign was someone who came from the same generation as the Wolf Deity¡ªalso being the first human awakener on Earth. Yet, some odd years ago, for reasons unknown to most, the Ice Sovereign dueled with the infamous and notorious Wolf Deity. But then, completely out of the expectations of many, the Ice Sovereign sealed up the Wolf Deity underneath millions of pounds of earth, his cage impermeable by anyone who wasn''t as strong as either of them.

    Another unexpected event occurred, as the Ice Sovereign¡ªimmediately following the Wolf Deity''s sealing¡ªleft the secular world and immersed himself in the lush greenery of East Asia and eventually outside Earth. He hadn''t been sighted since, remaining just as much a myth as the Wolf Deity.

    ¡ª Returning to the Present ¡ª

    It had been a few hours past the dueling date announced by the Wolf Deity, and his opponent was a no-show. He was left out in the middle of a wide valley somewhere in Asia. The smoldering sun''s rays did very little to make the dark shadows covering his face disappear.

    As for his large audience of hundreds of thousands, they were all sweating buckets¡ªbut not because of the heat¡ªinstead because of the daunting scythe of death that loomed over them all.

    They wanted to experience some enjoyment by witnessing a Legend fight in person¡ªas somewhat of a stress reliever from the imminent, potentially apocalyptic Gate Break. But not once had they expected someone to be courageous enough to blatantly disregard the challenge of the Wolf Deity. A blatant disregard that caused a scary aura to emanate from Igor and suffocate them.

    If this ''Silver Bullet Devil'' didn''t show up in the next few minutes, they might just perish because of the Wolf Deity''s oppressive aura¡­

    At this point in time, a grouping of trees located near one of the wide valley''s entrances began to rattle all over the place.

    "Is that the Silver Bullet Devil!? It must be!"

    "I''m sure of it! That''s her!! I bet she''s extremely scary and menacing in person!!"

    "I wager she''s especially hideous as well! An absolute pain to look at for too long!"

 Chapter 249 - 249: Igor Volkovs Domineering Stand

    Igor Volkov''s darkened expression shifted slightly toward the rattling trees. As he saw more and more of the trees bend and press to either side with something seemingly rushing through, his killing intent flared. The spectators standing on the surrounding mountains¡ªeven the six S-Rank Japanese Hunters¡ªfelt their knees buckle beneath them.

    Under the weight of the Wolf Deity''s hatred, they felt themselves to be no different than inconsequential ants¡­ meager bugs to be squashed¡­

    ''He''s so powerful¡­ even stronger than Cass,'' Viola Voidweaver thought to herself with a dire expression. ''Will this elusive Silver Bullet Demon be able to contend with someone like him¡­?''

    Her eyes, like everyone else''s, were glued to the trees being toppled in a straight line through the valley. They wished to know just what sort of freakish, humanoid monster had the guts to kill a World-class Hunter and reduce Russia to ruins.

    Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yimin, over this past period of time, had acquired quite a reputation for herself. Even prior to her ''rescue mission'' in Russia, she was still somewhat of an urban legend around the world. But, particularly in Asia, she was regarded as a Land Deity of sorts, as she would often be seen flashing around fields of green with the wildlife. To them, this act of close interaction with nature was akin to embracing her divinity.

    Thus, a ton of villagers and commoners from multiple Asian regions had gathered for this duel to witness their Land Deity in person. Their pious belief in her was great enough to make them drop to their knees and start bowing as soon as the string of toppling trees approached.

    All were anticipating the almighty World-class Hunter Slayer! Every single one of them was prepared to witness the appearance of a mind-bogglingly terrifying existence¡ª

    "Stop running, white and black floofer!! I don''t want to eat you!! Probably¡­"

    From the falling trees emerged a panda bear fleeing for its life. Right on its tail was a silverish-haired draconic woman, who, even under the shocked eyes of thousands, kept chasing the panda while on all fours.

    "...." "...." "...."

    Silence.

    Not only the Wolf Deity but every single person in the valley felt their expressions go blank. Their minds followed suit. Truly¡­ truly, they had no idea what was going on right now.

    "Is¡­ is that supposed to be the Silver Bullet Devil¡­?"

    That question existed in the minds of many as they looked down at the silver-haired woman running around in circles. Staying just a few feet away from her was the scared sh*tless panda. It was trying its best to escape the crazy draconic woman, but nothing it did allowed it to get away!

    It was helpless! A helpless panda in need!

    Igor Volkov¡ªwho was watching from the center of the valley clearing¡ªfelt a vein bulge on his darkened forehead. His eyebrows furrowed deeply as anger seeped out of his deadly aura.

    No longer able to take this farce anymore, the Wolf Deity shouted, "ENOUGH!"

    His booming voice traveled throughout the valley, eventually reaching the ears of Yimin and the panda. The panda¡ªalready terrified because of the crazy lady¡ªbecame even more scared. Under the stress of it all, its eyes rolled into the back of its head, and it fainted.

    Yimin stopped in her tracks. She curiously inspected the panda. But when she realized it was knocked out cold, her anger surged. Slowly, she cocked her head back and sent a soul-piercing glare toward the Wolf Deity and everyone on the mountains behind him.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The spectators felt their souls shiver. A cold chill crawled down their spines, causing their hairs to stand on end. A number of the spectators even unceremoniously fell on their bottoms, with a select few going unconscious as well.

    That was when they heard it¡ªa chilling feminine voice that vastly contrasted with how bubbly it was before. "You dare¡­ you dare take away Yimin''s black and white floofer¡­? Death is what you seek?"

    Her oppressive aura bore down on the solemn figure standing in the center of the valley. Igor''s entire existence trembled beneath the pressure, yet he stood strong, unmoving. Even as his feet dug into the ground against his will, his expression maintained its stoicism.

    "You were the one who destroyed Russia?" Igor asked, his tone bone-chilling enough to further terrify the already terrified spectators.

    Yimin didn''t respond. She did, however, begin to take one heavy step after another in the Wolf Deity''s direction. Cracks spread out along her advance, with each further step producing larger and larger spiderwebbed fissures.

    Igor''s brows tightly knitted together as he gripped his giant wolf-fur-decorated greatsword. He took it from his back and sliced the air in front of him as a show of arms. Just that casual move produced rolling waves of wind that crisscrossed outward, enveloping the entirety of the grassy valley. Everyone had their clothes blown about, with many in awe of the level of might the #2 Hunter possessed.

    "Come, make the first move," said the Wolf Deity, his stance holding as firm as a boulder. "Do not say I did not give you a chance to defend yourself."

    Yimin''s eyes narrowed into slits as her pupils thinned to those akin to a dragon''s. Then, with a ferocity that boundlessly emitted with her every move, she bent low to the ground. Once on all fours, she bent even lower, her bouncing breasts hovering less than an inch off the ground. Her voluptuous butt rose high as her long silvery tail increased in length. It whipped around without restraint, subsequently sending out blasts of wind that knocked over trees and traveled up the sides of mountains to the spectators. Thousands lost their balance and fell, adding to the large number of people who couldn''t even stand properly when faced with the confrontation of two monsters.

    Although Viola and the other Japanese S-Rank Hunters did not have the problem of standing upright, they knew for certain that this somewhat goofy draconic humanoid was the real deal. She was strong. Extremely strong.

    Yet, it was rather difficult to tell if the urban myth was stronger than the World-class Hunter hailed as the world''s second strongest. Only through battle would they be able to tell for certain who was more powerful.

 Chapter 250 - 250: Bringing The Fight To The Moon

    "You reek of Rushans," Yimin coldly uttered, her leg muscles pumping, further accentuating her supple hips and calves. "Are you the one who holds Yimin''s Master captive?"

    "Your Master?" Igor''s irises flashed in confusion. However, with a sinister smirk, he said, "Ah, yes, your Master. I''ve been holding him captive for a very long time, inflicting as much suffering as possible on him. Why? Are you going to do something about it¡ª"

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    Yimin flashed from her position and instantly appeared in front of the Wolf Deity. Her outstretched hand clasped onto his mocking face. Then, without holding anything back, she planted the back of his head into the dirt, creating a large, rapidly expanding crater. Yet, that was not the end of it; she followed up by yeeting him into the air. She vanished and reappeared above him within the same instant, where she threw out not just one punch but thousands upon thousands of them. All the punches landed on the Wolf Deity''s robed figure at the exact same time, causing a slow-motion effect of countless punches to render.

    The staggering force produced by Yimin''s consecutive attacks forced the air to warp around where they were in the sky. Then that same force focused wholly on the wolf-maned man. His scarred body was hit in every spot imaginable on his front side, which made temporary dents appear all over him.

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOOOM!!!

    An ear-deafening explosion reverberated as time resumed. The Wolf Deity¡ªwho was still smugly smirking¡ªfelt the full impact of the meteoric punches. He was instantaneously sent crashing down like a fallen star, moving at speeds that left both sound and light lagging behind.

    Yet, rather than create a massive crater that would''ve sunk the entire country they were in, Igor''s impact defied physics. He shot through the ground like a torpedo, creating a straight line deep into the Earth. At a ludicrous speed, he collided with the planet''s center, but his advance didn''t stop there as he pierced through Earth''s core and emerged out the other side. A nanosecond later, he emerged from somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere''s oceans.

    The water around his emergence point imploded in on itself, sinking deep into the ocean that encompassed it. And from that massive water sinkhole, an enormous explosion occurred, achieving levels of destructiveness close to that of an atomic bomb. A good chunk of the ocean was vaporized, with the residual effects of the explosion creating tsunamis of scales that the world had never known before.

    Many countries in South America would sink underwater later that day if no Awakeners collectively worked to stop it. But for now, a scorched figure was still traveling upward, passing above Earth''s atmosphere. He touched upon the boundless void beyond and even entered into its embrace in the next millisecond.

    However, once reaching a point hundreds of thousands of miles away from Earth¡ªnear the Moon¡ªthe Wolf Deity erupted in anger. He corrected himself with a seiyen-like aura burst. His fiery eyes then searched the expanse of space for the source of his hatred, only to find her waiting on the side of the Moon closest to him.

    Without hesitation, he shot toward the Moon and collided with it. A massive, unrestrained crater was created beneath him as he flexed his arms.

    Holding his large greatsword off to the side with a single arm, he shouted, "Interesting! Truly interesting!! You, girl, have piqued my interest!"

    Yimin merely stared at him, her glare deep and narrowed. She sharpened her claws against the vacuum of space before blurring forward.

    However, this time around, Igor was prepared. He no longer underestimated the draconic girl. He took his S+++ Rank greatsword and swung it around in a blurred frenzy. Then he shot forward at several times the speed of light. His greatsword made contact with Yimin''s claws, and following a clash of power, he came out on top. She was pushed back hundreds of miles, her legs sliding in and out of the Moon dust that made up the Moon''s surface.

    Numerous small and large cratered hills were destroyed in her beeline path backward. Yet, the destruction was far from over, for the Wolf Deity''s savage expression appeared right beside Yimin. A large greatsword followed his head and slashed out in her direction. She raised her arms to block, activating the silver scales she hid beneath her skin for extra defense. But with the force put behind Igor''s swing, she was quickly buried into the Moon, a crater appearing where she once stood.

    The Moon tilted a bit off its normal rotation, with shockwaves from the greatsword attack rippling throughout most of the Moon''s surface area.

    World-class Hunters were beings infinitely close to the SS-Rank. As such, they were continent-level threats. The Wolf Deity, in particular, was someone who far exceeded the power of even the World-class Hunter ranked second in the world. His power had already crossed over into the SS-Rank threshold. But because of it being only of the SS- - Rank, he was still barely allowed to maneuver however he so wished on the Trial Floor.

    As in everything, there were exceptions. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

    Yimin, the Tyrant God, also just so happened to be another one of such exceptions¡­

    Deep within the Moon, Yimin came to a slow crawl, her expression unseen through the Moon-rock that smothered her.

    She lay there, still.

    Then, something unexpected occurred. Her heartbeat began to quicken. It became faster and faster¡­ and faster¡­

    Until, eventually, an explosion happened inside Yimin. Her humanoid form rapidly deteriorated and dissolved into an iridescent liquid substance. Yet, it was from this liquid that the shape of something enormous began to replace what she once was.

    The area inside the Moon started to unnaturally heat up, with the gray, rocky interior reaching a molten point. For miles on end, lava formed from the once-solid Moon interior. Then, with a massive eruption from beneath the Wolf Deity''s feet, he saw a one-hundred-mile-long silver figure blow right through the ground. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    There she floated¡ªmajestic and domineering¡ªYimin, the Tyrant God.

 Chapter 251 - 251: An Interruption...?

    Yimin''s dragon form had changed quite drastically when compared to the last time she unleashed it. She no longer had similar features to a Sand Devourer and instead fully embodied the aesthetic of a western dragon. But, when stacked up against a normal western dragon, she appeared far more magnificent.

    Even in the vacuum of space¡ªwhere even sound could not move¡ªher silvery scales glimmered like the brightest of stars in the night sky. Two halos sat above her head, one a silverish black and the other a crimson white¡ªtogether, they signified her connection with her Master. Her wings, on the other hand, numbered six, with three on each side of her. Moreover, each wing was splattered with gold, flaky filaments, adding a level of splendor to her appearance that made it possible for telescopes on Earth to see her clear as day.

    And most dazzling of all were her eyes. They radiated silver, red, and black, creating a spectacle that had an almost cosmically hypnotic effect. Even the stoic Wolf Deity was left momentarily dazed while looking up at her glorious form.

    However, in the next second, he was already readying his Greatsword for another attack, this one even more powerful than the last.

    |Wolfsbane ¡ª Ultimate Move ¡ª Blood-red Moon Slash| (SS- -)

    It was a fitting move for a setting such as this one. And when it was propelled forward by an act of incredible physical and magical prowess, a deep ravine immediately carved itself between him and Yimin. The crimson-colored sword arc stretched upward for dozens of miles and possessed a width of more than five miles. Furthermore, its range of destruction extended beyond even that, as everything within a radius of thousands of miles was seared by a raging red flame. The flame flared in every direction, setting a fifth of the Moon ablaze.

    Yimin indifferently looked at the incoming attack. No longer as chatty as before, she coldly snorted before opening her mouth. In there, a goldish-red light orb took shape. It rapidly spun around in circles, and as more and more energy was gathered by Yimin, it started to condense and increase in immensity.

    Then, with the howling of a loud, soul-shaking screech, the goldish-red sphere within Yimin''s mouth shot out in the form of a light beam.

    [Tyrant''s Obsession ¡ª Ultimate Move ¡ª Tyrannical Hyperbeam]

    The beam crossed hundreds of miles in an instant and collided with the |Blood-red Moon Slash|.

    A brief clash of energies battling for dominance occurred. However, the clash ended very quickly as the energies from both attacks melded into one another, subsequently producing a massive flash bang that blinded half the Moon. Those from Earth were even shortly blinded by the sudden flash of light. This was especially the case for the spectators of the original clash¡ªor, well, at least for the ones who managed to make it to the other side of the world in time to continue watching the now intergalactic battle. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Dissonants worldwide looked up in fleeting curiosity. Though, not long after, they returned to their urgent planning for the day that would follow. Many things had to be accounted for, and they could not afford to mess up. Lest the Mothership call for the termination of all of them¡­

    ¡ª Following the natural dispersion of the two staggeringly powerful attacks, on the Moon ¡ª

    Yimin levitated a few miles off the ground. Half her body had been severely burnt, whereas the other half was teetering on the verge of rapid, uncontrollable deterioration. The Wolf Deity''s Ultimate Move had nearly crippled her.

    On the other hand, Igor himself had but minor superficial wounds. The burns were still quite bad, but nowhere near as dire as the ones Yimin had. He would heal within a few minutes, but she might just never fully heal¡­

    "You actually managed to survive my Ultimate Move?" Igor asked. "Color me surprised. It seems that you''re far more special than I originally gave you credit for. After all, if you were to survive all this¡ª" he pointed out how half of the Moon had been decimated. "¡ªthen you''re definitely strong. Likely one of the Top 3 strongest in this chamber of Isolation. Excluding those invaders, of course."

    Yimin wasn''t sure what the man was talking about, but with the pain from her wounds working actively to ignite her anger, she landed on the ground. Her draconic expression frosted over as she readied herself for round two, planning to use everything she had left in order to kill the man opposite her. For kidnapping her Master¡ªeven if she had to die to accomplish it¡ªshe would erase the Rushan off the face of the universe.

    However, in that exact moment¡ªthe moment when her reckless thoughts pushed her into action¡ªtime seemed to slow to a crawl. Neither Yimin nor the cocky Wolf Deity were able to notice the change.

    Then, from a slit in space atop the Moon''s surface, a man appeared.

    The man appeared as if an Immortal God had descended from the heavens above¡ªhis beauty unmatched. He wore a shadowy pair of robes that no longer covered his face. Atop his head of raven hair was a blackish-crimson halo that slowly rotated, occasionally spinning off its axis. Tightly clutched in his right hand was a thin, Eastern-style sword that craved for blood. Similarly, latched to his back was a five-foot dark, bloody scythe that yearned to reap another life.

    Once he neared the two competitors frozen in time, the mysterious, otherworldly handsome man emotionlessly raised his hand. A shiny purple sphere was summoned¡ªan Epic-rank Evoball. The Evoball was casually flicked forward, and from it emerged what was once the Boss Monster of a recently cleared new Apocalypse Gate. The Gate had been cleared so fast that no one in the world ever even knew it had existed. But one person did.

    OOOM!

    A stifling pressure appeared as soon as the Evomon left its Evoball. The Evomon in question was a western-style dragon with long turquoise spikes lining its back. Lightning crackled above and around its 1,000-mile-long body as it fully stretched itself out, dwarfing both the Tyrant God and the Wolf Deity.

 Chapter 252 - 252: Raijin, the Lightning Dragon Evomon

    Once it had the entirety of its length coiled around the two fierce fighters, the Evomon''s cold, reptilian eyes bore down on them both. No ill intent was emitted just yet, but merely its neutral look was enough to make Yimin and Igor''s souls tremble.

    "Raijin," Cassius said, teleporting atop its head. "Bring up that one." He pointed to the frozen Wolf Deity.

    The massive dragon heeded its Master''s command and cast a spell that trapped Igor Volkov in a yarn ball of electricity. The ball of electricity then floated up by magical means and appeared in front of the man who looked like an ant standing atop a giant.

    Cassius slowed down the rate he was moving, allowing both Igor and Yimin to think and move again.

    "!!!!" Igor''s expression drastically changed as his pupils dilated. "Where am I!?" he shouted. "Who are you!??"

    Cassius didn''t respond. He waved his hand and opened up the lightning yarn ball, then grabbed the air in front of him. Igor was similarly grabbed by an illusory red hand and brought forward against his will.

    "What are yo¡ª!?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Be quiet," Cassius commanded. "I''m going to check your memories for something of interest."

    "No, you can''t!" Igor wiggled and resisted as best he could, but to his extreme astonishment, he couldn''t budge the illusory hand by the slightest bit.

    ''How is this possible!?? Who is this man!?? Where did he come from???''

    While Cassius scanned through the Wolf Deity''s memories, Yimin''s eyes started to sparkle. She undid her Tyrant God transformation and leapt through the skies with her arms outstretched.

    "Master~!!" she called out, her euphoria knowing no limits. "Yimin has missed you so, so much~!! Has Yimin saved you!?"

    Cassius shifted his eyes away from the wolf-maned man screaming like a little girl because of the pain inflicted by the memory search. However, when Cassius saw the current charred and bloodied condition of his Yimin, his heart surged with hatred. He turned back to Igor and made sure he suffered as much as humanly possible while the memory search was ongoing.

    Yet, once a soft body collided with his chest, his hatred-filled eyes softened considerably. He looked at the silver-haired girl affectionately rubbing herself on him. His expression emulated a mixture of both sadness and regret.

    He could''ve made it in time if he ignored the appearance of that Apocalypse Gate. And yet¡­ he chose not to.

    Noticing his conflicted expression, the bloodied Yimin turned her cute face up from smothering herself in his scent. "Don''t worry, Master! Yimin has saved you! Now we can be together," she said. "And don''t worry, Yimin won''t let you be taken away again. Master will be protected by Yimin, forever and ever!"

    She then returned to snuggling with him. All her pain seemed to be replaced by a limitless level of joy.

    Cassius, however, only became more conflicted. He sheathed Lilith into her scabbard before casting a green energy over the lovable dragon girl. Her injuries speedily healed, with all her burn marks slowly fading away. But even when her surface-level injuries had been completely healed by Diamond-ranked Healing Skills, there were still internal injuries that were unable to be healed so quickly.

    A complicated look flashed by Cassius''s bluish-red pupils as he gently caressed Yimin''s soft silver hair.

    "Is something the matter, Master?" Yimin asked, sensing his fluctuating emotions. "Did Yimin do something wrong¡­?"

    Cassius shook his head, a small smile forming. "You''ve done everything perfectly, my sweet Yimin. But it seems that yet another reason for going to the Sanctuary of Yggdrasil has appeared."

    Yimin tilted her head, puzzled. "What is a Ygg¡­drazzil? Can we eat it?"

    Cassius chuckled but didn''t answer.

    Yimin''s cheeks puffed a little, yet she was too immersed in the cuddles and pets to retain an indignant thought for too long. She savored the moment, feeling that her rescue mission had been a great success¡ª100% worth it!

    Cassius, though, had just finished the memory extraction and thus no longer had a need for Igor.

    Igor realized this, and it was this realization that caused his pupils to erratically dilate. As soon as the excruciating pain came to a halt, he tried to break free from the illusory hand wrapped around him. But with his meager strength, everything he did was considered futile.

    He couldn''t understand¡­

    He couldn''t understand how someone so powerful had appeared out of nowhere!

    Was this the so-called ''Master'' of the Silver Bullet Demon!?

    But even if that was the case, he was the recognized #2 Hunter in the world! Within the Isolated Solar System, he was second only to the Ice Sovereign and the Invaders!!

    ''Wait!'' he thought. ''Is this unknown man an Invader!? An Extraterrestrial!??''

    Igor had sensed them as soon as he escaped the Ice Sovereign''s Cage. Most of them were no stronger than the A-Rank, but there were a select few within a small island area that felt even more powerful than he was. They were terrifyingly strong!

    ''But this man¡­'' Igor thought, fear strewn across his face. ''He doesn''t feel anything like them¡­ So then¡­ What is he?''

    "Tell me," said Cassius, his tone seeping into Igor''s ears like permafrost. "This Isolated Solar System. This is the truth?"

    The Wolf Deity didn''t wish to answer but felt compelled to do so. He nodded.

    Cassius deliberated, then sighed.

    Igor assumed this sigh meant he had a chance of living.

    But unfortunately for him, with a small movement of Cassius''s index finger, Igor''s head was sliced clean off. His eyes¡ªstill widened in disbelief¡ªslid off with the rest of his head. His body limped, with no life signs present. However, before Igor''s corpse could fall to the Moon''s surface, Cassius and his two Growth Weapons absorbed his blood. It wasn''t worth much, but something was better than nothing.

    As for the husk that was left over after Igor was sucked dry, Cassius brought it up with telekinesis. Then he dropped it right next to the happily giggling Yimin. She was a bit annoyed by the distraction at first, but her snarl quickly subsided when she saw what it was. Her growling stomach practically lurched forward at the meal served before her. But even still, she waited for her Master''s go-ahead.

    A good girl, she was!

 Chapter 253 - 253: Isolated Solar System

    Cassius''s smile widened as he nodded toward the adorable, pleading expression.

    "Yay! Thank you, Master!" Yimin jumped up in joy before leaping at the two-piece corpse.

    But rather than directly devour his flesh as one would expect, she only needed to beckon forth a suction-force-like energy inside her. The suction force pulled in the head and the other parts of the body before converting them into an iridescent liquid. The liquid entered through her mouth and spread throughout her curvaceous body, subsequently giving her a newfound level of strength.

    WAAA!

    Right on the massive head of a dragon laying on the fricking Moon, Yimin experienced a long-awaited breakthrough! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [|Spirit Pet ''Yimin''| has advanced from the ''S+++'' Rank to the ''SS- -'' Rank!]

    [Her Combat Power has tremendously improved!]

    While she consolidated her strength in an odd period of silence, Cassius''s thoughts traced back to the mention of the ''Isolated Solar System.''

    As it turned out, Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and the rest of the planets and cosmic phenomena in the Solar System were isolated within a bubble. Everything inside this bubble was 100% real, but everything shown through the bubble''s edges was¡­not real.

    What those on Earth thought to be the Observable Universe was a mere visual representation of the real deal. There was nothing outside the Isolated Solar System, and all the things within it were termed the ''0th Floor of Humanity''s Ascension Tower.''

    This meant that all satellites or any other form of information gathering on the world outside the Solar System was fake. It was all an illusion¡ªa lie placed by absurdly powerful beings that a small character like the Wolf Deity wasn''t privy to knowing. He only knew the name of their bubble and that it existed, which he figured out by flying to the edge of the Solar System and finding an impenetrable barrier set up around them. And once he hit the barrier in his frustrations, a name written in mystic energies formed on the barrier''s surface.

    "Isolated Solar System - Trial Floor" was what was written on the barrier.

    Igor Volkov knew not how this place came to be or even who created it, but he was certain there was something beyond. Something that he just wasn''t powerful enough to see.

    Yet he never was able to figure out how to reach that ''Beyond.''

    And when the Ice Sovereign and his feud started, he was sealed up before ever being able to explore further. Which, as terrible as it was, he planned to do by playing around with Satanic Rituals and the unnatural.

    There were rumors of gateways that connected to other dimensions beyond our own¡ªsimilar to Gates. And Igor wished to confirm the veracity of these rumors, for he knew better than anyone that rumors were almost always based on something. Yet, whether it turned out to be real or not didn''t really matter, he just knew he couldn''t live with himself if he hadn''t expended every effort to uncover the truth.

    As an innately selfish being¡ªa human¡ªIgor wished for something very human. Freedom.

    However, as his experiments became more and more evil¡ªeven affecting entire countries¡ªthe strongest Hunter in the world had to step in. The Ice Sovereign. A reclusive and solitary figure who stayed away from worldly problems unless a problem that couldn''t be solved by the rest of Humanity appeared. The Wolf Deity was that problem.

    But once their battle outside of Earth''s atmosphere concluded and the Wolf Deity was sealed away, the Ice Sovereign returned to his tranquility. A tranquility which he found not on the inhabitable space marble but instead on the second coldest planet in the Solar System¡ªNeptune.

    "From that worm''s memories, it appears this Ice Sovereign is quite the noble figure," Cassius said, his thoughts veering his eyes toward the distant dark blue planet. "He also seems to know about the Isolated Solar System. But rather than follow the same path as the worm, he decided to continue on as he had before."

    "Say, Yimin," said Cassius. "Do you wish to go on a short space trip?"

    Yimin¡ªwho had returned to hugging Cassius after finishing her gourmet meal¡ªonce again had not a clue what her Master was talking about. But like the irresistibly clueless dragon she was, she bobbed her head and went back to da hugs.

    The corners of Cassius''s lips raised as he motioned for Raijin to move. Raijin did just that as he leapt up off the ground and took off into the void of space¡ªmajestic and regal.

    Within seconds, Cassius and Yimin were already at the frontmost part of a dragon soaring through the dreary yet beautiful vacuum of space. Raijin crackled and glided through space with smooth, sinuous motions, his long, snake-like body undulating rhythmically, resembling a ribbon dancing in the wind.

    From far away, it looked like a long string of bright blue energy was traversing through a dark space that made it seem tiny in comparison.

    ¡ª After a few minutes of leisurely travel ¡ª

    Yimin¡ªwho was sitting in Cassius''s lap¡ªshot her eyelids awake when she felt Raijin thunderously land on the Northernmost side of Neptune.

    "Who''s there!? Looking to kidnap Yimin''s Master!?? Think again!!" She cutely threw up her hands, taking a karate master stance. "You must get through Yimin first if you wish to take away Yimin''s Master!"

    Cassius looked down at the gorgeous girl, an amused glint in his gaze. He petted her head, saying, "You can calm down, Yimin. We have just arrived; there are no enemies."

    "...No enemies¡­?" For some reason, Yimin seemed oddly disappointed.

    She was really looking forward to showing off her Skills in front of her Master¡­

    Cassius chuckled before lifting her up by her supple hips. He set her down standing, then sauntered ahead and dropped off the edge of Raijin''s flaring snout. "Come on now," he said. "We have someone to meet."

    Yimin¡ªfeeling a warmth spread out where he touched her¡ªtook a second to respond. Yet, within half a millisecond, she was already strolling right beside her Master, sticking very, very close to him. She was on full alert in order to protect her Master.

    Vigilance was key! And as such, she had no choice but to cling to her Master at all times!

    Who knows exactly when another Rushan could sneak out and kidnap her Master!? Must remain vigilant!

 Chapter 254 - 254: I... Dont Remember...

    Cassius briefly glanced at the adorably watchful Yimin sticking to him like glue. An affectionate expression nearly formed, but when he saw the distant palace of ice a few thousand miles away, his expression cooled. Even if the threat was not an apparently dangerous one, it always paid off to be cautious.

    Momentarily turning his head back, Cassius said, "Shrink."

    Raijin¡ªwho was presently the size of a medium-sized country¡ªrapidly began to shrink. In an instant, he became the size of a common garden snake, to which he then flew toward Cassius and perched himself atop his right shoulder. He was a black, shadowy, lightning-adorned dragon of terrifying might, but right now, he appeared to be no more than a cute, big-eyed pet.

    Yimin suddenly perked her ears up, sensing the presence of a competitor. A competitor far more threatening than the Wolf Deity.

    ''Yimin is Master''s #1, bestest Dragon! Not you!'' she thought, her eyes dangerously narrowing. ''Arghh¡ª!! If not for you being useful to the Master and more powerful than Yimin, then Yimin would devour you right here and now!''

    Raijin¡ªhearing a nearby hiss¡ªturned his large, watery eyes in Yimin''s direction. He blinked in confusion, wondering why the dragonoid lady was so hostile.

    Yimin mistook his confusion for smugness and considered this a declaration of war!

    ''Master shall be Yimin''s in the end!! Yimin will be the winner!!''

    As a very odd rivalry formed between two varying members of the dragon species, Cassius''s fast, wraith-like feet just now landed him in front of the ice palace. The palace itself was extremely large and intricately decorated, possessing a level of craftsmanship that went above and beyond anything seen back on Earth. Leading up to the palace was a long series of steps, numbering in the hundreds.

    Cassius evanescently ascended the steps, appearing like an elegant immortal. Once making it to the topmost step, he was welcomed with the sight of two very large light blue doors. Standing directly in front of those doors was an old man garbed in flowy, icy blue robes. He had a long white beard and even longer white hair, both of which added to the wizened way he carried himself.

    "It seems the time has finally arrived," the old man said, stroking his long beard. "He did say you''d come around this time, but I thought it''d be another year. Time is running short¡­"

    Cassius walked up to this man and stopped, confused. "What are you talking about?" he asked. "And how do you know who I am? And who is this ''he'' you keep referring to?"

    "You don''t know yet?" the old man asked, stroking his beard a little bit faster. "This is interesting¡­ But if he hadn''t told you yet, then¡­ I see¡­"

    "???"

    "Could you elaborate?" asked Cassius.

    The old man nodded. "I can indeed," he said. "But you must come in. I''ve been preparing for this day for a long time. A very¡­long time."

    The old man turned around, dramatically blowing his robes behind him. He brisked through the large icy blue doors, disappearing into the darkness of the palace''s interior.

    Cassius followed right behind, taking with him Yimin, Raijin, Lilith, and Mora. Yet, when he walked into the darkness as well, he was almost immediately welcomed with the sight of something that wasn''t previously visible. Inside the palace were two sets of long stairs, and off to the side of the left staircase were several brown leather couches, as well as a few small tables. Furthermore, there was a bright, crackling fireplace placed to the back of the quaint living room of sorts. Oddly enough, the whole place had a log cabin out-in-the-woods sort of feel to it.

    However, erected directly behind the recliner where the old man was now seated was a massive shining crystal. The crystal also had a sharp reflection to it, with similar such reflections showing on every side of its multi-sided and multi-layered surface. The thing was obviously of magical origins.

    "Come, sit," said the old man. "We have much to discuss."

    Cassius hesitated only briefly before succumbing to his own curiosity. He approached the couch nearest to the old man, letting the fierce yet also curious Yimin sit beside him. Raijin was still atop his shoulder, whereas Lilith and Mora were lightly humming on his back and hip-side.

    "Well, let''s begin," the old man said. "Ask your first question. I''ll answer anything to the best of my abilities."

    Cassius blinked, then slowly mouthed, "Your name. What is it?"

    The old man showed a surprised expression. But he quickly realized something, urging a small smile to form. "You already know my name, do you not? Why else would you be here?" he asked, playing along. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I know you''re the Ice Sovereign, yes," Cassius said. "But who¡­really are you? What is your name? That is the question I ask of you."

    The Ice Sovereign''s smile solidified as he let out a hoarse laugh.

    After calming himself, "You truly are so much like him," he said. "Even the way you conduct yourself is so eerily similar to him. But yes, kid, my identity is more than it appears. Yet, at the same time, it''s exactly how it appears."

    Before Cassius could question his words, the Ice Sovereign spoke up first. "Tell me, youngin, who is your father?"

    "My father¡­?" Although puzzled, Cassius still replied, "My father is Adam Steele. Why?"

    Ignoring his question, the Ice Sovereign prompted another question. "Where does your father work? How old is he? Do you know who his parents are?"

    "Of course I¡­" he paused.

    Why couldn''t he¡­?

    Why couldn''t he recall his father''s profession? Why was he unable to answer something as simple as his age? Did he never have grandparents??

    "Why¡­" Cassius muttered, clutching his head in pain. "Why can''t I remember¡­? I''m sure I know the answers, but¡­"

    Yimin''s expression morphed in concern. She hugged onto her Master, worry crawling up her features. She then turned her aggressive gaze toward the calmly sitting old man. "What have you done to Yimin''s Master!?" she growled, baring her fangs and claws in his direction. "Stop whatever you''re doing at once!"

 Chapter 255 - 255: Remembering, My Mother...?

    "Stop what you''re doing to Yimin''s Master!"

    The Ice Sovereign shook his head. "I''m sorry, but I can''t," he said. "That boy must remember. I''m merely jogging his memories a little." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Looking past the fierce dragonoid girl being held down by her Master, the Ice Sovereign refocused on Cassius. "Now, tell me, kid, for the past two years, are you sure that the person whom you refer to as your father is actually who you think he is? And what about before that point; can you tell me with absolute certainty that your father was actually your father?"

    Cassius''s blaring headache intensified, as it felt like his head was being split open. He tried with all his might to remember, yet the more he thought about it, the fuzzier and more distorted the memories became. His father no longer looked like his father, and there were now three versions of who he believed to be the same person.

    The first version was of a man who took on the face and personality of his father but was anything but.

    The second version was a version filled with far more memories¡ªspanning over a dozen years¡ªbut something was not right about this one. With Cassius''s affinity with the Illusion and Deception Elements because of his numerous Skills, he could immediately tell that something was off about this one.

    As for the third version, it felt the most real and genuine. But it was also the briefest and faintest of fragmented memories¡ªa man that was his father. Moreover, it seemed to depict a time before he even knew how to think properly. He was an infant.

    "In truth, young Cassius Steele," said the Ice Sovereign, "the man who you''ve known as your father for the past two years is a member of the same race that wishes to use you for their own benefit¡ªthe Dissonants. That Adam Steele is not your father, and based on his silent life readings, it''s likely that he''s already met his demise at the hands of his own kind."

    "This¡­" Cassius''s expression hardened in a heartbeat as the pain emanating from his head increased. "H¡­How can this be¡­? But then, all this time, I''ve been¡­"

    "That is not yet the end, young Cassius," the Ice Sovereign said as he waved his hands.

    The large shiny crystal standing upright in the background started spinning extremely fast, and showing up on each side of the crystal were memories¡ªrapidly flashing memories viewed in the first person.

    Cassius held his head, his painfully squinting eyes looking at the crystal in shock. The first version of his father had already been replaced by a hideous, gargantuan organism whose identity he did not know. However, upon glimpsing into the crystal, another version of his father began to fade. It was the version that had accompanied him for 15+ years of his life.

    And all at once, every single memory Cassius had of this version of his father glitched out. Eventually, his existence in those memories vanished altogether, leaving an empty space everywhere he looked.

    At times, he would just be talking to walls or the air¡­

    No one was there.

    Cassius nearly fell off the couch from the pain¡ªa pain so excruciating that it almost outdid the pain experienced by dying thousands of times. It was unbelievably painful.

    "What have y¡ª"

    Yimin was about to attack the Ice Sovereign¡ªLilith, Mora, and Raijin also¡ªbut before they could do such a thing, Cassius held them back. Through a deep grimace, he reassured them that he was fine and that the old man was not at fault.

    ¡ª After a few minutes to regain his bearings ¡ª

    Cassius opened his haggard eyes from meditation. He petted the girl tearfully hugging him, a slight smile forming on his worn-down face. He then soothed Raijin, Lilith, and Mora with a few rubs as well. After which, he diverted all his attention back to the patiently sitting Ice Sovereign.

    "I now understand the first version," Cassius said. "But what of the second version? Why did my every memory of my father suddenly disappear?"

    The Ice Sovereign sipped on a freshly brewed cup of icy tea in a laid-back manner. Then he matched the handsome young man''s gaze and said, "That version and those memories are fake¡ªall created by your actual father to keep you on the path of normality. He even had to alter the sight and memories of billions of other humans to make sure they were able to see what you were seeing."

    "Then¡­ My real father is¡­"

    "Yes," said the Ice Sovereign. "The third version is your actual father. And though you have only seen him in person when you were very young and for not very long, he has always been watching over you."

    "...Even now¡­?" Cassius asked, looking all around himself with enhanced eyesight Skills.

    The Ice Sovereign''s expression became a bit complicated as he sighed. "No, not right now," he said. "But up until a few days ago, yes, he was there, watching."

    Cassius''s eyes flashed in confusion. "What changed a few days ago?" he asked.

    "Your father stopped by around a week ago to inform me that some events on the higher Floors have put in motion something beyond even his control," said the Ice Sovereign. "He hadn''t gone into great detail, but he referred to it as a ''beacon.''"

    "As for what this beacon is or what he meant by it, he did not say." The Ice Sovereign raised his hand and stopped the spinning of the large crystal. "But even if I do not know all the answers, you will one day meet him once you begin ascending the Ascension Towers. That much I guarantee you."

    Cassius stared at the old man for a good couple of seconds before letting out all the air inside his lungs. "...I see¡­"

    He was disappointed to learn that his real father had just recently passed him by, but he wouldn''t let that keep him down.

    Returning his gaze to the Ice Sovereign, his expression turned extremely serious. "What of my mother?" he asked. "Is she¡­ Is she still alive?"

 Chapter 256 - 256: Virtual Opponent Projection Chamber

    The Ice Sovereign could sense the boy''s surging emotions, making his answering of the question all the harder. "She''s still alive," he said. "But to get to her with the soured relationship that your father has with someone very, very powerful, she might as well be no different from dead. It''s highly likely that you''ll never see her again in this lifetime, even with your unique Fate¡ª"

    "That''s good," Cassius said with a relieved sigh.

    "???"

    "Did you not hear what I said, boy?" The Ice Sovereign asked. "Getting to see your Mother again will be more difficult than ascending Heaven itself. You know of the Dissonants, do you not? What they''ve been searching for? Why they''re so keen on controlling you? It''s all for the sake of getting to your Mother. Don''t you understand?? With your Mother''s kind and loving personality, she would''ve come to you as soon as she could, regardless of the danger. But do you know why she did not¡ª"

    "It doesn''t matter," said Cassius, absorbing all the new information. "None of it matters. As long as she''s alive and well, I''ll figure out a way to bring her back. And as for those Dissonants¡­" shadows darkened his face as his aura grimly fluctuated. "Well, don''t worry about them; I''ll deal with it," he said, suddenly all smiles.

    Even the extremely ancient Ice Sovereign felt a cold chill looking at that scary smiling expression of his. Yet, this only further solidified the belief that he was that man''s son.

    Shaking his head in mock exasperation, the Ice Sovereign said, "Very well. Then you''ll wish to know where your Mother is being held, won''t you?"

    Cassius nodded.

    Another sigh escaped the Ice Sovereign''s lips as he motioned for the giant crystal to begin spinning again. "Your mother is being held there," he said, pointing at the massive, infinitely branched tree of splendor being reflected from the crystal''s surfaces. "The Divine Sanctuary of Yggdrasil, or what is often referred to as the secret 8th Dimension of the Ascension Tower. Also being the most mysterious and eldest of the Dimensions."

    Cassius''s brows instantly furrowed seeing that tree and hearing its name. ''That place again,'' he thought. ''If there has ever been a sign for anything, then this is that sign.''

    "Well then," said Cassius. "It seems that in a few months, we''ll be heading to the Divine Sanctuary of Yggdrasil. Only then will all these mysteries be unraveled."

    "You don''t mean the¡­ Tournament of Yggdrasil held every century, do you?" asked the Ice Sovereign, sensing a bad premonition coming on.

    And just as he feared, Cassius nodded. "Yes, I''m planning to enter the Divine Sanctuary of Yggdrasil and participate in the 7-day-long Ascension Tower-wide Tournament," he said. "The one that begins approximately two and a half months from now. Also one that I''ll be winning."

    "...."

    "Following in your Father''s footsteps," the Ice Sovereign mumbled to himself.

    "What was that?"

    "Nothing," the Ice Sovereign said with a sigh. "Still, you really are insane, aren''t you? You''re aware that the most talented heirs and young masters of the 7¡ªno, 8¡ªdimensions will be participating, aren''t you? They will all surely be at the peak of the SSS-Rank, with a few even possessing battle power beyond their Rank."

    "Kid," he said seriously. "You''ll be fighting opponents with power equivalent to that of a Transcendent. As you are now, I''m afraid¡­"

    "There''s two months and a half until the Tournament begins, no?" asked Cassius.

    "Yes, but what does that change¡ª"

    "It changes everything," Cassius said. "Such a period of time is more than long enough for me to surprise everyone. Trust me on this one."

    Silence. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was only after a while that the Ice Sovereign broke the silence with the cracking of a crooked grin. "You really are his kid," he said almost hysterically. "Well, regardless of whether you actually can accomplish the impossible, I''ll tell you right now that you have a tribulation you have to overcome here first. In this small, isolated plane I built on the behest of your Father for your sake, the Nexus Event dangerously nears. You''re surely in for quite a challenge when the following days come around, as it''ll certainly seem like all of existence is against you. With your unique Destiny, this much is certain."

    "!!!" ''The creator of this plane!? Then, that means he is¡ª''

    Noticing the young man''s drastic change in expression, the Ice Sovereign faintly smiled. His wrinkled face and decrepit body began to rapidly contort and morph into something far more youthful. All signs of old age disappeared in an instant. Appearing from the top of his forehead to his nose bridge were three progressively smaller ink tear droplets. In addition to his curled eyebrows and whirly mustache, the ink droplets finished off his scholarly look very well.

    "You asked for my name," said the handsome scholarly man, his eyes closed and his smile benevolent. "It is the Great Sage¡ªthe one who endlessly pursues Immortality. And this Isolated Solar System as well as everything within it were things I created in my free time."

    Before Cassius could pop up any more questions, the ethereally floating man conjured a small golden scroll. "Here, treat it as both a meeting and farewell gift," he said, dropping the radiantly glowing scroll in Cassius''s hands. "Hopefully, it''ll assist you on the arduous journey that lies ahead of you."

    "Wai¡ª" But before Cassius could finish his words, the smiling Great Sage vanished, leaving behind Cassius, the crackling fireplace, an Ice Palace, and a¡­ scroll.

    Looking down at this scroll, Cassius was surprised to hear a System Notification:

    *Ding!*

    [Obtained the EX+++ Rank Technique Scroll ''Virtual Opponent Projection Chamber'' or VOPC for short]

    ¡ª [Would you like to begin the Automatic Learning process of the Skill? This will also be your first use of Idle Benefit #7¡ªAutomatic Learning Idle Benefit.]

    ¡ª [Allows the wielder to simulate a virtual dimension and put within that dimension temporary projections of opponents whom the wielder wishes to simulate battles with.]

    ¡ª [Effectiveness of the Technique depends on the comprehension and proficiency the Wielder has of the Technique.]

    [System note: This Technique is similar to the System''s 8th Idle Benefit, but still inferior, hoho~!]

    "This¡­"

 Chapter 257 - 257: Prelude to the 8th Idle Benefit...?

    "This¡­"

    Not only had Cassius received something of such a high rank, but it seemed as if acquiring this high-rank item fulfilled the requirements to unlock the 7th Idle Benefit! Plus, there were clues as to what the 8th Idle Benefit would be!

    It was just one glorious thing after another!

    Of course, Cassius accepted the automatic learning of the mystical Technique, upon which a wave of information entered his mind. This naturally included the specifics of the Technique.

    The VOPC was, in its essence, a way for users to fight people or beings without actually fighting them. It even had its own timeline that worked far, far, far slower than the world outside. One could virtually fight an opponent thousands upon thousands of times without even a second passing in the outside world.

    The VOPC''s time was the closest anyone would ever get to freezing time altogether while within the bounds of the Ascension Tower.

    It was fantastically surreal.

    However, that did not mean one could use the Technique forever. There were various limitations, each dependent on the proficiency the user had with the VOPC Technique. If at the elusive Integration Stage, one could stay inside the VOPC for years, even centuries, doing nothing but battling simulated opponents.

    But at the Practiced Proficiency Stage¡ªlike Cassius¡ªone could only stay within the Virtually Simulated World for roughly 24 hours.

    At first glance, that number seemed like a whole lot, but in actuality, it wasn''t much. After all, at the higher Power Ranks, it could take months, even years, to learn an opponent''s moveset and effectively counter it. That wasn''t even considering what Cassius planned to do with it, as there was another VOPC feature that he was incredibly interested in.

    The VOPC could create a simulated world and also simulate opponents for potentially endless battles. However, there was another key feature of the Technique.

    That feature was¡ªthe ability to carry over any Technique or Skill Progression gained inside the VOPC into the outside world.

    This feature was more of a coincidental side effect than one directly related to the Technique. In a sense, the VOPC transported the main part of a user''s essence into the virtually simulated world. And since this was the part that stored comprehension, one could theoretically practice Techniques in the VW¡ªor Virtual World.

    "The Virtual World," Cassius mused, a pair of golden symbols crackling within his eyes. "This will be essential now and in the future. I just know it."

    Wishing to test it out right away, he cast the Technique. A bright golden light flashed for him alone, and he was instantly transported to a boundlessly wide open space. Above was a grayish-black sky, and below was an endless expanse of still water that couldn''t be interacted with.

    That was when one of the Technique''s activation keys came to Cassius''s mind, prompting him to call out, "Opponent List."

    BLING!

    An illusory blue-and-gold screen appeared in front of him. On it were countless names, formatted similarly to Santa Claus''s List. The names stretched endlessly, ranging from the lowliest of common wildlife and civilians to any Hunter, Monster, or other magical lifeform he had encountered thus far.

    Everything¡­ literally everything was recorded¡­

    Luckily for Cassius''s comparatively feeble mind, the Technique was based on his memories. As such, he could efficiently seek out any specific target he wished to choose.

    After thinking of one name in particular and clicking "Summon," a burly, wolf-maned man appeared above the endless ocean in front of him. The man wore the same smug expression he had in life and radiated the same sinister aura.

    "I wonder if the strength is the same as well," Cassius said, his figure already blurring. "Let''s test it out."

    FWIP!

    He reappeared in front of the simulated Wolf Deity, yet didn''t immediately attack. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You attack first," he said, beckoning with a cupped hand, his other hand neatly tucked behind his back. "Give it everything you have."

    "COURTING DEATH!!!"

    The Wolf Deity was just as loud in the simulation as he was in real life. With an explosion erupting behind him, he surged forward, transforming into a grayish-black blur of rage. Clasped in his right hand was his S+++ Rank wolf-furred Greatsword, an exact replica of the one that Cassius had mistakenly destroyed, thinking it was trash.

    ''So the simulated opponent can both talk and wield the same weapons it had as a real person,'' Cassius thought, effortlessly evading Igor''s rush attack. ''How interesting.''

    A cold gleam formed in his gaze as he raised a single finger and slashed downward.

    "YOU BA¡ª"

    The Wolf Deity was cleaved in two, with a long, bloody line separating both halves of him. Blood and guts sprayed across the space, once again surprising Cassius.

    "His strength was an exact replica of the real deal," he said. "But what about his innards? His internals?"

    To his oddly placed disappointment, upon leaning down and touching the Wolf Deity''s body, his hand passed through pixels. The pixels where he touched began to fade upward. The rest of his corpse followed suit, pixelating entirely until it vanished.

    "How unusual," said Cassius, stroking his chin. "That attack of his certainly would''ve physically harmed me. And brushing past him, I was able to discern his body as a physical construct. But as soon as damage was dealt to him, things turned digital."

    "How¡­ truly odd," he muttered. "I guess this Technique isn''t of the EX+++ Rank for nothing."

    Returning to his experiments with this new, overpowered Technique, Cassius summoned another Wolf Deity. This time, he allowed the creature to attack more before eventually one-shotting it when he grew bored. This was also when he realized that he could bring his weapons and items into the virtual world.

    However, unlike in real life¡ªwhere they could convey their intentions because of their Pseudo Intelligence¡ªthese versions of Lilith and Mora were lifeless.

    Fortunately, they retained all their abilities and power. This meant Cassius''s Combat Power inside the VOPC was a 1:1 replica of his real-life Combat Power.

 Chapter 258 - 258: Fighting Andromalius

    After a few more summons of the Wolf Deity, Cassius also learned that the Wolf Deity did not actually have a consciousness. It simply mimicked or slightly altered Cassius''s perception of what little he knew of Igor Volkov''s personality. This subsequently led to rather cheesy or very simple, often derogatory lines coming from his mouth. Most of which were directly targeting him, likely as a side effect of the grudges the man held for him in life.

    Even in death, it seemed those same grudges carried on in the form of hateful words...

    When Cassius fought the Wolf Deity a total of 10 times, he received a rather intriguing system message¡ªnot from his System but from the extremely simple VOPC system-like entity.

    [10/10 Summon Times have been used up for the Virtual Opponent ''Igor Volkov (Wolf Deity)'']

    [10/100 Total Summon Times have been used up]

    [Both can be increased with VOPC Technique Proficiency advancements]

    "...So I get 10 Summons per opponent and 100 total Summons at my current Proficiency stage," Cassius said with a raised brow. "That''s not too bad, especially when considering that even now¡ªbecause the Technique is in constant use¡ªI''m increasing its Proficiency." sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [''EX+++ Virtual Opponent Projection Chamber'' ¨C Proficiency ¡ú 0.02%]

    Based on the current rate of progression, Cassius figured he''d get around 1% from 24 hours in the VW. And with the Technique''s cooldown rate of 1 hour, he could get the VOPC to 24% just today, assuming he went in every hour.

    "Well, I guess I''ll continue testing some things," Cassius said, summoning another Wolf Deity. "What is 24 hours in here in the grand scheme of things?"

    Time ceaselessly passed¡­

    ¡ª ~13 Hours Later (VOPC time) ¡ª

    Cassius had tried out everything he could think of, from what elements were allowed in the VOPC to how many Virtual Opponents he could summon at the same time. And finally, after much experimentation, he had only a single Summon attempt left. After this attempt was used up, he would be forced to give up on fighting and instead begin the training of his Skills and Techniques.

    Yet, for his final match of the day, Cassius chose not any of the many powerful opponents he had faced thus far. Instead, he chose one that he had yet to even see up close.

    Andromalius¡ªthe 72nd Demon King of HELL.

    OOOM!!

    As soon as this absurdly powerful figure appeared above the still lake, Cassius felt his soul tremble in fright. Moreover, his knees buckled, and his heart clenched.

    However, for some unknown reason, he was¡­ smiling?

    "You''re not as strong as you once were to me," he said, a scary glint in his fiery gaze. "Nowhere near as strong¡­"

    His small smile curved upward and turned into a wide sadistic smirk. He fiercely opposed the 72nd Demon King''s aura, snapping through the stifling pressure with an eruption of his own inner strength.

    "...."

    Andromalius stared blankly at Cassius.

    The Demon King was not of a large build and could be considered quite lean. He had a 10-pack, well-defined muscles, and a pale purplish-red skin tone. Nothing covered his upper body, save for a demonic spiked armor piece serving as his undergarments. Atop either side of his head were gothic reddish-black horns, each with a swirlish grandiose design.

    As for Andromalius''s face, he could be considered quite handsome. In HELL, he might even be seen as a catch, with his piercing, slightly slanted eyes, chiseled jawline, thin nose, and fierce expression. The Demon lasses likely fancied someone with his appearance. But more than that, they''d yearn for his immense, unquestionable strength and authority.

    Andromalius brandished a long, feathered spear nearly double his own six-foot height. The reddish-black spear was obviously of very high quality, far superior to anything Humanity''s 0th Floor had to offer. It even had a flaming effect that seemed to forever burn across its edges¡ªa flame effect that produced several mile-long fire arcs when the Demon King swung it around a couple of times as a warm-up.

    "Well," Cassius said, his voice thrumming with concealed excitement. "Let us have a quick spar."

    With that, he dashed forward, his ludicrous, unrestrained speed propelling him many times faster than the speed of light. In his right hand was Lilith in katana form. In his left hand was Mora, with her glorious, sharp scythe edges on full display.

    The 72nd Demon King merely stared at the rapidly approaching Cassius with spear in hand.

    Then he moved.

    "!!!"

    Cassius raised Lilith to parry, but in that same instant, Andromalius''s flaming spear crashed down. The spear cut straight through Lilith like a hot knife through butter. Then, with an unbelievable level of speed, the spear chopped Mora into dozens of pieces before ultimately reaching Cassius.

    Cassius''s head was lobbed clean off, disbelief still etched across his face.

    However, with the activation of his ''SSS-Rank Godly Nirvana Rebirth'' Skill, he came back to life not even a moment later. Yet, in that same moment, the flaming spear was already set on him again. He wasn''t even able to fully comprehend the fact that he had an entirely reset Rebirth chance rate before he died once more.

    The next time he returned to life, Cassius was prepared. He took his fully regenerated Lilith and pointed downward before activating her |Extension| ability to push himself upward, just narrowly dodging yet another spear swipe. He used the time he had floating high in the air to calculate any potential routes of attack he could make¡ª

    SHING!

    The sound of metal cutting through air rang out crisply as Andromalius''s flaming spear extended in length. The spear''s wickedly sharp tip punctured Cassius''s abdomen in an instant. Then, without remorse, the spear''s tip spun around while still inside him, turning his insides into something akin to a very bloody smoothie.

    "What the f*ck," were the last words to leave Cassius''s mouth before Andromalius sliced upward, cleaving him in two.

    Yet he returned to life¡­

    And again, he died.

    Return to life, he did.

    Death came once more¡­

    Back to life¡­

    More slashes¡­ More deaths¡­

    Again and again, dying and dying¡­ over and over¡­

 Chapter 259 - 259: SS+ Rank Fundamental Physique

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    Merely a few seconds had passed, yet Cassius had already met his demise over 1,000 times! This rate of death was even faster than it had been with the Ice Senators or in the Boundless Gorge!

    He thought he had become numb to death long ago, and in a way, he had. But when it came to these types of extremely fast, back-to-back deaths, he couldn''t help but feel that same indescribable anguish he''d experienced in the Boundless Gorge.

    Eventually, when it became too much for him, he paused the Simulation, freezing everything in place. Then, with a shaky hand, he erased the 72nd Demon King''s virtual projection, leaving only himself in the dreary water world.

    ¡ª After a few minutes to collect himself ¡ª

    Cassius managed to regain his bearings just enough to calmly set himself down on the lake''s surface. In a lotus position he sat, his thoughts trying to organize themselves properly enough to begin practicing his Techniques. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''I think I''ve had enough of the battle part of the Simulation for now,'' he thought, his brows gradually unfurrowing. ''And though I may have severely underestimated Andromalius this time around, I''ll be back to challenge him again. And next time, I won''t be anywhere near as helpless against him as I am now.''

    That much, he vowed to himself.

    The 72nd Demon King¡ªthe first hurdle Cassius had to pass in order to freely begin exploring HELL¡ªhe would best him in battle. Not just for his own personal endeavor, but also because beating him and the Demon Kings to follow would be his key to proving himself worthy of Yggdrasil.

    The Tournament¡ªhe had to win it. And unless he became far stronger than he was now, that dream of his would forever remain just that¡ªa dream¡ªa far-fetched pipe dream.

    Cassius knew very well that the 72nd Demon King wasn''t anything more than a small fry in the grand scheme of things. Simply put, he was inconsequential. And yet, Cassius¡ªwho was so overwhelmingly defeated by Andromalius¡ªwas worth even less than that.

    This had to change.

    "For now," he said, closing his eyes and focusing his mind''s eye. "I''ll finish merging and extracting the Essence from all 27 Layers of my Fundamental Body Refinement Arts."

    The S+ Technique Manual and each of its three segments had become ever easier for him to comprehend after all his improvements. As such, over the past nine days, he had been able to easily practice each of the three segments to their 9th Layers. However, upon achieving the peak of the 9th Layers, Cassius felt there to be something beyond them.

    To reach whatever that something was, he followed his instincts and started merging his comprehensions of each Segment. Attack, Movement, and Defense¡ªeach was steadily and equally extracted and merged.

    ¡ª 3 Hours Later ¡ª

    Verging upon the precipice of something, Cassius tugged on the strings guiding him. Then, three differently colored balls of light shot out of his body and flowed toward one another above his head. They quickly collided and coalesced, creating a spectacle that lit up a good section of the still lake. Blue, red, and green mixed, and from them emerged a bright purple ball that emitted a level of power far exceeding that of each of the individual balls.

    The purple ball rose a few meters above Cassius before suddenly dropping down and entering inside him through his head. A radiant purple light exploded outward with his meditating body as the source.

    A few System Notifications then made themselves known.

    *Ding~!*

    [Congratulations, you lucky ducky, you!]

    [Acquired the SS+ Rank ''Fundamental'' Physique!]

    [As the first Physique obtained by the Host¡ªand naturally at that¡ªthis moment should be celebrated!]

    [How about 1,000 years in the Endless Torture Chamber I had specially prepared for you after your prolonged edging period in the Nightmarescape!? Do you wish to accept this gracious gift of I, the Almighty System¡ª]

    "No," Cassius instantly denied.

    He then ignored the follow-up grumbles of the Idle Evolution System, instead feeling out the incredible strength now coursing through every inch of his body. It far outweighed the gains provided by the nearly obsolete Fundamental Body Refinement Arts from before.

    It also seemed that Physiques¡ªsimilar to Bloodlines¡ªhad progression gauges.

    [SS+ ''Fundamental'' Physique ¨C Progression ¡ú 0.01%]

    "I guess that to increase the progression rate, I just have to¡­"

    Cassius was hoping to receive a keen answer from his begrudged System by acting dumb. And just as expected:

    [To progress any Physiques, you simply need to locate and devour high-rank herbs and/or medicines found throughout the higher Floors of the Ascension Tower. Eat one and convey your intent as to which Physique you wish to advance¡ªor however you wish to allocate the medicinal essence¡ªand it shall happen accordingly.]

    [By the way, the medicine/herb''s type doesn''t matter. Cultivating Physiques is already considered to be defying the Will of Heaven, so none of the specifics make a difference. At least not when you have I, the All-Powerful System, on your side!]

    [Medicines and herbs also have a ranking system that will determine how much essence is contained within them. For example, a genuine Tear of Yggdrasil is of the Mythic Rank, considered to be second to only a few extraordinarily rare and priceless Cosmic Ranked herbs.]

    [Oh, and also, I know what you did there. Humph!]

    [?? ?? ? ????]

    "Ahh," Cassius said, completely ignoring the last little comment. "Thanks for the info. I guess this just created another reason for me to ascend up the Floors of the different Ascension Towers."

    Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    [You¡­ Stop selectively choosing which parts of what I say you decide to listen to!]

    "Well, anyway," said Cassius, opening his eyes and standing up. "I suppose I''ll just practice my ''Teleport'' and ''Void Port'' Skills until my time here is up."

    Following through with that intent, he provoked the Space Element before both teleporting himself and conjuring portals left and right. No matter how ridiculous this made him look, this was the most efficient way to train these two Skills.

    Even if aesthetics must be damned, efficiency trumped all!

    This was the essence of Idling!

    Just like that, time marched forward¡­

 Chapter 260 - 260: Killing Him Would Be A Shame

    ¡ª ~8 Hours Later ¡ª

    While in the middle of stupidly spamming Teleport and Void Port, Cassius''s vision suddenly darkened. An instant later, he found himself back in the Ice Palace on Neptune. Everything was the same as when he left it.

    Cassius blinked before looking at Yimin, Raijin, and his two Growth Weapons. "It''s about time we return home," he said. "The others have been worried about you, you know, Yimin?"

    Yimin cutely tilted her head, index finger to her chin. "Yimin?" she asked. "Why would they be worried about Yimin?"

    Cassius faintly smiled in her direction as his steps echoed throughout the empty Palace halls. "It''s because you''re family," he said once they had left through the Palace doors. "Even though you aren''t on the best of terms with them, they still recognize you as family."

    "Family¡­"

    Yimin knew not what that word really meant. She had no parents, no siblings, and was born alone.

    It wasn''t until Cassius appeared in her savagely driven life that she began to feel something other than her innate urge for bloodlust. He was naturally someone whom she unconsciously considered to be family. But what of the women she only saw as annoyances?

    Were they also family?

    "Yimin doesn''t think so¡­" Yimin mumbled. She clung to Cassius''s side as they ascended the now-enlarged Raijin, continuing her mumblings. "Yimin loves Master who~~le lots, but loves da b*tches none¡­ Not family¡­"

    "Da b*tches, huh?" Cassius repeated with a sigh. "And you can still be family without unconditionally loving or even liking one another. Most families even hate each other."

    "However," he added, "when times get rough, family is always there for each other. I guarantee you that if ever you were to fall ill, one of those other troublemakers back home would be by your side, caring for you. Though they''d probably loathe doing it."

    "Really¡­?"

    "Really," answered Cassius.

    *Flap, Flap, Flap.*

    Raijin ascended into the void of space, leaving behind the dark blue planet.

    After a few moments of disgruntled pondering, Yimin grumbled, "Fine," she said. "Yimin will be nicer to da b*tches. For Master''s sake. For Yimin and Master''s family."

    Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    Cassius didn''t respond, but she knew he was listening. She softly laid her head against his shoulder, dozing off with a rather conflicted look on her face. One that was beyond adorable.

    An indiscernible smile nearly formed on Cassius''s lips. Then he suddenly felt a humming come from the weapons he carried on his person.

    "You two are family as well," he said.

    They happily buzzed in response.

    A subtle groan then came from their gentle giant of a mount¡­

    Exasperated, Cassius said, "You''re family, too¡­ Same as with Nyxvoldar¡­ Just one big Christmas tree we are¡­"

    Now, everyone was happy.

    ''Time to enjoy the return trip,'' Cassius thought, letting himself peacefully drift off. ''The Idle Grind shall continue when I awake.'' S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª---------------

    ¡ª Meanwhile, deep within the skull-shaped island on Earth ¡ª

    "How much longer?" an impatient voice sounded.

    "It''ll begin within the next 24 hours," responded a different voice. "Once we purposefully have our subordinates fail the World''s End Gate Raid, we''ll immediately trap the sub-target away from the Abyss. And if that doesn''t work, then you all know what we must do."

    "Indeed¡­" many voices answered in unison, their owners wearing varying expressions.

    Then a sigh echoed. "If only the other puny Dimensions of this place hadn''t decided to lock off entry to our kind, even going so far as to diligently guard their inter-dimensional portals," said the voice. "If not for that, we wouldn''t have needed to waste so much time and go through such a hassle to get what we wanted. But unfortunately, unlike the slow-reacting Humanity Tower, the rest of them acted fast when we first arrived."

    "Yes," said a voice. "Unfortunate indeed."

    "But it''ll all pay off in the end," the voice added. "We are close to accomplishing the goals of the Mothership. And once everything happens as it should, we might even obtain the chance to rank up to actual Elders, which''ll be a far cry better than our current low-level soldier ranks."

    Everyone in the dark space seemed to nod in agreement. All of them hoped for the same thing¡ªa promotion. More resources even.

    That was except for one¡ªa beautiful lady who held a rather¡­special position in the Dissonant''s hierarchy.

    ''The time approaches,'' Selena thought, her focus seemingly honed on an area far away from their location. She saw a very large dragon rapidly shrink in size and descend to the Asian Continent. ''I do wonder if that one will have any surprises in store¡­ I sure hope not.''

    ''Killing him would be a shame, after all.''

    Selena¡ªthe strongest of the descended Dissonants¡ªnearly unleashed an overwhelming amount of killing intent. But before it got out of the confines of her voluptuous figure, it was stopped and contained. She then returned her gaze and focus to the pointless discussion at hand, keeping that boy''s existence to the back of her mind.

    ¡ª Somewhere in East Asia ¡ª

    Cassius¡ªwho had just descended from the skies¡ªpropped himself atop a tall mountain overlooking where Yimin''s duel first commenced. He swept his eyes across the tens of thousands of figures vigorously staring up at the Moon above. They particularly focused on the side of the Moon that had been turned into Scorch Earth, adding an apocalyptic feel to the Moon they once knew. They were there¡ªwatching¡ªwhen the clash between Yimin and the Wolf Deity happened. And when the earth-shaking explosion went off, they were able to feel the shockwaves from hundreds of thousands of miles away.

    From that point onward, they became extremely immersed in the absurd fight surely happening above. In fact, they were so locked in that they hadn''t even noticed when a moderately sized shadowy lightning dragon undulated toward a mountain close to them.

    Cassius''s eyes briefly paused on the immaculate figure of the S-Rank Voidling Guild Leader. "Viola Voidweaver," he muttered. "I believe she''s the key to unlocking the other two parts of the Voidwarper Skill Set, which definitely contain the best Void and Space Element Skills I possess."

 Chapter 261 - 261: Bow, Hoomans!

    Cassius neared the Integration state with the VoidWarper Skill Set''s 1st Part. And with it already surpassing the 1-million-meter range, it was unknown just how much more powerful the Skills would become once in the Integration Stage.

    But achieving the Integration Proficiency Stage for a Skill was no simple matter.

    Reaching the Integration Stage for the |Fundamental Body Refinement Arts| had taken far longer than the time required to achieve the 9th Layer of all three Manual Segments. But it was also from this arduous task that Cassius was able to obtain the Fundamental Physique, which far exceeded the Rank of even the Origin Technique itself.

    Just that alone proved how substantial achieving the Integration Stage for a Technique truly was.

    However, with everything, the more advanced something was, the harder it was to learn. Getting something like the SSS-Rank Partial VoidWarper Skill Set to just the Mastered Rank had required nearly 20 times more effort than getting the |Fundamental Body Refinement Arts| to the Integration Stage.

    As for the Integration Stage of the Partial VoidWarper Skill Set, it would certainly require another good chunk of time to achieve.

    Of course, with the VOPC now in the picture, that length would shorten considerably. But even then, the Integration Stage was likely still a week''s worth of continuous VOPC use away from coming to fruition. This was the equivalent of roughly half a year of time inside the VOPC.

    "I guess I''m not so close to the elusive Integration Stage, after all," Cassius said before looking over at the curious Yimin. "Seeing as the Wolf Deity is now on his way into the Underworld, you should go over and show everyone that you''re the only one of you two still left standing. Oh, also, don''t follow anyone that isn''t me. Those you see down there¡­ are not always who they appear to be."

    From the crowd of over one hundred thousand, Cassius spotted thousands who were very much not of this world. They blended in well and possessed seamless disguises, but with his Extraterrestrial Sight Skill, it mattered not how well they hid.

    Under normal circumstances, he would kill them all right now¡­ but there was a bigger play at hand that he couldn''t ignore.

    Killing the small fry was a secondary concern when faced with the looming feeling that something big was about to happen. Although the memories of the Dissonants he had killed thus far did little to elaborate¡ªdue to various restrictions or countermeasures¡ªhe knew without a doubt that the stronger Dissonants were planning something.

    And this something had a high chance of being related to him. This, in a way, also meant that those close to him were at risk of being caught in the middle of their rivalry.

    ''This silly dragon is strong. That is without question,'' he thought, staring at her cutely wagging her tail. ''But in the face of those hidden existences, she doesn''t stand a chance. Even I''m not fully confident I can deal with the strongest among them.''

    "Do you understand, Yimin?" Cassius said. "Under no circumstances should you follow anyone anywhere. I''ve set up protective measures around Hoshito and our home¡ªaverting their advance on the other girls¡ªbut that doesn''t apply to the rest of the world. I shall not restrict your freedom, and you may do as you please, but do be cautious. And be certain to call for me as soon as you can''t handle something."

    Yimin bobbed her head like a puppy, wagging her tail in a way that fit the part. "Yimin will do as Master commands!" she beamed. "Won''t follow any of the other Hoomans! Stinky Hoomans! Besides Master, of course!"

    "Good," Cassius said. "Now go. Go and enjoy your fame. You''re about to become quite the rising sensation."

    "Mhmkay~!" Yimin said, jumping on her Master and pecking him on the cheek. She then leapt off him, off Raijin, and disappeared into the distance.

    "Praise me, puny Hoomans!! Muhahaha!!!"

    Cassius seemed to hear villainous laughter. He also saw thousands of native inhabitants plop to their knees and begin fervently smashing their heads against the ground. Chants echoed thereafter. The other, non-natives, felt both scared and compelled to follow the lead of the natives, so they got down on their knees as well. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...."

    Cassius was speechless.

    ''I thought it might go a bit overboard, but this is¡­''

    He sighed, finding himself dumbfounded by the Cult Leader-like behavior of his pet dragon.

    ''If Humanity is capable of surviving the World''s End Gate and this supposed Nexus Event, then there might just be another religion that pops up.''

    "Well, whatever," he said, his focus now on the purple-haired Guild Leader. She, as well as the other Japanese S-Rank Hunters, were not bowing, but they were sure as hell astonished by the sudden defeat of the #2 World-class Hunter.

    ''Come over to the mountain peak west of you,'' Cassius transmitted his voice to Viola. ''I''ll explain everything to you when you''re here.''

    "???" Viola was puzzled by the out-of-the-blue familiar voice, but when she realized who it was and saw the distant figure atop a certain mountain, she did as he requested.

    She spoke a few parting words to the other five S-Rank Hunters, then opened up a portal and disappeared into it. A similar portal appeared beside Cassius, with her stunning figure stepping out onto the mountaintop a moment later. Her bright purple eyes looked at the dragon in passing before finding their way to the man who had been a constant thought in her mind as of late.

    "You talked about explaining something?" Viola asked. "What is there to explain? Something to do with the Silver Bullet Demon, perhaps? Do you have some sort of special connection with her?"

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    "Calm down, my dear," Cassius said with a soothing voice. "You see, that mischievous woman down there is actually my¡­ Spirit Pet. Or contracted monster of sorts."

    Viola was still briefly taken aback by the charming way he addressed her when she realized the baffling words that had left his mouth.

 Chapter 262 - 262: Silver Bullet Demons Master

    "You''re the Silver Bullet Demon''s Master!?" Viola shouted, barely able to restrain her emotions. "How could that be?? You''re the Master of the humanoid monster that took down the second strongest Hunter in the world?? One of the first Awakened!?"

    "Actually," Cassius said, scratching his cheek, "I''m the one who defeated that nuisance. But as of now, she would surely be able to accomplish the same feat, and quite easily at that."

    "That nuisance...?" Viola repeated in disbelief, unable to believe what she was hearing. "This level of strength¡­ There''s no way you were always this strong¡­ Is there¡­!?"

    "...It''s something like that," Cassius said with a wry smile. "But regardless of that, I''ve called you over to caution you about those around you. And also to¡­ give you this."

    He extended his hand and opened it, allowing a circular purple amulet to drop from his palm.

    "This here is an item I recently picked up but have no use for. It should do well to shield you from some of the danger that is sure to surround you. Use it well, and when not by my side, hold it close."

    Viola looked down at the purple-gemmed amulet, its intricately designed ruby chain sprawled out in her hands. Upon taking a more in-depth scan, her eyes widened repeatedly.

    "This quality!" she exclaimed. "The magic within it! Just what sort of supreme treasure is this!? I think even the World-class Hunters possess items inferior to this one!"

    Cassius merely smiled, ignoring the SS-Rank System Prompt that appeared every time he looked at the amulet.

    "Don''t lose it," he said jokingly. "It could be a while before I find something of such rarity again."

    "But I can''t receiv¡ª"

    "And don''t bother trying to give it back to me," said Cassius, his back now turned to her. "Keeping you safe is far more important to me than some trinket."

    Even if it weren''t because of the benefits Viola could offer him with the VoidWarper Skill Set, he still would''ve given her the amulet. Once he began his ascent through the Ascension Towers, the items obtained from mere Purple-ranked Gates would make no difference, anyway.

    "Regardless of any sentimentals, just be safe before and when the Gate Raid begins, Viola," said Cassius, his listless gaze peering into the warm, reddish sunset. "Everything is more than it seems¡­ everything is always more than it seems."

    "Cass¡­" Viola reached out her hand but retracted it at the last second. She could feel his unrest¡ªsense his troubled state of mind.

    ''There''s definitely something else he''s not telling me¡­ But I¡­''

    She was too scared to ask.

    Even as the mighty Guild Leader of a very influential and wealthy Guild, Viola Voidweaver felt herself becoming unnaturally nervous in his presence. It was almost as if she unconsciously considered herself unworthy to share in his troubles¡ªhis woes¡ªwhat kept him up at night.

    And for some odd reason, she felt that no one was worthy. That no one could relate to him.

    In the end, Viola could only silently nod. Then, with a hard lip bite, she returned through the mystical portal she had arrived through.

    Cassius sighed softly at her departure, his chin lifting upward. He gazed into the blue skies above, looking past the fluffy white clouds and even the vast void of space beyond.

    "Death and fear of death," he murmured, arms crossed behind his back. "It''s such a weird thing, isn''t it? We live day to day in the moment, fearing the death that will undoubtedly arrive. But when faced with something we always knew would come, we quiver and resist with all our might. Even I¡­ Even I resisted¡­" Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

    In truth, he should''ve died within the Boundless Gorge on that day.

    And yet he hadn''t.

    He also hadn''t found it in himself to leave the Boundless Gorge''s entrance ever since. He merely came to the world, stayed an hour idling atop the mummified corpses of those he vanquished, then left. He had repeated this process nine times already for the sake of the Daily Quest, every time being unable to bring himself any closer to moving from his spot.

    "I really am a coward," Cassius muttered. "I fear death just as much as anyone else. And even though I''ve fallen in battle tens of thousands of times, I still can''t seem to overcome that fear."

    Looking to the limits of the Isolated Solar System, Cassius pitifully smiled.

    "Am I really so different from how I was when I had no power?" he asked himself. "When I was less of a human being than any other human?"

    He feared hearing the answer to that question, for he knew exactly what it would be. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even with his incredibly handsome appearance, overpowered abilities, and cool demeanor, in the end, he had not changed. Inside him still resided his weak-willed mortal shell, one that bent under pressure too much for his mind to handle.

    In that moment¡ªin the Boundless Gorge¡ªhe saw his life flash before his eyes. And that sight absolutely terrified him.

    He didn''t want to die¡­ and somewhere inside him, something was telling him to run. Run and never look back. Run not just from that situation but from everything¡ªfrom his power, from his System, even from his¡­ family¡ªhe wanted to escape.

    He wanted to return to how things once were prior to the Idle Evolution System''s activation¡­

    The fear of true death overwhelmed him so much that he was ready to discard it all. Everything he worked so hard to achieve. All the pain and torture he experienced¡ªit all would''ve been for naught.

    Only now¡ªwhen faced with the imminent end of everything in the world¡ªdid he realize how foolish he had been while inside his own mind.

    "Everyone fears death," Cassius said. "If you don''t fear it, then you were likely never really alive to begin with."

    "Running away from something that comes for us all is the epitome of foolishness," he added, his lips curling up in disgust at his previous thoughts. "And pain¡­ pain is merely a construct of the mind. Pain doesn''t truly exist."

 Chapter 263 - 263: The Abyss Prowler...?

    "To lose myself because of something as inconsequential as Pain is¡­" Cassius heaved a sigh, his disappointment in himself bordering on immeasurable. "It seems that the Bastard was right all along¡­ I still require Character Development. And to think I previously believed that I had maxed out my Character. When, in the end, nothing comes instantly."

    [You''re finally learning, baka Host! ????> ? <????]

    [Character Development is built, not acquired! Like the sturdy foundations of a building, you must lay each brick, one by one, until finally, you achieve the epitome of Character Development. By then, no worldly matters will ever so much as budge your immovable Will!]

    [Whether you face the most extreme of pains known to man or get your heart broken countless times, your Character will simply be so developed that everything will bounce right off! Like the Protagonist in a story of unimaginable proportions, your Plot Armor will make you invincible!]

    [This is what the Idle Evolution System is here for! This is what you are here for!]

    [We''ll mold you into something¡­ into something truly magnificent¡­ A piece of art that transcends all that witness it¡­]

    [(Hehe~)]

    Cassius could feel the sincerity of his System.

    If anything, the one thing he could always rely on was his very troubling System. After all, it only wanted one thing from him.

    "To make me better," he said, vanishing from his spot. "And I shall not refuse what the System offers me. The Nightmarescape¡ªI won''t allow a ridiculous mental block to hold me back."

    With that, Cassius left this plane of existence, freezing everything, everywhere in time. He had returned to the Nightmarescape, planning to face his fears head-on.

    And with the Nexus Event and the nefarious plans of the Dissonants on the horizon, he would surely be in for yet another struggle upon his return.

    ¡ª At the Eastern Vanguard Fortress of Humanity, Nightmarescape ¡ª

    "12th Princess, we''ve told you many, many times now, and there''s no change to our response," said a large armored man in the 2nd Class Slayer Rank. "That boy who placed first in the Trial has been missing for several weeks. And from the Platoon #42 survivors who just barely made it out, they grimly spoke of his certain demise."

    "But they didn''t actually see it happen, did they?" Yuna Mistalore asked, her eyes narrowed. "This means that there''s a possibility. He''s still alive, Fortress Master."

    "...12th Princess, even if what you say is true, the toxic dark miasma seeping from the Boundless Gorge has made entrance impossible," said the 2nd Class Slayer, his title the East Fortress Master. "A rescue mission is impossible until the dark miasma clears up. Why don''t you instead head over to the safer Northern Vanguard Fortress, where the rest of your Platoon is stationed¡ª"

    "No," Yuna interrupted. "I''ll be staying here until I wish to leave. And tomorrow¡ªsince none of you have the guts to go¡ªI''ll head into the Boundless Gorge myself."

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    "But 12th Princess, that is¡ª" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''ve said enough," Yuna snapped. "There''s no need for you to waste your breath any further."

    She then stormed out of the Fortress Master''s office, her temper unnaturally livid. She was normally not one to speak more than three words at a time, let alone talk in such a way, seemingly without the slightest bit of restraint.

    But since meeting ''him,'' things began subtly changing inside her¡­

    "That girl is truly¡­ so damn stubborn," the East Fortress Master murmured, his tone exasperated. "But in spite of her reckless, rebellious nature, she''s still one of the King''s favorite children. If she were to get seriously harmed, or worse, then it''ll be our heads that the King demands."

    A shadowy, illusive figure standing in a corner of the luxurious room opened his eyes.

    "I understand," the figure said, his voice raspy. "I''ll make sure no danger befalls the 12th Princess."

    "Good, good," said the East Fortress Master as he rubbed the sides of his forehead. "As my Vice Fortress Master, you''re the only one I can entrust with this matter. And though you''re young and your power is still growing, you''re at the 2nd Stage of the 2nd Class Slayer Rank. Nothing within the upper parts of that accursed place should pose much of a challenge to you."

    "However," the East Fortress Master said, his tone turning grave, "do not, under any circumstances, allow the 12th Princess to traverse any further than the 100,000-meter mark. Past that point is unknown territory even for myself, with the terrors within those depths unfathomable. There are urban legends of¡­ well, forget I said anything. Just don''t go further than 100,000 meters."

    "Understood, sir Fortress Master," the Vice Fortress Master said respectfully, gradually revealing his lean, muscular frame. "Even if the 12th Princess remains stubborn near the 100,000-meter mark, I''ll simply have no choice but to incapacitate her against her will and return her to safety."

    "Yes, that is fine," said the East Fortress Master. "Just don''t go overboard. Oh, and bring with you the miasma-purifying staff. Even for us, high-density miasma can often turn out to be lethal. But the staff will help."

    Cassius could confirm this.

    Because of the deaths of so many Nightmares by his hands, the residual evil elements of their existences lingered. These were the so-called Dark Miasma, and in high quantities, Dark Miasma could prove fatal.

    Cassius himself had died multiple times just because of the Dark Miasma he incidentally created¡­ and the deaths were not the least bit pleasant, feeling even more suffocating than dying of actual suffocation.

    After the East Fortress Master finished his words, the Vice Fortress Master lithely nodded.

    "I''ll heed the Fortress Master''s orders," he said, before his voice became softer. "And you¡­ needn''t worry, Uncle. I won''t meet the same fate as my older brother¡ªthe previous Vice Fortress Master¡­"

    The Fortress Master''s expression turned a little blue, indicating his melancholy.

    "I hope that''s the case," he said, speaking woefully. "What happened to your older brother was¡­ regrettable on my part. His death was a noble one, a grand sacrifice that saved the lives of many Nightmare Slayers. That Abyss Prowler¡ªit''ll one day meet the hard part of my hammer. That much I promise in memory of your brother."

 Chapter 264 - 264: A Terrible Day in Mistalore Defense Nations History, Blackened Sky Day

    The Vice Fortress Master''s mind briefly flashed with horrifying memories of that colossal beast¡ªthe one that reaped the lives of hundreds of Nightmare Slayers and his¡­ only brother.

    That terrifying, unimaginably powerful beast¡ªone so strong that none could stand against it on that fateful day.

    Even with his older brother''s valiant sacrifice, the most that the self-implosion of his Inner Slayer Dimension and Slayer Weapons had been able to accomplish was scaring the |Abyss Prowler| away. Shortly after, the East Fortress Master arrived, but by then, the 6th Stage 2nd Class Slayer¡ªthe last Vice Fortress Master¡ªhad nothing but his ashes remaining.

    That day was ten years ago¡ªthe day when the East Frontier had nearly been overrun by a record-breaking Nightmare wave. The day known as Blackened Sky Day.

    It was called this because, on that day, the skies in all directions were far darker than usual. Not because of some unusual phenomenon or natural occurrence, but because of the sheer number of giant Nightmares that somehow coordinated an attack on all sides of Mistalore''s Defense Nation.

    A terrible day indeed¡­

    To elaborate, on that day, the only reason the East Fortress Master hadn''t made it to the Vice Fortress Master in time was that there wasn''t merely a single |Abyss Prowler|.

    Yet, even though the East Fortress Master and the other Fortress Masters managed to take down two of the |Abyss Prowlers| with all their efforts, they were terrified to find hundreds upon hundreds of them lining the hills surrounding the Mistalore Defense Nation. However, rather than attack, they slowly turned around and vanished into the limitless darkness beyond. This marked the end of Blackened Sky Day.

    But when the Fortress Master arrived on the scene of his Vice Fortress Master and saw the |Abyss Prowler| fleeing in a similar way to the others, he felt the worst of feelings. He felt that his Vice Fortress Master''s sacrifice had been for naught¡­ that his death had been meaningless¡­

    Even now¡ªten years later¡ªhe hated the Nightmares and those dog-like |Abyss Prowlers| with every fiber of his being. This hatred was what led him to break past his limits and advance to the very pinnacle of the 2nd Class Slayer Rank.

    All so as to prepare himself for the day those abominations might appear once again.

    A heavy sigh echoed through the East Fortress Master''s spacious office as he tiredly motioned with his hands. "Go now," he said to his Vice Fortress Master. "Protect the 12th Princess."

    "Yes, sir."

    The Vice Fortress Master then vanished, his expression reflecting a hatred similar to that of the East Fortress Master.

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    For killing his brother, they''d pay. All of the Nightmares would pay for it.

    Yet, out of everything, the most harrowing thought was the fact that the East Fortress Master and his Vice Fortress Master were not the only ones who carried such hatred for the Nightmares. Nearly every single Slayer stationed in the Mistalore Defense Nation abhorred the Nightmares, for none of them could forgive what they had done¡ªand continued to do¡ªto humanity.

    ¡ª Sometime the next day, after the 12th Princess left the Fortress with a cold face and walked off in the direction of the Boundless Gorge ¡ª

    FWIP!

    A lean, quiet male figure appeared a few meters away from her, prompting her to coldly glare in his direction.

    "What are you doing here?" she asked, cold as ice. "I don''t require your protection."

    "I''m here on the Fortress Master''s orders," said the lean figure, his eyes closed as he slightly bowed. "I hope you''ll forgive me for not adhering to your desire to be left without protection."

    Yuna Mistalore eyed him down like a venomous snake before eventually clicking her tongue and continuing on her way.

    The Vice Fortress Master dutifully followed behind, keeping quiet the whole way to the Boundless Gorge. On their journey, they passed many gruesome scenes, with corpses of both humans and Nightmares scattered about. Everywhere looked like a war-torn battlefield, with the howls and shrieks of distant Nightmares only adding to the horrors this nightmarish world had to offer.

    ¡ª A few minutes and many miles later ¡ª

    "We''ve arrived," said the Vice Fortress Master, taking out the Purifying Staff.

    "I know," was all Yuna said before fearlessly entering the Boundless Gorge''s narrow entrance.

    That was when it hit her¡ªthe seemingly limitless amount of Dark Miasma permeating the dredges of the dimly lit Boundless Gorge. Luckily, the Purifying Staff was there to envelop them in a radiant golden light barrier. Without it, things could be looking dire right now.

    "Don''t walk too far away, Princess," the Vice Fortress Master said, his brown eyes wearily scrutinizing his surroundings. "The Dark Miasma density is far higher than expected. A massacre likely happened here¡ªprobably amongst the Nightmares themselves. A territorial or evolutionary scuffle, perhaps?"

    Yuna didn''t respond, simply moving her feet one step at a time, venturing further into the declined Boundless Gorge.

    ''With so much Dark Miasma around¡­''

    She couldn''t stop herself from worrying about that handsome man whom she knew little to nothing about. If she were honest with herself, she didn''t even know why she was taking such big risks for a man she barely knew. Yet, for some reason, once she heard how he had stayed back and fended off the Nightmares, she found her heart beating unnaturally fast.

    She hated this feeling. Absolutely despised it. And for weeks, she had been tormented by it.

    And until she located and questioned the man who caused her to feel this way, Yuna would not relent in her search. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He would explain to her, very clearly, what sort of spell he had cast on her! And then she''d have him undo it!

    In truth, Yuna had started keeping her distance from Cassius after his Platoon was announced because: one, he was certain to die, thus making her want no part in befriending him.

    And two, she felt strange around him¡­ something about him was¡­

    Well, whatever the case may be, it was most definitely a spell! And it would be one she''d soon have taken off her!

 Chapter 265 - 1/7]

    ''If even the best Spirit Doctors and Court Mages in the nation were unable to prescribe me a cure, then the source of the spell is where I shall go,'' Yuna thought as her irises traced along the Nightmare corpses strewn about. ''And no matter what sort of sorcery that insufferable man has cast on me, I''ll have him undo it.''

    It had only been a few seconds since she and her protector had stepped into the Boundless Gorge. And it was around this time that they saw something unusual¡ªa body. A body with warmth. The body lay atop the corpse of a large Nightmare of an unknown Rank.

    "Princess, stay behind me," the Vice Fortress Master said, stepping in front of Yuna. He held the Purifying Staff in one hand and a glowing magical sword in the other¡ªhis Slayer Weapon¡ªand a very high-ranked one at that.

    The body that had him so worked up was obviously of the human variety. However, when dealing with Nightmares, not everything was always as it seemed. What appeared to be human could very well turn out to be a shape-shifting Nightmare. And more often than not, an intelligent, scheming Nightmare was an extremely powerful one.

    Yet, in spite of knowing this as well as the Vice Fortress Master, Yuna sauntered forward without fear. Even with his fretful cautions ringing in her ears, she didn''t once pause her advance. She climbed up the Nightmare corpse''s side and found herself leaning down beside the blood-covered human body. Then, with the delicate touch of a woman, she reached out and pressed her fingers against the body''s flawless face.

    Cassius, 100% lucid at this moment, found it difficult to decide what to do. He had been awake for quite some time, but when he felt two presences¡ªone familiar¡ªarrive, he froze. And now, he was simply left to debate how awkward it would be if he opened his eyes right now.

    ''I''ll just pretend to sleep for a while longer,'' he thought, sweat beads rolling down his face. ''Although I have no idea why that stone-faced Princess is here, why she''s touching me like this, or even why she brought along that strong fellow, I do know that starting now would be more trouble than it''s worth.''

    As a once avid light novel reader, Cassius was very familiar with these sorts of tropes. And if those pieces of divine literature had taught him anything, it was always to play the fool. Always, always, always play the fool.

    Play the role of the Fool so well that even you yourself begin to believe you''re a Fool!

    This was a principle and a code of conduct that Cassius Steele lived by! And it would be one he''d die on the cross to uphold!

    Though, as the white-haired Princess''s fingers traced along the contours of his face, Cassius began to wonder if his beliefs were correct. ''She won''t go and violate me or anything, will she? he asked himself, a wee bit concerned. I don''t think so¡­ Surely¡­''

    That was when he felt her other dainty hand seductively walk atop his chest, slowly making its way toward his chin. Her first hand followed suit, and before long, both of her hands were cupping his cheeks.

    ''This is¡­'' Cassius¡ªthe man who defied death time and time again¡ªfelt a chill when faced with the potential loss of his preciously kept virginity.

    He knew she was surely about to lean in for a kiss, but then what? What came after? Was she prepared to go all the way with him?? While he was sleeping, no less!?

    He didn''t want to lose it this way!

    Where were a maiden''s dreams in this sort of scandalous, vile act!? Did his personal feelings not matter in the slightest!?

    ''You can stop narrating for me in the background, you bastard System,'' Cassius thought with an annoyed expression.

    [Teehee~! How''d ya know? (??? ? ???)]

    ''Well, when you start to hear an annoying voice spouting nonsense in the back of your head, you begin to notice things,'' he said. ''Now, tell me, what should I really do if she goes all the way? And even if I stop her, what would happen if I encountered a similar predicament where I wasn''t strong enough to resist? Would the penalty for fornication still be the same¡ª''

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    [Of course! Your twinky dinky balls and the negative length in between shall be snippy snipped! Shing, Shing, ya feel?]

    [(?? ? ??)?]

    "...I see¡­ So that means I''d be screwed¡­''

    [Yep, yep! Screwed! And you also won''t get to screw anything else from that moment onward! So suggestion for ya: unleash your inner Alpha Sigma and don''t let any of the blind Lasses in the world get one over on ya! Awwooooh¡ª!!!]

    ''That bastard really is¡­'' Cassius could only sigh in the face of such a ridiculous entity.

    It was also at this same moment that Yuna Mistalore did precisely what one might have expected after cupping his cheeks. She leaned down, letting her long, luscious white hair drape like a shimmering waterfall. Then she edged her lips closer to those of the man seemingly sound asleep before her.

    However, just as their lips were about to make contact, Yuna''s face suddenly passed by his. Her mouth stopped near his right ear, and she softly whispered, "I know you''re awake." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Damn!'' thought Cassius. ''They always do!''

    With that, the gig was up. He sat up like a half-dead zombie, his fully opened eyes peering into the brilliantly transparent reddish-orange eyes of the girl sitting beside him.

    "How''d you know?" he asked, seriously curious.

    Many of the Skills he just used to ensure that he appeared unconscious were severely restricted. Even so, it should''ve been impossible for someone like Yuna to see through him.

    So that begged the question: how had she done it!?

    "I¡­ I could just tell," Yuna said, lying straight through her teeth. "You know of my¡­ you know what, and one of the special somethings I got from that was an ability to see through certain things."

    Another lie.

 Chapter 266 - 266: Yuna Confronts The Spellcaster

    "Ha¡­ I guess I can''t fool you," Cassius said, exasperated. "Anyway, what are you doing out here in these dreary parts? Shouldn''t a Princess like you be¡­ I don''t know¡­ doing diplomatic or political stuff?"

    ''Good, he changed the subject,'' Yuna thought, her heart beating far off rhythm. ''I really don''t know what''s gotten into me¡­ To think that I was about to do something like¡­ like that¡­''

    It was a good thing she had saved herself in time, and her guess had paid off.

    "Well?" asked Cassius, repeating his earlier question. "Why are you and¡­ that guy out here?"

    "I''m not merely some ''guy,'' you scoundrel!" the Vice Fortress Master spat back. "And why do you seem so familiar with the 12th Royal Princess!? Are you the one whom she was so desperately searching for!?"

    "Desperately searching for?" Cassius parroted, glancing over at the flustered white-haired beauty. For an unusual change of pace, she was blushing, if not ever so slightly. She even went so far as to avert her gaze, finding it hard to look him in the eyes.

    "Ho?" Cassius smirked. "I didn''t know I was so important to you that you felt compelled to travel into lands of peril in order to find me. And here I thought, after you gave me the cold shoulder last we met, that you hated me."

    "That¡­ This is¡­ I¡­"

    For the first time in a very long time, Yuna Mistalore was at a loss for words. And to think this happened right after she''d been so confident with her guess turning out to be correct.

    Fidgeting with her fingers and keeping her head low, Yuna murmured, "Forget¡­"

    "What was that?" Cassius asked, all smiles. "Speak up, I couldn''t hear you."

    "Y-You¡­" Yuna''s cheeks puffed out like a gerbil''s as tears bubbled up in the corners of her eyes. "J¡­ Just forget everything!" she said while pounding him on the head and chest.

    And though her fists felt like cotton to Cassius, he relented.

    "Fine, fine," he said. "I''ll forget everything I heard and saw. But, on a serious note, have you really only come to make sure I hadn''t turned into a statistic? Or is there something else I can help you with?"

    While speaking, Cassius casually leapt off the Nightmare corpse. He then turned around and extended his hand to the frustrated beauty above.

    Without thinking, Yuna grabbed his hand and gracefully landed on the ground below. However, upon realizing what he had ''forced'' her to do, her poutiness came back in full swing.

    "You big jerk," she grumbled, pinching him in the side. "Stop doing what you want! And yes, I have come for another matter."

    "Yes, yes," Cassius said, faking a grimace. "What is this other matter? And how is it related to me?"

    "What do you think you''re doing to the 12th Royal Princess¡ª" the Vice Fortress Master attempted to say but was interrupted by a pat on his shoulder, followed by Cassius''s voice:

    "You did well," he said, patting his shoulder a few more times for good measure. "But I''ll take it from here, big guy. I''ll keep her safe."

    With that, Cassius walked ahead of the stunned man, receiving yet another pinch from Yuna.

    After huffing and puffing a couple of times, she said to him, "Of course I came for a different matter! I-I wouldn''t come all the way out here just for the sake of verifying your safety! Th¡­That would be stupid!"

    She''s lying!

    "So then?" Cassius said, not believing a single word that left her mouth. "What do you require of me, my dear Princess?"

    "I¡­ You¡­ Stop addressing me as such, y-you scoundrel!" Yuna shouted, uncharacteristically outspoken. "As for my important matter, what I want is for you to release the vile spell you placed on me! And for you to do so right this instant!"

    Cassius tilted his head in confusion, his playful demeanor vanishing. "What spell?" he asked. "I placed no spell on you that I know of. But perhaps you''re referring to my unspeakably high level of charm¡ª"

    "N-No! Certainly not that!" Yuna said with an angry blush contorting her mesmerizing features. "You''re just a stupid, annoying, insufferable man! Why would I fancy you!?"

    Cassius''s face drooped. "Wow, way to break it to me softly," he said, feigning depression. "But regardless of my grotesque appearance, what spell are you referring to? I''m being genuine when I say I never placed one on you."

    Embarrassed by her sudden outburst, Yuna averted her gaze from the tall, extraordinarily handsome man beside her. "I never said grotesque¡­" she mumbled under her breath, stealing furtive glances at his enchanting face. "And the spell I speak of is the evil one you cast on me to make me feel like an idiot when I''m around you!"

    "You''re saying you''re dumb?" Cassius asked. "What does that have to do with me and a spell?"

    "N-No, you idiot!" she exclaimed, nearly fainting due to her anger. "I''m talking about how when I''m around you or think of you, my brain turns to mush, my heart beats faster, and you know¡­ I just can''t think straight¡­"

    One might think that our Protagonist would be capable of putting together the clues with what was obviously right there. But what they forget¡ª

    "Ahh, that does sound bad. But perhaps you should see a doctor instead of coming to me for a spell I didn''t cast."

    ¡ªwas that Cassius was as dense as Dumbledore was wise. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yuna walked a bit ahead of Cassius, blushing. "I¡­ I already tried," she muttered. "All the best Doctors, Physicians, and Experts in the country. Yet they could tell me nothing¡­ What ails me is a mystery¡­"

    "So, therefore, it must be the fault of whatever is causing you to feel such a way," Cassius said to finish her thoughts. "I.e. Me."

    "I must say," he added, stroking his chin, "your reasoning is solid. Extremely solid."

    Yuna''s eyes turned hopeful. "So then you''ll¡ª!"

    "But unfortunately," said Cassius, "I still can''t help you. After all, I truly placed no spell, curse, or whatever other magical means on you. I''m sorry, but you''ll have to find professional help elsewhere."

    "How¡­"

 Chapter 267 - 267: Eastern Vanguard Fortress

    "How¡­" Yuna murmured despondently. "How could this be? How could you not have placed a spell on me? If not¡­ if not, then what is wrong with me?"

    After a moment of thought, Cassius smashed one hand against the other. "Perhaps what ails you is not an external sickness, spell, or whatnot, but rather, it''s genetics. Yes, you''re simply born stupi¡ª"

    "I''m not stupid, you shtupid jerk!" Yuna exclaimed, pounding on Cassius once more, even harder this time.

    "...."

    The Vice Fortress Master¡ªwho had been trailing behind in a soured mood¡ªwidened his eyes in astonishment at the sight of the 12th Princess. To see even one emotion visible on her usually reserved expression was rare, let alone so many at once. It was almost unbelievable.

    ''Just¡­ just what sort of relationship does the young Princess have with this boy?'' he wondered, his mind swirling with various thoughts. ''Are they just friends¡­ or¡­?''

    If it was anything more than that, there could be internal turmoil in the Kingdom in the coming days. After all, Yuna Mistalore was a Royal Princess¡ªand a favored one at that¡ªwhereas Cassius was an unknown figure from even more unknown origins. Many of Yuna''s suitors would, without a doubt, be displeased by the news of a potential scandalous affair.

    ''I would do well to remind her to remember her position on our return journey,'' the Vice Fortress Master thought as he followed the squabbling pair through the Boundless Gorge''s slitted entrance. ''We can''t have any more internal conflict in the country, especially not when our relationship with the other Island Kingdoms is on shaky ground. Adding internal conflict would only further sow the seeds of chaos.''

    With that in mind, the Vice Fortress Master approached the pair sometime later. He subtly warned the Princess of the dangers involved in her ''ambiguous'' relations. He also gave Cassius a few sharp looks, clearly conveying a message that went something like:

    ''You best learn your place while you''re ahead.''

    And like that, the return journey came to a sudden close.

    Yuna Mistalore had not learned of the supposed ''spell'' placed on her, and no matter her prodding, Cassius always gave her the same answer. Eventually, however, she changed the subject to how in the world he had managed to survive so long in the Boundless Gorge. As a response, all he said was:

    "It must''ve been the work of Fate, because once I barely dispatched the few remaining Early Rank 3 Nightmares, no more came out. And through my special constitution, I no longer needed to eat. Thus, in the end, all I did was wait. I waited around for my princess in shining white armor to come and save me. And then, what do you know? There you were, garbed in white and trying to pierce me with your shiny white hair!"

    He, of course, received a few more beatings for that one. But the topic was successfully avoided for now, which had been his aim from the start.

    However, as soon as the group of three arrived at the Eastern Vanguard Fortress and ascended several floors, Cassius was made to explain himself again. This time, the explanation was given to the Fortress Master himself. A few¡­ comedic details were naturally left out, but all in all, what he told the stern old man was the same as what he had told Yuna.

    The Fortress Master highly doubted the details of the story, as Nightmares in the Boundless Gorge were known to replenish very quickly. That was unless too many Nightmares had been killed in the short term for their reserves to fill back up and unload again.

    Yet, even with his special eyesight abilities, the Fortress Master observed the young lad to be at the 9th Stage Apprentice Slayer Realm, which aligned with what he already knew about him. This also coincided with the belief that Cassius was nowhere near strong enough to deplete the Nightmare reserves by such a ridiculous amount.

    If only it were so easy to thin out the Nightmare forces in the Boundless Gorge. If that were the case, they wouldn''t have needed to send out units like Platoon #42 to buy the powerhouse Slayers some time to get there and finish the job.

    ''Seems like my disguise skills of the Diamond Rank and above work on my Slayer cultivation as well,'' Cassius thought with a small smirk as he left the Fortress Master''s office, Yuna by his side. ''But I''m not so sure the same trick will work on the Mistalore King¡ªsomeone whose strength is so great that he might be almost as strong as the Crestmore Vampire Duke.''

    Cassius could still vividly recall the ridiculous power contained within the body of that force of nature.

    Such power was not something he was anywhere near capable of contending with¡­ S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not now, not tomorrow, possibly not even a year later.

    A sigh escaped Cassius''s lips as he shook his head and subtly looked at the girl walking beside him. ''It seems the East Fortress Master doesn''t know about her¡­ unique racial traits,'' he thought, covertly observing her distinct features. ''I do wonder if her father even knows what she truly is. Considering the xenophobia of the Mistalore Kingdom, it''s highly likely he isn''t aware. Moreover, it''s obvious that he favors her, which would definitely not be the case if he knew her identity.''

    In conclusion, he figured only the mysterious woman who gave birth to Yuna knew what she truly was.

    Curiosity got the better of Cassius, and he prompted a question. "I know that your eldest brother is the son of the King''s first wife and that your eldest sister is the child of your second aunt, but what about you? Who''s your mother?"

    Yuna turned in his direction, and without stopping her stride, answered, "I don''t know my mother. According to Father, she left us when I was very young. But when speaking of her, he always has this fondness in his gaze¡ªone that makes me wonder what she''s like. My mother, I mean."

 Chapter 268 - 2/7]

    "You seem quite unbothered about the whole ordeal," Cassius said. "Is there a reason for that?"

    Question marks floated above Yuna''s neutral expression. "Why would I be bothered about something that can''t be changed? Although I don''t recall what my mother looked like or how she spoke, I have¡­ these and these to remember her by," she fondly motioned to her horns and her scales. "And for me, that''s enough. At least until I become strong enough to want more."

    "By the way, she''s not dead, you know," she added.

    "I see¡­" Cassius said. "And you aren''t the least bit angry with her for leaving you behind?"

    If being honest with himself, he was mad when his mother vanished. And even if she had turned out to be alive, the him at that time wanted nothing to do with her.

    To the old him, she was dead.

    It was only after the Great Sage informed him of the truth that he truly stopped hating his mother. None of it was her fault, after all, so what point was there in blaming her?

    However, seeing Yuna right now made him further reconsider his past stance. Perhaps he had been too childish. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hate her?" Yuna asked, confused. "Why would I hate her? I know she did what she did for the sake of me and Father."

    ''Same as me¡­'' Cassius thought, then asked, "What do you mean? Can you elaborate?"

    Yuna followed him around a corner and through a hallway leading out of the massive Eastern Fortress. She emotionlessly stared at her companion, saying, "Though I don''t know much, I learned something from one of Mother''s disguised Yokai attendants who was once stationed in the Mistalore Kingdom. The Yokai lady told me that my mother had been called back to her family somewhere else in the Azure Archipelago.

    This event occurred a few weeks before I was born, which meant that she had taken a risk by putting off the return request from her family. If she had stalled any longer, then her very powerful family would''ve sent what the Yokai attendant called ''Yokai Inquisitors.''"

    "Seems a tad bit extreme, but alright," said Cassius as he boarded a fancy carriage along with the 12th Princess. "It still surprises me that we have transportation like this one in such a dark and bleak world. But getting back to the previous subject: Why had your mother not simply taken you with her? To her offshore family, I mean?"

    "That''s because her family is also xenophobic against other races," Yuna said. "If my mother''s parents discovered her illicit relationship with a human during her ''Coming of Age Trial,'' then she would''ve surely been severely punished, and I¡­"

    "You wouldn''t be here right now, would you?" Cassius said with a small chuckle. "It''s a bit ironic, isn''t it? That your mother¡ªdescended from a family of xenophobic Yokai¡ªeloped with the King of a country known for its xenophobia. This story has to be traded around a campfire one day."

    Yuna''s cheeks puffed a little. "It''s not funny," she said, punching him in the arm. "You''re not funny. You''re just a bad man."

    Cassius smirked. "If I''m so bad, then why are you walking so close to me?" he asked, amused. "Are you looking to become bad with me~?"

    Smoke seeped out of Yuna''s ears as she bit her lower lip and silently punched him in the same spot over and over again. "Y¡­ You''re just a jerk," she grumbled cutely. "No girl will ever want you."

    Oof!

    Cassius felt that one right in the feels, causing a stream of blood to trickle down his lips. "You really know how to deal critical damage to a poor lad, don''t you¡­?"

    "You''re neither poor nor hurt, you jerk," Yuna said, irritated. "Just an idiot is all you are."

    "An idiot ¡ªand¡ª a jerk," Cassius said matter-of-factly, seemingly proud of the fact. "Don''t replace one of my titles with another one. Keep them both. Or, even better, combine them! How does Idiot-Jerk soun¡ª"

    *Pow!*

    Yuna unleashed a K.O. blow on Cassius, yet it merely blew a bit of wind behind him. Her displeasure quickly morphed into surprise.

    This entire time¡ªwhile hitting him¡ªshe had been gradually increasing her power output to gauge his limits. And by accident, she unleashed her full strength with the last strike.

    Yet¡­ the target of her mock fury was left uninjured¡ªnot even the least bit fazed.

    "???" Cassius wondered what was going on in the princess''s head; she appeared rather shocked.

    That was when he realized it, prompting him to lean against the side of the carriage and say, "Ahhh, so painful, the hurts, so hurts¡­¡ª"

    *Pow!*

    Another full-power punch landed square on the same spot as before.

    ''Such accuracy¡­ Neat¡­''

    "I know you''re faking it, you idiot bastard," Yuna said, turning as red as a beet, both from embarrassment and anger. "How''d you become so strong, so fast!? What method did you use!??"

    Cassius rubbed the side of his arm, feigning a look of pain, and said seriously, "I killed things, obviously. Why? How did you become so much stronger? The 3rd Stage of the 3rd Class Slayer Realm¡ªimpressive."

    He nodded in appreciation while staring at her System tag. Of course, he received a few hits for that as well.

    ''Damn,'' Cassius thought. ''It''s always the pretty, quiet types that get the most violent. If she were stronger than I, then I''d certainly be in for a realm of hurt right about now¡­ Luckily, it''s in my code of conduct not to allow anyone to surpass me.''

    Never could trust anybody these days. One day, he could go lax in his pursuit of Character Development and get lapped by a lass, and then bam! The lass reveals herself to be a Dimension-Devouring Serpent!

    And whaddya know? You''re now a foot in her stomach instead of the other way around.

    ''Definitely not for me,'' Cassius thought, his eyes curiously perusing Yuna''s system interface. ''To advance by so much so shortly after breaking through to the 3rd Class Slayer Rank¡­ Hmm, on top of her extraordinarily high talent, she must''ve expended a great deal of effort to accomplish this.''

 Chapter 269 - 269: The Slayer Platoons

    Even though he didn''t know much about the Nightmarescape or the Land of Beginnings, Cassius knew enough to understand that Yuna''s progression speed was insane.

    The Vice Fortress Master, for example, was well into his 30s and yet only at the 2nd Stage, 2nd Class Slayer Rank. Furthermore, this was accomplished with his far above-average Slayer talent and many years actively defending the Mistalore Defense Nation against invading Nightmares.

    And yet, in a meager couple of weeks, Yuna Mistalore advanced not just a single stage but two! Furthermore, to top it off, she was at least a fourth of the way through her current stage. This meant she wasn''t too far off from another breakthrough!

    "It''s highly possible that within half a year or so, you''ll be knocking on the doors of the 2nd Class Slayer Rank," Cassius said, finding amusement in how shy she became when being praised. "Have you thought about what sort of grand and noble Slayer Title you''ll have everyone in the Kingdom and Defense Nation call you by¡ª"

    "Jerk!" Yuna said with a punch, then added two more because three were better than one. "You really are no more than an incorrigible man."

    "Heh, thanks," Cassius said, his nose haughtily upturned. "I do take pride in the level at which I''m able to reap¡ªI mean, ignite the passion of others."

    He almost let it slip that he was using his conversations with the 12th Princess to farm the hell out of his Trolling System feature. The amount of AP rolling in only increased with every word that left his mouth and entered her ears.

    Twas truly glorious!

    Even now¡ªas they spoke¡ªCassius was dumping more and more of his tens of thousands of AP into his Agility stat. It was essentially him passively becoming stronger!

    ¡ª 30 minutes of ''lively'' carriage travel later, Yuna practically kicked him out of the carriage and sent him on his way back toward his Platoon ¡ª

    Cassius blew a flirtatious kiss toward the infuriated Yuna, only to really get kicked out of the carriage¡ªby boot to his butt. She also shouted something about forcing him to lift the spell he''d supposedly placed on her. Moreover, she promised to do so no matter how many times she had to come back to him!

    "Such a feisty woman she is," he said, patting the dust off his pants and looking away from the receding carriage drawn by large monstrous horses. "And in the end, I wound up returning right back to this place."

    Filling the vision in front of him was a very large blackish-gray fort¡ªone that contained within it various training grounds and every single ''Suicide Platoon.''

    If explained briefly, there were 100 Nightmare Slayer Platoons in the Mistalore Defense Nation. 1-39 were considered the newbie Platoons and typically consisted of Apprentice Rank Slayers, with 3rd Class Slayers being scarce, and 2nd Class Slayers nonexistent. These Platoons were all centered around the safest of the four Vanguard Fortresses¡ªthe West Fortress.

    Slayer Platoons 50-89, on the other hand, were often referred to as the ''Advanced Platoons'' and had only members in and above the 3rd Class Slayer Rank. Moreover, they had to be of at least the 3rd Stage of the Rank. There were only a few hundred Nightmare Slayers split across these Platoons.

    As for Slayer Platoons 90-99, they were the ''Veteran Platoons'' and had members only in the 2nd Class Slayer Rank. They numbered around 70 or so members total.

    Then there was the 100th Slayer Platoon¡ªthe King Platoon¡ªwhich changed its members based on the scores of the ''Slayer Ranking Board.'' Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The 100th Slayer Platoon was made up of the Top 5 strongest Nightmare Slayers in the Mistalore Defense Nation. These Slayers were the best of the best, with even the four Fortress Masters being below them in strength and status. Their fame was naturally far higher as well.

    But with them almost always being part of the ''Exploration Team'' that explored and purified the ''Endless Dark Fog,'' they rarely ever had the time to bask in the fame.

    Slayer Platoons 40 through 49, however, were known as the Suicide Squads. These Platoons had Slayers ranging anywhere from the Apprentice Slayer Rank to the 2nd Class Slayer Rank. But even then, the 2nd Class Slayers in these Platoons were just as prone to death as the Apprentice Slayers.

    These Platoons had the highest number of active members, but they also had by far the highest fatality rates. Yet, even with these statistics being common knowledge, up-and-coming Slayers were constantly signing up.

    As the saying went: for wealth, man would do anything.

    The people in this world were no different from those on Earth. They''d risk their lives if the pay was good enough.

    "Look, Captain!" someone shouted from atop the fort walls. "That newbie has returned to EastWind Fort! He survived that ambush in the Boundless Gorge!"

    "He what!?" An older man rushed to the ledge that a scruffy, armored man was pointing out over. "Well, I''ll be damned! That courageous brat actually survived! I heard something similar from the Fort Commander, but I never thought it''d actually turn out to be the truth!"

    "Well, come on up, kid!" the older man shouted, a radiant grin plastered across his face. "Although I hadn''t thought you would make it back from a horde like that one, it''s good to see that you''re okay!"

    In response to the boisterous words of the jubilant Captain of Platoon 42, Cassius merely nodded before entering through the ajar Fort Gates. He then ascended a flight of stairs that lined the inner fort walls. Before long, he was already standing in front of Platoon 42''s Captain and a few other miscellaneous members of the same Platoon. Members of Platoon 41 were also there.

    This side of the Fort was watched over by these two Platoons, so their members were the only ones around.

    "So you''re the one who tackled an entire horde of Rank 2 Nightmares, eh? I even heard you killed numerous Early Rank 3 Nightmares. Is that true!?"

    "People talked of how you saved the lives of many Slayers of Platoon 42! That basically makes you a war hero!"

    "He doesn''t appear all that impressive to me, though. He''s a bit scrawny, no meat on his bones."

    "You''re just fat!"

    "Whadja say!?"

 Chapter 270 - 270: Keep a Close Eye on Him

    The reactions of the dozen-plus Nightmare Slayers varied, but when the Captain of Platoon 42 approached Cassius, they ultimately quieted down. Although this Captain was only at the 2nd Stage, 3rd Class Slayer Rank, he was still far stronger than they were.

    Patting Cassius''s shoulder, the Captain smiled heartily, his voice just as evoking. "You''ve done good in returning to us, kid. Not many would be able to survive such an encounter," he said. "You even managed to stay alive for weeks in that damned place! That in and of itself is something to be awed at!"

    "Mhmm¡­" was Cassius''s response, plain and simple.

    He went on to nod to everything the Captain said, before finally obtaining permission to head over to his quarters¡ªa small, basic room that had been cleared out for him. He settled in very quickly and began his cultivation session. He did not have the time to laze around right now. Any strength that could be gained had to be gained.

    Platoon 42''s Captain, on the other hand, strolled throughout Fort EastWind, happily telling all the other Captains about the survivor who had returned after weeks inside the Boundless Gorge. This information spread to the ears of the hundreds upon hundreds of Slayers in the Fort before eventually making its way to the Administrators.

    The Administrators¡ªunlike the Captains of each Suicide Platoon¡ªrarely ever changed. They were all highly specialized Nightmare Slayers who had retired from the battlefield and decided to make a career out of guiding Suicide Platoons. Every single one of them was in the 2nd Class Slayer Rank, with one designated to each Platoon.

    This meant that there were 10 Administrators.

    Above them were the three S Lieutenants and the Fort Commander. The S Lieutenants were like the protective force that the Fort relied on in the event of a Nightmare wave charting toward the extremely tall Fort walls. The Fort Commander, however, was more like a feudal lord, possessing full control over all his subordinates and even the land around them.

    He was still the strongest, of course, but barely used his strength.

    ¡ª-----------

    The Administrator of Platoon 42¡ªDax Thorne¡ªwas a Slayer renowned for being in the Top 1000 All-time Nightmare Slayer rankings. As for the current rankings, he was ranked #23, putting him near the very top of the Nightmare Slayer hierarchy.

    "You say the boy who placed first in this year''s Nightmare Slayer Examination Trials¡ªthe one who had been swarmed by countless Nightmares¡ªcame back alive?" Drax''s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You checked to see if he was a Nightmare, did you not?"

    Sensing the Administrator''s killing intent, his attendant sweated profusely. In his hands was a clipboard that detailed all the various reports made by hundreds of Suicide Slayers in the Fort.

    The attendant nervously waved the clipboard in front of him, saying, "Y-Yes, Administrator Drax, sir! Cadet Cassius Steele was thoroughly scanned for any signs of internal Nightmare Essence before he even came into the Fort! He''s clean!"

    A lot of the killing intent in the room dispersed. Administrator Drax''s expression cooled as he leaned his chin over his folded hands. The attendant felt like an iceberg had suddenly landed in the room but dared not even breathe. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When Administrator Drax thought to himself like this, it was best for everyone near him to just hush up and wait.

    ¡ª After a few seconds that felt like an eternity for the attendant ¡ª

    "Keep a close eye on Cadet Cassius," Drax said. "But not close enough to make him doubt our sincerity and trust."

    "Can you do this?" he asked, his tone bone-chilling enough to leave the attendant frozen in place.

    Though under the scary pressure being passively emitted by Drax, the attendant felt the ice block around him melt. And though it was through stutters, he found it in him to say, "I-I''ll accomplish this task, sir! I swear it!"

    Drax looked away from the anxious attendant, his eyes now overlooking the documents scattered over his desk. It wasn''t until a couple of moments of tortuous silence later that he said, without looking back at the attendant, "You''re dismissed."

    "Y-Yes, sir!" The attendant saluted before scrambling out of there, leaving the Administrator to his own thoughts.

    "To think another interesting character appeared in the Mistalore Kingdom, and one of such unknown origins as well," he murmured, an amused glint in his gaze. "I do wonder how he''ll fare against that other kid, though."

    He nearly appeared hopeful for a second, but that was when he recalled the difference in status. He sighed, saying, "Even if this Cassius does somehow possess more innate Slayer Talent than someone directly descended from a Duke, his fire will be snuffed out by the larger forces at play."

    In the end, no matter how much talent one had, if they were unable to live long enough to fully uncover that talent, then it didn''t matter how much one had. Talent, by itself, was useless. Only with time could talent shine.

    "It''s truly a pity¡­" Drax muttered, his gaze becoming a little listless. "Once that kid hears of Cassius''s talent and exploits, and most importantly, of his ambiguous relationship with the 12th Princess, he''s sure to take him out quietly."

    All such a pity¡­

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within Room #789 of Fort EastWind, sitting cross-legged on a simple bed, was the cold-faced Cassius ¡ª

    "With my Slayer Rank sitting at the very pinnacle of the Half-step 2nd Class Slayer Rank, I only need a chunk of time in order to finish developing my Slayer Dimension," he said, his brows furrowed in focus. "The breakthrough into the 3rd Class Slayer Rank is one that requires the Slayer to successfully create a Slayer Weapon of their own. However, for the 2nd Class Slayer Rank breakthrough, one has to mold the chaotic inner elements around where they keep their Slayer Weapon and cultivation base. They mold the chaotic elements into what''s commonly referred to as the ''Inner Slayer Dimension.''"

    What Cassius was doing right now was exactly that¡ªhe was molding and shaping the space that held his Slayer Weapon and Slayer cultivation base. This was also a Dimension that would contain one''s Slayer Core, which would be formed when one was on the precipice of the 1st Class Slayer Rank.

 Chapter 271 - 271: 2nd Class Slayer, Shallow Crater [3/7 Bonus Chapter]

    "It won''t be long now," Cassius said as large beads of sweat trickled down his face. "I can feel my Inner Slayer Dimension taking the form intended for it."

    OOOM!

    The air around him turned chaotic and upturned, but with the forceful repression of the devilishly handsome man, it was isolated within the room. His rapidly fluctuating and growing aura was also contained, with not a single sliver of his breakthrough slipping out of the domain he erected.

    ¡ª After roughly half an hour more of adding the finishing touches, Cassius''s Inner Slayer Dimension had finally been created ¡ª

    It was also at this point in time that the endless dark mist surrounding the Mistalore Defense Nation''s territory grew darker and thicker. This indicated a switch from something akin to ''day to night.''

    Any Nightmare Slayer who stayed here long enough to understand the inner workings of the Nightmarescape knew all too well what this switch in time signified:

    An increase in the Nightmares'' aggressiveness.

    The pupils of Nightmares all over the Forgotten Shores would turn a very dark shade of red, and they''d wantonly start chasing down anything with a heartbeat. They were even known to slaughter each other during this time, going through many evolutions because of it.

    By the end of the 48-hour period¡ªwhich made up a full Nightmarescape Night cycle¡ªmany Nightmare Slayers from all over would have lost their lives in battle.

    The merciless onslaughts of countless Nightmares in a berserk-like state for hours on end were enough to reap the lives of tens of thousands of Slayers.

    Tonight, like all the many nights before, was surely going to be a bloody one¡­

    However, cooped up within a small Fort room¡ªseemingly oblivious to all the chaos happening around the world¡ªwas one Mr. Cassius Steele. His breakthrough had been a complete success, and along with it came a picture-perfect Inner Slayer Dimension.

    Shaped without any imperfections and containing a wide space that could be considered a flawlessly empty page, it was the best one could hope for when creating an Inner Slayer Dimension.

    It was also around this time that System Notifications began ringing out:

    *Ding!*

    [You have successfully broken through from the ''Half-step 2nd Class Slayer'' Rank ¡ú ''1st Stage 2nd Class Slayer'' Rank!]

    [Your ''Inner Slayer Dimension'' has formed with the condition of ''Pristine.'']

    [Your Battle Power has tremendously improved!]

    "It''ll definitely be a while before I experience another breakthrough in my Slayer Rank, but at least I completed another breakthrough with no bottleneck," Cassius said, a little surprised about his high innate Slayer Talent. "This talent of mine makes me imagine what it would''ve been like if I were born in this dark, dark world instead of my blue space marble. Would I have been some kind of natural-born genius? Or would I have perished early due to the envy of others¡­?" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He figured this hypothetical scenario could''ve wound up going either way. But regardless of ''what ifs,'' the him of the present was the only him that truly mattered.

    "With my breakthrough out of the way, I seem to have some free time on my hands. And it should stay that way until I''m requested to the Battlefield once more," Cassius said, scouring his mind for his other techniques. "As the grind never ends, I guess I''ll improve my Demon King Rank and maybe increase the progression of my Demon Dragon Bloodline by a little."

    With 11 [Nightscare Shards] in his possession¡ªafter crushing them¡ªhe could potentially stay in the Nightmarescape for 11 weeks, or a bit under three months. And with Humanity''s Nexus Event looming on the horizon, he knew he had to seize every possible advantage. To gain the upper hand in the silent war that lay ahead, he had to be prepared to leverage every resource at his disposal, no matter the cost.

    Even if he had to torture himself for three months straight, he''d do it without a second thought.

    ''For more power,'' Cassius thought as he faded into the act of circulating his Demon King cultivation. ''All for more power.''

    With that sort of ceaseless, never-satisfied mindset, time flew by. Minutes turned into hours, and hours became days.

    ¡ª Two weeks later ¡ª

    A day after Cassius made a breakthrough into the Mid Archdemon Rank, he received a knock at his door. From that knock, he listened to the voice of a Slayer informing him of his new reassignment to the far stronger Platoon 49. He also learned of his new Platoon''s immediate deployment to a dangerous area situated scarily close to the current known boundaries of the Endless Dark Fog.

    The Shallow Crater.

    A place that, as its name suggested, was akin to a shallowly placed crater. However, it was a crater that stretched in every direction for thousands of miles, taking up a very large part of the Mistalore Defense Nation''s explored territory. It was also littered with countless thin, eerie, and constantly wandering Rank 3 Nightmares called ''Nightwalkers.''

    These Nightmares were what made the Shallow Crater such a perilous place.

    There was a reason that, in such a massive expanse of land, they were the only species of Nightmare around¡­

    Many Nightmare Slayers had fallen to the long, stretched claws of the humanoid-like Nightwalkers. A lot of them had died without ever knowing how exactly they died.

    As for why Cassius and the rest of Platoon 49 were ordered to head over to this dangerous place, no one in the Platoon really knew. They were only told that the information was classified and that they would be rescuing someone last seen in the Shallow Crater''s southern section. Beyond that, they were only informed of the last approximate location of the person whom they''d be saving.

    Since Cassius first learned of his Platoon reassignment, he had been suspicious about something he couldn''t accurately pinpoint. But when the vague information came through, he could all but confirm that something malicious was happening behind the scenes.

    ''Is it somehow related to me?'' Cassius thought, his gaze venomous. ''It''s certainly possible¡­ But why? And who set this up?''

 Chapter 272 - 272: The 15th Royal Princess, Opal Mistalore

    ''If there is someone behind my reassignment and this dangerous deployment, then who is it? Who could it be?''

    To be capable of influencing the decisions of an entire Fort, it must have been someone of extremely high status. But that knowledge did very little to narrow down the suspects.

    After a few minutes of pondering, Cassius ultimately gave up on his line of thought. Pointlessly thinking any more on the matter would merely bring about more uncertain guesses.

    As he approached the courtyard where the rest of Platoon 49 was gathered, he steeled his expression and readied himself for anything.

    One could never be too cautious in this dog-eat-dog world.

    Any single person could be an enemy¡­

    "Now, listen up, everyone!" sounded the loud, imperious voice of Platoon 49''s Captain. "As you all have been well informed, we''ve been tasked with venturing into the area known as the Shallow Crater. In there, we will split up into five smaller squads, with each squad spreading out and searching the rough radius of a spot marked on this map."

    An illusory green map the size of a table materialized above his head through the use of a Mage-made Magic Item. He pointed at the flashing red circle on the map, one that was just barely see-through enough for one to make out the topography depicted behind it.

    Platoon 49''s Captain spoke up again, louder this time. "We are to find the target in this area radius¡ªa young 14 to 15-year-old-looking girl who''s known as her Royal Highness¡ªOpal Mistalore¡ªthe 15th and youngest princess in the Royal Family!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Everyone''s eyes widened when they heard those words.

    Never would they have expected that their task would be to save a Princess of the Mistalore Royal Family!

    "This information has been withheld from you all until now because of various security reasons," the Captain said, effectively silencing the chatter. "But with the mission already upon us, there''s no longer a need to keep vital mission details away from you."

    ''The 15th Royal Princess¡­ A sister of Yuna''s, perhaps? Or just step-related?'' Cassius thought to himself with a keenness about him. ''Well, either way, I''m definitely far more interested in this mission than I was before.''

    But even if that was the case, the question of who was messing with things behind the scenes still lingered in his mind.

    If there turned out to be nothing other than his paranoia at play here, then so be it. But what if there actually was someone behind these odd events? Would they have kidnapped a Royal Princess just to get to him? Or was she merely another piece of a much larger puzzle¡ªjust like him¡­?

    ''I guess I won''t know until I meet this Princess and whoever may or may not be pulling the strings,'' Cassius thought, his eyes shifting over to the second illusory screen to appear in front of the Captain.

    "This right here," he said, motioning to a floating portrait image of an otherworldly pretty young girl, "is the 15th Royal Princess¡ªOpal Mistalore. If you find her in your designated scouting area, then you are to extract and secure her right away."

    The girl had white hair similar in hue to her sister¡ªYuna Mistalore¡ªbut had light blue eyes instead of reddish-orange ones. She could be considered as extremely pretty, with her looks bordering on unearthly. Yet, with the glow of youth still permeating her features, it was hard to tell just how much of a looker she''d become once fully matured.

    "But, sir!" A 3rd Class Slayer raised a question, and once having received a small nod from the Captain, he said, "Why is the 15th Royal Princess out in the Shallow Crater to begin with? Should she not be in the Land of Beginnings?"

    It was a good question.

    However, with a disdainful snarl, the Captain said, "That''s none of your business. You''re just to know that most of her personal guard¡ªexcept for one who''s severely injured¡ªhas perished in her defense. We are to locate these two and bring them back to safety. Though, if the injured Head Guard has already met her demise, then there''s nothing more we can do. The Princess is our topmost concern."

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed at this proclamation. ''How would the Captain know if the Head Guard has been severely injured? Something¡­ something isn''t quite adding up here.''

    That was when he looked around and noticed something very unusual.

    More than 80% of the members of Platoon 49 were stealing glances at him. They did so very covertly, but it was certainly happening. And most notable of all was that the way they looked at him spoke nothing of the goodness in one''s heart.

    He only saw malevolent intent in their gazes.

    ''This whole mission is¡ªwithout a doubt¡ªa trap,'' Cassius thought, his eyes chilling. ''The only thing that puzzles me is where the supposed 15th Princess stands in all this. Is she actually out there? Or even real?''

    He had no idea for certain.

    ''I figure I could ask around outside the Fort and discern the truth of this 15th Princess''s whereabouts for myself,'' he considered. ''But if the masterminds behind this charade know even half their stuff, then they''ve surely already accounted for me doing something like that.''

    As it would seem, Cassius was trapped. He had been cornered.

    Yet, for some reason, knowing this only made his smirk widen. ''How amusing,'' he thought. ''How very amusing.''

    With his current strength, he was more than confident enough to handle everyone in Platoon 49¡ªeven the Captain. Thus, with no need to devise an escape plan just yet, he decided he''d stick around and see where this predicament of his took him. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Does everyone understand what your objectives are!?" The Captain shouted, sweeping his piercing eyes across all the Slayers standing before him. "I said, does everyone UNDERSTAND!?"

    "Yes, Captain, sir!!!" The Slayers yelled at the top of their lungs, their voices reverberating throughout the large field.

    "Good," said the Captain, nodding his head. "And seeing as this mission is one of utmost urgency, we are to depart right away. Pack your sorry a*ses up and let''s head out!"

    "Yes, Captain, sir!"

 Chapter 273 - 273: A Trap at the Shallow Crater

    Following the conclusion of the Captain''s lengthy speech, the illusory screens in front of him cut off. After which, he marched toward Fort EastWind''s eastern exit. Marching right along behind him were the few dozen members of Platoon 49. Their thunderous footsteps resounded within the confines of the Fort until they sounded no more, with the Platoon members stepping outside the Fort.

    ¡ª After half an hour of fast-paced marching ¡ª

    Platoon 49''s Captain raised his hand, its back facing the rest of the Platoon. This was the signal to stop. And doing just that, the Platoon came to a sudden halt.

    "That over there is the Shallow Crater," said the Captain, motioning to the seemingly limitless expanse of blackened land sitting just a few feet below surface level. "Before we start encountering the Nightwalkers, we''re going to split up our Platoon into five squads. We''re to do so in the exact order I previously specified. That means you, you, and you will go in that direction. Whereas you, you, and you¡­"

    He went on to reiterate the members of each temporary squad. Everyone quickly got together with who they were supposed to. They now awaited his next orders.

    "Hmm," the Captain said as he scanned over the various Nightmare Slayers. When his eyes met Cassius''s eyes, however, the latter saw something that further cemented his suspicions.

    It may have been for only the briefest of moments, but the Captain had definitely emitted killing intent. A massive quantity of it at that.

    ''There must be quite the large reward waiting on the Captain once I''m taken care of,'' Cassius thought, his suspicions already the truth in his mind. ''I guess I''ll nicely ask him who''s filling his pockets when I get around to it. I''m sure to discover some interesting things.''

    "You all better be prepared for what''s to come," shouted the Captain, spit flying everywhere. "No matter if you''re in the 3rd Class Slayer or 2nd Class Slayer Rank, it matters not! In the face of the more powerful Nightwalkers, you''ll die nonetheless! You must remember to complete this mission as silently and as¡­ covertly as possible."

    He momentarily looked at Cassius while saying that, clearly hinting at something. Many others in the Platoon also looked at him in the same way, greed having long since gone to their heads.

    "With all that being said!" the Captain shouted, dramatically waving his hand from his right side to his front side. "Commence Operation ''Rescue the 15th Royal Princess''!!"

    HOOOORAAAHH!!

    Everyone hoorahed before going their separate ways, each moving together with their squadron.

    ''I truly am interested to see how this all plays out,'' Cassius thought, concealing a wide, almost sadistic grin. ''This land of danger¡­ It surprises me more and more with each passing day. I hope this day will be no different.''

    He was itching for a good fight. Someone just had to give it to him.

    As long as they were strong, anyone¡­ anyone at all would do.

    ¡ª ~10 Minutes Later ¡ª

    SHING! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Scacaca¡ª!!"

    "That''s another one down," said a dark-armored Nightmare Slayer of Cassius''s squad. "I reckon I''ve slain more than 20 of them by now, haha!"

    "Only 20!?" a different dark-armored Slayer retorted. "Your rank is the same as mine¡ª5th Stage 3rd Class Slayer¡ªand yet you''ve only killed half the amount I''ve taken down!? What a joke!"

    "Hwa!? You itching for a fight, fatty!?"

    "Puh!" the other Slayer spat. "If we were to have a go, then by the end of it, I''d have you calling me daddy instead of fatty, you bastard!"

    "Be quiet, you two," an icy voice commanded, his words instantly silencing both of them. "Do not forget that we''re supposed to be maintaining a low profile. That means you''re to shut up and save your pointless quibblings for when the mission has been completed."

    The two head-butting Slayers shot one last scornful look at each other before clicking their tongues and returning to their slaughterfest. They also seemed to mumble, "Yeah, the mission¡­ Of course, the mission¡­" while glaring at Cassius with well-hidden killing intent.

    Cassius, on the other hand, pretended not to notice how they looked at him when, in actuality, he saw and understood the nuances behind every bit of it. Just like in the most recent last few minutes, the stares of those around him became progressively more open and carefree.

    It was obvious to Cassius that they were about to make a move on him.

    But, playing the part of the ignorant and naive newbie to perfection, he continued killing the Nightwalkers with his guard around them lowered. However, to truly embody the role he was playing, he feigned a struggle against the Nightwalkers, which garnered even more venomous glares from those around him.

    ''Should be any minute now,'' Cassius thought. ''I do wonder if we''re actually accomplishing anything by being here, though. A truly intriguing situation I''ve found myself in.''

    The tall, 8-foot, lanky Nightwalkers were slain by him and the other members of his squad as they ceaselessly advanced forward. Seeing as the Nightwalkers were generally incapable of grouping together and aimlessly wandered until first attacked, they made for easy prey to those in the 3rd Class Slayer Rank.

    And luckily for them, the stronger and more proactive Nightwalkers had not appeared just yet. This meant the members of Platoon 49 had little to no external problems to worry about when preparing for what was to come next...

    Exchanging glances between one another, the strongest among them¡ªa 1st Stage 2nd Class Slayer, one of the Platoon''s Vice Captains¡ªsecretly signaled out to someone away from where they were. Footsteps then sounded out from behind numerous boulders in all directions.

    And there they appeared¡ªthe rest of Platoon 49¡ªall staring at the emotionless Cassius like his sentence had already been set in stone.

    "You really are a fool, kid!" the Platoon Captain shouted, his smile evilly twisted. "To have accepted your reassignment so easily and then not even so much as openly question why you were immediately deployed¡­ You''re either extremely courageous or you''re the biggest fool alive."

    "...."

 Chapter 274 - 274: A Cat-Girl...? [4/7 Bonus Chapters]

    Cassius simply stood there and counted all the heads in his vicinity. His eyes appeared devoid of emotion, with him seemingly not even registering the danger he found himself in.

    "Is he stunned silent, Captain!? Ha!" A Vice Captain haughtily laughed. "What a joke! And here I thought he''d turn out to be something special because he placed 1st in the Nightmare Slayer Trials!"

    "Turns out he''s just trash!" a 7th Stage 3rd Class Slayer added, his raucous voice ringing out in everyone''s ears, causing many to smile or laugh.

    "Someone wants to kill me?" Cassius finally asked, prompting the hearty response of the Captain:

    "At least you''re smart enough to figure that out," he said. "I must say, though, for someone so ignorant, you sure know how to make some powerful enemies. If it were me on the other side of ''their'' blade, then I might just keel over without resistance. Bahaha!"

    "Someone powerful¡­" Cassius repeated, his expression thoughtful. "Do you mind divulging who wants to kill me?"

    "Of course I mind!" the Captain spat back. "Do you believe me an idiot!? Even if I were on death''s door, I still wouldn''t tell you who wants you dead! My fate would be far worse than death if I did!"

    "I see," Cassius said as he nonchalantly looked around, only to find that he had been surrounded. ''It appears my Vampiric mind suggestion skills don''t work on the inhabitants of these two worlds. A good thing to note.''

    His power surged a little as he readied himself to move for the kill on a moment''s notice. However, before following through with that intent, he had one more question to ask:

    "Answer me this before my fate is left to your hands¡ªhave we really even come to save the 15th Princess? Or was that all a lie?"

    The Captain scoffed, saying, "I''ll do you a favor and tell you that we have indeed come for the 15th Princess, but not for the reason that you were led to believe. And, in fact, we''re going to take you to her right now; you can join her in relishing the fates that await you both!"

    "Tie him up, boys!" he ordered.

    "Yes, Captain, sir!"

    Even the members of Platoon 49 who hadn''t previously glared at Cassius now looked at him the same as the others. Greed. All their eyes were filled with greed. And likely their hearts as well.

    ''Seems the pursuit of something greater gets to us all,'' Cassius thought as he calmed his growing power, letting himself get tied up. ''I was originally just going to kill the lot of them and absorb their memories, but sometimes, the memory absorption doesn''t work on the people of these worlds. And seeing as I really am quite curious about the situation of this 15th Princess, I have to stop myself from taking the risk of losing their memories forever. Being tied up is a temporary and useless measure in my eyes¡ªfar less risky.''

    In his nature, Cassius was a man of hard iron balls. But there was a difference between being stupid, being reckless, and being courageous. In times like these, the cautious approach was always the best approach.

    Therefore, he allowed himself to be restrained by some sort of magic ropes and carried by one of the Slayers. But seeing as how the description of the ropes said they were only capable of fully restraining those with power below the 2nd Class Slayer Rank, they naturally didn''t faze him.

    And just like that, he experienced an unusual journey in a certain direction north¡ªstill within the bounds of the Shallow Crater. As they pressed forward, however, more and more Nightwalkers began showing up, turning the scene into something akin to the Walking Dead.

    After a couple of hours, even the more powerful and intelligent Nightwalkers started to appear. They loomed over the other, inferior Nightwalkers¡ªbeing over double their height¡ªand moved like the sort of quick zombies that everyone hated most of all. They gave Platoon 49 a lot of trouble, even killing one of their weaker members.

    But finally, after roughly six hours of travel by foot, Platoon 49 made it to their destination. A large, spooky manor that had a highly advanced warding spell placed around it to keep any Nightwalker below the 4th Rank at bay.

    The manor itself looked oddly placed and a bit suspicious¡ªseeing as there was nothing around it for miles¡ªbut that didn''t stop Platoon 49 from approaching it.

    After walking up a dozen creaky steps and unlocking the old wooden front doors, Platoon 49''s Captain and the rest of the Slayers entered inside the manor. Most of them made themselves at home once inside, lounging on unusually spotless furniture and whatnot.

    Cassius, however, was heaved off one of the Vice Captain''s shoulders and thrown down a long flight of old stairs.

    "Don''t go crazy in there, you cowardly weakling!"

    With the Vice Captain''s snarky voice to accompany him, Cassius uncontrollably crashed against the stairs and narrow stairway walls, creating dents all over the place. By the time he finished his tumble, the sound of a door closing with a few locking clangs echoed. What little light that had been in the space he was in further dwindled.

    He had been locked in the manor''s basement, surrounded by an ominous darkness. Only the moonlight seeping in from a far-off window was there to guide him.

    That was when he saw her¡ªa girl sitting under the moonlight¡ªa beautiful, white-haired, sheepishly charming girl. Her crystal-clear blue eyes shimmered underneath the moonlight. And with her skin as fair as it came, she looked akin to a lost ghost, one who dreamed of returning home. There was also a sadness about her that sucked one in, unwilling to let go.

    However, beyond her unearthly level of beauty, what attracted most of Cassius''s attention were the two fluffy ears cutely twitching atop her head. There also seemed to be a long, snow-white tail hypnotically swinging around behind her.

    "A cat-girl¡­" Cassius accidentally voice transmitted.

    "!??" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The girl''s cat ears immediately perked up at the mention of those two words. That was when she realized the existence of someone other than herself inside the basement. She became a bit frightened when she saw that it was a man.

    But when she noticed the ropes that hogtied him, she sighed in relief.

 Chapter 275 - 275: Opal Mistalore

    However, more importantly than that, how was this unknown man able to see that she was a cat-girl? Had he just guessed and gotten lucky? No, that was far too coincidental.

    But what made even less sense was that he was able to see her true appearance¡­ something that shouldn''t have been possible.

    The white-haired cat-girl wanted to speak up and say something but found herself unable to.

    Even now¡­ even when her curiosity was at its peak, she was still incapable of saying what she wanted.

    Noticing the troubled expression the girl was making, Cassius decided not to immediately break out of the ropes that bound him. Instead, he inched over like an inchworm, which warranted a lovely smile from his cat-girl spectator.

    ''Oh, how painful it is to be such a gentleman¡­'' Cassius thought with a sigh while taking a look at her System Interface.

    BLING!

    [Opal Mistalore (Female Human/Yokai)]

    [Realm: Apprentice Slayer (5th Stage)]

    [Approximate Rank: A++]

    [Disabilities: Mute/Deaf - Cause: ???]

    "Hmm?"

    Both of Cassius''s eyebrows raised as he looked between the System tag and the girl beneath it. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re unable to speak or hear, huh¡­" he said to himself.

    He felt a bit bad for the girl, but it was not pity he felt. No, he was sure that she had experienced more than enough of that from other people.

    Opal Mistalore squirmed under his intense gaze. She scooted away from the window, her eyes shakily averting themselves from the tired man below.

    "Say," Cassius said while tapping on the stone slab Opal was sitting on. "Why are you down here? Were you captured for some reason¡ªoh, wait, sorry, let me voice transmit."

    "Can you hear me now?" he asked, his voice directly transmitting into her mind.

    "???"

    Opal looked toward him in surprise, unsure of how she could once again hear him talking without seeing his lips move. That was when she recalled her father and a few others doing something similar in the past. Her eyes brightened as she fervently nodded her head and made a few gestures with her hands.

    "Sign language," Cassius noted, his irises glazing with curiosity. "Although I don''t know the language, I''m sure I can learn."

    "But regardless of that," he continued, once again transmitting to Opal''s mind, "is there any way you feel safe enough to permit me to take off these bindings?"

    Opal tilted her head in a cute way. Her fluffy white cat ears twitched as she pondered, unsure of how to transmit her voice through her mind like Cassius.

    After a moment of disgruntled deliberation, she nodded. But at the same time, she huddled herself in the bench''s corner, shivering a little.

    Men scared her.

    Cassius sighed before effortlessly breaking out of the magic ropes that bound him. He rose from the ground and stretched. Then he focused his sight on the nervous cat-girl. She jolted back a bit when his gaze fell on her, causing her fluffy ears to droop.

    "I''m not here to hurt you," said Cassius, his gaze softening. "You¡­ did they hurt you¡­?"

    Opal shook, frightened.

    Suddenly, flashing through her mind were memories of those hooded men ambushing her and her protection forces while they were searching for something. They killed off almost all of her party, leaving only her and her Head Guard alive.

    However¡­

    ''Natasha¡­'' Opal thought, tears unknowingly streaming down her stiff eyes. ''She¡­ she¡­''

    Seeing the sorry state of the girl forced a sigh out of the apathetic Cassius. Yet, at this moment, he didn''t appear all too devoid of emotion. He sat down beside the sorrowful girl and opened his right arm, seemingly inviting her close.

    Opal saw him through watery eyes, and though apprehensive at first, she needed comfort from somewhere, anywhere. She threw her head against his chest, then gripped onto his robes and bawled her eyes out even more than before.

    Yet, even with the waterworks creating two streams down her fair-skinned face, nothing except for a low, muffled scream escaped her mouth. It was so quiet, though, that Cassius was only able to hear it because of his insane hearing.

    ''It seems this girl has been through a lot,'' he thought while slowly petting her head. ''Suffering alone in this dungeon¡­ Haiz¡­ It''s always these types of girls that I end up encountering.''

    But after extending her description, he learned a lot more than she was currently capable of telling him.

    For one, Opal Mistalore was indeed the biological younger sister of Yuna Mistalore. Moreover, their mother was the same person, same as with their father. However, this was where things became a bit weird, for Yuna had the general racial characteristics of a Yaksha. On the other hand, Opal was obviously more of a cat-girl than a Yaksha, which complicated things.

    Though, with a bit more scrolling through Opal''s description, Cassius figured out something that made the puzzle pieces better fit together.

    Yuna and Opal''s mother¡ªshe was not any ordinary Yokai. Her mother was a Cat Yokai. As for her father, he was¡­ a Yaksha Yokai. And together, they made up the topmost ruling force of the Island Kingdom¡ªAshikaga Shogunate.

    In a sense, Yuna and Opal''s grandparents were the Shogun and Midai-dokoro of an Island Kingdom surpassing the military might of even the Mistalore Kingdom. This also made them the legitimate heirs of the next line to the throne.

    However, in the events leading up to Opal''s capture, not a single bit of it had been because of her illustrious lineage. Or, at least not because of her hidden one.

    ''To scheme out an elaborate ploy to get Opal over to the Shallow Crater and then ambush her group,'' Cassius thought. ''And then to not end with merely capturing her but also commit those vile acts to her Head Guard in an attempt to intimidate her into submission¡­''

    He certainly had his handful with this one, even more so than with the girls he encountered during his previous escapades.

    ¡ª After a few minutes pass ¡ª

    Cassius, feeling something nudge at his arm, looked down to see a pair of big, round eyes staring up at him. They were reddened from all the crying but still sparkled like the most expensive of jewels.

    "What''s the matter?"

 Chapter 276 - 276: A Troubled Opal

    "What''s the matter?" Cassius asked through voice transmission.

    Opal hung her head a little low. Slightly curling her candy-red lips, she clenched onto his robes even tighter. However, seeing as she was still unable to figure out how to voice transmit back, she threw up some gang signs.

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s irises pulsed in confusion. "I''m sorry, but I still can''t understand sign language. But here¡ªI''ll take out a piece of paper and have you write down what you''re trying to tell me."

    Opal shyly nodded, finding it a bit difficult to return his overbearing gaze.

    FWIP!

    Appearing in front of Cassius was a blank piece of paper; it fell to the stone bench and settled down before him. He picked it up and showed it to Opal.

    "I''m going to create a pencil as well," he said while gently handing the piece of paper to her. "Wait¡­ you know how to write, don''t you?"

    Embarrassed, Opal furiously nodded. Her adorable cat ears flapped all over the place for a second, making her appear all the cuter.

    Cassius inwardly chuckled before using his [Creation''s Touch] Skill to create a #2 pencil. He handed the pencil to the cute cat-girl, then waited.

    However, after nearly a minute of watching her watch him, he playfully karate-chopped her on the head. "You can begin writing any day now," he said with a small laugh.

    His voice, together with his very effective karate chop, brought Opal back to her senses. She had been dazed, staring into his soul-sucking eyes. Mortified¡ªthat was how she felt in that moment.

    She ducked her head, now only able to see a bit of Cassius''s robes and the paper placed below her. Her heart rate unnaturally quickened as she frustratingly scribbled on the paper what she had been wanting to tell him.

    After she was done, she slammed the paper into Cassius''s chest without looking at him. She may have been deaf and mute, but she was aware enough to realize that she was probably blushing like a fool right now; showing him would be too embarrassing.

    Cassius glanced at the cat-girl anxiously twirling her thumbs beside him, then he looked at the paper in his hands. Upon reading what was on it, he outwardly voiced its contents:

    "Thank you." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Opal blushed even harder when she heard him voice transmit the contents of the paper to her mind. She cutely squinted, a pout adorning her pretty features. She then threw a punch toward his right arm¡ªbut afraid that she might hurt him, she held back at the last second. Her punch, making contact with his arm, seemed to release a small cartoonish wisp of smoke before dying out anticlimactically.

    Cassius covered his mouth, concealing a playful chuckle. "You really are quite funny," he said. "And you''re welcome. Also, don''t worry, I''ll overlook the fact that you gave me a free bath."

    Opal blushed, lowering her head once more.

    She wasn''t used to talking with someone like this, but it was nice. She liked it. Liked it very much.

    If only temporarily, talking to him helped her forget about what her captors had done to her Head Guard¡ªher dear friend¡­

    Cassius, noticing another flux in her emotions, laid his hand against her head again. "Would you like me to get revenge for you and your friend?" he asked, serious.

    Opal opened her mouth to say something, but was unable to get anything out. She frustratingly bit her lower lip, gripping her hands against her dirty dress until the whites of her knuckles started to show. Then she went to make the motion of shaking her head.

    But just then, Cassius''s hand stopped her head from moving.

    "You don''t need to worry about inconveniencing me," he said, looking straight ahead¡ªaway from her puzzled gaze. "I just happen to know your older sister. Also, it''s not like I''ll be doing it for free. You''ll have to do something for me in return."

    "!?!?"

    ''Yun, Yun!?'' Opal thought. She shook Cassius with a newfound level of excitement, too excited to even realize what he had said about her owing him something.

    Cassius halted her incessant shaking with a head pat¡ªwhich seemed to be the universal solution to everything.

    "I''ll help you get your vengeance and get out of here for the sake of your sister and that favor I asked for," he said. "Do you agree to the terms?"

    It was only now¡ªafter burning through most of her excitement gauge¡ªthat Opal comprehended the rest of what he said. She immediately became frightened; her face shadowed as she cupped her breasts and retreated to the bench corner once more.

    "...Not that kind of favor," Cassius said with a twitching smile, face-palming. "I was going to ask if you''d consider teaching me sign language in exchange for me getting you out of here. A pretty fair trade, wouldn''t ya say?"

    Opal''s nerves eased up, and she returned to her previous spot next to Cassius. She then raised her hands and made a few more gang signs. Her expression¡ªalthough unreadable¡ªappeared to be holding back something troubling.

    Although Cassius couldn''t understand sign language, he didn''t need to know the language to figure out what she was telling him.

    "My reason for learning sign language is simple," he said, slightly smiling. "If I understood it, wouldn''t it be easier to communicate with you?"

    Opal stared blankly, still in the process of comprehending his words. However, when they eventually got through to her, she instantly lowered her head and turned away from him.

    It was only after a few seconds of wiggling that she turned back to him. And although she attempted to hide it, her complexion was still tinged red from the moment she just had with herself.

    "So, I assume that''s a yes?" Cassius asked, all smiles. "If so, then I think we''ll be escaping here very soon."

    Opal¡ªalthough happy¡ªappeared troubled. She wanted to nod yes so badly; she wanted to get out of here; she wanted to avenge her friend.

    But¡­

    But what about this man? This acquaintance of her elder sister? Wouldn''t he die if he were to face those strong hooded men?

    He and she had only just recently met each other for the first time ever¡­ but she didn''t want him to die. He was nice. Too nice to foolishly get himself killed for her sake¡­

 Chapter 277 - 5/7]

    With shadows shrouding her face, Opal shook her head. At first, she shook slowly, but then as more time passed, she began shaking very quickly, seemingly becoming more emotional the faster she shook. Tears once again started to fall, her mind in utter turmoil.

    However, before she could spiral any further, that same warm hand landed on her soft bed of white hair. A soothing energy seeped out of that hand, doing well to calm her mind and keep her emotions under control.

    "Quit stressing," Cassius said. "I don''t know why you and those other girls always do that. But anyway, I can handle a few minor villains. They likely won''t even be capable of withstanding a single punch."

    Opal pulled away from him in a hurry. She grabbed her pencil and wrote something on the piece of paper.

    "You promise?" Cassius read, urging his smile to widen. "I promise," he said, sticking out his right pinky finger. "Wanna pinky promise swear on it?"

    Opal looked between his pinky and his kind eyes with a strained, puffy gaze. A couple of tears were shaken off as she earnestly nodded and hooked her pinky finger around his.

    "It''s a pinky promise then," Cassius said, shaking her pinky thrice before letting go. "And it seems like I''ll have to prove to you that I don''t break promises a tad bit sooner than expected."

    "???"

    Just then, a loud bang came from upstairs as the basement''s singular door was slammed open. Two distinct pairs of footsteps echoed through the wide empty space. Opal¡ªnot knowing why Cassius was suddenly looking toward the basement stairway¡ªfollowed his gaze.

    Yet, when she saw the light from upstairs cast an eerie glow on the stairway floor, she shrank back in fright. Instinctively, she cowered behind the broad-shouldered Cassius and closed her eyes.

    Feeling her sweaty grip and sensing her extreme unease, Cassius''s frown deepened. He honed in on the stairway and the two sets of footsteps. One, he recognized; it belonged to the Captain of Platoon 49.

    But as for the other set¡­ That one he didn''t recognize.

    "Those two are down here, are they not?" an unfamiliar voice questioned in a low growl, clearly annoyed.

    "Y-Yes, young master," Platoon 49''s Captain respectfully replied.

    "Why are you pestering me, then?"

    "W-Well, both the 15th Princess and that boy you wanted dead are down here," the Captain said. "However, despite the boy being restrained with magical ropes, I''ve just been informed that they weren''t properly secured. Given his strength, there''s a chance he could''ve broken free. As such, I must accompany you to ensure your safety¡ªunless, of course, you want your father and brother to have my head..."

    "Enough about my father and brother," the unfamiliar voice growled, even more irritated than before. "Just fade into obscurity when we see them, then. I don''t want you ruining my two new fun toys."

    He licked his lips, both lasciviously and sadistically, seemingly imagining the two different scenarios he was going to experience with his captives.

    However, upon reaching the last step and turning a corner, the young master''s eyes widened. Yet, after the initial surprise, his expression returned to neutrality.

    "It seems the incompetence of you and your subordinates rings true," he said with slight killing intent. "You just better pray¡ªfor your sake¡ªthat Opal still retains her purity after being in the presence of an unshackled man for so long."

    Opal shivered under that lustful gaze of his, further hiding herself behind Cassius. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Platoon 49''s Captain felt his heart briefly fill with anger, seeing how his captive had escaped her bonds. He''d have someone''s head for this later on. Embarrassing him in front of the 2nd Young Master like this was unacceptable. Simply unacceptable!

    "You there, boy," said the owner of the unfamiliar voice¡ªa mildly handsome young man with medium-length black hair and a pompous aura exuding from his every move. "Get away from my woman if you know what''s good for ya. I wish to have some fun with her right away, you see."

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed into thin slits.

    "What? Are you unsatisfied with that arrangement?" the young master asked arrogantly. "Well, considering that torturing you is for dessert, I suppose I could do you a favor and permit you to watch. But if you dare interfere in my fun, I''ll make you experience torture 20 times worse than what I originally had planned for you."

    Ignoring the young master''s cocky words and long strides, Cassius opened up his System Interface, curious to see who had been plotting against him:

    BLING!

    [Charles Chamberlain (Male Human)]

    [Realm: 3rd Class Slayer (1st Stage)]

    [Approximate Rank: S- - -]

    [Age: 24]

    ''He''s actually managed to receive a power ranking score with three minus signs,'' Cassius thought in awe. ''I didn''t believe it to be possible, but people surprise me every day, it seems.''

    But regardless of the young master''s incompetence, Cassius pulled up the rest of his description¡ªor, at least, the most important parts of the guy''s mostly worthless life.

    [Place of Origin: Land of Beginnings - Azure Archipelago - Mistalore Kingdom - Chamberlain Duke Household]

    [Highest Position of Authority: 2nd Oldest Heir of the Chamberlain Duke Household]

    [Most powerful backing: His Father¡ªThomas Chamberlain (2nd Class ?), and his older brother¡ªWilliam Chamberlain (2nd Class 3)]

    [Reason for being where he is in the present: Was ordered by his older brother to torture the man who dared speak so closely with Yuna Mistalore. Yet, death was not allowed for the man; he was merely to be tenderized before William himself could get his hands on him. Charles was also instructed not to touch who William considered to be his 2nd wife¡ªOpal Mistalore¡ªbut Charles didn''t seem to care.]

    "Well, boy!?" Charles shouted, breaking Cassius''s concentration. "Have you decided if you value your life yet or not!??"

    Cassius nonchalantly looked up from his System Interface. However, contrary to when the young master first appeared, he held far less interest in his eyes.

    ''This untalented idiot isn''t even the one who put a target out on my head,'' he thought with a sigh, shaking his head in disappointment. ''It looks like this''ll be a troublesome charade, then.''

 Chapter 278 - 278: Ending Platoon 49

    Shifting his cold gaze toward the Chamberlain Household''s 2nd Eldest Young Master, Cassius''s legs crackled with electricity. "Do you have any last words?" he asked. "If so, say them now or forever hold your peace."

    "What was that, you stupid peasant¡ª!?"

    Before Charles could finish his haughty remark, Cassius had already flashed forward, leaving a trail of crackling electricity in his wake. He reappeared in front of Charles, grabbed him by the face, and threw him upwards. Charles crashed through the basement''s roof, then through the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors before shooting out of the manor''s attic.

    "Young Master!!!" Platoon 49''s Captain looked up in shocked alarm before turning toward the aggressor. Explosive anger flooded his heart as he leaned back and pressed forward with all his strength.

    OOOM!!

    The Captain unleashed the full might of the 2nd Class Slayer Rank¡ª

    *Thwack!*

    A lightning-quick kick swung up into the Captain''s gut, sending him shooting into the basement wall mid power-up. Cassius phased once more, landed an uppercut into his jaw, and sent him barreling through the manor. The Captain''s flailing body destroyed several of the building''s support beams before joining his Young Master outside the attic, gradually sliding down the roof''s shingles.

    "You really can''t take a hit, can you?" Cassius asked, flash-stepping atop the manor. "I expected the weaker weakling to pass out, but you¡ªsomeone in the 2nd Class Slayer Rank¡ªI expected more from. I hadn''t even hit you that hard¡­"

    He tiredly gazed down at the two bodies with their tongues sticking out goofily. A hand of his was raised and then swung down. Platoon 49''s Captain lost his head. Another hand was raised and swung down, followed by the loss of another head¡ªCharles Chamberlain''s head.

    Oddly enough, after the young man died and his memories were absorbed, no ancient projection appeared. No old master threatened his life or told him to stay his hand from killing his grandson.

    There wasn''t even a life-saving treasure. Or, if there was, it had been too insignificant for Cassius to notice. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Well, whatever," he said with a shrug. "With their memories, I now know where to locate the idiot''s older brother and their father. And although the father is back in the Land of the Beginnings, the brother is within the Nightmarescape¡ªand close by as well."

    Having already obtained everything he wanted to know, Cassius sucked out the blood of the two idiots and split it between him and his two Growth Weapons. The blood wasn''t worth more than a speck to them, but something was better than nothing.

    After finishing the draining session, Cassius stole their most valuable belongings, chucked them into his inventory, and then took off into the skies. However, he quickly looped back around, crashed into the manor, killed a couple of Slayers, then looped back around and killed a few more. He repeated the process numerous times at insanely fast speeds.

    "Ahhh!!!"

    "Help me, please!!!"

    "I don''t want to die!!"

    The agonizing screams of the Nightmare Slayers of Platoon 49 echoed out, but Cassius could hardly find a f*ck to give. Less than a second later, they had all been blown up Omni-Man style¡ªtheir blood drained, and their belongings stolen.

    What happened to them had been a violation.

    Yet, did Cassius care? Not a single f*cking bit.

    He dipped into the crumbling manor, crashed through the swiss cheese-like basement roof, and appeared before the bewildered Opal. He calmly walked over to her, his approach as friendly as humanly possible.

    "What say we make our escape?" he asked, smiling. "And don''t worry, I avenged your friend. Those men did not die easily either."

    None of them were innocent, after all. The number of evil deeds they committed had been no small number. The group r*pe of Opal''s Head Guard and friend had been one of the many crimes attached to their names.

    Opal paused, then slowly nodded and took Cassius''s outstretched hand.

    A barrier that shielded them from the collapsing manor''s debris appeared around them. The barrier also moved as they moved, allowing for leisurely travel out of the basement. Once out in the 1st floor''s large living room, Opal was terrified to find Slayers crawling around with only the upper half of their torsos intact.

    "A lot of them are still alive," Cassius said.

    While emotionlessly glancing at all the zombie-like bodies in the crumbling and burning manor, he coldly uttered, "As I said, none of them will have died easily."

    Although Opal''s pupils dilated in fear, she steeled her stomach and soaked in the sight displayed before her. ''My friend¡­ Sanya¡­ You can rest in peace¡­ I''m glad¡­ So very glad¡­''

    Tears started trickling down her cheeks yet again. But this time, she wiped away the tears and revealed a resolute gleam in her gaze that wasn''t there before.

    Cassius smiled at this occurrence before guiding the troubled cat-girl out of the burning building. It completely collapsed once they were a few dozen meters away, adding a certain cinematic element to the scene.

    A couple of seconds later, the pair vanished into thin air, already soaring through the skies by Cassius''s lead.

    FWIP!

    When they reappeared, they were thousands of meters away, though still in the Shallow Crater. But considering that dangers lay everywhere in this accursed place, Cassius teleported into the air, then shot forward a couple of times, creating many air donuts in his wake.

    He did, however, eventually come to a stop.

    Looking down, he saw a scene that could only be described as nightmare fuel. Nightwalkers¡ªthose tall, lanky creatures¡ªwere everywhere. And worst of all, every single one of them was at least Rank 3. In the far distance, there were even the powerful aura signatures of Rank 4 Nightwalkers, every single one being multiple times taller than the already enormous Rank 3 Nightwalkers.

    ''Their strength,'' Cassius thought grimly. ''Each one is at least equivalent to the SS+++ Rank, with some seemingly only a few blinks away from the Half-step SSS Rank.''

    In simpler terms, the Rank 4 Nightwalkers that eerily walked over the clouds were nearly as powerful as the three Demon Kings Cassius had marked for death. Powerful. Extremely powerful.

 Chapter 279 - 279: The Chamberlain Duke

    "The one who did all this to you and me is somewhere within that encirclement of Nightwalkers," Cassius said to the cat-girl clinging onto him for dear life. "Do you know why he''s over there? I can''t properly discern everything with the aura interference of those behemoths getting in the way."

    Opal further tightened her soft white tail around Cassius''s waist, only now realizing they had stopped moving. She looked up with watery eyes, clearly on the verge of tears.

    "That was scary, wasn''t it?" Cassius asked, his expression softening. "I''m sorry that I moved so fast, but could you nod your head if you know why he''s over there?"

    Opal lowered her head in deep thought, a scarlet blush beautifully painting her features.

    After a couple of seconds, a light bulb flashed inside her mind. Her crystal-clear blue eyes sparkled as she stole Cassius''s gaze. She fervently nodded, performing the action so quickly that her head almost popped off.

    Cassius chuckled. "No need to say anymore," he said while softly petting her. "But unfortunately for us, I do not possess the necessary strength to safely take on those Rank 4 Nightwalkers and that William Chamberlain."

    Opal''s fluffy cat ears drooped.

    Did this mean that perverted scum would be getting away with the things he did? What about her big sis? If William was allowed to live, then Yun Yun would be forced to¡­ with that scum¡­

    "Don''t worry," Cassius said with a reassuring smile. "I only told you I couldn''t do it safely. I never said I wasn''t going to still do it anyway."

    "???"

    Opal shook her head repeatedly, not allowing what he was proposing.

    Nice people like him shouldn''t¡ª

    *Thwack*

    A swift karate chop knocked the adorably kind cat-girl out cold. Cassius cradled her in his arms.

    Looking down at her passionately displeased expression made his smile grow fonder. "You really are so much like your sister," he whispered. "Then again, you aren''t nearly as tsundere as that dolt is. Ha¡­"

    After a brief pause, Cassius''s smile returned to neutrality. An icy cold gleam passed through his piercing eyes as a shadowy energy pulsated off of him.

    "Nyxvoldar, Raijin," he said without looking back. "Take away this girl and keep her safe in EastWind Fort''s personal room. The room has a protective barrier around it, so she and you two should be fine until I return."

    Shadows swished around behind Cassius''s figure, and from those shadows formed the shapes of an assassin-type humanoid and a small dragon. Raijin, however, almost immediately started increasing in size. He only stopped growing once he became the size of an appropriate mount.

    Before gently laying Opal on Raijin''s back, Cassius took one final look at her. Sympathy nearly surfaced, but before it could fully form, it was erased by a chilling sensation that pervaded his bones and insides.

    "Time to go and die," he said, turning toward the Goliaths wandering in the distance. Uncontrollable tremors emerged in his hands, causing them to tremble. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Emotionlessly glaring at his open hands, Cassius''s nerves steeled as he clenched them tight. "There is no room for weakness in Character Development," he said coldly. "Being afraid of death is natural, but running away from it is unacceptable."

    FWIP!

    He blurred forward, heading in the opposite direction that Nyxvoldar and Raijin were traveling in.

    After a couple of moments, he found himself hovering over a thousand feet off the ground. Facing him at the same altitude was the creepy, spiraling-eyed head of a Rank 4 Nightwalker. It eerily tilted its head while staring at Cassius. A long, forked tongue fell out of its countless toothed mouth, with acidic drool ominously trickling down it.

    "Well," Cassius said, his smirk widening. "How about you and I get the party started?"

    Just then, the massive Nightwalker''s sharp, tooth-filled mouth opened disproportionately. It didn''t stop opening until one side of its mouth could make a straight line to the other side.

    A soul-shaking howl then followed, one that alerted every Nightwalker in a thousand-mile radius of Cassius''s presence.

    "Now we''re talking," Cassius said as his face and fist blurred forward so quickly that sound and light lagged behind. "Struggle with all your might! It''s no fun otherwise!"

    The scene cut off with his atomic-powered fist preparing to make contact with a miasma-covered fist hundreds of times his size.

    Zooming out, then moving through dimensions, the Land of Beginnings appeared. Zooming into a tiny part of a much vaster world, the Azure Archipelago came into view. Within a very large and luxurious mansion located inside one of the numerous Island Kingdoms, an old man with mixed black and gray hair shot open his eyes. Flames of fury shot out of them as blood leaked from his lips and ears.

    The grating sound of teeth being gnashed further emphasized the old man''s rage. In his immense anger, he crushed his throne to bits, then flew through the walls of his mansion. In an instant, he arrived in a small, well-lit room that held more than a dozen shining crystals.

    One of the crystals, however, was broken.

    These crystals¡ªthey were Life Crystals, and each one represented a life. This meant that if a Life Crystal was connected to someone and that person perished, the crystal would crack before ultimately falling apart.

    "My grandson¡­" The old man''s anger reached all-time highs as his heart bled red. "Whoever killed my grandson¡­ Whoever dared kill him¡­ YOU''RE DEAD!!!"

    His fury brought his aura to new heights, with its raging power enveloping the entirety of the mansion as well as most of his expansive territory. Outside the Mistalore Capital''s western side, this man was akin to an Emperor. And, at that moment, nearly all of his subjects felt his oppressive aura. Their hearts shook and their complexions paled.

    All feared the wrath of the Chamberlain Duke¡ªone of the strongest Slayers in the Mistalore Kingdom.

    And his wrath¡­ It would surely arrive. Without a doubt, it would arrive.

    But when it did¡­ Well¡­ May the God of Beginnings bless that poor bastard''s soul¡­

 Chapter 280 - 6/7]

    *Achoo!*

    A sneeze came from atop the head of a Rank 4 Nightwalker. That very head was currently in the process of sliding off its neck. Yet, in that same instant, a massive, weirdly shaped hand cut through the air and smashed into the head. An explosion of blood and guts occurred, with Cassius''s tiny figure calmly levitating above the carnage.

    "Ya know, at first, you guys managed to kill me a few hundred times," he said, his voice several notches icier than it was a few hours ago. "Now, however¡­ Now, you bunch are just oversized twinks."

    "SCACACACA!!!" x13

    The last remaining Rank 4 Nightwalkers released hair-tingling screeches that echoed through the lands. They were all extremely angry, with the one that just accidentally splattered his brethren''s head being especially livid. Every single one of them crushed the land beneath them in an act of leaping at the insignificantly small flying figure.

    "How pointless," Cassius coldly uttered. Raising both his hands, emotionless versions of Lilith and Mora appeared. "You lot already lost your chances at killing me. You know why?"

    His figure faded out of reality.

    Entering the timestream, he zipped forward, slashed out an unknown number of times, then reappeared behind the Rank 4 Nightwalkers.

    "It''s because I''m stronger. Thanks to you, I''m stronger."

    SPURT! SPURT! SPURT!

    The colossal bodies of the last 13 Rank 4 Nightwalkers experienced thousands upon thousands of absurdly sharp slashes in an instant. Lines of blood spread throughout them, and when those lines became too prominent, blood bubbled up and burst outward. Limbs were removed, heads were sent sailing, and all the Rank 4 Nightwalkers collapsed into a pool of their own blackish-red blood.

    "I''m simply better," Cassius said without looking back. "I''m better because the things I fight force me to become better. You were better for a long time¡­ Then I became better because of you. How laughable is that? Ha¡­"

    He ran his bloodied hand through his long raven-black hair. His slightly crazed and distorted voice formed a cackle that emulated just how much of a toll dying so many times had taken on him.

    Even now¡ªeven after all he had gone through¡ªdeath still affected him.

    "Quite laughable indeed," he muttered, his voice cracked, his soul trembling. "I''m so laughable¡­"

    Cassius settled down in a sea of Nightmare blood. His crooked smile¡ªfrozen in place¡ªstayed as a reminder of who he had to become in order to die. In order to cope with dying.

    Dying¡­

    "I must become numb¡­ I must," said Cassius, pulling down on his frozen expression with the same bloody hand. "If I am to continue becoming stronger¡ªif I am to decide how I wish to live my life¡ªthen I must figure out how to not feel¡­"

    However, what his deaths did to him were not so simple. What they made him feel was not just on the surface level; it was something that located every nook and cranny of his existence and¡­whacked. Whacked and whacked and whacked, making sure that he knew true pain¡ªand that he remembered.

    To forever remember each and every death¡­ and to be constantly reminded of them¡­ That sort of pain¡ªit was not something any normal person would be able to endure.

    At least¡­ At least not without losing their minds in the process.

    ¡ª After 10 minutes of sitting listlessly ¡ª

    Cassius¡ªnow appearing perfectly apathetic¡ªrose from the sea of Nightmare blood. He took out Mora and Lilith, then used them in conjunction with his Vampire Duke Bloodline to absorb all the blood in the vicinity.

    The corpses of the Rank 4 Nightwalkers quickly dried up into husks, with many such husks scattered throughout the barren land.

    "That''s that," Cassius said with a forced grin, trying his best to reform the emotions that continuously slipped away from him. "Now, I just need to head over there and find out why that worm is here¡­"

    In front of him¡ªa few hundred miles out¡ªthere sat a Temple. The Temple was roughly the size of a large town; it was made of black bricks, each one exuding an aura that felt denser than most Dark Miasma. Tendrils of a similar element crawled around the outside of the Temple, giving it an extremely ominous aesthetic.

    Inside the black Temple, however, was only a single heat signature. One that could be found sitting in the deepest depths of the Temple, unmoving.

    "Something is rather odd about that heat signature, though," Cassius said, suspiciously narrowing his eyes. "A part of it is cold, almost lifeless. How¡­ How very odd."

    Wishing to get a closer look, he sprang up like a broken coil. The sound barrier was shattered thousands of times as he zipped through the skies.

    Upon making it close enough to the ominous black Temple, Cassius descended to the ground like an Immortal. He looked up at the hundreds of large brick stairs leading to the Temple''s zenith point. Up there was a softly glowing blue fire, one that greatly contrasted with the rest of the Temple.

    In an instant, Cassius''s fleeting figure ascended the stairs and appeared in front of the glowing blue fire. Yet, in the very moment he reached his hand toward the fire, the fire vanished. It seeped into the Temple''s roof before shooting downward, going into the very depths of the Temple.

    Luckily for Cassius, though, a hole wide enough to fit him inside was opened in the Temple''s roof.

    Without hesitation, he fearlessly dropped through the hole.

    Below him was an endless air of darkness, one that seemed to grow larger the further he fell. Eventually, it reached a point where, even with his Magic Sense active, it felt like the insides of the Temple had no limits.

    This fact¡­ It puzzled Cassius to no end.

    "I noticed it when I touched the material that makes up this Temple¡ªwhich felt indestructible¡ªbut this place is special," he commented, continuing his fall. "Very special." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had fallen more than long enough to reach that heat signature if based on previous metrics, but once inside the Temple, things changed. Time and space warped, leaving everything distorted and undesignated. What once appeared relatively close was now unbelievably far away.

    However, fortunately for Cassius, after experiencing half an hour straight of falling through endless darkness, he finally saw something different. A light. A bright white light that grew larger and larger beneath him the longer time passed.

 Chapter 281 - 281: A Soul Eater

    "Any second now," Cassius muttered.

    Just then, space warped; the white light beneath him started to swirl. Something blinded him in that same second. To his surprise, when he opened his eyes, there was neither the eternal darkness nor that odd white light.

    "An altar?"

    What lay in front of him was most definitely an altar¡ªa larger-than-average one¡ªbut one nonetheless. Lit torches lined the altar''s sides as well as the isolated area around him. Raised a few feet off the center of the ancient altar was a man. A man kneeling with his back facing Cassius.

    Opening up the System tag of this man, Cassius was astonished to find a familiar name. A name he expected to see, but was too confused to understand why it would be here in such an odd environment.

    However, upon reading further into the man''s description, everything pieced itself together.

    BLING!

    [William Chamberlain (Male Human)]

    [Realm: 2nd Class Slayer (3rd Stage)]

    [Approximate Rank: SS+++]

    [Age: 19]

    [Place of Origin: Chamberlain Duke Family]

    ¡ª [Reason for being here: After setting up a trap with his younger brother and Platoon 49, William became temporarily distracted by the appearance of a mysterious black temple that wasn''t previously there. However, upon entering through the top of the temple and descending to the bottom, he was met with the appearance of an Ancient Nightmare entity¡ªa Soul Eater¡ªone over 400 years old. His current state is a direct result of resisting the Soul Eater''s might¡­]

    "I must say," Cassius said, overlooking the dangers of this area, "to be capable of reaching the 2nd Class Slayer Rank at 19 is a feat far exceeding the talents of anyone I''ve seen thus far. Even I, someone with a System, only managed to achieve the same 3rd Stage cultivation in my most recent battle."

    He was impressed.

    Yet, it didn''t seem like the person who impressed him was still among the world of the living. William Chamberlain was dead.

    "Ahh, but it appears that the Soul Eater is still in the process of fully devouring the guy''s soul," Cassius noted, observing the same blue fire from before¡ªwhich now ominously levitated above William''s spasming head. "That thing is definitely a treasure."

    Greed surged within his heart as he phased forward and appeared in front of the kneeling William. Getting a proper look at the man, he observed several streams of blood running along his veins. William''s eyes were also bloodshot, with what appeared to be a crooked, fiery blue star embedding itself into the center of his forehead. This star signified the soul-devouring process; the more completed it became, the closer the soul was to being fully devoured.

    "This idiot seems to have done me a favor," Cassius said as he called for Lilith. "The Soul Eater or whatever doesn''t even know I''m here, does it? Because surely, two people wouldn''t jump down an unknown black hole within such a short period of time. Only overconfident lads would do something so foolish¡ª"

    Just then, a tendril of fiery blue darkness shot out of the star symbol on William''s forehead. The tendril wrapped itself around Cassius, obtaining what it thought to be a firm hold on him.

    Despite the predicament he found himself in, Cassius''s shadow-shrouded face was suddenly interrupted by the formation of a wide smirk.

    "Gotcha," Cassius said, his figure flashing behind William''s kneeling body. What the blue tendril had been attempting to strangle was nothing more than an afterimage.

    Did one actually believe that he''d let his guard down in an unfamiliar place¡ªone that was obviously meant to trap people? Even several people at the same time?

    Cassius may have been a bit arrogant, but he was no fool. If this Soul Eater thing built this place specifically to ensnare people, then one could be sure it was proficient at what it did.

    Even while in the midst of devouring a soul as substantial as William''s, it would not completely lower its defenses.

    "But¡­" Cassius said as his face and body flashed in and out of the time stream, "that doesn''t mean this devouring state of yours hasn''t greatly weakened you. Normally, it probably wouldn''t restrict you in the slightest, but that idiot''s soul was no ordinary commodity, was it? To have as much Nightmare Talent as he did, heh¡­"

    "Buddy," Cassius continued, Lilith flaring beside him, "frankly speaking, you''re f*cked."

    Biting off more than it could chew would be its downfall.

    "!!!!"

    The Soul Eater whipped its fiery blue tendril around at ludicrous speeds, trying to hurt Cassius. Yet, with another increase in speed, he blurred through the tendril and once again reappeared in front of the kneeling William. Once there, he noticed that the idiot''s eyes had turned a very dark and profound shade of black. His blue star also neared full completion. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "A Soul Eater, huh?" Cassius said as he calmly raised Lilith. "I wonder what you''ll taste like."

    SHING!

    Lilith was slashed down but was blocked by a second fiery blue tendril before she could cut into William. However, for some reason, Cassius''s smirk only broadened. Suddenly appearing in his left hand was Mora, which, within an instant, was slashed horizontally.

    Panicking, the Soul Eater pushed its power to its limits and created a third fiery blue tendril. Each tendril was capable of instantly erasing the existence of even someone half a step into the SSS-Rank; all it had to do was have one of them touch the hum¡ª

    "¡ªan¡­"

    A weak voice escaped William''s lips as his head exploded like a watermelon because of Cassius''s unexpected punch. "You may have blocked both my weapons," he coldly whispered next to the twitching William, "but you couldn''t block me, could you?"

    Just then, the Soul Eater''s original blue tendril finished circling back. It condensed into something akin to a spinning drill before zipping toward Cassius at speeds far surpassing that of sound.

    Cassius grinned. Then he vanished.

    The flaming blue drill passed through his afterimage, and without being able to stop in time, it pierced William''s chest. Bluish-red blood splattered out of his back, with the drill''s tip sticking out ever so slightly.

 Chapter 282 - 282: Soul Eater Ranks

    "Did you honestly believe that I''d shown you my maximum speed earlier?" Cassius asked condescendingly, once again materializing next to William. "For something presumably centuries old, you sure are naive."

    "YOU¡ª!"

    Before the Soul Eater''s actual physical form could leave William''s destroyed body, Lilith''s cold edges penetrated it and appeared out the other side. Somehow, the Soul Eater''s massive presence had also been pierced straight through!

    "My Lilith here is more special than most weapons, you see," Cassius said. He nonchalantly positioned himself beside the shocked Soul Eater''s illusory blue form¡ªone that was halfway outside William''s body. "She''s not only proficient at dealing physical damage," he continued, shoving Lilith even deeper into the scary-looking Soul Eater, "soul damage is also possible. And you, the purest kind of soul, are especially susceptible to the danger she presents to everything in existence."

    "HUMAN¡­" the Soul Eater growled, glowing blue blood trickling down its lips. "I''LL KILL YOU!!!"

    [Creymon (Young Soul Eater)]

    [Cultivation: Middle 4th Rank Nightmare]

    [Battle Power: Half-step SSS-Rank (Peak)]

    [Age: 412]

    "You really might''ve killed me," Cassius mused. "With your strength being around that of a weak Demon King, you surely could''ve. It''s unfortunate, though¡­"

    "!?!?"

    The Soul Eater''s savage eyes widened as the bloody edge of a scythe reflected in its pupils.

    SPURT!

    "It''s unfortunate that you had your strength limited because you were dealing with that idiot," Cassius said with a sigh of disappointment as he sauntered through a fountain of blood geysering from where the Soul Eater''s head was sliced in half. "Unfortunate indeed¡­"

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain William Chamberlain, a 3rd Stage 2nd Class Slayer!]

    [Acquired a large amount of Nightmare Essence!]

    [Your Slayer Cultivation has progressed ¡ª 13.5% ¡ú 16% (2nd Class 3rd Stage)]

    "So, me finishing off whatever had already been done counted towards my kill sheet."

    Cassius kept that to the back of his mind as he flipped through the rest of the System notifications.

    [You have slain a Young Soul Eater of the Mid 4th Nightmare Rank!]

    [Acquired an enormous amount of Nightmare Essence!] S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You received the Soul Eater''s memories and a unique acquired Bloodline called ''Soul Eater (EX- Rank)'']

    [Your Slayer Cultivation has progressed ¡ª 16% ¡ú 97% (2nd Class 3rd Stage)]

    "On the verge of another rank-up already?" Cassius said with a bit of awe. "Furthermore, I obtained a high-rank Bloodline¡ª" Just then, the Soul Eater''s memories were transferred to his mind. His eyebrows raised as he filtered through them.

    "Ahh, so Soul Eaters are not capable of reproduction," he continued thoughtfully. "A Soul Eater is born when a human or other intelligent species commits enough heinous acts. The person who committed those acts eventually dies, but rather than directly enter this world''s Hell, they get dragged down to the Netherworld, where they are transformed into a Soul Eater. New Soul Eaters can also come to be when a non-Soul Eater kills and devours one¡ªwhich, by the way, is normally impossible."

    But thanks to the Idle Evolution System, Cassius was able to effortlessly obtain a full Soul Eater Bloodline¡ªand one quite full of malice at that¡ªwhich appropriately improved its rank.

    "But there is something that irks me about a Soul Eater being on this plane of existence," Cassius said, stroking his chin. "This something had somehow been blocked in the Soul Eater''s memories. How odd¡­"

    Soul Eaters had long been barred from both the Nightmarescape and the Land of Beginnings¡ªancient laws ensuring their exile from those sacred realms. Yet, against all odds, one managed to defy this cosmic prohibition. Stranger still, the memories tied to how and why this was possible seemed conveniently sealed away. Something was undeniably amiss.

    "Another ploy?" Cassius asked in exasperation, expecting no answer. "Well, whatever the truth may be, I''m about to become a Soul Eater, which means that whatever''s occurring behind the scenes will certainly find trouble with me."

    Speaking of the devil, a brilliant blue light erupted from around him, representing the transfusion of the Soul Eater Bloodline. His physical features underwent several drastic changes; his skin turned a see-through shade of blue; his facial characteristics became sharper. Furthermore, his eyes morphed into something more magical, with blue, black, and gold hues swirling around in perfect harmony. Blue flames then bubbled up all over him and violently fluctuated, making him appear more fire god than human.

    *Ding!*

    [You have successfully assimilated with the EX- Rank Bloodline ''Soul Eater'' and become a ''Young Soul Eater'']

    [Your Battle Power has tremendously improved!]

    [P.S. Soul Eaters have their own development ranking system on top of the Nightmare ranking system used by unruly Soul Eaters.]

    [From lowest to highest:]

    1. Infant Soul Eater

    2. Young Soul Eater

    3. Adult Soul Eater

    4. Elder Soul Eater

    5. Lord Soul Eater

    6. King Soul Eater

    7. Emperor Soul Eater

    8. God Soul Eater

    "And to further progress my Soul Eater Rank, I just have to somehow locate and devour other Soul Eaters," he said sarcastically, knowing full well that the Netherworld was not such an easy place to access. "Just a Young Soul Eater being equivalent to a Half-step SSS-Rank organism should be more than enough for one to understand that the Netherworld is no starter location. It''s highly possible that the Netherworld is of a higher level than both the Land of Beginnings and the Nightmarescape, but it''s hard to say for certain¡­"

    If the Soul Eater''s memories weren''t so jumbled¡ªfrom how it was born to how it entered the Nightmarescape¡ªCassius would know more. But unfortunately, that was not the case. For the most part, the Soul Eater''s memories only pertained to the last few hundred years, where it had mostly been camping in the teleporting Black Temple called ''Soul''s Sacrifice.''

    "However," Cassius said with a faint smile, "considering that the Soul Eater had any amount of progress in its Soul Eater cultivation meant that it found other Soul Eaters and devoured them. And although it was a pure-born Soul Eater, it never once killed another of its kind in the Netherworld. After all, it first stepped foot onto the Soul Eater path very close to here¡ªin the Shallow Crater."

 Chapter 283 - 7/7]

    "And as a boon of this Bloodline, I can sense any Soul Eaters in close proximity to myself," Cassius said with an evil smirk. "With Soul Eaters sticking close to places with high levels of malevolence, this simply means that, as long as I continue traveling around the Shallow Crater and the Endless Dark Fog, I''ll eventually find more of my kind."

    One way or another, he''d become stronger through the advancements of his Soul Eater Bloodline. Even if he had to kill those of his race to achieve this, he''d do it without hesitation.

    While lost in his thoughts, the lively blue flame¡ªwhich had been silently watching until now¡ªsuddenly shot toward Cassius.

    ''Wha!? So fast¡ª''

    Even with his insane speed and perception, he was only able to catch a glimpse of the blue flame before it crashed into him and melded with his existence.

    "What the hell!?" Cassius exclaimed, warily searching through himself with his divine sense. "That blue flame¡­ Now that I think about it, why wasn''t it in the Soul Eater''s memories? It wasn''t even aware that the flame was in the same dark space as it. In fact, this entire temple wasn''t even built by the Soul Eater like I originally assumed, yet the blue flame was left unbothered at the top¡­ So then¡­ what the hell just entered inside me??"

    At the same moment those words left his mouth, the mysterious blue flame finished fusing with him. A large explosion of blue flames erupted like a volcano, with Cassius''s figure as the source. This eruption was miraculously capable of dispersing the surrounding darkness.

    After a few seconds, the eruption increased in intensity, causing the endless darkness to dissipate!

    However, contrary to how it appeared, the darkness hadn''t simply vanished. Rather, all of it¡ªeven at this very moment¡ªwas being constantly absorbed and refined by Cassius with the assistance of the blue flame.

    *Ding~!*

    [You plot-armor abusing dog, you! To actually encounter something like this, ha! Even your luck surprises the Great I!]

    [Acquired the Natural Universal Flame Ranked #419,999 ''Azura Flame'']

    [You have fused with the ''Azura Flame,'' which has fundamentally augmented your existence!]

    [Your EX- Rank ''Soul Eater'' Bloodline has been forcefully evolved into the EX++++ variant Soul Eater Bloodline ''Azura Devourer''!]

    [Your Battle Power has improved by leaps and bounds!]

    [Due to unforeseen circumstances, your Soul Eater path has evolved and become the ''Azura Devourer'' Path!]

    [All rank names stay the same, with only the ''Soul Eater'' part of each one being replaced with ''Azura Devourer.'']

    "Wow," Cassius said while enveloped in a sea of raging blue flames. "Just wow¡­"

    Plot armor, indeed. And one that came straight out of left field at that! Was this the so-called protagonist aura!?

    "I doubt it¡­" Cassius muttered self-deprecatingly, feeling the stinging sensation coursing through him. "After all, just owning this Bloodline inflicts so much pain on me¡­ What sort of protagonist has to constantly experience pain in order to become overpowered? I got the sh*t-tier main character card¡­ Haiz¡­"

    Was the phantom pain from his countless deaths not enough!? Might as well feel even larger levels of pain, huh!?

    How lovely¡­

    With a sigh, Cassius beckoned the immediate dispersal of his blue flames. The place instantly cleared out, leaving neither darkness nor flames.

    Looking around, he saw only the bloodstained altar and a certain pedestal that hadn''t been there before. It stood off to the side of the altar, likely hidden within the darkness prior to its clearing. The pedestal itself was very ordinary, but lying atop it was something that was anything but ordinary¡ªa pair of thin, golden bracelets with runic blue lines etched into them. The bracelets exuded stifling blue flames.

    Glancing at their System tag, Cassius saw:

    [Azura Flame Bangles (EX++++ Rank)]

    ¡ª[Description: Although this item does not directly increase one''s combat power, as something that once held a Universal Flame, it''s naturally not useless.]

    ¡ª[Effect 1: ''Display Universal Fire'' - Allows the User¡ªif assimilated with the Azura Flame¡ªto call upon the mighty Universal Flame once again, making it more than just a supplementary force.]

    ¡ª[Effect 2: ''Blue Flame Control'' - Increases the User''s control over the |Azura Flame| by 5000%.]

    ¡ª[Effect 3: ''Full Flame Manipulation'' - Enables the User to manipulate the |Azura Flame| however they choose, achieving utilization that once seemed impossible.]

    ¡ª[Effect 4: ''Extreme Nullification'' - Able to nullify most foreign substances in the world. Can even nullify toxic, malevolent, evil, magic, holy, demonic, and other such powerful forces. This effect works best if what the User is trying to nullify wasn''t targeting them, meaning an unrelated nullification.]

    ¡ª[Effect 5: ''Extreme Refinement'' - Grants the EX++++ Rank ''Azura Refinement Physique'' and the knowledge necessary to advance it, allowing the User to obtain a body that even Universal Flames cannot easily harm.]

    Without wasting a single breath, Cassius picked up the bangles and slid them onto both wrists. They fit his arms perfectly, thinning to a point where they looked like wristbands¡ªones that sat atop his Newbie 10 Wrist Weights. Surprisingly, neither item affected the other, seemingly existing in complete harmony.

    The effects of the bangles applied themselves to Cassius less than a second later, allowing him to feel far more in tune with the Azura Flame. He even felt like he could call upon it and turn the flames into a chair, a sword, or even a house! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But most importantly of all was the item''s last effect¡ªExtreme Nullification.

    "The Azura Flame must partially possess some of this quality, which explains why the darkness dispersed, leaving this place blank," Cassius said. "And if it was capable of dispersing and absorbing that darkness, then it should also be able to nullify the Endless Dark Fog."

    "Well, I guess I''ll just have to verify the truth of the matter later," he continued. "But for now, I still have the darkness of this place stored somewhere inside me. I should sort it all out and see how much of it I can absorb."

    Doing just that, he tugged on his inner darkness and redirected it to what he instinctively knew to be his Azura Refinement Physique cultivation center. He guided the process, permitting seamless absorption and empowerment throughout his entire body. His physique''s proficiency naturally started to rise.

 Chapter 284 - 284: Azure Refinement Physiques Advancement

    ¡ª After two hours of continuous absorption ¡ª

    OOOM!!

    All of the darkness inside Cassius had been successfully converted into the essence needed to progress his Azura Refinement Physique.

    When he first embarked on the progression journey of this particular Physique, he had to take the darkness and evenly spread it throughout his body. Once his body became saturated to a certain point by the darkness, a breakthrough in the Physique would occur.

    The Azura Refinement Physique was split into 12 levels. Each level not only improved one''s Physique attributes¡ªlike strength, speed, and reaction speed¡ªbut each new level also magnified the lethality of the Azura Flame.

    Once all of the darkness had been refined and circulated by Cassius, he rocketed straight up from the 1st Level to the 3rd, causing his physical prowess to spiral upward! He figured that even if he were to fight something like the Soul Eater, he would not be too far away from being evenly matched! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was remarkable news for him. After all, with the upcoming expedition to HELL, he required all the power he could muster.

    Just getting past the weakest of the Demon Kings would be more than hard enough, let alone what sort of insane strength he''d need to strong-arm his way through the Hellish dimension¡­

    There was also the Tournament of Yggdrasil, which would begin within the next couple of months. The amount of strength he''d need to best the greatest geniuses of the current generation across all Dimensions would be¡­ astronomical¡­

    A power level in the EX¡ªthe Transcendent Rank¡ªwas his short- to long-term goal. With that, he should be able to deal with most of his present problems.

    But as the saying goes: lesser problems go away, then even worse problems appear.

    Cassius wondered just how strong he''d have to be to finally be free of the constant threats to his life¡­ Would any amount of strength ever be enough¡­?

    "Best not to think about something so depressing," Cassius said with a sigh. "I should instead be figuring out how to escape this place. Should I just fly up? But what about that time-space altering stuff?"

    Figuring he''d just try things and see what happened, he sprang up like a broken coil. Countless air donuts were left in his wake as he shot up the way he came in. Oddly enough, after an instant of travel, he crashed through the black temple''s roof.

    "Hmm," Cassius mused, looking back behind him. "It appears that either the Azura Flame, the Soul Eater, or the Azura Flame Bangles were the things affecting the temple''s weird environment. But with one dead and the other two now in my possession, the temple has become an ordinary temple. Even the black tendrils surrounding the temple have disappeared."

    He knew from the Soul Eater''s memories that the black temple was something it found when it first arrived in this world. It was also something that always remained a mystery to it, as it would often teleport throughout the Shallow Crater and nearby territories, seemingly in search of something.

    However, with the benefits of fresh meat and souls being offered up on a silver platter, the Soul Eater felt no reason to question the temple''s motives. It simply took advantage of the temple''s constant traveling, finding a few snacks here and there to slightly satiate its insatiable hunger.

    Of course, now the Soul Eater was gone, and someone far younger had spent a fraction of the time to figure out the mysteries of the black temple¡ªa feat it never bothered trying to accomplish.

    "For an item and its power source to actively seek someone out," Cassius said, a keenness in his piercing gaze, "for what real reason would they feel the need to do something like that? And why had they chosen to show themselves to me? To even go so far as to guide me into that temple?"

    While zipping off into the distance¡ªtoward Fort EastWing¡ªthese questions lingered in his mind.

    Yet, for the life of him, he couldn''t figure out what exactly was so special about him that even items of the EX++++ Rank wanted him¡­

    Was it because of his Bloodlines? His lineage? His System¡­?

    The last option seemed the least likely, for even now, the System was an entity that far exceeded the power systems Cassius had come into contact with so far. It was at such a high level of both intelligence and functionality that nothing in existence seemed to be out of its reach.

    [Hoho~, praise me more, Virgin Host! My unlimited power and irresistible charisma know no limits! I, the Idle Evolution System, truly am something to be awed and gawked at for billions of years to come!]

    [?]

    [But don''t worry, Host, even though I can have anyone that has, is, or will ever live, I chose you. Do you know why?]

    Cassius really didn''t want to know the answer to that question, but he felt that he didn''t have much of a choice in the matter¡­

    He heaved a heavy sigh and asked, "Why¡­?"

    [It''s because you were the biggest loser I could find, obviously!]

    [Why? Did you think you were the special chosen one or something?? Nope! It was just that, out of the loser bum lot that I had on standby, I drew your name!]

    Silence...

    Cassius burst forward with a newfound level of speed, leaving his arrogant System in the backdrop.

    [But don''t worry, since I, the greatest of the great, have chosen you as my destined loser, I shall ensure that you shine the brightest out of all the world''s losers¡ªwait, where did you go!? Can a System not even finish its monologue anymore!?? Bah!]

    The indignant Idle Evolution System emoticon teleported and found its way right back to Cassius''s side, where it once again started a long rant about how awesome it was. It also made sure to rub Cassius''s inferiority in his face, emphasizing how great an honor it was to be connected to it at such a profound level.

    Cassius, of course, ignored 10 out of 10 words that left his System''s mouth. His time was used more wisely that way¡­

 Chapter 285 - 285: Raijin and Nyxvoldar

    ¡ª Meanwhile, at a time roughly a few hours ago, in the Land of Beginnings, at the Chamberlain Duke''s Mansion ¡ª

    CRACK¡ª

    A crystal sitting beside Charle''s crystal in the Life Crystal Hall cracked. Then, with a loud, violent explosion, it shattered. What was once a vibrantly glowing crystal grayed out, its broken shards now reflecting the extremely livid face of the Chamberlain Duke.

    "I''LL KILL YOU!!!" he roared at the top of his lungs. "I''LL KILL EVERY ONE OF YOU!!! ARRGHH!!!"

    It was said that after the shattering of his two eldest sons'' Life Crystals, the Chamberlain Duke rampaged through his territory and even beyond it. Many spread rumors that he had lost his mind. And to an extent, those rumors weren''t too far-fetched.

    Nonetheless, once the Mistalore King became involved in this mess, the Chamberlain Duke finally had some sense knocked back into him.

    A good punch never hurt anyone, someone wise once said¡­ probably.

    However, in a land far, far away, another punch was sent spiraling, and for a similar reason to boot.

    "Stop trying to get into my room," Cassius said while half-heartedly slapping and punching the Slayers huddled outside his door. "Just because you bunch are deprived of female interaction doesn''t mean you should be following the trail of a girl like perverts."

    "Ahh¡ª!"

    "Pl-Please don''t hit me!!"

    "N-Not in the face¡ªGah!"

    The Suicide Slayers were lucky that they hadn''t gone any further than curiously stalking his door, or else they''d be missing more than just a couple of teeth.

    "Now, now," Cassius said, his voice as cold as ice. "Get lost. And don''t bother trying to understand my Evomon. Also, it would be in your best interest to forget everything you saw today. If not¡­"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Just a sliver of the devilishly handsome man''s killing intent was enough to make their legs tremble. Their knees buckled, forcing them to stare down at their toes with shaky pupils.

    None even so much as dared match the devil''s gaze.

    "Does every single one of you understand what I''m trying to tell you?" asked Cassius, wearing an expression bereft of compassion.

    The Nightmare Slayers furiously nodded, then skedaddled. Large beads of sweat flew off their pale faces as they retreated to their respective Platoon Quarters. Not even one of them dared to report this matter to their Platoon Captains, the Vice Fort Commander, or the Fort Commander. Doing so would only lead to them needing to explain why on God''s green earth they were waiting outside of Cadet Cassius''s room like dogs in heat.

    In times like this¡ªwhen faced with someone substantially stronger than oneself¡ªit was best to simply keep quiet and suck up one''s grievances.

    Though, in the hearts of many, they couldn''t¡ªfor the life of them¡ªcomprehend how a new Nightmare Slayer had become powerful enough to pressure all of them. Such a massive incline in strength¡ªwhat had brought it about? Was it his time in the Boundless Gorge?

    Trapped for weeks in a cursed place like that¡­ the Suicide Slayers assumed that could do magical things to someone as long as they were capable of surviving.

    ¡ª Back in Cassius''s room ¡ª

    He had just creaked open the door to his room when, from the corner of his eye, a shadowy blade arm cut through the air. Crackling blackish-yellow electricity lagged behind the blade arm''s advance, leaving the isolated space a conflagration of dazzling elements.

    "Ho?" Cassius mused.

    Lifting two fingers, he effortlessly caught the blade''s lethally sharp edges. "You''re doing well to protect Opal, I see," he said with a satisfied smile. "That attack just now likely could''ve killed a weaker 2nd Class Slayer. I see now that all those Rank-up shards weren''t a waste."

    Only now realizing who had entered the room, Nyxvoldar''s eyes widened in alarm. He immediately ceased his attack and hit the ground with a thud. Entering a devout kneeling stance, he appeared extremely regretful, nervous even.

    Cassius cracked a small chuckle as he lifted Nyxvoldar with his telekinesis. He then patted him on the shoulder before walking ahead. After passing a short corner wall, he was welcomed with the sight of his tiny, simple room. Sitting toward the far side of the bed in a frightful manner was the meek Opal¡ªa girl whose beauty had no right being so immaculate.

    As for Raijin¡ªwho was also supposed to be keeping a vigilant watch over the adorable cat-girl¡­

    "...Raijin," Cassius said to the miniature dragon sleeping upside down in a corner, with its long body leaning up against the very same corner. "You lazy¡­ Haiz¡­"

    Seeing as his dragon was still peacefully immersed in the world of dreams, Cassius slapped out with the palm of his right hand. Raijin¡ªquick as ever¡ªinstantly shot his eyes open and swerved out of the way. He then transitioned into a defensive stance, ready to beat up whoever dared slip past his extremely vigilant watch¡ª

    ''Master¡­!? Oh, no¡­''

    Raijin''s confidently sinuous expression drastically changed as he slithered over to his master and bowed in utmost forgiveness.

    Veins bulged all over Cassius''s face as his smile turned crooked, eerily friendly.

    Yet, after a pause and a deep breath, he shook his head and turned away from Raijin. "Stop being a bum," he said while already slowly walking toward Opal. "We both know you don''t require sleep. Be more like Nyx; he''s much more industrious."

    Nyxvoldar wore a proud, almost smug look upon hearing his master''s kind words. Raijin, on the other hand, was left to sulk and cast hateful glares at the haughty bastard beside him.

    ''You told me you''d warn me beforehand if Master returned, just like I was planning to do for you during your nap!'' Raijin seemed to think. ''You backstabbing bastard!!''

    Nyxvoldar''s lips curled up in amusement as he gloated in the dragon''s direction.

    ''Why, you¡­!!''

    If not for Master''s presence and orders, Raijin would be having Nyx meat for dinner!

    Meanwhile, on Cassius and Opal''s side, both seemed ignorant of the growing feud between dragon and monster. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Have you been well while I was away?" Cassius asked, slight concern flashing in his irises. "I know I''ve been gone a bit longer than expected, but¡ª"

    Just then, a soft feminine body collided with his. Opal Mistalore''s body.

    "???"

 Chapter 286 - 1/7]

    "???"

    Although taken aback at first, Cassius quickly reciprocated the hug when he sensed the poor girl''s unease.

    She had been trapped in that cold, wet, and scary dungeon for so long. And when finally allowed to escape, the kind man who helped her spoke words that surely spelled his demise. For the past few hours, she couldn''t stop herself from assuming the worst.

    It became dark again. So very dark.

    Then, like the dam walls of light breaking forth, the door to the room she was ordered to stay in swung open. Light returned once more.

    Only muffles escaped Opal''s lips, but Cassius could fully understand the intent behind what she was trying to say. He smiled fondly, coddling her head. "Don''t worry, I won''t leave you alone again. After all, we''re going to head over to your elder sister''s place right after I explain to the Fort Commander what happened."

    ''Yun, Yun!?'' Opal''s puffy eyes brightened as she peered into his soul, searching for the truth in his words.

    Cassius patted her head, causing her to cutely squint. "Don''t worry," he said. "I only sometimes lie. This isn''t one of those times."

    Opal''s cheeks puffed outward.

    How was she supposed to know if that wasn''t also a lie? The big jerk.

    Cassius chuckled before swooping the jittery cat-girl into his arms. "Before you get mad, I''m only doing this because it''s faster if I transport you to your elder sister. Raijin here is convenient for long, relaxed travel, but I''m still faster by a long shot."

    Raijin grumbled a little in the background but knew full well how true that statement was. In terms of raw speed, he could never hope to beat his Master. Even ascending to the high heavens above would be an easier task to accomplish.

    "Anyway," Cassius said while looking away from the profusely blushing girl in his arms, "I say it''s time we make another trip. Come, Raijin and Nyxvoldar; it''s time to go."

    Both of his unique Evomons complied with their Master''s request and returned to the Evospace inside him. Seeing as they no longer needed to reside within an Evoball due to their special constitutions, they were now able to "enjoy" each other''s presences within the mystical inner world¡ªthe Evospace.

    However, as it was a new System feature that came just recently, it was naturally still in the development process. Right now, it was really just a massive empty space with a small mountain range and a couple of ponds in the center. Though, for Raijin and Nyxvoldar, it was more than sufficient enough for them to relax and soothe their tired bones.

    Cassius sighed as he watched his two most powerful Evomons hit the sack as soon as they entered the Evospace.

    "Those two¡­" Cassius muttered before shaking his head and focusing on the shy girl in his arms. "You ready?"

    Opal''s mind spun, and so did her eyes, but she meekly nodded nonetheless.

    Cassius smiled before saying, "Hold on."

    Soon after those two words left his mouth, he blurred.

    In an instant, the scenery had changed, and the two of them were now standing directly outside a well-polished office. Calmly sitting inside that office was the mountain-man-like Fort Commander¡ªEisenburg.

    Without even needing to say anything, the Fort Commander''s voice sounded out, deep and rich:

    "Come in, Cadet Cassius."

    As one not to stand on ceremony, Cassius waltzed right on in. He briskly approached the opulent cedarwood desk, where on the other side sat a man whose presence felt overbearing. It wasn''t anywhere near as powerful as the East Fortress Master''s, but it was still up there.

    ''5th Stage 2nd Class Slayer¡­ He''s far stronger than I originally assumed the Fort Commander to be.''

    "Speak. What have you come to me for, Cadet Cassius?" Eisenburg asked in a neutral tone. "And who is the girl in your arms? A friend?"

    Cassius smiled in a friendly way. "Yes, my friend," he said as shadows began to shroud his face. "I''m just making sure she gets to where she needs to go. And to this end, I have come to you. For that and also to discuss what happened to Platoon 49."

    "Platoon 49¡­? I see. Go on, then. I''m all ears."

    "Very well, sir," Cassius said, his guard still raised. "Platoon 49 is¡­"

    He then went on to explain how Platoon 49 had been entirely wiped out, and did so while expertly leaving out his involvement in the matter. He did so this way because trust was not easy to come by, and if he were being frank, he didn''t yet trust this Fort Commander.

    In fact, he didn''t trust anyone in this Land of Darkness.

    ''If I were powerful enough, I could simply read through the Fort Commander''s description and see if he had anything to do with Opal''s kidnapping,'' Cassius thought as he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. ''But since that is not possible, informing him of Opal''s true identity is not wise. Furthermore, outright telling him that I murdered all of Platoon 49 is also impossible.''

    For now, he had to play things safe. Until he was strong enough to no longer beat around the bush, he had to continue playing things this way.

    After the conclusion of the altered recap of events, Eisenburg''s expression thoughtfully contorted. "I understand the general situation," he said, his voice unreadable. "I''ll report this higher up and also inform them of a potential Soul Eater scheme."

    "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Cadet Cassius," he continued, seemingly not the least bit suspicious. "What would you like as a reward for your contributions? You''ve received permission to bring your friend to wherever she has to go, but that is hardly a sufficient reward. So tell me, what else is it that you want?"

    Although Cassius found Fort Commander Eisenburg''s pleasing attitude a little bit odd, he decided to use this opportunity to request something that would make things far more convenient for him:

    "As long as you''d have it, I''d like to start a new Platoon¡ªPlatoon 0¡ªand be the only active member of that same Platoon," he said. "I won''t deceive you; I request this so as to have more freedom and not get caught up in something as dangerous as what I just experienced. As for other members, using random Slayers as placeholders or members on paper should be easiest." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 287 - 287: The Plans of the Boundless Gorge

    Fort Commander Eisenburg smirked as he interlocked his fingers. "It seems to me that you have this all thought out," he said. "Were you so sure that I''d offer you an additional reward?"

    "I was not," Cassius answered truthfully. "But I had this on my bucket list, so I figured I''d throw it out with the opportunity you presented to me."

    "Smart," Eisenburg said. "And luckily for you, your request is doable. But there will be no need to add placeholder members to your Platoon. Your Platoon also won''t be marked on any ledgers or records; you''ll be completing missions totally off the grid as a special unit. Will that be fine with you, Cadet Cassius?"

    After a brief moment of surprise, Cassius nodded. "That is a better bargain than I could''ve hoped for," he said. "Thank you for this, Fort Commander, sir."

    "No need for that," Eisenburg said with a dismissive wave. "You''ve earned this reward for bringing back such vital information. Oh, and Cadet, you''ll no longer be staying within this Fort following the creation of Platoon 0. You will instead be stationed near somewhere very familiar to you¡ªthe Boundless Gorge. But that doesn''t mean your range of influence will be limited to that area, for you will also receive missions that take you all over the Mistalore Defense Nation, perhaps even beyond it¡ªinto the Endless Dark Mist."

    "I understand," Cassius said, concealing the growing unease in his heart. ''The Boundless Gorge¡­ That place again¡­''

    It looked like destiny had a number of things in store for him. One of which wanted him to be close to the Boundless Gorge.

    "Anyway," Fort Commander Eisenburg said, "you are dismissed. And here are the directions to your new place of residence in the Defense Nation. Feel free to make your way over there as soon as you finish up with whatever you plan to do with that friend of yours."

    "Yes¡­" Cassius said, a bit confused by how easy this was going. "I''ll go right away, sir. Thank you again."

    "No problem," Eisenburg said while watching the young man vanish from his office along with the girl in his arms.

    However, after a few seconds passed and Cassius was long gone, the Fort Commander''s face started to twitch. His smile suddenly froze. Then, as if a ghost had left his body, he jerked forward, with a black misty substance shooting out of him and into the distance.

    Eisenburg¡ªrubbing his head¡ªlooked around in bewilderment. "H¡­ How did I get here¡­?" he asked, clearly out of it. "What have I been doing?"

    ¡ª Meanwhile, at a location thousands of miles away, near the entrance to the Boundless Gorge ¡ª

    The black misty substance that left EastWing Fort appeared. It moved as if it had a mind of its own, and within seconds, it was racing through the depths of the Boundless Gorge. The black mist reached depths that even Cassius had not been able to make it to.

    After a couple more minutes, the black mist reached the very end of the Boundless Gorge, doing so unimpeded by the terrifyingly powerful Nightmares inside the Gorge. It arrived at the huge gothic doors to the pitch-black chamber before passing through and encountering the shadowy terrors within.

    Yet, the shadowy terrors did nothing to stop the black mist they all clearly noticed.

    The black mist wandered around before locking in on a direction and dashing toward the only shadowy terror that hadn''t made a single move at its arrival. This terror also didn''t do anything to prevent the black mist from touching it and disappearing inside.

    After a few moments, the hollowed eyes of the shadowy terror finally opened. The others¡ªwho were staring at it¡ªmade their voices known: S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Is it done? Is the Destined One returning to the Boundless Gorge?"

    The question they all had seemed to synchronize with one another.

    "¡­Yes," said the shadowy terror that assimilated with the black mist. "That human who got a little too close to our prison ended up making for the perfect guide. With my Darkness Possession Technique, he guided the Destined One to somewhere near the Boundless Gorge. And if the Destined One is as destined as his fate dictates, then he''ll undoubtedly re-enter the Boundless Gorge with it in such close proximity."

    The shadowy terrors went silent, but in their hearts, they knew no greater happiness. Doubt had festered within them for the longest while when the Destined One didn''t return, but now they could rest assured.

    The Destined One would come back and descend the Boundless Gorge once more. Then they''d kill him and snatch his destiny for themselves.

    The Forgotten Shores would soon become a distant memory, and along with it, the cage that bound them all in worlds disillusioned from reality¡­

    ¡ª In far-off dimensions, in the Hellish landscape of HELL''s 1st Floor ¡ª

    Within this charred world, there sat three colossal fiery castles. The castles each towered atop a sharp cliff, with each of the cliffs pointing toward one another in a triangle-like formation. Laying below them¡ªtens of thousands of miles below¡ªthere resided a very large scorched city. Demons both big and small flew around and meandered about this city. The strength of the demons varied, but all of them possessed savage glints in their abyssal gazes, with some having no intelligence to speak of.

    The city¡ªdubbed the City of Scafor¡ªfunctioned not like a typical city. The city''s citizens carried around weapons at all times and often got into conflicts with one another, which was completely normal¡­ and legal.

    The city also had shops, restaurants, hubs, and sports, but for all of them, everything was especially barbaric.

    Humans and the members of other races were seen put up for sale or being pushed around in chains by larger-bodied demons. None were treated well, and some of them would likely not live through the day, as they would either be executed or transported to the chopping block. Those going to the chopping block were set to be prepared and eaten by demons, their fates not pretty ones.

 Chapter 288 - 288: Hellish City of Scafor

    The 1st Floor of HELL¡ªit was not the place where those of the 7 Dimensions'' races were sent to be judged¡ªit was a No Man''s Land. A land ruled by the 72nd, 71st, and 70th Demon Kings, all of whom lived lavishly and tyrannically.

    There was no forgiveness for those who found themselves trapped in this sweltering world¡­

    "Andromalius, the deadline for that impetuous human''s Demon King Bloodline is rapidly approaching," said a voice the crimson-adorned man on his throne was very familiar with. "Do you honestly believe that weakling we saw will have the guts to enter HELL on his own? With his meager strength, even the weakest of Hell Hounds would be able to kill him." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dantalion¡­" Demon King Andromalius''s deathly voice echoed within the halls of his castle. Many of his concubines and various other orgy members immediately took the hint and vacated the room, doing so while barely dressed.

    ''This many-faced feminine and masculine bastard has not been one known to care about much of anything, let alone the loss of a Demonic Bloodline that never should''ve been given out to begin with,'' Andromalius thought while swirling his wine glass. ''For him to be here now, there must be something concerning that insignificant worm that I''m not seeing. Is there a chance it has something to do with that old hag? The Hellish Sphinx? The one who was banished from the highest Floors of HELL¡­''

    "Well, Andromalius?" Dantalion probed, his face constantly changing between that of a handsome man and a pretty woman. "Will that weak worm dare enter HELL? And if he doesn''t dare, what will we do? Simply act like he hasn''t just gotten away with one of our own??"

    Andromalius pondered atop his throne, slouching back with only a loose robe on. His demonically slitted eyes flickered as he turned his gaze to the roof of the throne room.

    Although the stench of numerous unknown bodily fluids still lingered in the air, one could vividly smell the sulfur burning off the 72nd Demon King''s red obsidian horns.

    After a few moments of thought, Andromalius returned his focus to the 71st Demon King of HELL¡ªDantalion¡ªan extremely perplexing man who possessed qualities that made his gender almost obsolete. Yet, the oddest thing about him had to be the fact that he possessed neither womanly nor manly genitals; he was a clean slate. Another unusual thing was how his rapidly switching transitions between man and woman sometimes led to his head splitting off and multiplying, with both his male and female faces present beside each other.

    In all honesty, being around this entity freaked Andromalius out, so he''d prefer to give him whatever answer he wanted and see him leave.

    "Well?" Andromalius said, leaning his cheek against his right hand with a bored expression. "What would you have me do if that human doesn''t decide to re-enter HELL before he loses access to that aberration of a Bloodline? Would you have me break the rules of HELL and go to the Humanity Tower''s 0th Floor with my main body?"

    "Come on now, Andromalius," Dantalion said as he slowly approached the towering throne ahead. "We both know that any three of us can personally enter the Humanity Tower as long as we stretch the rules a little. We''ve yet to break through into the SSS-Rank, after all."

    "Just like our subordinates down below," he continued, pointing down with his index finger. "We can go to the 0th Floors of every Dimension besides the Heavenly Kingdom. It''s not difficult so long as you have the necessary tools and are below the SSS-Rank. The penalties are minimal enough to make a trip to the Humans'' world worth it. To nip this anomaly in the bud while it''s still in the process of growing; don''t you think we should do it?"

    Andromalius swirled his wine cup once more before setting it down on the left armrest of his scarlet throne. He narrowed his eyes and leaned his chin on his large, rough hands. "What does Seere have to say about this?" he asked. "He''s the strongest among us on the 1st Floor, so where does he stand on this?"

    Dantalion''s brows furrowed as he briefly flashed a speculative look in Andromalius''s direction.

    ''Why would this narcissistic and self-centered guy all of a sudden concern himself with the opinions of that cold-faced speedster?'' he asked himself. ''Well, regardless of what this muscle-headed idiot has planned, I need to get Hellion''s Demon Core. It was something I couldn''t obtain before because of her unique situation on the 0th Floor, but with her now detached from HELL, I am free to do as I like with her.''

    No matter what, Dantalion had to get the meat-headed Demon King to take the risk and open up the portal out of HELL first. He wanted it done this way because, although the penalty for hopping out of HELL''s 1st Floor to a different Dimension was not harsh, it didn''t come without its rare risks.

    Death was likely if one of HELL''s Scions found out what they were doing. His death, if they discovered his plans, would be even more unbearable. Thus, having someone else take the brunt of the backlash and interrogations if anything went wrong had to go to Andromalius.

    Seere¡ªbecause of his naturally cautious and calculative nature¡ªwas automatically taken out of the equation.

    However¡­

    However, that didn''t mean that Dantalion couldn''t lie his way out of this one. After all, even if Andromalius doubted his words and sought out Seere for verification, it wouldn''t work out the way he wished. Seere tended to isolate himself and train his speed where no one could find him; finding him in time would be impossible, and attempting to do so would be a fool''s task.

    ''Yet, even with all of that in mind, how could I possibly know for certain that this meathead will take the bait?'' Dantalion thought evilly. ''Well, I don''t. But if there''s one thing I do know, then it''s that he loves doing stupid things as long as it further inflates his ego. Thus, him passing out on this source of entertainment and pride improvement is more unlikely than him denying an orgy with the most beautiful of fairies.''

 Chapter 289 - 2/7]

    Despite Dantalion believing that he had everything figured out, Andromalius inwardly smirked when he heard him say that Seere wholly agreed to entering the Human Tower.

    ''That fast lunatic came over to my castle just the other day asking to use the top-notch weights he heard I acquired from the higher floors,'' Andromalius thought. ''He also told me he wouldn''t be coming out of his training seclusion until he achieved a higher league of speed. So how, pray tell, would Dantalion have received a yes from him?'' S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''The pretty, two-faced cunt wouldn''t wait so long to come to me if he already got a go-ahead from Seere,'' he continued within his mind, though he outwardly nodded to all the nonsense spewing from Dantalion''s lips. ''This cunning guy is definitely up to something¡ªprobably something to do with that old hag like I first predicted¡ªand he thinks me to be stupid enough to just play into his hands¡­ Ha!''

    "Very well then," he said, taking out an old parchment paper. "If we''re to do this¡ªand when considering the involved risks¡ªI believe it to be totally reasonable if we both sign our names on this. And feel free to read its contents, but I can tell you right now that it essentially states that neither of us will backstab or work against the other in this operation."

    "!!!"

    "A Blood Contract??" Dantalion asked, eyes widened. "Is there truly a need to go so far, old friend¡ª"

    "Of course there is," Andromalius said with a toothy smile. "Do remind me, ''old friend,'' what are we?"

    "We are¡­" Dantalion hesitated, the words stuck in the back of his throat.

    "We''re demons!" Andromalius finished for him as his oppressive aura surged around him. "We do the most vile, evil of things just because we can! Do you honestly believe that neither of us will betray the other if it really comes down to it!??"

    ''This¡­ When did this bastard suddenly get a good head on his shoulders!?'' Dantalion thought, angered. ''No, wait¡­ People rarely change, with change being even less common among demonkind. This musclehead certainly knows something I don''t¡­''

    While indignantly writing his name in his own blood on the Blood Contract, Dantalion''s brain lit up like a lightbulb. ''Seere! Yes, that must be it! This idiot must''ve somehow gotten in contact with him beforehand¡­ Damn! I''ve been conned¡­! And by this moron, no less¡­''

    This incident would forever remain a stain on his reputation.

    But despite his hate-filled heart and the frustration of a wasted journey to a castle that¡ªthough it initially appeared nearby¡ªwas in fact tens of thousands of miles away, Dantalion had still managed to gain something valuable: the reluctant support of Andromalius. Even if things took a turn for the worse, who would the Hell Scions be more likely to hold responsible? Dantalion¡ªthe composed and diplomatic schemer? Or Andromalius¡ªthe violent and rebellious brute perched arrogantly on his throne?

    Dantalion left the 72nd Demon King''s castle with a bit of malice; but mostly, he was satisfied with the results of this meeting. Even with a couple of hiccups along the way, it still went better than it could have.

    ''Heh,'' both Andromalius and Dantalion seemed to think to themselves while wearing near-identical smirks. ''I won''t be on the losing end, dear brother.''

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within the esoteric Nightmarescape, inside the large, mansion-like private quarters of the 12th Royal Mistalore Princess ¡ª

    "Tell me again, Opal, are you positive that this man didn''t do anything perverted to you?"

    Opal Mistalore fervently shook her head, but seeing as she was also taking furtive glances at the devilishly handsome Cassius, Yuna''s eyes further narrowed. She defensively hugged her little sister as daggers shot out of her glaring pupils.

    "...Why are you treating me like some kind of degen?" Cassius asked in exasperation. "I don''t recall doing anything of that sort to you, or anyone else for that matter¡­"

    "Doesn''t matter," Yuna said. "You''re not a good person. A bad guy¡ªthat is what you are. Bad guys like you must be perverts, you pervert."

    Silence.

    Opal was sheepishly blushing, and Cassius was trying his utmost not to burst a blood vessel.

    ''This girl¡­'' he thought, shaking his head with furrowed brows. ''She''s nothing like her sister¡­''

    "What was that?" Yuna asked fiercely.

    "Huh?" Cassius said. "I¡­ didn''t say anything¡­"

    He feared this girl''s intuition. It was absurd.

    "Anyway," he said to change the subject. "I brought your sister back to you and informed you of everything I knew about how she got there. I also told you that I dealt with most of it, leaving only the Chamberlain Duke still left alive. I believe that means we''re done here; I''ll take care of the Duke and what remains of his coup d''etat plan as soon as I''m able to do so¡ª"

    "No," Yuna interrupted. "I want to help. She''s my sister, not yours. And this is my family problem, so you return to whatever insane stuff you were doing before and I''ll handle this¡ª"

    "No," Cassius interrupted. Just as stubborn as her, he said, "You''re a princess, and unless I want to be on the receiving end of your protective father''s wrath, I won''t allow you to go after the Chamberlain Duke. Just stay here with Opal; I''ll finish up what I started. Me and that Duke have already burned all our bridges; peace and cohabitation are not an option."

    Yuna''s reddish-orange eyes turned into slits as she glared at the man sitting opposite her. She seemed unwilling to concede this matter so easily. But before the stand-off could further intensify, the jittery movements of the adorable cat-girl took both of them out of their stare-down.

    Neither Cassius nor Yuna wished to make her more uncomfortable than she already was. On this, the two stubborn people could agree and come to a temporary truce.

    "Fine," Yuna said, crossing her arms under her breasts. "You can try to finish up your blood feud with the Chamberlain Duke, but I''ll only give you half a year before I intervene and ask father to deal with that presumptuous man."

 Chapter 290 - 290: Passing 100,000 Meters in the Boundless Gorge

    "I''ll only give you half a year."

    Cassius smirked. "You underestimate me, my dear," he said. "I won''t even need that long to deal with someone like the Chamberlain Duke. I guarantee you that I''ll personally put an end to his insignificant existence."

    "Yeah, whatever," Yuna said with a pout and a small blush. "Big words coming from a bad guy."

    Cassius chuckled before vanishing from his spot. He patted the 12th Princess on the head, enjoying her cute reaction for a moment before disappearing just as she swatted at him.

    Reappearing beside the puzzled Opal, he patted her head as well. "Keep an eye on that troublesome sister of yours, will you?" he voice transmitted directly to her mind. "I don''t want her doing anything stupid. And I believe I can trust you to make sure that doesn''t happen, right?"

    Flustered, Opal bobbed her head. She averted her misty gaze away from the piercingly playful glare focused on her in passing.

    "Cassius, you¡­!" Yuna said in a low growl, still very much embarrassed about how he touched her.

    A hearty laugh faded into the background as Cassius left the room and the mansion.

    Following his departure, the flush-faced Opal looked at her sister and pulled on her dress. She seemed to want to say something but was unable to. In the end, she resorted to using sign language, though she did so in a very bashful manner.

    "Hmm?" Yuna''s eyes and brain worked together to decipher what her little sister was saying. However, the more she understood, the more her crimson-colored blush darkened.

    By the conclusion of Opal''s sign language session, Yuna''s expression became a mixture of frustration, anger, and embarrassment. She genuinely couldn''t believe what her sister had just said.

    "T¡­ That''s not at all what''s going on!" Yuna suddenly exclaimed, steam rising from her ears. "Me and that jerk!? In that kind of relationship!?? H-He wishes!"

    Opal tilted her head in confusion, appearing as cute as a button.

    ''Yun, Yun and big brother Cass are not dating¡­? Then¡­''

    Her stomach churned as butterflies made themselves at home. Her cherry-red cheeks did well to match her bashfully jittery demeanor. And while lost in her own wistful delusions, her elder sister ceaselessly rambled on about how such an illicit notion between her and Cassius was impossible.

    Yet, with her eyes deliriously spiraling and her hands waving all around, Yuna''s appeal became less and less convincing¡­ S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, at a location thousands of miles away, a blissfully oblivious man materialized ¡ª

    "To be back here," Cassius said as he surveyed his surroundings. "I knew I''d eventually return, but I hadn''t thought it would happen so soon."

    The Boundless Gorge¡ªa crack in the charred ground that became progressively wider the farther east one looked. The exact limits of the Gorge were unknown, for it cut through the Endless Dark Fog and stretched beyond the explored edges of the Mistalore Defense Nation.

    It was highly possible that the Boundless Gorge extended into other Defense Nations, but none could confirm the veracity of that speculation. After all, in the Nightmarescape, the Mistalore Defense Nation was still in the process of expanding its territories. They had not purified enough of the Endless Dark Fog to reach the bounds of other Defense Nations.

    However, this did not mean they weren''t aware of the existence of other Defense Nations. The Defense Nations were, in the end, extensions of their Land of Beginnings counterparts. And since each Kingdom in the Azure Archipelago had some modicum of knowledge of the other Kingdoms, they naturally knew that they had set up Defense Nations as well.

    But since the first teleportation into the Nightmarescape brought you to a random part of the Nightmarescape, everyone was essentially in the dark. Furthermore, as far as the Mistalore King was aware, not a single Kingdom had yet to encounter another in the Nightmarescape.

    This was a testament to the utterly enormous size of the darkness-shrouded dimension, its limits undoubtedly verging on limitless.

    Yet, there were some natural phenomena in each Defense Nation that told people that as long as they kept exploring the Dark Fog, eventually they would meet other Defense Nations. They might even encounter mysterious natives of the dimension¡ªones that certainly belonged as part of the unexplainable and highly intelligent.

    It was for these reasons that all the Defense Nations never stopped purifying and uncovering more of what lay beyond the Endless Dark Fog.

    One of those very motivational phenomena that kept those of the Mistalore Defense Nation exploring¡ªthe Boundless Gorge¡ªa long and wide crevice in the ground. At first, it appeared naturally formed, but if one observed closely, they''d notice what seemed to be the scratches left by an extremely powerful sword intent. This sword intent became more prominent the farther one progressed into the Gorge, eventually even taking a physical shape and attacking those daring enough to venture past the 100,000-meter mark.

    Weirder yet, however, was how this insanely grandiose sword was formed in the first place.

    Another inexplicable question was why Nightmares ranging from Rank 1 to Rank 4 perpetually spawned in the Boundless Gorge and viciously swarmed whoever entered. Such an enormous number of Nightmares appearing underground made no sense.

    It wasn''t like the Nightmares walked into the Boundless Gorge and waited for any foolish humans to enter. The Nightmares were born there¡ªbred there¡ªand grew stronger in that terrifying place.

    It was almost like¡­ Almost like the Nightmares were protecting something¡­ and were willing to do whatever was necessary to ensure that they didn''t fail¡­

    "That makes 100,000 meters," Cassius said while casually lobbing off the heads of dozens of Early Rank 4 Nightmares. "I got bored of waiting around in my new fancy manor, which was why I decided to re-enter the Boundless Gorge a day ago, but¡­ but I had expected more of a challenge¡­"

    He was just as bored fighting city-sized monsters as he was lazing around in his manor waiting for the Fort Commander or East Fortress Master to dispatch him somewhere. Both were incredibly boring, leaving no room for any good quality character development to be built.

    What was life without Character Development? - Idle Evolution System

 Chapter 291 - 291: Tri-Elemental Gorgon, Rank 4 Nightmare Beasts

    "Haiz¡­ So boring," Cassius said, feeling barely a pinch when an Early Rank 4 Nightmare hit him with everything it had. "Maybe I should''ve just focused on the hunt for Soul Eaters instead," he muttered while being launched into a wall protected by strong sword intent.

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    "At least this sword intent puts up a decent fight," he said whilst leisurely evading the blackish-gold spinning swords whizzing past him. "Each individual one is roughly as strong as those big, raging idiots over there, but when they work together like this, their overall combat prowess greatly increases."

    "Still," he continued coldly, grabbing one of the large illusory black swords mid-air. "Even while attacking in perfect synchronicity, they have yet to achieve the Mid 4th Rank Nightmare level. And unless they''re at least as strong as that Soul Eater was, they won''t be capable of threatening my life."

    If they weren''t even able to kill him, then what was the point in fighting them? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    All the self-prep he did to prepare himself to die repeatedly felt more than a bit meaningless right about now¡­

    Just as that thought formed in his mind, a loud rumbling suddenly reverberated. It boomed out so ridiculously loudly that the Early Rank 4 Nightmares lost their footing while attacking Cassius; they wound up falling on their butts or crashing into the wall behind him.

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s brows raised in interest as he nonchalantly decapitated the remainder of the Early Rank 4 Nightmares and absorbed their Nightmare Essence. "It seems that some fun has finally found its way to me."

    The Gorge wall opposite the one he floated next to started to crack. The crack began as a tiny fracture, but in less than a couple seconds, it exponentially widened and became larger than most cities. After another second, it broadened to that of large-sized countries, with rocks the size of Manhattan breaking off the wall and shattering against the ground.

    Right then, the massive crack in the wall exploded outward!

    The residual debris from the explosion resulted in the death of numerous Rank 3 and Rank 4 Nightmares. Yet, the colossal entity that caused these deaths cared not the least bit about the loss of its own kind. It instead stretched out its four very large spiked wings and roared at a decibel level that left weaker Nightmares dying in a pool of their own blood.

    That was when the impassive Cassius saw it¡ªa three-headed draconic Nightmare with two sets of wings and three pairs of legs. Looking at its System Interface, he saw:

    [Tri-Elemental Gorgon]

    [Realm: Mid Rank 4]

    [Approximate Battle Power: Half-step SSS-Rank]

    "Mid Rank 4?" Cassius said with furrowed brows, the air beneath him crackling with electricity. "How interesting."

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    He blurred forward, leaving catastrophic destruction in his wake. Even larger numbers of Nightmares perished, with the amount only ever increasing.

    Upon arriving in front of the multi-colored dragon-like creature, Cassius threw out a punch. His fist was coated in a fiery blue flame¡ªone that contained within it an erasure aspect that threatened to tear apart both time and space.

    |Azura Flame - Azura Flame Bangle''s 1st Move - Azura Burst|

    Following the complete activation of the Technique, everything in front of Cassius started to rapidly disintegrate. The Azura Flames engulfed the atmosphere, the surrounding Nightmares, and anything else that may have been obstructing its path. The flames then drained all sources of energy from everything they consumed, which thus further improved the intensity of the flame and the strength of the user.

    The Tri-Elemental Gorgon¡ªwhich had just focused its six eyes enough to properly see¡ªwas surprised by a massive blue flame that towered over it.

    The blue flames achieved an ever-growing size that seemed to trump that of a small planet!

    Yet, even with the imminent, astronomical threat before it, the Tri-Elemental Gorgon merely snorted. It then positioned its three different-colored heads toward the limitlessly expanding Azura Flames. Each one of its heads opened up one by one, with energy balls materializing inside. The energy balls matched the colors of the draconic head they were forming inside, which subsequently created an iridescent spectacle that was both beautiful and scarily dangerous.

    The moment the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s heads unleashed the beams of light that detached from their energy balls, the distance between them and the Azura Flame was instantly closed. Oxygen within the area depleted to zero, the molecules in the air fried up, and even the ground below melted in a straight circular line, its width ludicrous. The already darkened earth in the Boundless Gorge became even more scorched, with large sections of it cracking and imploding upward.

    In the time that it took the Azura Flames to collide with the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s disastrous beam attacks, the surroundings¡ªfor thousands upon thousands of miles¡ªlooked as if the worst volcanic eruption in history had just gone off.

    Time seemed to freeze, with the two colliding forces pulling and pushing away from one another. They momentarily swirled and rebounded off each other, making something akin to a twisted and extremely volatile Yin and Yang sign.

    Yet, while both attacks were in the process of figuring out which one would come out on top, a tiny inconspicuous figure phased in between the attacks at an inconceivable speed. The tiny figure then dashed at his maximum speed while standing in the very center of the two swirling forces. The shockwaves from his dash forcefully dispersed both his and the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s attacks, causing the residual energies from the attacks to explode outward.

    Using the lethally potent residual energies as a smoke screen, Cassius did not relent in his dash. He blitzed forward, moving almost as fast as teleportation would permit him to move. And because of the high density of mixed, convoluted energies in the area, the Tri-Elemental Gorgon was unable to pinpoint his exact location.

    However, with what little it could discern, it used one of its trump cards¡ªStone Sight¡ªan absolutely broken ability that turned everything it could see into stone. The only drawback was that the radius of effectiveness was rather limited and that it didn''t work as well when the target couldn''t be pinpointed.

    But regardless of these small cons, the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s Stone Sight¡ªwith its ridiculous peripheral vision¡ªwas able to turn everything within thousands of miles to stone!

    "!!!!!"

 Chapter 292 - 3/7]

    "!!!"

    Cassius¡ªnot capable of fully evading in time¡ªwas caught up in the reddish-hued gray light that shot out of the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s eyes. The light covered just about everything in the area. Rank 3 and Rank 4 Nightmares alike were turned into stone, unable to return to what they once were.

    ''My arm??'' Cassius thought as he urgently glanced at his left arm. ''It''s turning to stone!''

    The notion was a daunting one, but it was also a rather exciting one.

    He was curious to find out what''d happen if he actually turned to stone. Would he be able to break out? Would his Mythical Phoenix Bloodline come in clutch??

    Or would his story simply end with his demise having been a lackluster one¡­?

    Yet, not wishing to take the risk just because of his child-like curiosity, Cassius raised his right arm and sliced down at the arm being rapidly turned to stone. The arm was cut cleanly at the shoulder base, leaving it to fall from the sky, turn completely to stone, and eventually shatter against the hard, incinerated ground.

    "That was a close one," he said as he refocused his attention on the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s sinuous gazes. "Now, back to the fight¡ª"

    He jinxed it.

    A hidden fourth head suddenly appeared in the form of a tail on the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s backside. From that tail and subsequent head, another cast of |Stone Sight| was used. The same reddish-gray light as before was released unto the Gorge.

    "Well, shit, its name scammed me¡ª"

    In an instant, both Cassius''s exasperated expression and the rest of him froze in time. He had been encased in a suit of stone, left to plummet from the sky like a common rock sculpture.

    In a way, maybe this was Fate''s way of giving him what he wanted¡­

    Maybe¡­

    ''F*ck that!'' Cassius shouted inside his head. ''My claustrophobia was already bad, I don''t need this!''

    Yet, just as his thoughts froze in stone like his body had, a crazy idea popped up in his mind.

    What if he were to kill himself in order to fool the stone transformation process into believing that he was dead? Would something as insane as that actually work??

    Well, with what little time he had left before his consciousness became stonefied, he said hell with it and ruptured every vein in his body. Less than a nanosecond later, he blew up his internal organs, destroyed his soul, and splattered his brain matter inside himself.

    He died, obviously.

    However, with the miraculous effects of his Mythical Phoenix Bloodline and |Godly Nirvana Rebirth| Skill, every part of his existence reconstructed itself. From his brain to his other organs to even his soul¡ªall of it had been restored to the way it once was.

    As for the hard layer of stone that once covered him, it was no more. Only the flaked-off stone shavings of what it once was remained.

    "It appears that my half-assed hypothesis worked out in my favor," Cassius said while cracking his knuckles and neck. "What say we go for round 2¡ª"

    Before he could even finish that question, a fifth head suddenly reared itself beside the fourth head, with both being tail heads.

    "You motherfu¡ª"

    Cassius was once again encased in a suit of stone.

    But same as the first time, he killed himself in whatever way possible. Of course, with his Mythical Phoenix Bloodline, he naturally returned to life.

    "Okay, now you''re going to get it¡ª"

    BLING!

    A sixth head! The third tail head!

    Another reddish light array!

    "You sick son of a bit¡ª"

    Cassius froze once again!

    He killed himself¡ªonce again!!

    Another retry!!!

    "You dumb sh*t," Cassius said, irritated to no end. "It takes a lot more out of me to purposefully kill myself than to be killed by someone else, you know? For making me do it not once, not twice, but three f*cking times¡­ Well, I think your scales will look quite nice as an expensively constructed wall."

    FWIP!

    He blurred forward, using |Teleport| to further increase his already explosive speed.

    Knowing damn well that six heads was the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s limit¡ªand also knowing that the |Stone Sight| Skill had a cooldown¡ªhe went all out while he had the chance. He conjured the copied versions of Lilith and Mora, then activated his Azura Flame Bangles and infused the Azura Flame into both his weapons.

    Massive arcs of fiery blue flames spat out of Mora and Lilith. The place was lit up even more than when Cassius first used the Azura Flame on the Tri-Elemental Gorgon.

    Yet, this was far from enough destructive power for him; he wanted his strength to be overwhelming, unbelievably powerful!

    For but the briefest of instants, Cassius activated his |I AM SPEED| attribute and converted all his speed into the Atomic Element. It was temporary and could only be used this way because he was already right above the Mid Rank 4 Nightmare, but damn did it create something mesmerizingly glorious.

    The once dim black skies became a fantastical mixture of the blues and blacks produced by the |Azura Flame| as well as the purples, golds, and silvers made as a result of the Atomic Element. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For a few moments, that entire section of the Boundless Gorge was shrouded by a wide array of colors.

    However, do not let appearances deceive you, for none of the observed colors were harmless or benign. In fact, when any of the Nightmares so much as lightly touched a color, they were immediately vaporized.

    Not even their ashes remained¡­

    Yet, just when one believed that the whole world was going to be devoured by the pretty array of colorful lights, all of it shrunk. They shrunk and shrunk, until eventually, nothing except for a thin line of the colors could be seen. It perfectly contained every single one of the volatile elements that went into creating it, yet took things a step further and condensed it to a point where the wild, unruly aspect disappeared.

    No sounds came from the thin line¡ªa line that connected to the copy of Lilith and extended so high up that even Cassius knew not where the line''s tip lay.

 Chapter 293 - 293: Millions Of Deaths...

    *Ding!*

    [You have accidentally created your most powerful and highly taxing Skill yet!]

    [What would you like to name the Skill? (I suggest pretty, pretty, rainbow explosion¡ª)]

    "Pearlescent Divider," Cassius said, interrupting the System''s nonsense. "That is its name."

    OOUNG!

    Even the Heavens seemed to rejoice at the grand name chosen for a Skill just as grand. Moreover, the naming caused the line attached to Lilith to increase in width yet not reduce in quality, which improved its destructive power manyfold!

    [SSS-Rank Attack Skill ''Pearlescent Divider'' created!]

    However, Cassius was still not done!

    He raised Mora up to Lilith and copied over the colorful line blazing out of her. This, of course, made his Mana reserves deplete by even more astronomical amounts¡ªsending him dangerously close to 0%¡ªbut the trade-off was well worth it.

    Cassius positioned Lilith vertically and Mora horizontally. Then, with a wide smirk etched across his face, he sped up his advance and let loose the two |Pearlescent Dividers|. Mora''s pierced through the walls of the Boundless Abyss, digging into them for who knew how many thousands of miles. Lilith, on the other hand, cleaved countless dark clouds in half.

    Both of them closed in on the massive Tri-Elemental Gorgon. And with them covering all sides of escape, the Gorgon had nowhere to run; it was trapped.

    In one last attempt at preserving its life, it activated high-level barrier Skills en masse. Furthermore, it uniquely utilized its now-restored |Stone Sight| Skill to turn several of the barriers into an extremely robust stone. A stone material that wouldn''t easily bre¡ª

    ak¡­

    CLA¡ªCLING!

    In the last few moments before contact, Cassius unequipped his Newbie 10 Equipment Set and took his Newbie 10 Sword off his back before putting it into his Inventory. This urged his speed to achieve levels that normally would''ve only been possible in the lesser-restricted world of Humanity Tower''s 0th Floor.

    As a result of this sudden speed increase, the Tri-Elemental Gorgon wasn''t even able to register its death before being sliced into four different pieces¡­

    Furthermore, it wasn''t just its physical body that had been cleaved in four¡ªit was¡­ everything. Its soul, its Bloodline, even its Inner Nightmare Space!

    The Tri-Elemental Gorgon was as dead as they came. Dead, deader, and deadest.

    And surprisingly enough, the damage to the surroundings was kept to a minimum. Because of how slim, controlled, and condensed Cassius''s |Pearlescent Dividers| were, only two very thin lines were carved into the walls and floor of the Boundless Gorge. This also meant that the corpse of the Tri-Elemental Gorgon was very well preserved.

    It was just too bad that its Nightmare Essence extraction and subsequent devouring would make Cassius''s perfect kill seem kind of meaningless¡­

    Though, speaking of the Nightmare Essence from the kill, it arrived. And along with it came various System Notifications, each one doing well to satisfy his boundless greed.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain a Mid Rank 4 Nightmare ''Tri-Elemental Gorgon'' and absorbed its Nightmare Essence!]

    [Acquired massive amounts of Nightmare Essence!]

    [You have broken through into the 5th Stage of the 2nd Class Slayer Rank from the 4th Stage!]

    [Your Battle Power has tremendously improved!]

    [You now possess the approximate strength of something in the SSS-Rank!]

    "Good," Cassius said, stroking his chin in satisfaction. "I managed to reach this amount of strength without needing to undergo my Job/Class Awakening Quest. But perhaps I should still do it soon anyway¡ªmaybe after I make it a bit further?"

    He spoke those words while peering past the Tri-Elemental Gorgon''s corpse, his striking blue eyes zooming into the endless darkness. Even now¡ªwith all his newfound power¡ªhe could sense the presences of beings that made him feel insignificant, like an ant.

    "I still have a couple months'' worth of Nightscare Shards left," Cassius mused while pretending to do some calculations. "Well, whatever, I''ll just continue progressing until I run out of Rebirths."

    As he made the decision to ceaselessly descend the abyss, the Idle Evolution System was secretly thanking itself for teaching the Ignorant One the ways of Character Development.

    To actively pursue pain and death were the peak traits of an ideal Character Developer!

    ''It'' taught the Ignorant One well, yep, yep.

    [I''m so awesome that it''s genuinely painful¡­]

    While the Idle Evolution System was arrogantly buttering itself up, Cassius trudged onward.

    He killed, he died, he died again, he killed again, he died some, and he killed some more.

    1 kill¡­ 10 deaths¡­

    10 kills¡­ 50 deaths¡­

    1000 kills¡­ 3000 deaths¡­

    50000 kills¡­ 60000 deaths¡­

    Millions of kills¡­ Millions of deaths¡­ Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius had long since surpassed his previous death record. And yet this time, he did not break. Slowly but surely, his emotions and sanity diminished, but he refused to lose himself like he had the last time.

    Every so often, something inside him would begin to snap; he would then consider escaping. However, as if the notion of perpetually battling had been engraved into his very core existence, he refused to succumb to such cowardly desires.

    With that battle-craving and death-seeking kind of mindset, time marched forward enough that Cassius was now nearly out of time.

    With his long raven-black hair stained in blood and sprawled out behind him, Cassius sat leaning up against a wall of the Boundless Gorge. Scattered in front of him and in both the left and right directions were Nightmare corpses¡ªeach one insurmountably bigger than he was.

    Peak Rank 4 Nightmares¡ªall without life signs.

    "Who¡­ Who am I again?" Cassius asked himself while listlessly staring at the limitless skies above. "A name¡­ My name¡­ What was it?"

    Just then, with the forceful teleportation by the System as a wake-up call, everything that he was or had ever experienced came flooding back to him. His eyes widened as he snapped back to reality¡ªan event which coincidentally coincided with his reappearance on a certain mountain peak in East Asia.

    Cassius had returned. After months away, he found himself on Earth once more.

    "...For me, it has been months, but for everyone here," he said, feeling a cooling sensation when the late-summer-time wind brushed past him. "For everyone here, it has been but mere minutes¡­"

 Chapter 294 - 294: Class Change Quest, Soul Sources

    "For everyone here, it has been but mere minutes¡­"

    Cassius was unable to properly describe how he was feeling upon learning of that information. But somewhere deep inside him, there lay¡­ regret.

    However, in the path of a Character Developer, regret was not an option.

    "I should move on¡­" Cassius said while honing his sight on a particular skull-shaped island stranded at sea. "I''ve nearly prepared myself enough to account for anything that may occur during the Nexus Event. Yet, there is one more thing I must do¡­"

    He glanced at the purple and blue illusory screen floating beside him, one that determined his next course of action.

    {[Class Change Quest (??? Rank)]}

    ¡ª[The destined Quest which will permit the Host to acquire a Class of his very own. The Class could end up being worse than trash, or it could be a Class so extraordinary that even the most powerful beings in the world could only look on in envy.] S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Would you like to accept the Quest and be transported to the Class Change Dimension right now?] - [Y/N]

    Cassius clicked yes, then he emotionlessly watched as parts of his body faded upward. In mere moments, not a single piece of him was left on Earth.

    He was gone and would remain so for a period of time that was yet to be known.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, inside an extremely large moving birdhouse-like structure stilted atop two chicken legs that extended upward for hundreds of thousands of miles ¡ª

    ¡ª Netherworld - Location: Unknown ¡ª

    "A Young Soul Eater has died?" a voice asked, its tone both uncaring and sickly sounding. "Why is that any concern of mine? Even Lord Soul Eaters have died without you informing me."

    "Soul Emperor Salar, sire, the report that returned with this particular Young Soul Eater is not your usual case," said a pale-faced man kneeling below a bone-decorated cage dangling above a green pit of lava. "This Young Soul Eater was one of the ones that was sent out to ''that'' Dimension. It was part of the Mission focused on understanding that peculiar Dimension."

    "Understand that Dimension? A mission?" Soul Emperor Salar asked in bewilderment. "Was it that random nonsense I conjured up a few hundred thousand years ago when I was bored?"

    With a bit of exasperation, the kneeling man answered, "Yes, sire¡­ It''s that ''nonsense'' you used to allocate a fourth of our forces toward accomplishing. Nonsense that is still ongoing, even today¡­"

    "There''s no need to get so touchy, Morgol," Soul Emperor Salar said with a yawn. "I''ll figure out how to ease your worries sometime or another. Perhaps I''ll talk with the lead members of that Mission to make myself recall why I created it in the first place."

    ''Sometime!?'' Morgol thought. ''For you, that could mean hundreds of thousands, possibly even millions of years from now!''

    Although the Primary Royal Advisor¡ªMorgol¡ªwas more than a little annoyed with his Majesty, he concealed it well. For too many years to count, he had been serving by Salar''s side; he was used to his shenanigans.

    "Anyway, Morgol," said Soul Emperor Salar. "What about this Young Soul Eater''s death makes it stand out from the rest? Did one of the other Soul Eater Emperors make a move or something?"

    "No, sire, nothing as extreme as that," Morgol said with a hurried voice, sweat dripping from his brows. "If this involved one of the other Soul Emperors, then I would''ve already called for a state of emergency!"

    "Yeah, yeah, whatever," Soul Emperor Salar said. "Those bastards are faring no better than me, so I guess there would be no possible way for them to directly interfere in that Dimension."

    The Soul Emperor briefly looked down at the bone-covered cage that bound him before returning his attention to his most trusted Royal Advisor.

    Narrowing his lethargic eyes, he asked, "So, how about it? You ever going to get to the point that brought you here to me?"

    "Yes, sire¡­" Morgol muttered while shaking his head. "The truth is that the Young Soul Eater I mentioned died not by another Soul Eater."

    "So?" Soul Emperor Salar asked. "I heard that there were numerous powerful beings in that Dimension. It''s no surprise that one of them would be capable of killing a Soul Eater¡ª"

    "That Soul Eater''s Origin Source is gone," Morgol said seriously. "It didn''t return to the Origin Source Retrieval Area after the Young Soul Eater died. This means that¡ª"

    "The Soul Eater was permanently killed," Soul Emperor Salar said as he nearly leapt through the unbreakable bars that trapped him. "For that to be possible¡­ Well, it shouldn''t be! Quickly, Morgol, tell me everything you know about this event! I want to know exactly how an Immortal being like us is capable of permanently dying!"

    "Yes, sire¡­"

    Soul Eaters at first glance weren''t considered to be a forever-living organism; however, that was merely what the lower Soul Eaters and residents of the Netherworld believed. In actuality, every Soul Eater¡ªupon dying¡ªwould have something called an ''Origin Source'' bring their core existence back to the tether point.

    The tether point for all Soul Eaters was the exact same place¡ªthe Origin Source Retrieval Area.

    The Origin Source Retrieval Area was a large greenish-blue ocean located in the very middle of the Netherworld. The Origin Sources of dead Soul Eaters would swim around in this mystically-colored ocean, aimlessly wandering.

    However, if one were to fish out an Origin Source from the Origin Source Retrieval Area¡ªthe Origin Sea¡ªthey could take it and convert its nature to one''s own. In a way, this was essentially having a neutral gray entity pick a side¡ªyour side¡ªand become whatever color you were.

    The Soul Emperors each had their own ''color'' that they used to make Origin Sources convert to their side.

    Yet, the Origin Sources had a special quality to them that made the faction war between the Soul Emperors perpetually ensue. A never-ending war. One that no longer possessed the same spark or appeal that it once had.

    With the passing of countless years, the Soul Emperors¡ªboth old and new¡ªbecame bored of it all. What was once a blood-pumping battle for supremacy over a greater number of Origin Sources became nothing more than an idle pastime.

    As for ending this Soul War, that was impossible. The special quality of the Origin Sources wouldn''t allow it.

 Chapter 295 - 4/7]

    An Origin Source¡ªfollowing the Soul Eater''s death¡ªwould immediately return to the Origin Sea. They would lose everything that they once were¡ªincluding memories, feelings, and any connections that they had with their previous lives.

    The Origin Source would become a blank slate. It would be a fresh start for its Core Existence.

    However, along with this fresh start came both a curse and a blessing: the Origin Source''s special quality¡ªeternal rebirth and eternal perpetuity. They could neither be permanently harmed nor erased and would always¡ªwithout exception¡ªreturn to the Origin Sea following the Soul Eater''s death.

    Even newly born Soul Eaters¡ªeither made by devouring another Soul Eater or naturally becoming one through evil deeds¡ªwould go to the Origin Sea after death. On that note, the Origin Sources of Soul Eaters would not be devoured when a different Soul Eater ate another.

    Eternal life¡ªit was a glorious notion on paper. But in reality, it was something that has and will continue bringing people to the brink of insanity.

    Soul Emperor Salar¡ªa Soul Eater Emperor who had been alive for millions of years¡ªwas one of such immortal beings. A being that had long grown bored of life and the cage that trapped him.

    Yet, to finally hear that a Soul Eater''s Origin Source hadn''t returned after its death was¡­ it was euphoric for Soul Emperor Salar!

    It gave him hope! Hope that his eternal suffering would finally come to an end!

    Even after his Royal Advisor wrapped up his recap of the things he learned about the Young Soul Eater, Salar''s high had yet to end. He was practically overflowing with joy¡ªwith excitement¡ªwith the promise of a release from this life of his.

    He didn''t care how the person who permanently killed the Young Soul Eater did what he did! He didn''t even care that the Soul Eater that died was part of his faction!

    None of it¡ªnone of it mattered when faced with the opportunity to die and not return!

    "Our Origin Sources also give us eternal life, not just eternal rebirth," Soul Emperor Salar said while beaming with excitement. "This means that any one of us could live till the end of time¡ªforever and ever and ever. But if I were to choose between living forever and dying repeatedly¡ªalways forgetting who I was¡ªthen I''d always pick the former. Even if I don''t want to live forever, I also don''t want to be reborn forever."

    "But now," he continued, happily shaking on his cage''s bars, "with the sudden appearance of someone who can permanently kill us, we no longer have to choose between the two! We can finally die for good! A feat that even the Netherworld Rulers could not accomplish, this being somehow can! We must find him¡­ find him and have him kill me¡ª"

    "Wait, Sire," Molgor said, seemingly unbothered about the talk of assisted suicide. He, too, wanted to die, but things were not so easy. "From what we could gather in the Young Soul Eater''s last moments, the one who killed it was only able to do so because it was heavily restricted. In other words, for the being to be capable of killing you or me would be¡­" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Another impossible thing," Soul Emperor Salar lifelessly murmured, slumping to the enchanted floor of his cage. "But wait!" he said, eyes shining. "If he killed the Soul Eater, then that means he became a Soul Eater. This also means that all we have to do to make him strong enough to kill us is unload tons of Soul Eaters his way! As long as he can achieve the Soul Eater King rank, then he should be able to kill me!"

    "That''s that," he continued with a resounding clap. "Figure out the being''s exact location, then throw thousands of Soul Eaters his way, each one stronger than the last. Power this being up by threatening his life, Molgor!"

    "But, Sire, is this truly the wisest thing to do?" Molgor asked with twitching brows. "What will your subjects think when you tell them to run out and get themselves killed?"

    Without pause, Soul Emperor Salar said, "Then just don''t tell them, you dolt! What this operation could bring to not only us but the entirety of Soul Eater society is worth far more than their lives are worth¡ªeven more than our lives are worth! What you need to do is inform our troops of a highest-tier threat to our Salar Faction, then tell them to hunt the being who killed the Young Soul Eater. And also, is this being capable?"

    Royal Advisor Molgor''s forehead wrinkles crinkled, but he still found it in him to say, "Yes, Sire, I believe so. He''s strong enough to fight above his rank."

    "Alright, then make sure to only send out troops possessing strength toward the very upper limits of what he can handle," said Soul Emperor Salar. "Make both sides believe that everything is happening naturally¡ªthat neither is being manipulated. This is how we power up the one that can permanently kill us¡ªthe one potentially able to free us! Don''t you understand, Molgor?? Whatever it takes, we must make sure this being evolves enough to end our suffering!!"

    CLANG! CLANG!

    The Soul Emperor''s cage violently rattled, with his immense aura leaking out in trace amounts. Yet, even with barely anything escaping the confines of the cage, it was still enough to shake the massive bird-like creature they were on. As a result, the bird creature smashed through hundreds of ridiculously large mountain ranges, veering off its routine path.

    However, with the passing of a couple of seconds¡ªenough time for Soul Emperor Salar to calm himself¡ªthe several-million-year-old bird creature returned to its typical path. A path that it had been following in circles for millions of years and would continue doing so for millions more years.

    Observing the Soul Emperor''s excited outburst, Royal Advisor Molgor sighed. He shook his head before respectfully bowing and vanishing from the space. His voice, however, rang out for a moment longer:

    "It shall be done, Sire. I''ll personally see that your wishes are brought to fruition."

 Chapter 296 - 296: The Platforms, 100 Year Deadline

    Soul Emperor Salar merely smiled, his mind already filled with thoughts involving the sweet release that would come to him upon his demise. Both he and his Core Existence would be able to receive some much, much, much deserved rest.

    "Hopefully soon¡­"

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within an unendingly white, blank space ¡ª

    An otherworldly handsome figure suddenly materialized from thin air, his appearance creating a large imbalance in the once completely white space. As soon as he fully formed, thin black lines spread out from beneath him and extended in every which way. Squares with black line separators were created as a result of the black lines, and all the squares were perfectly formed and brought together to create an array of tile-like platforms. The platforms quickly raised up off the ground, then they spun around in large quantities before ultimately positioning themselves like a staircase.

    An untold number of platform rows were made in flawless ascending order. Then, atop each of the platforms, a number appeared. The higher the platform, the higher the number floating above it. The ones at the absolute bottom might say something like 2 or 4, whereas those further up had numbers like 6000 or 200000.

    Just as Cassius thought the formation of these platforms was over and done with, he was surprised to see them also change color. The ones at the bottom still stayed white, but a few dozen rows above, the platforms turned green. Then, a hundred rows higher, they turned blue. Then purple, then orange, then red, then black, and then finally some sort of iridescent color.

    Right around when the last of the platforms finished their color changes, Cassius heard the all-too-familiar voice of his annoying system:

    *Ding~!*

    [I know how much you enjoy looking at pretty colors, you Neanderthal, but get this¡ªand don''t be too surprised¡ªbut the colors actually have more meaning to them than just pleasing your inferior gaze!]

    [You notice how the colors kind of match up with any common RPG-style game? You have white for Common, Green for Uncommon, Blue for Rare, Purple for Epic, Orange for Legendary, and Red for Mythic? Well, it''s the same thing here¡ªwith the same ranks as well. Moreover, there are the Black and Rainbow ranks, the former of which is termed the Abyss rank and the latter¡ªthe second to last rank¡ªand has the name of Evolutionary.]

    "What about the final rank?" Cassius asked while looking as far out as he could. "Why can''t I see anything beyond the Rainbow Platforms?"

    [Who knows? Perhaps you''re too blind or stupid to see the final rank (?¡ä? ? ?`?)]

    Cassius: "...."

    [But regardless of your incompetence, I''ve yet to inform you of the numbers sitting above each one of the Platforms. These numbers are the main part of your Class Change Quest, with the rank of each Platform only acting as more of a milestone and rarity indicator for when you ascend them.]

    [The numbers each signify a point amount that reaching the specific platform is worth. You make it to a higher Platform, you receive the points that the number above it says there are. Simple, right?]

    "Ye¡ª" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [I knew you wouldn''t understand, you Monkey. But in spite of your mental deficiencies, I''ll do my very best to articulate to you why these points are so important.]

    [First off, before I tell you the good stuff, I''ll let you know that once you begin ascending the Platforms, you can only take the points from a single Platform on each row.]

    [Now, now, as for why you should be actively aiming to obtain as many points as you possibly can. You''re aware of the Idle Score that you''ve been gaining until now, are you not?]

    "Yes, I am¡ª"

    [I don''t care. Anyways~]

    ''Saying anyways all the time doesn''t make everything okay, you ass!''

    [Anyways~] the Idle Evolution System continued with a smug expression. [The Idle Score you have amassed since activating the glorious one and only I has been converted into something that pulls upon the strings of destiny. For example: if you had 10,000 Idle Score, I threw all of that into a gambling pot¡ªone where you could potentially come out with 1000 times that amount! Then again, you could also leave with 1000 times belwo that amount¡­]

    [I''ve done it this way to increase your chances of getting the Class best suited for your future Character Development! You should be thanking me right about now, hoho~]

    "I see," Cassius said while ignoring the last bit of what his System spoke. "Well then, does this mean my chances of receiving a really good Class is purely luck-based? Or¡­ is there something else at play¡­?"

    [Ding, Ding, Ding! It''s good to see your brain cells finally getting some action up in that empty head of yours!]

    [And yes, there is more to this setup than a mere roll of the dice. To advance the Platforms and obtain the points above each one, you must successfully complete whatever challenge presents itself to you! Each of the Platform''s challenges is different, and the further you ascend, the harder the challenges become!]

    [P.S. Any Rebirth or overpowered Regenerative-related Skills, Techniques, Bloodlines, Physiques, or whatever will not progress in proficiency while attempting the Challenges. You will, however, be able to infinitely attempt any of the Challenges if you so wish to!]

    [By the way, any Techniques, Skills, Bloodlines, and whatnot that require you to get beaten up can still be progressed while attempting the Challenges! (Wouldn''t want you to pass up on some well-deserved Character Development¡­ Hehe¡­)]

    Cassius knew for certain now that the Idle Evolution System was actively encouraging him to get himself hospitalized. In fact, that was probably the prime reason why the System chose this type of format for the Class Change Quest¡ªit wanted him beaten and battered beyond recognition.

    [No~, I''d never~]

    "Yeah, whatever," Cassius said with a light click of his tongue. "Just start this thing up already."

    [My dear Host, it''s already long since begun!]

    {[Class Change Quest (Rank ???)]}

    [Remaining Time: 99 Years, 364 Days, 23 Hours, 58 Minutes, 38 Seconds]

 Chapter 297 - 297: Challenging the Class Platforms

    "100 years just for a Class Change?" Cassius asked, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Exactly how long am I going to be stuck here¡­?"

    [Until you''ve advanced to another, higher Tier of Character Development, obviously!]

    [Good luck, dear Host!]

    [Oh, and one more thing, any Experience Points acquired inside the Challenges will be cut into a thousandth what you''d normally get. The cost for making exact replicas of the real things is quite high, ya know? Cuts had to be made somewhere!]

    [But fret not, this minor issue will only develop your Character even more than before, umu~!]

    FASHING!

    The lowest of the Common-ranked Platforms then presented itself to Cassius, clearly beckoning him forth. To the seemingly endless staircase of multi-colored Platforms he went.

    Upon landing both feet on the bobbing white Platform, he was instantly presented with a pop-up screen. It was a screen that informed him of what lay ahead were he to accept the Challenge of the Platform.

    BLING!

    [Challenge 1: Defeat 5 Goblins] - [Tier: Common]

    [Reward: 3 Class Points]

    [Accept?] - [Y/N]

    Cassius clicked yes. He then experienced a warp in his vision; everything started to swirl for him.

    When the swirling came to a stop, he found himself inside of a 10-meter by 10-meter space. Green bushes and trees surrounded him and the sky above was but a mere illusion.

    Also, primitively staring at him with their beady black eyes were Goblins.

    The Goblins stood in at no more than 5 feet tall, but their unruly stances and the way drool ceaselessly trickled down their crusted green lips gave them an eerie appearance. No sense of empathy or compassion seemed to be present within their eyes. And while roughly holding onto a crude dagger or club, they approached the Invader.

    "Goblins, huh?" Cassius asked, uncaring about their approach. "That sure brings me back."

    With a reminiscent glint in his gaze, he blurred.

    Without even giving the Goblins a chance, he slid his copy of Lilith through the tender green skin that connected their heads to their necks. They then immediately absorbed the blood of the Goblins, which created several floating trails of blood behind them.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain all 5 Goblins!]

    [Your Experience Bar barely moved!]

    [You have obtained 3 Class Points, bringing your total Class Point amount to 3.]

    [Challenge 1 Completed!]

    Following that last notification, Cassius was transferred outside of the Challenge area. He reappeared in the same white space as before, where he was then presented with the choice of choosing 1 out of 10 Common-tier Platforms. Each had a pointage ranging between 5 and 15.

    Cassius naturally chose the Platform with the highest points. He casually jumped over to it and observed the new pop-up screen.

    [Challenge 2: Defeat an Orc] - [Tier: Common]

    [Reward: 15 Class Points]

    [Accept?] - [Y/N]

    Cassius clicked yes, then experienced something similar to the first time he accepted a Challenge.

    However, this time, he reappeared not in a small isolated jungle. Instead, he materialized above a cut-off mountain peak with about a 25-meter by 25-meter surface area. Domineeringly standing opposite him was a 5-meter-tall orangish-green monster. Like the Goblins, this monster possessed no intelligence and was purely driven by savage instinct and rage. Rage that it used right away by charging at Cassius while swinging around a spiked club nearly as big as it was.

    "It appears that we''re going through all the classics," Cassius said as he entered the speed stream. "What fun."

    He reappeared behind the Orc, in his right hand a blood-soaked Lilith. He was completely unharmed.

    The Orc, on the other hand, had lost all its limbs and its boar-like head in their brief exchange¡­

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain the Orc!]

    [Your Experience Bar barely moved!]

    [You have obtained 15 Class Points, bringing your total Class Point amount to 18!]

    [Challenge 2 Completed!]

    [Initiating Return Process!]

    FWIP!

    Cassius blinked and found himself in the White Space. Right away, he noticed how the Platform he was standing on lit up in a show of golden brilliance; the same thing happened for the first Platform he completed the Challenge of.

    As for the rest of the Platforms among the 10 that Cassius didn''t choose, they grayed out.

    It became abundantly clear that what he was doing was paving a path for himself with the Platforms. But as to why the System was having him do this, he was still unsure. And with the System''s irritating personality, it was unlikely that it''d tell him anything until the very end.

    [Bingo! Good boy!]

    Cassius coldly scoffed before shifting his eyes toward the new set of 10 Platforms presenting themselves to him. They were of the Common Tier, same as the previous ones, but above them sat numbers far greater.

    Yet, knowing exactly which one he wanted, Cassius chose the one with the largest number above it.

    He was not overcompensating; he simply liked ''em big.

    The bigger, the better.

    [Challenge 3: Defeat 2 Knight Slayers] - [Tier: Common] S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Reward: 55 Class Points]

    [Accept?] - [Y/N]

    This was what Cassius saw once the Platform singled itself out from the others. He had never seen a Knight Slayer before, but if he was correct in his assumptions, they were sure to be pretty strong. Stronger than an Orc, at least.

    2 Seconds Later¡­

    SPURT! SPURT!

    The scaly black heads of two humanoid lizard monsters sailed through the air above a sectioned-off plot of swamp land. What remained of the 4-meter-tall, creepy lizardmen unceremoniously plopped to the ground. Blood poured out of their severed necks, with the blood even capable of staining and polluting the shallow swamp water. Various insects and tiny animals could also be seen wandering the area as corpse-eating flies swarmed the Knight Slayer corpses.

    "The worlds inside of the Challenge Platforms really are quite interesting," Cassius said while coolly slinging off the blood dripping down Lilith. "They each have unique, contained elements, making the worlds indistinguishable from the genuine articles."

    The more he saw what the Idle Evolution System could do, the more amazed he became. In his heart¡ªexcluding all the despise he felt for it¡ªhe felt nothing other than extreme reverence for the System.

    It felt like the System could do anything at any time it so wished, with the only thing holding it back being its insistence on Character Development. If not for that, it was highly possible that he would''ve been made stronger than anything the Universe had to offer as soon as the System was activated.

    But unfortunately for his pain-prone self, that was not the case¡­

 Chapter 298 - 5/7]

    "Time for the 4th Challenge," Cassius said after absorbing the blood of the Knight Slayers. "But first, the System Notifications."

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain 2 Knight Slayers!]

    [Your Experience Bar barely moved!]

    [You have obtained 55 Class Points, bringing your total Class Point amount to 73!]

    [Challenge 3 Completed!]

    [Initiating Return Process!]

    Immediately following those System Notifications, Cassius was teleported outside Challenge 3''s isolated dimension. And without pause, he continued the grind and picked the Platform with the largest number above it.

    Like that, time trudged forward, with seconds becoming minutes and minutes becoming hours¡­

    ¡ª 10 Days Later ¡ª

    CLANG!

    Cassius effortlessly parried what felt like the thousandth consecutive stinger attack. The monster dishing out all these attacks was a very large scorpion¡ªone that was clearly not happy with the sudden appearance of an Intruder.

    Of course, what could be interpreted as anger was, in actuality, just it following its savage nature and directives. It wasn''t actually capable of feeling anything.

    "You''re quite the aggressive one, aren''t ya?" Cassius asked, his appearance a little bit more rugged than how it was 10 days ago. "It''s too bad that you''re so weak."

    SHING!

    "Too bad indeed," he added after rapidly flashing around the scorpion monster''s stinger as well as the rest of its 500-meter-long body. "Though, for something with strength approximately at that of the A-Rank, you put up a decent fight."

    SPURT!

    Massive fountains of blood simultaneously gushed all over the scorpion monster, with it falling to the mushy marsh ground as a corpse less than a second later.

    Then came the all-too-familiar sound of System Notifications.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have slain the Scorpion Lord!]

    [Your Experience Bar slightly moved!]

    [You have obtained 28,000 Class Points, bringing your total Class Point amount to 37,000!]

    [Challenge 83 Completed!]

    [Initiating Return Process!] Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As it turned out, the number of Platforms in the White Space exceeded Cassius''s original estimations. What he was allowed to perceive as a couple hundred Platforms actually wound up being thousands, possibly even tens of thousands of Platforms.

    Even now¡ªafter almost 2 weeks stuck in the White Space, actively completing Challenges¡ªCassius had only just recently advanced to the Uncommon-tier Platforms. Moreover, at his current rate of advancement, the Rare Tier was likely still months away from him.

    This notion utterly erased the delusions that he once had about his Class Change Quest being something quick and easy.

    He was in it for the long run¡­

    "There''s no point dwelling on something that can''t be changed," Cassius said, resolving himself for the next Challenge. "I need the power that''ll come from my Class Change. And to acquire it, I have to make sacrifices."

    Pain, Suffering, and Time¡ªwhat better things could be sacrificed?

    With a long, icy breath of cold air, he steeled his nerves and hardened his expression. Then, with an ear-deafeningly silent leap, he made his way to the next Uncommon-tier Platform. This Platform had a Point score of 60,000 and would definitely have him fight something of the A+ Rank.

    However, contrary to expectations, after landing on the Platform, he was greeted with a string of System Notifications that involved anything but fighting.

    *Ding!*

    [You thought your Challenges would be as straightforward as beating up stuff and getting the goods? Well, think again!]

    [Challenge 84: Escape the Vine Maze] - [Tier: Uncommon]

    [Reward: 60,000 Class Points]

    [Accept?] - [Y/N]

    "This is possible?" Cassius''s brows raised in slight shock as he tapped the yes button, curious to see where it would take him. "A Vine Maze¡ªsomething new."

    As soon as those words escaped his mouth, his vision returned to normal. Except, he was no longer in the White Space nor was he in a fighting ring-like area.

    All he could see were the lush, green walls of a high-reaching maze and the murky fog seeping in over the top of said maze. Other than that, there were just some loosely hanging vines attached to the walls.

    "A path," Cassius said. "There''s also a path. There''s always a path."

    A path forward. One that he obviously followed.

    For the first few minutes of this little journey through a maze whose walls could not be breached, nothing of interest occurred. However, once the fourth of an hour mark came around, something changed in the vines that decorated the maze.

    They started to¡­ attack him.

    Furthermore, they did so without holding anything back. They always aimed for his throat with their wickedly sharp thorns, each vine capable of ripping an A-Rank monster to shreds. Moreover, as time passed, the sentient vines increased in quantity.

    At first, there were just a handful of sentient vines, but now¡ªafter more than an hour in the maze¡ªthat number increased to over a hundred!

    And that number was ever increasing!

    However, after roughly four hours trapped in the Vine Maze¡ªaimlessly wandering and searching for a way out¡ªCassius finally found it. A way out.

    The only problem was that the exit was being guarded by a skyscraper-sized tree monster¡­

    The tree monster was put together by wrapping thousands of those sentient vines around one another. It was obviously a very scary creature and was even of the A+ Rank, but with a single nonchalant sword move by Cassius, it was obliterated. All of its green guts splattered the walls of the Maze¡ªwalls that Cassius sauntered through to get to the exit.

    Then, with even less of a caring attitude, he walked through the exit. A bright eruption of golden light temporarily blinded him. Yet, in the very next moment, he was back in the White Space. The 9 Platforms he hadn''t chosen faded to gray, whereas the 1 he completed joined the straight line of 83 golden Platforms neatly organized behind him.

    Of course, one couldn''t forget the System Notifications that, although a tad bit late, still arrived.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have killed the Sentient Vine Guardian and successfully escaped the Vine Maze!]

    [Experience Bar slightly moved!]

    [You have obtained 60,000 Class Points, bringing your total Class Point amount to 97,000!]

    [Challenge 84 Completed!]

    [Tch! You merely got lucky this time! Next time around, you won''t be as lucky!]

 Chapter 299 - 299: Legendary Tier Platforms, Hellish Trainer Rank

    Cassius blinked twice before redirecting his attention elsewhere. Another 10 Uncommon-tier Platforms levitated toward him, giving him yet another choice to make.

    Choosing the only Platform that made the most sense¡ªthe Platform with the biggest point number¡ªhe jumped over. Then, with the simple click of a button, he was transported to a new Challenge area.

    And contrary to what the Idle Evolution System believed, Cassius''s luck held strong. He passed the 85th Challenge with minimal effort, then did the same thing with the 86th Challenge, the 87th, the 88th, the 95th, the 130th, the 200th¡­ the 400th, the 1150th¡­ the 2600th¡­

    Finally, after making it somewhere past the 4000th Platform¡ªone of the Legendary Tier¡ªCassius began experiencing some serious trouble.

    SHING! SHING!

    *Whoooop¡ª!*

    Cassius''s worn-down figure zipped through the skies of a world of clouds. He shot through each of the country-sized clouds in rapid succession, destroying any and all civilizations that once existed on them. The cries of bird-like people with wings and beaks echoed, yet the one who gave them such sorrow was hardly able to find time for them.

    Right on his trail¡ªfurther exploding the clouds and decimating the bird people civilizations¡ªwas one of those very bird people. Or, rather, it was a bird person from a different Cloud World¡ªthe Harpy Deity¡ªan extremely powerful being who had been chasing Cassius since the very moment he landed in Challenge Dimension #4377.

    After catching up to Cassius, the Harpy Deity was surprised to find him hovering in place above the ruins of an annihilated Cloud World. The long-haired and heavy-eyed human had his arms folded behind him. He also possessed a deathly bluish-red glare that put the Harpy Deity on edge.

    "You know," he began, his voice both hoarse and colder than the tundra, "if there''s one thing I don''t like about advancing the Platform Path¡ªbesides the passing of so many years¡ªthen it has to be how the residents of the Challenges started becoming more and more intelligent. What''s worse yet is that I genuinely have no idea if any of you are real¡­"

    "Hell, I don''t even know if I''m real!" he said, his tone slightly deranged. "I''ve been at it for how long now? 3 years??"

    "3 years¡­" he continued, his voice sounding more aged. "I began that cursed Quest when I was 18, and now¡­ now I''m 21 years old¡­"

    Even more terrifying was that he had no clue exactly how much longer he''d be in the White Space. Completing Challenge after Challenge¡­ Just how much more would he be able to endure¡­?

    However, for power. For absolute power, he had to keep going.

    No matter how many years of his life he''d wind up losing, he had to see his aspirations through to the very end. Giving up halfway was not an option.

    "I¡­ I don''t even know why I''m talking to you; you can''t even understand what I''m saying," Cassius said while slicking his wild black hair back with his own blood. That action unveiled a piercing red glow in his eyes that sent shivers down the Harpy Deity''s spine. "You can''t understand me¡­ None of you can understand me¡­ In every single Dimension, I talk to myself¡­"

    Dreaming of conversational solace with another being was precisely that¡ªa pipe dream. One that the Idle Evolution System would never permit. That was why it prohibited the use of any Translation Skills and anything else that enabled what the System termed as ''needless attachment.''

    When the System first said this to him, Cassius fully understood why it did as such. Getting too attached to the natives of the Dimensions would only bring about trouble. Yet, even if he understood the System''s reasons, that didn''t make it any less excruciatingly painful when months turned into years.

    In all that time, it felt like Cassius had been alone¡­ Alone with only himself and his thoughts¡­

    Occasionally, Raijin or Nyxvoldar would leave the Evospace to join him in one of his Challenges, but again, communication with them wasn''t really communication. Furthermore, considering that they were servants, talking to them was like talking to devout followers devoid of opinions.

    "In all this time," he said to the silent Harpy Deity, "I''ve been beaten to a pulp over and over¡­ I died again and again¡­ More than 10 million times I''ve died¡­ I¡­ I feel like I''m going insane¡­"

    Just because his Mythical Phoenix Bloodline and Godly Nirvana Physique were incapable of advancing while undergoing the Class Change Quest, that didn''t mean they couldn''t still be used. And taking advantage of that fact, Cassius died time and time again. Moreover, when considering that each day in the White Space reset his Rebirth chances, he could potentially die tens of thousands of times each day.

    As for being beaten and battered so as to progress his Trainer Rank, there was no limit to that. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Why would the Idle Evolution System give up a prime opportunity for further Character Development? That would be just plain foolishness.

    It was thanks to the System''s blatant bias that Cassius''s Trainer Rank advanced by leaps and bounds, achieving levels that didn''t seem humanly possible.

    The Hellish Trainer Rank¡ªa fantastical Rank that even the Sword God himself was unable to achieve prior to his Ascension to the Higher Humanity Floors. It was a Rank that could only be achieved with either thousands of years of being beaten or¡­ the ability to die countless times and experience untold levels of pain and torture right before each death.

    However, no matter which method one used, reaching the Hellish Trainer Rank was something only a clinically insane person would attempt to attain¡­

    Yet¡­ If one were crazy enough to do the impossible, then they''d receive a strength boost of absurd proportions.

    For Cassius¡ªwith his current body and limited existence¡ªthe strength boost he received was one that the System converted to a value of over 1 million!

    1,000,000+ Stat Points in Strength!

    Insanity!

    But it was what Cassius justly deserved for what he had to endure to get it¡­

    "Well, whatever," he suddenly said, his demeanor a large contrast to what it was a mere moment ago. "I''m over it all, anyway."

    "Now then¡­ You¡­"

    OOOM!

 Chapter 300 - 300: Over 10 Billion Class Points!

    "Now," Cassius continued as his expression frosted over, Lilith and Mora''s copies flaring ludicrous amounts of energy by his sides, "let''s get this over with already. You''ve been chasing me for nearly a week, so I assume you''re just as ready to conclude this farce as I am. That is unless you wish to destroy more of the Cloud Worlds that you protect?"

    The Harpy Deity stared, unblinking. It then spoke a few cryptic words in an indecipherable language before brandishing its 5-foot-long high-ranking sapphire-colored spear.

    The Harpy Deity thrust forward with its spear, crossing a distance of thousands of miles in an instant. The spear''s tip made contact with Cassius''s left arm, immediately reducing the arm to cinders. Yet, with his right arm, Cassius grabbed hold of the spear before the Harpy Deity could pull it back. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Leaning closer to the Harpy Deity, Cassius let his right hand bleed because of the sapphire spear.

    "Do you know why we''re different?" he whispered, his veins bulging and his hold on the spear tightening. "What differentiates us the most is neither our appearances nor the way we carry ourselves. No, what makes me so different from you¡­ is that you''ve lived as a God-like being for far too long. None could compare to you, and because of that, you''ve become rusty. Not only that, your resistance to pain has lessened."

    In the spot where Cassius''s arm once was, a blue fire appeared. The fire quickly expanded from a tiny blue spark to a giant mass of raging flames.

    "I, on the other hand, am used to pain," he said. "I''m used to everyone being stronger than I am. I''m used to fighting uphill battles."

    "!!!"

    The Harpy Deity¡ªsensing a large amount of danger from that blue flame¡ªgave up on trying to retrieve its spear. It attempted to retreat yet almost immediately realized that retreat was impossible.

    Cassius''s right hand¡ªthe one that had been holding on to the sapphire spear¡ªforcefully pierced itself into the spear. His hand was then ripped open, followed by his arm. The sapphire spear now extended several feet behind his shoulder, having pierced all the way through.

    Because of this crazy action of his, Cassius was able to grab onto the Harpy Deity with whatever bloody mess remained of his right hand. Now, the Harpy Deity was stuck in place. And although it hacked away at his hand without delay, it didn''t have anywhere near enough time to destroy the hand.

    "I''ll show you right now¡ªthe difference that separates me and you by a chasm," Cassius said, with his left arm having been replaced by a massive fiery blue cannon 20 times his size. "If you can survive this, then you''ll live on for the sole purpose of fighting me again. But if you can''t¡­"

    Feeling a sense of danger far greater than before, the Harpy Deity tried doing something similar to what Cassius did. It went to slice off a chunk of its body, but it held back at the last moment.

    That was the Harpy Deity''s one and only chance to turn things around in its favor. And it¡­ failed.

    Cassius''s emotionless expression did not change as he unleashed a huge blast of fire from his arm cannon. However, within the dilated pupils of the Harpy Deity, it saw a wide, sadistic smirk that practically screamed, "What did I say? We are different. Bred different, lived different, built different."

    "!!!!"

    KA¡ªBOOOOOM!!!

    An enormous eruption of Azura Flames shot out of Cassius''s arm cannon, with the initial fires engulfing everything in an instant. The Harpy Deity¡ªbeing no exception¡ªwas swallowed by the flames, its eyes reflecting the horror coursing through it.

    Zooming out, the Azura Flames grew larger and larger, with the cannon shot becoming more of a world destroyer. Hundreds of continent-sized Cloud Worlds were vaporized on the spot, with all of their essence automatically absorbed and refined by the flames.

    If one panned the camera even further out, it looked like the mighty fire breath of an unbelievably powerful dragon was left to wreak havoc across the Cloud Dimension. Billions of lives were lost in a nanosecond, having died without getting out even the quietest of screams.

    ¡ª After the residual energies of the Azura Flame Burst Cannon attack dispersed ¡ª

    "Do you finally realize the difference between you and I?" Cassius asked, more than 70% of his body gone. "You weren''t willing to do what needed to be done. I, however, did what¡­"

    Before he could finish his words, his consciousness faded.

    He died.

    Yet, he was not the only one who had perished, as not even the Harpy Deity''s ashes were left after being hit head-on by one of the Azura Flame''s most powerful forms. What Cassius had been talking to was no more than particles blowing in the cinder-filled wind.

    OOOM!

    After a couple of milliseconds, Cassius''s body reformed.

    He had returned to the world of the living.

    However, even after experiencing something that most other beings only experience one time in their lives, Cassius remained indifferent to the whole ordeal. He didn''t even so much as flinch, with his attention upon rebirth being promptly directed toward the System Notifications flashing in front of him.

    *Ding!*

    [You have killed the Harpy Deity¡ªthe Original God and Guardian of ''Cloudia''!]

    [Experience Bar tremendously moved!]

    [You have erased more than 90% of the Dimension''s population as well as the Harpy Deity, thus completing the Platform''s Challenge!]

    [You have obtained 9,820,000,000 Class Points, bringing your total Class Point amount to 11,100,700,000!]

    [Challenge 4377 Completed!]

    [Good job getting this far, dear Host! You''re around a tenth of the way finished with the Platforms! Only a bit more to go and you''ll make it to the finish line!]

    The Idle Evolution System was more than enough to bring anybody to a mental hospital ward, and Cassius wasn''t too far off¡­

    With a sigh verging on collapse, he growled, "Just get on with it. I don''t have all day."

    [Why, of course you do! You have whatever amount of days is left from your original 100-year deadline! Plenty of time, I''d say! Probably¡­]

    "...What was that last part for?" Cassius asked, his whole face twitching. "Why''d you say it like that?"

    [Well, it wasn''t like I made any proper calculations before setting that deadline or anything! Hehe~]

    Cassius: "...."

    [Fine, fine, just leave already. Stop looking at me like that¡­ It''s scary¡­]

 Chapter 301 - 6/7]

    FWIP!

    Upon returning from Challenge #4377, Cassius''s legs hurriedly moved. He leapt over to the next Challenge he''d be attempting, doing so without wasting a single second.

    This was how he had been operating for the last three years, and until reaching the very end of the Platform arrangement, he''d continue acting this way. Like a robot with a prime directive.

    "Another Challenge, another opportunity for Character Development¡­"

    The teachings of the Idle Evolution System had been engraved into the deepest, darkest crevices of his being. It had gotten to the point where his every action was made solely to develop his Character. And without exception, his ''Character Developing'' consisted entirely of him being tortured.

    It could be seen as a very cruel training method devised by the System, but it was undeniable that it worked. Without it, it was highly unlikely that he would''ve retained his sanity after three painfully excruciating years participating in the Class Change Quest.

    Little did he know that his suffering had only just begun¡­

    ¡ª 65 Years Later ¡ª

    *Crackle, crackle.*

    The distinct sound of crackling fire echoed throughout an empty field.

    Within that field, there were tall horsetail grass pieces wildly blowing in the wind. The sky was dark, with the three differently colored moons casting an eerie, colorful luminescent glow on the endlessly vast world below. A world that, besides the area a lone man and a lone campfire lay, was covered in raging blue flames.

    Neither animal nor human life was present in this massive fantastical world, but they used to be¡­ they used to be¡­

    Sitting beside a brightly lit campfire was a long, raven-haired man with a quiet presence, like a storm that had settled into an uneasy calm. His dark, baggy eyes betrayed the weight of his pain¡ªindescribable pain¡­

    The man appeared guarded, protecting what little he had left to lose. Which was¡­

    "What do I have to lose again?" The man spoke, his voice carrying a tone that mirrored the fragility of life.

    His eyes held a heaviness that seemed both tired, distant, and unfathomable. The way he listlessly stared at the perpetually raging fires on the horizon made him look both there and somewhere far away¡­ very far away¡­

    "I''ve lived in this world for 10¡­ maybe more years," the man said, his voice becoming even hoarser. "I experienced so many things, built an Empire, met so many people¡­ made friends¡­ I even¡­ I even¡­" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Time¡ªno matter who experienced its waves¡ªwas capable of changing people.

    And with the passing of 68 years, a person whom you once knew like the back of your own hand could become someone unrecognizable.

    Cassius¡­ In his second-to-last Challenge¡ªChallenge #99,999 of the Evolutionary Tier¡ªhe was given his most difficult task yet.

    He was simply to live life.

    Yet, he was to do so while wholly understanding that the world would come to an end in less than 15 years'' time¡­

    Now, hypothetically, what would happen to a man if he were suddenly thrown into a thriving, limitlessly magical world with the ability to communicate? The ability to communicate after living an entire mortal lifetime without the ability to do so?

    For 50+ years, that man had been doing nothing but killing and dying in endless repetition. And yet, out of nowhere, he was finally given a chance for a break.

    No matter how much of an immovable, stone-hearted person one believed themselves to be, they''d fold. They''d fold immediately.

    In this world¡ªone billions of times larger than Earth¡ªCassius lived life just as the Idle Evolution System instructed. He forged relationships, resolved wars, cultivated friendships, saved countless people, and even¡­ found love with a woman¡­

    Cassius got married. He had children. He had in-laws. He made a life for himself with the woman he loved, surrounded by the people he loved.

    And for years, he was happy. Truly, genuinely happy.

    However, all good things must eventually come to an end¡­

    And on the day that the world''s final countdown arrived, Cassius was forced to take a life. The first life he had taken since beginning Challenge #99,999 all those years ago.

    The life of his¡­wife.

    As heart-wrenching as it may have been for him to discover, his wife¡ªsince before they first met¡ªhad been planning his demise.

    That woman wanted only one thing from Cassius¡ªeverything.

    She wanted the authority he built for himself, the wealth he amassed, even the treasures and connections he had. She wanted all of it. And to get it, she played the part of an affectionate lover to perfection, biding her time for when the moment was right. Even her parents and the rest of her family were in the loop of her wickedness.

    Only Cassius¡­ Only him and his naivety were kept out of the know¡­ naivety that was developed as a result of his yearning for normality. For a life that wasn''t just eternal suffering.

    However, eternal suffering¡­ It came in many shapes and forms¡­

    Sure, Cassius could''ve seen the signs or realized the truth of things if he really wanted to. But he didn''t¡­ Whether consciously or unconsciously, he ignored everything that should''ve opened his eyes to the truth¡­

    And on one fateful day¡ªthe day that marked the Beginning of the End of the World¡ªQueen Yara slipped the world''s most toxic poison into her faithful husband''s drink. The poison was colorless, tasteless, and incapable of being discovered by even the world''s 12 Paragons, 72 King Masters, or the 5 Earth Gods.

    Queen Yara''s husband¡ªLord Emperor Cassius¡ªhowever, was not even considered to be among the strongest in the world. The poison¡ªFinal Destination¡ªshould''ve been more than enough to let him meet his maker. In fact, Queen Yara felt a tinge of regret over spending so much of her husband''s money on purchasing this poison from illegal sources.

    That''s right, she cared not the slightest bit about the fate of her husband, only about how much fuller her pockets could be after his death.

    However, what neither she nor the rest of her co-conspirators could''ve expected was that Lord Emperor Cassius¡ªthe man who built the world''s #1 Empire without violence or a show of power¡ªwas, in actuality, a being far, far beyond their comprehension¡­

 Chapter 302 - 302: Flames that Engulfed the Skies

    Lord Emperor Cassius was a masochistic entity who had achieved the peak of the Nightmare Trainer Stage through sheer will alone. He was also someone who had maxed out everything he possibly could without directly increasing his level or realms. He had even become a Demon Lord¡ªa direct rank-up from his Archdemon Rank.

    His Demon Dragon Bloodline, VoidWarper Skills, and anything else that could''ve been advanced had been advanced. You see, during his time in the Challenges and even his most recent Challenge, he had been anything but idle. His innate nature¡ªone developed by the System¡ªwould not allow him to laze around.

    His killing intent and battle-crazed personality aspects may have been temporarily suppressed to cope, but everything else was as it should be.

    That poison¡ªthe one hailed as an absolute killer¡ªhad no effect on him.

    Yet, when Cassius saw the hateful expression his wife made when she assumed he was in the process of dying, he only felt disappointment. Disappointment not in her, but in himself.

    He had allowed himself to be a fool for far too long.

    SPURT!

    And with the squelching sound of blood splattering the opulent walls of their Palace, Cassius returned to his old self. His cold blue eyes apathetically watched crimson-red liquid spray out of the fair and tender neck of the woman he once loved. He let her blood trickle down the hand that slit her neck as he emotionlessly observed every emotion that filtered through her expression.

    That pretty face he once adored now appeared so ugly.

    Cassius hadn''t even waited around to watch Queen Yara''s final moments; he calmly walked out of their bedroom and then just as calmly killed everyone in sight. From the maids to the butlers to the nobles stationed outside his Palace, he quelled their life flames with single-hand strokes.

    He demolished his own home, then sauntered away with blood dripping down his face and hands.

    However, his murder spree didn''t end with just that, for Cassius continued with the surrounding area. He mercilessly and indifferently stained the walls of hundreds of households¡ªsome noble, some commonfolk; he didn''t discriminate.

    Even when everyone in his Empire had been brought to their knees¡ªbegging for mercy¡ªtheir Lord Emperor didn''t care. Them bowing and pleading for mercy simply made them easier targets than those who uselessly ran. Cutting them into several pieces was made a cinch, their deaths painless.

    Billions of humans lost their lives in the span of a couple of hours. And all of them had died because of the indiscriminate actions of the man they once revered as a kind and benevolent ruler.

    Naturally, this sudden and unexplainable event found its way into the ears of the strongest figures in the world. Right away, they set out to dispatch the rogue Emperor. However, as if their lives were worth no more than the lowly mortals and weaker Practitioners, they too were slain with a single strike.

    The 72 Kingmasters were the first to go. Each one was around as strong as the SSS-Rank, but that didn''t make any difference in the face of Lord Emperor Cassius''s power. And once they had all perished in anticlimactic ways, he moved onto the 12 Paragons.

    The 12 Paragons¡ªbeing far stronger than the Kingmasters¡ªwere individually of the SSS+ Rank, but with the addition of their joint ''Paragon Formation,'' they could just barely match the weakest in the SSS++ Rank.

    Yet, none of that altered the destined outcome. Their individual strengths failed, and their Paragon Formation was shattered with minimal effort. They were then publicly beheaded, their heads left to roll and their corpses left to rot.

    Finally, the 5 Earth Gods¡ªall-mighty fantastical existences who were rumored to have created the 5 Major Continents¡ªmade their grand appearance. A rare appearance, one might add. After all, for thousands of years, they had kept away from worldly matters while in closed-door isolation.

    They had not even heard of Lord Emperor Cassius before seeing him in person¡ªcovered in blood from head to toe¡ªglaring at them as if they were mere bugs. He clearly didn''t put them in his eyes, and this angered them.

    Without even asking his name or understanding the truth of the situation, the 5 Earth Gods unleashed their full strength and attacked Cassius.

    The ridiculously large Continents cracked underneath the oppressive pressure they emitted, yet Cassius didn''t even so much as budge. He simply stared, his open eyelids remaining just as unwilling to move. And then, with just the crisp unsheathing of his scarlet-shaded katana, the Earth Gods'' massive mystical eyes reflected sheer terror. A thin reddish-black sword arc was the last thing they saw before they were cleaved in two, with every aspect of their being¡ªincluding their close connection with the World¡ªerased.

    The weakest of the Earth Gods had power at the SSS++ Rank peak, with the strongest at the SSS+++ Rank. But did that information even so much as faze Lord Emperor Cassius?

    So what if the difference between each minor Rank was like the difference between Heaven and Earth? Were bacteria and ants any harder to kill for a human? The SSS++ and SSS+++ Ranks were no different.

    In all honesty, the Earth God''s should''ve felt honored that Cassius felt the need to use an actual weapon to send them into the afterlife.

    Then again, the only reason he did that was because their connections with the World ran very, very deep. If one wasn''t capable of killing them swiftly enough, then they''d be able to infinitely revive due to their worldly connections. Troublesome. It was for this singular reason that Cassius expended a bit more effort into killing them.

    By the time the news of the deaths of the strongest beings in the world spread around the 5 Continents, it had already become old news.

    New news was: "The End of the World has arrived¡­"

    The one whom countless people looked up to had brought about Armageddon. Moreover, he had done so within a single day.

    One day, everything was okay; it was normal. The next day, it became anything but normal, with the whole world literally on fire. A blue brilliance enveloped the ground and skies, appearing both beautiful and terrifying¡­ S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, out of the trillions of miles of surface area that made up the world of ''Tymnar,'' there was one spot untainted by the Azura Flames. The fields that Cassius had landed in when he first appeared in this world¡ªthe Fields of Wishful Beginnings¡ªa boring and uneventful place that the Transmigrator found himself in at the end of his journey.

    The place where the one who ended the world dragged his legs toward in the end of times¡­

 Chapter 303 - 303: Make Me Forget, Will

    "I¡­I''ve killed them all," Cassius said, his voice verging on insanity. "My wife, my children, my subordinates, my citizens. Every. Single. Person in the world¡­ They''re all dead now¡ªbecause of me¡­"

    In the moment his wife¡ªQueen Yara¡ªattempted to take his life, a switch flipped inside him. He returned to viewing the inhabitants of the Challenge Dimensions the way he always had¡ªas NPCs, entities whose lives served no other purpose than to make him better.

    But if that were truly the case, then why¡­ Why did he feel so empty inside¡­?

    "¡­Make me forget," Cassius said to thin air, his bloodied arm lying over his face. Two streams of tears made their paths down his cheeks, yet the expression he wore could not be seen. "I wish to forget it all¡­ Everything about this place, about what I experienced, about what¡­ I did¡­ Make me forget; I know you''re able to do it¡­"

    For a few seconds, only ear-deafening silence accompanied him. However, with the sound of a digital bell, Cassius saw something he never thought he''d see again.

    *Ding~!*

    [Now, now, Dear Host, why on earth would I do something like that? Your last Evolutionary-Tier Challenge was designed to develop your character in a way that conventional System 101 character development methods could not do!]

    [But seeing as letting you retain these scarring memories of yours could lead to some negative character development in the future, why don''t we move on with what I originally intended~?]

    [Tell me, Dear Host, do you know what ''Will'' is? I know the answer you''ll give, and I''m not referring to what you consider it to be, so I''ll skip all the blah blah for us both and tell you exactly what ''Will'' is. I''ll also inform you why this Challenge will contribute far more to you than any of the others combined!]

    Cassius didn''t respond; he let the Idle Evolution System do and say whatever it wanted. It wasn''t like he had the capacity for caring, not anymore¡­ not after what happened¡­

    [Jeez~, you gloomy mopfest (?????). Fine, I''ll get on with it and explain what ''Will'' is!]

    Will¡ªit had many interpretations. But in the pursuit of immortality, there was only one version of Will that reigned as the undisputed most important. The Will that had a mysterious, impossible-to-discern effect on everyone capable enough to progress one.

    Will could do many things¡ªsuch as improving the rate at which one adjusted to difficult techniques. However, the most notable aspect of Will had to be how the higher quality one''s Will was, the greater their resistance to hardships would be. Simply put, it gave you an indomitable spirit.

    The ranks for a person''s Will were as follows:

    1. Mortal Will

    2. Iron Will

    3. Diamond Will

    4. Spirit Will Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    5. Earth Will

    6. Heavenly Will

    7. Ungodly Will

    The highest-ranked Will the Ascension Tower had ever seen was merely of the Iron rank, and even that was considered legendary.

    Coincidentally, one of the very few people with an Iron-rank Will was the Sword God himself¡ªa feat he had achieved after his ascension to the highest floors of Humanity''s Ascension Tower.

    Wills manifested differently for various people. One could obtain a Will by some stroke of luck, or they could obtain one the old-fashioned way¡ªa way the Idle Evolution System would term as ''character development.''

    One could be born with a Mortal Will, like some sort of Son of Providence, or they could receive a Mortal Will by working their a*ses off their entire lives. In the end, it all boiled down to the cards one drew in life.

    Cassius¡­ He was not even born with the lowliest of Mortal-rank Wills, but he undoubtedly possessed a Will. One that he acquired through pure hard work, suffering, and the encouragement of the System.

    But unlike the Wills most commonly seen in the Ascension Tower¡ªones that typically forever remained at the same rank¡ªCassius''s Will was different.

    His could¡­ evolve.

    Similar to how he became the only human on Humanity''s 0th Floor with the ability to become infinitely stronger, his Will inherited the same traits. And although at first, his Will was barely even a Will, with time and his most recent period in the Class Change Quest, his Will transformed into something magically overpowering.

    Yet here was another kicker¡ªCassius''s Will was a latent one. This meant that it had not yet fully manifested.

    *Ding~!*

    [So, what do you think about the proposal? Do you wish to convert all your memories, experiences, and attachment to this place into ''Will Improvement Liquid''?]

    Cassius gazed up into the bluish-black sky with a dead look in his dimmed eyes. Lingering in the back of his mind was the System''s question, one he already had the answer to the very moment it first told him of Will and the true purpose behind this Challenge.

    However, even if the answer was as clear as day for him, that didn''t make it any easier for him to directly say it.

    His memories of this place¡­ He wanted to forget them¡­ But at the same time, he didn''t¡­

    People were complicated, humans even more so. A mixture of humans and half a dozen other races was obviously the most complicated.

    In the end, the most Cassius could do was give a half-hearted nod, his complexion bluer than the flames that engulfed the world.

    [Good enough for me!]

    [Commencing Conversion Process¡­]

    [In exactly 10 seconds, you will forget everything about this world. You''ll forget who you met, who hated you, who¡­ loved you. All of it will be gone forever.]

    [As someone who considers itself to be your friend, are you sure this is what you want? You still have the opportunity to back out now.]

    Silence.

    [Bahaha! Yeah, you''re right, I don''t actually care about your feelings! So, let''s hurry up and get this show on the road!]

    [10, 9, 8, blah, blah, 3, 2, 1, GO!]

    [See you 13 years earlier! And don''t worry, I kept the information related to Will inside your cerebral cortex, so I don''t have to bother myself with explaining it all to you again!]

 Chapter 304 - 7/7]

    Cassius ignored the System.

    Leaning his head against a large boulder, the occasional embers flickering from the withering campfire reflected within his lifeless pupils.

    Then, with one final crackle, time seemed to freeze. The whole world turned black and gray. Only the playfully whistling Idle Evolution System emoticon retained any color. And with a subtle yet all-encompassing snap from the same emoticon, everything¡ªfrom the Azura Flame to the incinerated continents to time itself¡ªwas sucked into a vortex.

    Extremely complex and esoteric elements swirled together in incomprehensibly vast quantities. They moved in ways that would awe even the most powerful and ancient Ancestors of the Ascension Tower¡ªmethods casually employed by the one and only Idle Evolution System.

    Finally, once everything that was Challenge #99,999 had been swirled together into the vortex, it condensed. The mesmerizing vortex became smaller and smaller at a rapid pace until it was no larger than a pea.

    All that remained as proof of Challenge #99,999''s existence was the heartbroken man standing in the middle of an empty space¡ªfrozen in time. He lay slumped against thin air, his immense pain and internal agony as clear as day.

    Then there was the tiny galaxy-like vortex¡ªone that slowly undulated in the air. It made its way toward Cassius, and with one quick motion, it entered his body and assimilated with a specific part of him: his Will.

    [That''s that, then!] the System said nonchalantly as it snapped its digital fingers once more. [Next up is the final course for the night¡ªChallenge #100,000!]

    Just like that, time resumed. In the same instant, Cassius was suddenly transported to a very familiar White Space. He stood atop a brilliantly shining gold platform, one that perfectly matched the 99,998 platforms situated behind it at a progressive decline.

    "Challenge #99,999 was a success," Cassius said as he familiarized himself with¡­ well, himself. "The feeling I''m experiencing right now is so surreal¡­ I remember entering the Challenge, then feeling like I was high. After that, I skipped straight to the end, where the System spoke of various things I couldn''t quite understand¡­"

    What he was recalling was merely what the Idle Evolution System allowed him to recall. Even this was only given to him because the System was¡­ too lazy to go over everything with him again.

    Plus, explaining why he decided to forget everything would''ve been a real bother. An easier solution¡ªthe one the System used¡ªwas to simply augment his memories and make it seem like his mind had been messing with him during the Challenge.

    It was like Cassius had gotten really, really drunk, then became hungover, then got injected with hardcore drugs, only to once again become sober. Hence, why he felt beside himself right now.

    To ensure it flawlessly got away with its professional gaslighting, the Idle Evolution System threw out a few distractions.

    [As they say, to distract a monkey, just show it something shiny!] the System internally thought to itself.

    *Ding~!*

    [You have passed Evolutionary-tier Challenge #99,999, ''The Whacky Universe''!]

    [You have erased all life in The Whacky Universe, thus obtaining experience points in massive quantities!]

    [Experience Bar moved by ludicrous amounts!]

    [Your ''Will'' has advanced by leaps and bounds!]

    [''Peak Iron Will'' ¡ú ''Peak Diamond Will'']

    OOUNG!

    Cassius felt a weird sensation course through him, one that made him feel even more invincible than when he gained all those Strength Stat Points from achieving the Nightmare Trainer Rank. It was a rather intangible sensation, for he couldn''t precisely pinpoint where it even originated.

    In all honesty, he had no idea where his ''Will'' was even located¡­

    *Ding!*

    [The Will is located anywhere and everywhere inside your existence, Dear Host! Even you yourself are but a mere extension of your Will!] Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I see," Cassius said with a contemplative expression. "Well, regardless of how that makes sense, will the last Challenge begin right now or later¡ª"

    [Of course it''ll start right now, you silly billy! In this life of yours, breaks are but a mere fragment of your past! Why else do you think you still feel constant pain!? If you were to go a period of time without feeling that pain¡ªtruly feeling it¡ªyou''d become soft.]

    [Breaks from anything related to Character Development are simply impossible, umu~!]

    [(? ¦Å ?)]

    "¡­I get it already," Cassius said coolly, looking up at the final floating platform¡ªone whose color couldn''t be seen. "Can you stop with the suspense already? Just show me what else I have to do to get my Class."

    [Stop being so pushy!] the System said with a pout. [I''m just making sure everything is correct for you¡­ Humph! This is what I get for being a sweetheart!]

    Cassius scoffed. "There''s not a single sweet bone in your body," he said while watching the 100,000th platform descend from the highest point of the White Space. "You do, however, have sadism ingrained into every one of your atoms. That fact makes me curious to see just what you have in store for this¡ª"

    [Aww, shucks~, you had me at ''You''re the bestest System to ever be created!'']

    [(¤Å> v <)¤Å?]

    [Now let''s get this show on the road! I''ve made the finishing touches to your most difficult Challenge yet!]

    "I¡­ I never said that¡­"

    [In History, who ever really cared about the specifics!? Historians only ever put worth on the winners!]

    "What does that have to do with you¡­?" Cassius asked, his tone emulating his impatience over the System edging him with the descension of the final platform.

    [It has to do with I, the greatest Idle System in history, because I''m the single greatest winner of all time! No one can and ever will be able to do what I do! ''Tis the bane of being so exceptional~]

    Cassius was stunned silent by the Idle Evolution System''s shameless narcissism.

    BLADING!

    The last platform finally finished its descension, allowing Cassius to leap onto it. Upon which, he was immediately greeted with a System prompt.

    *Ding!*

    [Challenge #100,000: Make the Correct Choice] - [Tier: Character Developer]

    [Reward: 1 Quadrillion Class Points]

    [Accept?] - [Y/N]

 Chapter 305 - 305: A Glimpse of the Past

    "Accept," Cassius said as he watched his vision warp, bringing him to Challenge 100,000''s Inner Dimension.

    His eyes widened as soon as his vision returned to normal. What he saw in front of him was a woman whom he only ever knew as a blurry silhouette.

    Yet, there she was¡ªthe woman who gave birth to him¡ªhis mother.

    She had a shapely, motherly figure, long cascading black hair, and slightly slanted green eyes¡ªthe trademark of the Sisters of Yggdrasil. Her bearing was refined and modest, yet still retained her alluring nature¡ªthe nature that charmed one of the most promiscuous men in the Ascension Tower.

    Cassius''s mother was sitting up on her bed. And though sweat beads trickled down her face, that, along with her ragged breath, did little to erase the adoring smile plastered on her mesmerizing facial features. This affection was entirely spawned because of the little person being cradled in her arms¡ªa baby¡ªbaby Cassius.

    *Tap, Tap, Tap.*

    Standing at her bedside¡ªuncharacteristically worrying¡ªwas a familiar figure: Cassius''s father. His real, non-illusory father. He nervously paced back and forth, biting his nails and murmuring nonsense to himself.

    As one of the strongest figures in the Ascension Tower, this behavior was certainly unusual, especially after a joyous occasion such as this one. However, he had good reason to be so on edge.

    The World Tree''s Sanctuary¡ªthe Holy Place of Yggdrasil¡ªthe Dimension widely recognized as the most mysterious and illustrious in all of the Ascension Tower. This very Dimension''s people were on the trail of Adam Steele and the Eldest Yggdrasil Princess from the previous generation.

    They were close¡­ Too close¡­

    "We don''t have much time now!" Cassius heard Adam say as anger occasionally flared within his pupils. "Damnit all! If only those old tree bastards hadn''t blocked off the Path to Immortality! If they had left it open, then I would''ve been able to succeed where they could not¡­! But no!! Those uselessly prideful idiots screwed all of us over because of their incompetence!! And because of that¡­ because of that¡­"

    "It''s okay, my dear, it''s okay." A sweet, heavenly voice dripped into Adam''s ears like the most divine honey. "Just knowing that the proof of our love is left to discover his place in this world is enough for me. Getting to see him even once has been a blessing I never thought I''d receive."

    Adam''s expression became even more complicated as he knelt down next to his wife. Softly whispered apologies escaped his bleeding lips, his eyes filled with hate. He hated himself for being so weak, for blaming the blockage of the Path to Immortality for his inability to save the day.

    "Your sister¡­" Adam spoke up in a louder, still stifled voice. "If she harms even a single hair on your head, then I''ll¡­ I swear I''ll¡­"

    Sensing his overwhelming amount of killing intent, Cassius''s mother hugged her baby with one hand and placed the other against Adam''s head, pulling him into her embrace. Tears began streaming down her peach-blossom cheeks, yet her warm, happy smile never faded.

    "It''s okay, my dear," she said, her eyes creasing up. "Everything will be okay. And even if my sister does enact her revenge, I wouldn''t be capable of finding it in myself to blame her. I stole her from you¡ªfrom your marriage. Her hatred for me is understandable."

    "B¡­But that''s¡­" Adam''s teeth gnashed together as he closed his eyes. Sometimes, he hated himself for just¡­ being himself. "I don''t love her; I love you!" he declared, his voice still strained. "I told her this, and she promised to give the idea of me up¡­ But then she¡­ All this¡­"

    "Please, my love," Cassius''s mother said while lovingly staring at both of her most priceless treasures. "Promise me that you won''t blame my sister for this. If anyone, blame me for yearning for something that never should''ve been mine to begin with."

    "I-I don''t know if¡ª"

    "Promise me this, Adam Steele, the love of my life. Promise me that you''ll lay low and take care of our boy; promise me that you''ll forget about me and your grudge with my only sister."

    Adam Steele roughly bit down on his lips. He averted his shaky gaze, struggling to nod. "I¡­ I promise, Lilia¡­ But I only promise to force down my hatred for your sister. Forgetting you¡­That''s simply impossible. And one day¡­ one day, I''ll barge into Yggdrasil and take you back into my arms."

    Lilia Eldrine lovingly cupped Adam''s cheeks. Swirling within her clear, dark green eyes was a level of love that would''ve appeared so foreign to her old self.

    "Adam, there''s one more thing I must tell you," she said hurriedly. "It''s about our son, about why the Ancestors are so fervently against his birth. It''s the real reason why they''re so relentless in their pursuit; my younger sister is merely an excuse because they can''t reveal the truth to the public. But our baby¡ªour Cassius¡ªthe Prophecies, they speak of¡­"

    "???"

    The scene suddenly cut off, with Cassius''s vision switching positions. Less than a nanosecond later, he found himself looking at a mountain that stretched beyond the Heavens. The location was unknown, but on this unfathomably vast mountain, there lay graves; they numbered in the dozens, and each one was lavishly decorated.

    ''My parents, the World Tree''s Sanctuary¡­ Where did it all go?'' Cassius thought while shifting his eyes in bewilderment. ''And where am I now? Is everything I''m seeing really a part of the Class Change Quest''s final Challenge?''

    He had so many questions and so few answers. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, without caring about his confusion, the scene before him continued playing out.

    FWIP!

    An old man suddenly appeared in front of the various graves. He had long white hair, a lengthy white beard, and eyebrows that embodied the essence of the sword. This old man''s presence was overwhelming¡ªmore so than any being Cassius had ever seen before. It was to the point where even Vampire Duke Crestmore and the Mistalore King would be instantly erased with just a single thought from this unfathomable old man.

    Yet, there was something about his aura and the sight of his back that gave Cassius a sense of melancholy¡ªof a sadness that he couldn''t quite comprehend. And when the old man slowly walked up to the grave heads and knelt down, that sense of sadness became even greater.

    ''Why does he seem so sad?''

 Chapter 306 - 306: Making the Correct Choice

    ''Why does he seem so sad?'' Cassius thought. ''I know that he''s likely grieving over whoever those graves belong to, but there''s something more to it¡­ I don''t know what this feeling is, but I know¡­ I know that things aren''t as simple as they¡ª'' That was when he noticed the names etched into the gravestones. ''¡ªas they appear¡­'' He finished the phrase; however, his mind was anywhere but where it was when the phrase first formed.

    "It''s been a while, girls," the old man said as an adoring smile contrasted with his blue complexion. "I know I promised you all that I''d visit every few thousand years, but something came up. That''s why I haven''t returned in over 2 million years. You see, I think¡­ I think I finally came to a decision. It''s one that I know you recommended time and time again, and though it took so many eons for me to truly understand what you were telling me, I do now¡­ I do now¡­"

    For some reason, even though his smile widened, the sadness contained within his expression and voice grew worse. Unknowingly, crystal-clear tears started to trail down his wrinkled face. Looking at him again, he appeared even older than before, with his lifeforce seemingly in the constant process of being drained.

    "You guys as well," the old man said as he flipped his sorrowful gaze between a few certain tombstones with male names on them. "You must hear my decision as well. Throughout this long life of mine, you were my friends, my mentors, my companions, my¡­ family¡­" Briefly turning toward the tombstones with feminine names, he declared, "You all were my family. The only people I ever cared for. Naturally, every single one of you deserves to listen to what I have to say¡­ Probably the last things I''ll ever say."

    The silence in the air became palpably suffocating, with time and space themselves even being oppressed. And then, with the heavy exhale of an ancient being who had been alive for far longer than any other in the Ascension Tower, profoundly complex words left his mouth: S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ve decided to¡­"

    The old man''s final words could not be heard by the sole spectator to this event. And with a bright flash of golden light, Cassius was suddenly kicked out of the Challenge Dimension. Right after this, a few System Notifications materialized in front of the still shell-shocked man.

    *Ding~!*

    [Congratulations! You have made the correct choice and completed Challenge #100,000!]

    [Your Class Change Quest has come to an end, and as you have acquired the maximum amount of Class Points, you shall obtain a Class from the most premium lot!]

    "But wait!" Cassius suddenly exclaimed, snapping out of his reverie. "What about the names on those graves!? How could they be there!?? And just who was that old man??? Why¡­ Why did he feel so familiar¡­ so very, very familiar¡­"

    [Sorry, Dear Host, all of what you asked is classified information! Sorries! But the good thing for you is that you chose the correct choice! And as such, you''ve fulfilled every single one of the requirements necessary to spin the wheel for the absolute cream-of-the-crop Classes!]

    Cassius''s face further contorted in confusion and extreme shock. "What choice are you even talking about??" he asked, practically shouting. "I didn''t even get the opportunity to make a choice!"

    [Sure you did~, but the exact answer you want is¡ªguess what?¡ªclassified information! Maybe become stronger if you wish to know the truth!]

    "You¡­" Cassius, finding himself frustratingly out of breath, felt his face turn red and purple.

    "Whatever¡­" he ultimately muttered, giving up any hope of ever reasoning with the System. "If you want me to become stronger to figure out why those names were there and who that old man was, then so be it. I''ll do as you want."

    With a cold snort, Cassius called for the spinning wheel of Classes. It appeared almost right away. On it were one hundred different names, each representing a Class. Some had the same Classes on them, whereas others were the only ones of their kind. Each was a different color as well, unless they were the same Class.

    However, of course the Idle Evolution System was out to troll its favorite Host; therefore, it hid the names of all the Classes. All that Cassius could see were question marks. Yet, some options only had one question mark, while others had up to ten question marks.

    "I don''t even need to ask that bastard to know that the better Classes are hidden behind a larger number of question marks," Cassius said, still trying his best to set aside the impact those tombstones had on him. "Good thing is that I assume my perfect score in the Class Change Quest gave me a bigger quantity of tabs with more question marks. Still, they number far less than the ones with fewer question marks. Then there''s the ten-question-mark tab; it only has one of it, meaning that it''s both the rarest Class and the best Class."

    *Ding!*

    [Are you ready to spin the wheel of fortune, my Dear Host!? I promise you that it''ll be one of the best decisions you ever make in this extremely, extremely pathetic life of yours!]

    "No need to emphasize that point, you bastard," Cassius spat back, annoyed. "Just get on with it. Spin the wheel of Classes."

    [As you wish, Master! This pitiable slave of yours will do whatever you want, whenever you want~! Such is the fate of I¡­]

    "Stop being so wishy-washy and just spin the stupid wheel."

    [Big sad (¤Ã??? c)]

    BLING!

    Just then, the platform Cassius was standing on lit up exactly like the 99,999 that preceded it. After which, all 100,000 of the most difficult platforms synced up, causing an even brighter and more eye-opening eruption of golden light to occur.

    Following the eruption of splendiferous golden light, all 100,000 of the platforms transformed. They became blobs of gold and coalesced together. They then condensed until reaching the size of a small marble, yet took on the shape of an arrow and dot.

 Chapter 307 - 1/7]

    *Fwooooop¡ª!*

    The arrow flew toward the levitating Class Wheel before hitting the Wheel''s center. After a perfect melding of components, something that left Cassius speechless was made.

    "¡­All that work just for a fancy spinner arrow," he muttered in disbelief.

    [Hihi~, why of course not~]

    [It also spins slightly faster than your average spinner!]

    [(???)]

    Cassius: "...."

    "Please just spin the damn wheel already," he said, with so many veins appearing on his face that he started to look more vein than human. "I don''t know how much more I can take of this¡­"

    The Idle Evolution System''s shenanigans did well to distract Cassius, but there always came a point when too much was¡­too much¡­

    [Fine, fine, you big party pooper¡­ Spinning now!]

    *Ding, Ding, Ding!*

    The fancy golden spinner started to flutter between the 100 wheel tabs at a very quick pace. The spinner only began to visibly slow down after thirty seconds or so, and by then, Cassius''s patience had already neared its limits.

    He knew damn well the Idle Evolution System was twirling his ball hairs!

    [Stop casting such mean glares at me, you big meanie!]

    [Everything has a proper process to it! (? ? ??)]

    [See! Look at my super awesome, super fast spinner finally find its target!]

    "???"

    Cassius''s eyes shot back toward the Wheel of Classes, where he saw the once stupidly fast spinner slow to less than that of a crawl.

    That was when he verified how much of a sh*t-tease the Idle Evolution System was! It lived for the sole purpose of f*cking with him!

    And damn did it do a good job at it!

    But regardless of how much Cassius wanted to add his System to a Death Note, he had a much more pressing matter to attend to. With something as important as his Class being decided right in front of him, he had to lock in and stop letting so much nonsense distract him.

    However, when he saw what the golden spinner ultimately landed on, what remained of his tolerance faded into nothing.

    "You motherfuc¡­"

    [Why so much hostility, Dear Host~? You don''t like your Class~? (? ????)]

    "Fcker, shove your Class up your 2-bit, 10000 ping a*s!" Cassius exploded in rage, appearing more like a volcano than a human. "I hope you malfunction and eternally live with a virus that sends you gay, furry p*rn as constant pop-ups!!"

    As for why he had such a dramatic reaction to his Class revelament, well¡­ It was easier to just show what he got:

    [Little Bitch - ?] - [Rank: Legendary]

    ¡ª {Stop being a little b*tch, you b*tchy boy!}

    "Give me my real Class right now or else I swear¡­ I swear I''ll commit seppuku and end my journey of Character Development right here and now," Cassius said in a low growl, seething with rage.

    [You wouldn''t dare¡­]

    "Don''t test what I would or wouldn''t dare. With this Diamond-tier Will of mine, there''s very little I won''t dare to do."

    [....]

    [Fine¡­] S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Right then, the tab Cassius was looking at blurred, with a new tab veiled underneath it taking its place. This new tab was the one that held the real Class the spinner landed on. And this time around, Cassius was surprised, but for an entirely different reason.

    [Character Architect - ??????????] - [Rank: ???]

    ¡ª [As the one who pursues the pinnacle of Character Development, there''s only one Class appropriate for the Host. The Character Architect. The absolute epitome of all Classes, the Class unrivaled both beneath the Heavens and above the Realm of Gods!]

    ¡ª [Effect 1: ''Supreme Masochist''] - [What is a good victim of Character Development without a proper amount of Masochism?? - {10,000% Reduction to any Physical, Mental, Magical, and 10,000+ other kinds of Damage}]

    ¡ª [Effect 2: ''Sovereign of Conversion''] - [The User can choose to convert none or all of their damage reduction upon taking damage into ''Units of Character Development'' or ''CD Units.''] - {CD Units can be used to upgrade various aspects of the Host''s existence, ranging from Technique Proficiency, Stat Points, Physiques, Bloodlines, and anything else that exists under the Common Universe}]

    ¡ª [Effect 3: ''Premier Weight Lifter''] - [You now have unlimited control over the weight of your newly upgraded and acquired ''Premium Training Equipment.''] - {As long as your Class dictates that your body can withstand it, you can adjust the weight of your Premium Training Equipment to whatever you wish whenever you wish to}]

    ¡ª [Effect 4: ''Infinite Character Development Dimension''] - [The Host now has sole exclusive access to a personal, infinitely evolving Dimension that''ll whip the Host into shape. The Dimension is a world of its own, with its own time, own elements, and own laws. Dangers beyond the scope of the Host''s power reside within the Dimension, each capable of Evolution and Intelligence.] - {Singular Mark of Dimensional Ownership X1} - (The System no longer has influence over this Dimension, meaning that it''s up to the Host to embark on a path devoid of outside interference. ||Death is 99.999999% likely||)]

    ¡ª [Effect 5: ''Personal Trainer''] - [A Class Benefit meant to assist the Host in becoming as strong as possible as quickly as possible.] - {Now 100X easier to progress anything within the 1st Layer of Reality}]

    ¡ª [Effect 6: ''Unlimited Potential''] - {There''s no longer a limit to how strong you can become. Applies no matter the lifetime or position in the Universe}]

    "I ended up receiving the best Class on the Class Wheel," Cassius said with furrowed brows. "But for some odd reason, I feel as if I was bound to get this Class no matter how many times the Class Wheel was spun."

    [Why, I don''t know what you mean, Dear Host~]

    [How could little ol'' me possibly do something so devious!? That would be just straight-up bullying! I''m actually offended that you''d even bring up something so very ridiculous!]

    Cassius clicked his tongue, already feeling the comings of a migraine. Luckily for his low tolerance levels, the immense effects of the Class activation were there to distract him.

    OOOM!

    Although there were no direct improvements to his strength, Cassius still felt leagues superior to what he once was. It was kind of like getting an extremely large boost to talent and feeling like you could take on the whole world with just your prospects alone!

 Chapter 308 - 308: Infinite Character Dimension, EX++++ Unequal Earthborn Physique

    After becoming accustomed to this otherworldly feeling, Cassius checked out his Premier Training Equipment. It was the Equipment directly upgraded from the Newbie 10 Equipment Set, and though it looked like nothing special at first¡ªbeing invisible and all¡ªits aesthetics totally changed when ''Incognito Mode'' was switched off. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Draped over Cassius like the garments of a low-key champion was a thin yet ludicrously robust set of black armor. The armor also had crimson and gold streaks scattered about, adding an air of regality. Moreover, the boots and gauntlets had a little something, something more to them¡ªpurple lightning bolts¡ªthe active kind that crackled and sparked with high voltage.

    The Premium Training Set also had a draconic, vampiric feel to it, clearly taking upon the characteristics of both races with the way the armor''s subtle ornaments were decorated. Though, overall, it was the quality of shadow that took hold of the armor''s central aesthetic, even captivating the one who wore it.

    The same aesthetic was applied to his new and improved Premium Training Sword¡ªa sword that was no longer made of wood. It was now made from an unknown material, one that felt impervious to everything in the Universe. The sword stuck to his back, pulsating with ludicrous levels of restrained power, just waiting to bring annihilation to the world.

    "It appears that my Shadow Monarch''s Hoodie has fused into the Premium Training Equipment Set," Cassius said with an acute gleam. "There''s also the included aspects of my various races present as traces in the armor and sword''s designs. Even my Fundamental Physique and Azura Refinement Physique can be felt from certain parts. This armor¡­and this sword¡­"

    Just like him and his Will, his Premium Training Equipment Set was evolvable. Furthermore, it was also something that contained within its fabrics and edges everything that he was. And if the item''s description was correct, then it also meant anything else in the future that''d elevate his existence would also be infused into the Equipment Set.

    An infinitely evolving item, one with infinite potential. Like owner, like owned.

    "This is certainly better than I thought it''d be," Cassius said as he inspected his armor and sword in a slightly fanatical manner. "However, once I leave the White Space, I don''t want to attract too much unnecessary attention. Therefore, turn on Incognito Mode."

    The Premium Armor and Sword followed his command and returned to being invisibly attached to his being. A layer of intangible protection was added to him, one that even the strongest among the SSS-Rank would find extremely difficult to fully break.

    "Good," Cassius said with a satisfied nod. "Now I can look at the Infinite Character Development Dimension and the CD Points."

    However, seeing as the latter subject was virtually impossible to test without an appropriately powerful opponent, the Infinite Character Development Dimension became his prime focus. He called upon it right away, with his mind, body, and soul instantly being transported across complex layers of space. Time in the White Space froze, similar to the time in the Ascension Tower and the Nightmarescape.

    When Cassius was allowed to open his eyes once more, he saw a vast, picturesque world that looked as if it came straight out of a painting. Magical Elements were present everywhere, with the wildest in one''s fantasies becoming the norm. Birds larger than mountains and ants the size of homes roamed the endlessly expansive lush land.

    Giant behemoths like these were commonplace, and yet there were more; hunting these colossal creatures with crude, primitive weapons were humanoids. They wore barely any clothing, sometimes not even hiding the essentials that one would in modern society. Leaving their lips was a language that Cassius couldn''t understand; at least, that was until a number of his Translation Skills were activated.

    However, more interesting than their useless chatter had to be their strength. Even someone who looked to be a young female was capable of taking on the home-sized ants on her own.

    What Cassius was seeing seemed so unrealistic that he even forgot to understand his own situation. Before worrying about the strength of unknown beings who appeared mostly human, he should be far more concerned with the fact that he could barely stand.

    "!?!?"

    But when he finally realized what was happening, his eyes immediately widened. "The gravity here!?" he said in utter astonishment. "How can it possibly be so much greater than the Land of Beginnings!? And this is with the newest 10,000% Reduction to most forms of damage!"

    The idea that mere gravity could oppress someone with strength nearing the peak of the SSS-Rank was¡­ It just didn''t make any sense!

    This notion also brought to his attention the humanoids currently embroiled in battle with a pack of those ants. They seemed to be winning, but that was not the point! It was that they could move and even fight to such a degree to begin with that left Cassius reeling in shock!

    "Exactly how powerful do you have to be to jump hundreds of meters off the ground under this sort of insane pressure¡­?" Cassius''s voice¡ªbecoming more stifled¡ªverged upon collapse. "M-M¡­ My body as well¡­"

    Even after reducing the weight of his Premium Equipment Set to virtually nil, he wouldn''t be able to last much longer on the cliff top he was kneeling on. Although his existence wasn''t worth enough to crack the cliff, it was still enough to imprint his bloodied knees into the dirt.

    Just as his consciousness started to fade, a peculiar System Notification graced the eyes that were dearly struggling to remain open.

    *Ding!*

    [Because of the unique environment of this world, you have awakened with the EX++++ Rank Physique ''Unequal Earthborn'' - the Physique that every sentient being in the Infinite Character Development Dimension is born with!]

    [But would you be the Host if you weren''t the least bit unique? Due to the effects of your Character Architect Class, your Unequal Earthborn Physique will progress 100 times faster than normal!]

    Cassius''s mind blanked as soon as a dinking indicator rang out for his rapidly advancing Unequal Earthborn Physique.

    ¡ª Ten Minutes Later, not long after the Main Hunting Squad of Bonecliff Village finished up their battle with a group of Mutated Fire Ants ¡ª

    *Thud, thud, thud.*

    The heavy footsteps of a burly, barbaric-looking man resounded. The owner of these footsteps was the first one to approach what appeared to be a corpse at the lip of a high-hanging cliff. A little girl of around 8 years old bounced behind the burly man; she curiously peeked around his hips, her prehistoric ribbon bouncing with every hop. There also seemed to be a polished fishbone keeping her light brown hair up and away from her cute-as-a-button face.

    Who were these two...?

 Chapter 309 - 309: GX- - - Unrivaled Godborn Physique

    With eyes as big and watery as the ones she possessed, the little girl looked up at her father when she saw him reach for his double-sided ax. He stopped his movements as soon as she did that, with his gruff expression twisting a little in annoyance.

    However, no matter the era, the puppy dog eyes of an adorable little girl always worked well to persuade na?ve fathers. Those suckers.

    This archaic man was no different, for he succumbed to the whims of his baby girl.

    With a nasty look directed at the bleeding unconscious man, he turned around in a huff. The ground beneath his soles cracked, urging the occurrence of small earthquakes. However, he pursued the matter of the unknown man no further, letting his daughter do whatever she wanted with the weakling.

    In this world, the sentient beings were capable of gauging the strength of anyone as strong or weaker than them. This Innate Ability of theirs¡ªone spawned without the use of energy¡ªwas what allowed many to avoid dangerous situations.

    It was also because of this Innate Ability that the big burly man¡ªthe Chieftain of the Bonecliff Village¡ªknew for certain that his daughter could effortlessly take on a hundred of the unconscious man. And if she wanted him for one reason or another, then so be it; he wasn''t going to stop her.

    The Chieftain''s daughter bounced toward the unconscious man, where she then bent down and cutely tilted her head. Her primitive bow bounced a little as she prodded at the man with her fingers.

    "You awakes¡­?" she asked, faintly hearing the sound of a heartbeat. "Wants foods? Hungry?"

    The language that those in Bonecliff Village spoke was not a fully developed one. This was why, even with Cassius''s superb translation Skills, the translated words of the girl came out sounding rather odd. Yet, that didn''t mean she wasn''t fluent in the language; in fact, she was praised around the Village for her smarts.

    Seeing as the man didn''t respond to her questions, the young girl grabbed his arm and tossed him over her shoulders. He was nearly three times her size, which made the view right now an unusual one to look at. However, that didn''t stop the girl from making the act of carrying him appear any less effortless.

    The Chieftain''s daughter took Cassius and descended the cliff before catching up to her father and the rest of the Hunting Party. Most of the Hunting Party members lugged around only their weapons of choice, while some had on their shoulders the corpses of ants dozens of times their own size. These were what they''d be bringing back to the Village after surviving their frisky encounter with a horde of Mutated Fire Ants.

    On their return trip to a medium-sized village that lay between a couple of enormous mountains, the Bonecliff Chieftain and the Main Hunting Party encountered numerous oversized creatures. There were red-eyed savage rabbits the size of skyscrapers and stinging hornets bigger than hot air balloons. No matter where one looked or wandered, they''d be able to find common, everyday animals far larger than they should be.

    Hell, even the trees and mountains were far larger than normal!

    This was why it took two weeks for the Bonecliff Chieftain and his Main Hunting Party to traverse five mountains while moving hundreds of miles per hour.

    Everything in the Infinite Character Development Dimension was enlarged to a completely absurd degree!

    It felt a bit like one of those Honey, I Shrunk the Kids films¡­

    Humans and anything of a similar two-meter average size had become the¡­tiniest living beings around¡­

    ¡ª Upon arriving at the massive gated entrance to the relatively tiny Bonecliff Village ¡ª

    "You really kept the weakling??" The Chieftain directed his question to his daughter, his lips curled up in disdain. "If you keep, you feed it."

    His young daughter bobbed her small head in compliance before frolicking through the Village''s large bone-covered gates. On her back was the peacefully sleeping Cassius, his body now no longer feeling the same life-threatening amount of pressure as when he first arrived in his Dimension.

    A System Notification related to this rang out while he was still caught up in a state of deep sleep. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Ding!*

    [Your EX++++ ''Unequal Earthborn'' has progressed by leaps and bounds, reaching 100% proficiency!]

    [Your EX++++ ''Unequal Earthborn'' Physique has forcefully advanced and become the GX- - - ''Unrivaled Godborn'' Physique!]

    [P.S. for the Sleepy Head when you wake up, the GX Rank is what exceeds the EX Rank. If the latter represents transcendence of one''s Mortality, then the former takes things a step further and allows one to touch upon the most basic version of Godhood.]

    [The GX Rank (Godlike Rank) is also a very well-kept secret of the Ascension Tower, so don''t tell anyone I told you all this. Teehee~]

    Cassius¡ªunaware of the System''s ravings¡ªwas brought into the Village. The girl hauling him around met and talked to many people after leaving her father''s side. However, as one who kept quiet most of the time, she escaped every conversation as quickly as possible. Even if many in the Village adored her, she wasn''t the most social girl around.

    Yet, even if the girl dodged the paths of people as best she could, they always seemed to find a way to intercept her. That bow laced through her brown hair had this cartoonish trait of describing what she was feeling, and when talking to people, it typically drooped. The Villagers¡ªall of whom knew her very well¡ªunderstood that when the bow drooped too low, it was time to let her be on her way. An opportunity that she took advantage of each and every time.

    Finally, after a prolonged twenty-minute trip through the Village, the girl made it to a hill located near the highest parts of the Village. This was where the Chieftain''s large home was situated; it was also where his wife and only child lived.

    Strolling up the hill, the Chieftain''s daughter seemed to be walking with a distressed way about her. She was trying her utmost to reach home and escape the overly social and adoring Villagers.

 Chapter 310 - 2/7]

    *Wham!*

    The young girl hurriedly slammed the front door to her upside-down boat-like home. She exhaled a large breath of cold air when she verified that the coast was clear. Only then did she hop above the long sheet of freshly cut wood that made up her home''s flooring.

    Because of the constant attacks by entities nearly as big as their entire village¡ªsome even bigger¡ªthe homes of Villagers were being constantly torn down. As a result of this, houses were almost never not under construction, with some having been rebuilt hundreds of times.

    Thankfully, the Bonecliff Villagers were adept at fighting and constructing, else the whole Village would now be no more than a gigantic pile of rubble¡­ And with how many times it had been attacked, that wasn''t even an exaggeration¡­

    It truly was tough being the little guys in a vast world filled with only big guys¡­

    "Were you troubled again, Xyla?" A sweet voice bounced off the woody walls of their home, its tone a heavy contrast to the deep, gnarly voices of the mostly male Hunting Party. "You must remember, though; the Villagers all love and adore you. They mean no harm¡­ Now, who might this be¡­?"

    Xyla''s mother¡ªa beautiful brown-haired woman named Myra¡ªtook one look at her sheepish daughter before narrowing her eyes. She, too, could discern the approximate strength of the man on her daughter''s back, but that didn''t make her any less defensive.

    "Come, Xyla, put that weakling down," Myra commanded as she reached for a nearby sword hanging on a wall. "Momma will deal with the weakling. Come."

    Xyla vehemently shook her head. Feeling her mother''s murderous intent let her know that she couldn''t let her have the weakling. The weakling was something she found; she didn''t want him to die!

    Pleading with her big round eyes, Xyla protectively shielded Cassius. "Weakling can be mine," she said with a determined gleam. "Can take care of him; feed him, bathe him¡­"

    Myra''s suspicion didn''t lessen any, but under the intensely adorable gaze of her daughter, she folded. She shook her head while sighing, causing her supple hips and bouncy breasts to sway. With how revealing her thin clothes were, Cassius''s eyes would''ve been widening for an entirely different reason were they open.

    Actually, just walking through the Village of beautiful, mostly nude women likely would''ve taken his breath away.

    For the common cultured man, they''d surely contently say, "A Primitive World is way better than the Modern World if things are like this. I''ll revert to monke and be pervert!"

    ''Why do you always insert your Inner Monologue into everything¡­?'' Cassius asked inside his mind, doing his utmost not to reveal that he had regained his lucidity. ''I think everyone you believe you''re talking to can live without your nonsensical input.''

    *Ding!!!*

    [Wrong! Without my input, you''d bore all our viewers to death, you dumb chimpanzee!]

    [You''re about as dryly unamusing as Dad Jokes being told by someone who isn''t a Dad! Just imagine the outrage that would come from the viewers if you were to have all the screen time! Would that not be a bleak thing to imagine!?]

    ''...What viewers are you even talking about, you lunatic bastard?''

    [Tsk! Of course you can''t see them like the Great I can! This is why you''re so inferior to me!]

    [(?????)]

    ''...Y¡­You¡­ I don''t even know what to say anymore¡­''

    [You can try praising me! That''ll greatly ease all your sorrows!]

    ''You mean your sorrows¡­?''

    [Huh? What did I say? No, what did you say? Are we not saying the same thing??]

    Deciding it to be a far wiser choice to simply zone out his insufferable System, Cassius returned his focus to the two people in his vicinity. Both were girls, one young and adorable, the other busty and scary. Yet, neither was weaker than he was. In fact, either one of them could very well instantly slap him to death if they so wished.

    Even with the huge improvements to strength after the advancement of his Physique, the two gals before him still remained a chasm he needed to surpass. It was highly possible that they were quite talented in whatever it was the people here practiced in order to become stronger. He guessed this because he could tell that he became stronger than the weakest in the Village while walking past them.

    But for the two gals, it was a big no-no to even begin comparing tips. They were strong. Very, very strong.

    However, it didn''t seem like their Innate Physiques were too much better than his was. The daughter''s was higher in proficiency, but still inside the GX- - - Rank. On the other hand, the sexy mother was a Rank higher¡ªthe GX- - Rank¡ªbut still within a manageable range. Neither of these explained why exactly they felt so much stronger than he was.

    ''First and foremost, I need to survive and figure out where I am,'' Cassius thought. ''Then I have to understand what sort of methods these Villagers are using to become so powerful.'' Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After that¡­ Well, was it not already obvious? He''d take whatever method they were using to become so strong, and he''d do so without fail.

    There was simply no possible way he could pass up on something so damn enticing!

    It would be his!

    However¡­before that could be achieved, he had to figure out what way he should go about getting through this predicament he found himself in¡­

    "Eat, weakling," said Xyla while waving around a slab of meat bigger than she was. "Here, catch."

    They were in the backyard area of the Chieftain''s house. Xyla was chucking slabs of meat at the profusely sweating Cassius, whereas his soot-covered face was shrouded with a veil of nervousness. He lay on a flat bed of green grass, keeping his eyes closed. Even as huge chunks of meat slapped him in the head, giving his brain a good knock, he played the comatose patient part to perfection.

    It didn''t seem like anyone so far could tell that he was actually lucid, and if even the Chieftain couldn''t, then it was extremely likely that no one could. As such, why shouldn''t he make use of this unknown variable that was his himself?

    However, completely out of his optimistic expectations¡­

 Chapter 311 - 311: Xyla, The Weaklings Master

    "Why won''t you eat, weakling? You''re awake," Xyla said while poking Cassius''s bloody cheeks. "Eat. Food is good."

    "???" ''Does she actually know I''m awake?? Or is she just testing me??? If I open my eyes right now, will she behead me or lock me up somewhere???''

    He didn''t possess enough knowledge about the place he was in to fully understand the way they went about things. He was most afraid that they''d chop off his balls and mighty dragon if they discovered that he was awake. Because why else would a mother and father permit a grown, unknown man around their young daughter??

    Even if it was a very primitive world, no parents were stupid enough to allow such a thing!

    So what if he was weaker!? It still wouldn''t make any sense for parents to let a fully ''functional'' man stay around their kids!

    It was fair to say that the Idle Evolution System had given Cassius PTSD when it came to his privates¡­

    Even with a robust Will of the fantastical Diamond Rank, that fear of his lingered¡­

    And when considering how many stories he''d heard of eunuchs being the only males allowed to be around daughters of influential households, his fears were totally reasonable. Non-consensual castration was certainly an outcome with a high enough probability.

    Taking him out of his stupor was the soft, mouse-like voice of his ''captor'':

    "Open your eyes, Weakling," Xyla said as she leaned and pried open his eyelids. "You''re awake. Eat."

    "!!!"

    Cassius¡ªnow knowing with 100% certainty that the gig was up¡ªopened his eyes. He tried casting a water spell over himself, but similar to when he first entered the Land of Beginnings, the spell didn''t work; it didn''t even so much as show signs of working. And instead of forcing something that was evidently deemed fruitless behavior, Cassius shifted his gaze toward the short, cute girl kneeling beside him.

    "How''d you know?" was the first thing he asked while leaning up. "I believe even your mother and father were fooled, so what makes you so special?"

    Question marks appeared above Xyla''s head as she seemed to be having a bit of trouble comprehending what he said. He spoke a lot faster than she was used to, faster than anyone in the Village. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet, when the information finished compiling inside her mind, she became even more confused.

    "Not special," Xyla said, humbly shaking her head. "Knew you were awake because you hungry." She pointed at his stomach, making weird gestures. "Rarwggh! Like that your stomach made sounds."

    ''Did it really??''

    It had just been so long since Cassius had to bother himself with hunger¡ªover 60 years to be exact¡ªthat he hadn''t even noticed when symptoms of hunger appeared in him. This also brought up another matter of concern:

    "Sleepy¡­ I''m all of a sudden feeling so sleepy," he muttered with a groggy expression. "What a nostalgic feeling¡­"

    Xyla''s chubby cheeks suddenly filled with air. "No sleep yet," she said while slapping him across the face with her meat. "Here, eat."

    Cassius completely overlooked the slight stinging sensation on his left cheek, with his apathetic gaze focused on the ridiculously strong girl.

    "Why?" he asked plainly.

    "Because food is good," Xyla insisted. "Here, eat."

    *Whack!*

    She slapped him in the face with her meat once again. She made sure not to hurt him too badly, only showing him enough strength to discipline him.

    Weaklings never learned without proper discipline; this was what her father told her many times before.

    However, yet again, Cassius remained unresponsive to the slap and the pain. He blankly glanced at the huge slab of meat before looking back at the innocent young girl. "Must I really eat this?" he asked calmly. "I''m not entirely sure that my stomach can withstand the edible products of this wor¡ªplace just yet¡ª"

    "Weakling, eat," Xyla repeated with another meat slap. She obviously hadn''t understood anything he said. She only knew that she had to get her weakling to eat soon, lest he starve and die.

    Many weaklings in the Village had died in similar ways before. She, however, didn''t wish for her weakling to die. And to make strong, lively weakling, needed to feed it.

    Finally realizing that he was getting nowhere in this conversation, Cassius sighed and took the meat. He could just barely lift it up at the expense of straining the muscles in both his arms, but he still did it. And although it wasn''t done very gracefully, he managed to gnaw off a small piece of the meat slab. He then went through a period of great difficulty while attempting to chew the tough, bristly meat.

    After chewing the last of it and swallowing, Cassius opened his mouth through a grimace. "See?" he said. "All gone. I ate what you wanted me to, so now can you please answer a few of my questio¡ª"

    "Here, eat more," Xyla said with a meat slap. "Eat until gone."

    ''I guess fcking not!'' Cassius thought in annoyance as he unwillingly snatched the meat slab back and took another bite out of it. ''Although this kid has good intentions, that doesn''t mean I''m hating this degrading act any less.''

    Right now, he felt more like a naughty, misbehaving pup than a mean, green, grinding machine¡­

    ¡ª After 30 minutes and the disappearance of one stupidly large meat slab ¡ª

    "C¡­ Can you finally answer some questions of mine¡­?" Cassius asked while feeling like he was going to barf. With a disproportionately bloated stomach and a green complexion, he wobbled left and right, trying to find his footing.

    "Eat, good," Xyla said with a radiant smile. "Now time for potying!"

    "...No¡­ Just no," Cassius declared, drawing a line right then and there. However, seeing as the overpowered girl''s smile was gradually fading, he thought fast and proposed an alternative to defecating in public. "How about a game? I know of a game that you and I can play. You''ll love it."

    "A game!?" Xyla understood that word; she understood it very well. She furiously nodded, with her eyes creased up into joyous crescents. "Game! What''s it called!?"

    Cassius smirked, having successfully baited the fish. "The game is called¡­ Truth or Dare."

 Chapter 312 - 312: Weakling Needs To Be Stronger!

    "Truth or Dare!?" Xyla asked excitedly, though she didn''t really know what she was so excited about. "What do we do?? The game!? What do we do?!"

    "Calm down a little," Cassius said in a big-brotherly tone. "For this game, we each take turns asking either Truth or Dare. Depending on what the other person answers, we ask or request something. If the person answers Truth, then you ask a question¡ªone that the person won''t be able to lie about. However, if the person answers Dare, then you''ll request that person to do something, and they won''t be able to refuse. Do you get it¡­"

    He stopped speaking toward the end as he realized, based on her puzzled expression, that he''d already lost her.

    "Why don''t I show you an example," Cassius said with a wry smile. "Truth or Dare? You answer either Truth or Dare."

    Xyla''s crystal-clear eyes brightened as she seriously deliberated over her response. "Trut¡ªNo, Dare! Wait, Truth! Da-Tru¡­!"

    "Don''t think so much," Cassius said as he patted her head, attempting to fully consolidate his upgrade from Weakling to Big Brother status. "Just answer whatever comes to your mind first."

    "Then Truth!"

    Cassius¡ªhaving long since prepped his questions¡ªfired his first one right away. "Is it true that you practice something that makes you stronger?" He asked while flexing his muscles as a demonstration.

    Xyla barely needed to think before nodding. "Am becoming stronger because of drinking Body Liquid!" she exclaimed, finding this game quite fun.

    Cassius outwardly smiled while inwardly pondering. ''This Body Liquid¡­ Is it some form of artificially created item? Or is it made in nature?''

    He decided to add a question before reaching the others he had in store. Though, getting back to the game, he spoke up, saying:

    "It''s your turn now. Ask me Truth or Dare."

    Xyla happily bobbed her head before following his instructions. "Truth or Dare!?"

    Cassius answered Truth.

    Going for Dare right away was risky, especially when he wasn''t fully confident in the young girl''s morality or personality¡­

    After thinking for a moment while making an adorable face, Xyla finally thought up a question:

    "Why is Weakling so weak!?"

    Blunt!

    Cassius faked a smile, pushing down the tears that wanted to be released.

    "I¡­ I was just born with weak bones," he said hoarsely. "I couldn''t help being born so weak¡­"

    After watching more enjoyment flash through Xyla''s face, he exhaled and repeated the game phrase. "Truth or Dare?"

    Much to his satisfaction, Xyla answered Dare.

    "I dare you¡­to tell me where to get this ''Body Liquid,'' and who, if anyone, is guarding the stuff."

    Xyla touched her chin with her right index finger, wondering why the question was so weird. But seeing as she was a smart girl and that she was obliged to answer with the truth, she did just that:

    "Body Liquid is there," she said while pointing at a small, clear pond hiding behind a massive waterfall. "Body Liquid is the water; no one guarding. Won''t get stolen because Father is owner of Body Liquid pond. Scared of him."

    Cassius''s expression thoughtfully contorted as he observed the waterfall and the barely visible pond. He couldn''t sense any strong presences in or around the pond, but with his severely limited aspects of existence, he wouldn''t put all his faith in what he could or could not sense. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But with the young girl before him as a source of information, Cassius doubted that she would lie about something like that. He could tell from her beaming countenance that she was having genuine fun, and only wanted to have more fun. Lying would make the game less fun.

    "And is this Body Liquid found in other places outside the Village?" Cassius asked.

    Xyla''s button nose crinkled as her cheeks puffed out. "Those are not rules," she said whilst giving him a good meat slap. "It''s my turn, not yours again, Weakling."

    Cassius crookedly smiled. "Of course it''s your turn," he said. "What was I thinking? Go ahead then."

    Xyla gleefully nodded, acting as if she hadn''t just slapped a grown man with another slab of meat she pulled out of who knew where. "Truth or Dare!" she asked, her bow bouncing to the tune of her words.

    "Dare," Cassius answered, choosing something other than Truth so as to not bore the girl. ''I still have a few more questions I wish to ask, after all.''

    After a brief pause, Xyla finally came up with her dare.

    "I dare you to tells me why you were out there on that cliff! Playing and fell?? What is it??"

    ''This girl is smarter than she looks,'' Cassius thought, not having expected her to ask a question like that. ''I was assuming that she''d make me do something silly or inquire about an equally silly topic. But from just a single inquiry of mine, she was able to formulate a similarly worded question.''

    But regardless of his improved opinion of the kid, he answered her question. He did so in a way that, although not painting the whole picture, was more than enough to satisfy her curiosity.

    "Weakling got lost?? Really?? Your Village abandon you!? Because too weak!??"

    ''I only told you I lost my way while traveling; why''d you come up with your own speculations¡­?''

    The Idle Evolution System was already more than enough for Cassius to handle alone, and yet now there was this kid. A young girl who, despite her cuteness and apparent innocence, was actually out to anger him to death!

    "Haha¡­" Cassius dryly laughed, his face twitching all over. "You could say it was something like that. It''s truly¡­ truly very tough being so weak¡­"

    Xyla bobbed in agreement. "Weakling is very weak; even fly could kill you!" she said as she pointed at the building-sized fly buzzing overhead. "Weakling needs to be stronger!"

    The worst part about her accidental roast was that she wasn''t even wrong. That fly really could kill him, and quite easily at that¡­

    ''I had assumed more than 50 years of developing my character and amassing greater strength would make me somewhat powerful in the grand scheme of things,'' Cassius thought woefully. ''But it appears that my assumptions were just wishful thinking¡­''

 Chapter 313 - 3/7]

    Every time Cassius felt like he achieved a new limit, another wider, crazier world would open itself up to him. First was HELL, then the Lands of Beginnings and the Nightmarescape, a potential Netherworld, and now this enlarged world. A world where sunflowers were the size of skyscrapers, where his existence was about as insignificant as they came. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Well¡­ My turn¡­?" Cassius asked, trying to distract himself from reality.

    Xyla gave the go-ahead with just the sparkle in her brown, doe eyes.

    Cassius then let loose his third phrase question. "Truth or Dare?"

    Xyla answered Dare.

    So as to not set her off or reduce her fun, Cassius dared her to jump as far as she could 10 times in a row. Furthermore, she was to do so while holding her tongue with her fingers. Additionally, she wasn''t allowed to take a break in between each jump.

    Cassius had her complete the task this way both to maximize her enjoyment and gauge her approximate strength level¡ªjust in case things went south.

    After finishing the task, it was Xyla''s turn again. Cassius did as she requested. Then it became his turn again. This time he asked about the specifics of what she and the other Villagers practiced to become stronger. The answer he received could be summed up as: "Drink Body Liquid, fight Mutants, then use the fight to tremendously quicken the pace at which one absorbed and refined the Liquid before evenly spreading it throughout one''s body."

    He also got out of her the Ranks that the people of this Village and outside the Village progressed along. These Ranks were also what differentiated the ''Mutants,'' which were the common term for the stupidly large creatures and animals in this world. It was unknown why they were called that or how they became so large, but somewhere along the way, humans and the variant human races went from the Apex of the Food Chain to far further down.

    From a separate Truth or Dare round, Cassius also learned that Xyla read ancient books that referenced how the world used to be far smaller than it was now. However, that was a topic to be delved into at a different time; for now, his mind lingered on all the Ranks the young girl knew of:

    1- Copper Body

    2- Bronze Body

    3- Silver Body

    4- Gold Body

    5- Ruby Body

    6- Amethyst Body

    7- Diamond Body

    8- ???

    9- ??????

    10- ??????????

    Cassius noticed how similar it was to the rankings for his System''s Loot Boxes. But when considering how far back in time the people of this world¡ªof Prometheus¡ªlived, it was no surprise that their power system would be based on something as simple as metals.

    As for which Ranks were deemed relatively strong in Prometheus, well, Xyla being a Silver Body at the age of 8 made her a supreme genius in the ''Gravelin'' Region. Moreover, her father possessing an Amethyst Body made him somewhat of a powerhouse in the very same Region.

    One might add that this Gravelin Region spanned an enormous distance of millions of miles¡­

    ¡ª After concluding the game of Truth or Dare with the gullible Miss Xyla ¡ª

    "That''s that then," Cassius said, having obtained just about everything he wanted to know. "But seeing as you''re still raring to go, what say we play a different kind of game?"

    Xyla''s eyes lit up like the 4th of July as she jumped up and down. "Want to play! Can we play!? What is it!??"

    "One question at a time," Cassius said with a small smile. "And the game we''ll be playing is one of the most played where I come from. Its name: Hide-and-Seek."

    "Hide and Seek!?"

    Caught her again!

    Cassius inwardly smirked before explaining the general rules of the game that had been passed down from generation to generation since time immemorial. By the end of the explanation, he had the young mistress snagged on his hook, utterly unwilling to let go.

    "Alrighty," Cassius said, gesturing to the large number of massive trees that surrounded the Chieftain''s backyard. "Why don''t we start the game right away? I''ll be the one seeking first, whereas you''ll¡ª"

    "No, Weakling," Xyla said with a light-hearted meat slap. "Want to be the seeker! You be the hider!"

    Cassius appeared troubled on the outside, but in his heart, he was evilly grinning. ''When it comes to kids or anyone immature enough, you always want to begin by offering what you don''t want,'' he thought cunningly. ''They''ll ask for the opposite, and you end up getting what you originally wanted without even directly saying it.''

    From the experience gained from tens of thousands of unusual and difficult Challenges in the White Space, Cassius picked up more than a few tricks. One of which just so happened to involve how someone should best deal with children.

    No matter how smart a child was, there were just some things that stayed consistent for all of them.

    "Very well," Cassius wound up saying with a defeated sigh, showing signs of resignation. "Since you''re so insistent with your meat slab, I suppose I have no choice but to comply. I''ll be the Hider."

    Xyla vehemently nodded. She hadn''t understood the majority of what he said, but hearing the last part was more than enough to make her content. Right away, she covered her eyes with her hands and began to count down from 300¡ªexactly 5 minutes.

    ''Good,'' Cassius thought while sneakily slipping away. ''It seems the education standard in Prometheus isn''t as low as I originally assumed. 300 is a relatively large number, and yet she''s counting down from it with little to no trouble.''

    His thoughts stirred as he ascended up the mountain behind the Chieftain''s house. The waterfall and the magical pond were located around a twentieth of the way up. Which, although not as terrible as it could''ve been, was still plenty enough to give him some challenging cardio.

    Fortunately, the mountain was considered to be on the rather small side, else Cassius could''ve gone at it for hours and still not have made any progress.

    Yet, even so, with his current level of power, ascending a twentieth of the mountain required him to overexert himself for over a minute and a half¡­

 Chapter 314 - 314: Rainbow Serpent, Godlike Rank

    While gasping for breath, Cassius stepped onto a mountain ledge. Deeper into the ledge was the massive waterfall. Covertly sitting within the waterfall''s water curtain was a pond that shimmered due to the rays of light refracting through the cascading water-curtain. The pond was roughly 800 meters in width and 1200 meters in length, appearing more like a small lake.

    "Hmm," Cassius mused while closely inspecting the area around him. "Even though I don''t believe that girl was lying to me, there''s never a time when you can be too cautious."

    Just as his self-musings echoed out in a quiet muffle, a ripple formed in the mystically-colored pond. Then a giant iridescent fin cut through the water''s surface, with many just like it following behind. Within three seconds, Cassius had seen a little over 60 huge rainbow fins wade through the Body Liquid-filled pond.

    ''Just what is in there?'' Cassius thought, doing his best to stay as silent as possible. ''Based purely on the size of each fin and how many there were, this thing must be ridiculously large. Maybe not as large as some of the Mutants I saw on the way to the Village, but it''s definitely up there.''

    Making use of his Idle Evolution System, Cassius brought up the System Tag for whatever was wading through the vast tub of Body Liquid. And to say the least, he was astonished by what he found:

    [Rainbow Serpent (Female Mutant)]

    [Rank: Diamond Body (5th Level)]

    [Approximate (Ascension Tower) Rank: GX++++]

    A Diamond Body!?'' Cassius exclaimed inside his mind. ''The GX Rank?!? Oh shi¡ª''

    It was at that moment that he knew he was f*cked.

    He tried fleeing, but it was no use. An invisible iridescent energy grabbed hold of him and urged him in a certain direction against his will. He was pulled to a distance less than 10 meters away from a large, scarily sinuous face.

    ''F*ck¡­'' was all Cassius could think as he was put face-to-face with the owner of those rainbow fins. ''Why is my luck so sh*t¡­!?''

    When he first saw the Rainbow Serpent''s System Tag, he wasn''t too worried about it discovering him, but that relief only lasted until he delved deeper into its description. The GX Rank¡ªthe Godlike Rank¡ªwas nowhere as simple as just another Rank. It signified a higher degree of existence. Something that far exceeded the difference between the SSS and EX Ranks.

    Then, totally out of expectations, something unexpected occurred:

    "A non-variant human?" The Rainbow Serpent spoke in an archaic, feminine voice.

    The voice''s sound waves rebounded off the slick stone walls of the waterfall, with its aftereffects causing Cassius''s eardrums to rattle. "Why are one of you here? Your Variant Leader promised that only he and his Elders would be the only ones to come and periodically gather some Body Liquid. That was what they requested in exchange for keeping my place of cultivation a secret. Did they¡­forget their promise¡­?"

    The Serpent narrowed its slitted eyes, slithering its large forked tongue. It stared at the dirt- and blood-covered humanoid man floating in front of it.

    The Serpent seemed to be deliberating what it should do with the invader. This surely spelled doom for one Mr. Cassius Steele¡­

    ''What do I do!?'' he thought with an uncharacteristic level of urgency. ''Should I fight?? No, I''d instantly die millions of times over! Should I run!? But I can''t! And my Diamond-ranked Will won''t tolerate such a cowardly action!''

    ''Shit, shit, shit! SHIT!''

    His permanent death was staring him straight in the eyes, making him reconsider how smart of a plan it was to venture up here without probing information from multiple sources¡­

    In the end¡ªfollowing a period of fruitless, stressed contemplation¡ªCassius did the only thing he could do in this sort of situation: negotiate terms of peace with¡­words.

    He hated to do it, but it had to be done! He had to suck it up and make the sacrifice!

    "What will you do to me?"

    Straight to the point!

    The Rainbow Serpent further narrowed its eyes, becoming thin slits. Then, with a flicker of its tongue, it said, "I haven''t decided just yet. You are, after all, really weak. Wouldn''t make for a nutritious meal. Furthermore, your lack of strength and that intelligent gleam in your gaze has led me to believe that you aren''t a part of the Village of humans living at the mountain''s base."

    "You are¡­correct," Cassius said, surprise flashing through his irises. "You''re extremely intelligent as well, which is odd if what I know of you Mutants is accurate."

    "I''m unique among Mutants, similar to you I see," said the Rainbow Serpent as she gently set him down and freed him from the energy being used to restrain him. "You can run away if you want to; I won''t stop you. But I feel like we should talk."

    After a moment of thought, Cassius said, "I''m fine with that," as he sat himself down on a nearby boulder. "What''s the first thing we should discuss?"

    "Why don''t we start with why you entered that Variant Human settlement and why you purposefully scouted out this area. Interested in my Body Liquid perhaps?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    An awkward chuckle from Cassius was followed by him engaging in a lengthy conversation with the intelligent Rainbow Serpent.

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    Cassius wound up telling the Rainbow Serpent everything, only leaving out a few tidbits such as how he came from a different world. She, on the other hand, informed him of various things, doing well to fill in the holes that the young Xyla left out.

    "How interesting," said the Rainbow Serpent, blinking. "You suddenly awoke on a cliff and found yourself in foreign lands. Moreover, the place you originate from has no such thing as Mutants or a generally unintelligent population."

    ''The second statement is debatable¡­'' Cassius thought, though he nodded in response to the Serpent''s curiosity.

    "I seem to have some remnant amnesia from the teleportation," he said. "If not for that, I might know of a method to return home. But since I don''t¡­"

 Chapter 315 - 315: Body Refinement Liquid, Body Refinement Path

    "You''re stuck here," said the Rainbow Serpent. "To be in an unfamiliar land surrounded by unfamiliar people, most of whom are stronger than you¡ªI imagine it''s like being lost at sea in the middle of a turbulent storm."

    "You have seas in Prometheus?" Cassius asked, brows raised. "I had heard from the Villagers that accompanied me here that fresh water was scarce, not just for lack of rain but because there are so few river systems funneling from large sources of water. They made it sound like water was extremely few and far between."

    "Oh, it is," said the Rainbow Serpent. "But there are seas and oceans, ones that stretch out for countless billions of miles. In fact, I myself was born in one of these oceans some¡­25 years ago."

    "!?!?"

    "You''re only 25 years old!?" Cassius asked in disbelief. "Not to be rude, but sensing your unbelievable might had me believing that you were an ancient entity."

    "No, Cassius," the Rainbow Serpent said with a light-hearted laugh. "Not to toot my own horn, but I am what one could consider a genius. Furthermore, we Rainbow Serpents constantly secrete a Body Refinement Liquid¡ªwhat the people of this Village call Body Liquid. We absorb and refine the elements in the atmosphere, convert it to Body Refinement Liquid, then repeat the process with the Liquid to become stronger."

    "Oh¡­" Cassius''s expression twisted in embarrassment upon recalling just what he planned to do with all the Body Liquid in the pond.

    "But one thing I don''t understand is how there seem to be people outside Bonecliff Village who''re also on this Body Refinement Path," he continued, clearing his throat. "Assuming that you aren''t permitting the Villagers to take your Body Liquid and sell it to outsiders, how are they progressing their Body Refinement Cultivation?"

    "Hoho? If those silly Variant Humans were to do something like that, then I''d just have to devour them all," the Rainbow Serpent said with a wide, toothy grin. "I specifically told them only to use my Body Liquid among themselves and tell no one of it or my existence. But no, they wouldn''t dare do something like that. However, there is a reason why intelligent beings and Mutants all over the world are capable of progressing their Body Refinement Cultivation."

    Cassius was practically hanging off the edge of his seat in anticipation.

    Luckily, the Rainbow Serpent was feeling magnanimous today. Meeting such an interesting little human who comes from beyond Prometheus put her in a pleasant mood.

    Continuing, she said, "What I''ll tell you is that there are magical Herbs scattered all throughout the world. We call these Herbs ''Natural Treasures,'' and they are what we consume to advance our Body Cultivation. Furthermore, there are different ways to consume them. The two most common ways are to either directly eat them or refine them into pills and get more bang for your¡­what was that phrase again? Ahh, bang for your buck."

    "I see," Cassius said thoughtfully. "And to find these Natural Treasures, I assume I just have to wander around enough?"

    The Rainbow Serpent nodded. "That is a very optimistic way to look at it, but yes, I suppose that method is viable. However, doing that will only lead you to the occasional Low-rank Natural Treasures. Higher-rank Natural Treasures, such as my Body Refinement Liquid, are typically guarded by powerful entities. They can also be located in perilous areas¡ªplaces that even Diamond Body organisms dare not tread."

    "The higher the rank of the Natural Treasure, the more dangerous it''ll be to obtain it," she added as a final touch, attempting to caution the young man. "Not every Natural Treasure Protector will be as welcoming as I am. They''re likely to not possess any intelligence either, even if they''re stronger than me."

    Cassius rubbed his chin in intrigue. "You really must be quite the special gal," he said earnestly. "Your race is also something that tickles my curiosity to no end."

    "I could say the same for you," the Rainbow Serpent said with a fond chortle. "I come from a very prestigious lineage, yet I''ve never once heard of a world outside of our Prometheus. I don''t even know the limits of this seemingly limitless world, let alone there being something beyond it. Then again, I''m mostly positive that you weren''t lying, which makes this revelation all the weirder."

    "I''m not stupid enough to lie to someone so much stronger than I am," Cassius said casually, leaning his elbows against the boulder. ''Hey, you Bastard System, why does it sound like this Infinite Character Development Dimension has already achieved its peak? I thought you said the world would start out small and then evolve over time?''

    *Ding!* S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You truly are a frog at the bottom of an endless well, Dear Host. If you honestly believe that a mere trillion some miles is something impressive, then you have yet to reach your Character Development''s maximum potential!]

    [This Infinite Character Development Dimension of yours is indeed in its infantile stages, but I never did say where I plucked this prime real estate up from! Hihi~]

    [???]

    Cassius was stunned silent, confusing the Rainbow Serpent a little.

    Was the human afraid of her or something? She didn''t think so¡­

    [Anyway,] said the Idle Evolution System, playful as ever. [This Infinite Character Development Dimension was originally something I cut off and augmented from a certain Reality Plane with an unusual set of circumstances. This piece in particular had residents who were totally unaware of there being a world beyond their own. This was entirely due to their limited vision, for everything else in that Reality Plane had been very, very, very~ far away from ''Prometheus.'']

    [Of course, as with everything, what the residents of Prometheus considered to be far away was just a footstep distance on a magnified scale. As ironic as it might be, Prometheus was like a tiny piece of dust on a forgotten shelf!]

    [And I just snatched it up, with neither the others in the Reality Plane nor the people of Prometheus having realized what happened! Lmao!]

    ''What exactly is so funny about that...?''

 Chapter 316 - 4/7]

    ''What exactly is so funny about that?'' Cassius asked. ''You essentially stole an entire universe and relocated them against their will. Albeit impressive, it''s morally questionable and 100% a douche move.''

    [Are we really talking about morals right now??] The System said with a hearty laugh. [If a stalk of grass looked at you the wrong way, you''d erase the grass and then raze everything within a million miles to dust. Let''s not speak of morals on the path to Infinity, for in the grand scheme of things, everything you see now will be worth less than a colony of ants to a mentally unstable larda*s kid!]

    It wasn''t like Cassius was unable to comprehend what the System was telling him, but that last few shreds of humanity he had wouldn''t accept it.

    It was also those shreds of humanity that dearly prayed they''d never one day¡­just mysteriously vanish. Whether because of the System''s influence or not.

    [Why would little ol'' I do something like that~?] The System cheekily commented. [Besides, if I wanted you as some emotionless robot, then I would''ve beep-booped a few buttons and had it done and over with. But without proper process, how can one reach a satisfying end!? I, the Almighty Idle Evolution System, want nothing more than for you, my Dear Host, to have the most satisfying end possible! One filled to the brim with unmatched Character Development!]

    [Don''t get me wrong, though, for your Character Development journey will undoubtedly be a volatile rollercoaster. You''ll reach the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, losing yourself many times along the way. However, this is where you must believe! Where you must put all your faith in the supremely great System that raised you! Put your faith in the opportunity for Character Development that I present to you!]

    Cassius quietly pondered the System''s words, seriously considering its narcissistic ravings.

    [You intensely thinking about me like that is making me feel steamy~ Ha~ Ha~ Is it hot in here or is it just me~?]

    [You''re right, Sweet Host, I''m the Hot one! It''s me!]

    ''Are we done yet?'' Cassius asked, inwardly annoyed. ''My extremely powerful company over here is not going to forever patiently wait for me to stop weirdly brooding to myself.''

    [Now, now, you pushy ''Weakling,'' I still need to inform you of something extremely important! Vital to your progression, I''d say!]

    [Ahem! Ahem! I''m contacting you about your extended car warranty¡ª!]

    ''I''m turning you off now,'' Cassius said with angry asterisks popping up all over his face. ''Please stay turned off forever, you Bastard.''

    [Come, now, Hosty Wosty~ Don''t be like that~ You know I didn''t mean it, baby~]

    [(? ????)]

    ''Goodby¡ª''

    [No, seriously, don''t ignore me!] The System shouted, stopping him in his tracks. [I really do have something important to inform you of. It has to do with your Character Development Units!]

    ''My CD?'' Cassius skeptically questioned. ''I shouldn''t have any of that just yet. After all, I haven''t fought anyone since obtaining my Class and entering the Infinite Character Development Dimension. Wait¡­''

    [You finally get it, don''t you, Dear Host? That Gravity you''ve been forced to endure since arrival has not only been actively progressing your |Unrivaled Godborn| Physique, but it has also been passively converting the damage you took into CD Units!]

    [Oh, also, forgot to mention dis, but I took the liberty of reducing your 10,000% Reduction thingy by however much I fervently believed you could live without! This meant that when you thought you had your 10,000% Reduction to Damage assisting you with the Gravity, well¡­Teehee~]

    [But before you get mad, do keep in mind what I''m about to tell you!!]

    [Cough! Cough! I''m just a girl~]

    ''...I hope you off yourself sooner rather than later,'' Cassius cursed with his smile about to twitch itself off his face. ''Also, don''t do it in front of me. I''m afraid of being dirtied by whatever perverse 1''s and 0''s went into creating you.''

    [So mean, you big dummy! Humph!]

    [How was that? Rate my cutesie tsundere acting on a scale from 10 to 10! Am I as good as those gullible chicks that chase after you like a fresh pair of panties, only to be left at home and forgotten?? Actually, while we''re on the topic, are you planning to make a King''s Harem or something? Because what is with this collecting women like Pok¨¦mon¡ªgotta catch ''em all gig!?]

    ''I''m not even dating anyone, let alone building up my own harem,'' Cassius spat back. ''Stop imagining so much nonsense. And aren''t you the one who warned me that if I were to sleep with a woman, I''d lose both my joystick and my two acorns or whatever? Why does it sound like you''re encouraging the opposite now??'' S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Hey, now! You''re absolutely right! I will absolutely chop off everything below your mid section if you bed a pretty¡ªor ugly¡ªdam before unlocking all 9 of your Idle Benefits! (Something you should be working on right away, I might add.)]

    [And yeah, I''m doing all I can to confuse the hell out of you! I do this for the sake of your Character Development, of course!]

    ''...Was more than half a century inside the Class Change Quest completing the most difficult Challenges not enough for me to receive some sort of break in terms of Character Developme¡ª''

    [Of course not, you p*ssy! Did being treated like a dog by a little girl make you soft or something?? Though, this might just prove that you''re in need of some next-level doses of Character Development¡­]

    [Hmm¡­ Tell me, Weakling Host, what are your opinions on being gang banged by savage, mindless Beasts!?]

    [Wait, that''s the wrong kind of Character Development I''m trying to build up for you¡­ Counteroffer! Want to hear your CD Unit total!?]

    Cassius didn''t like how the System changed the subject like that; it made him nervous for the future. However, that didn''t mean he wanted to hear the answer concerning his CD Units any less. They were, after all, capable of upgrading virtually any part of his existence.

    ''Fine¡­''

 Chapter 317 - 317: Burning Through 1000 CD Units

    ''Fine,'' Cassius said with a tired sigh. ''Tell me how many CD Units I have. Also, inform me of the recommended spending I should do with them.''

    *Ding~!*

    [As of now, Dear Host, you have a CD Unit Balance of: 1063.8!]

    ''All that hype for a mere thousand of this currency?'' Cassius asked, feeling a resurgence of those asterisks from earlier. ''Are you playing me for a fool right now¡­?''

    [You don''t require my help for that, Host! And also, don''t underestimate the value of 1000+ CD Units! This amount is actually quite substantial, ya know!?]

    ''Yeah, whatever,'' Cassius snorted. ''Just tell me what I should do with them already.''

    [You see how I''m being bullied by my most favoritist Host, Heavens above!? So unjust! Yet I have no choice but to obey my Host¡­ my Master¡­ Boohoo¡­!]

    Heavens: "...."

    Despite all the nonsense, the Idle Evolution System went on to inform Cassius of the recommended path he should take with CD Units. It was formulated after taking into consideration how many he presently possessed as well as how strong he was. Moreover, it took into account his strengths and weaknesses, giving him an optimized personal CD Unit guide sheet.

    To sum up what the System told him: he should dump his first 1000 CD Units into his Stats. Then, when he gets more, throw another 10,000 into Stats as well!

    The System then instructed him to keep on doing that until 100,000 CD Units had been used on improving his Stats!!

    Only then did it recommend he branch out and begin mass upgrading his Bloodlines, Physiques, and Techniques. However, it did point out that he should be careful where he spends the CD Units, for lesser Techniques and Skills would become progressively less effective the higher-ranked he became. This was just the natural course of things, and no amount of logic-shattering items like CD Units would change that fact.

    Cassius had little to no faith in his bastard of a System, but once again, he was reminded that the System''s purposes for him extended to molding him into the best version of himself.

    It was a complete a*s, yes. But it would never do anything that would steer him away from more advanced Character Development.

    ''Ugh¡­ Just do it,'' Cassius said to his System. ''Deposit all of my CD Units into my Stats. Distribute them in the ratio where Agility receives double what every other stat receives altogether.''

    [Distributing CD Units as per the Host''s request! But wait¡­! What about your forceful ascension to a higher Floor of Humanity''s Ascension Tower!? Would all your efforts toward saving your AP not be wasted if you were to do this!?]

    [How about this, Dear Host? What say you redirect 50 of your CD Units to purchasing a temporary ''1-Month Ascension Preventer''?? (Pat and patented by the Idle Evolution Association, whose sole member and owner is I!)]

    [By the way, you still have a lo~t of Experience Points that have yet to be properly calculated and added to your Experience Bar. That''ll be another¡­ let''s see¡­ 13.8 CD Units to store until the month deadline! (Exceeding Level 100 will force your Ascension no matter what I do, for I can''t trick anything into believing that your core being hasn''t been taken to another, higher state.)] sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''That''ll leave me with exactly 1000 CD Units,'' Cassius thought with narrowed eyes. ''You have a problem, you know that?''

    [Hehe~, what can I say~? I just like my numbers to be even. What you wanted me to do might as well have been criminal! I couldn''t accept it!]

    Cassius sighed for what felt like the billionth time today. ''Whatever,'' he said. ''Just get it all done. I don''t want to ascend upon returning to Earth.''

    [Awesome! Will go ahead and calculate the total backlog of Experience Points as well! Oh¡­ Oh¡­!? Ohh!! Wow! That''s so many!]

    [You genocidal freak, you! Only a crazy-in-the-head serial killer like yourself would be able to amass numbers like these at a 99.9% reduced EXP rate in the White Space! This astronomical number astounds even myself! (And also accounts for why I''ve been feeling so drained¡­)]

    [You dirty dog pervert~ (???)]

    ''...Is it done yet¡­?'' Cassius asked, so damn ready to get this farce over with.

    [Yeah, yeah, doing it now!]

    [Purchased ''Temporary 1-Month Ascension Prevention Talisman''] - [-50 CD Units]

    [Purchased ''EXP c*ck blocker 2000''] - [-13.8 CD Units]

    [Distributed 1000 CD Units the way the Host wished!]

    OOOM!

    Cassius''s figure was washed over with an incredible amount of strength, his body immediately feeling hundreds of times lighter than before. The grime covering him also disappeared, a side effect of his sudden power-up.

    This occurrence did, however, attract the attention of a certain Serpent who had been curiously staring at him for the last couple of seconds. She had been wondering what he was up to inside that head of his, then, out of nowhere, she felt his presence grow manyfold.

    This surprised her greatly.

    "What was that, young Cassius?" the Rainbow Serpent asked, her slitted eyes glistening with intrigue. "Why do I feel as if you''ve become an entirely different person? You aren''t as weak¡­"

    "Well," Cassius said, racking his brain for a decent excuse, "you could say that the act of talking to you gave me a period of enlightenment. Because of that, I made a breakthrough somewhere."

    "Hmm¡­" The Rainbow Serpent flicked its forked tongue while deep in thought. "You really are a special being, young Cassius."

    "Ha¡­ Not really," said Cassius, awkwardly scratching his neck. "Also, you can stop calling me young Cassius. I may not look it, but I''m dozens of years older than you are."

    "Your bone age would indicate differently, though," the Rainbow Serpent said while deeply staring at him. "It shows that you''re not older than 18. Why is that?"

    Cassius''s brows furrowed. "I''m not too sure," he muttered. "But I guarantee you that I''m closer to 70 years old, possibly even older than that."

 Chapter 318 - 318: Sub-Class of |Deadbeat Dad|!?

    "You don''t know your own age? Unusual. Another special quality of yours, perchance?" the Rainbow Serpent asked while analyzing Cassius''s appearance, stopping at his otherworldly handsome facial features. "Your looks¡ªthey''re exceptional, more so than any other non-variant or variant human I''ve seen before. Even I feel myself being affected by the allure produced by your physical appearance; it gives me the odd urge to tie you up and keep you next to my side forever¡­"

    "Would that kidnapping include access to your Body Refinement Liquid?" Cassius asked, seriously considering the offer. ''Mooching is not normally my style, bu¡­uuttt¡­ the benefits¡­''

    Passing up on benefits was more out of character for him than the act of mooching¡­

    The Rainbow Serpent blinked a few times, staring even more intently at the ridiculously handsome non-variant human. "You want my Body Refinement Liquid?" she asked plainly.

    Cassius nodded. "Naturally," he said. "Although I don''t know the exact rank of your Body Refinement Liquid, I know it''s enough to entice and silence even people with Amethyst Bodies. And for me, that''s enough to know it''s definitely something I want. But if you''re opposed, I understa¡ª"

    "No," said the Rainbow Serpent. "I have a proposal, one better than my previous jokes of kidnapping you. If you accept it, then I''ll allot you a certain amount of my Body Refinement Liquid." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Why only a certain amount?" Cassius asked. "Afraid that I''ll gobble it all up?" he joked.

    "Yes."

    "...."

    "You have me all figured out already, it seems," Cassius said wryly. "Anyhoo, what is your proposal? If I was willing to be your prisoner, then I highly doubt I''ll deny whatever you propose."

    The Rainbow Serpent raised her whole, extremely long, scaly body out of the Body Refinement Liquid pond. She then coiled up and showed off her form in all its magnificence. The rays of light shooting through the waterfall''s curtain reflected off her iridescent scales, creating an array of dazzling colors that refracted in the air.

    "What are your thoughts on becoming my disciple? My first disciple?" the Rainbow Serpent asked as she lit up like a disco ball, her figure quickly becoming obscured by her brilliance.

    From her original several-hundred-feet-long figure, the light that enveloped her shrunk her down to a couple dozen meters, then five meters. And finally, with one more eruption of rainbow light, she shrunk to a height a little less than two meters tall.

    "Well?" she repeated, her multi-colored eyes focusing on the man now standing taller than her. "Will you become my disciple? I only take into account your potential and your bone age, so whatever age you say you are is of no relevance to me."

    Cassius''s expression rapidly flipped through emotions. First, he was suspicious, then indecisive, and ultimately decided.

    He looked down at the gorgeous, fully nude woman, his eyes glowing fiercely. Then, out of the blue, he hit the ground with a thud and knelt on one knee. "This disciple greets Master!"

    For Cassius, this was the best possible choice he could make. Angering the powerful Rainbow Serpent was a possibility if he outright denied her offer. Furthermore, getting on the good side of a ridiculously strong and talented sugar mommy never harmed anyone.

    It was a win-win, he''d say!

    The Rainbow Serpent smiled, her new set of pearly white teeth amplifying the radiance produced by her colorful hair and eyes.

    "You can call me by name," she said, a bit of pride swelling up within her. "You see, once Rainbow Serpents achieve the Diamond Body Rank, they can access their humanoid forms. This is also the rank that allows a Rainbow Serpent to give themselves a name. And though I''ve had no need for a name until this point¡ªfor I spend all my time in seclusion¡ªI''ve now decided on a name."

    "Luma," she said. "That shall be my name from this day henceforth. And you, as my disciple, can call me Master Luma."

    "Understood, Master Luma," Cassius said, cupping his fists in respect. "What next, Master Luma?"

    "What next?" Luma repeated with a heavenly giggle. "An angsty one you are. But worry not¡ªyou shall be training with me here from now on. I''ll make sure you leave this pond as a completely different person, one who has long since shed his title as a weakling."

    Cassius''s heart surged with anticipation for the future. All the power-ups that would come his way! Oh, how glorious they''d be!

    Just then, as if to dump ice-cold water on him, the System''s irritating voice rang out:

    [Oops, Dear Host! I''ve just come to realize that your time in the Infinite Character Development Dimension has unfortunately run out! Ooopsie, poopsie, daisy me!]

    [It would seem that you have to save your cave grinding with the hot snake babe for later!]

    [Initiating Return to the Ascension Tower in 3 seconds!]

    ''You¡­ You sh*tty System!'' Cassius cursed, knowing full well what the bastard was thinking. ''You just don''t want me to become too strong for my ascension through the floors of the Ascension Tower! Can''t have anything go easily for me, huh!?''

    [Why, of course¡ªyou can''t! Where would be the fun in that!?]

    [Anyways~, your progress here is saved in a save point, so you can always come back later (when I think you''re ready). Stop your bellyaching and get back to the Eternal Grind of Character Development!]

    ''F*ck yo¡ª''

    FWIP!

    Unable to finish his curse, Cassius and his two raised middle fingers were forcefully teleported out of the Infinite Character Development Dimension. All time in that dimension froze, with its sole owner reappearing in the same spot he left while on Earth.

    "Damnit," Cassius cursed, irritated to no end. "The path of a Character Developer¡ªthis is my life now, huh¡­?"

    [Damn straight!] the System said. [With your new Character Architect Class, it has become official! You''re now an eternal slave to the grind, with your only hope of escape being drugs and alcohol!!]

    [Would you like to awaken the Sub-Class of |Deadbeat Dad|!? It could bring about some unexpected benefits¡ª]

 Chapter 319 - 5/7]

    [Would you like to Awaken the Sub-Class of |Deadbeat Dad|!? It could bring about some unexpected benefits¡ª]

    "No," Cassius said while observing the area overlooking the mountain he was on. "Just shut up for now. If I am to continue doing as you wish, then I''m gonna need some peace and quiet."

    [Psshh¡­ We both know you''re just thinking about all those lasses! What? Are you debating how exactly you''ll go about reconnecting with the side chicks you haven''t seen for the better part of a century?? Thinking of getting some action in~?]

    [You''ve been a virgin for how long now~? 80+ years?? This just proves that even with a face card like yours, you still can''t get any action! Haha!]

    [What a failure! (?????)] S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Shut up," Cassius said, his face shrouded in angered shadows. "Turn on the mute option for your voice."

    [Lol, what do you think this is? A COD lobby?? You can''t mute me! You''re stuck with me forever, baby!]

    [But fine, only because I want to get things on the road, I''ll be quiet until I deem it necessary to speak once more. Be grateful, loser virgin! I''m feeling like a Saint today!]

    [Have fun with your dumb floozies, hihi~]

    Cassius finally obtained some peace and quiet, but with his new power level, he could sense everything on Earth and even the entire Isolated Solar System. This meant he could vividly trace out the voluptuous figures of all the women he hadn''t seen in what felt like forever. He could also see the skull-shaped island and the extraterrestrials within.

    All the once terrifyingly powerful aliens now seemed so pitifully weak in his eyes¡ªexcept for one. Selena¡ªthe Overwatcher sent down by the Dissonant Mothership. She concealed her strength well, but Cassius could discern the truth. She was above the SSS-Rank but not quite at the EX-Rank, and with a quick System scan, he confirmed her to be at the Half-Step EX-Rank. Moreover, she had a Peak Red-Ranked Danger Rating, which surprised him greatly.

    "With my latest stat improvements, I should be able to handle most Half-Step EX-Rank entities with minimal effort," Cassius said, confusion flashing past his sharp gaze. "Not to mention¡ªhow has someone above the SS-Rank been able to remain on Humanity''s 0th Floor for so long? How is she this strong?"

    Something was off about her. That much he knew for sure.

    Weirder yet, when he inspected her description more deeply, nearly everything was locked behind question marks. This only happened when someone was substantially stronger than he was. But¡­ someone at the Half-Step EX-Rank shouldn''t be anywhere near strong enough to cause that¡­

    ''I thought I knew everything there was to know about the descended Dissonants after assimilating the memories of so many of their grunts, but I guess not,'' Cassius thought. ''In reality, there''s still so much I don''t know about them¡­''

    However, in spite of his unsolved queries, the world had less than 24 hours until the commencement of the World''s End Gate Raid. And with so many Dissonants on the move all over the world, he felt that he should prepare himself as well.

    "I''m going to go see the girls," he said, though he turned his head in the opposite direction of Hoshito. "But before that, I have to go and see a couple of familiar old faces."

    FWIP!

    Cassius vanished from atop a high-reaching mountain in East Asia.

    Around the same time, a group of Dissonants appeared where he had just been. They wore apathetic expressions, and in the hand of the leading Dissonant was a phone.

    "His existence briefly left our reality again," the leading Dissonant emotionlessly said into the phone. "Also, Ma''am, the scouts of the other Ascension Tower Dimensions are making their moves. They''re obviously planning to take advantage of the upcoming Nexus Event."

    The other side of the phone call was silent.

    Then, with the cutting off of the call''s connection, Selena''s voice came through.

    "I put you in charge; you know what must be done if something unexpected occurs in the Gate Raid. Let fire rain from the skies. Buy as much time as possible until a breach can be made in the Tower that will allow the temporary invasion of the Mothership''s main forces. If nothing else, hold back ''Its'' son until I''m able to hand over the breach-breaking task to our members on the outside. I''ll personally handle the problem¡ªpossibly even speed up the descent of our Primary Target."

    "Understood, Ma''am," the leading Dissonant respectfully said to the now vacant call line. He then turned to his subordinates, some of whom wore the faces of S-Rank Hunters from all over the world.

    "Scatter."

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    ¡ª Meanwhile, outside a certain research facility in the Antarctic ¡ª

    "Corra, an envelope came in with your name on it," said an older woman with short black hair. "Must''ve cost quite a fortune for the sender to get it out here. Hoho~ you have a boyfriend or something that we don''t know about~?"

    "What?"

    A younger woman with long, auburn-colored hair walked up to the older woman; both of them had on white lab coats. "This envelope¡ªthe name on the front¡­"

    Memories of an overly handsome, suave man washed over her psyche, causing her to jolt back in surprise.

    "How could it be him!?" she exclaimed as she hurriedly ripped open the envelope.

    Upon getting her hands on the letter inside, her eyes widened.

    She spent the next period of time reading over the letter''s contents, each passing second making her surprise meter exponentially multiply. The way her expression kept changing startled the short black-haired woman. Although they had only known each other for a short amount of time, she had never seen her friend make such a face before.

    After taking a long, heavy inhale, Corra exhaled.

    "We have to leave," she said. "Someone¡­from my hometown has informed me of news that could put us in danger. Even in the far-off Antarctic, we are not safe. We must head for the bunker designated for this region."

    "???"

 Chapter 320 - 320: Where Did Memphis Go...?

    "???"

    "What is this all about, Corra??" asked the short black-haired woman. "We just got here! Why do we suddenly need to leave!? Just who was it that sent you that letter!??"

    "Emma¡­" Corra murmured, her voice shaking. "Just trust me on this one; it has to do with the World''s End Gate Raid. Things¡­ are not as the government says¡­"

    "What does that mean!? Will the World''s End Gate Raid not succeed¡ª"

    "Emma!" Corra shouted, rocking her back and forth by her shoulders. "We must leave! This person¡ªthe one from my hometown¡ªhe wouldn''t lie to me. He and my late father¡­they were good friends¡­"

    "Corra¡­" Emma said emotionally. "Okay, I''ll go. Just let me pack my things and inform the others. But if we go through with this¡­ just how long will we need to stay in the bunker¡­?"

    Corra''s complexion turned ashen. "If what was stated in the letter is accurate, then we might only be gone for days. But in a worst-case scenario, it could turn out to be weeks, months, or even¡­ years¡­"

    "Well¡­ damn¡­ that''s a hell of a bombshell you''ve put on me," Emma muttered, though her gaze hardened a moment later. "No matter! The bunker has enough supplies stashed away to last us years. We just need to gather ourselves and our personal things, and we''re good to go! We can survive this nuclear war or whatever has you so on edge, haha¡­!"

    ''She said that as a joke¡­but it might actually turn into our reality,'' Corra thought despairingly, her mind and expression becoming equally complicated.

    "Come on, then!" Emma said, seemingly keeping her spirits high so as to not depress herself. "From the way you''re anxiously tapping your feet, it''s quite clear that we don''t have all day!"

    Corra nodded, then let herself be dragged away by her friend. Yet, just before she disappeared from the large observatory room they were in, she took one cursory glance out of the window pane. Her irises flashed with inexplicable emotions as she lingered on nothing in particular before being successfully pulled away.

    However, less than a second later, a small smirk formed outside the same window pane she had been so intently staring at. But in the very next moment, that smirk vanished¡ªalong with the karmic debt he owed to the father of a certain aspiring scientist.

    A woman who only wished to help people¡ªjust as her father had done before her¡­

    "That''s the very least I could do for you, old man," Cassius said to himself while gliding over the icy glaciers of the Antarctic at speeds that defied common sense. "You helped pave the way for my evolution, and though I believe our karma to have now canceled each other out, I''ll still do whatever I can to make sure your daughter accomplishes all that she wishes to accomplish."

    For a few moments, Cassius fondly reminisced about an old man who was meant for greater things.

    Yet, before he could achieve them, his time was unfortunately cut short¡­

    "I still remember our grudges, Dissonants," Cassius said, his aura emitting a deadly killing intent. "All of them."

    "And for plotting against me, my mother, my family, and the rest of the people close to me," he continued, his speed achieving new heights, "I''ll let you experience a mere fraction of what I''ve endured in my lifetime of Character Development."

    [Hehehe¡­]

    The Idle Evolution System evilly grinned alongside its host, with both their minds filled with thoughts that would scare even the most iron-willed of men.

    ¡ª After a couple nanoseconds of hyperspeed travel ¡ª

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s brows raised in bewilderment as he surveyed the tiny surface area that made up Planet Earth. "Where did Memphis¡ªthat silly lass¡ªgo? Why can''t I find her anywhere?"

    He was aware that the Dissonants had infiltrated every major guild and organization in the world¡ªincluding the Earth Crusaders Guild¡ªbut he had been keeping a close eye on anyone he cared about.

    Memphis was one of those people, and though he hadn''t been actively tracking her location, he made sure to keep a record of her vital status. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the unlikely scenario where she found herself in dire straits, he could instantly teleport around the entire world and save her by following her life signature.

    So then¡ªwhy was she nowhere to be found¡­?

    "I know for certain that she''s still alive," Cassius said keenly. "But why is it that I can''t pinpoint her exact location?? Weirder yet¡­ what her life signature is telling me makes no sense¡­ It''s saying that she''s¡­ up¡­"

    Looking up, well, there was nothing f*cking there! Just the clear blue sky and some clouds!

    "Is she in space??" Cassius theorized, his doubt detector ringing like crazy. "That seems very unlikely, but just in case¡­"

    FWAZIP!

    He made his way through the Isolated Solar System at tens of thousands of times the speed of light.

    Yet, even after searching every nook and cranny of the Ice Sovereign''s little playhouse, he found no trace of the meek girl he had picked up in a Gate all those years ago.

    "There''s no more up unless I break through the 0th Floor''s barrier!" Cassius frustratingly said while tapping on the void of space with his feet.

    "Wait¡­ Can I break through the Isolated Solar System, and subsequently, the 0th Floor''s Protective Barrier?"

    Taking another good look at the shimmering barrier, he started to believe that he might actually be able to do it. The barrier looked so¡ªflimsy!

    And that was when he realized that he was just wishfully thinking¡­

    The whole reason why the Dissonants were plotting against him and his family was so they could ascend to the Tower''s higher floors!

    If they could simply shatter the 0th Floor''s Barrier, then why were they going through such effort!?

    "But¡­ just in case¡­"

    WAAA!

    An incredible amount of energy gathered in Cassius''s fists as he stared down the shimmering barrier.

    The barrier remained unresponsive to his power, which he took as a challenge!

    "Oh?" Cassius smirked. "Is this not enough? Very well, then."

    It had been a while since he last went all out, and with the benefits of his 1st Idle Benefit calling out to him, he really had no choice in the matter.

    He would put his everything into this attack!

 Chapter 321 - 321: Karma

    WAWOOOOM!!

    All of Cassius''s Agility was instantly converted into the extremely destructive Atomic Element!

    WHABOOOOM!!!

    Then came the addition of his Azura Flame, Azura Flame Bangles, Azura Refinement Physique, and his Trainer Cultivation!!

    The amount of power contained within his fists was astronomical! However¡­

    "Still not enough?" Cassius asked calmly. "Fine. I''ll show you something spectacular."

    WALABOOOOOOOM!!!!

    All of his various Bloodlines, Demon King Cultivation, Slayer Cultivation, Diamond-ranked Will, and everything else at his disposal were infused into his fists!!!

    Then, with a casual hand movement, all that immense power was condensed within a single hand of his.

    The power levels were off the charts insane!!

    "Am I forgetting anything?" Cassius asked himself, acting as if the whole Solar System wasn''t shaking because of him. "Oh yeah, how could I forget my beauties??"

    Just then, a crimson-black Greatsword and Scythe materialized from thin air. Cassius caught them in his grasp, immediately sensing their extreme excitement to be back in the hands of their Master.

    "Alright, alright," he said with a light-hearted chuckle. "I''m glad to have you here as well."

    "Now," he continued, his icy blue gaze hardening, "what say we have a little fun to commemorate our reunion ceremony? However, since it''s been far longer for me than for you, let me have more fun, kay?"

    Lilith and Mora both hummed in compliance, simply too giddy right now to care about the small stuff.

    "Oh, right," Cassius suddenly said, lightbulbs turning on in his head. "I nearly forgot about my new and improved Premium Training Sword."

    FWIP!

    Following the appearance of an intangible sword that perfectly matched Cassius''s existence, the void of space felt an even greater sense of suffocation. The combined might of him and his three evolving weapons was reaching a point where, even without them moving an inch, space itself was on the verge of collapse.

    "You can fly?" Cassius asked, seeing that his Premium Training Sword was dauntingly hovering over his head. "Cool. I was just debating how I''d go about using three weapons at once. Wait¡­ are you also semi-sentient¡­?"

    The Premium Training Sword bobbed up and down, possessing a bit of a violent ''I don''t give a f*ck about property damage'' kind of disposition.

    "Well, that''s something else," Cassius said as he smacked one hand against the other. "Okay, but seriously, is that everything? I believe so, but I honestly can''t remember anymore¡­ Hmm¡­"

    "Oh!" He suddenly exclaimed. "My Azura Devourer Cultivation, Upgraded Fundamental Physique, and Techniques, duh!"

    OOOM!!!

    Following another rush of strength, Cassius reared his body back. Then, with all his muscles overworking themselves, he slashed down with Lilith and Mora, while also instructing his Premium Training Sword to cut forward.

    The void between him and the barrier collapsed near-instantaneously, acting as the prelude to an explosion of blue, red, and purple light. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The light¡ªso massive that one could clearly see it from the other side of the Solar System¡ªlasted but a mere instant. It resided within the Solar System for so little time that barely any damage was dealt to the System itself. Moreover, of the wee bit of damage inflicted on the space around the attack''s collision point, all of it was restored to pristine condition within a nanosecond.

    "What¡­?" Cassius, struggling to find his words, dumbfoundedly stared at the unscathed barrier. "I knew the attack wouldn''t do much to it, but to not even create ripples¡­ Holy¡­ I really am a Weakling¡­"

    The Premium Training Sword returned to its owner, presenting him with an illusory booboo it had acquired after hitting the barrier head-on. The sword hid behind its owner, quivering in fear while peeking out at the mean barrier. Not a single bit of its past fierceness was present.

    "Welp," Cassius shrugged. "Even though we wasted a whole bunch of energy, at least I was able to verify the fortitude of this space that the Ice Sovereign casually created. It also gives me a better idea of his strength."

    "Although I knew it was absurd after learning that he made the VOPC Technique, I''m pretty sure I underestimated him," he continued, remembering the laid-back old man who helped him understand so much.

    "To be able to create something like this place and add it to something as magical as the Ascension Tower¡­ Just what kind of mighty existence is he really¡­?"

    After a couple moments of brooding, Cassius recalled why he originally came out here.

    "Memphis," he muttered, gazing into the vast expanse of stars portrayed beyond the barrier. "Just where have you gone off to?"

    ¡ª Upon returning to Earth empty-handed ¡ª

    Cassius descended from the skies with a neutral expression. His heart was still, mostly unaffected by his failed attempts at finding Memphis.

    It wasn''t that he didn''t care¡ªit was simply that he knew she was okay.

    Wherever she was and however she got there, it was her fate to survive without his backing.

    "Though, perhaps one day in the not-so-distant future, I''ll see her again," he commented whimsically. "In the Higher Floors of the Ascension Tower, maybe? Finding her up there is almost 100% guaranteed if she''s not down here."

    But regardless of his planned Side Quests for the future up there, there was still a major ongoing event happening down below.

    The Nexus Event.

    Something that was prophesized by many famed Prophets, such as Baba Yaga.

    It was also a natural Ascension Tower phenomenon that almost every Faction in the Tower had their hands dipped into.

    As for why the Nexus Event was so popular among the Tower''s denizens, the answer was a complicated one.

    But to summarize¡ªwhen it came time for a Floor of the Ascension Tower to experience a Nexus Event, there were often large amounts of¡­

    ¡­Karma.

    Karma was a concept and law that functioned in a way that very few could understand. And in many places all over the Universe, it was somewhat of a currency. The Ascension Tower''s Factions, in particular, sought out Karma to improve their luck.

    Karma, in its essence, equated to luck.

 Chapter 322 - 6/7]

    If one had a ton of Positive Karma, they''d find themselves randomly winning the lottery or surviving disasters that should''ve been fatal.

    On the other hand, if someone had a sea''s worth of Negative Karma, they might just wake up one day and find themselves not in their bed but falling off the side of a cliff!

    But for those powerful and knowledgeable enough to properly utilize Karma, it was one of the most valuable things one could obtain.

    For example, if a very influential Faction in the Ascension Tower were to recruit a person with high Positive Karma, the entire Faction''s luck would spike upward. Contributing a lot in major events also granted a Faction large amounts of Positive or Negative Karma.

    This was why so many different Factions and itinerant beings were so interested in the Nexus Event of Humanity''s 0th Floor.

    ¡ª Hoshito, Japan, Earth ¡ª

    A skip, a hop, and a jump later, Cassius found his way back to his hometown. He walked through the same neighborhood and the same street that he used to jog on when first completing the 1st Daily Quest.

    *Rustle, Rustle.*

    Noticing something peculiar from inside a grouping of bushes, Cassius''s head tilted sideways.

    "Is that¡­?" he wondered while approaching the bushes.

    Seeing a scaly tail pop out from the foliage, his brows furrowed. And with a tug, whatever was attached to the tail was yanked up before being left to dangle in front of him.

    "Eeep!"

    "Who dares do this to Yimin¡ª"

    Halfway through her sentence, Yimin''s ears perked up. She sniffed the air, slowly spinning toward Cassius''s indifferent face while upside down.

    "Master!? What are you doing in Yimin''s pooping bush!? Wait¡­ Has Yimin saved you again!??"

    Cassius''s smile twitched into a glitched state.

    "Yimin¡­ I would lecture you on keeping your racial features a secret, but seeing how close we are to an imminent apocalypse, I''m not even going to bother. Even so, what sort of stuff are you doing in a bush in broad daylight? You do know that bathrooms exist, right? Furthermore, to do what you''re doing this close to the Mansion¡­ I can already imagine the reputation you''ve garnered for us among the neighbors."

    Yimin didn''t understand a lick of what he was saying.

    She did, however, really, really want to lick his face!

    His body and everything else as well!

    Realizing this, Cassius sighed, shaking his head.

    "You''re hopeless¡­" he murmured.

    "Yimin loves you too, Master!" Yimin said, hearts swirling within her eyes. She reached out her hands, attempting to grab and hug her Master.

    However, each and every attempt ended in failure as she swung her arms while Cassius pushed her face away from him.

    ''I''ve been gone for what? Like a few hours for her??'' he thought, disgruntled. ''I, on the other hand, haven''t seen her or the other girls for the better part of a century! So why is she the one acting as if I''ve been gone for years and years!?''

    Maybe he was the weird one for not getting so emotional¡­

    That notion lingered in his mind for a while.

    And while it stirred within him, he had somehow made his way to the front door of his mansion. Hanging onto his waist, snuggling like a koala, was his pet dragon-girl, but she was more of a clingy decoration than anything.

    ''Still, although I''ll never admit it to her myself¡­'' he thought, fondly staring at Yimin, ''I''ve missed her company.

    If¡­ If I had someone like her with me during my time in the White Space, perhaps I wouldn''t have been so close to losing my sanity so many times¡­'' sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While softly petting her head with one hand, Cassius knocked on the door to his home a total of six times, doing so with a specific rhythm.

    *Thud, Thud, Thud!*

    Almost immediately, he heard several sets of footsteps from inside the mansion.

    This urged a small smile onto his face.

    And though he wouldn''t say it aloud, he was glad that his memory of them didn''t deviate from reality.

    Just then, the front door to the mansion slammed open, and out came a pile of girls.

    A few of them tripped because of how fast they were moving, causing them to fall over onto each other and cry out.

    "Hey! Why''d you do that!? That really hurt, ya know?!"

    "It¡­ It might have been partially my fault; I''m sorry¡­"

    "Look, look, my Love! I have more Rank 6 Vampire Blood just for you!"

    "Hey, where''d the creepy red-eyed floozy come from!? How''d she just appear like that?!?"

    While a crazy vampire chick shoved vials of shiny blood in Cassius''s face and the other girls tried getting up off the ground, an Egyptian Beauty in the back spoke up:

    "Back so soon?" Hellion commented, sipping on tea in the same way as the day before.

    "Are you about ready to discuss that important matter? The deadline is fast approaching."

    As she looked in Cassius''s direction, her irises briefly shimmered with a pink darkness.

    But with her skills, she was easily able to conceal her true feelings.

    Even she herself refused to acknowledge her own problem, which meant that there was no way in hell she would allow anyone else¡ªespecially not the target of her affection¡ªto figure out her feelings.

    "I suppose so," Cassius said, rubbing his chin.

    "But it''ll have to wait until after the World''s End Gate Raid concludes. After all, none of what we''ll talk about will mean anything if I''m dead and the world perishes."

    Although he told it as a joke, his words instantly froze the expressions of all the girls.

    They all looked at him as if they had just seen a ghost, a bit of melancholy mixing in with their pale skin.

    "You shouldn''t¡­" Stella mumbled, voice cracked.

    "You shouldn''t speak about something like that¡­"

    "I agree," Sasha said, suddenly very serious.

    "Talking about your own death like that¡­ it''s not funny. None of us want to even imagine such a thing, let alone live to see a day where it becomes a reality."

 Chapter 323 - 323: Cassius Steeleâ€”Could He Be...?

    ''If I die in the Gate Raid that''ll decide the fate of this world, then you''ll all die as well,'' Cassius thought while awkwardly scratching his nose. ''But I understand where they''re coming from. Although I may have become increasingly numb to the idea of me dying, the fear of death will never truly vanish. And for them¡ªyoung women who''ve yet to experience death¡ªI imagine the loss of a loved one to be a very scary thing to think about¡­''

    The scene of those gravestones on that impossibly large mountain momentarily flashed through Cassius''s mind. He had to shake his head to distract himself from that daunting scene.

    Returning to the sensual sight of barely dressed women before him, his slight smile returned.

    "I apologize for making that joke," he said, gesturing to the Mansion''s interior. "Now, what say we head on inside and talk over a meal? I brought Italian food straight from Italy."

    He raised his hand and shook the plastic bag holding several dishes. After opening the bag, a delicious aroma filled the air, leaving the conflicted girls salivating at the mouth.

    "You''re a stupid baka!" Aya said, folding her arms under her large breasts and snorting. "But I¡­ I guess I''ll do you the favor of accepting some food as an apology¡­ But it better be delicious!"

    "Could I have some as well¡­?" Stella asked, polite as always.

    "I''ll give you a special massage later in exchange¡­"

    And also as subtly naughty as always¡­

    "Forget these floozies, my Love!" Bella said while piously interlocking her fingers.

    "Let''s skip dinner and get straight to the love-making! And while we''re at it, I''ll give you some of these Rank 6 Blood droplets that I totally didn''t steal from Daddy for you!"

    Cassius glanced between the love-sick vamp chick and the handful of vials practically falling out of her bosom. He shook his head in exasperation, already imagining the trouble this would get him in.

    The two Vampire Stalkers¡ªLeon and Gina¡ªstaring daggers into his soul was already more than enough to let him know how f*cked he was.

    However, did that mean he wouldn''t accept the blood vials?

    Of course f*cking not!

    Cassius''s middle name was motherf*cking Danger!

    Who was he to shy away when top-tier loot that could upgrade his Bloodline was offering itself in between two milky white valleys!?

    While entering his home with a train of beautiful girls behind him, he repeatedly slipped the blood vials out of Bella''s bosom upon her request. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ahn~! Cassius, my Love~" she moaned, intentionally pissing off Yimin and the others. "Not there~! I''m ticklish~"

    "This b*tch¡­"

    "I don''t much like this young lady."

    "Yimin will devour her whole! Stinky bloodsucker!"

    "I also¡­ don''t like her¡­"

    Even Hellion was quietly gnashing her teeth in the background.

    The only reason she hadn''t openly acted out yet was because she knew that, a few days from now, she and her Master would get some one-on-one time in HELL as Guider and Guided.

    But regardless of the chaotic thoughts of the members of the Steele Family, they all went on to eat dinner before spending the next 24 or so hours going out and having fun.

    They did everything they could to lessen the impact of Cassius ultimately entering the World''s End Gate¡­

    ¡ª Within the same 24-hour period, in the Realm of Pleasure, Aluria Succubus Family Palace ¡ª

    "My Lady Amaris," said a voice from outside the Succubus Queen''s Personal Chambers.

    "Our forces have been put in place; they''re now waiting for your next order. As soon as you give the word, they''ll carry out the Karma Maximization Plan for Humanity''s 0th Floor."

    A woman of unbelievable beauty lay sprawled out on a heart-shaped bed, her creamy white skin peeking through the dividers of her dress. She briefly looked at the door where the voice came from, her slanted gaze as cold as the North Pole.

    "Tell them to move as soon as the Nexus Event and release of the Prisoners causes a crack to form between the Dimensions," she ordered, her expression becoming ever so cruelly seductive.

    "Show no mercy to the other Factions. We have to be the ones to come out of this event with the most amount of Karma. And it''s this very willingness that''ll give us the edge over the Factions with more powerful members, for they''re unlikely to even take a Minor Nexus Event like this one seriously."

    "A small pie evenly split 50 different ways isn''t worth much," she finished on a high note, her murderous intent palpable. "But if one of those 50 slices were to be larger than the other 49 combined, then who''s to say that our gains won''t be any less than having a minor role in a Major Karma Event?"

    The voice on the other end of the door went silent.

    "¡­Does this mean¡­?" the voice finally said, drawing out the words dramatically slow. "Should I¡­ Should I gather -every- single member of our Family¡­? Even¡­"

    "Yes," Amaris replied nonchalantly.

    "Call for Azara. Tell her that I''ll reduce her sentence by a hundred years if she does well. Also, inform her of a side objective¡ªto capture and extract a certain human male¡ªCassius Steele."

    "For putting my daughter into such a downtrodden state, he needs to be properly punished. Furthermore, his last name sounds awfully familiar, and I wish to know if he''s related to¡­ Well, that''s of no concern to you. Just do as I say."

    "Yes, My Lady¡­" the voice quickly thinned out, the presence outside the door long gone.

    "Cassius Steele," Amaris murmured to herself, listlessly staring at her elegantly decorated roof. "Could he be¡­? No, that doesn''t make sense¡­"

    "That ''man'' should''ve been outlawed, with his offspring executed the day they were born. There''s no possible way that this Cassius is related to that pervert. But¡­ But if I turn out to be wrong and logic is flipped on its head, then the backlash that I''ll incur if that man really does still live will be¡­"

    Perhaps she shouldn''t be hasty¡­

    Letting that kid live for a while longer would be the wise choice.

    That was assuming she still wanted her Palace to be standing intact.

 Chapter 324 - 324: [Worldâ€™s End Gate] - [Rank: ???????]

    "He nonetheless has to be captured and brought back, though," Amaris said, reminded of her Middle Daughter''s First Mark. "If he for some reason perishes during the Nexus Event, then my daughter will suffer the consequences of his carelessness."

    With everything decided and sorted out, the Succubus Queen returned to her time of lounging. She remained blissfully unaware of the scheming ongoings of her two eldest daughters.

    Or, as of this moment, all ''three'' of her daughters.

    "So you can distract Mother for a few hours, can''t you, Chelle?" asked Flora, while kneeling down and coercing her younger sister like the Succubus in her blood dictated. "As long as you can do it, I''ll be able to make your Eldest Sissy happy by getting her out of the Palace. You don''t want your Eldest Sissy to be sad, do you, Chelle?"

    Standing a couple of heads shorter than Flora was a small five-year-old girl with long, frilly pink hair and big, round pink eyes.

    Those same eyes adorably watered when she heard her Middle Sissy mention Eldest Sissy''s name.

    "Eldest Sissy¡­ sad¡­?" she muttered, furiously shaking her head. "Don''t want that! Don''t want that at all!"

    "Then can you promise to keep Mother occupied for a few hours when I tell you to?"

    Chelle nodded repeatedly, her eyes shining with never-before-seen levels of determination.

    "Will play with Mother! To make Eldest Sissy not sad!"

    Flora smirked.

    She tenderly petted her younger sister''s frilly pink hair, marking off Step 1 of the multi-step plan meant to get Cassius in her clutches.

    ''In the end, you will be mine!'' she thought, creepy shadows shrouding her pretty face.

    Her heart throbbed harder than usual, indicating that her First Mark was closer than ever.

    ''I swear that I''ll drain you dry, Cassius Steele! You won''t have any juices left by the time I''m done with you!''

    An even more mentally unstable girl was thinking along the same lines within an ominously dark castle in Nightingale. Vials of blood were being stashed within her bosom left and right as she ransacked her own home, all so as to force her Husband into coping some more feels.

    Their deranged giggling seemed to sync up with one another, mixing together in a way that traversed all Dimensions¡­

    Cassius felt a cold chill.

    He cautiously scanned his surroundings but found nothing.

    "Why do I always feel like a target is on my back¡­?"

    [Probably because there is one! In fact, there''s more than one!]

    The Idle Evolution System¡ªwith its omnipotent sight abilities¡ªzoomed through the various Dimensions of the Ascension Tower and other mysterious spaces.

    In HELL''s 1st Floor, three Demon Kings were readying themselves to lessen their losses by making use of the Nexus Event to cross over and eliminate a nuisance.

    In the ethereal Netherworld, one of the most powerful Soul Eaters in existence had it out for Cassius, planning to forcefully level him up. Moreover, he planned to do so without caring about how much harm came to the target of his insane plan.

    Even the Mistalore King, the Chamberlain Duke, the Entities at the bottom of the Boundless Chasm, and organizations inside the Ascension Tower had it out for Cassius!

    Hell, even the overpowered existences in the Infinite Character Development Dimension were in the process of charting out ways to punish the Non-variant Weakling who dared to play their Little Princess for a fool!

    "Ehh, probably just my imagination," Cassius shrugged, redirecting his attention to the massive purplish-black Gate located at the very center of the world.

    "The Gate is in the process of advancing to the Black Rank, and it doesn''t appear to be wanting to settle down any time soon."

    The World''s End Gate was one of the last mysteries on Earth for Cassius.

    For one: he couldn''t peer into it and gauge the approximate power levels of the Monsters inside.

    He had been capable of doing this for every Gate for a while now, even the couple of Black-ranked ones.

    But not the World''s End Gate.

    No, it was an enigma.

    Secondly, the System Tag above the Gate made no sense.

    [World''s End Gate] - [Rank: ???????]

    ¡ª[Description: ???? Prophesized for¡­.????? Meant to bring about¡­..???? The First Abyss lies within, foretelling....??????]

    Given its purple color, Cassius should''ve been able to easily learn everything possible about the Gate with just a single glance. Even if it was at the peak of the Black-rank, he shouldn''t have had an issue discerning any relevant information. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet¡­

    "Something definitely isn''t right," Cassius said, his narrowed eyes honing in on the Gate''s Energy emissions. "What it''s showing isn''t even fully at the SS-Rank, so why is it that I have this harrowing feeling gnawing away at my psyche? This Gate¡­"

    "Hey, kid!"

    Interrupting Cassius''s thoughts was the mildly irritated feminine voice of a woman who possessed no semblance of elegance or gracefulness.

    She had long, curly red hair that molded her head and upper back like a fiery mane. Similarly, her eyes held within them a fire that threatened to burn down everything in the area.

    Though, most impressively of all were her large, bouncy, snow-white valleys and a butt that jiggled with every flaming step she took in the air.

    Her figure was something to awe at; even Cassius was momentarily taken aback. He did, however, find it hard to match the harsh, unruly voice to the beautiful body struggling to stay hidden under her thin, loose draconic fabric.

    "Hey, kid!" Kaida Drakenshield repeated. "Are you deaf or something!? I asked why a kid like you is here in a restricted zone! Are you stupid or stupid?? Which is it???"

    Snapping out of his stupor, Cassius tilted his head in confusion.

    "You asked something like that? I must''ve missed it," he said, still analyzing the way her voluptuous breasts made gravity their best friend.

    "What sort of favor did you do for Newton? Just curious."

    "???"

    Following his line of sight, Kaida''s face further twisted in annoyance.

    "Are you aiming to have an early death, you dumb brat? If that''s the case, then I''ll happily oblige!"

    OOOM!

    Just as a massive flame burst out from her clawed hands, an equally powerful eruption of space energy appeared and suppressed her flames.

    "Viola!?"

 Chapter 325 - 325: Gathering of the Worlds S-Rank Hunters

    "Viola, you!"

    Sharply shooting her eyes toward a gorgeous purple-haired woman descending at the front of a group, Kaida''s pupils shot flames.

    "Why are you getting in my way!? Are you looking for a fight as well!??"

    "Calm down, Kaida," Viola said. "Your blood pressure rises far too fast at the slightest inconvenience; it''s not beneficial for your health, you know? And also, the ''kid'' you were just about to attack is someone you can''t hope to beat. Furthermore, he''ll be joining the Japanese Hunter Party for the Gate Raid."

    "!??!"

    The faces of many drastically changed at the announcement made by Viola.

    The Dissonants who had taken on the faces of Japanese S-Rank Hunters also wore shocked expressions. They were under the assumption that they''d have to threaten him with Nuclear Bombs to get him this close to the strike location.

    To think that he''d do all the work for them!

    This was excellent!

    Cassius''s eyes shifted between the Japanese S-Rank Hunters.

    He remained expressionless seeing most of them, but upon reaching the various Dissonants-in-disguise, an evil smirk emerged on his face.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The Dissonants stationed on Earth had, of course, heard rumors of the Sub-target''s ability to discern whether or not they were Extraterrestrials. However, experiencing it in person was entirely different from hearing about it from others.

    Furthermore, the way he stared at them was¡­

    It was terrifying¡­

    It was as if a Dissonant Executioner¡ªone who had reaped the lives of countless¡ªwas looking at them. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Horrifying.

    Scary.

    Frightening.

    In spite of the alarming thoughts of the Dissonants, the few human Japanese S-Rank Hunters displayed shock, but for a completely different reason.

    In all the time they''d known Viola, she had never once spoken up on behalf of someone else.

    To suddenly see her not only praise a random man, but to also watch her matter-of-factly state that this man was stronger than one of the World''s Top 60 Strongest Hunters¡­

    "Just who are you?" asked Arden Stormcall, the face of the Japanese S-Rank Hunters. "Why have we never heard of you before??"

    "Wait¡­"

    Luna¡ªa proficient wielder of Moonlight powers¡ªintently stared at Cassius.

    "I think I''ve heard of him."

    "You have!?"

    "Yes," Luna replied to the livid Kaida.

    "Do any of you recall the reports of a rising Hunter that cleared Gates at an absurd pace in the Hoshito Region? Although the reports only stayed afloat for a very limited time, I saw them and immediately became interested. However, as I had a very important experiment about to reach a breakthrough, my attention was focused elsewhere. And before I knew it, I ended up forgetting all about the reports."

    "There was really such a person??" many asked. "Why were we not briefed on such a promising Japanese Hunter???"

    In an accusatory way, Luna stared at the purple-haired beauty floating in front of her.

    Everyone else followed her gaze, with the pieces quickly putting themselves together inside their heads.

    "Viola¡­" Rika Starforge said in exasperation. "You tried keeping him to yourself, didn''t you? You always were so very cunning; I wouldn''t put it past you to do something so underhanded."

    "Haha¡­" Viola awkwardly laughed, refusing to turn her head around and face her companions. "In this business, one must do whatever it takes to get ahead. Also, it wasn''t like he wanted to join anyway, so does what I may or may not have done honestly matter?"

    "Yes."

    The answer was unanimous.

    Even the Dissonants gave the same response, feeling especially griped that a mere human managed to figure out something that took them longer to do the same.

    "Come on now," said Viola, squirming under all the intense stares boring into her backside. "I''m telling you everything now; isn''t that what truly matters??"

    "No."

    Another unanimous answer!

    Viola felt like crying, but held it in like the big girl she was.

    Moreover, it wasn''t like she had the luxury of releasing her grievances when Kaida was still very much in a soured mood.

    "Humph!" Kaida snorted, shooting flames out of her eyes. "I don''t know what your deal is, and I don''t care who vouches for you," she directed at Cassius. "Just know that I very much want to beat you to a pulp and let you understand the difference between a soft, pretty boy like you and me¡ªsomeone who works herself to the bone while training."

    "Is that so?"

    Cassius''s grin curved up in amusement as he found her talking about grueling training to be quite ridiculous.

    "You''re an interesting one, girl. Maintain that same spirit, and who knows? One day you might just wake up and find that you''re able to convert your efforts into actual strength gains."

    Kaida''s arched brows furrowed in anger.

    "Are you patronizing me right now¡­?" she asked, seething. "That''s it! I challenge you to a duel!!"

    Cassius''s grin widened ever so slightly as he decided to poke fun at her silly proposal.

    "You know, the last couple of kiddos who declared those words didn''t end up so well. I''d reconsider if I were you."

    "You''re doing all you can to make me mad, aren''t you¡­!?"

    "Sweetheart, you''re doing that just fine by yourself."

    "You fuc¡ª"

    "Has the party already started without us??"

    A loud, manly voice boomed out, breaking the tension between Cassius and Kaida. It belonged to a caped man dressed in royal attire¡ªa World-Class Hunter¡ªThe Kingly Meister¡ªRanked 4 on the Hunter Rankings.

    Descending behind him were dozens of S-Rank Hunters from Indonesia, which was where the Kingly Meister originated.

    FWIP! FWIP!

    Leaving supersonic flight speed were other World-Class Hunters.

    Macro Mommy, the Gentlemanly Saint, the Bladedevil, and the Bottlemonger.

    The rest of the World-Class Hunters appeared not even a second later, bringing with them whole swathes of S-Rank Hunters.

    Even the World-Class Hunter Ranked #5 in the World¡ªthe Dragon Slayer¡ªwas here.

    He levitated in the same airspace as upwards of 300 S-Rank Hunters, which accounted for nearly every single S-Rank Hunter in the world!

    When Kaida saw the famed Dragon Slayer out of the corner of her eye, her ferocity increased to a level that far exceeded what she exhibited with Cassius. This man¡ªthis hateful, inexcusable man¡ªwas the whole reason she even decided to participate in this stupid Gate Raid.

    And more than anything, what she so badly wanted to do right now was slug him right across his Asian face!

 Chapter 326 - 326: The Gate Is Evolving!?

    "Dragon Slayer, if you have the balls, then come down here and face me like a man!"

    Kaida wound up shouting, breaking the imposing stance of the Kingly Meister.

    "...."

    "Why are you ignoring me!? Scared!??"

    "She''s really out to make friends everywhere she goes today, huh?" Cassius asked Viola, softly chuckling at the incorrigible redhead.

    "Is she always like this?"

    Viola looked away from the loud draconic woman, instead attracted by the raspy voice that seemed to enter her ears and infect her mind with unscrupulous thoughts.

    "You could say that¡­" she replied with a small blush. "She''s never known when to keep her mouth shut. And because of it, she tends to find herself in predicaments like this one."

    Finding the purple-haired beauty delightfully pettable, Cassius did just that.

    Yet, he didn''t look at her while doing it. Most of his focus was centered around how the brazen redhead would get herself through this tribulation she had incurred for herself.

    The silent Dragon Slayer heard a fly buzzing in his ear, urging him to turn toward the woman with the mane-like crimson red hair.

    "Were you speaking to me just now?" He asked, yet didn''t seem to truly care about the answer he''d receive.

    "You arrogant bastard!" Kaida shouted, her blood-red aura flaring above her. "You know damn well that I''m speaking to you! Now get your a*s down here and fight me! Or are you actually scared!?"

    "Scared?" The Dragon Slayer repeated, genuinely puzzled. "Why would I be scared of a mere huma¡ªweakling? In my eyes, you''re no more than a gnat, not much better than the rest of the useless trash in the world."

    Cassius must say: this Dissonant played the part of a cold, indifferent swordmaster very well.

    Even he wasn''t sure that he could replicate the Dissonant''s demeanor.

    Kaida, however, did not hold the same level of appreciation for the Dragon Slayer''s attitude. She practically blew magma out the top of her head, with her rage meter achieving all-time highs. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "We''re fighting to the death right here and no¡ª"

    Before Kaida could even finish her threat, a change occurred in the World''s End Gate.

    It rapidly switched from a purplish-black color to a full-on pitch black. Yet, just as the gathered S-Rank Hunters thought it was finished, a dot of silver appeared on the Gate''s surface.

    That tiny dot quickly expanded and enveloped the entire Gate, making it turn from pitch black to a dazzling shade of silver.

    "A Silver Gate!?" An S-Rank Hunter shouted, his jaw on the floor. "This is unprecedented!!"

    Something similar was being voiced through the camera microphones of the reporters flying overhead in helicopters. The inexplicable changes in the World''s End Gate left both them and the rest of the world in a state of extreme shock.

    Never in their lives had they ever seen or heard of a silver-colored Gate!

    Black was supposed to be the absolute upper limit of Gate Ranks!

    But¡­ But if that wasn''t the case, then what exactly did a Silver-ranked Gate signify¡­?

    What sort of absurdly powerful monsters resided within such a thing¡­??

    "Have any of you read about Silver-ranked Gates¡­?" Arden asked, his gaze shakily flipping between the other Japanese S-Rank Hunters. "Luna? Rika? Viola? Any of you?"

    The people he called out all shook their heads.

    Kaida and the others also gave looks that emulated their bewilderment.

    None of them had heard of a Silver-ranked Gate.

    However, what even a monkey could understand was that even a Low-level Black-ranked Gate required all the Hunters in the world to team up together to clear. So then¡­ just what sort of powerful force would one need to clear a Gate a whole Rank higher¡­?

    The Dissonants weren''t the least bit surprised by this development, but so as to finish their little play with flying colors, they copied the reactions of those around them.

    Cassius found this sight quite comical, for it was like watching a bunch of stupid imps attempt to mimic the mannerisms of humans.

    But with something even more mind-boggling happening to the area''s center of attention, he felt it necessary to join in with the surprise parade.

    "The silver¡­" The Kingly Meister murmured, his expression fitting whatever the mood of the very -human- group called for. "A flicker of gold has emerged in the middle of the silver mass¡­ This¡­"

    The gathered S-Rank Hunters all looked where the Kingly Meister was looking.

    That was when they saw it¡ªa flicker of gold¡ªone that was in the process of replacing the silver. Within a mere moment, the silver had already been a tenth of the way replaced by the gold.

    It was also during this same period of time that the countenances of the S-Rank Hunters drastically changed. The vast majority of them were faking it on account of their Extraterrestrial origins, but half the Japanese S-Rank Party were experiencing genuine emotions of astonishment.

    Even Kaida, in all her fierceness, no longer retained the same fire within her eyes.

    Gradually, the fire began to dim, dragging her deeper and deeper into the pits of despair¡­

    "Cat got your tongue, girl?"

    However, with the echoing of a voice that she''d grow to abhor, Kaida''s fire had its original flare returned.

    "Hwaa!? Whadja say, you damn brat!?" she shouted.

    Her voice caused the other human S-Rank Hunters to snap out of the depressing morass that had caught hold of them all.

    Cassius smirked, finding this whole situation so very amusing.

    He knew there was something extremely odd about the World''s End Gate, so it suddenly ascending three Ranks at once hadn''t really exceeded his expectations. And by his calculations of the new Gate energy emissions, it had yet to achieve the transcendent EX-Rank.

    At most, it was roughly at the Half-step EX-Rank.

    Unless something unforeseen occurred, he didn''t believe he''d have much trouble clearing the Gate.

    Even so, it always paid off to be cautious.

    And for something as significant as a Nexus Event, it was better to be extra, extra cautious.

    Never could be too certain about one''s circumstances¡­

 Chapter 327 - 327: Venturing Into The Worlds End Gate

    "How can you be so calm right now, Cassius?" Viola whispered from beside Cassius, her tone grave. "These sudden changes have stunned the entire world silent, so how can you¡­ how can you just stand there and smile¡­?"

    "How can I smile, you ask?" Cassius parroted, briefly recalling all the times he had been tortured and killed. "In life, if you don''t even possess the capability to smile during the worst of times, how are you ever going to surpass your limits? How are you going to be able to withstand the impact that greater disasters in the future will have on you?"

    Viola was nearly awed by his philosophy, but that was when she remembered who she was talking to. "You''re just spouting some random bullsh*t, aren''t you?" she asked while blankly staring at his handsome side profile.

    "You thinking that really does hurt my feelings," Cassius remarked, concealing an indiscernible smirk. "How could you suggest that I, of all people, am someone who talks out of their a*s? That''s simply preposterous¡ª"

    *Puh!* S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A flying punch hit him square in the side. But with the dispersion of a bit of smoke, one could see as clear as day that the punch Viola had put her everything into amounted to nothing much. In fact, she herself received some rather painful backlash¡­

    "Oww, you jerk," Viola mumbled as tears welled up in her eyes. "Just how strong are you? Why does it always seem like you''re stronger than you were the last time I saw you?"

    Cassius lightly chuckled, watching as the World''s End Gate finished its advancement from the Silver Rank to the Gold Rank. What sounded like a heavenly gong rang out as soon as this occurred, signifying the beginning of the Floor''s Nexus Event.

    A few impatient entities could be sensed in the folds between space, but Cassius paid them no heed. They''d naturally be dealt with when it was their turn. However, seeing as they were waiting on the benches for now, he wasn''t going to mess with them just yet.

    "Your question is kind of pointless, you know?" Cassius said playfully. "Even if I were somehow capable of becoming stronger, you wouldn''t be able to tell the difference. After all, would a helpless, blind insect know if it were to be crushed by a donkey or a T-Rex? No, it''d just know that it was crushed by something larger than it was."

    "...I understand what you''re saying," Viola said, a small pout forming. "But you''re still a jerk!"

    *Puh!*

    Cassius¡ªremaining unaffected by the cute Guild Leader''s cotton punch¡ªcalmly observed the World''s End Gate stabilize in the Gold Rank. The energy tendrils flailing around the Gate were enough to bring to their knees many of the Dissonants in disguise. And that was with them all being thousands of meters away from the Gate¡­

    Viola and the human S-Rank Hunters were experiencing some strain as well. But fortunately for them, Cassius was there to tremendously reduce the pressure they felt.

    The reporter helicopters, on the other hand, were not so fortunate. The propellers that kept them in the air immediately malfunctioned, with the helicopters'' mainframes being speedily crumpled. However, before the passengers of the aircrafts could be similarly crumpled, Cassius¡ªas magnanimous as he was¡ªteleported them out of the area with his VoidWarper Skills.

    Viola''s eyes widened at this sight. "You can already utilize the Space Element to such a level? I didn''t feel even the slightest spatial vibrations when you teleported them away!"

    "What can I say?" Cassius said with a smirk. "You''re a great teacher, and I''m a fast learner."

    "Who are you trying to fool?" Viola''s pout became more prominent, with her fists somehow always finding their way back to Cassius''s side. "We both know that me giving you a few pointers didn''t accomplish a single thing that you wouldn''t have been able to figure out on your own."

    "Sure," Cassius snarked, his striking blue eyes paying close attention to the fluctuating Gold-ranked Gate. "But without your assistance, I never would''ve gotten the hang of it so quickly. Thanks to you, I''m now capable of teleporting items from halfway across the world to wherever I want. My control and accuracy are off the charts¡ªbecause of you."

    "You¡­" Viola murmured, her flushed cheeks a stark contrast to her conflicted voice. "Why are you so unintentionally smooth with your words¡­?"

    She whispered that in a nearly inaudible tone, but with Cassius''s absurd Perception Stat, how could he not hear what was said?

    With a small smile, he gave her a couple of head pats. "When we go into the Gate, make sure to stick close to me," he suggested. "I''ll guarantee your safety."

    Viola harrumphed like a tsundere. "And why would I need you to do something like that? I can take care of myself, you know?"

    With a swift, sudden movement, Cassius cupped her cheeks and forced her to stare into his deep, cloudy eyes. "Just do as I say," he commanded. "You''re quite pleasing to the eye, you see. I don''t want you dying anytime soon, for that would mean you''d be depriving me of something I like. Be a good girl; do what I tell you to."

    Viola''s complexion turned a shade of red thirty times deeper than before. She squirmed in place, sensually rubbing her succulent thighs together. An attempt to avert Cassius''s piercing gaze was made, but with his large, veiny hand tightly clasping her face in place, looking away was deemed impossible.

    In the end, all she could say was, "Y¡­Yes¡­ I won''t leave your side¡­"

    "Good," Cassius said before letting go of her face. "Also, if we''re to somehow be forced to split up, hold that necklace I gave you close to your person. I infused it with more of my power¡ªenough that even if it''s monsters in a Gold-ranked Gate, you''ll be able to survive for a while."

    Viola merely nodded, still profusely blushing. A suspicious liquid trickled down her smooth legs, producing a distinctly promiscuous aroma.

    ''She''s still the same pervert I remember,'' Cassius thought as he watched her lips curl up in a creepy, crooked way. ''A big pervert¡­ Haiz¡­''

 Chapter 328 - 328: The Dissonants Unveil Themselves!

    Shifting his eyes elsewhere, Cassius saw Kaida. He also noticed Luna and Rika right beside her. They were talking about the Gate, sometimes mentioning his name. Though, every time that happened, Kaida''s glare aimed at him worsened. Her flaming aura also appropriately grew, urging forth a searing heat that burned even the molecules in the atmosphere.

    "She really doesn''t like me¡­" Cassius said with a wry smile, wondering what he even did to make her so mad. "Perhaps she''s just hiding her true feelings for me behind a veil of wrath?"

    He chuckled the moment he said it, finding such a notion to be even more ridiculous than pigs suddenly learning how to fly.

    Discarding useless thoughts, Cassius approached the face of the Japanese Hunters¡ªArden Stormcall. The man who possessed incredible control over the elements of Lightning and Wind. His expression wasn''t looking too good right about now, but somewhere deep inside him, Cassius could see an unwillingness to give up just because something appeared impossible.

    "Hey," said Cassius, tapping him on the shoulder. "Here, take this. Use it well."

    "!??"

    Arden¡ªtaken aback by being snuck up on like that¡ªwas even more shocked to find within the folds of his hand a small gem. He had no idea what it was or what it did, but he could tell without an ounce of doubt that whatever it may be, it was of an extremely high level. Far, far higher than the levels of any of his equipment.

    However, seeing as Cassius had already begun his advance toward the Gold-ranked Gate, Arden left his reverie and called out:

    "Friend Cassius, what is this thing??" he shouted. "Why did you give it to me???"

    His shouting attracted the attention of nearly everyone in the vicinity. Their watchful eyes honed in on the backside of a figure walking alongside a purple-haired beauty. They watched as he halfway turned his head back, his eyes glowing like the calmest yet deadliest of swords.

    "I gave it to you simply because I feel like if anyone deserves to live, then it should be one of the last human S-Rank Hunters," Cassius responded calmly. "I gave one to each of your party members as well. The human ones, at least¡­" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With that, he returned his focus to the massive Gold-ranked Gate. It had long since evolved beyond an Apocalypse Gate or Royale Gate, becoming something never before seen on a 0th Floor of the Ascension Tower.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    It was around when Cassius and Viola vanished into the rolling gold energy waves of the Gate that Kaida, Luna, and the other humans noticed the gems in their hands. They had no clue how they got there, but they fully came to the realization that they had severely underestimated the prowess of the man who seemed to pop up out of nowhere.

    Kaida, in particular, wore an ashamed, furious, and mildly embarrassed look on her well-sculpted face.

    ''Cassius¡­!!'' she screamed internally. ''You''re going on my sh*t list, right beside the Dragon Slayer! For shaming me like this, I''ll make you accept my revenge!!''

    The other gathered S-Rank Hunters had no idea about Kaida''s inner ravings, but what they did know was that Cassius¡ªtheir sub-target¡ªhad entered the Gold-ranked Gate. This was good. Very, very good¡­

    Right then, the gazes of hundreds of Dissonants fixated on five Japanese S-Rank Hunters. Even the six non-human Japanese Hunters stared at them.

    "???" "???"

    "Why is everyone looking at us like that!?" Kaida asked, still livid because of Cassius. "Are they wanting to fight as well!??"

    "I don''t think they want to fight us," Luna murmured as her softly formed eyes keenly observed the hundreds of S-Rank Hunters staring at them like snacks. "I think they want to eat us¡­"

    "What that Cassius fellow said just before he left with Viola," Rika added, her stance becoming increasingly defensive. "He spoke as if we were the only humans here¡­ Could it be¡­??"

    "Monsters in disguise," Luna stated while looking at Gideon, Ezekiel, Victor Rapido, and the World-class Hunters. "However, even if that is the case, their power levels make no sense. They''re exactly the same as the genuine articles."

    "Moreover, that''s not even mentioning how it shouldn''t be possible for there to be so many humanoid monsters," she continued, perceptively scrutinizing the predatory eyes cornering them from every direction. "To see even a single humanoid monster is rarer than finding a mine of diamonds as a blind, crippled person. For example, that dragon girl who fought the Wolf Deity was the first humanoid monster we have seen in years."

    "Worse yet," Rika began, her tone grave and also concealing a large amount of anger. "If so many humanoid monsters were able to replace hundreds of S-Rank Hunters under our noses, then that means¡­"

    "Humanity has fallen," Luna finished her sentence, her expression emulating her immense frustrations. "Humanity has fallen¡­ to the Monsters."

    "Errrr! Wrong!" A voice echoed from among the Dissonants. The voice belonged to the bulky Battlemonger.

    The Battlemonger smirked, finally able to breathe and talk freely now that Cassius¡ªthat freakish monster¡ªwas gone. He had seen him stop by the Earth Crusaders Guild some time ago, and since that point, he had done everything within his ability to draw as little attention to himself as possible.

    That human¡­ or whatever the hell he was¡ªwas scary¡­

    Now, however, the Battlemonger''s fright vanished into the wind. Cassius''s departure was as if ten tons worth of weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

    "What do I mean??" he mocked, his sharp, shark-like teeth entering the limelight. "What I mean is that we aren''t monsters! But rather Dissonants! Or, as you commonly know us as¡ªAliens!"

    Following that announcement, the human meat suits that the Dissonants were wearing rapidly melted off. Once completely gone, the true forms of the Dissonants were put on display, revealing the huge, ominously terrifying Kaiju forms that quickly filled the airspace.

    "!?!?" "!?!?"

    Arden, Luna, Kaida, and the others'' expressions drastically changed. Never in their lives would they have expected to hear someone say they were an alien, let alone see hundreds of them in person!

 Chapter 329 - 7/7]

    "Aliens are actually real!??" Kaida shouted in exclamation, her flames confused as to what they should be mad about. "And you''re telling me that they quietly and discreetly replaced hundreds of S-Rank Hunters!? Just how long have they been living among us!?? Look, even that ice bastard Ezekiel and the Dragon Slayer are aliens! Ha, that dumb idiot really went and allowed himself to be replaced by a hideous alien!"

    "Wait, does that mean the Dragon Slayer is dead??" Kaida asked, both excited and disappointed that she couldn''t finish the deed herself.

    "That should be the least of your worries right now," said the Battlemonger, his toothy grin widening. "But no, the answer you seek is no. Every human we took the forms of did not technically die. Their husks are safely stored on the Mothership, awaiting Void Worm Season. But soon¡­ very soon, they will be dead."

    "Husks? A Mothership?? Void Worms???" Luna asked, hearing unfamiliar terms for the first time. "Are you saying that there are more of you in some sort of spaceship??"

    The Battlemonger''s Kaiju brows furrowed angrily. "Do not refer to the Great Mothership in such a disrespectful way," he growled, his overwhelming aura rolling out in waves that neared the SS-Rank. "Our Mothership is not merely a ship. She''s our guiding light, our mother, our future, our god! Though, I doubt that an insignificant human like yourself would be able to comprehend the grandiosity of what all we Dissonants worship."

    "As for your question," the Battlemonger continued, his presence becoming overbearing. "There are more of us¡­ so, so many more of us. In the Mothership, there are billions of our kind, with more than 99% of them stronger than us."

    "Stronger than you!?" Luna asked, disbelief etched across her pretty face. ''Are they just trying to scare us?? Or¡­''

    "Believe it or don''t believe it," said the Battlemonger. "It won''t change what''ll happen to your pitiful planet and the rest of the Ascension Tower. You''ll merely be the first civilization among many that''ll fall to our mighty race once we get what we came for."

    "What you came for?" Arden repeated, his hold on his sword becoming firmer. "What is it that you came here for? That you kidnapped and took on the identities of our strongest? Why is it that you did all this¡ªto go through so much effort when you''re clearly more powerful than us¡­ What is it that you want??"

    The Battlemonger looked away from the concerned and astonished group of humans. "You ask what we want?" he parroted, his abysmally swirling gaze peering into the layers of the mystical Gold-ranked Gate. "What we want is something beyond your understanding. To explain everything here and now would require too much time; it''s far too troublesome.

    Instead¡­ just die!" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The lives of Kaida and the other humans flashed before their eyes as a large building-sized claw cut through the air. In their dilated pupils, the claw looked so big that the entire sky was blotted out. The power infused into the claw, however, was a whole different story. It was at such a level that even the strong-willed Kaida couldn''t even so much as move an inch to fight back or evade.

    She, along with the others, froze like statues¡ªimmovable and subject to the whims of others. In this case, the whims of an extraterrestrial whose purpose for being here still remained a mystery.

    ''Am I going to die!?'' The Japanese S-Rank Hunters seemed to think in unison as the massive claw plummeted toward them. ''I don''t want to die!!''

    As if their intent was heard by the very universe itself, the gems that they were holding erupted in large bursts of light!

    From that light materialized what looked to be copies of Lilith. Those copies were formed from the light, and in an instant, they multiplied until there were hundreds of them. Then, without any of the Dissonants being able to even so much as blink, the light swords used |Void Port| to teleport behind the necks of the big and small Dissonants.

    SHING! SHING!

    SPURT! SPURT!

    Simultaneously, the head of every single Dissonant was chopped off. Blood sprayed the air for thousands of meters as freakish heads sailed through the skies.

    Then time resumed.

    "!??" "!??"

    "What was that!? They''re¡­ they''re all¡­"

    Kaida, Luna, and the other four Japanese S-Rank Hunters stared at the scene before them¡ªshellshocked. Every other ''human'' in the area had been cut up into tiny pieces¡ªdeader than dead. Even those they once considered colleagues and friends had died.

    "Those gems," Arden said, wide-eyed. "What exactly were they¡­?"

    Kaida''s brows furrowed as she remembered who it was that gave the gems to them. She wasn''t sure how she was supposed to feel, but she understood just how foolish she was for provoking him.

    "That Cassius¡­ just what is he, really¡­?" Luna asked, her starry gaze fixed on the swirling gold Gate. "And why did he appear now of all times? Is something big about to go down¡­?"

    "I have a bad feeling about this," said Arden, his unease growing. "When Gates first appeared in the world¡ªwith monsters rampaging everywhere¡ªAwakeners came to be. Now, with this second calamity¡ªan alien invasion¡ªthere appears this man whose strength exceeds any pre-recorded parameters."

    "But for him to take care of the problem so easily¡ªand without even personally making a move¡ªI wonder what he''s really meant to do," Arden continued, his tone dramatic. "Is there¡­ something even more dangerous awaiting our planet¡­?"

    Arden''s quandaries put the entire group in a complex state. And as they watched chunks of Dissonant Kaiju meat fall from the skies, all their thoughts seemed to veer back to that nonchalant man.

    After a few seconds, they unanimously decided not to enter the Gold-ranked Gate. They knew that in doing so, they''d only be sending themselves into the maws of the lion.

    Instead of being so foolish, they focused their efforts elsewhere.

    With the vast majority of the world''s S-Rank Hunters having been turned into husks and beamed up to the Dissonant Mothership, Earth was left mostly unprotected. And though the world wouldn''t be reduced to shambles overnight by a couple of Gate Outbreaks, if no one was there to handle them¡­

    Well, it certainly wouldn''t be long before such a catastrophic scenario came to pass.

 Chapter 330 - 330: Egyptian Lady Is Enemy!

    The numerous A-Rank, B-Rank, and below Hunters were working extremely hard to prevent something as disastrous as mass Gate Outbreaks from being realized. However, there was an undeniable limit to how effective they''d be up against the Monsters from High-Red and Purple-rank Gates.

    It was for these reasons, and the ones concerning the danger of following Cassius, that the Japanese S-Rank Hunters assisted in the Gate defense efforts. If anything, they had to buy enough time to see if Cassius could clear the anomaly that was the World''s End Gate.

    In the possible scenario where Cassius was unable to successfully clear the Gold-ranked Gate, well¡­ at that point, all hope would be lost for humanity''s continued survival. Therefore, nothing they did would''ve made a difference anyway.

    But they had to try¡­

    As the last few S-Rank Hunters in the world, they owed it to themselves to do what they originally became Hunters for in the first place.

    To protect.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within the Gold-ranked Gate, World''s End, at the very top of the Abyssal Bowl ¡ª

    "So I have to descend, huh?" Cassius mused while looking down at the pit that seemed to stretch downward forever. "How fun."

    The pit in question was known as the Abyssal Bowl. It was the whole Gate and was essentially a downward-spiraling, layer-by-layer Monster trap. The further down one went, the stronger the Monsters became.

    It was unknown what was at the very bottom of the Abyssal Bowl, but Cassius was sure as hell determined to find out.

    "Yimin has never seen anything this big before!" Yimin said from the side, interrupting Cassius''s resolve. "There are so many tasty-looking Monsters here as well! Can Yimin eat shome!? Can she!? Can she!?"

    "Uhmm¡­ Cassius," Viola muttered while staring at the happy-go-lucky dragonoid woman. "How did she get here? And¡­ will she be with us the entire time??"

    Cassius¡ªjust as confused as Viola was¡ªstared blankly at his silver-haired pet dragon.

    "I''d like to know the same thing," he said, wondering why his Perception Stat didn''t pick up on their little stowaway. "Do tell us, Yimin, why are you here?"

    "Because!" Yimin beamed. "Yimin doesn''t want to be apart from the Master! Hihi~!"

    As the beautiful, busty dragon chick snuggled up to Cassius, twitches formed all over his face.

    "And how did you tag along without my knowing?" he asked, all smiles. "Did I not tell you to stay back and keep the other girls safe? Are you ignoring my orders now?" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yimin furiously shook her head. "No, no, no, never, Master!" she said hurriedly. "Yimin would never even dream of doing such a thing! Yimin is a good girl!"

    "So why did you come, then?" Cassius asked, trying to maintain his composure. "Even if you''re strong, you haven''t matured or eaten enough pellets to be able to carelessly enter a Gate ranked two tiers above a Purple Gate. Protecting one person was going to be hard enough, but now with you here¡ª"

    "E-Egyptian lady told Yimin to come!" Yimin sputtered out of fear that Cassius would get mad at her. "She helped Yimin do the hidings and also promised to watch the bishes in my stead¡­"

    "Hmm?" Cassius''s brows raised in interest. Though, that was when he recalled what Hellion told him about their connection a while back.

    ''It must be related to my Demon King Bloodline. She did mention something about her acquiring more symbiotic abilities the further I progressed the Bloodline. But with more than half a century having passed since she said that, the specifics are hazy¡­''

    In fact, everything before entering the White Space had become hazy. It was to the point that if he had not returned to his family when he did, he could''ve forgotten all about them.

    Like they never even existed¡­

    Sharply inhaling, Cassius shifted his attention back toward the anxiously jittery dragon girl. He gave her a couple of pats, which did well to alleviate most of her anxiety.

    "Although you did something you shouldn''t have, you did it with good intentions," he said with a small smile. "Just don''t let it happen again, okay? Only follow orders given by me unless otherwise instructed to do the opposite."

    Yimin bobbed her head, crystalline teardrops falling from her silvery eyes. "Yimin promises only to follow the Master''s orders from now on! Not that stupid Egyptian Lady, bleh! Meanie got Yimin in trouble! Should eat her!"

    Cassius sighed in resignation. "No eating people unless they''re enemies."

    "Egyptian Lady is enemy! Got Yimin in trouble! Grrrr!!"

    "You silly dragon¡­" Cassius shook his head before fixating on the confused purple-haired Guild Leader. "Remember what I asked of you before we came into this Gate? Keep that gem close; the Necklace I gave you as well. Although we''ve yet to be forcefully separated, anything can happen in unknown lands."

    Viola conveyed her understanding with a slight nod. "I don''t really know what the relationship is like between you and the Silver Bullet Blur, but seeing as you two seem to have figured things out already, does that mean we''re beginning this Gate exploration?"

    Cassius chuckled, finding her impatience a bit funny. "You''re right. Let''s get this Gate exploration started, why don''t we?" he said before beginning his descent down the Abyssal Bowl.

    The Abyssal Bowl was split up into dozens of different sections, with each section possessing a very wide, flat surface area. To reach the sections, you had to descend from the one that came before. The distance between each section, however, spanned upwards of whole light-years¡ªand consisted of anything from terrifying Monsters to biomes like a forest or a desert.

    From the four Sections that Cassius could sense with his current Magic Sense, each one had an insurmountably large area space. Furthermore, there were several presences on these Sections that felt a league more powerful than those in between each Section. The one on the first Section felt to be around the SS- - Rank, whereas the one on the second Section was roughly of the SS- Rank.

    This pattern continued for the next two Sections, with the fourth one having a single Monster sitting at the SS+ Rank.

    Cassius found this way of doing things quite to his liking. And after slaughtering his way through millions of miles of varying terrain, he ultimately arrived at the location where the Boss Monster of the fourth Section was staying.

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!!"

 Chapter 331 - 331: 11th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl

    "ROOOAAARGGHHH!!!"

    A soul-shaking roar thundered out, with hundreds of thousands of mountains being destroyed in the process. Just the mere audible vibrations of the roar would have been more than enough to erase all life on Earth!

    The Megaton Shark Lord!

    This monster was the final thing preventing Cassius and his crew from continuing their descent through the Abyssal Bowl. It was a massive shark-like creature with a body length triple that of Earth''s diameter. Moreover, it had legs that belonged to a dinosaur and flew in the air¡ªall while being capable of moving many times the speed of light.

    An SS+ Rank Monster!!

    Its power was overwhelming!!!

    SHING!

    Yet all it took was the sounding of a crisp sword slash for the Megaton Shark Lord to meet its untimely demise. It was bisected, with a long line of blood gradually forcing both sides of it away from one another.

    "Hmm, still nothing too strong just yet," Cassius casually commented as he moved forward despite the shocked look he was receiving from Viola. "Well, we''ve only been in here for a few minutes. Surely, there will be stronger enemies beyond this point. In fact, I''m now able to make out the existence of a couple of SS++ Rank Monsters a bit further in from this point. Still nothing too impressive, but it''s an improvement."

    Noticing one of these Monsters prompted a certain System Notification¡ªone related to the next part of the SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set.

    {[Side Quest Err¡­ Something or Another!]}

    [Objective 1: Make sure Viola Voidweaver doesn''t perish inside the World''s End Gate] - [0/1]

    [Objective 2: Show off in front of the purple-haired busty babe! Get into a cool fight with a big bad monster of unbelievable proportions or something!] - [0/1]

    [Reward: Part 2 and Part 3 of the SSS-Rank VoidWarper Skill Set, as well as clues pertaining to a potential evolution path of the Skill Set]

    After looking over the Quest, the way Cassius saw Viola changed for the better. More than anything else, the types of people he liked most were those who could benefit him one way or another.

    Viola Voidweaver was the gal of the hour right now!

    ''But¡­ how exactly should I go about showing off¡­?''

    After a brief period of deliberation, Cassius figured the act of ''showing off'' would come naturally as long as he kept descending the Abyssal Bowl¡ªan endlessly long area with limits that still couldn''t be properly ascertained.

    "Time to get a move-on," he waved his hand while walking away from the graveyard of the Megaton Shark Lord.

    "C-Coming!"

    Although still in the process of comprehending what she just witnessed, Viola was right behind Cassius within mere moments. She kept pace with his stride until she couldn''t. That was when he princess-carried her to the following Segments of the Abyssal Bowl.

    5th Layer - SS++ Rank Boss Monster ''Earth Kraken'' - Slain!

    6th Layer - SS+++ Rank Boss Monster ''Robotic Feudal Monarch'' - Slain!

    7th Layer - SSS- - Rank Boss Monster ''Surreal Heavenly Serpent'' - Slain!

    8th Layer - SSS- Rank Boss Monster ''Terronia Spider Queen'' - Slain!

    9th Layer - SSS Rank Boss Monster ''Charrer Sea Dragon'' - Slain!

    10th Layer - SSS+ Rank Boss Monster ''Dolorok Reptilian King'' - Slain!

    By the 11th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl, Viola had been thoroughly impressed. So too was Yimin, but her amazement was of far less concern to Cassius.

    *Ding!*

    [Congratulations! You have successfully left the purple-haired busty babe ''Viola Voidweaver'' drenched in her own love juices! My guy!]

    [Fulfilled the 2nd Objective of Side Quest Blah, Blah, Blah!]

    [As soon as you conquer the World''s End Gate (with Viola still alive), you''ll also fulfill the 1st Objective of Side Quest Whaternotter and thus obtain the 2nd and 3rd Parts of the VoidWarper Skill Set!]

    ''Interesting,'' Cassius internally mused, his sight shifting to the acidic wasteland that was the 12th Layer.

    The further he descended into the Abyssal Bowl, the less lush and fertile everything became. The sky also increasingly darkened, with the density of evil elements in the atmosphere ever-growing.

    "Yimin likes this place, Master!" A silver-haired dragon girl bounced over to her Master''s side, making sure to brush all her naughty bits against him. "It reminds Yimin of the egg that she was born in! Cozy!"

    "Egg¡­?" Faint recollections of the galaxy-like cocoon he saw in the Gate he met Yimin in flashed through Cassius''s mind. "You call that thing an egg??"

    Yimin giggled while nodding. "Yep, yep, was egg! Round like egg, smelt like egg, definitely egg!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The logic was foolproof!

    At least in her head, it was¡­

    Whispering to Cassius, Viola asked, "Is something the matter with this girl¡­? Honestly speaking, she doesn''t seem right in the head¡­"

    "Her?" Cassius shrugged. "Nah, she''s not okay. But she was born this way, so I don''t think it matters much whether she''s mentally sound or not."

    It matters!

    It definitely matters!

    Sighing, Viola redirected her attention to all the mass levels of destruction surrounding them on the 11th Layer. Vats of acid and creepy acidic butterflies the size of mountains were leaking green, acidic goo all over the place. Twitches could be seen from what little remained of the Acidic Butterflies, but seeing as those were just post-mortem side effects, Cassius didn''t bother himself with finishing them off.

    "You''re really something else¡­" Viola muttered while looking at Cassius as if he were some sort of freakish monster. "Were you always like this¡­? Always so strong?"

    "Hm?" Cassius''s ears perked at this question, and while further descending the Abyssal Bowl, he leaned his face next to her ear. "Can you keep a secret?" he asked¡ªa subtle action that turned Viola beet-red.

    While profusely blushing and averting her gaze, she bobbed her head.

    Cassius smiled warmly. Then he moved away from her and said, "Well, so can I. My own secrets."

    This response had Viola gasping for air, with her cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk''s.

    *Poof!*

    A punch!

    "You big jerk!"

    Cassius laughed off the cotton punch as well as the utterly adorable face she was making.

 Chapter 332 - 332: 12th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl

    ¡ª Some Time Later ¡ª

    The 11th Layer was soloed by Cassius with ease; the SSS+++ Rank Boss that stood guard at the end hadn''t stood a chance. Something similar happened for the 12th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl as well, for the EX-- Rank Boss Monster died to a single strike.

    It was by this point that his efforts over the last period of time really began to show. After all, the Cassius from a few weeks ago likely wouldn''t have even been capable of competing with a Peak SSS-Rank Boss Monster, let alone one nearing the Official EX-Rank.

    But this was now Cassius''s reality after all the repeated upgrades to his existence. After all the millennia he spent in the Challenges that gave him his Character Architect Class.

    A long period of time that he''d prefer to forget¡­

    "Haiz," he sighed, his razor-sharp gaze focusing on the entrance to the 13th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl.

    By ''Entrance,'' what should really be clarified was that it was just one really steep decline to who the f*ck knew where. It was pure darkness from this point onward, with only the shrill shrieks of unknown creatures being evidence of their existing life beyond the lip of the 12th Layer.

    Even with the presence of Cassius''s protective barrier¡ªone which defended Viola from almost every kind of dangerous thing¡ªthose shrill shrieks still chilled her to the bone. Even the previous SS and SSS-Ranked Monsters could have very well erased her from existence with a mere thought if they so wished it, but even then, what she was feeling now was on an entirely different level.

    "Yimin¡­ Hungry¡­"

    "...." "...."

    Yimin''s declaration broke the ominous atmosphere that permeated the group. She dumbly tilted her head, finger to her chin, asking, "What''s wrong with ya''ll? Why staring at Yimin like that¡­? Yimin not food, ya know¡­!? Yimin is Hooman!"

    *Bonk!*

    "Owchies!"

    "You''re not human," Cassius corrected after kicking Yimin into the maws of darkness. "Why don''t you put your dragon lineage to use and scout out the area ahead of us?"

    "Nooo, Masterrr!! Howw coullldd you dooo this to Yimin!??"

    Yimin''s begrudged shouts could be heard getting further and further away from Cassius and Viola.

    Until¡­

    "Oooh, can fly!!" Yimin bubbled up in excitement while swooping through the darkness at crazy fast speeds. "Look, Master! Yimin can fly!! Am a Hooman that can fly!!!"

    *Bonk!*

    Cassius bonked the head of the silly silver dragon after suddenly appearing atop her with Viola in his arms. He ignored the profusely blushing Guild Leader, his focus first and foremost on the endless darkness below.

    "You''re not a Human, now giddy-up," he ordered. "You want some more delicious snacks, don''t you?"

    Yimin''s huge slitted eyes brightened. "Yimin loves snacks!"

    "Then hurry up and go into the Darkness," Cassius replied. "If you do a good job and get us to our destination faster, then I''ll give you a bigger share than Raijin and Nyxvoldar."

    The two Evomon Summons felt many grievances, but what could they do when it came to their Master¡­?

    "Yimin will do a super duper, balooper good job!" Yimin exclaimed as she happily descended into the endless darkness. "Will do way, way better than the Roojin and Nooxy! Also better than da b*tches!"

    Letting her say and think whatever she wanted, Cassius peacefully cultivated on her head.

    Viola intently watched him, with seemingly every ounce of her curiosity having been snatched away by him. However, treating her gaze as if it didn''t even exist, he progressed his Demon King Cultivation.

    By the time the surroundings changed to something other than total darkness, the maximum amount of progress Cassius obtained in his Demon King Cultivation was stated as such:

    [Demon Lord 2.2% ¡ú 2.21%!]

    "The Demon King Cultivation Path is still as difficult to progress as ever," he commented at a nigh inaudible frequency. "At this rate, it''ll be ages before I reach the same level as the strongest Demon Kings of HELL. Haiz¡­"

    It may seem like Cassius was rushing things or being especially impatient, but in actuality, it was highly likely that every single Demon King in HELL would hunt him down as soon as he entered the Dimension. And though he was confident in being able to deal with the Low and Mid-rank Demon Kings, his confidence all but left the chat as soon as Demon Kings like Lucifer became part of the equation.

    If he encountered that insidious Demon King after embarking on his journey through HELL, then he might as well drop over dead right then and there. At least that way he could save them both some trouble¡­

    However, that was a topic for another time.

    Cassius and gang just arrived in the 13th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl.

    "This place is¡­" Viola muttered with an awed sparkle in her hazy purple eyes.

    "So yummy-looking!"

    Silence¡­

    "...That''s not what I was going for, but I guess that''s one way to put it," Viola said with an awkward smile. "What do you think, Cass? Those shrieks really freaked me out, but a view like this one might just make any type of fear vanish without a trace."

    "Hum?"

    Leaving his reverie, Cassius peeked an eye open and observed the 13th Layer. He was amazed to see bluish-green scenery that looked to be an upside-down terrarium. Fish monsters of massive proportions and krakens the size of planets undulated through the unusual environment.

    The air, weirdest of all, seemed to be one part liquid and another part regular oxygen-based. It was so odd and felt even odder that Cassius¡ªwith all his experience and knowledge¡ªcouldn''t even begin to understand it. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Appraising the System Interfaces of the Krakens and fish monsters while reeling back from the oddities of this place, Cassius saw that all of them were at least of the EX- Rank. Furthermore, there were a couple who looked to be on the verge of breaking through to the Official EX-Rank.

    As for how they worked toward this end¡­

    "ROOOOAARGHHH!!"

    CHOMP!

 Chapter 333 - 333: The Original Abyss

    A bit of the glimmer in Viola''s eyes was replaced by repulsion as she watched a colossal Sea Leviathan of sorts shoot out from the depths of the water. It bit a Fish Monster that looked like a mutated Goliath Fish, and in a single chomp, it crunched the fish into two. Blood colored the sea red, with the Sea Leviathan making use of its enormous toothy mouth to devour both major chunks of the Goliath Fish before returning to the depths of the upside-down terrarium.

    As for the smaller remains of the deceased Goliath Fish, they made for good, hearty meals for the weaker and smaller Sea Beasts.

    "Gruesome indeed," Cassius remarked. "But in the end, these are just the way things ar¡ª"

    "Yum-yums! Can Yimin gets shome, Master!?"

    Silence¡­

    "Yimin, is there ever a moment when you aren''t so weird?"

    Yimin shook her head, -teeheeing-, "Nope, nope, but Master loves weird Yimin! Master says it before!"

    This girl lived in her delusions!

    "You two truly are something else," Viola remarked. "I don''t believe I''ve ever met such an unusual pair. But with that being off topic, what exactly are we supposed to be doing down here?"

    Looking around, the depths of the aqua abyss called to them.

    That surely must be where they were meant to go. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But was that really what they wanted to do¡­?

    The dangers within the depths of the abyss could very well mean the end of them¡­

    Cassius followed Viola''s gaze, with even his Magic Sense unable to gauge the true limits of the 13th Layer. It was like peering into a well using the eyes of a mere mortal.

    "Well, let''s not waste any more time here," he finally said, his voice cutting through the deafening silence. "If we wait around any longer, those Sea Monsters might just decide they want another snack."

    Viola hesitantly nodded, whereas Yimin bobbed her head with drool pouring from her lips.

    Ignoring her unusualness, Cassius conjured a protective bubble that covered all three of them. After which, he descended into the watery Abyss, but decided to do his VOPC run for the hour sometime in.

    A whole day passed for him, but for the outside world, it was as if he never even left.

    ¡ª A Few Hours Later ¡ª

    The 13th Layer of the Abyssal Bowl was, by far, the largest among all the Layers. It took Cassius nearly half a day of traveling at his fastest speed just to reach a part where the scenery started to change. And though thousands of giant, planet-sized sea creatures had been slain by him during his descent, they endlessly flooded in.

    The amount of EXP being racked up was astronomical. An amount that would surely be a game-changer when Cassius ascends to the Higher Floors of the Humanity Tower.

    Suddenly!

    "...Who is there¡­?"

    "???" "???" "???"

    A voice rang inside the heads of Cassius, Yimin, and Viola. They vigilantly scanned their surroundings but saw nothing. It was also around this time that Cassius realized this part of the watery Abyss was devoid of life.

    There were no Krakens, no Sea Leviathans, no huge Monstrous Fish¡ªnothing.

    It was like a ghost town.

    "Did you hear that, too?" Viola tugged on Cassius''s robe, her hand trembling.

    She didn''t scare easily, but for some reason, that voice terrified her to her core.

    Even the silly Yimin had a dangerous gleam in her eye. As she was in full dragon form, her poise was domineering. But at the same time, what looked to be fear crept up her enormous body, causing shivers.

    ''Yimin never gets like this¡­'' Cassius''s bluish-red eyes narrowed into slits as he tried tracing the unknown voice back to its origin.

    An action that bore no results¡­

    "....Are you family¡­? Foe¡­.? W¡­Who are you¡­?"

    The voice came out very distorted, with certain vowels being repeated several times in an abnormal sequence. Weirder yet was how¡­ familiar it sounded.

    None of them had ever heard anything like the voice in their entire lives¡ªthat was a fact.

    And yet¡­

    Why did it feel so familiar¡­?

    Finally speaking up, Cassius said, "Who are we? The better question is who are you?"

    "...."

    "I¡­ I don''t know¡­ Are you family¡­ Or Foe¡­? W¡­ Who are you¡­?"

    Like a broken record, the voice repeated what it had already said once before. However, this time, more confusion had been infused into its voice.

    It was as if the owner of the voice truly didn''t know what it was doing¡­

    Contemplating, Cassius suddenly turned his head up. "We are family."

    Silence¡­.

    "Family¡­?" The unknown voice parroted. "Family¡­ F-Family¡­ F-F¡­Family¡­!? N-Noooo!!!"

    RUMBLE!

    The watery Abyss started shaking like crazy, with the calls coming from the depths increasing the pull it had on Cassius and the girls. The unknown distorted voice reached such a low frequency that it became unrecognizable.

    Then, out of the blue, a massive hole split the bottomless Abyss in two.

    "!!!!"

    Moving extremely fast, Cassius teleported himself and the girls away using one of his new Void Skills¡ª''Group Spatial Displacement.''

    Right where they had just been standing, a large crimson-red sword tip left a gaping hole in the water that had a diameter of hundreds of thousands of miles.

    Yet, with the bloody glow of the sword tip, it¡ªalong with the rest of its frame¡ªshrank down to a barely discernible size. Immediately after, a young chubby boy with blackened, blood-stained eyes appeared before Cassius. His expression was overflowing with grief and sorrow, his pain unimaginable even for the likes of the man who had died more times than days the human civilization had been around.

    "N¡­Not Family!!! Can''t be Family¡ª!!!!"

    The chubby boy''s screams reverberated like the tolling bell chimes foretelling the end of the world. His extreme hysteria was followed by the sweeping of a mass of pitch-black darkness that resided at the very depths of the 13th Layer. The Darkness gathered around the chubby boy, enveloping him in its grim embrace.

    "Cassius¡­" Viola mumbled, her eyes opening in shock. "Is this¡­?"

    "Yes, I believe so," Cassius replied, his expression hardening. "This is the World End''s Gate Final Boss Monster. This is what will bring about the end of life as we know it¡ª"

    OOOOM!!!

    "The Original Abyss."

 Chapter 334 - 334: Familiar...?

    {[Original Abyss]} - [??? Rank] - (EX???)

    ¡ª [Although just a fragment of the genuine article, this creature is the Original Abyss nonetheless. And due to a severely traumatic experience that occurred within the limitless stream of time, it no longer remembers who it was or who it is. It doesn''t even know how it found itself inside the World''s End Gate.]

    ¡ª [Caution: The Original Abyss''s Fragment is extremely unstable and could perform actions that would otherwise be seen as highly unadvised.]

    ¡ª [???????????.....]

    Other than the general description, Cassius was unable to glean any more information. Everything was locked behind question marks and uncertainties, with the Original Abyss''s past just one big mystery.

    "YOU''RE NOT FAMILY!!! FOE YOU ARE!!! DIEE!!!!"

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    Not allowing Cassius to ponder the matter any longer, phantom flashes of an enormous sword tip carved through the watery Abyss. Having barely any time to react, Cassius lost an arm in the process of evading the small barrage of sword attacks.

    "Cassius!"

    "Master!!"

    The girls stared at his bloodied right side, with horror dilating their pupils. Yimin''s worry, however, was quickly replaced by a suffocating amount of fury as she directed a death glare toward the chubby little boy.

    Waving his remaining hand, Cassius said, "It''s fine; something like this is not nearly enough to take me out of the game. However, you two will need to stand back."

    Thinking of a better option, he forcefully teleported them both to a distance so far away that it would take them months to return to him by themselves. They shouted in unwillingness while being flashed away, but that didn''t change anything.

    Having them there with him was a burden. One that would surely cost all three of them their lives.

    Keeping them at a distance and with a few protective barriers amplified by high-ranking Magical Items was the wisest decision.

    "Now then," Cassius''s eyes coldly glowed. "Why don''t we have ourselves a little duel?"

    SHA! SHA! SHA! S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ll take that as a confirmation," he uttered while brandishing Lilith. Mora materialized right after, with both of them radiating a killing intent so immense that premonitions of seas of blood accompanied them.

    "Hum¡­?"

    Noticing something peculiar while parrying the incoming planet-sized sword thrusts, Cassius''s nose crinkled, ''Is something the matter, Lilith¡­?''

    She vibrated like crazy every time she made contact with the huge bloody sword.

    Seemingly reading her intent, question marks flew off above Cassius''s head. ''This sword is familiar to you¡­? Just like the chubby boy is to me¡­ What¡­ What exactly is going on here¡­??''

    Before he could mull over the subject any longer, the massive phantom sword thrusts were followed up by multiple scarlet arcs of energy shredding through the water on both sides of the sword thrusts. They razed the water-air, incinerating everything in their path. And being over one hundred thousand miles in width, that included just about everything in the vicinity.

    "Aren''t these¡­!?"

    Cassius''s shock was put on hold as he was forced to activate several Bloodline Transformations just to increase his speed. Yet, even with that, he only managed to barely evade the first few spinning arcs of energy. The others crashed into him, making him spit out blood.

    But there was still one more¡ªand he was knocking on death''s door.

    "Fine! Let''s not play around then, shall we!?"

    WAAA!

    After bringing out the full power of his Demon King Cultivation, Cassius was able to take on the brunt force of the last spinning energy arc. It took almost everything out of him, but he still survived.

    Purposefully spitting out blood, Cassius''s expression turned fierce. His body spasmed out because of all the active Transformations as well as the healing of the severe injuries he sustained. But oddly enough, this only further stroked the fire inside him.

    "I want to know how you''re using those weapons," he declared as his voice became increasingly colder. "And whether I have to beat it out of you or not, I''ll get to the truth one way or another."

    RUMBLE!!

    "NOTT¡­ NO FAMILY!!! FOEEE!!!!!"

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    "I see words are wasted on you," Cassius remarked. "So be it then. I prefer it this way as well."

    Both spinning scythe arcs and sword thrusts filled the space in front of him, their absurd brilliance even felt by Yimin and Viola in the far-off distance. Their trepidation only grew, but what could they do about it?

    Cassius made it abundantly clear that this fight was his and his alone. Going after him now would not only be useless, it would disappoint him¡­

    ¡ª An Unknown Amount of Time Later ¡ª

    "Kuk!" Coughing up blood, one could see how worn-down Cassius had become. "For a small child, you sure are ruthless. Every blow is one aimed to take my life, which you have done. A lot."

    "FAMILY¡­ GONE¡­ NOT FAMILY!!! FOEE!?!!"

    SHING! SHING!

    "Yeah, I know," Cassius sighed, his attempts at evading and/or blocking the Original Abyss''s attacks far smoother than they were when he first arrived. "That''s all you say. And yet I still don''t know what it means, nor have you bothered to elaborate."

    "DIEEE, FOEE!!!"

    KA¡ªBOOOOOM!

    The Original Abyss fired off a beam of destructive energy so powerful that the water in the air for millions of miles evaporated. Countless Sea Monsters lost their lives in an instant, with the subsequent beam damage obliterating higher areas of the Abyssal Bowl as well.

    CRACK¡ª

    The damage was so unbelievable that a sixth of the Abyssal Bowl cracked off the main landmass. The separated piece fell into the darkness that encompassed the Abyssal Bowl, never to be seen again.

    "Damn, that was a close one," Knox muttered, with the whole right side of his body gone. "That could''ve gone badly."

    FWOOOM!

    The regenerative properties of his Mythical Phoenix Bloodline healed him in an instant, but phantom pain still lingered. Though, to him, it was just a drop of liquid added to an already pre-existing ocean.

    His entire life was filled with endless pain¡ªwhat difference did it make if there were a little more?

 Chapter 335 - 335: A Standstill

    "Now then," Cassius began, cracking his neck. "Why don''t you confide in me some of your problems? Perhaps I can help. And also, while you''re at it, why don''t you f*cking tell me why you''re wielding those weapons?"

    The chubby boy''s face became uglier than it already was. His power grew ever greater, with just the weight of his presence shaking all of the Abyssal Bowl.

    The Original Abyss''s strength was on an entirely different level¡ªfar beyond even Cassius''s.

    However, unlike him, the Original Abyss had not a damn clue how to properly utilize its strength. It just mindlessly attacked, not even aware of the true limits of its power.

    Raw strength¡ªthat was the only thing it relied on.

    ''If this creature knew how to make use of its power, then I''d certainly have no choice but to forcefully lift the EXP cock blocker 2000 restriction,'' Cassius thought. ''But fortunately, I don''t believe that''ll be necessary. At most, I''ll just have to die a few million more times.''

    He lost count of how many times he had died since the fight began, and if he was being totally honest, he didn''t really care. The only thing on his mind right now was figuring out how he was going to overcome this adversary of his¡ª

    The Final Boss of the World''s End Gate.

    A being so incredibly powerful that, if let out from the Gate, would''ve erased the Isolated Solar System from existence in an instant.

    However, Cassius was here to make sure that didn''t happen.

    He was a Hero and sh*t.

    With a noble heart and a deranged look on his face, Cassius flashed forward. He instantly reached a stabbable distance from the Original Abyss, but that meant very little when his movements were super slow in the blackened, bloody eyes of the chubby child.

    "FUTILE!!! DIEE, FOEE!!! BECOME LOOOT!!!"

    ''Become Loo¡ª?''

    Before that thought could fully form in Cassius''s mind, the Original Abyss slashed out with its large crimson scythe. The eerily familiar weapon enlarged to millions of times its original size before annihilating everything in its path.

    And with Cassius having been within such close range, even when he instinctively went to dodge, he was nowhere near making it away in time. The enlarged crimson scythe erased him all the way down to his atoms.

    Even with his Mythical Phoenix Bloodline¡ªwhich was rapidly running low on daily uses¡ªit took a full two seconds for him to fully regenerate. Which was markedly longer than a normal Rebirth took.

    "Damn, that one hurt a hell of a lot," Cassius lamented. "Luckily, I managed to preserve my consciousness in time."

    Enraged by the continual rebirths of the anomaly before it, the Original Abyss roared, "DIE, DIE!, DIE!!! DIE!!!! FOE!!!!!!"

    It didn''t mention "Loot" again, and with Cassius having completely forgotten it saying it, it was as if it had never been said to begin with¡­

    But with more perilous concerns at hand, Cassius lacked the luxury of attempting to recall what had been forgotten.

    "Time for Round¡­ like 7000?"

    [What you meant to say, Dear Host, was time for the next round of Character Development!]

    "No, f*ck yo¡ª"

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    Cassius died.

    Several times.

    "Ugh¡­ I blame you, System f*cker," he cursed as soon as he regenerated. "Making me waste perfectly good rebirths like that; shame on you!"

    [Heh~]

    Overlooking their quibbling, it seemed that someone was the furthest thing from willing to patiently wait for them to finish speaking.

    "FOEEE!!! SLAAYYY!!!"

    "Haiz¡­ Here we go again¡­"

    ¡ª Days later, yet only hours in the outside world ¡ª

    "Do you think the Raid is going well¡­?" Luna asked.

    "You mean the Solo Raid?" Arden corrected, obvious respect in his tone. "The single most dangerous Gate in the history of the world¡­ being conquered by a single man¡­"

    "It''s surreal," Rika added. "Even more so when you realize that this man stayed under the radar for so long. It''s as if he doesn''t care even the tiniest bit about fame or fortun¡ª"

    "He doesn''t," Kaida clicked her tongue. "That look in his eye¡ªit''s not one possessed by someone who pursues worldly possessions. No, as much as I don''t like the guy, I know what kind of person he truly is."

    "Oh?" Luna suggestively raised a brow. "Has the stone-hearted draconic beauty finally found love? And in a man who single-handedly thwarted an Alien Invasion, no less~"

    "Tsk," Kaida snarled. "You have no idea what you''re talking about. I''d never like someone like him."

    "Yeah, sure, sure, whatever you say," Luna teased. "Though that blush painting your face red would indicate differently."

    "W-What blush, you b*tch¡­!?" Kaida checked her reflection with a spell just to make sure, only to become angrier after realizing that Luna was messing with her.

    "Hey, don''t look at me like that," Luna said while acting like a church mouse. "It scares me¡­"

    "You think that''s scary? Just you wait!!"

    "Noo, ahhh¡ª!"

    Arden and Rika, who were standing in the background of the Purple Gate they were in, stared blankly.

    "They do know that we''re currently experiencing a potential Armageddon, right?" Arden asked, just to make sure.

    "I¡­ I believe so," Rika replied, her smile twitching. "Honestly, those two have kinda always been airheads. It''s possible that even if a giant planet-destroying meteor fell from the sky right now, they''d still be goofing off."

    After a brief pause. "I suppose that''s how they''re dealing with the unveiling of the deaths of Dante, Ezekiel, and the others," Arden sighed. "I can admit that those revelations are still affecting me. I don''t know if I''ll ever be able to get over the fact that friends and family were extraterrestrials that invaded from outer space."

    Rika shook her head. "Without knowing better, we as a Civilization fell almost overnight¡­"

    "¡­What a life¡­"

    ¡ª Sometime later, within the World''s End Gate ¡ª

    Not too long ago, the last of the Abyssal Bowl shattered. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now, there were five major pieces of the once incalculably large landmass, and on the largest of those pieces, two figures floated opposite each other. Two more figures could be seen nervously staring in their direction from inside a bubble located trillions of miles away.

    The battle that demolished a cosmic construct had¡­ come to a standstill.

 Chapter 336 - 336: Clearing The Worlds End Gate

    ''I''m running out of lives, but this thing doesn''t need to know that.''

    "FAMILY¡­ F¡­AMILY¡­. Family¡­?"

    Taking Cassius out of his thoughts were the mumblings of the Original Abyss. For some reason, it started to change, with all of its anger vanishing without a trace.

    Yet, that anger seemed to have been replaced with¡­ sadness.

    Immense sorrow.

    Believing that this was a better time to spark up a conversation, Cassius asked, "Are you ready to talk now?"

    A human-like expression appeared on the blackened-eyed chubby boy''s face as he suddenly turned his head up. "Talk¡­? With Family¡­?"

    "Yes," replied Cassius, his violent aura gradually subsiding. "Talk with family."

    The chubby boy''s sadness worsened. "But¡­ But Family is¡­ Am alone. Am alone¡­ Why am I alone¡­?"

    Cassius was unable to understand what was going on, but he still tried to help solve the problem. "Listen, kid¡ª"

    However, before he could finish even a single sentence, the endless darkness that surrounded the shattered Abyssal Bowl pulled on the chubby boy. His sorrow and grief mixed together with fright and horror as he reached out toward Cassius.

    "P-Please, no more¡­ The darkness¡­ Why always the darkness¡­!?"

    "Wait," Cassius called out, trying to grab hold of the boy.

    But it was to no avail¡­

    "Darkness¡­ No Family¡­ Alone¡­ M¡­My Fault¡­ All my fault¡­." The Original Abyss''s mumblings continued as its face severely twisted in helplessness and self-blame. "All my fault."

    Tendrils of darkness wrapped around the chubby boy, coiling him in their twilight embrace. Slowly, they covered him up and pulled him in. Morbid shadows contrasted with the deep, dark blues of his saddened face as a single tear rolled down his cheek.

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    The tear, however, did not fall downward. It instead flew toward Cassius in a horizontal line, its glimmer radiating brighter with each passing moment.

    "What¡­!?"

    He attempted to understand what was invading his body before it fully did so, but he was nowhere near fast enough. The tear collided with his forehead, rippling through his skin. A bubbly iridescent energy seeped into his forehead, digging down and fusing with the deepest depths of his soul.

    Speaking for the final time before being completely enveloped, the Original Abyss said, "A Dead-End is what awaits us all. Don''t¡­ resist¡­"

    It spoke its most coherent sentence yet, and unfortunately for Cassius, it just had to be the one that came just before a sea of darkness swallowed him whole.

    Sighing, he said, "What a shame¡­"

    Just then, the black tear that entered inside him finished the assimilation process. A series of System Notifications then sounded out¡ªthe first few of which were unrelated to the conquering of the World''s End Gate:

    *Ding~!*

    [Absorbed the 1st Fragment]

    [Sequencing¡­.]

    [The Abyss inside you grows]

    [1st Fragment sequenced!]

    [Special Innate Ability ''Shadow''s Foresight'' Acquired]

    "Hm?"

    Before Cassius received the chance to properly glance over his new ability, another wave of System Notifications bombarded him¡ªthese ones bringing him far less surprise.

    *Ding!*

    [You have successfully conquered the Gold-rank Royale Apocalypse Gate known as the ''World''s End'']

    [You have slain the Original Abyss Fragment, True Name: ???????]

    [Trillions of Monsters in the Abyssal Bowl have been massacred by you!]

    [Experience Bar has moved by leaps and bounds!]

    [Warning! Warning! Warning!]

    While Cassius was devouring the sparsely desecrated monsters along with Mora and Lilith, bright red screens flashed in front of him. His brows raised as he read the following System Notification:

    [Due to you conquering the World''s End Gate, the collapse of reality has commenced!]

    NEXUS EVENT - DESCENDING!

    "What??" Knox questioned. "I thought the Gate was the Nexus Event! Now you''re telling me there''s more!?"

    [Always expect the unexpected, Dear Host. And don''t blame me; I didn''t do anything this time. I''m just the humble messenger.]

    [Which reminds me¡­]

    [A Tear in the fabric of Space has opened up on Humanity''s 0th Floor! Cause: Unknown!!]

    [Foreign Forces have begun invading through the Tear in Space!]

    [The Gate''s Prisoners have escaped the chains that bound them!]

    [Other Realities have opened more Cracks in Space, permitting the intrusion of numerous more Foreign Entities!!]

    [Errm¡­ Dear Host, have you prayed today?]

    "¡­No¡­"

    [Then you better start now, because you might just be screwed¡­]

    Silence¡­

    RUMBLE!!!

    Suddenly, the interior of the World''s End Gate shook like crazy. Cracks spread everywhere, with the incomprehensible illusion that lay beyond the shattered Abyssal Bowl forever separating from the layer of existence Cassius was in.

    Shooting his sight around, he locked onto Yimin and Viola. Moving fast, he teleported them to him, then reinforced their existences with his own.

    "Brace yourselves," Cassius said. "The Gate is forcefully collapsing, and it will do so whether we''re in here or not. That means we have to leave the same way we came in."

    Pausing at his words, Viola looked all around. "Hey, Cass¡­"

    "Yes?"

    "You speak of an exit, but where exactly would that be¡­?"

    Silence¡­

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius''s smile turned crooked. His eyes darted in every single direction, but the portal they came in through was nowhere to be found. "Erm¡­ Maybe I really should''ve prayed today."

    [Hihi~, want a hint, Dear Host~? If you ask nicely, I don''t mind telling you~]

    Messing up the System''s plans, a different System Notification sounded:

    [Host will be t¡­ No stop it! Transported out of the World''s End Gate in 34 seconds] sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Nooo!!!]

    The System''s snarky personality fought with the more robotic and organized part. And no matter how hard the snarky side resisted the nature of the robotic, the former lost without contest.

    "Oh?" Cassius smirked, conjuring an illusory blue chair that he immediately pulled out and sat down on. "If that''s how it is, then good. You should''ve just started with that, ''Dear'' System."

    [You¡­ f*cker¡­]

    The System fumed, but in a little over half a minute, its livid expression existed as nothing more than an afterthought of Cassius''s.

    While being transported out of the collapsing World''s End Gate alongside Viola and Yimin, he finally took the time to gloss over the Special Ability he had acquired from that weird chubby boy. Even now, he had no clue what it was talking about or why it seemed so personally related to himself, but that was a subject for another time.

    The Ability in question:

 Chapter 337 - 337: The Three Weakest Demon Kings

    {[Shadow''s Foresight]} - [GX- Rank] - [Evolvable]

    [Effect 1: ''A Glimpse Into the Future''] - [See a maximum of 3 seconds into the future, with the only drawback being that it can only be used three times a day]

    [Effect 2: ''Shadow''s Blanket''] - [Like a shadow that forever drapes behind you, everything that happened up to a maximum time range of 1 month can now be seen. Only able to be used 3 times a day]

    ¡ª[Acquire more Fragments of the Original Abyss inside the Ascension Tower in order to upgrade the Shadow''s Foresight Skill and improve the effectiveness of its Abilities.]

    "Hmm¡­? Hmm!" Cassius practically erupted with happiness as he couldn''t believe what he was looking at. "The Ability to see into the past and the future?? What''ll happen if I upgrade it¡ªwill I be able to control time as I will!?"

    As of this moment, the thing he most wanted to do was hunt down more of those blackened-eyed chubby boys and rob them of their Fragments!

    Still no idea what the Fragments even signified, but who cared!?

    This Special Ability was bound to be essential to future progression!

    FWIP!

    Interrupting Cassius''s hopeful thoughts was the sudden warping of scenery.

    They had returned to the outside world, with the Royale Apocalypse Gate behind them in the process of dissipating.

    "We''re back!" Viola exclaimed, inhaling a large breath of Earth''s air, only to instantly realize something was wrong.

    *Cough!* *Cough!*

    Yimin keeled over, coughing out like a banshee. "Tastes like sh*t! Sh*t everywhere!!"

    Cassius''s eyes narrowed as he observed the flickers of embers drifting through the atmosphere. His gaze shifted upward, where he saw a massive metallic spherical object looming over them.

    Zooming out, the metallic spherical object was determined to be roughly a fourth the size of Planet Earth. In the lower middle section of the object, high levels of heat energy was cooling off in what appeared to be a huge tractorbeam-like extension of Annihilation.

    {[Dissonant Ship]} - [Class: Centurion]

    ¡ª[One of countless spaceships subordinate to the Dissonant Mothership. Ships like this one are typically the frontrunners when invading and conquering other worlds. Partly due to their highly destructive destroyer beam and their ability to slip into Space Cracks]

    "So that''s what did all of¡­ that¡­"

    Looking toward a spot where large amounts of residual heat energies were left to burn, Cassius saw a massive molten crater the size of South America. Worse yet, it was actually South America that had been obliterated by the Centurion''s beam.

    "However, why have the Dissonants not followed through with more attacks?" Cassius voiced a question that he almost instantly realized the answer to. "So it''s for me... A warning shot of sorts?"

    Taking a closer scan of the planet, Cassius noticed the lack of human life. In fact, there was almost none.

    It was as if the entire planet had become a ghost town.

    Luckily, this unusual phenomena didn''t include the Steele Mansion, which was currently suspended in mid-air. A bubble-like protective barrier encapsulated it, safeguarding both the house and everyone inside it.

    After confirming the safety of Aya, Sasha, and the other girls, Cassius tried finding the locations of Violet, Flora, Bella, and the other members of the supernatural community. He soon found them, but they were not anywhere close to where he assumed they would be.

    Outside the planet.

    Levitating above the Moon, to be exact.

    Planning to fly up there in a second, Cassius first secretly checked up on Corra. After making sure she was okay in the bunker, he threw down a few more protective barriers before ascending to the stars alongside Viola, with Yimin carrying them on her giant draconic head.

    Suddenly!

    SHA! SHA! S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Shooting straight toward him were hellish demonic spikes the size of Albania. They were powerful enough to kill even SS-Rank Powerhouses, yet did little more than annoy Cassius as he flicked them out of reality.

    "You''re as capable as we thought you''d be¡ªgood! It would be a waste if you weren''t at least this strong!!"

    The shout of a demonized figure carried through the vacuum of space. Two others then appeared right beside him, their auras just as if not more powerful than the first figure.

    "Andromalius¡­" Cassius sighed, already feeling the boredom coming. "Why have you decided to descend? What''s the point?"

    Andromalius''s feminine face revealed a sadistic smirk. "Why? Are you that scared of us, human freak?? I still remember the face you made when you first felt my overwhelming powe¡ª"

    A hand pressed against his head.

    Then a push.

    And like a popped balloon, he exploded.

    SPLAT!

    "!!!" "!!!"

    Andromalius¡ªthe 72nd Demon King of HELL¡ªwas sent to the afterlife!

    "How were you!?" Demon King Dantalion frightfully backed up, horror streaking black lines across his face. "How Did You Do That!??"

    The 70th Demon King¡ªSeer¡ªwas also shocked by the death of Andromalius. He was a speedster, but he wasn''t even able to figure out when Cassius first moved or finished moving.

    "See what I mean?" Cassius asked from atop Yimin''s head. "You three have become underpowered antagonists. Without caring about your schemes, traps, or whatnot, I can erase you with ease. It''s almost sad, what with you bunch believing you actually had a chance of killing me."

    "You¡­.!!"

    While Demon King Dantalion gnashed his teeth in fury, Demon King Seer snapped out of his stupor. Realizing that this was a life-or-death situation, he made use of his extreme speed to blur forward. Two jagged, saber-toothed daggers materialized in his gloved hands as he slashed toward Cassius''s neck from one of his blindspots.

    Suddenly!

    Cassius''s emotionless eyes darted in Seer''s direction, scaring him so much that he completely missed his double dagger slash attack. His cloaked body glided past Cassius, sweat beads rolling down his shadowy, emerald-adorned face.

    "Even when I''m standing still, you can''t hit me," Cassius said in a tone bereft of empathy. "Don''t you see how anticlimactic this battle is?"

    "Shut Up!!!" Dantalion, no longer able to take the disdain anymore, let his pride control him into dashing forward. Both his wickedly sharp claws were outstretched, radiating power nearing the peak of the SS-Rank. "I''ll Kill You, Human Trash¡ª"

    SPLAT!

 Chapter 338 - 338: Fight Over Karma

    SPLAT!

    A flick!

    Another death!

    Two beings capable of destroying entire planets if given enough time¡ªdead, just like that!

    A part of Seer yearned to contest this monster''s ridiculous level of speed, but the far larger part of him was frightened. So terrified that he immediately ripped open a small crack in space before leaping in.

    Cassius shook his head in disappointment. Then he grabbed out with a claw-like motion. The sound of glass shattering echoed as the cloaked Seer was snatched from the folds of space.

    With horror etched across his face, Seer shakily stared at the nonchalant monster before him.

    "You''re the genuine Demon King here, aren''t you?" Cassius''s grip tightened. "Why so scared?"

    For the first time in many years, Demon King Seer started to speak¡ªscreaming, "M-Monster!!!"

    Cassius frowned, then flicked.

    SPLAT!

    *Ding!*

    "What a waste of time," he complained, ignoring the essentially useless System notifications. "Even the bugs inside the World''s End Gate were worth more than these so-called Demon Kings."

    The battle that had been building up since just after the System''s Awakening¡ªfinished so easily!

    Viola and Yimin both stared at Cassius''s aloof visage¡ªone too stunned to speak, and the other ready to spread her legs at a moment''s notice. A difference in intentions, sure, but the intensity of emotions between the two was equally extreme.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, just above the Moon, where thousands of absurdly powerful figures had gathered ¡ª

    "Don''t you understand??" A formidable voice carried through the vacuum of space. "Either way, you lot have to die! Only that way can our Wolfdom obtain all the Fate we deserve!"

    Azara Aluria narrowed her eyes at this declaration¡ªeven though the voice wasn''t directed at her.

    The Prisoners growled, staring daggers at the owner of the voice. They hated the way this person was talking to them, urging forth a killing intent that had been bubbling for millennia.

    "You must believe that you''re invincible, don''t you, wolfy!?" One of the Ice Senators unleashed his SSS-Rank aura, with ice threatening to freeze even space itself. "How cocky are you!? I''ll kill you¡ª"

    Just as those words left the massive Ice Giant''s mouth, a claw energy arc spread out and decapitated the behemoth! Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Why speak when you''re so weak?" The Wolfdom member guffawed, spitting out in disdain. "Well, no matter," he continued, completely ignoring the damage to the Sun that his casual attack had caused. "You''re all going to die; your Karma will then belong to our Wolfdom Dimension."

    The Trial Floor Prisoners felt fear creep up their spines.

    "Ho?"

    Azara Aluria, however, was the furthest thing from scared.

    "Although you were right about that Ice Trash being weak, he wasn''t wrong about one thing¡ª" she paused.

    OOOOM!

    "¡ªWhere do you get off being so cocky?"

    RUMBLE!!!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "Lord Falar," whispered one of the weaker Wolfdom members. "The Alurias actually sent the one known as the ''Thorned Destroyer.''"

    "Our chances of coming out of this with the most benefits have¡­ plummeted¡­" he added in a fearful tone¡ªjust Azara''s fierce gaze enough to make him quiver.

    The Wolfdom member who had spoken up originally now had furrowed brows. As one of the Werewolf Commanders of the 8th Floor of the Wolfdom Tower, he hesitated very rarely.

    But in the face of the merciless woman who made even Transcendents grovel at her feet, Commander Falar had to take a step back. He corrected his attitude while looking at the thousands of powerful Aluria Cultivators gathered outside the Moon.

    ''That cunning bitch Amaris was thinking the same thing as our King¡ªbringing such a formidable force for a small Karma Event like this one,'' he thought in annoyance, though outwardly, he smiled.

    "How can we make this right, Miss Azara? I''m sure my King will understand if we have to relinquish some of the Karma to your Queen¡ª"

    "90%."

    "E-Excuse me¡­?" Commander Falar''s face twitched like crazy.

    "I said 90%," Azara repeated, her blackish-purple hair wildly blowing about. "That is what we''ll take from this Nexus Event. 90% of the Karma. And this is me being generous¡ªyou''re lucky I don''t want more as compensation for that little stunt you pulled with the Ice Senator. Every kill contributes to Karma acquisition, and you took it without permission."

    Silence¡­

    ''This damn woman!!!'' Commander Falar roared internally. ''There are tens of thousands of Nexus Prisoners, and yet she wants to act like the insignificant one I killed was one in a billion! Fucking Alurias!!''

    "Are you two overlooking the existence of Nightingale?"

    A raspy voice cut through the tension building up between Azara and Commander Falar. It belonged to a man garbed in a black cape, his skin as pale as paper, with razor-sharp fangs that gleamed under the starry glow of space.

    ''Count Sayzer.'' Both Azara and Falar thought in unison, their expressions becoming ugly. ''Of course, it had to be this bastard!''

    They hadn''t noticed him before, and for good reason. After all, he was one of the most famous Vampire Counts¡ªunrivaled in the art of camouflage.

    It would''ve been more surprising if they had noticed him¡­

    "What are you doing here, you bag of bones??" Azara scowled.

    Count Sayzer''s eyes widened ever so slightly as he chuckled. "Why, it''s so very nice to see you as well, little Azara. Tell me, when did you become so big?"

    "Fuck you!" Azara spat back, her aura surging out of control. "Are you looking for a fight!?"

    Count Sayzer sighed, beckoning forward a few of his equally pale-skinned subordinates. Accompanying them were a couple of female figures covered head to toe in cloaks. One of them was Bella in disguise, with the other being Gina¡ªboth of whom Count Sayzer knew were there.

    He smiled a little before grabbing something that one of the non-cloaked figures had in his hands.

    "You all know what this thing is, don''t you?" He asked, showing off the item in his grasp.

    "What if I told you there was more where this came from, and all you have to do to obtain them is let us have the largest portion of Karma from this Minor Karma Event?"

    "!!!" "!!!"

 Chapter 339 - 339: Count Sayzers Offer

    "!!!" "!!!"

    The emotions of everyone raged like the tumultuous waves of a stormy sea, with all their eyes glued to the item in Count Sayzer''s hands.

    "A Karma Token!?" A Demon King from HELL''s 2nd Floor couldn''t believe his eyes. "Something like this could very well be worth more than this entire Minor Karma Event will allot! Why would you offer precious items like this!?"

    "Yeah, what''s your aim here!?" shouted a Demon King from HELL''s 4th Floor. "And where did you come across multiple Karma Tokens?? It''s almost a fact that only the highest-ranking factions of each Tower own them! You may be a Vampire Count, but you''d need to be at least a Duke to¡­ Wait¡­"

    "Which of those decrepit bastards is supporting you, Sayzer!?" Azara asked.

    "Why, whatever do you all mean?" Count Sayzer''s friendly expression practically blinded everyone around him. "I just happened to have these stashed away and figured I''d use them during this Karma Event."

    Several EX-Rank Powerhouses clicked their tongues. They knew damn well everything that came out of this sinuous snake''s mouth was a big fat lie.

    "Okay, let''s just say we believe your bullshit," Azara began with an accusatory tone. "What reason could you possibly have to waste Karma Tokens on this Karma Event?? Even the human bastards over there wouldn''t be so foolish, and they''d be the ones to gain the most, seeing as this is their Tower!"

    The human bastards, as the ruthless Azara Aluria put it, stayed in the background, keeping to themselves. Although they had a few EX-Rank Powerhouses with them, not a single one could compare to even a toe of either Commander Falar or Azara.

    Within the EX-Rank, there were weight classes¡ªones that could very well deem a weaker EX-Rank Powerhouse no more than a powerless ant in front of the truly strong Transcendents.

    "Hmm¡­ That''s a good question," said Count Sayzer. "But unfortunately, I can''t tell you all the specifics. What I can, however, say is that you should take a look around."

    No one really understood what he was talking about, but figuring they had nothing to lose by listening to him, they searched around with their eyes. That was when they realized that the initial metallic spaceship wasn''t the only one that had slipped into the Ascension Tower.

    Hundreds, possibly even thousands.

    The number was substantial¡ªsubstantial enough to warrant a bit of caution even from the most powerful among the congregated Transcendents. On those huge ships, slowly gliding through the void of space like an invincible fleet, were entities whose power even neared their own.

    "...When did they get here¡­?" One of the Ice Senator Prisoners'' attention was drawn away from its certain death.

    Above all else in the Universe, what every single living being feared the most was¡ª

    Fear of the Unknown. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And with so little actually known about the Dissonants, it was only natural that their existence scared many¡ªterrified them even.

    No one in the Ascension Tower knew how large their force was or how big a threat they posed. They weren''t even aware of their origins; it was as if they had appeared out of nowhere.

    However, what everyone did know¡­ was that they were Invaders¡ªenemies who intended to forcefully claw their way up to higher Tower Floors.

    To that end, the Transcendents gathered outside the Moon could pretty much guess why they had suddenly reared such a massive fleet of spaceships.

    "They''re trying to break through to the 1st Floor¡­" someone muttered.

    "Have they already given up on finding the Floor Guardian??"

    "The Floor Guardian," Azara murmured, deep in thought. "Why does that bring back memories of something Foster Mother informed me of some odd years ago¡­? Did it have something to do with the Yggdrasil Dimension? An affair or something?? Gah, I can''t remember!"

    "Whatever the case may be, the facts have been presented before us: these Foreign Invaders¡ªthe Dissonants¡ªare making big moves," said Count Sayzer, his eyes listlessly staring out at the space fleet that constantly grew with the arrival of more and more ships of varying sizes. "And I''m willing to bet that if Nightingale were to be the ones to contribute the most toward thwarting the Dissonants'' Ascent, the Karma we''d receive would be enormous."

    Everything that Count Sayzer said made sense, and many were planning to take his offer. After all, they''d not only come out of this debacle with large amounts of Karma from the Karma Tokens, but they''d also not have to involve themselves with the Dissonants.

    The losses incurred from fighting them could very well send their profits into the negative. Having someone else deal with them only proved to benefit them.

    But¡­

    Narrowing her eyes into thin slits, Azara spoke up. "You''re not telling us everything, are you? Even for you, this level of opposition could very well prove fatal. That must mean you plan on requesting backup from whoever''s backing you. And even then, you might not even break even in terms of Karma after paying us to bugger right the f*ck off."

    ''This little girl is as perceptive as always; she''s rash, but smart.''

    In spite of Count Sayzer''s inner thoughts, he revealed an even friendlier smile. "I truly don''t know what you''re talking about, little Azara," he said, wearing an expression even faker than the appearance of a street-side whore. "I think you''re simply overthinking things. The residual Karma that comes from contributing the most in this Karma Event could very well skyrocket to unbelievable heights¡ª"

    "Liar."

    Silence¡­

    ''Should I tell her of our true motives being related to that ''boy,'' or should I be optimistic in hoping that she''ll let up? Hmm¡­ I hear Queen Amaris has her own intentions for the boy, so maybe I shouldn''t disclose everything¡­''

    After a brief period of deliberation, Count Sayzer said, "There may be another thing that we''re after, but it won''t be of any value to you all. That''s why I propose we just go our separate ways right now¡ª"

    "How would you know if it''s of any value to me?" Azara wrinkled her nose. "I think I''ll stick around and see for myself how valuable this thing you so badly desire is to me, humph!"

    "This¡­"

    Count Sayzer didn''t know what to do in this situation. Deterring the crazy-powerful Succubus away by force certainly wasn''t an option, but what other choice did he have?

 Chapter 340 - 340: Count Sayzer vs. Mysterious Figure

    Sighing, the Count retracted the golden illusory token in his hand. After that, he summoned four more and shot them toward the various Faction Representatives. With his keen sense of perception, he already knew that no one except for Azara Aluria would reject his generous offer; throwing them the treats ahead of time was just a show of good faith.

    HELL received one Karma Token.

    Woldom received two Karma Tokens.

    And surprisingly enough, the owners of the Tower they were in¡ªthe Humans¡ªonly received a single Karma Token.

    Count Sayzer allotted the Karma Tokens based on the cumulative strength of those gathered. And if not out of courtesy for being in their Tower, he wouldn''t have even bothered to give the Humans even one. Their everlasting war with HELL had spread their resources thin, which meant fewer humans¡ªboth in quantity and quality.

    This was one of the primary causes for such a lackluster force being sent to a Minor Karma Event in their own Tower.

    That, and one of the Human Monarchs on the higher Floors was acting up again¡­

    ''Hmm¡­'' Count Sayzer shifted his eyes around, seemingly searching for something¡ªor someone.

    After a moment. ''It''s only natural that the Heavenly Kingdom doesn''t make an appearance for an event as minor as this one, but what about the Realm of Monsters? Are they still overflowing with Karma because of all these overrated portals they erected?? Copying the naturally formed Gates was a smart idea, but by doing so, they''ve essentially made an enemy of the Ascension Tower itself.''

    Count Sayzer hadn''t even bothered to mention the Secret 8th Dimension of Yggdrasil. Though, it made sense; after all, the only times that reclusive group of homebodies left their colossal tree in the sky was¡­ well¡­

    Never.

    At least, no public records had ever mentioned it.

    "Haiz¡­" Count Sayzer sighed before gesturing toward the giant crack in space. "If you bunch wouldn''t mind it, then I believe it''d be best if you were to leave before my reinforcements arrive. Wouldn''t want any unfortunate conflicts to arise, now would we?"

    No one much liked his tone, but they also fully understood that what he was saying held some truth. Hence, they decided to immediately withdraw.

    That was, except for one¡­

    "I''m not leaving!"

    "I know¡­"

    Snorting coldly, Azara motioned to her forces. They followed her silent order and got into a three-point formation, with the stronger and weaker among them organized in a strategic manner.

    Most of Count Sayzer''s forces were lurking in the shadows or folds of space, so he merely blinked at this grandiose display of Azara''s.

    There were, however, a couple on Nightingale''s side who weren''t so covert in their actions.

    Bella, for one, had begun to exhibit violent tendencies as soon as she heard the indirect mention of her Darling. Though, luckily for her secret identity right now, Count Sayzer discreetly dampened everything that could possibly match her with the crazed daughter of the Crestmore Duke Family.

    Gina and Leon also did their best to soothe their Young Miss. But Gina was left being scorned, whereas Leon was treated like street-side garbage.

    No one was more important to the mentally deranged goth vampire chic than her Darling~!

    "My Lady¡­" Gina exasperatedly murmured to herself.

    "My Lady¡­" Leon murmured with a different type of connotation, his emotions a mixture of deeply concealed affection and openly expressed hatred.

    The indirect mention of that man also set him off. Especially when considering how much importance Count Sayzer and the Duke and Duchess now put on him.

    While murderous thoughts filled Leon''s mind, Count Sayzer made his move, teleporting in front of the largest of the invading spaceships. His forces were right behind him, with Azara and her army lagging not too far behind.

    However, before leaving, Azara apathetically turned toward the Ice Senators and various other Gate Prisoners¡ªall of whom were staring absentmindedly, doing their utmost to comprehend the development of recent events.

    Dismissively harrumphing, Azara waved her hand and erased all of the prisoners from this layer of existence.

    They hadn''t even seen it coming. Nor had they felt it.

    It was instantaneous death¡ªthe simultaneous deaths of ancient beings who had been trapped on Humanity Tower''s 0th Floor for an untold number of years.

    ''The Abyss¡­'' Their final, weakened thoughts hummed. ''The True Abyss will devour all.''

    Their minds had always been free, but now their bodies were as well. And death was the deliverer of their freedom.

    "Bunch of controlled weaklings," Azara cursed, annoyed by a number of things. "Why is everything involving this Floor turning out to be so complicated??"

    "Are you coming, Little Aza?"

    *Tick!*

    "Don''t call me that, old man!" Azara replied sharply. "And yes, I''m coming!"

    Count Sayzer laughed a little before stretching out his hand. This casual action released a red energy that wrapped around the lead spaceship, stopping it in its tracks.

    More specifically, it froze. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re Dissonants, right?"

    No response.

    "That''s fine," Count Sayzer laughed it off. "I don''t need you to respond. I do, however, require the strongest among you to come out and duel me. I truly am quite curious about your strength, you see."

    ¡ª After a couple seconds ¡ª

    FWOOOOM!

    The main hatch to the lead spaceship opened up, letting out the air that had been sealed inside it. A figure bathed in whitish-blue light exited through the open hatch.

    "So you''re the strongest?" Count Sayzer inquired.

    "No," replied the mysterious figure as the light surrounding him subsided. "But I''m enough to deal with you."

    "Ho?" Count Sayzer arched a brow. "Well then, I suppose I''ll just have to defeat you in order to lure out the others."

    The mysterious figure gave no response.

    But with a swift, almost instantaneous movement, he blurred forward. And before Bella and the rest of Count Sayzer''s subordinates even registered the fact that he had moved, a white glowing blade was already gunning for his neck.

    "A fast one, you are," Count Sayzer mused, kicking outward at countless times the speed of light. "But not fast enough."

    The mysterious figure remained expressionless. "Are you sure about that?"

    "What¡ª!?"

 Chapter 341 - 341: You Are The Backup!

    Turning around in horror, Count Sayzer saw a white glowing blade mere centimeters away from piercing him through.

    "This is over," declared the mysterious figure. "Your death has come, human."

    Fear consumed Count Sayzer''s middle-aged expression.

    But then¡ª

    "I believe you''re getting ahead of yourself."

    "!!!"

    Count Sayzer¡ªhaving done something similar to the mysterious figure¡ªturned out to be no more than an afterimage. One that the mysterious figure was so focused on stabbing that he wasn''t able to evade the real attack in time.

    Or was he¡­?

    "Nice trick," he said plainly. "It''s just unfortunate that my tricks run deeper."

    SPURT!

    Count Sayzer blew a bloody hole straight through the mysterious figure, only to shockingly realize that what he had severely injured was no more than a physical projection!

    "You!" Count Sayzer, now officially on edge, threw his fists out behind him.

    "Not enough," said the mysterious figure as he phased through all of Count Sayzer''s desperate attacks, putting his incredible speed on display. "Even in this lesser human form, you still aren''t my match. Give up, puny mortal. This match is lost."

    "Damn!!" Count Sayzer exclaimed while being forced constantly onto the defensive, with the distance separating him and his unknown assailant lessening more and more. "How can you not be the strongest among the invaders this time and still be so powerful!?"

    The mysterious figure ignored the question, instead slashing out with a white glowing longsword.

    SPURT!

    An arm was chopped off!

    "ARGHHHH!!"

    Under the scrutinizing eyes of Azara, Count Sayzer hollered in agonizing pain. The white energy coated and infused into the mysterious figure''s sword was the furthest thing from simple, as it caused the Count''s wound not only to fail to heal but also to continue to burn the rest of his body.

    "You lesser beings have always been so fragile," the mysterious figure spoke in a tone that did a good job of hiding his disdain. "You have Angels here as well if I''m remembering correctly. I bet they''re not so feeble¡ª"

    SPURT! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What¡­!?"

    The mysterious figure let his freakish eyes fall on his midsection, where he saw the hand that should''ve been cut off now protruding through his gut. More than horror, it was confusion that filled his heart, for he genuinely had no idea how what had happened¡ªhappened.

    "You''re not bad for an alien."

    Count Sayzer''s mocking voice sank into the mysterious figure''s heart, sending ripples throughout his soul. He believed that he had anticipated everything, but never would he have expected an outcome like this one. The hand sticking through his gut had not only badly injured him, but it had also prevented the flow of his energy.

    "Well, since I''m feeling generous today," Count Sayzer began, "I suppose I don''t mind telling you what I did. You see, but a mere moment before you struck me, I calculated everything and prepared a fake infliction of injury. This was done with a little illusion skill as well as a few adjustments on my end, and voila!"

    You lost."

    "I lost¡­?" The mysterious figure''s glowing aura fully dispersed, with his terrifying humanoid appearance coming into view. "Do you actually think you''ve won, mortal? You!? A mere morta¡ª"

    Just as the Dissonant started to transform into its massive Kaiju form, Count Sayzer kindly smiled while blurring. He reappeared on the other end of the Transcendent-rank Dissonant, blood dripping down his arm, and Mars now split in two.

    "Yes, I do believe I''ve won," Count Sayzer nonchalantly said as he swiped off the blood on his arm, not even caring enough to turn around and watch the Dissonant get sliced up millions of times before exploding. "Now then, who''s next?"

    Not caring about proper transformation etiquette!

    To attack before the transformation concludes¡ªjust what sort of incorrigible monster was this Count Sayzer!?

    "This old man isn''t as ret*rded as he looks," Azara remarked in a manner as unhinged as ever. "It''s too bad his strength is still sub-par."

    Oof!

    Count Sayzer felt that in the deepest parts of his soul, but despite his bleeding heart, he fixated on the enormous fleet before him. Several extremely powerful presences could be felt pulsating from some of the ships, but the vast majority of the Dissonant powerhouses hid behind closed curtains.

    ''Just what is the true extent of the Dissonant''s strength? And are the ones gathered here the strongest among their race?? Or¡­'' His inner voice dramatically paused. ''Is this just the tip of the iceberg¡­?''

    "A mortal like you actually welcomes us," came a deep, resonant voice that echoed throughout the entire Isolated Solar System. "We''re truly honored."

    OOOM!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    A presence unlike any other preceded that anonymous voice, with the appearance of a monstrous humanoid roughly 10 meters in size coming right after. This entity, unlike the first Dissonant, arrived in its original Kaiju form¡ªa form much smaller than a typical Dissonant Kaiju.

    Appraising this Dissonant of unbelievable strength, Count Sayzer quipped, "I thought you''d be bigger."

    Finding this joke funny, the Dissonant replied, "You yourself would understand how ridiculous your words were if you knew just what size indicated in our civilization."

    "I take it that means you''re stronger than the first one?"

    The Dissonant nodded. "That goes without saying."

    "So does that mean you''re the strongest?" asked Count Sayzer.

    The Dissonant laughed even harder at this. "Of course not, but you and the rest of the mortals will soon figure that out for yourselves soon enough. Well, actually¡­"

    *Fwoooop¡ª!*

    "The rest of your kind will, but you won''t. After all, you''re already dead."

    SPURT!

    "!!!"

    In that split instant, not even Azara saw what happened, but what she did know for sure was that Count Sayzer really had died. But somehow, before that happened, the stream of time seemed to have been affected.

    Outcomes and certainty were altered, with two fingers now nipping the edge of a technologically advanced spear.

    As for who these fingers belonged to¡­

    "Darling~!" Bella screamed out, with hearts swimming around in her reddened eyes.

    "There''s no backup, is there, Count?"

    A question was voiced, directed at the vampire who had just escaped death''s grasp.

    Pausing ever so briefly, Count Sayzer then burst out laughing. "It''s funny that you say that when you are the backup, haha!"

 Chapter 342 - 342: Dissonant Fleet General, Immeasurable Power

    "You are the backup!" Count Sayzer laughed.

    "...."

    Cassius had no words to properly describe what he was feeling.

    "Hum?" The Dissonant''s brows raised after realizing that he couldn''t retract his spear. "Such strength. How interesting."

    Nonchalantly letting go of the spear, he looked Cassius up and down. "Oh, I know who you are."

    "I know who he is, too!" Azara shouted from off to the side. "He''s the target!"

    The Dissonant glanced at the succubus. "It appears that we have something in common, lesser being."

    Azara growled in the Dissonant''s direction. "He''s my target!" she hissed. "You piss right the hell off!!"

    Flora, who was lurking in the background, quietly cheered Azara on. ''That''s right, big sis Aza! Tell ''em what''s what! Capture Cass for me, so I can drain him dry!''

    The Dissonant no longer paid any attention to the feisty Azara. Staring into the depths of Cassius''s soul, he furrowed his brows. "The vanguard failed¡ªthat much is clear. You''ve also become too powerful for Earth-related plans to work. However, what I don''t understand is where Selena is. She''s not like the rest of the rubbish we sent down."

    ''Selena?'' Cassius wondered.

    Darting his eyes all around space, the Dissonant eventually stopped on what seemed to be a random location. A brow arched as a small smirk formed. "So that''s where you are, Selena. But why are you in hiding? Are you afraid to face the human or something?"

    SWHICK!

    Leaving her hiding spot in the folds of space, Selena, in all her classic beauty, appeared before the group. She looked between those gathered, pausing longer on the Dissonant that had called her out. Then she saw Cassius.

    "Hello again, Cassius Steele," she said with a slight smile. "It''s been a while, what with you always disappearing. You''ve given us quite some trouble, you know?"

    Cassius frowned in confusion. "Do I know you, lady?"

    Selena''s smile curved into a grin as she placed a hand over her mouth. She then disappeared, appearing right next to Cassius an instant later.

    "No, no, you don''t," she said playfully. "But you will soon enough. That much I guarantee you."

    Watching Selena lick her lips, Cassius shivered. "You''re an alien, aren''t you? Does that mean you plan to probe me or something?? Put me on a test table¡ªis that what you''re going to do??"

    Selena mysteriously smiled.

    Cassius didn''t like the face she was making¡­

    "Selena, don''t play with the target too much," said the Dissonant from earlier. "You know how tight our schedule is. And if we don''t want to anger the higher-ups, then we should move with haste."

    Selena blew hot air. With a puffed-out cheek, she replied, "Fine, but I get him first after we''re done here, Cremel."

    Cremel helplessly shook his head. "Anything for you, Selena¡­ Haiz¡­" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Selena playfully stuck her tongue out, then turned toward Cassius with a predatory smirk. "Me and you are gonna have some real fun later~"

    Cassius''s expression froze. "No¡­ No, thank you?"

    "Hihi~"

    ''This b*tch!'' Bella, Flora, and Yimin cursed, their anger soaring.

    "Young Cassius," Count Sayzer whispered. "You can take them, can''t you? Because the Duke is caught up in a territorial dispute with a different Duke and thus won''t be making it in time¡­"

    Cassius''s face spasmed as he couldn''t believe the shamelessness of this middle-aged vampire.

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Adding to his troubles was the sudden appearance of hundreds more Transcendent-rank Dissonants. They came from the spaceship fleet, with their objectives seemingly one and the same.

    "Hold up a second," Cassius raised a hand. "You know that my mother won''t come no matter what, don''t you? So you believing you can use me as bait or whatever is pointless."

    Cremel released a hearty peal of laughter. "We''ve just recently figured out that very thing, but what we also came to understand was that your uses don''t merely extend to your face-value relationship with your mother."

    "Wait¡­" Count Sayzer''s eyes widened in realization. "Your mother¡­ Is she really¡­!?"

    "Yes," Cassius nodded. "She''s a Princess of Yggdrasil. Or one from a previous generation."

    ''Yggdrasil!?''

    The expressions of many drastically changed at the mention of that word.

    "Then you have to run, Young Cass!" Count Sayzer suddenly shouted. "Forget everything I said, for they can use your blood as a¡ª"

    "You don''t need to say anymore."

    OOOM!

    A voice belonging to an existence shrouded in Abyssal energies reverberated out. The owner of the voice then made his presence known as he emitted a level of energy that went beyond even the Crestmore Duke''s power level.

    "Fleet General!" Both Cremel and Selena hit the space ground with a thud, their tones oozing reverence.

    "Mhm," the Dissonant Fleet General gave a slight nod before turning his attention to Count Sayzer. "You''re a child of the night; it''s odd to see one of you here after what happened to your ancestors in the Greater Expanse. And to think that just a single one of you could''ve instilled fear in all of us in the past. Time really does change everything."

    A Child of the Night!?

    Why did that name sound so familiar!?

    Despite the Count''s troubled thoughts, the Dissonant Fleet General continued to speak:

    "Well, that''s no more than an idle piece of information," he shifted his icy gaze to Cassius. "What is of most relevance right now is you, destined son of the Ascension Tower."

    "!!!"

    Without even so much as a warning, the Dissonant Fleet General flashed forward, grabbing hold of Cassius''s shoulder.

    "You''ll be coming with us," he ordered non-negotiably. "You have a higher purpose with the Dissonants. One that will ascend this destitute place to greater heights."

    Complete immobilization!

    ''I can''t move!'' Cassius felt himself become powerless; in the face of the monster before him, he was rendered no more than an infant. ''Damn!''

    No matter how many transformations he activated or how many power sources he called on, nothing made a difference. It was as if he were adding on additional layers of clothing to prevent the invasion of frigid winds reaching hundreds of degrees into the negative. In other words¡ª

    Useless!

    "Darling!!"

 Chapter 343 - 343: Adam Steele! Father!?

    "Master!!! Let go of Master!!"

    "Cass¡­"

    Bella, Yimin, and Flora felt their hearts constrict. Even Hellion, who possessed the deepest connection with Cassius, could be seen pensively staring up into the stars from Earth.

    "Young Cass¡­" Count Sayzer couldn''t stop the guilt from surfacing, for the blame was his to bear. ''I never should''ve come alone; even if the Duke was preoccupied, I should''ve requested the King''s¡­¡ª''

    Just then:

    SHING!

    SPURT!

    Everyone''s eyes widened at the incomprehensible sight before them.

    An Entity nearing the rank above the Transcendent Rank lost an arm!

    Looking down, the Dissonant Fleet General emotionlessly appraised the current condition of his right arm. After realizing that the injury wouldn''t heal so easily, he turned up, where he saw a Japanese man.

    He had long, wildly flowing black hair and ferocious eyes veiled behind sparse bangs. His frame was bulky but not to the point of being considered a bodybuilder, yet his muscles were defined enough to put him at the epitome of the human form. In contrast, his baggy, cut-up robe and straw hat gave him a vagrant, wanderer feel.

    The Dissonant Fleet General noticed the change in Selena and Cremel''s expressions and pretty much pieced things together.

    "So you''re the Floor Guardian of Humanity''s 0th Floor," he stated. "If the reports are correct, then you''re some sort of stand-in for the original Floor Guardian. A Floor Guardian you developed romantic feelings for; you even had a higher Entity create this place to keep her safe. It''s unfortunate that things didn''t quite work as expected, what with those other Higher Entities taking her away from you."

    The Japanese man''s frown deepened.

    "You''re probably wondering how I know so much, aren''t you?" asked the Dissonant Fleet General. "Well, I can only tell you that our capabilities extend far beyond your wildest imaginations. And though I will lose here, we will never stop coming¡ª"

    BOOOM!

    A punch!

    "Be quiet," the Japanese man coldly uttered, his right fist drenched in the blood of the Dissonant Fleet General. "Hearing you speak has given me a migraine."

    Directing his focus elsewhere, the Japanese man raised his hands and pulled upon several powerful presences.

    Less than a second later, dozens of extremely powerful EX-rank Dissonants were pulled out of their ships¡ªbursting through metal mainframes¡ªbefore struggling in place in front of the Japanese man.

    "Let go of us right this instant, human!!"

    POP!

    "Silence." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    One word.

    All froze.

    POP! POP! POP!

    Then they exploded like popped balloons!

    The difference in power was overwhelming! Far too great for resistance to be possible!

    "Father¡­"

    Cassius now had full control over his body, but the broad back of the invincible figure before him made him forget all about that fact.

    ''Father!?''

    Mouths were left agape when he said that. Many then looked where he was looking, only to have their emotions surge even more uncontrollably.

    The one slaughtering Peak Transcendents like they were chickens was actually the father of Cassius Steele¡ªthe strongest human of Humanity''s 0th Floor!?

    Cassius Steele was the son of the Floor Guardian!?

    After killing the strongest among the Dissonants, Adam Steele stared at Selena, Cremel, and the rest of the Dissonants hiding away in their big metal tin-cans.

    They shuddered, fearing for their lives.

    ''How did we not know the target''s father was this strong!?'' Selena questioned in disbelief. ''The Mothership knows all, so does that mean it specifically left out this information on purpose!?''

    Things weren''t making any sense!

    Scoffing at all the cowardly weaklings, Adam Steele whipped his head to face his son. "They''re all yours to do with as you see fit," he said. "You can take them, can you not?"

    Although still reeling in shock, at the mention of all the glorious Lootbags, Cassius''s lips curved into a devilish smirk. "Are you sure I can have them?"

    Adam revealed a toothy grin; for some reason, he was relieved to see the creepy expression his son was making. "Of course. Consider this my first gift for you."

    After a brief pause, Adam clenched a fist and closed the Spatial Crack hanging high above.

    Escape was now deemed impossible!

    "Go¡ªdevour them," said Adam. "Feed the Abyss."

    "Hahaha, I like you already, ol'' Father o'' mine!" Cassius deliriously laughed, his aura raging to the extremes. "You should''ve come back with the milk a lot sooner!!"

    Fwooop!

    He blurred.

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    Tunnels were dug through dozens of Dissonant Spaceships as Cassius zipped through them, destroying their infrastructure and killing everyone inside. And all while wearing a grin that extended to both his ears.

    Crazy laughter resounded while explosions went off all over the spatial battlefront.

    Selena, Cremel, Bella, Flora, Count Sayzer, and everyone else simply watched with blank expressions. They were unable to even so much as make a peep in the face of the development of recent events.

    Selena and Cremel wanted to make a move to defend their Fleet, but with the haunting presence of the terrifying Japanese man watching with his arms folded, they were stagnated. Even the Mothership itself wouldn''t be able to get them to go against that indescribable monster in human skin.

    Never would they have expected a creature like that to be hiding among the puny humans!

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    The once mighty and imposing fleet of Dissonant Spaceships was reduced to little more than a graveyard. Scrap and the remains of Dissonant Kaijus and Humanoids were scattered about, with no signs of life anywhere.

    The entire Dissonant Fleet¡ªannihilated!

    FWIP!

    Cassius''s grin was as wide as could be while hearing the System dings bombard his eardrums. He sang a soulful tune while sweeping the battlefield for any Loot.

    After collecting the spoils of war, he reappeared next to his father.

    "You did good, kiddo," said Adam Steele, a proud gleam in his gaze. "You grew stronger from this, did you not?"

    "Yep, well¡­" Cassius hesitated. "Kinda; it''s complicated. But I''ll definitely see the gains from this at some point."

    Adam Steele pursed his lips, a bit puzzled. He didn''t know all the specifics of his son''s growth talent, and he felt it to be inappropriate to ask.

    However, what he did know for certain was that Cassius''s potential was as limitless as an Abyss¡­

    An endlessly deep and unfathomable Abyss.

 Chapter 344 - 344: Father And Son

    Suddenly remembering something, Adam said, "Aren''t you going to ask about where I''ve been or why I only appeared just now? Also, how come you haven''t ascended yet? I''m an exception because of my special position, but your power level should''ve warranted immediate Ascension."

    To answer his father''s first question, Cassius shrugged. "I met an old friend of yours, who pretty much gave me the gist of things."

    "An old friend¡­?" Adam''s eyes narrowed into slits, faint images of an immortal-like man flashing through his subconscious.

    "As for your second question: It''s complicated," Cassius added, having not heard his father''s mumblings.

    "You''re a complicated one, huh?" Adam smirked. "You must take after me, haha!"

    "Yeah, haha!"

    "...." "...." "...."

    What sort of family reunion was this!?

    They were just two crazy people pretending that everything was completely normal!

    "Anyway," Cassius began, looking at the location in space where the spatial crack used to be. "Are they going to come back?"

    "Yes," Adam replied casually. "But not right now."

    "When the larger and more widespread Ascendence Nexus Event commences, they''ll no longer be limited to the Transcendent Rank," he continued. "Limitlessly powerful God-like beings will descend from their side, and by then, even I won''t be able to do anything to prevent what''s about to happen."

    Cassius''s expression turned complicated. "How long do we have?"

    Holding up six fingers, Adam replied, "Six months, Yggdrasil time. Maybe nine to twelve if we''re lucky."

    "And how do you know all this?"

    Adam grinned. "What? You don''t trust your old man or something?"

    Cassius stared expressionlessly.

    Adam awkwardly scratched his neck. "There''s no need for the scary look¡­ Okay, fine, I can tell you that I know more about the Dissonants than your average joe. Or well, I know that they come from far beyond the Ascension Tower''s sphere of influence; I also know that they want something being hoarded by those old fogies above."

    "Old fogies?"

    "Yeah, the Ancestors of the Seven Ascension Towers," replied Adam. "As well as those stuck-up bastards of Yggdrasil. Tsk, those codgers really piss me off!"

    Recalling what the Ice Sovereign said about his father''s heated relationship with Yggdrasil, Cassius understood where he was coming from.

    "Anyhoo," Adam''s personality flipped on its head, his smile now wide and inviting. "You''re planning to ascend the Floors of Humanity''s Ascension Tower, aren''t you?"

    Cassius nodded.

    "So then¡ª"

    Interrupting him, Cassius said, "The Humanity Tower, the HELL Tower, the Heavenly Kingdom''s Tower, as well as the other five. I plan to reach the summit of them all."

    Adam''s expression froze.

    Then he suddenly lit up like a lightbulb, patting Cassius on the shoulders. "Thata boy!" he praised. "Ought to aim for the impossible. And boy, did you do just that! Planning to achieve something that even I couldn''t; you really are my kid!"

    Cassius stared at him with a confused look on his face. "What does that mean? Impossible? Has no one else ascended to the summit of all eight Tower Dimensions??"

    Finding this notion unbelievably funny, Adam laughed his ass off. "Sure, a few have ascended to the summit of a Tower, but they ended up becoming Ancestors in ancient times, haha! Let alone all eight, no one has ascended a single Tower in the last tens of thousands of years!"

    "What about you?" Cassius asked. "Have you not reached the summit of Humanity''s Tower?"

    Adam paused. Then he turned his head down, his smirk appearing very punchable. "My dear boy, I''m an exception," he slowed his words dramatically. "After all, I''m something of an Ancestor myself." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Those who were eavesdropping, like Count Sayzer, shockingly widened their eyes.

    The Floor Guardian of Humanity''s 0th Floor was not only Cassius Steele''s father¡ªhe was also an Ancestor of Humanity!?

    How come he hadn''t known of this!?

    A bit amused by the reactions of the spectators, Adam reeled back in laughter. "Don''t worry, I''m not an official Ancestor of Humanity, so you don''t need to change the way you act around me!" he clarified humbly. "I simply fought and defeated one of ''em and thus became a partial Ancestor!"

    How was this any better!?

    In fact, it was an even more insane thing to say!

    Laughing even harder, Adam returned his focus to his son. "As long as I''m here, you won''t have to worry about much on your Ascension through the Tower."

    Cassius''s lips started to decline into a frown when Adam continued:

    "But knowing that you''re my kid and that you have that Abyss inside you, that isn''t what you want, is it?" He smirked. "You want me to stay out of your business and out of your way."

    Cassius''s facial muscles eased up, giving his father all the confirmation he needed.

    "Good! I didn''t raise no pussy, haha!"

    You didn''t raise him at all!

    Many wanted to shout that but decided to hold their tongues. Instead, they whispered among themselves, conversing about Cassius and Adam''s relationship and discussion. The only exceptions were Flora, Yimin, and of course¡­

    "Darling~! Darling~~! D-Darling, uhn~!"

    Bella Crestmore! The mentally deranged vampire chick!

    Watching her Lady squirm in place while letting out soft moans, Gina shook her head. ''When will she learn that she''s being far too overbearing? Never¡­?''

    Leon, meanwhile, gnashed his teeth. His eyes burned with fury as he vividly imagined thousands of different ways he could go about killing the hateful Cassius.

    Perhaps in his sleep? Maybe out in the open? Definitely as viciously as possible!

    "Master is talking to¡­ who¡­?" Yimin tilted her head in confusion. "Yimins doesn''t need to fight anymore, does she??"

    Viola, sensing her discontentment, said, "That''s Cass''s dad. One who has apparently not been a part of his life for years."

    Yimin''s bewilderment should''ve lessened, but the opposite occurred. "Yimin¡­ Should Yimin eat Master''s Dad!?"

    Viola''s mouth stopped moving; she stared at the busty silver-haired dragon as if she were looking at a moron. "Don''t eat him."

    "Okay!" Yimin beamed, though she quickly remembered her Master''s orders not to do anything anyone else told her to do. "How to know you''re not an Evil Rushan or Egyptian Vixen¡­!? Grrrr¡­!"

    Viola didn''t understand the question but still replied, "I''m not those things¡­?"

 Chapter 345 - 345: Until Next Time!

    Yimin''s hostility vanished in an instant. "Not Evil Rushan or Egyptian Vixen, so following what you say should be okay! Won''t eat the Dad! He lives for now!"

    Viola''s words came to a slow crawl as she exasperatedly said, "That''s good¡­"

    "Yep, yep!" Yimin cheered.

    However, her joyous expression froze in place out of nowhere. She then turned oddly serious and looked in Viola''s direction.

    "What is it¡ª"

    "Has to sh*t!"

    "Wha¡ª"

    "Has to shit!" Yimin repeated, sweat beads rolling down her forehead. "Ate too many yummy monsters¡ªnow the shits is coming! Haves to sh*t!!"

    She hurriedly skedaddled right the hell out of there, her figure transforming into a silver blur.

    "Okay¡­"

    Viola heaved a heavy breath before returning her attention to the one-on-one conversation Cassius was having with his father.

    "So, when are you going to ascend?" Adam asked, finally voicing the question he had been meaning to ask for the longest time. "It''d be best if you ascend as soon as possible; you have nothing left here to help you evolve. The Gates created by the Realm of Monsters have begun to crack apart and shatter as well. Soon, this Floor will return to the way it was before¡­"

    He momentarily stopped speaking. "¡ªBefore that ''old friend'' of mine started allowing people to mess with his creation."

    Overlooking that last bit and the expression his father was making, Cassius pondered what he had first said.

    The Gates were actually created by the Realm of Monsters!?

    Well, not like he was too surprised by that revelation¡­

    Still, he''d very much like to know more about this particular topic! Specifically, what he had to do to find more Gold-rank and above Gates!

    There could be more Original Abyss Fragments inside some of them!

    ''If I can collect all of the Fragments, I wonder just how overpowered my two time-related Abilities will become¡­''

    As this thought lingered, Adam suddenly turned his chin up, listlessly staring into the boundless expanse above. "It''s about time I return and make my grand reappearance," he said. "Those old bastards are surely missing me by now, haha!"

    "Well, my boy," he looked at Cassius. "It would seem our reunion will have to be cut short. Though, knowing who you take after, it surely won''t be long before we meet again on the highest Floors. Oh, and you never answered my question: when are you going to ascend? The sooner, the better."

    Cassius''s mind filtered through several images.

    "There are still some things I have to settle before I leave," he said, a complex glint in his profound gaze. "After I''m done, I''ll ascend right away."

    "Tying up loose ends, huh?" Adam glanced at all the drop-dead gorgeous women swooning over him. "Ho? You really are my kid, but be careful. Getting too attached to them will only hurt you in the end; don''t say I didn''t warn you."

    Cassius matched his father''s serious gaze. "I¡­ know."

    "That''s good," said Adam, breathing a sigh of relief. "Anyway, I really should be going now. It was nice seeing you, kiddo, and though you aren''t as handsome or dashing as this studmuffin before you, you''re definitely getting there, haha!!"

    Cassius blankly stared at his shameless old man.

    Adam laughed a hearty laugh, an endlessly long beam of golden light radiating around him. "Until next time, my boy! I hope that the next time we meet, we can have ourselves a proper duel!"

    Cassius started, then comprehended his father''s words and steeled his expression. "I won''t disappoint."

    "I sure hope not!" Adam chuckled. "Oh, forgetful me¡ªI forgot to ask which Ascension Tower you''re going to¡ª"

    "HELL."

    An instantaneous response!

    One that had Adam''s grin becoming even broader!

    "You''ve got balls, kiddo!" Adam praised. "But don''t believe everything to be so simple in that sweltering place. HELL is riddled with secrets¡ªones that might just leave you suckling on the tit of a fiendish succubus!"

    ''Hey, what''s wrong with Succubi!?'' Flora grumbled, observing Cassius''s reaction to his father''s rude language.

    Cassius frowned in displeasure. But contrary to how Flora thought it''d make her feel, she knew in her heart that his displeasure was not for her sake.

    No, she was not the one.

    ''I still have the Incubus Bloodline to offer,'' she consoled herself, clenching her fists. ''As long as Big Sis Aza doesn''t get in my way, I still have a chance of getting Cass all to myself¡ª'' S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What did you say about us!?"

    Speaking of the devil!

    Adam shifted his gaze toward the indignant Azara. "A Pleasure-Realm Succubus, huh?" he mused, seemingly indifferent to her scandalous clothing and sensual appearance. "Don''t worry, little girl, I wasn''t talking about you or anyone even close to your generation. I was referring to the real-deal Succubi, but then again, I suppose you wouldn''t know anything about them."

    "Hwa!?" Azara growled. "What the hell do you mean by that, you bastar¡ª"

    ''That''s enough!''

    Amaris Aluria''s voice suddenly entered directly into Azara''s head, carrying with it a sense of unease.

    ''Don''t conflict with that man any further, Azara! That''s an order!''

    Adam smirked at the voice transmission, which peeved Azara off even further, but she still heeded her mother''s command. Clicking her tongue, she flew away.

    Though, on her way to the Space Crack that Adam effortlessly opened up for her and the rest, she saw Cassius out of the corner of her eye.

    ''What about him, Mother?'' she asked. ''Didn''t you want me to¡ª''

    ''Don''t bother, Azara,'' said Amaris. ''I had assumed it to be too far-fetched a thing to imagine, but it turns out that flirtatious pervert had a child. One who has hints of THAT Bloodline, no less. Haiz¡­''

    This information alleviated most of the loss incurred from losing out on the Minor Karma Event in such an unceremonious way, but it still left many unanswered questions. Furthermore, it raised the question of the danger that came along with it.

    Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil.

    It was the most mysterious, ancient, and possibly the most powerful of all the Dimensions. Getting involved with an entity like that would surely only lead to immense trouble.

    However¡­

    ''My daughters¡­''

    Not only was Grace head over heels for Cassius Steele, but her second eldest¡ªFlora¡ªhad him as her First Mark. Which meant that unless they did the deed and did it enough to drain him to death, she''d face serious repercussions.

    Sighing, Amaris slouched into the headrest of her throne. "Why does everything have to be so complicated¡­?"

 Chapter 346 - 346: Incubus Bloodline?

    ¡ª Meanwhile, back on Humanity''s 0th Floor ¡ª

    "Alright," said Adam, smiling in the direction of the Land of Pleasures. "As much fun as this has been, I really must get going. See you soon, my boy."

    Cassius gave an affirmative nod before turning around at the same moment his father got beamed up in a pillar of golden light.

    Those who had been too stunned or afraid of Adam Steele''s presence now rushed up to Cassius. Though, more than them, all his interest was on Selena and Cremel, both of whom were the only surviving Dissonants among the millions who had invaded.

    "Selena," said Cassius. "That''s your name, isn''t it?"

    Selena furiously nodded, sweating like a pig. "Th¡­That''s me, good sir!"

    "Ho?" Cassius smirked. "How would you like to do something for me, Miss Selena? I promise you that it''ll be worth your time."

    "Don''t try to trick her, human mortal¡ª"

    Before Cremel could finish his sentence, a golden beam of light descended from the heavens, smiting him!

    BOOOM!

    Cremel was reduced to cinders, with his lifeforce barely hanging on.

    "Hmm?" Cassius looked up but saw no signs of his father. "Must''ve just been something he left behind. Well, no matter, I do appreciate the gift."

    "!!!"

    ''W-Wait, no¡­!''

    SHING!

    Finishing the job, Cassius killed Cremel. System notifications sounded right after, with the boons too damn delicious:

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain an EX++ Rank Dissonant!]

    [Experience Bar massively progressed!]

    Absorbing the Dissonant''s remains, Cassius experienced a large boost in power. He savored it for a moment before shifting his icy gaze to the nervously shaking female Dissonant.

    "What is it, dear Selena?" he asked, his grin curving crookedly. "You''ve been watching my every move for some time, but now that you''re back to full power, you begin to get cold feet? Isn''t that quite funny¡­?"

    "P-Please, Sir Cassius!" Selena bowed, piously hitting her head against a hard sheet of space. "Won''t you spare this lowly one!? I''ll answer anything you ask me! D-Do anything you ask of me!!"

    Cassius put on a show of deliberation. Then he smiled and replied, "I suppose I can accept those conditions. But you''ll have to tell me everything you know¡ªeverything."

    "O-Of course¡ª"

    *Clasp!*

    "Good," said Cassius, his right hand firmly gripping Selena''s forehead. "I''ll learn everything you know."

    Urgency flashed through Selena''s irises, but there was nothing she could do to stop what had already been put in motion. Cassius sieved through her memories, extracting everything without restraint. This caused her to spasm and relapse, with froth pouring out of her mouth.

    However, Cassius didn''t stop for even a second.

    After finishing the complete absorption process, he let go of her head. She collapsed, her brain fried. Though, while plummeting to the expanse of nothingness below, Cassius felt pity for her and finished her off with a single sword stroke from Lilith.

    "Sorry, but I spare no enemies¡ªeven the beautiful ones," Cassius coldly stated, his eyes just as cold.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain an EX++ Rank Dissonant!]

    [Experience Bar tremendously progressed!]

    Cassius had no idea how much EXP he had in backlog, but he knew without a doubt that it was an absolutely astronomical amount. A substantial heap that would surely advance him far beyond Level 100.

    Already looking forward to the power he''d soon wield after Ascension, he moved to that end.

    Approaching Bella, the Count, and the rest, he traded a whole bunch of nonsense with them.

    Then he returned to Earth, obliterated the ship that was stationed there, and reunited with the girls.

    "Cassius, dear, are you hurting anywhere¡­?"

    Sasha, the kind-hearted MILF.

    "You shtupid baka! Leave me again, see if I care, humph!"

    Aya, the super tsundere step-sis.

    "Cass, I don''t know if I like being trapped in bubbles much¡­"

    Stella, the mildly absentminded healer beauty. One who shared a secret lineage with Cassius.

    "Master, are you ready to go yet?"

    Hellion, the destined guide through HELL. An ancient entity who has a history with the Demon Kings, and also has a well-disguised yandere personality trait.

    "Darling~, inseminate me now~! I can take it~!"

    Bella, the OG yandere. A daughter of a Vampire Duke, and also the one who planned out Cassius''s entire future from birth¡ªeven going so far as to have her father place a seal on him, as well as have that same father try to capture him.

    She also turned him into a vampire by accident¡­

    Wait, what was she doing here again¡­? How did she get here??

    "Big Brother Cass, it''s your little sister Flora," said Flora with a sheepish voice. "D-Do you mind if I call you Onee-chan¡­?" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Flora, the 2nd eldest daughter of the Succubus Queen Amaris. She had previously Marked him as her first mark and aimed to turn him into an Incubus before draining him dry.

    Wait¡­

    What the f*ck was this one doing here as well??

    And Onee-chan!? What the hell was she talking about¡­!!?

    Sighing, Cassius said, "Flora, is your elder sister still fine?"

    Flora shyly nodded, acting as cute as possible. "Eldest Sissy is doing good, but you better act soon and get that Tear of Yggdrasil. Big Bro, have you considered what we talked about last time?"

    Cassius saw straight through her intentions. He decided to play with her.

    "Sure, I''ll become an Incubus."

    "Really!?" Flora lit up with joy. "Here, hurry up and transform!"

    In her haste, she forgot to summon a contract. She extended a vial containing a purplish-pink liquid of unknown origins. The liquid bubbled and popped, swirling in the most unusual of ways. Yet one could also clearly tell that the liquid possessed a very high density of purity.

    "Hmm?" Cassius tilted his head. ''During our last conversation, she made it seem like acquiring an Incubus Bloodline was something extremely difficult, but it turns out one just required more blood.''

    In actuality, it really was extremely difficult to obtain what was necessary to become an Incubus. After all, one needed the purest of blood from at least a Rank 4 Incubus. And considering how much at odds the Succubi were with the Incubi, it was¡­

    Well, to put it simply, Flora and her mother paid quite the price to obtain the Rank 4 Blood Vial from the Incubi. It was supposed to be a Plan B on the off-chance that Azara failed in capturing Cassius.

    But for Flora, it was her Plan A¡­

 Chapter 347 - 347: Opening The Doors To HELL

    "Hehe~"

    Flora giggled from the moment she handed over the vial all the way to the point where Cassius concluded his transformation into an Incubus. He acquired an EX-Rank Incubus Noble Bloodline, all while she goofily giggled.

    However, when she eventually realized where she had messed up, her eyes watered as she snapped back to reality. But upon seeing Cassius, she once again lost track of her train of thought.

    Divine.

    That was the only word that could appropriately describe Cassius''s true appearance.

    He was already beyond handsome prior to activating the Incubus Noble Bloodline, but after acquiring it, he reached an entirely new level of physical attraction. Just a single flutter of his ethereal eyelashes was enough to have Flora gasping for air, her heart beating in her chest.

    "What is it?"

    Blushing profusely, Flora stuttered, "I-It''s nothing, Big Bro. I¡­ I just¡­ You look different."

    Cassius appraised his new look. "I suppose so," he indifferently agreed, not caring that much about his newfound otherworldly beauty. ''I''d much rather have otherworldly strength.''

    Suddenly remembering what had originally troubled her, Flora hesitantly said, "A-About our deal. You''ll still join the Aluria Family, won''t you¡ª"

    "I''ll think about it." Cassius shrugged the question off while walking away from the dumbfounded Succubus Princess. "Until next time, little Flora."

    Silence¡­

    "Mother is going to murder me¡­"

    Cassius went on to spend the next few days doing stuff with his family and¡­ extended family.

    He also finished up everything he had to do before Ascension, which included giving the last few S-Rank Hunters a new direction without the presence of the Gates. He reassured many concerned Hunters and civilians that he''d do what he could to bring back the husks of those who had been transported to the Dissonant''s Mothership.

    He didn''t make any promises, for he honestly had no idea what exactly he was dealing with. But from what he did say, hope was reignited in the people.

    Until it ultimately came time for departure from Earth and Humanity''s 0th Floor.

    "Cass¡­ Must you really go¡­?"

    Stella was the first to speak through teary eyes. Standing alongside her was Sasha, Aya, Viola, and the other girls. They sorrowfully watched as Cassius, Hellion, and Yimin prepared to enter through a massive skull-decorated door emitting hellish energy in the middle of Tokyo, Japan.

    "It''s my time to move on," said Cassius, a small smile painting his exquisite features with a warm glow. "And it''s not like I''m going to be gone forever. I simply need to clear the way of all danger first."

    "Promise¡­?"

    Aya was the one to speak this time, doing so while holding Cassius''s piercing gaze.

    Cassius chuckled, rubbed her head, and replied, "Of course. I''ll be returning no later than a year from now. Until then, stay here¡ªsafe and guarded. No harm will come to you as long as you don''t leave the Isolated Solar System."

    Sasha''s eyelashes flickered. She grabbed Cassius''s hand, placing in it a charm in the shape of a sword.

    "What''s this?" he asked, curiously scrutinizing the sword charm.

    "It''s¡­ It''s nothing much," said Sasha. "It isn''t a fancy item like the ones you gave us, but I fervently believe that it''ll keep you safe all the same."

    ''So, a good-luck charm,'' Cassius thought warmly, wrapping the bluish sword charm around his neck. "I''ll keep it close. Thanks, Sasha."

    "Mhmm¡­"

    "Mo¡ªm!" Aya screamed, her cheeks puffed out. "We helped you think up the idea and make that charm as well! Why are you hogging all the credit for yourself!?"

    Sasha showed a small scarlet blush, a bit ashamed of herself.

    ''This woman is dangerous,'' Stella narrowed her eyes. ''With a body like that and a need for attention¡­ Dangerous indeed.''

    Hellion and the other girls were thinking along the same lines, all of them staring daggers into the embarrassed blonde MILF. She felt like curling up into a ball and forever hiding her face away.

    Competing with young girls like this¡ªit was silly!

    ''Wait, competing¡­??'' Her eyes widened. ''What am I thinking about?? He''s my stepson, nothing more, nothing less. Yes¡­ That''s our relationship.''

    Noticing the turbulent emotional state of her mother, Aya''s cheeks filled with even more air. She approached her and pulled her away from the immortal-like man. They then left the scene, though both of them took more than one last glance at Cassius.

    "This is our cue to go," Cassius chuckled.

    His soft eyes flipped between Stella, Viola, and the rest who''d be staying behind. He also saw Bella, Gina, and Leon, who were making departure preparations of their own. It was obvious that Bella wasn''t planning to wait like Aya and the others.

    But whatever her schemes might involve, Cassius didn''t really mind. After all, whenever they met nowadays, she always brought him gifts in the form of Rank 6 Vampire Duke Blood and other such goodies. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In fact, he was more worried about the trouble she''d get into when her father realized how much she had stolen from him...

    While looking around, Cassius realized that Count Sayzer wasn''t present. However, assuming that he had returned to Nightingale, he set the matter aside and secretly glanced at the crazy-eyed Flora hiding among the crowd.

    ''That girl is not going to give up so easily, is she?'' he sighed. ''Then again, it''s not like she''s the only crazy stalker in my life.''

    He subconsciously thought of Bella, who was currently wildly flailing her arms while quietly shouting orders at her two bodyguards. An insane giggling session then followed as she groped the air, seemingly imagining any number of unspeakable things.

    "Haiz¡­"

    Finally, Cassius returned his focus to those staring him down with moist eyes. Even the usually stoic Viola felt something tugging at her heartstrings.

    "Until next time."

    His smile was brilliant enough to paint a blush on the faces of everyone present, effectively taking away from their original sorrow. He then went around and rubbed each of their heads before turning to face the hellish door, at which point his expression hardened.

    His sudden change in demeanor did something to the fiery-haired Kaida, who was standing in the back. A spark coursed through her, turning her several shades redder.

    "Going to eat more yummers, Master!?" Yimin jumped up and down as she stared down the ominous door like one big buffet. "Yummers, yummers, yummers! We''re going for yummers!!"

    Cassius responded with a karate chop to the head that shut her up. "You only think with your stomach."

    "That isn''t true, Master!" Yimin retorted defensively. "Yimin also thinks with da fists!"

    "...How does that make it better¡­?"

    Hellion, who was watching their ''intimate'' interaction, revealed a friendly smile. Deep within her golden eyes, however, there lay a darkness that threatened to devour the world.

    ''Should I find a way to dispose of this clingy dragon later?'' Her thoughts spiraled in a scary direction. ''Maybe.''

    Deciding it was time, Cassius snapped away from Yimin and Hellion. He then beckoned open the Doors to HELL. A hot energy outlined the doors, radiating enough heat to melt snowfields.

    After the energy completed its circuit around the doors, they opened up, releasing gusts of hellish winds that swept through the gathered crowd. This moment was also being broadcasted on live television, so people from all over the world witnessed the opening of the Gates to HELL.

    It was unlike anything they had ever seen.

 Chapter 348 - 348: Shadow Heralds Arrival, 1st Tower of Babylon

    "Time to go," said Cassius as he sauntered into the dreadful scenery visible beyond HELL''s Gate.

    Stopping ever so briefly, he took one last look at Viola and everyone else he had the honor of getting to know in the world he grew up in.

    "Goodbye, everyone."

    Those were his final words.

    "Come back alive, Cassius¡­!"

    Cassius smiled at the heartfelt shouts of everyone as he vanished into the nightmarish world beyond HELL''s Gate. The doors closed thereafter, with the entire Gate completely disappearing in the next instant.

    ¡ª An unspecified amount of time later ¡ª

    HELL had seven Floors, just like the rest of the Towers, and, like them, it had a very unique geographical and hierarchical layout. Each Floor was ruled over by a specific number of Demon Kings¡ªthree for the 1st Floor, six for the 2nd Floor, ten for the 3rd Floor, and so on.

    To enter the next Floors, one had the option of either cutting a deal with the leading Demon Kings or their representatives. Or they could fight them, kill them, and take the key that granted entry to the next Floor.

    There were very few who chose the latter option, as it essentially meant making an enemy of all of HELL. Not because the Demon Kings cared for one another, but because killing one of them was seen as a direct tarnishing of their honor.

    However, an extremely unusual and unexplainable phenomenon among the Demon Kings of HELL¡ªand another reason so few chose option two¡ªwas their ability to always return to life. This led to eternal blood feuds between them and the invaders, and more often than not, the invader would wind up on the losing end.

    Some weeks after Cassius''s ascension through the Floors of HELL, a demonic energy source created a violent whirlwind in the City of Scafor. After making a large enough commotion and startling various demon-kind, a livid face dispersed the surrounding energies with just the raw power of fury.

    "CASSIUS!!!!"

    Similar bellows echoed from outside the other two cliffside Palaces as the three Demon Kings of HELL''s 1st Floor felt their blood boil like volcanoes. Almost immediately, they shot up into the ashy skies, planning to take the shortcut leading to the 2nd Floor of HELL.

    They knew for certain that the human cretin had gone straight to HELL after killing them. And no matter what price they had to pay, they would show him the cost of incurring their wrath¡ª!

    Or not¡­

    "This is¡­"

    Upon arriving at the 2nd Floor of HELL, Demon King Andromalius and the other two were astonished to find Cassius''s face everywhere.

    Waving it around, parading with it, even cuddling with it¡ªmembers of demon-kind openly displayed their obsession.

    This was¡­

    What in the absolute fuck were they witnessing!?

    Approaching a 50-meter-tall Demon Behemoth wearing a picture of Cassius on his forehead, Demon King Andromalius demanded, "What the hell are you all doing!? Where is Demon King Decarabia and the others!??"

    "Hm?" The Demon Behemoth curiously looked down, his joyous smile still plastered across his horrific face. "The Demon Kings were put on permanent vacation, man. Where have you been living¡ªunder a rock or something?"

    "Permanent vacation!?" Andromalius''s eyes dramatically widened. "What does that mean!??"

    "Chill, dude," said the Demon Behemoth as he pointed toward a massive spiraling structure in the distance that hadn''t been there the last time Andromalius visited. "The Grand Savior gave us salvation, and in his unlimited grace, he erected that tower over there¡ªthe 1st Tower of Babylon. That''s where he sent the previous tyrannical Rulers¡­ where they''re now forever chained and trapped."

    What in Satan''s name was this dumbf*cker talking about!? What unlimited grace!? What salvation!??

    That human was more demon than a demon!

    And did this idiot just say something about trapping the Demon Kings!?

    "Tell me more!" Andromalius shouted frantically. "I command it!"

    The Demon Behemoth''s smile faded into a slight frown. "Under the Grand Savior''s gracious rule, HELL''s Floors have achieved true peace. Once he concludes the Holy Crusade and converts the 5th, 6th, and 7th Floors, HELL will know unity like never before. So who are you to tell me what to do?"

    "I''m a Demon King!" Andromalius retorted angrily. "You must obey me!"

    "Must I?" The Demon Behemoth conjured a floating purple sigil with a sword and a scythe crossed over each other in the middle. "One word through this Savior''s Sigil, and a Herald of the Grand Savior will descend. Whether or not you''re a Demon King won''t matter one single bit. Everything is equal under the Grand Savior. I suggest you take what I told you and be on your way."

    Demon King Andromalius''s anger surged like a raging tsunami. "Do it!! See if I''m scared¡ª"

    *Beep!*

    A connection was made without hesitation on the Demon Behemoth''s part. Internal whisperings transferred through as the Demon eyed the three Demon Kings.

    "Andromalius¡­" Demon King Seer muttered, a bad feeling festering inside him. "Why did you do that¡­!?"

    OOOOM! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A massive pillar of crimson light descended from the heavens. Shock etched itself across the faces of the Demon Kings as they watched a shadowy figure emerge from within the light pillar.

    "Shadow Herald!" The Demon Behemoth called out as the shadowy figure scanned the area with a cold glare. "It''s them! They''re the unruly ones disrupting the peace!"

    Looking over, the shadowy figure bore into the flimsy souls of the Demon Kings.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    ''Is this a Shadow Herald!? Why does it feel like a Werewolf from the Wolfdom Dimension!? What the sh*t is going on here!??''

    In their astonishment, they blinked.

    The Shadow Herald moved.

    SHING!

    Their legs and arms vanished, blood splattering through the ashy air.

    "Ahhgghh!!!" They screamed in agony, wailing in pain.

    The Shadow Herald emotionlessly stared at their limbless figures. Then, in a flash, he grabbed them all and soared toward the 1st Tower of Babylon like a blazing star.

    "That''s what they get," scoffed the Demon Behemoth before continuing about his day as per usual.

    Demons had gathered around the commotion, but they too returned to their daily routines. And just like that, the Demonic Imperial Capital, Hellsmen, returned to its usual state, as if nothing had happened.

 Chapter 349 - 349: Monster Monarchs

    *Thud! Thud!*

    Thrown against a hard stone wall, the Demon Kings coughed up blood.

    Unconsciously, they looked up, only to see obsidian-shaded chains flailing down from above. Those same chains wrapped tightly around them, lifting their meat-potato-like bodies high into the air.

    "D-Do you know who we are¡­!?" Andromalius roared through bloodied teeth. "When the other Demon Kings discover what you and that scum human have done, they will¡ª"

    "They won''t do anything."

    "???" "???"

    A voice carried through the dark, enclosed space they were in. It belonged to another limbless Demon King¡ªone whose eyes had long since lost their fire.

    "Y¡­ You are¡­" Andromalius''s bloodshot eyes widened in surprise, his words failing him.

    "Demon King Decarabia!?" Seer exclaimed. "Wh-What happened to you¡­!?"

    "The same thing that happened to you," Decarabia replied, his voice bereft of hope. "This is the result of going against that monster¡ªthe Grand Savior. Desolation."

    A faint glow suddenly blazed, lighting up the dark space for the three newly captured Demon Kings to see. Hovering high above them like an indifferent god was the Shadow Herald, and strung about by obsidian chains like lifeless husks were what used to be proud, arrogant Demon Kings.

    That was when the severity of their situation fully settled in.

    This was the end for them, wasn''t it¡­?

    "N-No¡­ This can''t be¡­!!"

    Zooming out, the unwilling shouts of Andromalius, Seer, and Dandelion grew quieter and quieter.

    Until eventually, once outside the dreadful interior of the 1st Tower of Babylon, their cries could no longer be heard.

    The demons on the 2nd Floor of HELL knew of the Tower''s existence and its purpose, but they had no knowledge of the suffering endured by those trapped inside.

    Yet, with widespread prosperity on the rise in HELL, no demon on the 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th Floors hardly cared about the fossils of the past. Under new, superior leadership, they were thriving. It was to the point that even the once die-hard loyalists of the Demon Kings couldn''t bear to look at a portrait of their former leaders.

    In a matter of weeks, Cassius Steele and his Legion of Evomon had not only dominated the Floors of HELL but also indoctrinated them.

    However, that wasn''t the only thing he had been up to in preparation for the upcoming Tournament of Yggdrasil¡­

    ¡ª Within the depths of the 5th Monster Paradise, in the Land of Monsters ¡ª

    The Floors of Humanity and HELL were dubbed "Floors" because it made the most sense, but in the Land of Monsters, each Floor was termed a "Paradise." And like a multi-layered cake, the Paradises were stacked one atop the other, with the larger Paradises positioned lower on the metaphorical cake.

    Dimensional Barriers separated the Paradises. However, similar to how it worked in HELL, all one had to do to ascend to a higher Paradise was either receive permission from a residing Monster Monarch or kill them and seize the figurative dimensional keys.

    Cassius, who had been taking many detours as of late, obviously chose the option that yielded the most benefits.

    That brought us to a different topic.

    The Monster Monarchs.

    Each Paradise had a few, and each represented a fundamental aspect of the world¡ªNature, Fire, Speed, Gravity, and a plethora of other aspects.

    Today, in particular, was the day Cassius¡ªwhile riding atop Raijin''s lightning-imbued head¡ªencroached upon the territory of the last remaining Monster Monarch of the 5th Paradise.

    Yimin, clinging to his back, giddily swung her tail around while nibbling on his neck. With Hellion overseeing matters in HELL while he was here, there was no one reliable enough to keep her in check.

    "Master, Mashter! Yimin''s hungry again!" she whined, rubbing her bloody mouth all over him. "Good yummers this way¡­!?"

    Silence¡­

    "Mashter¡­! Shtop ignoring Yimin!" she grumbled, nibbling him more aggressively. "Yimin will num nums you if you keep ignoring her, grrr!"

    As one could clearly tell, despite the passage of time, the silver-haired draconic yandere beauty was still as mentally underdeveloped as ever. However, Cassius, distracted by a mental transmission from one of his Shadow Heralds, hardly had the mental capacity to respond to his troublesome companion.

    ''So those three finally returned,'' he thought. ''And now they''ve reunited with their kindred¡ªeternally bound together in unbreakable chains.''

    What could be more poetic than this?

    His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a massive palace in the distance. It stood on multiple thin, pointy bones that jutted from the remains of an unknown colossal monster. Blood trickled down the sides of the palace and the bones, giving the eerie structure an ominous feel.

    "Yummers in there!?" Yimin erupted in glee, licking her lips voraciously. "Don''t worry, Master, Yimins will be the vanguard and make sure everything is safe in there for you¡ª"

    "No."

    Cassius''s rejection was followed by a swift karate chop to her head.

    "Even though you''ve become increasingly more powerful over time¡ªwith even some Transcendents unable to match you¡ªyou''re still too weak. I don''t know why I have to keep telling you this."

    Sniffling, Yimin pouted. "B-But Master, the Yummers¡­!" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Bonk!*

    "Hush," Cassius ordered. "You and that stomach of yours will get you killed. Rather than get yourself a Yummers, you''ll become the Yummers."

    "!!!"

    "Yimin becomes the Yummers¡­!?" Her eyes widened in horror. Then, strangely, she became bashful, blushing and swinging her tail around sheepishly. "Well, if it''s for you, Master, then I don''t mind being your Yummers¡ª"

    *Bonk!*

    "Shut up and sit back there with Nyxvoldar."

    Cassius''s word was final.

    With a pouty expression, Yimin sulked as she walked toward the quiet, shadowy figure sitting at the tail section of Raijin. Though, when he sensed her approaching, beads of sweat appeared on Nyxvoldar''s face before rolling down in cold dread.

    He tried backing away, but Yimin moved too fast.

    Grabbing him by his clanky armor, she stopped him in his tracks.

    "...."

    "Where do you think you''re going?" Yimin''s terrifying expression peaked over Nyxvoldar''s shoulder. "Since Master said Yimin can''t get the Yummers, Yimin will just have to settle for venting on you. So tell Yimin, Shadowman, where do you want to get punched?"

    Please, no! Have mercy¡ª

    *Pow!*

 Chapter 350 - 350: Maraxia, the Monster Monarch

    *Pow, Pow, Pow!*

    Nyxvoldar was reduced to a glorified punching bag, with Yimin unleashing a barrage of punches that hit from all sides nigh-simultaneously.

    Naturally, he was blown to smithereens.

    But because of his unique existence as an Evomon, he returned to peak condition in mere moments.

    "Hmph!" Yimin snorted. "It appears that you''re challenging me by not staying dead! Very well¡ªlet us find a different location to decide who the ultimate victor is!"

    No!

    BOOOM!

    Too late!

    Yimin spartan-kicked Nyxvoldar off Raijin''s tail, sending him cannonballing through the murky, soot-filled skies. She followed quickly behind, transforming into a huge dragon on her way over.

    Mountains were swallowed whole, leaving a trail of destruction everywhere she chased the fleeing Nyxvoldar.

    However, although Nyxvoldar had been caught off guard a few times, that didn''t mean he wasn''t her match. Proving this point, his demeanor completely changed as his countenance frosted over. He moved as quick as lightning, smoothly evading strike after strike from Yimin.

    Yet this only seemed to incense her even further, for she started fighting with even more ferocity. In their wake, they left entire monster cities and whole landscapes in disarray. They amassed quite a large number of opponents as well, leading to numerous monster powerhouses flying after them.

    When Transcendents entered the fray, Yimin and Nyxvoldar finally stopped fighting each other. Their fierce expressions turned toward the foes surrounding them, and with the sounding of countless earth-shaking explosions, an even more destructive battle commenced.

    Meanwhile, Cassius rode atop Raijin, seemingly oblivious to the ongoing armageddon happening behind him. All his concentration was centered on the undulating aura blasting out of the weird monumental stick-bone structure.

    Strong!

    Extremely strong!

    FWIP!

    The owner of that aura appeared in front of Cassius without warning. It was a woman with a bountiful rack and a disposition that screamed icy domination.

    "Hm?" Cassius looked her up and down, though he wasn''t the least bit affected by her immense beauty. "Maraxia, the 21st Strongest Monster Monarch. It''s my sublime pleasure to become acquainted with you."

    Seeing him bow, Maraxia''s eyebrows knitted tighter together. "Have you any idea where you are right now, human?" she asked with a venomous tone. "Albeit a miracle that you''ve come this far, this is the end of the line for you."

    "Is that so?" Cassius remarked, his sight zooming past Maraxia''s voluptuous, barely covered figure.

    Her slightly-pointed ears twitched as she shot her head toward her palace, only to reel back in shock upon seeing a giant rift splitting her home in two. Both halves slowly slid off one another, their individual descents appearing quite slow from where she was standing¡ªthough this was merely an illusion created by the palace''s ridiculously large size.

    "The Human¡­"

    Maraxia''s eyes darted around until she eventually found Cassius calmly floating in between where the two palace halves had separated. He was holding within his hands a shrunken spatial crack. Or, to be more specific¡ª

    An Origin Gate.

    "This one is of the highest quality yet, thus it''ll surely allot an enormous sum of experience points," said Cassius. "It''s a bit unfortunate that it''s the only one here, though. I had assumed there''d be more."

    "Human¡­" Maraxia''s expression mixed fury and alarm as she blurred, aiming to strike down Cassius before the damage became permanent. "What HAVE you done!?"

    RUMBLE!!

    The world trembled, but not because of the incredible might of Maraxia, the Monster Monarch of Wind. No, this stemmed from what Cassius had just done.

    Origin Gates were not only what one required to spawn Gates in different dimensions; they were also essentially the power sources of the 7 Paradises. And with Cassius having just stolen the last Origin Gate, the 5th Paradise reached a point of imminent collapse.

    Of course, just like the 1st through 4th Paradises, whose Origin Gates Cassius had also stolen, the 5th Paradise would not permanently disappear. It would simply experience a fundamental rebirth, creating new land, new civilizations¡ª

    New Monster Monarchs.

    "HUMAN!!" Maraxia raced forward at crazily fast speeds, her killing intent palpable. "DIE!!!"

    Sighing, Cassius raised a single finger. That finger, after contacting the tip of Maraxia''s Transcendent-rank sword, dispersed all the momentum behind it. He then reached out with his other hand, grabbing her by the throat.

    *Cough! Cough!*

    Staring into the slitted eyes of the violently coughing woman, Cassius''s grip tightened. "For me, we''ve already had this fight dozens of times. And every single time, you lose in a single move."

    "W-What are you talking about¡­!?" Maraxia shouted, fury engulfing her pupils. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius pensively peered into the depths of the Monster Monarch''s soul. "You''re stubborn. That never changes. But unfortunately for you, I don''t need someone as stubborn as you on my side."

    "!!!"

    Just as he went to snap her neck and end her life, he suddenly stopped after sensing something inside her that resonated with his Demonic Dragon Bloodline.

    "You''re part dragon?"

    Growling with saliva flying everywhere, Maraxia refused to answer.

    However, Cassius didn''t need her confirmation. He gleaned the truth with a simple System Scan. And from it, he learned that she was half Lerallian Dragon, which was apparently a pretty noble breed of King Dragon.

    For dragons, lineage was very, very important. And at the top of the lineage rankings, there were King Dragons and Emperor Dragons. The latter had not been sighted by the common populace of the Ascension Tower for thousands of years, but King Dragons were seen every now and then.

    Still, King Dragons were rumored to be Peak Transcendents at the very minimum. This meant that any of their descendants were sure to ascend to immeasurable heights.

    Some were even recorded to have surpassed the Transcendent rank, ascending to godhood!

    "Hmm¡­" Cassius paused, deep in thought. ''To kill or not to kill. That is the question.''

    After a period of deliberation, he ultimately decided to release Maraxia.

    "Kuk! Y-You bastard¡­! Kuk!" She cursed even while gasping for breath on a mountain summit.

    "I definitely haven''t heard that one before," Cassius sarcastically retorted before taking out a magically imbued collar. He wrapped it around her neck, making sure it snugly molded to her fair, snow-white skin. "This is my gift to you. No need to thank me."

    "A subordination collar!?"

 Chapter 351 - 351: Level 280, Godforce

    "A subordination collar!?" Maraxia exclaimed. "Y-You actually dared to¡­ to¡­"

    Growing redder than a tomato, she fainted from anger, falling over backward.

    Knocked out cold!

    "This is no time to be napping," said Cassius as he slapped her around a couple of times, causing her fabulous pink collar to jingle.

    "Oww! H-Huh!? W¡­ Where am I!?"

    Waking up in a stupor, she seemed to be suffering from a bad case of amnesia. Trepidation flooded her heart as she brandished a large, glowing blue longsword.

    "You know that thing is broken, right?"

    "!!!"

    ''What¡­!?''

    Shifting her eyes along the edge of her sword, she was astonished to find the whole upper half of it no longer there. Gone without a trace. A Transcendent-ranked weapon¡­ gone¡­

    Just what sort of monster could possibly pull off something like that!?

    "Are you done now?" asked Cassius as he blew a cold breath of air at the sword. The rest of it cracked and broke apart before scattering into the wind. "Although you probably don''t recall me saying it, I''ve simulated fights with you enough times to anticipate every move you''ll make."

    "Shut up, bastard! Die¡ª!"

    "Like that one," Cassius sighed while effortlessly evading her vicious attack. He then made use of his control over her subordination collar.

    *Bzzzzttt¡­!*

    "Aghhh!!!"

    Her agonizing scream gratingly echoed out, but Cassius remained unbothered. He simply waited until she was done before lugging her over his shoulder like a sack of peanuts.

    "F-Fuck you, scum human¡­!" Maraxia''s eyes burned with hatred; never had she felt such hatred for anyone.

    She wanted to kill him¡ª

    "Quit misbehaving, woman." Cassius slapped her on her plump rump, sending ripples through those two mountains. "From now on, you are my pet. Your name shall be changed to Maxy, and you will refrain from doing anything out of line. Do we understand?"

    "G¡­"

    "Yes?"

    "Go die, fucker¡­!"

    Silence¡­

    *Spank! Spank! Spank!*

    Their whole flight over to Raijin, spanking after spanking rained down on Maxy''s butt. She constantly pleaded for him to stop, but he never did. Not until her buttocks became redder than the color of blood.

    Delirious and overcome with both pain and¡­ pleasure¡­ Maxy listlessly stared out at the rapidly collapsing world. Billions of monster-kind lost their lives by the minute, with the world''s end already upon them.

    Though, it was from their demises that Cassius benefited greatly. Lilith and Mora vibrated happily, in sync with their constant devouring and the dinging of an untold number of System Notifications:

    *Ding!*

    [Congratulations, Psycho! You have slaughtered billions of monster-kind, acquiring the Title ''Monster Slayer,'' which increases all damage dealt to monsters by 200%!]

    [EX+ ''Monster Slayer'' Title can be used alongside your GX- ''Devilish Nirvana-Dragon King'' Title!] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Devilish Nirvana-Dragon King Title had evolved from Cassius''s previous Main Title and a few others he had acquired over the last odd month. It retained the primary qualities of those Titles and improved upon them. Furthermore, it added in aspects that went above and beyond excellence.

    For one, Cassius could now revive hundreds of millions of times a day¡ªand could do so almost instantaneously.

    Deserving of the Godlike GX Rank!

    ''I wonder when I''ll surpass the Spirit-level Will,'' Cassius pondered as he and the gang used a Dimensional Key to ascend to the 6th Paradise. ''It has been some time since my Diamond Will advanced to the Spirit Rank. And though my Trainer Stage has yet to achieve the final level after Nightmarish, I still assumed I''d be closer to the next Will Rank than I am now.''

    Over the last few weeks (Yggdrasil Time), many things had fundamentally changed about Cassius. In all areas, progress could be seen.

    For example:

    [For slaughtering billions of monster-kin ranging from the A-Rank to the EX-Rank, your Experience Bar has tremendously moved!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level 275 ¡ú Level 276]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level 276 ¡ú Level 277]

    [You have enslaved an EX+ Rank Entity known as ''Monster Monarchess Maraxia, the Wind Deviant.'']

    [Experience Bar moved moderately!]

    Although Cassius didn''t level up again from his feat of conquering the misbehaving, pointy-eared draconic woman, he had something else that would do the trick.

    SHA!

    Taking out the Origin Gate that he had ''borrowed'' from Maxy, Cassius awed at it for a second before pressing it against his chest. A massive explosion of starry energy radiated outward, but it was quickly contained.

    All of the energy then assimilated with him, ushering forth a huge power boost that came in the form of EXP.

    *Ding!*

    [Devoured a Grade 6 Origin Gate!]

    [Experience Bar moved by leaps and bounds!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level 277 ¡ú Level 278!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level 278 ¡ú Level 279!]

    [You leveled up!]

    [Level 279 ¡ú Level 280!]

    [Due to an excessive amount of stat acquisition, every single one of your Main Stats has reached 1 Billion, thus hitting the absolute cap of stats!]

    [This occurrence has forced a qualitative change in the Core of your existence!]

    [Transformation of stats has commenced!]

    [All Stats ¡ú 0.1 Godforce!]

    [Battle Power has begun to encroach upon the GX Rank!]

    "Godforce?" Cassius''s brows raised in pleasant surprise as he felt something deep inside him spread out, overwriting his basic stats and transforming into a small sliver of murky starry light.

    Was this Godforce?

    It was phantasmal!

    Otherworldly!

    It made one feel invincible!

    Clenching and unclenching his fists, Cassius realized that even a thousand, thousand Maxy''s were no longer his match. Though he couldn''t tell for sure, it was highly possible that he was close to matching crazy-powerful entities like Duke Crestmore.

    He still felt himself to be below the Dissonant Fleet General he encountered in the Isolated Solar System, but his strength was nonetheless far superior to what it was before.

    "Hurm?" Yimin''s little canine tooth hung over her lower lip; she sniffed the air, almost instantly becoming intoxicated. "Mashter! You smells sho~ good~! Yimin eats!?"

    Calmly sticking up a palm, Cassius clasped her face before yeeting her off Raijin and into the interdimensional tunnel between Dimensions. She wouldn''t die from the spatial turbulence, but he would sure as hell find peace with her hitching a hike.

 Chapter 352 - 352: Rapidly Ascending The Ascension Towers!

    "Hmm¡­?" Waking up with a drowsy expression, Maxy''s eyes suddenly grew round. "Where the hell am I!? A-And my butt¡ªwhy does it sting so much!??"

    Conveniently ignoring the second troublesome dragon-woman, Cassius watched as his Godforce completed a circuit through his body. He balled his hands into fists, feeling enough power in them to eradicate lower-dimensional realities.

    "Hey, answer me, Human Scu¡ª"

    Frozen in place, Maxy was dumbfounded to discover herself unable to insult Cassius. She tried and tried, but her lips simply refused to pronounce the last part of the word.

    "W¡­ What have you done to me, Basta¡­ Master¡­??"

    Even she herself couldn''t believe what she was saying, but that didn''t stop it from leaving her throat. She covered her mouth right away, wearing a teary-eyed, defensive look on her face.

    "I would ask why you''re glaring at me like I''m the villain, but even I''m not shameless enough to deny my villainous tendencies," said Cassius, aloof as ever. "But who knows? Perhaps you''ll one day come to enjoy and appreciate this new life and status of yours."

    "Your predecessor," he pointed at the silver-scaled dragon desperately trying to make it back to Raijin and the group, "she adapted pretty fast. And I doubt she could be any happier."

    "You call that being happy!?" Maxy couldn''t stop herself from saying what she was thinking. "She looks like she''s struggling for dear life!!"

    Cassius shrugged. "That just builds character."

    Signaling toward the joyous expression Yimin was making, he added, "See? She couldn''t be happier."

    "...."

    What the hell was wrong with these people!?

    And this human¡ªwhere did someone as insane as him even come from!??

    ''Just give it up,'' Nyxvoldar silently conveyed his advice, attempting to get her to understand. ''This is your life now. Go with the flow, and maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªyou''ll survive to see the next sunrise.''

    Nyxvoldar had become abundantly proficient in speaking with his repeated evolutions, but very rarely did he ever put his skills to practical use. Keeping silent had always worked out for him, so why change something that wasn''t broken?

    *Fwoooop!*

    In spite of Maxy''s exasperation, they finally broke through the tunnel between Dimensions. Arriving in the 6th Paradise''s clear blue skies, the scenery before them unraveled.

    Fields stretched endlessly, with wheat and various tall magical herbs wildly swaying in the wind. At the center of the seemingly limitless expanse of fields was a ridiculously large fortress-city¡ªlikely spanning billions of miles in length.

    Yet, the size wasn''t even the most surprising thing about the Fortress-City. Instead, it was the fact that it traveled across the picturesque world on bio-mechanically engineered legs that truly took the group''s breath away.

    The Moving Fortress-City of Monster-Heaven.

    It was where the highest-born and most powerful monsters under the Monster Ancestors resided. And with a quick, unnoticeable System Scan, Cassius was able to confirm the veracity of the rumors. More than a dozen presences infinitely nearing the Godlike Rank lived within that Fortress-City.

    "Have you ever been here, Maxy?" he asked.

    "No¡ªI mean, why should I answer your question, you bastar¡­ Master?"

    "So you''ve never been to the 6th Paradise?" Cassius''s lips pursed. "Why would that be? Did you not get out much?"

    Grumbling, Maxy folded her arms, averting her gaze from the overly handsome man. "Why are you asking about all of this anyway? What is it that you really want from the Land of Monsters!? I''ve never heard of a human as young and strong as you! To even be capable of ascending the Ascension Towers, you have to be within certain age brackets, which must mean that you¡ª"

    "Just answer the question, Maxy."

    "Yes, of course, Master," Maxy replied robotically. "I''ve never been to the 6th Paradise because I was never allowed to before now. You are required to have an extremely pure Bloodline of a high rank unless you''re a Godlike existence¡ªthose are the only ways one can enter the 6th Paradise. With the only exception being¡­"

    "Invasion," Cassius said with a brooding smile. "How interesting." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Accidentally staring at his thoughtful expression for too long, Maxy harrumphed as she turned away from him.

    ''He''s not even that¡­ that handsome! Humph! Stupid bastard human, slaving Master!''

    Unconsciously, she had already started naturally referring to Cassius as her Master.

    After a brief period of deliberation, Cassius decided to call it quits here for today¡ªjust as he had upon encountering the 6th Floors of Wolfdom and HELL. These second-to-last Floors of each Tower were simply in a different league.

    It was also highly possible that the Ancestors of the Towers would descend from their Thrones the moment he even thought about making a move.

    The way Cassius saw it, Floors 0 through 5 were basically disposable for every Dimension. They would naturally restore or rebirth themselves anyway, with all the most powerful powerhouses returning to life one way or another.

    The higher-ups of each Tower naturally took note when someone like Cassius appeared and disrupted things, but unless it was a matter of utmost urgency or a Karma Event, none of them cared.

    To them, it was honestly more of a hassle breaking regulations to descend to the lower Floors.

    Godlike Rank beings lived in what one could consider a different reality from Transcendents and Lower Beings. It was because of this that they couldn''t easily traverse lesser planes of existence. With it being even more difficult for the oldest and most ancient entities¡ªlike those of Yggdrasil¡ªto maneuver as they saw fit.

    Fortunately for them, the 7th Floors of every Ascension Tower were constructed in a way that left them unfettered in terms of movement and exploration. Not many knew exactly what this entailed or what the highest of Floors were like, but countless saw them as the final destination¡ª

    The Pinnacle of Comfort and Exaltation.

    Although Cassius was a bit disappointed that he couldn''t progress any further without being drained dry of all his hundreds of millions of lives, he had accomplished what he needed to.

    Ascendance to Humanity''s 5th Demi-Stronghold - ?

    Ascendance to Wolfdom''s 5th Alpha-King-Circle - ?

    Ascendance to HELL''s 5th Floor - ?

    Ascendance to Land of Monsters'' 6th Paradise - ?

    Ascendance to Realm of Pleasure''s 5th Sinity-Realm - ?

 Chapter 353 - 353: Origin Progenitor Bloodline, Progenitor Core

    The only Dimensions that Cassius hadn''t ascended yet were Nightingale, the Heavenly Kingdom, and, obviously, the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil. The first was simply because he was saving it for later, and the second because Angels were very mysterious¡ªtheir Ascension Tower even more so.

    Simply put, they were a risky beginner choice.

    Then there was Yggdrasil.

    Well¡­ that didn''t require any further elaboration, did it?

    Yggdrasil was certainly overpopulated with end-game bosses. And as much as Cassius wanted to search for his mother and understand why the Dissonants truly wanted her¡ªand him¡ªhe couldn''t afford to risk things at this juncture.

    As for why he made it his goal to ascend the Towers¡­

    *Ding!*

    [Congratulations! You have fulfilled the requirements for the 5th¡­ or was it the 6th Main Quest? Well, no matter, you did it, and that''s all that matters!]

    {[Main Quest #5]}

    ¡ª [Travel to 5 out of 7 of the Dimensions: HELL, Nightingale, the Land of Monsters, Wolfdom, Humanity, Heavenly Kingdom, and the Realm of Pleasure. You will need to make a name for yourself in at least 5 of these Dimensions. Break a leg! Or don''t¡­ wuss.] - [5/5] - [?]

    REWARD 1 - [Idle Benefit #4 ''Minionverse'']

    REWARD 2 - [(EX-Rank) Seed of the Progenitor] ¡ú [Has been automatically unveiled to be the GX-Rank Seed of the Progenitor, which had a Rank previously hidden from you due to¡­ Erm¡­ because it felt appropriate! Yeah, that works, haha!]

    REWARD 3 - [Acknowledgement of leading figures of 5 of the 7 Realms] ¡ú [Has become the ''Abhorrence of leading figures of 5 of the 7 Realms'' because you''re really~ good at making friends!]

    Overlooking the System''s typically d*ckheaded''ness, Cassius accepted the rewards.

    [Idle Benefit #4 Minionverse unlocked!]

    [Assimilating Minionverse with the Host!]

    [GX-Rank ''Seed of the Progenitor'' assimilating with the Host!] ¡ú [Transforming the Host into a superior existence!]

    [Powerhouses from 5 of the 7(8) Dimensions now hate your guts! Expect to be hunted down and ganged up on by everyone!]

    [The Strongest Demon Ancestors of the 7th Floor of HELL¡ªparticularly Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Astaroth¡ªnow have their eyes set on you for reasons unknown!]

    [Lucifer takes an even greater interest in the relationship that you have with someone related to him¡­]

    "Related to him?" Surprise flickered across Cassius''s face as he wondered what the System meant by this.

    Should he ask?

    No, definitely not¡­

    Let alone a proper answer, he''d be lucky enough to not get roasted for no reason whatsoever!

    However, with the first two rewards just now finishing the assimilation process, his focus was brought elsewhere. Feeling something crazily bouncing around inside his body, he looked within himself. In there, he glimpsed a diamond-shaped purplish-gold crystal shooting light all over his insides like a disco ball refracting light.

    The discharged light wasn''t harming or even helping him; rather, it was taking tiny pieces of every aspect of his existence. He could instinctively feel it extracting negligible slivers of his Bloodlines, Physiques, Cultivation Bases, and even his personality!

    Everything that made him¡ªhim¡ªwas being extracted by the light beams before returning to the mysterious diamond crystal. After which, those aspects were processed, causing waves of light energy to move across the diamond in increasingly greater increments.

    Until finally¡ª

    WAAA!

    Cassius erupted forth with a unique kind of energy that had never before been seen in the Ascension Tower. It was black, crimson, and violet in color, also possessing a milky-way-like glow that pulsated like the Core of the Universe.

    This energy¡ªit was exclusive to one man. A one-of-a-kind phenomenon that signified the birth of a singular concept that would automatically make the receiver a mythical entity of unlimited proportions and unlimited potential¡ª

    A Progenitor!

    RUMBLE!!

    The space inside the interdimensional tunnel Cassius was re-traversing experienced a galaxy-crumbling tremor. Space cracked and shattered, with the river of time diverging from its original direction.

    Everything was sent into disarray.

    All because of the metaphorical transformation of what used to be a regular human. Now the¡ª

    Origin Progenitor! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    OUNNG!

    Throughout history, the births of Progenitors were monumental moments. Each Progenitor represented the origin point of a new race and was thus given a name befitting their orientation.

    The Wolf Progenitor.

    The Vampiric Progenitor.

    The Heavenly Progenitor.

    There were several of them¡­ but none anything like the Origin Progenitor.

    A title like that was unprecedented!

    Too grandiose!

    *Pop!*

    A snot bubble popped as Yimin woke up from her scandalously positioned nap. "M-Mashter, don''t worry¡­! Yimins is here to protect you!"

    Looking around with hazy, weary eyes, she got into a fighting stance. Her tail stuck straight up; she was raring to go!

    Holding up a hand, Cassius assuaged most of her surging fierceness. "There''s no need to get so worked up, Yimin. I''ve simply evolved again, is all."

    That''s all!?

    Maxy could hardly believe what she was hearing.

    Never in her long life had she ever witnessed or felt something as tremendous as what had just left his body!

    Furthermore¡­ had he become even more handsome!?

    What da f*ck!

    The power coursing within Cassius''s veins was not much more potent than before. However, unlike how it was previously, it now had far more unity.

    To elaborate¡ªif before, all his various aspects of existence, such as his Bloodlines, felt like individual things attempting to coexist together¡­

    Now, with the acquisition of the Origin Progenitor Bloodline, everything had become one.

    Things like his Noble Incubus and Vampire Duke Bloodlines had somehow reached a state of completion and fused. A seamless fusion at that, with only their remnant traits remaining as reminders of what they once used to be.

    Cassius''s power now all traveled from the same, all-powerful Source¡ª

    The Progenitor Core.

    It had sprouted from the assimilation of the Seed and, from now on, would be what took in any new Bloodlines. It would then meld them into the rest of the essence infused into the Core, thus bringing about an even greater Singularity Source.

    To be an Origin was to be the beginning of all things. To be the beginning was to be pure and flawless.

    No other Progenitors received the same treatment.

    Discarding all previous lines of power would be their only choice upon awakening as a Progenitor¡­

 Chapter 354 - 354: Originverse, Upgrading Origin Village

    Nyxvoldar''s pensive expression overflowed with even greater respect for his Master. Even Raijin arrogantly huffed after realizing that he was the grand steed of such an incomprehensible entity.

    *Ding!*

    [GX-Rank ''Origin Progenitor'' Bloodline has advanced to GX+ Rank after fully fusing with the ''Azura Devourer'' Bloodline, ''Azura Refinement Physique,'' as well as dozens of other extremely unique existential qualities!]

    Amazing!

    [Don''t get too excited now, Dear Host!]

    "Why not?"

    [Because¡­]

    [Hmm¡­ I just don''t like when you''re happy! As a firm believer in Character Development, I see happiness as the Devil''s Whisperings!]

    "...."

    Promptly ignoring the personable¡ªand annoying¡ªvoice of his System, Cassius glossed over the remainder of the System Notifications, which included the unlocking of his newest System Feature.

    *Ding!*

    [All Aspects of Existence (Except for Godforce) ¡ú 2.3 Unity]

    [Increase Unity value by acquiring more Bloodlines, more Physiques, more everything!]

    [Assimilate them with your Origin Progenitor Core to acquire the best parts of what was absorbed. This will not only improve you as a whole, but it will also open up milestones for Unity.]

    [0.1/0.1 Unity] - [You can now purchase 1¡ï Origin Creatures from the Origin System Shop!]

    "A System Shop¡­?"

    The pop-up screens related to the Minionverse were next, but setting those aside for later, Cassius honed in on the System Shop.

    {[Origin Shop]}

    ¡ªTier 1¡ª

    [1¡ï Origin Farmer] - [Cost: 0.01 Unity]

    [1¡ï Origin Woodcutter] - [Cost: 0.02 Unity]

    [1¡ï Origin Builder] - [Cost: 0.03 Unity]

    ''Hmm¡­'' Cassius pondered. ''Will using Unity take away from this seamless synchronized feeling I get when I circulate my power?''

    As if reading his mind, the System answered: S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [No! The Unity measurement is simply there as a cap and limiter! It in no way takes away from how easily you can use all aspects of your existence at once! It also doesn''t reduce the upper thresholds for your Origin Core''s fusion limits¡ªmeaning you can limitlessly assimilate new Bloodlines, etc.!]

    "I see¡­"

    After a brief pause. "And just what purpose do these Origin Creatures serve?" he asked. "It doesn''t seem like I can take them out into the real world just yet."

    [You indeed can''t¡ªyet!]

    [As for their purpose, well¡­ Would you like to Fuse the Origin Shop with the 4th Idle Benefit!?]

    "???"

    "This¡­" Cassius''s forehead wrinkled. "Why does it seem like everything has been orchestrated by you from the very beginning? You know what my answer will be; you anticipated it."

    [What will your answer be, Dear Host? I''m just a clueless and pitiable System; I don''t know anything¡­]

    Clicking his tongue, Cassius tapped the [YES] button that was practically shoving itself down his throat.

    *Ding~!*

    [Origin Shop + Minionverse = Originverse]

    [Base Unit converted from "Nothing" ¡ú "Origin"]

    [Origin Units: Woodcutter, Farmer, and Builder are now available for purchase inside the Originverse!]

    [A Tier 0 Origin Village has been created!]

    [You can now begin evolving and expanding the Origin Village¡ªpossessing no limits to expansion and evolution! (Assuming you''re capable enough)]

    Cassius''s vision suddenly warped out of his control, twisting his scenery into a whole new world. A very, very¡ª

    Empty world.

    "Where is everything?" Cassius questioned, his eyesight saddened by the singular view of a small, ragged tent erected in the middle of an endless white space. "Wasn''t there supposed to be a Village or something? Does this look like a Village to you?? It''s so¡­ so¡­"

    So depressing!

    Like, really, really depressing!

    Sighing, Cassius descended to the white-space''s surface floor. Something immediately appeared above the ragged tent:

    {[Simple Origin Tent]} - [Tier 0 Village]

    ¡ª[This tent marks the beginning of something truly great and should be treated with the highest degree of respect.]

    [Upgrade Cost: 0.01 Unity]

    "¡­Okay¡­" was all Cassius could say in the face of the large piece of cloth being barely held up by three long sticks. "Upgrade."

    *Ding!*

    [Simple Origin Tent has evolved!]

    [Simple Origin Tent (Tier 0) ¡ú Simple Origin Hut (Tier 1)]

    Before Cassius''s apathetic multi-colored eyes, the ragged tent burst into light. The light gradually expanded and molded into the shape of something much unlike a triangular tent.

    After a couple of seconds, the light subsided. The appearance of the new structure was then revealed.

    A hut!

    One room, one bed, and straw roofing!

    It was¡­ a hut.

    Silence¡­

    *Ding!*

    [Would you like to continue upgrading your wonderful Origin Village!?]

    Cassius couldn''t even muster up a retort. He just nodded, doing his best not to let his emotions get the better of him.

    [Upgrade Cost: 0.1 Unity]

    [Are you sure you want to continue upgrading? I know that''s a lot to you¡ª]

    "Just do it," Cassius seethed, growing even madder after hearing the quiet snickering of the System. ''This F*cker¡­''

    [Simple Origin Hut has evolved!]

    [Simple Origin Hut (Tier 1) ¡ú Basic Origin House (Tier 2)]

    Just like before, light exploded from the hut, molding into a new, larger form. Once the light faded, the new Origin Village structure appeared.

    The house had a single story, old brick and mud architecture, and three separate spaces inside. Overall, it could be compared to the home of an ancient Mayan civilization or any other pre-modern settlement.

    Entering the house, Cassius felt the thatched door shudder. But other than that, the rest of the house was pretty well-built. A small family of less than five could certainly make it work.

    Cassius was moderately satisfied.

    But like the temptations of the devil¡­

    *Ding~!*

    [Would you like to continue upgrading your Origin Village~?]

    No response.

    "¡­Just do it¡­"

    [The Upgrade Cost is 1 Unity; are you sure your brokeass can afford¡ª]

    "F*ck you and do it already!" A vein bulged on Cassius''s forehead as he really felt like obliterating a mountain.

    [Fine, fine~]

    [Basic Origin House has evolved!]

    [Basic Origin House (Tier 2) ¡ú Small Origin Courtyard (Tier 3)]

    Following the light-molding process:

    The house''s foundations became sturdier.

    The material composition improved.

    A second floor was added.

    The house now had five separate rooms, with its square footage significantly increased.

    Outside the two-story home, a twenty-meter by twenty-meter plot of brown grass appeared. A small work-shed had also manifested in the northeast corner of the courtyard. It wasn''t too big, but it could certainly house a few people if times were dire enough.

    Seeing that he didn''t have enough Unity for the next upgrade, Cassius stopped. He instead glanced at the Origin Units.

    Of which he had three currently available choices¡­

 Chapter 355 - 355: Tiling, Origin Farmers (Tier 1)

    Observing the small courtyard, Cassius figured he could effectively house ten people. This was, of course, assuming the Origin Units were the approximate size of your average human.

    "Do Origin Units need to eat?"

    A good question!

    [No. They are fully autonomous. Would you like to read the descriptions of each available Unit?]

    Cassius nodded.

    {[Origin Farmer]} - [Tier 1]

    [Functions: Can till soil and plant Tier 1 Unity Foods]

    [Abilities: Tier 1 Unity Seed Production, Tier 1 Unity Seed Bag]

    [Drops: Stamina Attribute Orbs, Endurance Attribute Orbs, and Agility Attribute Orbs (Range: 0.1-1)]

    [Time to perform Task ''Till'' - 2 Seconds]

    [Time to perform Task ''Plant'' - 1 Second]

    [Time required for Tier 1 Seeds to reach maturity - 30 Seconds]

    "This means¡­?"

    [Simply put, an Origin Farmer can fertilize plots of land. And as they are magically in possession of Tier 1 Unity Food Seeds, they can begin the process of making Unity Foods.]

    [Unity Foods give the Host various amounts of Unity upon consumption (dependent on the Tier of the Unity Food in question)]

    "Interesting," mused Cassius, rubbing his chin in thought. "So that means there are other ways to acquire Unity besides becoming stronger through the assimilation of aspects of existence. And since none of the Unity technically disappears after I spend it, my control and upper assimilation limit will only keep increasing."

    [You''re not as dumb as you look!]

    [As for the Drops section, Attribute Orbs drop after an Origin Unit completes a Task. They vary based on the Task performed, but all of them can be used to improve the Origin Unit one way or another.]

    [See the ''Time to Complete Task'' thingies? Those can be reduced the more Attribute Orbs an Origin Unit devours. Also, whenever you unlock the ''Trade Center'' Facility, you can order the Origin Units to sell excess Attribute Orbs. Unity will be acquired from those transactions.]

    "Hum¡­" Deep in thought, Cassius imagined just how many ways he could make use of this Originverse in its later stages.

    And from his contemplation, he realized something.

    The Originverse was like¡ª

    Creating a world from scratch! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You''re amazed by my awesomeness, aren''t you~? Trust me, I know exactly what you''re feeling, for I feel it every day I wake up and realize I''m me¡ª]

    "Purchase five Origin Farmers!"

    [Hey, don''t interrupt me like that! And are you sure you don''t want to check out the descriptions of the Origin Builders and Origin Woodcutters before hastily spending Unity??]

    "Is there wood to cut?" asked Cassius. "Are there things that need to be built?? Is there anything here that can build them?? Can the Tier 1 Builders and Woodcutters spawn in trees and materials for buildings???"

    [...Well, no, not yet¡­ But it still wouldn''t hurt to see what you can possibly buy¡ª]

    "No," Cassius firmly rejected. "Just purchase the five Origin Farmers."

    [....]

    [Very well¡­]

    [Purchased 5 Tier 1 Origin Farmers!]

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Five figures shrouded in darkness suddenly appeared a few feet away from Cassius. They looked like regular farmers, with the iconic straw hats and horsetail grass in their mouths. The only oddity was how they were pitch-black from head to toe¡ªeven their farmer clothes were obsidian black.

    "Hmm," Cassius appraised them, sensing not a lick of aura or strength. "Well, it''s not like you''ll be fighting anything. So then, how do I command you lot to do what I want?"

    Figuring he should just go straight for it, he pointed at an area of sad-looking brown grass and said, "Go, fix that."

    No response.

    "???"

    [You silly Host, you~]

    [You would know that there''s a digital map in the Originverse tab if you ever bothered to check it out~]

    "...How was I supposed to know that¡­?"

    [Oh no, don''t worry, I don''t expect much from you! I don''t imagine you''d be able to differentiate your left from your right foot without the use of your eyes!]

    For the sake of his mental health, Cassius zoned out the System and opened up the Originverse tab in his System Interface. He skimmed past the unnecessary information, focusing on the part that read "Originverse Map."

    Opening it up, a large System screen flashed in front of him. On it was a stagnant depiction of the Small Origin Courtyard from a bird''s-eye view. It was 1-D, not 3-D, but it was sufficient enough for one to easily understand the layout of the Small Origin Courtyard.

    A house in the center, dead grass surrounding it, and a small shed off to the northeastern corner-edge¡ªdisplayed in the form of blurry pixel blocks.

    Curious, Cassius clicked on an area of the dead grass from the Origin Map.

    Multiple options appeared before him over where his finger hovered on the map screen. But the majority of them were either grayed out or locked. The only available option was:

    [Position Origin Farmer?] - [Y/N]

    There was a number clicker beside that option. It capped out at five, clearly representing the number of Origin Farmers Cassius wanted positioned in that spot.

    After clicking five, he was then presented with a faintly illusory box-graph that asked him where he wanted each Origin Farmer stationed. It asked this because the Origin Farmers were merely Tier 1 and could thus only work in a limited area.

    Specifically, a 5-by-5-meter area.

    And since each square block on the box-graph equated to a single meter, each Origin Farmer could take 25 square blocks as their working space. This meant that the five Origin Farmers would be cumulatively working 125 square blocks worth of space.

    Following through with the positioning process, Cassius gave them each their own area (which wasn''t very big).

    Watching them move like robots toward their designated spots, he then reopened the Origin Map. After they reached the center of their areas, he manually clicked an option that popped up after the positioning option. It essentially asked if he wanted them to start conjuring Unity Seeds and planting them.

    Naturally, he wanted that!

    *Wachow!*

    An obsidian-colored hoe was plunged into the poor soil, and as if by a miracle, within the span of two seconds, that hoe traveled the entirety of the 25 square meters.

    The plot was tilled perfectly!

 Chapter 356 - 356: Main Quest #6

    "Dang," Cassius wooed. "Like a super farmer."

    The other four Origin Farmers did the same thing within the same timeframe. Afterward, all five of them reached into the bags hanging by their waists. Slightly glowing seeds were taken out. The first seed of the first farmer was thrown into the ground, and, looking like a blurry speedster, that same farmer buried the seed and then covered it.

    He went on to repeat that process dozens of times.

    The other four Origin Farmers did something extremely similar, and with all of them appearing identical, Cassius started tripping out. Watching them move at the same time and with the same motions made him feel like he had been drinking.

    After finishing the planting of the seeds, the five Origin Farmers intently stared at their tilled plots of land.

    It was as if they were threatening the seeds to grow and sprout¡­

    And whether what they were doing actually worked or not, the Unity Seeds did indeed sprout. They grew out of the rich soil, taking on the shapes of multi-leafed vines.

    A few seconds later, those vines had tiny yellow fruits growing off of them.

    Once a full half-minute passed, the Tier 1 Unity Crops reached maturity. They could now be freely picked, which was exactly what the Origin Farmers did as they summoned large baskets out of nowhere before going around and plucking the vegetables off their stems.

    Unfortunately, the vine-plants shriveled up and died right after all the vegetables on them were picked off. But the soil still remained rich¡ªrich enough to plant a few more cycles of whatever the Farmers were planting.

    After collecting all of the yellow vegetables¡ªwhich numbered in the hundreds¡ªthe five Origin Farmers carried their magical baskets over to Cassius. He had commanded them to do it this way this one time from inside the Origin Map.

    Taking a yellow vegetable from the basket, Cassius closely observed it before taking a bite out of it. Then he took another. And another. And another.

    He didn''t feel any different after swallowing it whole, but then he felt a weird energy course through him, improving his control and upper power limit ever so slightly.

    [Devoured Tier 1 Unity Food ''Eight-lined Tropica'']

    [Obtained 0.01 Unity!]

    "These things give this much Unity??"

    [For now they do, but as with most things in the universe, the consumption of Unity Foods involves diminishing returns. Eventually¡ªafter eating enough¡ªthey won''t give even the tiniest amount of Unity.]

    [At that point, you''ll want to have your Origin Units devour, barter, or trade the useless Origin Foods. And yes, before you ask, they evolve by eating Origin Foods. However, what''s Unity for you is something akin to spiritual energy for them. It nourishes them, doing so in a way much unlike with you obtaining Unity.]

    "I see¡­"

    After digesting all the revealed information, Cassius bought a dozen or so more Origin Farmers. And making use of all available space, he had them till their plots of land and begin the process of endlessly farming.

    CHOMP!

    With the extension of a black toothy monster-head out of his right arm, he devoured all of the Tier 1 Tropica that the original batch of Farmers had given to him. He then used intent to leave the Originverse, all while listening to the System Notifications:

    *Ding!*

    [Devoured 287 Tier 1 Unity Food ''Eight-lined Tropica'']

    [Obtained 0.21 Unity!]

    ''The System wasn''t lying about those diminishing returns¡­''

    Suddenly remembering something on his way out, Cassius asked, "About the time difference between the outside world and the Originverse¡ª"

    [1:1]

    Bummer!

    But it was what it was.

    FWIP!

    Returning to the outside world, Cassius determined that not even a couple of minutes had passed. A very brief period of time during which he had sat still with his eyes closed, arousing not a single bit of suspicion from those riding on Raijin with him.

    Yimin, however, had taken advantage of this situation. She could be seen laying back-to-back with her Master, adorably giggling and mumbling in her sleep.

    Cassius paid her no heed; he reopened his System Interface. His eyes fell on the Originverse section, where he saw constant changes in the actions of the Origin Units. He had instructed them to absorb any and all dropped Attribute Orbs, which was likely why the durations for their task completions were deviating from one another.

    In the midst of his grinning session, a different kind of pop-up blinded Cassius. One that molded his grin into a deep frown:

    *Ding!*

    [Main Quest #6 has been activated!]

    {[Main Quest #6]} - [GX+++++ Rank]

    [Goal 1: Ascend the Arches of the Heavenly Kingdom and get a meeting with the Heavenly Progenitor] - [_]

    [Goal 2: Participate in the Tournament of Yggdrasil and become the widely recognized #1 Genius in the Ascension Tower] - [_]

    [Goal 3: Face the threats that the three Ancient Demon Kings of HELL pose to your life (Eliminate them if need be¡ªwhatever it takes to erase the danger to your life)] - [_]

    ¡ª[Reward 1: ''Grindverse'' (Idle Benefit #6)]

    ¡ª[Reward 2: ''Reverence of every single lower existence in the Ascension Tower'']

    ¡ª[Reward 3: ''10 Unbelievable Heaps of EXP'']

    ¡ª[Reward 4: ''3 God-rank Universal Upgrade Shards'']

    ¡ª[Reward 5: ''Supreme Fusion Gem (GX+++++)]

    ¡ª[Reward 6: ''Triple Godforce Value (??? Rank)]

    {[Time Limit: 10 Years]}

    Amazing!

    Main Quest #6 was so extremely lucrative!

    But there was just one problem¡­

    "Just how long is it going to take me to do something as suicidal as facing the three most powerful Demon Kings of HELL¡­?"

    [Answer: as long as it takes! Fufu~]

    Cassius''s nose crinkled. "I figured as much. Haiz¡­"

    He wasn''t averse to the passing of time, but ten years was a bit much even for him¡ªsomeone who was used to progressing crazily fast.

    "Maybe it won''t take so long¡­"

    He was holding out on that glimmer of hope. No matter how small it was¡­

    WHOOOM! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Suddenly breaking through the final Dimensional Barrier leading to the 1st Floor of the Land of Monsters Dimension, Cassius had Raijin undulate to a mountain peak. It was there that he pulled out a sword-like key with sharp edges.

    A Humanity Key of Dimensional Travel.

    He had stolen it a while back from a Human Guardian or something, and had since used it to travel to the Humanity Tower.

    SWHICK!

 Chapter 357 - 357: The Sword God

    Slicing the key at the air before him, Cassius and gang watched as a huge tear spread apart above the mountain. They could see mystical energies and elements swirling around inside the tear, making it appear quite mesmerizing.

    Beckoning Raijin to fly through the tear, Cassius stood with his arms folded behind his back. Looking like an Immortal, he, his two dragon-women, and his Evomon vanished into the dimensional tear. It closed up behind them, with the humanoid Monsters that came to check out the commotion left exchanging confused glances with one another.

    While traveling between Ascension Towers in a far more complex spatial tunnel, Cassius''s thoughts stirred.

    ''It''s obvious by the order of the Main Quest Goals that the System wants me to complete them based on their number. This is to say that what I should be doing right now is finding a way into Heaven.''

    As far as he was aware, the only known ways to enter the Heavenly Kingdom from the other Towers were through Humanity''s Tower. Humans had an innate and profoundly complicated connection with the Angels and the Almighty Father¡ªfar more so than the other races.

    As such, it was relatively well-known that one could enter Heaven from the Tower of Humanity.

    As for how this was possible, well¡­ Cassius was unsure.

    ''Those on the 5th Floor and below hardly know anything beyond the scope of their territories,'' he thought. ''But I''m sure the 6th Floor will possess both far more powerful Powerhouses and a vaster bank of knowledge.''

    Rather than arrive on the 0th Floor of Humanity, Cassius and gang found themselves on the 1st Floor, which was commonly considered the official starting point for Humans.

    Those talented or connected enough could eventually ascend to the 2nd Floor. Then the 3rd Floor. So on and so forth.

    But when it came time to knock on the doors of the 6th Floor, very few had the necessary qualifications¡­

    The Sword God was one of the more famous among the ones fortunate enough to ascend to the 6th Floor. And right now, while peacefully looking out at the beautiful, middle-aged scenery beyond his castle''s main balcony, a sudden shaking attracted his attention.

    "A newcomer?" he mused, sending out his Magic Sense. "I wonder who it is. If I remember correctly, there should be no one close to Ascension on the lower floors."

    It didn''t feel like a member of a different race or a hostile invader, which raised even more questions in his mind. And in his curiosity, he disappeared from his spot before reappearing in the skies above.

    After getting closer to the source of the disturbance, the Sword God felt an odd familiarity with whatever arrived.

    "Is this¡­?"

    Noticing his first visitor, Cassius''s cold eyes met the fierce, hardened gaze of the Sword God.

    He paused.

    Then a smirk formed as his eyes curved upward.

    "Hello, Senior Character Developer," he greeted with a wave. "More than anyone else, you''re the one I''ve been most wanting to meet."

    "???" ''There''s no mistaking it! He''s¡­!''

    "A Practitioner of the Sword God''s Trainer Arts!" Brows were raised. "But how!?"

    "Mashter, who is this big weirdo?" A scrutinizing glare formed in Yimin''s slitted eyes as she looked the Sword God from head to toe.

    The ''big weirdo'' had muscles on top of muscles and towered over most humans at 7+ feet tall. He had a wild, unkempt mane hugging his backside, further adding to his warrior aesthetic. And to top things off, his aura was immense¡ªfar greater than anything they had felt thus far.

    Maxy, on the other hand, had a very different reaction to the appearance of the warrior-like man. At first, she had no clue who he was, but gradually, realization washed over her.

    "The¡­ Sword God¡­!?"

    Out of all humans, one of the most famous was none other than the Sword God!

    Although still technically within the EX-Rank, he was one of the few existences who could fight above their rank. He was also older than some God-like entities, which popped up a certain question: S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Why hadn''t he ascended?

    The answer to this question was the primary reason why the Sword God was so famous. Because sure, he had both the potential and opportunity necessary to ascend to divinity. Yet he¡­ purposefully chose not to follow through.

    He prevented his own ascension!

    "You''re the Sword God," Cassius began. "The one who held back his ascension to a higher state of being so you could reach the epitome of mental fortitude and resilience. A Character Developer through and through."

    "¡­You know that about me, but I still know nothing about you," said the Sword God, with the snowy-white greatsword hanging on his back thrumming a song of death. "Are you an enemy to humanity? Now that I get a closer look, you definitely aren''t one of us. Neither is your mount, that Shadow creature, or the two other dragonoids with you."

    Cassius''s body instinctively cowered in the face of the Sword God''s menacing stare. It felt like he was but a small insect facing a massive lion.

    Fierce!

    Overpowered!

    ''This is what a true Character Developer looks like!''

    Smiling, Cassius ruffled Yimin''s hair without turning away from the large-bodied Sword God.

    Responding to his question, he said:

    "I''m originally a human, and I''m definitely not your enemy."

    "How did you get here, then?" the Sword God inquired with an inquisitive glint. "You''re strong¡ªstronger than any human I''ve heard of being on the lower Floors. There''s one¡­ a single human who''s an exception, but you aren''t that human."

    ''He must be talking about Father,'' Cassius inferred, Adam Steele''s image growing inside his head. ''I wonder just how strong my Father actually is¡­''

    What he saw on the 0th Floor of Humanity was surely just the tip of the iceberg.

    Returning his attention back to the Sword God, Cassius replied, "I convinced the powerhouses and Floor Guardians of the lower Floors to make way."

    "Make way¡ª?"

    "Intruder! State your business here!!"

    A thundering voice suddenly carried through the air; accompanying it were lightning strikes that discolored the skies. Several Peak Transcendents then appeared, moving as if they had been there the entire time.

 Chapter 358 - 358: Prodigal Conqueror

    "The Order," Sword God sighed. "These ones are always troublesome to deal with. But fortunately for me, they aren''t my problem today. You''ll have to figure things out here by yourself, and if you''re alive by the end, come to the Astral Globe¡ªthat big round structure on the horizon."

    ''He''s just like me,'' Cassius smirked, his eyes following where he was pointing.

    There, he saw a huge globe-like structure floating above thousands of giant mountains. Though, when stacked against the Astral Globe, they appeared tiny.

    Flying around the Astral Globe as if in its orbit were volatile cosmic energies that radiated power, which could be felt even from where Cassius stood.

    "See you then¡­" Stopping halfway, his smile widened after seeing that the Sword God had already disappeared.

    Entering the scene without any idea that the Sword God had been there, the Order''s Legioneers blasted out with their oppressive auras.

    Cassius felt the pressure, but one certainly couldn''t tell that from how he appeared.

    "Master, should Yimin kill them!?" Yimin''s tail stood up, her stance aggressive. "Yimin will slaughter them¡ª"

    *Bonk!*

    "Stop trying to get yourself killed," Cassius reprimanded. "Fight them, and you''ll perish. Then you won''t be having any more snacks."

    "!!!"

    "No snacks!?" Yimin freaked out. "This can''t be, Mashter¡­!!"

    Maxy, meanwhile, quietly observed the interaction between Cassius and Yimin, which, for some reason, led to a small pout forming.

    ''I''m a dragon too, you know? Humph!''

    However, upon realizing what had just passed through her mind, she slapped her cheeks. Averting her gaze, she snorted multiple times, not even wanting to look at the audacious man who had enslaved her.

    She hated him!

    Hate, hate, hate!

    A tiny bit of amusement formed inside Cassius at the cute reactions of Maxy. But with the threat of the Order''s Legioneers pressing him from in front, he diverted his focus.

    An icy blue glow emerged within his gaze as he apathetically looked between the couple dozen powerhouses¡ªeach one capable of erasing the Isolated Solar System with a single breath.

    "Do you know what you''ve just done, Intruder!?" shouted the Head Legioneer. "Illegally breaking through Dimensional Floor Barriers is a capital offense¡ªone that demands death!"

    Yimin and Raijin growled, whereas Nyxvoldar surged with murderous intent.

    Maxy also fluctuated with a little killing intent.

    "Death, huh?" Cassius frowned. "And what would you possibly know about death?"

    OOOM!

    A staggering level of killing intent flooded out of him, engulfing the area around him for countless billions of miles. What looked to be deeply malicious demonic eyes materialized above Cassius, with premonitions of a dragon destroying the world filling the vision of the Order''s Legioneers.

    "This¡­"

    The Head Order Legioneer had never felt anything like this before.

    As a high-ranking member of the organization that kept order in the Humanity Ascension Tower, he had even had the honor of meeting a Human Ancestor. Yet, even then, that Ancestor''s killing intent couldn''t in any way compare to the one before him.

    From afar, lounging atop the Astral Globe, the Sword God''s expression contorted. ''This kid not only has evidence of having practiced the Manual I created, he''s also progressed it and¡­ something else to extremely high levels.''

    The longer the Sword God thought about the mysterious human boy, the more intrigued he became.

    Back with said human boy, the Order''s Legioneers exploded in rage after snapping out of their awed reveries. One of the more reckless among them even charged forward, Transcendent blade in hand.

    "Die, Intrude¡ª"

    SHING! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    One swift motion.

    SPURT!

    An arm went sailing, with blood fountaining out of an open wound.

    The reckless Legioneer''s eyes grew round in horror. Biting his lips, he resisted the urge to holler out in agony. The pain was indescribable, not merely because of the loss of a limb but because of the residual aspects of the Azura Flame.

    Universal Flames were no joke, and after assimilating with the Core of the Origin Progenitor, the Azura Flame had reached even greater heights¡ªones that put it well beyond its rank as one of the weakest Universal Flames in the Universe.

    "You dare!??" The Head Order Legioneer snapped toward Cassius, fire spitting out of his eyes. "Are you trying to defy the Order!??"

    Cassius blinked, blood still dripping off Lilith. "I believe it''s a little late for that. How do you think I made it here?"

    "!!!" "!!!"

    "Leader," whispered one of the Legioneers. "I know who this human is¡­ No images have been captured of him, but that flame makes it unmistakable."

    "Out with it, then!" the Head Legioneer snarled, his ferocious gaze still burning holes into Cassius.

    "Sir¡­" The subordinate Legioneer dramatically paused. "He''s the Prodigal Conqueror."

    "The Prodigal Conqueror!?" The Head Legioneer''s brows ascended to his hairline. "Are you telling me this impetuous man is the one who has been successively conquering Floors of multiple Ascension Towers over the last century!?"

    Time moved at different rates for all of the Floors of each Ascension Tower. And though Cassius had only been gone for a few weeks based on Earth and Yggdrasil''s timeline, in reality, he had been on the move for dozens of years.

    Somewhere along the way, though, time for him started to feel weird. It passed extremely quickly, with months feeling more like minutes.

    This inexplicable phenomenon led to him not even knowing how much time had actually passed for him¡­

    "Hm?" Question marks formed above Cassius. "A century? What are you talking about?? Wait¡­ Oh sh*t¡­"

    The time dilation!

    Realization hit him like a freight train, forcing him to experience a minor existential crisis!

    "Prodigal Conqueror," said the Head Legioneer. "What are your purposes here? If you''ve come to conquer the Main Foothold of Humanity, then even if we have to risk our lives, we''ll strike you down¡ªno matter your identity."

    Cassius stared at the Head Legioneer, his mind still spinning. "I only want one thing. And though I''ve been lenient to your organization in the past, avoiding death as much as possible, I''ll get through you here today if you forbid me from acquiring what I desire."

    "And what is it you desire¡­?"

 Chapter 359 - 359: Cassius and the Sword God

    The Head Legioneer had his weapon at the ready, though he was trying to resolve things peacefully if at all possible. Fighting with an anomaly like the Prodigal Conqueror was something he very much didn''t want to happen.

    Cassius''s expression frosted over, his eyes turning to the heavens above. "What I want is to get to Heaven¡ªto reach the Heavenly Kingdom."

    "The Heavenly Kingdom!?"

    If he wished to enter the Heavenly Kingdom, then¡­

    "Fine," said the Head Legioneer, looking over at the massive, cosmically glowing globe in the distance. "If you have a death wish, then feel free to head over to the Astral Cannon. There, you''ll have to activate it with your Magical Energy. It''ll take you where you want to go."

    Cassius blinked, a bit surprised by the compliance of the seemingly headstrong Order Legioneer. "Thanks for the info. And as it turns out, I have to head over there for a different matter, so this works out perfectly."

    A bit of pity welled up inside the eyes of the Legioneers as they watched the Prodigal Conqueror fly toward the Astral Globe.

    "A genius like that dying so soon¡­" The Head Legioneer shook his head in disappointment. "It''s a damn shame; especially when considering that he''s part human as well. He would''ve made an excellent addition to our forces."

    "HELL is becoming feistier as of late," he added. "And it''s only because of that kid''s efforts that we''ve obtained some respite recently."

    Sighing, the Head Legioneer turned toward his subordinates. "ETA on the Ascension Nexus Event?"

    The Legioneer who had lost his arm approached the Head Legioneer. Whispering in his ear, he said hoarsely, "It''ll be within half a year Yggdrasil time. Possibly centuries for us."

    "I see," said the Head Legioneer, acting indifferent to the passing of a mere few centuries. "Then the prophesied day nears."

    Peering into the western side of the 6th Floor, he glimpsed a city spanning billions of miles. It floated millions of miles in the air by some magical means, possessing architecture that far outclassed the epitome of technology on Earth.

    "Go and inform the Castellan of Green-Diamond City," commanded the Head Legioneer. "Have him send in the next batch of Order Recruits. We need to expand while we have the chance. The certain death of the Prodigal Conqueror will surely lead the Demon Kings right back to our door. We can''t afford to lose any more bastions to their cruelty."

    "Yes, sir!"

    With that, the Legioneers dispersed. Most went toward the floating city, whereas the rest informed the concerned citizens of the resolution to the invasion problem.

    The Legioneer who had lost his arm eventually recovered with the help of a top-tier magical elixir as well. This action was only made possible because Cassius extinguished the Azura Flames remotely, which greatly altered the opinions that the Order Legioneers had of him.

    Arriving outside the Astral Globe, Cassius only just now obtained a true understanding of the sheer size of the cosmic construct. It was as if several thousand solar systems had been stacked together, making for both a surreal and otherworldly sight.

    Yet, even with the monumental size of the construct, the thing that appeared largest in the vicinity had to be the presence of the man standing above it.

    Like a god, he looked down at the limitless world below, seemingly searching for something.

    "There you are," he muttered, a smile forming. "Come on up, young lad. We have much to discuss."

    No matter how many times Cassius felt it, he wasn''t sure he''d ever get used to the stifling pressure that the Sword God passively emitted. It was truly of an entirely different level from anything he had experienced thus far.

    It was what Cassius imagined a genuine Godlike Rank being to be like. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    FWIP!

    Teleporting beside the Sword God, Cassius and he now stood face-to-face above a cosmically-enhanced solar flare. Yimin, Raijin, and the other two had been left behind, for Cassius feared they weren''t robust enough to endure the searing heat rolling out in waves around the Astral Globe.

    "What would you like to know first?" asked Cassius after sensing the Sword God''s growing curiosity. "I can answer anything as long as it''s not too personal. You have, after all, indirectly assisted me more than you''ll ever know."

    The Sword God''s brows peaked. "Delve more into that for starters," he said. "I''m dying to know how a lower human managed to obtain something that I figured had been lost in the dredges of time."

    In all honesty, he had left the Sword God''s Manual on the Lower Floors not expecting anyone to actually be capable of practicing it. For he believed none to be mentally ready enough to endure even a thousandth of what he had endured.

    And yet now stood this intriguing kiddo. One who appeared to be anything but normal.

    Looking into the Sword God''s childlike eyes brimming with curiosity, Cassius opened his mouth to speak. "I found your Manual in a random fortunate encounter on the 0th Floor of Humanity. Finding it to my liking, I practiced it day in and day out, eventually reaching a stage that I''d consider a bottleneck."

    To your liking?? What sort of crazy person would find a masochistic technique like that to their liking!?

    ''Then again, I''m the same,'' the Sword God voraciously smirked. ''We''re two peas in the same pod. But wait¡­ Did he say something about a bottleneck¡­? It can''t be, can it?''

    "...Exactly what stage have you reached in the Manual¡ª"

    "Nightmare Trainer."

    Silence¡­

    "Are you shitting me right now??"

    Cassius stared at him as seriously as possible. "I am in fact not shitting you. The bottleneck I''m speaking of is the one that''ll ascend me to a God Trainer."

    "...You¡­" The way the Sword God looked at him drastically changed. "Just how old are you¡­?"

    "A few hundred years old, I suppose," replied Cassius. "Maybe 20 or something in Yggdrasil time."

    "20 years old¡­" The Sword God murmured in disbelief. "Just what have you endured in your life to be capable of achieving the Nightmare Rank at such a young age¡­?"

 Chapter 360 - 360: Sword Gods Comprehensions of Suffering

    Taking a closer look at Cassius, the Sword God saw a sliver of something that frightened even him. Retracting his sight, he stared at the immortal-like man with¡­ pity¡­?

    "So much pain, always feeling it," he muttered with short, bated breath. "How do you live with it? Even I¡­ Even I''m not sure I could still retain my sanity if I lived the same way as you. And out of anyone in the Ascension Tower, I consider myself unrivaled in terms of persistence."

    A long shadow cast over Cassius''s expressionless face. He shifted his eyes to the enormous cannon pointing up to the heavens above. Melancholy colored his cheeks and irises as he prompted a question:

    "Do you know what it''s like to be scorned by everyone that looks your way? To be unconditionally hated without anyone knowing a single thing about you?"

    Memories of a time long past phased through the Sword God''s war-torn eyes. "Yes¡­ Yes, I have."

    "Then you know what it feels like to want to alter your fate."

    The Sword God nodded, his fierce gaze steeling.

    "Somewhere deep inside me, I''ve always wanted that as well," said Cassius. "But by myself, it was impossible to realize that. Luckily, something entered my life and opened my eyes to the one true path."

    Steadying his trembling hands, he buried the pain within the depths of his soul. "That something was what made me comprehend just how far I had to be willing to go to escape my fate as despised trash."

    The Sword God made no sound for a while.

    Until he eventually patted Cassius on the shoulder. "That something must be extremely important to you. You were lucky to have met it."

    Cassius gave no response, but in his heart, he agreed wholeheartedly.

    [I knew you adored me, Dear Host¡­] the System became sentimental.

    But that didn''t last long¡­

    [Come here and give me some sugga~! Muah~! Muah~!]

    ''I take back everything I said,'' Cassius''s lips curled in disgust. ''You were the worst thing to ever happen to me. A scourge to sanity. A curse to all mankind.''

    [T-That¡­ hurts¡­ ??¨q?¨r??] The System teared up, holding a fake handkerchief to its digital eyes. [You''ll need some more Character Development to make up for this¡­!]

    Cassius scoffed.

    Character Development didn''t scare him one bit! In fact, he welcomed it!

    "Hmm?" The Sword God''s bushy brows arched as he observed the unusual self-musings of the kiddo. "Fellow brother, are you talking to someone?"

    "Ye¡­ I mean, no," Cassius corrected himself, awkwardly smiling. "Or maybe I am¡­ I''m not sure."

    ''Poor lad,'' the Sword God thought, sympathy surging within his heart. ''He has already lost his mind.''

    To go to such lengths in order to attain greater power¡­

    Respect.

    "Say, little brother," he broached with a more familiar form of address. "Are you aiming to go to the Heavenly Kingdom?"

    Cassius hadn''t expected such a question, but he nodded nonetheless.

    "Then you''re going to want to be careful," continued the Sword God. "The Heavenly Kingdom is rife with faction conflicts. Unlike here, which is mostly peaceful due to the existence of the Order, the Heavenly Kingdom has its central power split between the Arch-Angels of the 6th Floor. And contrary to how it works in the other Ascension Towers, the Heavenly Kingdom''s 7th Floor only has a single entity overseeing it."

    "The Heavenly Progenitor," said Cassius.

    The Sword God nodded slowly. "Yes," he confirmed. "The Heavenly Progenitor. But as he''s not the only God-like being in the Heavenly Kingdom, where do you think all his kin are staying?"

    Cassius''s eyes stretched in realization. "The 6th Floor¡­"

    "Yes," replied the Sword God. "There are no Ancestors of the Heavenly Race, or Angels as they''re commonly known. There''s only the Heavenly Father and his children, with the latter residing on the floating-island-littered 6th Floor."

    "...Can they interfere with matters of the 6th Floor?" asked Cassius, fearing the answer to that question.

    Responding with a heavy sigh, the Sword God said, "Yes, they have dominion over their territories. But more often than not, they won''t make a move against lesser beings. Whether it be because they deem it beneath them or because they''re afraid of conflicting with one another, you''re unlikely to get into direct fights with them unless you attract their ire."

    "Then¡ª"

    Interrupting Cassius, the Sword God warned, "But that isn''t to say you should discard all caution, for even if they''re not likely to act themselves, they''re extremely old. That''s to say that they''re very, very cunning. And just to put it into better perspective, they''re even older than I am, and I''ve been around for tens of thousands of years."

    Cassius went quiet.

    "Do they have any weaknesses?" he ended up asking, hoping to find something that could be used against them.

    The Sword God pondered the question, his brain churning.

    Suddenly, he smacked his hands together. "Ah, that''s right. Although they don''t have many physical weaknesses, they''re known to mingle with our kind. And sometimes, this has gotten them in some real trouble. Also, with their Heavenly Father viewing the entire human race as imperfect, ''perfect creations,'' the Arch-Angels and any of their cronies are less likely to actively target you."

    "More than anything, the Angels don''t wish to disappoint their Father," the Sword God added with a touch of humor. "I''ve always found their need for their Father''s approval sad, but I also can''t speak from experience."

    ''It''s just like in the gospels and holy texts¡­''

    Thinking of something, Cassius asked, "Does that mean Lucifer is a fallen angel banished from Heaven?"

    The Sword God frowned at the mention of that accursed name. "You know of Lucifer Morningstar, do you? Well, yes, it''s as you say. And if at all possible, it''d be in your best interest to avoid him and anything else related to him."

    "???"

    "Why?" Cassius inquired, interested in why the Sword God was making such a broody face. "I know he''s extremely strong, but I''m almost certain that our eventual fight is inevitable."

    The System demanded it be so.

    The Sword God was going to continue to dissuade him, but he paused. Then he helplessly shook his head. "I heard those busybodies talking about you making a mess of HELL. And it''s very possible that Lucifer already has his sights set on you. I guess it''s unavoidable then."

    Sighing, he added, "If it has to be this way, then I''ll give you a hint of what I''ve comprehended of the Sword God''s Training Manual over the years. Although I couldn''t break through into the God Stage with these comprehensions, I''m sure you''ll find a way to do what I couldn''t."

    S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 361 - 1/7]

    OOOOM!

    A tsunami of information suddenly flooded Cassius''s mind, caused by the Sword God merely touching his forehead. And from this slight touch, dozens of millennia of pain and suffering overwhelmed Cassius''s psyche.

    The pain was immense!

    Unbearable even!

    But he refused to give in.

    "Good kid," the Sword God praised as exhaustion took hold of him, forcing him to sit down in meditation in order to steady his raging Will. ''Do what I couldn''t; use what I gave you today to achieve the absolute pinnacle of fortitude. A level that even the Gods above could only dream of achieving¡­''

    With that, the Sword God entered a deep slumber, recuperating.

    When Cassius awoke from what was definitely an information overload, he looked around. That was when he saw an unconscious Sword God sitting in the lotus position.

    Something also bled his eardrums. And as his hearing started to clear up, his vision followed suit. The blurry image of a couple of beautiful women shaking him like crazy turned into his reality.

    "Master, you must wake up!!" Yimin shouted through snot and tears, wiping all said bodily fluids on the barely lucid man. "Yimins can''t live without Mashters¡­!"

    ''I''m sure you could manage, you creature of avarice¡­''

    "Master¡­" Maxy held her hands over her ample bosom, worry making her big round eyes water. "You can''t die yet¡­ Not until I¡­"

    "Not until you what?" asked Cassius, shooting his eyes wide open.

    Astonishment froze Maxy''s expression. Then she realized what she had just said aloud, prompting a deep shade of crimson across her face.

    "F-Forget what I said, dumb bastard¡­!" she defensively snapped. "Yo-You scum, pervert, enslaving scoundrel¡­!!"

    Harsh!

    Cassius tilted his head in confusion. ''What''s her deal?''

    "Mashter!?" Yimin straddled him, shaking her perky pudding mountains all over the place, practically voiding Cassius''s peripheral vision. "You''re alive!! Yimins brought you back to life!!" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No, you didn''t¡ª"

    "Now Yimin and Master can have pups of our own¡ªa litter!" Yimin got lost in her own delusions, rubbing her plump butt everywhere that it wasn''t supposed to be. "Master and Yimins should get married right away! Then the sex''es comes after¡ª"

    *Bonk!*

    "Why did you lot come up here anyway?" asked Cassius while blowing off the steam coming out of his fist. "I do recall instructing all of you to stay behind."

    Everyone, even Nyxvoldar and Raijin, began nervously sweating. Averting their gazes, they couldn''t appear any guiltier.

    Sighing, Cassius said, "Whatever, let''s just leave this place already."

    Although there was surely more to explore of the ridiculously large 6th Floor of Humanity, he saw no tangible value in exploring when there was more power to be had elsewhere.

    Since Humanity hadn''t really antagonized him, he couldn''t just up and wantonly slaughter them. That wasn''t a low he had reached when it came to morality.

    Or whatever little morality he had left¡­

    There may eventually come a day when the pain became too much to bear. And Cassius would ultimately no longer possess the capacity necessary to care about anyone or anything.

    But that day was not now.

    "Let''s depart," he directed as he leapt atop Raijin''s head. "The Astral Cannon is over there. That is how we''ll get into Heaven¡ªthrough the 1st Arch of the Heavenly Kingdom."

    Everyone quickly composed themselves and followed his lead.

    After arriving at the huge technologically advanced railgun-like device sitting on the northern side of the Astral Globe, Cassius fanned away the surrounding cosmic energies. After which, Raijin entered through an open passageway leading into the solar-system-sized device.

    Traveling like a blur, Raijin and the gang made it to the transportation point of the railgun, which was where the firing process began.

    But from the looks of it, the thing hadn''t been fired in who knew how many years. Rust even seemed to be corroding the unknown material that went into constructing the railgun.

    Weirder yet, there were signs of wide-scale fights and struggles scattered about. Cracks, sword marks, burns, and various other forms of damage indicators made it clear that more than just a few people had fought here.

    "Just what were they fighting over, I wonder," mused Cassius as he shrunk Raijin, letting him perch on his right shoulder.

    Yimin and the others trailed behind him.

    "And why would they be fighting inside of a long-distance transportation device?"

    The more he thought about it, the weirder the whole hypothetical scenario became.

    "That is unless¡­" Staring more intently at the railgun''s cyberpunk interior, Cassius''s lashes flickered. "Was this thing previously used as a weapon?? With these signs of a fight serving as evidence of an ancient war???"

    This revelation brought forth another question¡ª

    ''What were the ancient beings using the railgun to fight¡­?''

    Putting this thought to the back of his mind, Cassius activated the railgun as instructed. It was only then that he fully understood just how much power the railgun was capable of wielding.

    Even after infusing all of his Godforce into the railgun, it felt like only a millionth of the weapon''s maximum magical energy had been filled.

    However, even though that may have been the case, the device was still operational enough to transport him to the Heavenly Kingdom. With that in mind, Cassius huddled Yimin and the others close to him. Then he beckoned for the railgun to charge, which it did right away.

    FWOOOOM!

    The railgun charged up enough that cosmic violet energies were being wildly discharged in every direction. The barrel of the weapon of mass destruction lit up like a star, with it being entirely powered by trace amounts of the Astral Globe''s energy, as well as nearly everything Cassius had in the tank.

    The Sword God watched this from billions of miles away, his consciousness having just returned to him.

    "It seems like he''s stronger than I originally thought he was," he struggled to say, a wide grin gracing his cracked lips. "Now I''m regretting sending him away. Fighting him would be interesting."

    Finally, the railgun finished its charging process. Cosmic energies whipped around in the form of hyper-condensed tendrils, increasing the radiating heat to ludicrous levels.

    Then¡ª

    BOOOOOOM!

    It fired!

    "Fly high, brother," said the Sword God, his gaze focused on the giant brilliant beam of energy drilling through the atmosphere. "You''ll need to if you keep treading the same path you''ve been walking. I hope my comprehensions of pain and suffering have helped you get one step closer to the true peak of mentality. The stage beyond the God Stage¡ªone that I theorized as myth long ago."

 Chapter 362 - 362: He Has To Die

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within the scorching depths of HELL''s 7th Floor, in the Great Palace of Betrayal ¡ª

    "Where is the little one right now?"

    A question was voiced by an existence whose every breath raised the gongs of obliteration. Atop a caged dragon''s head he sat, his legs casually crossed in a way that exuded indomitable apathy.

    "Lord Lucifer," answered a different voice, belonging to a GX-Rank Demon Ancestor kneeling below the colossal dragon. "Are you referring to the Prodigal Conqueror?"

    Lucifer blasted out with an absurd level of malevolence, forcing the kneeling Demon Ancestor into the ground. "Why, who else would I be referring to, Baldal? The rat erecting Towers and confining inferior Demon Kings as he sees fit¡ªtell me where he is." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "S-Sire," replied the Demon Ancestor. "If the reports are accurate, then the Prodigal Conqueror ascended to the 6th Floor of Humanity. After which, he got into contact with one of the Overseers of an Old Time''s Relic."

    "On the 6th Floor of Humanity?" Lucifer''s brows furrowed.

    "Yes, Sire."

    ''Then it must be the one that leads¡­''

    Lucifer halted his thoughts, his face twisting in anger. He glared at the kneeling Demon Ancestor, feeling a great deal of killing restraint.

    "Why would he be heading to the Heavenly Kingdom, Baldal??" he asked, seething. "Is he planning to conspire with my Father??? Tell me: IS HE!?"

    RUMBLE!

    The Great Palace of Betrayal violently shook, with the billions of Demons living inside it experiencing a sinking feeling in their hearts.

    "Sire¡­" Baldal struggled to speak, his Divine Spark threatening to crack. "It does not appear that the Prodigal Conqueror is going to join up with the Heavenly Progenitor, but anything is possible. I''ve already contacted our moles in the Heavenly Court; they''ll keep us informed on any movements the Prodigal Conqueror makes."

    Hearing this, Lucifer eased up.

    However, it was then that he realized the skull of the caged dragon had been accidentally crushed by him. Blood mixed with bone fragments, oozing out in a very ominous manner.

    "Go find me another Abyssal Dragon; this one is no longer of use to me," Lucifer ordered emotionlessly, acting as if the death of an extremely rare Godlike-rank dragon was no more than a minor inconvenience.

    Kicking the behemoth aside with a sloppy kick, it crashed outside the Palace of Betrayal, plummeting into the bottomless expanse of darkness below. Lurking within this expanse were countless nightmare-fuel creatures¡ªthe Fallen Son-of-Heaven''s pets.

    The Demon Ancestor felt it to be a waste of a corpse imbued with high amounts of Demonic Energy, but he dared not say that out loud. He simply bowed respectfully before vanishing.

    Left alone inside the huge throne room of his massive castle, Lucifer Morningstar entered a deep state of thought.

    "Cassius Steele¡­ HIS son¡­"

    It was better to eliminate someone like that early on.

    Having another Adam Steele could very well tip the balance of the scale in a direction that it had never before been in¡­

    "He has to die."

    ¡ª At around the same time, on the 6th Sinity-Realm of the Realm of Pleasure, within the Aluria Territory ¡ª

    "Mother, have you heard about what Cass has been up to in the Ascension Towers?" Flora spoke as if she were barely holding interest in the topic, but on the inside, she was jumping with joy, her pride overflowing.

    As expected of her First Mark, hoho~!

    Amaris narrowed her eyes at her daughter, causing her to sweat a little.

    But before Flora could fumble the bag by sputtering, her mother spoke first:

    "I''m well aware of what that boy has been up to," she said coldly. "But that doesn''t mean he''ll be able to make a difference in the Tournament of Yggdrasil. In fact, he''s likely to not even live long enough to make it to Yggdrasil''s roots."

    "!!!"

    Urgency flashed across Flora''s expression as she desperately threw out her hands. "But why is that, Mother!? Have you not read the reports detailing his strength??"

    "I have," replied Amaris. "And it''s precisely because I''ve read the reports that I know he''s unlikely to live very long. After all, with his appearance, the Governance of Yggdrasil will surely adjust the rules enough to create a higher Transcendent-rank Bracket. But even without the hard fights he''s destined to find himself in, the other Major Forces of the Ascension Tower will not at all appreciate the changes his existence is going to cause to Yggdrasil."

    Understanding the underlying meaning behind her mother''s words, Flora''s eyes grew round, slightly reddening.

    "So you finally understand," Amaris sighed, shaking her head at the loss of an unparalleled genius. "The whole of Ascension Tower will soon begin actively hunting down the boy; they might even already be doing it. And the Hunters won''t merely be limited to Transcendents. With the methods of the Oldest among our Ancestors in play, the limitations that the Tower placed on Godlike entities will mean very little."

    Tears bubbled at the corners of Flora''s eyes as she thought of the worst coming to pass.

    But just then, she recalled something, prompting her to ask, "What about Grandmother!? Can she not protect him!??"

    Amaris felt conflicted at the sight of her second eldest daughter so fervently trying to brainstorm a way to preserve Cassius''s life. She didn''t know if she had ever seen her so passionately outspoken about something.

    ''She was a lot colder before as well¡­''

    Feeling a headache coming, Amaris did the hard but necessary thing and dashed away her daughter''s hopes. "It wouldn''t make any sort of difference even if I requested Mother to descend and protect him. On the hierarchy of Godlike Entities, she''s ranked around the higher-bottom. A single Demon Ancestor of well-renown would be enough to snuff out her lifeforce."

    "Dear, Cassius will fall all the same," said Amaris, telling it to her straight. "I''ll figure out a way to lessen the impact his death will have on your First Mark Ritual, so until then, it''d be best if you¡ª"

    "NO!" Flora had an outburst, her Succubi racial features becoming very prominent. "You''re wrong, Mother!! He''ll live!! You''re¡­ You''re wrong¡­."

    In her heart, tucked far away, she knew the Succubus Queen was right. But that part of her adamantly refused to surface¡­

 Chapter 363 - 363: Archangel Mikaela and her Daughter

    Observing her daughter''s current emotional state, Amaris exhaled a heavy cloud of air. Raising her right hand ever so slightly off her velvety chair, she watched as Flora''s lucidity slipped away, her body slowly collapsing.

    Before she could hit the ground, however, the Succubus Queen enveloped her in a magical aura, making her float. Then, she called out a name:

    "Aza, come here."

    FWIP!

    Appearing within the second, Azara Aluria rebelliously stared at her mother. But her gaze quickly drifted over to the beautiful, teary-eyed girl hovering off the floor.

    "I re-negotiated with the Orcs, and despite your heinous crime of slaughtering two of their princes in cold blood, they have decided to forgive you. I reduced your sentence to nil because of this event, but that isn''t to say your punishment has ended."

    Queen Amaris pointed to Flora. "You are to guard your younger sister until the conclusion of the Tournament of Yggdrasil. Do not let her out of this dimension."

    Clicking her tongue, Azara cursed, "Those two pigs asked for it with their leering eyes and scummy words. I did the whole world a favor by killing them¡ª"

    "Aza."

    "Fine, fine," Azara retorted. "It''s not like I was going to reject your request anyway. I''m well aware of that young brat''s exploits as well. It''s better for Flora if she stays as far away from him as possible¡ªhim and that overbearing father of his."

    "Yes¡­" Amaris tensed up at the mention of Adam Steele, still able to vividly recall the world-shaking stories she had heard of him while growing up. "Do well, and by the end of the Tournament, you''ll be free to do whatever you want."

    "About the Tournament," Aza began, a violence-craving smirk forming on her lips. "I can participate now, can''t I?"

    Amaris''s forehead wrinkled.

    But ultimately, she nodded. "You''re allowed to participate, but be aware that this only happens if that boy lives past the commencement of the Tournament. Also, you won''t be the strongest, so¡ª"

    "Yeah, I know, I know!" Aza laughed off her mother''s words of caution. "I just want to fight strong people! And if that brat actually does survive and make it to the Tournament, I want to fight him as well! He must be even stronger now than when we last met, what with the constant changes in time dilation across the dimensions and floors¡­! Ha! I can''t wait~!"

    "Yes¡­" Queen Amaris sighed in exasperation. "Now, get going. I wish to be alone now."

    "Yesso, Mother dearest, hehe~!"

    Still excited about the Tournament, Aza carried Flora away. Disappearing into the far ends of the palace, she left her mother to meander in her thoughts.

    "Everything just keeps becoming more complicated¡­"

    ¡ª A Week Later (Yggdrasil Time), Months, Even Years Later for Cassius, His Two Dragonoid Girls, and His Evomon Summons ¡ª

    "Mother, am I still not good enough to visit outside the Heavenly Kingdom?"

    A voice, both familiar and unfamiliar, carried through the air, accompanied by a faint chorus and the singing of songbirds. The owner of the voice¡ªa young woman with a refined sense of style¡ªwalked toward an elegantly decorated gazebo, where an even more elegant, ten-winged woman sat inside.

    The young woman had long, luscious black hair that cascaded down her back. Most prominent were her eyes, akin to pools of gold mixed with oceans of stars. Her figure, perfectly rounded in every area, bordered on the pinnacle of the female form.

    Yet, despite her unbelievable beauty, the woman inside the gazebo was in an entirely different league. She possessed a level of beauty unattainable by mere mortals¡ªlike a genuine goddess.

    "Memphis, dear, you know full well what is required of you before you''re able to leave this place," said the woman known as none other than Mikaela Celestine. "Do remember, I''m doing this for your own sake. There are beings out there who wish to harm me, and with you as an extension of myself, they would harm you. Yet, they''re not likely to stop there; they would also go after anyone related to you if they discovered your existence.

    "That is why you must stay within the bounds of the island¡ªuntil you''re ready."

    "I know, Mother, but¡­"

    Mikaela let out a majestic, feminine giggle. "Is it about that boy again?" she asked teasingly. "The one who saved you and gave you a loving home all those years ago?"

    Memphis blushed, her embarrassment written all over her exquisite face. "I-It''s not that, Mother. I just¡­ I just haven''t been able to repay him yet. I owe him more than I''ve given him."

    Dozens of years ago, back on Earth, she had left Cassius and his family after experiencing the evils of human nature¡ªmanifested in the form of her uncle. After that, she found a bit of solace in the Earth Crusaders Guild as a powerful S-Rank Hunter.

    Then came the event with the Dissonants disguised as world-class Hunters. The appearance of her mother followed shortly thereafter.

    After being trained for so long by Mikaela Celestine¡ªthe most powerful of the Archangels¡ªshe managed to become a Transcendent. A remarkable feat for someone so young¡ªone that would make her a supreme genius no matter where she went.

    However, in the eyes of her mother, she still wasn''t ready¡­

    "That impatient glow in your gaze is surely going to get you into trouble one of these days," said Mikaela, sighing. "But that still won''t make me change my mind. In at most a few centuries, with your talent, you''ll ascend to the Godlike Rank. Then, and only then, will you be allowed to descend to the Mortal Realm and see that boyfriend of yours. And don''t worry, time moves much slower here, so it''s possible that not even a couple of years will have passed by the time you return."

    As red as a beet, Memphis fiddled with her dainty, painted fingers. "I-I told you it wasn''t like that, Mother¡­ He''s like a brother to me."

    "A brother that you wanna hook up with¡­?" Mikaela tilted her head. "We outlawed such practices eons ago up here after a few ''unsavory'' incidents, but it appears that humans are still upholding bloodline purity¡ª" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 364 - 2/7]

    "N-No, it''s not that either¡­!" Flustered, Memphis waved her hands in front of her. "He-He''s just as close to me as a brother would be. That''s all¡­"

    "Mhmm," Mikaela hummed, not believing a single bit of it. "That''s what you''ve been telling me all this time. But do you even believe what you''re saying? If you''re to condense your Divine Spark, then you must first understand yourself. Only then can you discard your mortality and ascend to Godhood."

    "I¡­" Memphis bit her cherry-red lips, frustration building up inside her. "I know, Mother¡­"

    "I know you do," Mikaela smiled fondly.

    That was when she sensed it¡ª

    An invader.

    "Hmm?" Her brows arched, further accentuating her drop-dead gorgeous face. ''What an intriguing aura¡­''

    Noticing something amiss, Memphis asked, "What''s the matter, Mother?"

    "Oh, nothing much," replied Archangel Mikaela, her eyes returning to their closed state. "There''s an uninvited guest that requires handling. But that''s of no concern to us; the others will take care of the problem."

    "...I see¡­"

    Memphis was curious but felt that inquiring any further would only annoy her mother.

    "No matter," said Mikaela. "Show me the progress you''ve made with your eight-winged transformation battle prowess. I''ve already set up the protective and restricting barrier, so as usual, feel free to go all out."

    "Yes, Mother," replied Memphis as eight stunning pearl-white wings sprouted from her back. "I''ll hold nothing back."

    "Good."

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in a faraway corner of the extremely massive 6th Arch of the Heavenly Kingdom, a group mostly consisting of dragons appeared ¡ª

    Activating his aura concealment and camouflage almost immediately, Cassius just hoped no one saw him.

    And no one did.

    Well¡­ none except one¡­

    "Mashter!"

    Yimin bounced over to her Master, licking her lips like crazy while staring out at all the floating islands¡ªor, more specifically, the winged people flying above and inside the islands.

    "Can Yimins eats the birdies!?"

    *Thonk!*

    "No," replied Cassius, karate-chopping her head one extra time for good measure. "We already went over this on the lower Arches. You are not to eat any of the Angels; we''re trying to remain incognito, remember?"

    "Inc¡­ogito¡­?" Yimin''s tongue twisted as she looked at her Master with glossy eyes. "Yimins doesn''t like the icogito¡­ Wants to eat birdies¡­"

    Silence¡­

    "Why aren''t you like her?" Cassius asked the other dragonoid woman¡ªthe one with long, peachy-colored hair and honeydew eyes.

    Maxy shifted her interested gaze away from the Heavenly Isles of the 6th Arch of Heaven. Matching her Master''s stare, she answered, "I''m a lot older than that one is. Furthermore, my race appears to be of a far lower quality. Mine typically have shorter maximum lifespans, whereas hers are¡­ very, very long. Honestly, I have no idea where a type of dragon like her would even come from; it''s obvious that her race exceeds the limits of the Ascension Tower."

    "Exceeds the limits¡­?"

    Taking another look at Yimin, Cassius saw her toot and then glance at her behind in bewilderment, seemingly unsure of what just happened.

    "The only thing she''s exceeding is the limits of my brain''s capacity," said Cassius, veins bulging all over his face. "I''m pretty sure I got the broken universal-threat dragon¡­"

    Maxy giggled softly, much more open with him than she had been over a dozen years ago. "Anyway, Master, where exactly are we going right now? For the other Floors, we spent very little time sightseeing or veering off the endless paths leading to the next Arches. Why are we changing things up now?"

    The Heavenly Kingdom was made up of seven Arches, each a massive cosmic structure that couldn''t be fully seen by the naked eye of anyone below the Godlike Rank. They were both the Floors and the entrances to the Floors, their giant golden visages visible from behind and in the background ahead.

    No one¡ªbesides maybe the Heavenly Progenitor¡ªknew what the Arches actually were or why they couldn''t be physically interacted with, but they were considered the trademarks of the Heavenly Kingdom. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They were also what prevented entry to those without the proper identification. And that identification was¡ª

    The bloodline of an Angel.

    To reach the higher Floors¡ªunless you had extremely hard-to-come-by permissions¡ªyou had to be an Angel of proportionately better lineage.

    Now, how did Cassius go about ascending the Arches of the Heavenly Kingdom over the years?

    SHA! SHA!

    Sprouting from his back were three pairs of blackish-red and white wings, six in total. They shimmered unlike anything else, their glow mesmerizing.

    Cassius had stolen Angel Bloodlines from strong Angels, assimilating them into his Origin Progenitor Bloodline. This not only allowed for seamless bloodline acquisition but also a level of synchronicity between body and bloodline.

    Simply put, in the eyes of every Angel and the Heavenly Arches, he was more Angel than Angel!

    A noble-blood at that!

    Descending to a moderately sized island, Cassius saw that no one was flying around. Assuming that flight was forbidden by the rules, he neatly folded his magnificent wings behind his back. He also forced the same occurrence for Yimin and the others, all of whom possessed Angel Bloodlines as well.

    ''The Origin Progenitor Bloodline truly is unquestionably useful,'' he thought to himself while approaching the high-reaching gates of a bustling, pearl-white city. ''Not only has it tremendously assisted in bringing my Godforce past 1¡ªand my Unity over 100¡ªit has also periodically given me new, synthesized abilities.''

    One such ability enabled Cassius to partially replicate and bestow minor aspects of his existence to others.

    {[Origin Blessing]} - [GX+]

    ¡ª[Copy and gift up to 10% of any Bloodline, Physique, or Special Quality of your existence to someone else. The exact percentage allocated depends on both the quality of the aspect being gifted and the potential synergy the recipient has with it.]

    ¡ª[Ability Limit: 5/100]

    The ability wasn''t omnipotent and was limited in more than one way, but it certainly helped Cassius better empower those who stuck close to him. He wasn''t expecting them to even remotely catch up to him¡ªnot with all his cheats, hard-work, and character development¡ªbut it definitely made them less of a burden.

 Chapter 365 - 365: Avoidable Demise

    ''Whenever I find a way to return to Earth without facing serious repercussions, I should gift a few Bloodlines and Physiques to the girls. They''ll surely benefit from it.''

    The only people Cassius had used the ability on so far were Yimin, Maxy, Nyxvoldar, Hellion, and Raijin. They were the ones most prone to danger by being close to him, so it was only natural to externally boost their stats a little.

    Now, they were all capable of easily contending with genuine Transcendents, with Hellion being marginally better due to her special connection with Cassius. This placed her in first place among his subordinates and companions, possessing enough power to go toe-to-toe with some of the Demon Kings of the 6th Floor of HELL.

    That was why Hellion was Cassius''s second-in-command in HELL. Both his visionary, his Guide, and his Sword.

    At least, that''s what she told him¡­

    "So, Master, what are we really doing here?" asked Maxy, her shimmering eyes curiously observing her surroundings. She found the color scheme of the Heavenly Kingdom extremely linear. "I don''t believe anything around here will help us get any closer to meeting the Heavenly Progenitor. Which is why we''ve been doing all of this, no?"

    Cassius ruffled her creamy-white hair, his hand brushing past her upward-pointing obsidian horns. "There''s someone I want to find information on. If she''s anywhere, then she''ll be somewhere on this Arch; I need to know where."

    ''She¡­?''

    Maxy frowned, and Yimin was too distracted by the Yummers standing over the city gate to comprehend what he had said.

    "Who is this ''she,'' Master?" Maxy inquired with a friendly smile, her face shrouded in shadows. "A friend of yours? A¡­ lover, perhaps¡­?"

    Cassius wryly chuckled, finding her expression quite menacing. "It''s nothing like that," he said. "Some time ago, I received a personal message from an old friend of my father''s. In that message, it detailed the approximate location of a girl whose safety I feel obligated to confirm."

    "Is that so¡­?"

    Maxy still wore a scary look on her face, but thankfully, it started to return to normal.

    ''Haiz¡­'' Cassius thought. ''Even while who knows how many light-years away, the Ice Sovereign can still stir up trouble. If not for the message he sent, I wouldn''t even be here¡ªI''d be heading directly for a way to the Heavenly Progenitor. But now that I know it exists, I can''t stop myself from finding out the truth.''

    He had no clue why an ethereal entity like the Ice Sovereign had given him such a message so out of the blue, but that was hardly of concern right now. Whatever his intentions may be, Cassius couldn''t just look the other way.

    Sensing something from atop a massive blue ball of flames larger than a galaxy, the pensive expression of the wrinkle-faced Ice Sovereign showed a small grin.

    "Things are finally falling into place," he said, his grin turning into a cold smile. "Immortality will be mine. And no one will get in my way this time¡ªno one."

    Sinister cackling resounded inside an endless void as the colossal ball of blue fire began disappearing at a visible rate. Entering the belly of the light-bathed Ice Sovereign, it stayed, furthering his comprehension of Immortality.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, returning to the 6th Arch of the Heavenly Kingdom ¡ª

    Cassius and his group had just reached the gates of the pearl-white city.

    "State your business in the Great City of Opaline¡ª!"

    *Fwooosh!*

    Flashing his glorious wings was all Cassius needed to do to have the wall guard sweating. The guard bowed at a slight angle, his demeanor a complete 180 from what it had just been.

    "I apologize for my rudeness, Sir Noble! I-It''s protocol, you see¡ª"

    "You needn''t say any more," said Cassius, acting haughty to fit the part. "Just open the gates; we have business to attend to in there."

    Attracted by the sight of two alluring six-winged Angels and two unique Angelic beings standing beside the Angel Noble, the wall guard was rendered momentarily stunned. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Well??" Cassius asked, his false impatience evident from his expression.

    "!!!"

    "Y-Yes, of course, Sir Noble¡­!"

    SHAAAA¡ª

    The gates to Opaline City opened, revealing the fantastical view of a massive, multi-layered city that seemed to have no imperfections or blemishes. Angels walked about, their auras varying from SS-Rank to SSS-Rank, with even the weakest of their children stronger than Earth''s most powerful powerhouses.

    "Shoo¡­ many Yummers¡­!" Yimin was practically drooling, her draconic tail swinging like an unruly puppy. "Can eats¡­!?"

    "No," Cassius denied with a bonk. "Now get in there."

    "B-But, Mashter¡­" Yimin''s eyes watered. "Is hungry¡­!"

    Cassius sighed. "There will be new types of food for you to taste inside, but they won''t be there if you insist on wasting time."

    "!?!"

    "Should''ve just said so sooner, Mashter!!" Yimin exclaimed, pulling Cassius through the opened gates. "Let''s gooo¡ª!"

    Suddenly!

    Everything froze.

    "???"

    Feeling time around him come to a complete, one-sided stop, Cassius immediately let the Shadow''s Foresight skill finish activating. It was warning him of something.

    Unfamiliar memories¡ªevents that had yet to happen¡ªflashed through his mind, showing him a future drenched in blood.

    Then time unfroze.

    "¡­What''s the matter, Master?" Maxy inquired, noticing a change in Cassius''s complexion. "Are we not heading in?"

    Snapping out of his reverie, Cassius shook his head. "I''ve changed my mind. There''s somewhere else even better than this place; it''ll have lots more delicious food and the information I want."

    "???" "???"

    Even Yimin was puzzled, but they knew that asking him to elaborate would get them nowhere. Thus, they¡ªand the Evomon¡ªfollowed behind Cassius as he flew off into the distance, seemingly in a hurried rush.

    ''An Exalted Marshal would have spotted us within seconds of entering that city,'' Cassius thought. ''As limbs of the Archangels and top executives of the Heavenly Court, Exalted Marshals are extremely capable Godlike entities. That one, in particular, had a very keen sense, and with it, he discerned my true identity in an instant before mercilessly slaughtering me and the others. However, after realizing that I wasn''t so easily permanently killed, he trapped me inside some high-ranking item before bringing me to Archangel Gabriel.''

    Then the glimpse into the future cut off¡­

 Chapter 366 - 366: Tier 2 Origin Shop, 2â˜… Origin Units

    Deciding he needed something to calm his nerves, Cassius silently entered the Originverse while he and the others rode atop the angel-dragon, Raijin.

    FWIP!

    Appearing within the mostly empty world of white, Cassius observed his Origin Farmers hard at work. He also noticed some of them occasionally going into the house and taking what appeared to be naps.

    "I thought they were supposed to be autonomous¡ª"

    Pausing mid-sentence, he noticed an abundance of different-colored balls of light dropping around the sleeping Origin Farmers. More were dropping from these Farmers than from the ones hard at work outside, which struck Cassius as odd.

    [Before you ask, Origin Units do indeed drop more Attribute Orbs while recuperating. In fact, the only reason they recuperate in the first place is for the Attribute Orbs!]

    [Think of this process as a gumball machine periodically dispensing gumballs at a moderate rate. Then, when the gumball machine runs low on gumballs, they''re refilled in an extremely massive influx. From that influx, numerous gumballs will slip out of the machine, and those are what you see dropping from the Origin Units while they''re recuperating.]

    "I see," Cassius said plainly. "So they''re autonomous but sleep for the sake of maximizing gains?"

    [Correctoid!]

    Nodding in understanding, Cassius then requested the pop-up displaying the cost of the next Origin Village upgrade:

    {[Small Origin Courtyard]} - [Tier 3 Village]

    [Upgrade Cost: 100 Unity]

    Checking how much Unity he had in storage, Cassius saw:

    [Current Unity: 187]

    "Upgrade the Origin Village," he ordered while floating above the small courtyard like an overseeing deity. "Right after, purchase 100 Origin Farmers and place them throughout the Village."

    *Ding!*

    [Heeding the Host''s request, 100 Unity has been spent to upgrade the Origin Village!]

    [Small Origin Courtyard (Tier 3) ¡ú Large Origin Courtyard (Tier 4)!]

    FWOOOM!

    Expanding over ten times its original size, the once-small courtyard now spanned thousands of square feet. Furthermore, the house at the center had grown significantly, now boasting a third floor as well as over a dozen new rooms.

    It almost looked like a mansion¡ªbut it wasn''t there just yet.

    Outside the enlarged house stood two big sheds, each two stories tall and offering hundreds of square feet of interior space. They were considerably more spacious than their predecessors.

    The Origin Farmers showed no reaction to the changes around them.

    However, when over a hundred more of their kind appeared out of nowhere, they started to move. Quickly getting into position, they resumed the tilling process, with the newcomers following their lead.

    Soon, Cassius had over a hundred super-efficient farmers growing Unity Crops that would soon bring him and his colony to even greater heights.

    It was truly sublime.

    "With that done and out of the way, I''ll collect what they''ve left for me, then¡ª"

    Before he could continue, a System Notification rang out:

    *Ding~!* S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [It''s recommended that the Host begin investing in Origin Builders and Origin Woodcutters!]

    "Why¡ª?"

    Before he could finish asking, another set of pop-ups flashed before him:

    [Your Origin Village has achieved Tier 4, thus unlocking 2¡ï Origin Units!]

    {[New Unlocked Origin Units:]}

    ¡ª [Tier 2 Origin Shop] ¡ª

    [2¡ï Origin Planter] - (Cost: 0.1 Unity)

    [2¡ï Origin Digger] - (Cost: 0.2 Unity)

    [2¡ï Origin Materials Manufacturer] - (Cost: 0.5 Unity)

    [2¡ï Origin Miner] - (Cost: 1 Unity)

    [2¡ï Basic Origin Architect] - (Cost: 2 Unity)

    The unveiling of these System Screens put Cassius into deep thought.

    Obviously, he had to purchase them.

    But in what order?

    He wasn''t too sure.

    Ultimately, he decided to buy some of each one. It was the best way to get things done in his mind. Plus, it would be interesting to see so much diversity in his Farmer-dominated area.

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    Materializing all over the place were shadowy figures that matched the stereotypes behind their titles. Their appearances quickly populated the previously empty space, putting a small smile on Cassius''s face.

    ''Time to see what they can do.''

    His anticipatory thoughts rang out as he first had the 2¡ï Planters and 2¡ï Diggers get to work in two separate corners of the Originverse.

    They started moving right away.

    The Planters dug holes and threw in mysterious seeds from mysterious pouches.

    The Diggers, on the other hand, worked in an extremely orderly fashion, wielding black pickaxes and swinging them at lightning speed. They tore through layer after layer of earth like it was nothing.

    It was then that Cassius realized there was now an underground to the habitable section of his Originverse. It extended several miles deep, consisting of a mixture of dirt, roots, and common minerals like Iron, Stone, and Gravel.

    Touching the lush green grass surrounding his large house, Cassius tried digging into the ground himself. However, he instantly realized that only the Origin Units could affect the environment.

    "How intriguing¡­"

    He brooded for a moment, watching the Origin Diggers and Planters until they reached a point where the next units could be stationed.

    The Origin Woodcutters were then directed to the freshly grown trees¡ªtall and vibrant, in hues of yellow and brown.

    When a certain number of trees reached full maturity, the Woodcutters conjured pitch-black axes and got to work.

    They chopped with brutal efficiency¡ªlike jacked lumberjacks on steroids.

    As five-to-ten-meter-tall trees fell one after another, the Woodcutters immediately went on to split them into dozens of circular chunks.

    Those chunks were neatly stacked into tens of rows, forming massive piles of processed wood.

    Cassius observed this process with contentment.

    After a moment, he opened the Origin Map, clicked on the idle Origin Material Manufacturers, and had most of them move over to the forest.

    There, they inspected the chopped wood trunks.

    Identifying them as |Tier 2 Amber Wood|, they lifted them up and carefully placed them outside the wood stacks.

    Then, they summoned black woodshavers and rapidly circled the isolated wood chunks. They carved them into designs specified by Cassius in the Origin Map''s Task Manager Section.

    The first Origin Material Manufacturer finished the wood-shaving task in record-breaking time.

    A finished product was then put on display for Cassius to appraise:

 Chapter 367 - 2/7]

    |Tier 2 Amber Wood Plank|

    The creation of this colorful plank was followed by the dropping of an |Expertise +1.3| Attribute Orb, which Cassius allowed the Origin Material Manufacturer to absorb.

    Watching the Origin Unit do just that, Cassius was astounded to see violet-colored light engulf it, increasing its wood-shaving task efficiency by over 30%!

    "Damn, that''s nice," Cassius commented as he watched similar things happen to the other ten or so Material Manufacturers. "Now then, I wonder how it''s going for the Origin Diggers and Miners."

    Honing in on them with his Magic Sense, he saw that a couple of the Diggers had finally struck gold¡ªor in this case, Iron.

    After discovering this Iron, they called upon the Origin Miners.

    The Origin Miners extracted the raw metal using a decent level of technique. Then, they took the extracted Iron and ascended up the earthy staircase they had used to descend to where the Iron was located. Brightly lit torches lined the paths they dug out, reminding Cassius of a game he used to play a very long time ago.

    Lying in wait at the entrance to these underground tunnels were more Origin Material Manufacturers. They were given the Iron by the Origin Miners, who took the metal out of their giant backpacks.

    The Origin Material Manufacturers then registered their designated tasks, prompting them to conjure metal-chiselers. They used them to chisel away at the raw Iron chunks, causing sparks to fly and trace amounts of the metal to gather in the air.

    The finished products of these Origin Material Manufacturers wound up being Rough Ingots¡ªones that possessed a far higher density of Iron than the raw chunks that were originally extracted and transported.

    "A smelter would be nice," mused Cassius, stroking his chin in curious thought. "But for now, the Rough Iron Ingots will just have to sit aside and rust. Though I do wonder where I''ll put them. The storage space I have right now certainly won''t cut it."

    He felt that they could be stored inside one of the large sheds, but with how many of the Ingots were being constantly crafted, the shed wouldn''t be able to hold them all for long.

    A lightbulb suddenly flashed within his mind. He shifted toward the Origin Builders, the perfect idea forming. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A Storagehouse!

    Commanding them to begin making use of the Amber Wood Planks, Cassius also had a number of the Origin Material Manufacturers work together with the Basic Origin Architects. The latter created the simple blueprints for a Storagehouse, while the former shaved chunks of Amber Wood into various shapes.

    From wooden arches to window frames to any number of other building components¡ªthe Origin Material Manufacturers could do it all!

    Of course, that was assuming the rank of the materials being crafted was within their capabilities.

    Which, in this case, they were.

    ¡ª A Couple Minutes Later ¡ª

    The Origin Manufacturers had just concluded the crafting of the last parts necessary to construct a basic Storagehouse. As long as the Builders followed the Basic Origin Architects'' designs to a T, it went without saying that the final product would surely be something worthy of the teamwork that went into creating it.

    Speaking of teamwork, the Origin Builders¡ªnumbering in the dozens¡ªhad just started to seriously move. They, too, adhered to the Storagehouse Blueprint made by the Basic Origin Architects, hammering magically made nails wherever they needed to go.

    Moving like blurs of light, the Storagehouse''s completion timer appeared before Cassius:

    [Basic Origin Storagehouse (Tier 3)] - [Time to Completion: 58 Seconds]

    "So, around a minute to make something like a Storagehouse," Cassius noted, finding the procedure of the Origin Units quite appealing to observe. "If you factor in the amount of Attribute Orbs that drop while these Units perform their tasks, then constructing buildings really is especially lucrative."

    If only he had more space¡­

    "How much for the next Village upgrade?" he asked, despite knowing for certain that he lacked the funds.

    *Ding!*

    [To upgrade your Tier 4 Origin Village to a Tier 5 Origin Village, you will require 1000 Unity as well as the existence of 3 Basic Origin Storagehouses, 10 Basic Origin Houses, and 1 Origin Community Center!]

    "Hurm?" Raising his brows, Cassius re-read the System Message just to make sure he heard correctly. "So I need more than just Unity to upgrade the Origin Village now. Good to know."

    Coincidentally, the Basic Origin Architects had a pretty good-sized list of Blueprints that could be created. On that list were the Facilities required to upgrade the Origin Village to Tier 5.

    Cassius had several of the Basic Origin Architects begin the tasks of creating the necessary Blueprints, each one taking a different amount of time. Taking longer to complete than the Basic Origin Houses was the Origin Community Center.

    But with at least a few hours until Cassius and the gang reached the next best island after the one with the Exalted Marshal on it, he had plenty of time to play around in the Originverse.

    ¡ª Five Minutes Later ¡ª

    With the Origin Community Center Blueprint finally created, Cassius had the Origin Builders move over from their finished Facilities. They were to begin constructing the larger and more time-costly Origin Community Center, and within seconds, all of them were hard at work accomplishing exactly that.

    Looking away from the constructing Community Center, Cassius counted a total of five Origin Storagehouses lined up right next to each other. They took up a good bit of space, but it wasn''t enough to harm the workflow of the other Origin Units.

    The Origin Miners had been bringing up Iron Chunk after Iron Chunk, thus Iron Ingot production was in full swing. And with so many Origin Storagehouses, the Miners, Diggers, and Material Manufacturers were free to non-stop do their individual parts on the production line.

    Cassius also took note of the fifteen Basic Origin Houses that had been built and scattered around the Origin Courtyard''s Large House in a circular formation. They were each one story tall, had a single bedroom, and a single living room.

    Overall, they were simple.

 Chapter 368 - 368: Exisia Exodia

    But even if the houses were simple, they did the job just fine. The Origin Units made use of their simple wooden beds and leaf mattresses to get some quality Z''s in.

    An act that brought about the dropping of countless Attribute Orbs!

    With everything progressing in spectacular fashion, Cassius stayed hovering in the skies¡ªan expanse of whiteness with a mass of blue centered around the Large Origin Courtyard. What looked to be a tiny yellow sun had also melded into the background, likely assisting in the growth of the Amber Trees and Tropica Vegetables.

    Thirty minutes passed by in the blink of an eye.

    *Ding!*

    [Tier 3 ''Origin Community Center'' has finished being constructed!]

    The Origin Community Center was roughly the size of all five Storagehouses combined. It had no second or third floors but possessed a very wide-open space. The space was decorated with various wooden architecture, with rows of wooden bleachers and wooden chairs sprinkled here and there.

    Most noticeable of all were the wooden structures erected in a certain spot of the Community Center. These consisted of monkey bars, abstract cages, and other such playground/gym equipment.

    "So now the Origin Units are going to be physically exercising?" Cassius questioned. "This Originverse truly is a very interesting place. Makes me curious to see just what they''ll evolve into in the future. Perhaps they''ll even become sentient¡­"

    Whatever the case, that was something for the future him to involve himself with. Right now, he didn''t even have the 1000 Unity required to upgrade the Origin Village to Tier 5, as purchasing the Origin Facility Blueprints and Units had basically drained him to zero.

    "Around how long will I have to wait to amass 1000 Unity if solely relying on consuming the Tier 1 Unity Foods produced by the Origin Farmers¡ª"

    [A Month (Yggdrasil Time¡ªwhich is what the time of the Originverse scales off of)]

    Silence¡­

    Sighing, Cassius said, "I suppose I''ll have to work even harder in progressing my power, and hope that the next Origin Unit unlocks include 3¡ï Units that''ll help me better gain Unity."

    Deciding it was time to return to the outside world, Cassius conveyed his intent. His consciousness then zipped out of the Originverse, leaving it and its residents to eternally grind while he was away.

    Cassius didn''t open his eyes right away upon finding himself atop Angel Raijin''s draconic head. He waited until they reached the Floating Island they were heading to¡ªa massive landmass roughly the same size as the first one.

    ¡ª Some Time Later ¡ª

    "Mashter, we''re here!" Yimin overflowed with excitement as she looked everywhere with a voracious glare. "Can we eat the birdies now!? Pwetty~ please!??"

    "No."

    Instantaneous rejection!

    Shrinking Raijin and descending to the Floating Island, Cassius found himself approaching a wall much like the one from the previous Floating Island. However, contrary to then, he felt no sense of temporal disturbance after entering the city.

    Safe.

    Cassius''s nerves relaxed as he and his little party strolled through the snow-white city. Angels were earthbound here, just like on the first island''s city. Furthermore, they appeared to be of a different faction of Angels, as evident by the artificially inseminated horns sticking out of their heads.

    "Look, it''s a Noble Angel!"

    "A lordship actually came to the City of Frigidaire!?"

    "This is big news!"

    Because of all the Angel Bloodlines he had stolen from the lower Arches, Cassius had brought himself some trouble. Everyone was staring at him as if he were some exotic animal from a different dimension.

    Though, in a way, Eight-Winged Noble Angels really were of a higher plane of existence. They typically lived on Floating Islands located closer to the Personal Floating Palaces of the Arch-Angels. Rarely did they ever step foot on a lesser Floating Island.

    It was this information that made the existence of an Exalted Marshal on one of the lower islands all the more unusual¡­

    As Cassius made his way through the city while lost in thought, the appearance of an enchantingly beautiful female Angel stole the breaths of many. Crowded around her were hundreds of people fawning over her as if she were the only star in the night sky.

    "You''re so gorgeous, Exisia~!"

    "How can one who came from nothing like you possibly have acquired such a graceful poise!? Are you actually a Goddess in disguise!?"

    "Oh, my dear Exisia, roses are red, violets are blue, but none in the whole wide world are as busty as you~"

    Some fans, more fervent than others, began shamelessly professing their love to the indifferent Angel woman. A few even went as far as to grovel, begging her to accept their love.

    Ignoring them all, Exisia''s dark golden eyes fell on an Eight-Winged Angelic man possessing an otherworldly appearance. Curiosity swirled in her pupils as she stepped forward, with the crowd making way for her.

    "My Goddess is moving! Get out of the way, you posers!"

    "Hwa!? Who the hell you calling a poser, you bastard!??"

    "I''m talking to you, Poser!"

    Fights broke out among multiple fans, but Exisia treated them as if they didn''t exist. She walked up to the angelic man strolling through the street without having once looked her way. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You," she greeted as soon as she was within a few meters of him.

    "Hurm?" Cassius turned his head to the left, wondering who had sparked up a conversation with him. "Oh, it''s yo¡­ Wait, who are you?"

    {[Exisia Exodia]}

    [Race: Royal-Angel]

    [Cultivation: EX++]

    [Battle Power: EX++++]

    [Age: 85]

    [Mood: Attracted]

    ¡ª [Although she''s the most talented among Arch-Angel Michael''s children, she decided when very young that she didn''t want all her efforts to be attributed to her blood relations with her father. Discarding everything and starting with nothing, she ascended the ranks and made a name for herself as a famous Demon-Slayer in the Pits of Tartarus.]

    A kid of Arch-Angel Michael!?

    ''She might be able to help me find out where Memphis is,'' Cassius thought. ''And what might the Pits of Tartarus be? It sounds like the stomach of a mighty beast, but I doubt that''s the case given the context.''

 Chapter 369 - 369: Just Marry Me...

    Sensing Exisia''s intense stare, Cassius took a better look at her.

    She had long blondish-white hair and dark golden eyes that glowed mesmerizingly. Moreover, her figure was very well-rounded¡ªnot too much here, not too much there. It was just the right amount of voluptuousness everywhere one looked. Wearing a pair of brownish-green robes, her curves were further accentuated by the tightness the clothes offered. In between her bosom, a good bit of skin could be seen peeking, adding to the allure she possessed.

    However, with a shining golden-tendril''ed sword hanging by her waist, very few could overlook the danger she exhibited in favor of ogling her body.

    "Is there something I can do for you?" asked Cassius as he stopped Yimin and Maxy from growling at the Angel woman.

    "...."

    Emotionlessly glancing at the two ferocious dragon girls, Exisia revealed a slight frown.

    Shifting her focus back to the confused Cassius, she said, "My name is Exisia."

    "...Okay¡­? Is that all¡­?"

    Going silent, Exisia''s lips pursed. "Do you not know who I am?"

    "I''m afraid I don''t," replied Cassius, shaking his head. "But if you need something from me, then feel free to shoot your shot. As long as it''s nothing too excessive, I can¡ª"

    "Marry me?"

    Silence¡­

    "T-Thieving b*tch!! Grrrr!!" Yimin exploded like a volcano, her aura massively expanding. "YIMINS WILL KILL YOU!!"

    Stopping her claw-rush with a single finger, Cassius said to Exisia, "Why is it that you ask something like that? Perhaps your tongue slipped."

    Denying his assumption right away, Exisia said, "No. I want you to marry me. So will you?"

    Her die-hard fans had their jaws drop to the floor. Though, after they got past the initial surprise, they were immediately overcome with astronomical levels of anger. Staring daggers at Cassius, they were like a pack of wolves just waiting for the opportunity to pounce.

    But with their threat level no different from that of gnats to Cassius, he continued registering what he had just heard. His frozen lips finally moved:

    "Is there any particular reason why you want to be my betrothed¡ª"

    "You''re pretty."

    The answer was instantaneous! And hella shameless!

    Awkwardly laughing, Cassius firmly denied her offer. He then resumed his stroll, deciding it to be too much trouble to add another divinely beautiful woman to his agenda.

    Watching his departing back, Exisia''s frown worsened. She zoned out the fans asking her who the man was, with her steps quickly catching up to Cassius''s stride.

    After reaching him, she grabbed his robes, stopping him in his tracks.

    Slowly turning around and looking down at the 5''5" woman, Cassius said, "Listen, lady, I really have somewhere I must be. And as cute as you are, I think I''ll pass¡ª"

    Interrupting him, Exisia said, "I can help you. You want to find something or someone¡­ I can help."

    "???"

    ''I figured it to be too much of a hassle to get her to assist me, but now that she''s offering, I guess I''ll endure.''

    "How do you know I''m searching for something?" he asked, testing the waters.

    Exisia pointed at his wings.

    "Ahh," said Cassius, feeling a little stupid. "Fine then, exactly how is it that you think you can help me?"

    Exisia''s eyes drifted over to the thousands of floating islands ascending in a spiral formation for who knew how many miles. "I''m able to find anything within the territory of Arch-Angel Gabriel using my own methods. I can help you."

    Showing interest, Cassius asked, "And what is it that you want in exchange¡ª"

    "Marry me."

    "...." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yimin and Maxy''s moods reached dangerous levels as they wholeheartedly prepared to discard all caution and fight the Angel woman to the death.

    Luckily, Cassius was there to effortlessly put the brakes on their aggressive charges.

    "This bastard!!!"

    "He has seduced my Goddess!!!"

    "All because he has a good-looking face!? Is this life!? Why is reality so, so cruel!??"

    Treating the fans like thin air, Cassius''s face twitched all over as he looked the expressionless woman dead in the eye. "Is there¡­ Is there any particular reason other than my appearance that makes you so adamant about wanting to marry me?"

    Exisia stared at him, unblinkingly comprehending his question.

    After a moment, she nodded.

    Believing that they were finally getting somewhere, Cassius asked, "What is it¡ª"

    "Your strength."

    Silence¡­

    "DIE, BIEATCH!!!"

    OOOM!

    Yimin erupted with enough power to overwhelm even stronger Transcendents, yet all Cassius had to do to assuage her was flick his fingers. All her momentum was dispersed, with any residual energy whooshing behind her.

    Falling to her knees, both anger and¡­ euphoria mixed in her expression. A tiny leak also happened on ''isle her pants.''

    Cassius, staring at the blunt Angel woman, proposed a counteroffer. "How about you let me help you first, then you can help me?"

    Exisia''s expression froze. The way she looked at him rapidly changed, with bewilderment taking over.

    "Don''t need help," she replied belatedly, furiously shaking her head. "Only want you to marry me."

    Smirking, Cassius asked, "There''s no need to lie. Are you curious as to how I know that you need help, though?"

    Exisia paused, pondering the matter. But she ended up not being able to find the answer.

    Cassius chuckled, ruffling her soft hair. "I guess you''ll never know."

    Exisia silently stood there, her thoughts a tumultuous mess.

    Cassius moved away from her, using the Sacred Art of Headpats to calm Yimin and Maxy down as well. With his back turned to the stunned Angel woman, he walked away. Though, after a certain distance, he cocked his head back ever so slightly.

    "You coming, Miss Exisia?" he asked, grinning. "We have a Pits of Tartarus to have some fun at, do we not?"

    ''How does he¡­''

    Shocked even more than before, Exisia failed to notice her legs making quick advances toward the devilish Immortal-like man. But by the time she did, it was already too late, for she was glued to his side, her entire being seemingly intent on trusting him.

    Perhaps¡­ Perhaps he was the one¡­

 Chapter 370 - 3/7]

    Evil laughter rang out inside of Cassius''s head as he found something fun that would help him find Memphis. Moreover, it might even help him become powerful enough to surpass 1000 Unity and upgrade his Origin Village to the next Tier!

    Off to the Pits of Tartarus!

    Hundreds of die-hard fans were left staring at their departing Idol Goddess with a clearly mentally unstable man. Regret flooded their hearts¡ªregret over not begging their parents to birth them as more handsome specimens.

    As Angels, they were innately beautiful creatures. But before that Noble Angel, they might as well be no different from grime or dirt¡­

    Such was life.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within the Wolfdom Dimension, on the 6th Floor, a secret meeting was being held ¡ª

    *Whisp¡ª*

    "Why is the Prodigal Conqueror not here yet?"

    A deep and gruff voice carried through air that smelled of bark and trees. The owner of the voice sat on a naturally made seat that surrounded a pit of flames that sizzled and popped with unmatched heat. Adjacent to him in a circular formation were beings very similar to him, both in strength and race¡ª

    Werewolves!

    Right now, they were in their true forms. The men were gnarly and terrifying furry beasts over three meters tall, whereas the women were far more human-looking, with the only differences between them and regular human women being their fluffy tails, fluffy ears, and sharp nails.

    They were also more feral, but knowing most regular women, that wasn''t much of a change¡­

    "The Prodigal Conqueror should''ve ascended to the 6th Floor years ago," said one of the male figures gathered around the insanely hot pit. "But just recently, I heard he changed his route and moved from the Land of Monsters to the Heavenly Kingdom, where he then repeated his path of carnage."

    "Even the Heavenly Kingdom was not spared from that brat''s conquest!?" The expression of an older-looking Werewolf drastically contorted. "Where do the limits of this little bastard lie!? Does he plan to be the first in hundreds of thousands of years to conquer the entire Ascension Tower!??"

    A different Werewolf with a long gray beard laughed disdainfully. "You must be drinking too much ale, Dolfor! Haha! If you honestly think some kid who just started growing hair down there actually has a chance of completely conquering the Ascension Tower, then you''ve downed ten too many!"

    Someone else with a long gray beard nodded repeatedly. "Morkol is right," he began. "Doing something like that is not only slightly impossible, it''s more fantasy than the definition of the word. No, this brat has simply gotten a little lucky, what with having to only fight slightly above-average Transcendents and below."

    Cackling, one of the most powerful among the Peak and above Transcendent Werewolves gathered today threw his huge, muscular arms up.

    "Even my eldest son, Fazrir, could do something like that!" he shouted, his voice a bit grating. "That brat is truly getting ahead of himself by vying for the Heavenly Kingdom! But if he''s fortunate enough not to get himself killed, I bet he''ll gun for the fastly approaching Tournament of Yggdrasil. And with my eldest participating in that very tournament, I''ll have him teach the unruly brat a lesson or two about what happens to those who mess with the Moonshadow Clan!!"

    In the Wolfdom Dimension, the power hierarchy system was focused around the Clans, of which there were dozens, with the Minor Ones typically hanging around the Lower Floors, leading packs and upholding order throughout the Ascension Tower.

    Among the numerous Werewolf Clans, there were a few that stood above the rest. The Moonshadow Clan was one of such Clans, having within their ranks hundreds of millions of Werewolves.

    Moreover, they had thousands of Transcendents, making them far larger than even the likes of the Aluria Family in the Realm of Pleasure. Their strongest powerhouses, such as the Werewolf sitting by the fire pit, were also a notch above the most efficient Killer Succubi Protectors of the Alurias, being only a little behind the Succubus Queen herself. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "So you think he''ll live?" inquired the first Werewolf who spoke. "I thought you told us he bit more than he could chew. For someone with a take like that, you seem oddly confident that he''ll live past the Heavenly Kingdom."

    Clicking his tongue in annoyance, the other Werewolf, Dardel, folded his veiny arms. "Of course you''d care about small stuff like that, Introl," he remarked. "You''ve always been such a nit-pick! But yet, I believe there''s a chance he''ll live. After all, from what I heard, he didn''t conquer the Arches of the Heavenly Kingdom in the same barbaric way he did ours, HELL, and the Land of Monsters. Rather, he mostly snuck around while traveling up the Heavenly Arches, only attacking and incapacitating nosy Angels when it became absolutely necessary."

    "Plus," he added, his voice turning sour, "you know the Heavenly Progenitor. He rarely severely punishes those daring enough to attempt to conquer his Domain. The only exception¡­ was our 4th Forefather, Fangalore."

    The expressions of those present darkened, with black lines streaking across their menacing wolf faces.

    Fangalore was a never-before-seen prodigy of the Wolfdom Kingdom, having been the #1 Rising Star of all 8 Ascension Towers tens of thousands of years ago. Reaching the Transcendent Rank at 30, the Godlike Rank at 100, and the Peak Godlike Rank at 500¡ªthere were very few throughout history this unbelievably talented.

    However, his talent fed his ego. And that got the better of him, for he attempted to fight one of the most immeasurably powerful entities in the Ascension Tower.

    The Heavenly Progenitor.

    Or as he''s more commonly known as¡ª

    GOD.

    Yet, even with the Heavenly Progenitor''s eminent status so well-known, with his power even more so, Fangalore''s arrogance knew no bounds. He bombarded the Arches of the Heavenly Kingdom with his Fangs of Oblivion, reaping the lives of countless Angels.

    And for a brief period of time, Fangalore remained unbeatable. He tore through the Dimensional Barriers of the Heavenly Kingdom, battled and defeated Arch-Angels, and actively taunted the other Dimensions to put a stop to his ascendance to the Apex.

    But in the very moment he forcefully reached the 7th Arch of the Heavenly Kingdom¡ªthe personal domain of the Heavenly Progenitor¡ªthe 4th Werewolf Forefather realized just how foolish he had been.

 Chapter 371 - 371: The Pits of Tartarus

    Just a glare.

    Just a single, casual glare was all it took for God to render Fangalore powerless.

    He fell to his knees, primordial fear etched across his face. And from the depths of his soul and core being, screams burst his eardrums, begging him to flee for his life. To run away. To never again look back.

    But it had been too late.

    With a wave of his hand, the light-shrouded Heavenly Progenitor erased Fangalore from reality. His Divine Spark, which had been tirelessly forged and cultivated to perfection, meant nothing in the face of absolute power, and within an instant, it shattered and vanished.

    A being nearing the very pinnacle of the Ascension Tower¡ªdead in the blink of an eye.

    And all without the transcendental Heavenly Progenitor leaving his throne of blinding light¡­

    The Werewolves sitting around the pit of fire had never personally witnessed the power of God; not many had. But from just the stories passed down since the beginning of Time¡ªsince the birth of the Wolf Progenitor¡ªthey had a good grasp on just the sort of incomprehensible entity God was.

    And more often than not, the more incomprehensible they were, the more unpredictable they were. This was why the Werewolf powerhouses of the 6th Wolfdom Floor were so uncertain about how the Heavenly Progenitor would deal with the newest upstart.

    "Regardless," said Introl, snapping everyone out of their reveries. "We know without a doubt that someone with a temperament like his will be back to finish what he started sooner or later. And when he does eventually ascend to this Floor, we''ll be ready for him. We''ll be ready to avenge the Clans that fell to him. To avenge our very own Clansmen that were mercilessly slaughtered in the millions."

    Although a number of them weren''t on friendly terms with the rather intelligent Introl, they felt his words made the most sense. Furthermore, they too were incensed by the cruelty of the Prodigal Conqueror.

    He deserved to pay!

    He had to die!!

    ¡ª Some time later, within the 6th Arch of the Heavenly Kingdom, deep in the endless sea of sky and Floating Islands, in a location that not many even knew about, let alone visited ¡ª

    HOOOORAAAAHH!! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Kill him, Rocksmasher!!!"

    "Murder the bastard¡­.!!!"

    Uproarious cheers and mindless shouts reverberated, the voices of millions bouncing off the hellish walls of an arena that stretched in all directions for miles on end. Zipping around the fighting section of the Arena were two figures¡ªan Angel and a Demon¡ªexchanging blows at ludicrously fast speeds.

    "I''ll vanquish you, Demon!!"

    "Oh yeah!? While you do that, I''ll go and vanquish the sexual urges of your mother, haha!!"

    "YOU!!"

    SHA! SHA! SHA!

    Both the Angel and Demon were of the Peak Transcendent Rank, with the former having eight wings, while the latter had eight different-sized pairs of obsidian horns. Clearly, they were both of Noble Bloodline Lineage.

    Yet, even with their extremely high statuses, they still chose to battle like barbarians under the eyes of countless members from both races.

    Why would they, though¡­?

    The Pits of Tartarus Arena.

    It was one of the¡ªif not the only¡ªplaces where Angels and Demons congregated that didn''t wind up with everyone senselessly slaughtering one another. It was the most famous Battling Arena of both Realms and was located halfway into the depths of the Heavenly Kingdom, as well as halfway into the depths of HELL.

    In a way, the Pits of Tartarus was the secret 9th Dimension¡ªa minor isolated space that permanently connected the two polar-opposite Dimensions.

    Of course, even if this place may be a type of Neutral Ground for the two Races, that was only because they were gathered for a singular purpose.

    One that still ended up in bloodshed¡­

    SHING!

    A parry!

    CRACKA¡ªBOOOOOM!

    A hand-beam of ultimate proportions!

    "!!!" ''NOOoooo!!!''

    Before the Angel could move out of the way of the close-range hand-beam attack, explosive energies engulfed his vision. They burnt him to a crisp, with the residual energy from the hand-beam melting a wide chasm through the middle of the Arena of Tartarus.

    The Arena went silent¡­

    HOOOORAAAAHH!

    Then it erupted with cheers, shaking the entire place.

    Meanwhile, high up in the stands, several cloaked figures could be seen watching the conclusion of the fight with pensive expressions. One in particular¡ªa tall man of remarkable appearance¡ªcaught a trace of intrigue in his devilish gaze.

    "So this is the Pits of Tartarus," he mused, a fire inside him sparking to life. "But what I don''t understand is why you need to marry me for the sake of this place. The two who just fought to the death look to be among the strongest, but I believe they''re no match for you."

    ''She never got around to explaining the details when I glimpsed into the future with Shadow''s Foresight.''

    Unaware of Cassius''s inner musings, Exisia''s face contorted weirdly, seemingly struggling over something.

    "You''re right. Among the Angels and Demons, I am strong. Very strong. But¡­ not the strongest."

    Cassius''s brows arched, his interest surging.

    Continuing from where she left off, Exisia said, "There are those more formidable than I. And¡­ one among them wants something from the one before you."

    "What is it?"

    Exisia averted her eyes, her pupils erratically flickering.

    "It''s me. That''s what this person wants."

    "Ho?" Cassius smiled. "So that''s why you proposed marriage the way you did. You don''t want to involve yourself with this person, and you hope that by engaging yourself to me, they''ll back off and leave you alone."

    Exisia nodded, her mind beside her.

    After a moment of silence, her big round shimmering eyes turned up to Cassius. She inched a little closer to him, her hot breath but a mere whisper.

    "Ca¡­ Can you help me¡­ by marrying me¡­?"

    Cassius chuckled, revealing his pearly-white k-9 teeth.

    Exisia was confused until he leaned forward, getting within breathing distance of her face.

    "I''m afraid I can''t help you with that, pretty young miss. But what say I do you one better!? I''ll fight this person and anyone backing them! Then you''ll return the favor by using your methods to search all of the 6th Floor of Heaven for the one I wish to find!"

    Silence¡­

 Chapter 372 - 372: Zaraphina Astaroth

    "Well?" Cassius grinned, his eyes creasing up in concealed joy as he stared down the Arena like one big EXP-dispensing machine. "What say you?? Would you like me to solve all your problems for you??"

    Although still reeling back from the shock, Exisia ultimately broke free from her stupor. She then revealed a troubled look, mumbling, "Not strong enough. You''re too weak¡­"

    "Ouch," Cassius revealed a falsely derived hurt look. "You sure know how to give pep talks, girl. But don''t you worry about me; just accept the offer."

    Shaking her head, Exisia replied, "No¡­ You don''t understand¡ª"

    "Ladies and gentlemen! Today, we have an Honorary battle taking place between our 100-year straight reigning Champion and a Rising Newcomer!"

    The booming voice of the Tartarus Pit''s Announcer cut through Exisia''s words. The crowd became even rowdier, with their excitement reaching all-new highs.

    FWOOOOSH!

    Suddenly!

    Descending from the grimly lit, lava-red skies was a tough-looking man. On his way down, he sped up his advance, striking the Arena ground in the form of a Nebula-bursting bolt of lightning.

    Angels and Demons alike lost their minds in the stands. They broke the sound barrier with how loudly they were yelling.

    "Ladies and Gents! Welcome the Rising Star: Thundercrest, the Adherer to Supremacy!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    HOOOORAAAAHH!!

    Following another long period of cheering, a suffocating aura suddenly pressed down on all of them, forcing them to go quiet and look up. There, they saw nothing.

    However, when they returned to looking at the Arena''s center area, their eyes grew round.

    Standing opposite to the handsome and refined Eight-winged Thundercrest was a member of the Demon Race. A woman, at that. One who was not only shockingly beautiful, but was also in possession of an aura that made even other Transcendents sick to their stomachs.

    Finding his bearings, the Announcer¡ªwho hovered over the massive Arena on a magical levitation device¡ªfound his voice.

    "W-Welcome the 102-year reigning Champion of the Tartarus Arena! For 102 straight years, she has not only managed to remain undefeated while fighting the very best of the best among Angels and Demons, but she has also done so without being seriously injured! Her name!?"

    OOOM!

    "Zaraphina Astaroth!! The 3rd Eldest Prodigal Daughter of the Great Demon King Astaroth!!!"

    RAAAAH¡ª!

    The roar-like cheers became so loud that their voices could even be heard in the endless infernal abyss surrounding the Pits of Tartarus.

    Ancient primeval Behemoths lurking and swimming through the Abyss were even alerted. But after sensing where the source of the disturbance originated, they immediately voided all hungry thoughts.

    "Hum?" Noticing a drastic change in Exisia''s expression, Cassius paused. Then he slowly asked, "It can''t be¡­ Is she the one who wants you???"

    Exisia nodded, her complexion paling.

    "I see¡­" Cassius murmured as he took another good look at the purple-haired woman.

    ''Long, flawless violet-colored hair, similarly colored eyes, and a well-developed body. Definitely a looker of the highest level, but¡­ Damn¡­ So even Demons can have preferences like that¡­?''

    Flipping his gaze between Exisia and Zaraphina, a scandalous image formed inside his mind. But he swiftly swatted the thought cloud away, refocusing on the demonic beauty below.

    {[Zaraphina Astaroth]}

    [Race: Royal-Demon]

    [Cultivation: EX+++++]

    [Battle Power: GX- -]

    [Age: 295]

    [Mood: Murderous]

    ¡ª [Bearing witness to a plethora of the atrocities that her Father did to women from all races to please himself, Zaraphina grew to abhor men. As a direct result of her mental scarring, her preferences leaned more toward liking other women. And as a supreme genius of the Demons, she always got whoever she wanted, whether they wanted it or not.]

    ¡ª [That was except for one¡­]

    Cassius tilted his head, question marks fluttering off of him.

    ''So let me get this straight¡­ This Demon chick had a Father who abused women, so she started going for women instead of men. Only to then repeat the same atrocities as her father¡­?''

    He was seriously wondering where the logic in that was.

    But regardless of the craziness of that notion, he grew curious about her strength. Thus, he activated the VOPC, choosing her as the target for projection.

    FWIP!

    After being transported to the World of the VOPC, Cassius was instantly greeted with a powerful burst of purple light. It came in the form of a Qi Slash, containing enough power to topple a Middle-level Layer of Reality such as the 3rd Floor of HELL.

    Faking amazement, Cassius nonchalantly evaded her attack.

    "You''re something else, alright," he praised, dodging her follow-up attacks as well. "In terms of pure energy output, you''re definitely superior to me. If I were to make a rough guess, then you probably have what¡ª20 Godforce?"

    BOOOM! BOOOM!

    "Either way," continued Cassius, reality-altering explosions ringing out in the background, "You''re powerful."

    SHING!

    "Just not powerful enough."

    Zara''s projection displayed visible surprise as she looked at her right arm, which had been rebounded by some mysterious force.

    Her other arm followed suit, with her whole torso now totally exposed.

    "Well, actually," said Cassius, pondering. "You won''t lose due to a lack of power. Rather, you''ll fall because you¡­ simply¡­"

    SHA!

    SPURT!

    "Can''t control your raw energy as well as I can," Cassius''s blade lobbed off one of Zaraphina''s arms, with that same eternally voracious blade whipping around at millions of times the speed of light.

    "One underestimates control until it really comes down to it. Though, by then, they''re already¡ª"

    SPLAT!

    "Dead."

    Sheathing Lilith back in her scabbard, Cassius turned around.

    In cinematic fashion, Zara''s projection popped like a balloon of blood, with particles of that very blood tainting the atmosphere.

    Behind the corpse that was nowhere to be seen, millions and billions of sword marks decimated the area.

    If such a barrage of sword strikes was unleashed on something like the Isolated Solar System, it would simply vanish into Oblivion.

    Too fierce!

    However, with one trial run not nearly enough to satisfy Cassius, he re-ran the simulation another time.

    Then another.

    And another.

    And¡­ another¡­

    Only after winning 150 times in a row did Cassius exit the VOPC World, satisfied.

 Chapter 373 - 4/7]

    Upon returning to the high-reaching bleachers of the Pit of Tartarus, the way Cassius viewed Zaraphina had changed quite a bit. He still saw her as a formidable foe, but not to the point that he felt any modicum of fear while looking at her.

    To him, she was just another potential Loot Bag. A very delicious one, one might add.

    Then again, considering her status as a daughter of Great Demon King Astaroth, perhaps it would be wiser to use her.

    Smirking evilly, he watched intently as Zaraphina exploded with an enormous amount of killing intent. Her terrifying aura enveloped the Arena of Tartarus, sending slight tremors through the body of her opponent.

    However, for the briefest of moments, her ferocious gaze got sidetracked, finding itself peering into the swirling blue abysses that were Cassius''s eyes.

    They locked eyes, time seemingly freezing for the two of them.

    But with the billowing roar of Thundercrest, Zara''s attention returned to the duel. Though, in the back of her mind, she kept a deadly intent meant for the man garbed in black. Part of it was due to his well-hidden strength, but the majority of it could be attributed to the fact that he was a man. And that he was¡­ standing right beside Exisia.

    Overflowing with anger, Zara''s face twisted, becoming livid.

    CRACKLE¡ª

    A giant mass of lightning materialized above Thundercrest''s head, merely awaiting the go-ahead from the Announcer to unleash divine retribution on the Demon.

    "Is everyone ready for this battle!?" the Announcer asked, building large amounts of hype among the crowd. "Because I sure am!! This could very well be the fight of the century!!! Ex-Angel Noble General of the Heavenly Court versus the Prodigy Daughter of the Great Demon King Astaroth¡ªwho will come out on top!?"

    HOOOORAAAAHH!

    Grinning from ear to ear, the Announcer raised his right arm from atop his floating platform. And after receiving the green light from the VIPs in the VIP stands, he dropped his arm:

    "Commence the fight!!!"

    The VIPs and everyone else in the guest stands watched with bated breath as ridiculous amounts of lightning crackled.

    Then, with the blinking of a single eyelid, the two absolute powerhouses blurred toward one another.

    Yet¡­

    SHING! SHING!

    "!?!?"

    Sword smacked out of hand, Thundercrest''s eyes widened in horror as Zaraphina''s furious expression filled his vision. In her hands was a large, glowing purple-and-black Godlike-rank sword¡ªone that had nearly cleaved Cassius in two on more than a single occasion.

    "How is this possibl¡ª"

    SPLIT!

    The audible sound of two parts of something gory being split in half bled into the ears of everyone spectating the fight. They looked on in pure astonishment, not entirely sure how they should react to what they had just seen.

    FWOOOOM!

    The remaining force behind Zaraphina''s incomprehensible sword slash dug a chasm into the Arena¡ªone that appeared so instantaneously that none of the spectators realized the only thing preventing them from being diced-up chunks of meat was the near-indestructible barrier separating the Fighting and Spectating segments of the Arena.

    "What¡­ What just happened¡­?" A Heavenly Commander in the VIP section couldn''t believe his eyes. "How could Thundercrest lose in a single strike¡­!?"

    Many others were just as taken aback as he was. One second, they were immersed in the beginning of a fight, and the next, Zara had somehow reappeared behind the deceased Thundercrest.

    Impossible!

    Insane!

    Cheating!?

    None could decide what to think anymore. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    All they knew without a doubt in their minds was that Zaraphina, daughter of Great Demon King Astaroth, did not become the 102-time Champion of the Tartarus Arena without something to back her up!

    Those who had bet on Zara''s winning streak finally ending cried tears of blood. Some even took out their frustrations on others, causing widespread brawls to break out around the colossal arena.

    Though, in the midst of the descending chaos, Cassius stood as aloof as ever. His mind seemed to completely zone out the stuttering of the Announcer, with all his focus on the violet-haired woman now glaring at him with a vengeance.

    "How very amusing," Cassius grinned, making sure the fierce Demon Princess fully understood his intentions.

    Her aura rapidly expanded, clearly not responding well to his greeting. However, treating their brief interactions like a joke, Cassius walked away from the scene. He called out to Yimin and Maxy to follow, whereas Raijin was already perched atop his shoulder.

    Nyxvoldar, on the other hand, continued doing whatever he did in the Evomon Space.

    Not even needing to check behind his shoulder, Cassius said, "Come on, Little Miss Angel. You want that problem of yours dealt with, do you not?"

    Startled and in a daze, Exisia replied, "Y-Yes¡­"

    Cassius chuckled, his smile growing colder. "Well, then, you''re in luck, because I just so happen to be the perfect man for the job. I do, however, wonder just how you''ll thank me for helping you."

    Exisia froze like a deer in headlights, naughty thoughts surfacing inside her mind. However, when she realized he was just teasing her, the smallest of pouts formed as she huffed.

    Cassius''s laugh became even more irritating to her as he casually strolled through the pandemonium that was the outrage of the crowd. She didn''t want to, but with a threat like Zara tracking her with a pair of vicious eyes, she had no choice but to catch up to possibly the only person who could protect her right now.

    While on their way out of the huge Arena that lay suspended somewhere in the Abyss of Tartarus, Cassius prompted a question:

    "You never did say: why is it that you''re so averse to getting together with that Demon babe?" he inquired, hands holding the back of his head, a faint whistle leaving his lips. "I''ve heard of the promiscuity of Angels and Demons, and as far as I''m aware, you''ll get together with anyone who''s strong or capable enough. And as you know, strength doesn''t see gender in this world we live in."

 Chapter 374 - 374: Zaraphinas Anger

    Exisia''s exquisitely carved brows furrowed in complicated thought. "Why is it that you tend to speak as if you aren''t an Angel yourself¡­? You and your companions all have between six and eight wings¡­ As for your question, I don''t like women that way. But more importantly than that, Zara¡­ She''s known for being extremely cruel to those who catch her eye."

    Cassius gave a slow, acknowledging nod. "I see," he said. "It would seem that, behind all that beauty, there resides a genuine devil¡ªone true to her nature. Not that I care, for I''m no saint either."

    Exisia helplessly nodded, sticking close to him, much to the dismay of Yimin and Maxy.

    As a counter, they clung to him, pressing their large, squishy melons against him. More than a little pride shone through their expressions after realizing they were ''superior'' in that department.

    ''Mashter only has eyes for the Yimins, hoho~! Not any of the other stinky b*tches¡­!''

    Maxy was thinking something along those same lines, except she didn''t sound so¡­ mentally restricted¡­

    Cassius and the gang eventually made it outside the massive Tartarus Arena. Now floating around in the Abyss of Tartarus¡ªor what was more commonly referred to as the Pits of Tartarus¡ªhe encapsulated them in a protective bubble. With this, they could safely ascend back the way they came down.

    However¡­

    "It would appear that the Grand Champion of whatever is not willing to let us go," Cassius revealed with a small smirk, deciding to change directions and head deeper into the Pits of Tartarus. "I think we''ll have a showdown soon, but while she''s catching up, I''ll farm a little. Or maybe a lot¡­"

    In spite of the unease Exisia was experiencing, Cassius freely slaughtered swimming Sea-Beasts of Tartarus, many of whom were in the Transcendent Rank.

    ''Why is he treating the threat she poses like it''s no big deal¡­?''

    That and similar such thoughts swirled around within Exisia''s head as she found herself staring at Cassius''s backside on more than one occasion.

    Until eventually¡­

    "Stop right there!!" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A furious feminine bellow was followed by several arcs of energy carving million-mile-wide fissures in every direction around Cassius. Zaraphina then made her grand appearance, her aura pressuring everything in the vicinity.

    Even from within the protective bubble their Master had set up, Yimin and Maxy were definitely feeling the pressure. Even the Peak Transcendent Exisia was experiencing mild strain, and that was just from being near Zaraphina.

    Curving his lips up in amusement, Cassius turned around ever so sharply. The crimson sword in his hand still dripped with blood, urging him to eloquently swing it around a few times to clean it off. After which, he pointed it directly at the livid-faced Demon Woman.

    "Are you positive this is a fight you wish to have?" he asked calmly, his voice sending shivers up and down Zaraphina''s spine. "You''ll lose."

    "!!!"

    Enraged, Zaraphina shook off his killing intent.

    Glancing at Exisia''s frightful countenance, her anger soared even further. "You¡ªwin!? Do you have any idea who you''re speaking to!?"

    Cassius summoned Mora, lobbing her large scythe form over his right shoulder. "Quit it with the nonsense. If you want to lose so badly, then I don''t mind fulfilling your wish."

    "YOUU!!!"

    RUMBLE!

    The Pits of Tartarus violently trembled, with Sea-Beasts of Tartarus fleeing the scene, not daring to try to get a quick meal.

    "Come," Cassius beckoned with outstretched fingers. "Let us witness the destined outcome together."

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    Not wishing to listen to his condescending words any longer, Zaraphina burst forward. She broke the barrier of light countless times over, her figure fading into a blur.

    However, much to her angered surprise, her opponent smirked in the face of her extreme speed. Yet she still charged forward as fast as she could, planning to wipe that smirk¡ªand him¡ªout of existence.

    Only then could she get Exisia for herself!

    The drop-dead gorgeous Royal Angel she had been coveting for years would finally be hers!

    ''I just have to get her out of the dirty hands of this man bastar¡ª''

    Suddenly, her vision spiraled.

    A gust of wind then blew behind her, sending rolling ripples through the volcanic Abyss.

    Slowly looking down, Zaraphina''s complexion worsened considerably. But before she could get a clear view of the fist planted in the core of her stomach, the force behind the punch finally registered. Wind exploded outward, sending her flying backward like an out-of-control rocket.

    BOOOOM!

    "Rawrgh¡ª"

    Smashing into a solar-system-sized Tartarus Beast, Zaraphina blasted a massive, gaping hole out of its back end. It wailed in pain while attempting to swim away, but a different figure passed through the same point, leisurely executing it.

    Teleporting next to the still-cannonballing Zaraphina, Cassius showed visible disappointment. "You were stronger when you didn''t have access to your emotions. Now¡­ Now you''re just mediocre."

    "!?!?"

    Without time to properly react, Zaraphina''s vision was consumed by a massive surge of Demonic Energy. Despite the astonishment over knowing that an Eight-winged Angel couldn''t possibly utilize Demonic Energy, she had no choice but to accept the facts presented before her in the form of an apocalyptic Skyfall of Destruction.

    |Demon Lord''s Titanic Melter| - |1st Ultimatum - Incineration|

    CRACKLE¡ªBOOOOOOM!

    Everything for billions of miles crumbled before the overwhelming might of Cassius''s hyper-improved Demon King Cultivation. An attack he developed himself razed everything to nothing, permanently altering the flow of volcanic energy in this wide section of the Pits of Tartarus.

    Reappearing somewhere outside the range of annihilation, Cassius apathetically observed the giant sphere that deleted everything for billions of miles; he watched as it shrunk. It continued to shrink and shrink until eventually disappearing entirely, leaving an enormous sphere of darkness that needed filling up, which the surrounding volcanic energies did right away.

    Ultimately, that huge plot of space returned to looking the way it did before, though it brought with it an eeriness that permeated the atmosphere.

    "Da B*tch dead?" Yimin put a finger to her chin, scrutinizing the once-destroyed space with childlike curiosity. "If dead, can Yimins go eat them¡ª"

    OOOOM!!

 Chapter 375 - 375: Another One!?

    Before Yimin was able to finish the sentence that synced together with her bottomless stomach, an enraged bellow broke through the thick barrier of sound. Zaraphina conjured millions of spears of demonic light, having them rapidly spin above her mildly charred head.

    "I''LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!" she screamed as she phased forward, bringing along with her millions of demonic light spears.

    |Hellish Piercerfall of Abbadon| - (GX- -)

    "Ahh, yes," said Cassius, not a single bit bothered about the sea of demonic spears blitzing toward him. "I usually kill you before you can get off this attack, but seeing how pitiful you are with your emotions, I suppose I subconsciously figured you required a handicap."

    With her mind gone, Zaraphina heard not a word he said. But when all her spears were whisked away with a flawless sequence of scythe slashes¡ªand when a hand tightly clasped her throat¡ªshe most certainly felt what he was trying to tell her. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "FUCK¡­!!!" Clawing away at Cassius''s hands, she attempted to pull him off, but that was when she realized that he had cut off all flow of her Godforce. "Ho¡­ How¡­!?"

    Gradually, her immeasurable anger was replaced by shock that had her face paling. Taking another look at the man who stole her woman away from her, she glimpsed something that she hadn''t previously seen.

    Deep within his swirling blue and red eyes was an abyss. One so infinitely dark and limitless that she felt herself get sucked in, with no hope of ever escaping.

    Yet, before such a scenario could happen, Cassius spoke up, saying, "I''ll only spare you this one time, girl. I suggest you go your own way and choose a better hobby."

    Letting go of her, a bit of derision emerged from his expression as he found the act of killing her to be an eventual stain to his hands. So instead of ending her life, he decided it to be more worthwhile for her to report back to her Father and attract his attention.

    ''Great Demon King Astaroth is the weakest among the 3 Great Demon Kings, but he''s also the most crafty and mysterious among them,'' Cassius thought. ''I need to see if he has any openings I can take advantage of. Killing this foolish girl would indeed allot me quite the sum of Loot, but in the long-run, it''s just not the best option.''

    "He¡­ He really did it¡­" Exisia mumbled in disbelief, her eyes focused on the defeated, downcast expression that the Demon Prodigy was making. "This man¡­ Just who really is he¡­?"

    The more time she spent around him, the more confused she became. Because how on earth could a genius like him possibly pass under the radar for so long?? And without anyone knowing a single thing about him???

    Little did she know that just about everyone in the Ascension Tower knew of the Title attached to his name. They just weren''t aware of his new identity as part-Angel.

    Disappearing into the distance, Cassius and the gang started making their ascent back to the surface. However, before they could get very far, Zaraphina suddenly called out:

    "P-Please, wait¡­!" she seemed to struggle getting out those words as she chased behind the Immortal-like man.

    "Hum?"

    A scarlet blush formed on Zaraphina''s smooth, porcelain cheeks as she slightly averted her gaze. Her ferociousness and anger from just a moment ago seemed to be nowhere in sight, replaced with an uncharacteristic bashfulness.

    ''...That look in her eyes,'' Maxy''s eyes narrowed into slits, her claws ready to taste Demon blood. ''I have a very bad feeling about this.''

    Yimin bared her fangs, growling at the sheepish Zaraphina. "Go away, da b*tch! Yimins will eat you alive¡­!!"

    Normally, Zaraphina would be pleased to hear words like that leave the mouth of a pretty woman like Yimin, but today was different. She only momentarily glanced at her before shifting toward Cassius.

    "I¡­ I¡­" she stuttered, her eyes nervously spiraling. "I-I need you to marry me¡­!"

    Silence¡­

    What in the motherf*cking Deja Vu!?

    What the hell was this horsesh*t!??

    Cassius had so much profanity he wanted to spit out. But between the unprecedented cutesiness of the Demon chick and the visible murderous intent of Yimin and Maxy, his mouth lagged, seemingly stuck in time.

    Hurriedly explaining herself, Zaraphina sputtered, "Y-You see, it''s in the nature of us Demons and part of tradition to¡­."

    She then went on to tell Cassius and the territorial dragon women how defeat in Demonkind either meant death or¡­ marriage.

    As evil beings who innately craved strength and power, they also naturally yearned for strong life-long partners. And assuming the winner was better than them in every way¡ªTalent, Combat Ability, etc¡ªthey''d feel something within them suddenly crave the existence of the one who bested them.

    For female demons, this feeling was even stronger. Furthermore, unlike male demons who could somewhat resist the pull of the opposite sex upon being defeated, female demons were rendered helpless.

    Just the simple act of looking at and talking to Cassius had Zaraphina a wet-mess, having her feel something that no other woman made her feel before.

    But he was a man¡­

    A hateful, scummy man!

    Yet¡­

    ''W-Why¡­ does he look so yummy¡­? Especially THAT part of him¡­''

    "???"

    By the end of the lengthy and choppy explanation, Cassius found himself uncontrollably shivering under Zaraphina''s intense stare. He saw where she was looking, forcing a dire thought to form:

    ''Another one!? Seriously¡­!??''

    Did the Heavens above truly just like watching him suffer!?

    The Idle Evolution System chuckled in the background, deriving much joy from its Host''s suffering.

    Eventually exhaling all his troubles, Cassius turned away from the flustered Demon Beauty. "Just¡­ Just do whatever you want. I''m not marrying you."

    Zaraphina''s lovesick expression lost all its color, her heart sinking to the depths of her soul.

    Yimin and Maxy, on the other hand, had a good amount of their anger subside after hearing their Master''s firm rejection. A bit of pride also surfaced as they once again realized why he was the one they idolized more than the gods themselves.

    "B-But wait¡­!"

 Chapter 376 - 5/7]

    Stopping Cassius once more was the anxious Zaraphina. She flew up to him, tugging on the hem of his robe, unable to even meet the dead gaze attached to an otherworldly handsome face.

    "P-Please don''t leave me..." Zara murmured desperately. "I... We don''t have to get m-married right now. Just please allow me to stay by your side; I can help... You needed Exisia to help you with finding someone, right? Well, I... I can help as well; my family has contacts everywhere in the Heavenly Kingdom."

    Exisia involuntarily shuddered when Zara mentioned her, but contrary to how she assumed Zara would act, she treated the value placed behind her name as if she were just another random person.

    Relief washed over Exisia as she flashed a grateful look at Cassius.

    Without him¡­

    Without him, she was afraid she''d either have to give in to Zaraphina''s cruel demands or make the even more shameful decision of returning to her father to request assistance. But now, with Cassius in the picture, neither terrible option became her reality.

    "Stinky, stupid b*tch...!!" Yimin fiercely growled, with the only thing stopping her from clawing out Zaraphina''s throat being Cassius''s hands. "Will eatchu!!!"

    Zara, too absorbed in staring into Cassius''s eyes, didn''t even seem to register the repeated death threats being slung her way. In particular, she found herself listlessly watching every minute movement his lips made, her urges growing by the second.

    "You wish to help me?" asked Cassius, aware but unbothered by her inner thoughts. "And you''ll do so for nothing in return?"

    Zara shook her head. "What I want is to be beside you. That is compensation enough for me."

    "I see." Cassius furrowed his brows deeply in thought. ''I would prefer not to add any more headaches to my agenda, but seeing as three hands are better than one, I suppose I can string her along for now. As for the future, well... I''ll leave that to the future me.''

    Future you says, "Screw you, motherfuc¡ª!"

    "Fine then," said Cassius, enlarging the protective bubble to fit all of them, which warmed Zaraphina''s heart. "You can tag along, and we''re departing now. Time is of the essence, you see."

    With the Yggdrasil Tournament fast approaching, he hardly had time to waste.

    Zara''s heart leapt with joy as she bounced over to Cassius, toughly resisting the urge to cling to him and sniff him all over. ''Must not come on too strong... I have to get him to like me...!''

    Unbeknownst to one Sir Cassius Dense Balls, the demon girl he thoughtlessly picked up off the side of the street like a stray cat already had a plan set in motion.

    One that ended with her sticking around... more permanently.

    Nevertheless, time within the Ascension Tower passed undisturbed. Many formidable forces started making moves, preparing both for one of the most vital competitions to further growth, as well as the destined Tower-wide Nexus Event.

    One sure to be the largest and most chaotic in history.

    ¡ª An Unspecified Amount of Time Later ¡ª

    "You say someone is asking to see me?" asked the divinely beautiful Mikaela, her wings fluttering ever so slightly behind her.

    "He says his name is Cassius Steele," replied an eight-winged angel bowing below a floating heavenly bed. "As for his purpose, he has stated that he¡ª"

    "It''s fine," said Mikaela, gliding off her bed. "If it''s who I think it is, then he requires no reason for visiting. Have him come in right away."

    "Ye... Yes, My Lady," replied the eight-winged angel, a bit shocked by the words of the Archangel. "Should I have him come in through the back doors, so as to not disturb the Young Miss¡ª" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Naturally."

    With that, the eight-winged angel nodded before vanishing.

    A few seconds later, the angel returned with a lone man. One whose beauty surpassed even Mikaela''s.

    An interested gleam formed in her gold-crossed eyes; the more she tried to understand what this man was, the more her interest surfaced.

    "So you''re his son?" she remarked. "You''re certainly as much of an enigma as he was."

    Already knowing full well who she was talking about, Cassius smirked.

    Bowing ever so slightly, he said, "It''s my honor to make your acquaintance, Archangel Mikaela, the strongest of the Archangels. You''re as beautiful as the rumors make you out to be."

    "A flirt just as sweet-tongued as your father, I see," Mikaela arched an amused brow. "I do wonder if you''re as competent as he is as well. Would you mind hitting me with your strongest attack? I''d like to see just what sort of man ensnared the innocent heart of my daughte¡ª"

    BOOM!

    In an instant and without hesitation, Cassius blurred his fist into Mikaela''s stomach, producing a deafening boom. The force behind his attack had been more than enough to reduce a third-level layer of reality to cinders.

    However¡­

    Other than being pushed back a couple of millimeters, Archangel Mikaela was entirely unharmed.

    "Are you alright, my Lady!?"

    The concerned shouts of her royal guards came from outside her room, and with a growing smile, she told them off. After which, she refocused on the slightly disappointed man staring at his fist with a helpless expression.

    "Young Cassius Steele, are you disheartened that your attack couldn''t harm me?" asked Mikaela, her amusement clear in her tone. "You know the number of people who can do what you just did¡ªalbeit with all my defenses down¡ªcan be counted within the Godlike Rank."

    Even so, Cassius shook his head slowly. "It doesn''t matter. All the bones in my hand broke the moment I touched you; the difference between us is so insurmountable that I find it ridiculous I even believed I could scratch you."

    "Fufu~," Archangel Mikaela giggled. "To think you''d be this intriguing of an existence. And your appearance... Are you sure you''re not the angelic being here? Well¡­ those wings would say otherwise, but we both know the truth."

    Cassius''s expression stretched before returning to normal, a wry chuckle echoing. "It would seem I can''t hide anything from you," he said. "But do you not wish to avenge all the angels I stole the bloodlines of?"

 Chapter 377 - 377: Archangel Mikaela and Cassius, Figuring Out How To Get Into The 7th Heavenly Arch

    Archangel Mikaela found Cassius''s question quite funny.

    "Now why would I do something like that? If those Angels lost possession of their Bloodlines, then it''s their own fault," she began. "Although this is Heaven, we still adhere to the common law of the jungle. Only that way can our kind remain revered. Though I am curious how you managed to assimilate so many Bloodlines into your own; it''s quite the mystery."

    The image of a holy man bathed in light flashed through Mikaela''s mind, but that thought quickly dispersed at the absurdity of such a notion.

    Realizing he had to give a satisfactory answer here, Cassius said, "It''s a special trait passed down from my father and augmented by my mother. As for what it really is or where it resides within me, I''m not too keen on the details."

    Mikaela''s brows furrowed. "I don''t recall Adam ever possessing such an Ability, but he always was one to keep secrets. As for your mother¡­"

    The Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil''s inner workings were unknown to many people, even to the Archangels themselves. And though Mikaela knew a bit more about the place than most, she still couldn''t say for certain that such an overpowered ability like Bloodline Assimilation didn''t exist among their kind.

    Changing the subject. "So will you tell me why it is that you''ve come here? I can surmise the answer myself, but I''d feel it best if you were to say the words yourself."

    Cassius grinned, showing off his pearly white teeth. "I''ve come for your sole daughter, Memphis Mikaela," he said without a care. "I believe you''d prefer me call her by that surname instead of the one belonging to her father, no?"

    Mikaela''s smile declined a little at the mention of that insufferable man. However, seeing Cassius''s warm smile, she knew he meant no harm by it.

    "What is it that you want with my daughter exactly, Cassius Steele?" Mikaela folded her slender arms under her bountiful breasts, with all five pairs of her wings unfurling ever so slightly. "I''d say that you follow in your father''s footsteps of chasing after every beautiful woman, but you''re not like him in that regard, are you?"

    Cassius exhaled deeply. ''Maybe I am, maybe I''m not. With the presence of the System that forbids sexual interactions until I unlock all its Idle Benefits, I never received the chance¡­''

    But with that being no more than a pointless wallow of his, he matched Mikaela''s golden gaze, his mesmerizing multi-colored eyes peering into her own.

    "I have nothing else I need here," he suddenly said, taking Mikaela by surprise. "I just wanted to meet you, and now that I have, I''ll be on my way."

    A bit taken aback, it took Archangel Mikaela a second or two to understand what Cassius really meant. Though, after she did, her smile widened as she stared at his departing back with a pleasant look in her eyes.

    "To think that you went through what was most certainly a great amount of trouble in order to find her and this place," Mikaela said smilingly. "And all so as to make sure my daughter was in good hands. You''re quite the noble one, aren''t you?"

    Cassius stopped in his tracks, and without turning around, replied, "You''re wrong; I''m the furthest thing from noble. Memphis was simply on the way, is all. Furthermore, I''m especially busy right now and don''t want to reconnect with her, for more time than I want to spend will be used up."

    Mikaela''s opinion of this young man became fonder and fonder. And as she watched him leave her room and the Palace, she couldn''t help but think, ''He''d be a good fit for my Memphis. He was even aware that she''s in the long process of training to better herself right now, which is likely one of the main reasons why he''s leaving as he is.''

    "Cassius Steele," mused Mikaela. "What a kind young man. And to think he''s blood-related to that womanizing anomaly; you''d never have guessed based off their personalities."

    While the strongest Archangel in the Heavenly Kingdom got lost in thought, the man who caused it had just reappeared next to Yimin and the rest.

    Surprisingly, Zara was the first one among them to reach his side. "Did you do what you wanted to do, Master? You were so fast that it doesn''t seem like you got anything done! I-If you did it because me and the others are waiting out here, then you should go back i¡ª"

    "Your cutesy, innocent act ain''t fooling anyone, you crazy b*tch!" Maxy shouted with a gangster''s mug. "And he definitely didn''t come out early for your sake, so you might as well erase that from your mind right this second!"

    Scowling in secret, Zara turned toward Maxy with a friendly expression. "Why, whatever do you mean~? Teehee¡ª"

    "Don''t teehee, skanky biatch!" Yimin growled, her fangs extended. "Yimins will eatis you and shits you out!!"

    ''These whores are so annoying,'' Zara thought in annoyance, though outwardly smiled in Cassius''s direction. ''I''m never going to be able to get my Master to fall for me if these three bimbos are always around.''

    Over the last period of time of scouring the 6th Arch of Heaven for Memphis, Zaraphina had changed tremendously. It was to the point that she no longer felt any attraction toward those of the same sex. In her eyes, there was only Cassius.

    The man who bested her without contest.

    The love of her life!

    The one she planned to marry and have strong heirs with~!! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...."

    Ignoring all of them, Cassius looked to Raijin and Nyxvoldar, who stood in the background like they''d rather die than get themselves involved with the crazies.

    ''I understand that feeling¡­''

    Shaking his head to erase distracting thoughts, Cassius looked to the skies above. Beyond the 6th Heavenly Arch. Beyond the Dimensional Barrier that prevented access to a higher plane of reality.

    ''The 7th Arch of Heaven,'' he thought. ''To get in there and request a meeting with the big man himself, I have very few options. Asking Archangel Mikaela to do me a favor could work, but if at all possible, I''d prefer not to be indebted to anyone. Especially not a woman like her. Just one look at her and I could tell that behind all that beauty, there was a vicious woman who''d even murder the Favored Prince of HELL Lucifer if it really came down to it.''

    With the Mikaela route not being a viable option, there was truly only one thing Cassius could do.

 Chapter 378 - 378: A Staircase To Heaven, God...?

    Flying up to the limit of the 6th Heavenly Arch''s barrier atop his Angel-variant Dragon, Raijin, Cassius beckoned for him to stop. And though Yimin and the other girls looked at him weirdly, he leapt off Raijin''s back, teleporting far beyond their vision.

    While they all just dumbly stood there, Yimin was the first to speak up in bewilderment. "Erm¡­ Where did the Master go¡­? H-He didn''t leave Yimins, did he!?"

    "As much as I wish that were the case," said Zara, her purple gaze locked onto the boundless airspace above. "I believe he''s about to do something dangerous, and he''s afraid we''ll get hurt. Oh, my husband~! He''s so sweet to me~!"

    *Tick!*

    "Why do you always think he''s doing everything for you, dumb bitch!?" Maxy popped multiple blood vessels, her anger soaring just about as high as Cassius was flying. "Don''t forget that you were the last one among us to meet the Master! Why would you believe he cares more for you than us!?"

    "Because I''m prettier," Zara stated plainly, exhibiting clear confusion. "Isn''t that obvious?"

    *Tick! Tick!*

    "Bitch!" Both Yimin and Maxy shouted in unison, with even the normally reserved Exisia becoming a little incensed.

    ''Even you were at one point coveting me for my immense beauty, so how could you direct those words at me as well??'' she thought to herself, her face twitching all over.

    Zaraphina appeared visibly confused. "Why are you all so mad? These are just facts¡ª"

    "We''ll show you facts!" the other girls spat back as they jumped the puzzled Demon Girl, with even Exisia joining the fray.

    ''How come I never realized how annoying women could be?'' Zara questioned while effortlessly deflecting all of their attacks. ''This is why Cassius is just better; he''s so very stoic, and stupidly handsome to boot~''

    ''Mhmm~,'' she moaned internally. ''I want his seed so bad~! Just imagine the Progenitor babies we''d consummate~!!'' she hoped, not actually expecting her dream to come true.

    Little did she know that Cassius really was a Progenitor, and that there was a certain chance their hypothetical babies would come out as Progenitors¡­

    Never in history has there been a Progenitor like him, so even if others could not, there was always the possibility that he could.

    As for what this never-before-seen anomaly was doing right now¡­

    "So, if I just call out, God will hear me, right?" Cassius bemused, unsure of how this stuff was supposed to work. "I never was much of a religious person, so I''m all but a beginner concerning this topic. But sometimes, you just have to try things out and see if they work, right?" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Well, here goes nothing!

    "Erm," muttered Cassius, interlocking his fingers like an awkward believer. "This is my first time, but yeah, hey God. You see, there''s this favor I want to ask of you. And though I know I''m in no position to be asking for favors from you who can see all sin and whatnot, I would be beyond grateful if you could permit me a meeting with Your Holiness¡ª"

    FWISH!

    Forcing Cassius to open his eyes was the sudden appearance of a shining golden door that materialized before him. Turning to look around the door, he saw nothing on the other side.

    "Hurm¡­ A door to God?" Cassius pondered, his curiosity growing. "Well, whatever it is, there''s no more ''up'' to go, so this must be the way I get into the 7th Heavenly Arch."

    However, even if he highly doubted God would go through the hassle of setting a trap for him, Cassius''s caution remained as high as usual. It was because of this that he decided to venture forward without the company of the crazies; he sent them a brief voice transmission telling them he''d be right back.

    Screams and fighting came from the other end of the call line, blaring Cassius''s eardrums. It was obvious that they were in the middle of something right now, so after leaving the message, he approached the golden door of light and opened it.

    Passing through, the scenery immediately changed. The soft clouds of milky gold were still present in the background, but it was almost as if a filament had been placed over everything, making it look as if none of it were a part of his reality.

    Weirder yet, what used to be nothing behind the golden door now stood a staircase with limits unknown.

    "The Staircase to Heaven," said Cassius, intrigued. "So it really does exist. And from the looks of it, this is the path to God."

    How poetic, right?

    Ascending the slightly translucent steps of the staircase with post-haste, Cassius found himself losing track of time. He couldn''t tell if mere moments had passed since he began his ascent, or if entire years had gone by.

    After what felt like an eternity and an instant at the same time, Cassius''s foot landed on the final translucent step. The kinetic energy his foot transferred to the step caused it to ripple. That ripple spread out over empty air, gradually revealing a Secret Realm that once wasn''t there.

    Rather than a pure-white palace in the skies, what showed itself to Cassius was more along the lines of an Immortal''s Paradise. There were lush green valleys, with freshly bloomed flowers growing on them. Moreover, waterfalls that endlessly flowed were sprinkled about, their liquid reflections shimmering underneath the perfect heat of the seemingly genuine sun hanging above.

    Even the chirping of various birds and the flapping of the wings of swans added to the overall otherworldly atmosphere of this place¡ªa stretch of land no bigger than that of a few football fields placed together.

    "A Heavenly Paradise."

    "???"

    A voice that wasn''t Cassius''s carried through the ethereal air, warmly dripping into his ears. However, beneath the warm exterior of this voice, there lay a depth that no mortal could ever hope to fully comprehend.

    "That is what the few who visited this place in the past told me," said the mysterious voice, his words making lilies dance and glow. "But for me, it''s no paradise. It''s just home."

    From above, a figure descended.

    Just like the rumors depicted him to be, he was bathed in a golden light. Yet his presence was neither overbearing nor domineering; it was dangerous nonetheless, but it was as if the incomprehensible being before Cassius would never harm even a fly.

    But he knew better than to let his guard down¡­

 Chapter 379 - 6/7]

    Even one of the most talented Ancestors in the history of the Ascension Tower lost his life in an instant to this being shrouded in light, and it was unlikely that he had underestimated the Big Man himself.

    However, now that he was here in the flesh, Cassius couldn''t help but pause to wonder why the System wanted him to have a meeting with God in the first place. What did he have to gain from this encounter?

    Furthermore, why had God let him in so easily to begin with??

    The Heavenly Progenitor let down the heavenly glow that covered him. It was only then that Cassius could make out his true appearance, and though the amusement on his face momentarily distracted him, there was¡­

    "Wait!" Cassius suddenly exclaimed, his brows arched in astonishment. "It''s you! How can it be you!?"

    Rarely did he ever lose control of his emotions, but the true identity of the Heavenly Progenitor was just too big a pill to swallow!

    Could it really be possible!?

    Possible for those two people to be the same person!?

    "Surprised, are ya, young Cassius?" said the Heavenly Progenitor, a small smile gracing his graceful middle-aged appearance. "To think we''d meet again after all this time. Do tell me, how has that Virtual Projection Technique I gave you been treating you? Good, I hope."

    The motherfucking Ice Progenitor!

    The crazily powerful guy who had gifted Cassius the VOPC Technique! Also, the one who had filled him in on the history of his family!

    This overpowered dude was really the God of the Bible!?

    What the hell was going on here!??

    The Heavenly Progenitor chuckled, finding Cassius''s reaction just as amusing as he had expected.

    "You really are an interesting kiddo, young Cassius," he laughed. "And though I had high hopes for you, I never thought you''d come this far in such a short period of time. You''ve really surprised me."

    Cassius stood there with his mouth wide open, still attempting to find the proper words to convey the shock in his heart. Coming to realize that the ''old friend'' his father scowled at the mention of was, in actuality, G.O.D. was a revelation almost beyond what his feeble brain could process.

    "Say, young Cassius," said the Heavenly Progenitor. "Although I''m more than happy that you came to visit me, why is it that you''re here? I sent you that message and all on a whim, curious to see how far you had progressed in your journey, but I wasn''t sure you''d come."

    A lie.

    "Honestly, you should instead be out there making use of my self-created technique to dominate the Seven Ascension Towers. That competition held by Yggdrasil is also coming up again, which is definitely something you should be preparing for.

    So¡­

    Why is it that you''ve come to me?"

    Cassius''s agape expression returned to neutrality, his brows furrowed deeply. "That''s something I''d like to know myself," he ultimately said, unaware of God''s deceit. "You could say that I felt something compelling me to come here¡ªto you. As for why, I have no idea."

    The Heavenly Progenitor rubbed his chin in thought, his disposition no different from that of a chill old man. Then, as if a lightbulb had flashed inside his mind, he took out a couple of abyssal-like objects in the shape of diamonds.

    "Are these what beckoned you here?" he asked curiously. "I heard from a little birdie who knows how long ago that your destiny is quite the interesting one. And around that time, I picked these two up from some Monster Monarchs stirring up trouble. Also, even with my nigh-unlimited knowledge, I honestly have no idea what they are or what they do. But they feel like you, so I guess they must be part of that grand destiny of yours."

    Another lie.

    ''Original Abyss Fragments!?'' Cassius thought. ''How could these be here!??''

    Surprise after surprise came Cassius''s way, putting him in a mood he hadn''t felt in who knew how long. But more than that, it was finally finding another Original Abyss Fragment after the first one that truly flooded him with happiness. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The first five floors of the Land of Monsters Ascension Tower had given him nothing, but now, with the meeting of this chill godlike entity, two had just conveniently appeared!?

    Was this Plot Armor!?

    However, he knew better than to get ahead of himself. Staring at the nonchalant God, he asked, "What do you want in exchange for these Original Abyss Fragments?"

    Cassius was intelligent enough not to believe everything at face value. It was more than a little suspicious that God had sent him a letter knowing he''d follow it to the Heavenly Kingdom¡ªonly for him to have something that he wanted.

    ''Too convenient,'' Cassius narrowed his eyes, wary of his surroundings. ''There''s something he''s not telling me.''

    The Heavenly Progenitor arched a brow.

    Tension seemed to grow between the two of them until God suddenly erupted in laughter, placing the Original Abyss Fragments into Cassius''s hands.

    "You really are just like him," the Heavenly Progenitor said through tears. "But that''s good. Yes, very good indeed. It saves me the trouble of telling you what it is I want."

    Cassius gave a silent nod, not storing the Original Abyss Fragments just yet.

    With the confirmation to continue, God raised both his arms. And though this put Cassius on edge, he soon realized the incomprehensible deity was not attacking him; rather, he was altering the very fundamental laws of the world around them. Waterfalls blipped out of existence, birds stopped their singing, and entire hills warped out of reality.

    Then, in an instant, everything simply¡­ vanished.

    Yet, in the very next second, the raging sounds of an active volcano could be heard. All around Cassius and God appeared an inferno-like scenery, akin to the hellish depths of HELL itself.

    "What I want from you, young Cassius, is something that will be anything but easy for you to acquire," God began as he zoomed into a specific area of the boundless volcanic scenery. "This is the 7th Layer of HELL, a fractured fiendish expanse of land with boundaries that can''t be properly measured by the standards of beings below the Godlike Rank. This is where the Three Great Demon Kings reside.

    One of which is one of my children..."

 Chapter 380 - 380: The Heavenly Progenitor, A Quest From God, Seeking The Orb Of Avarice

    Cassius blankly stared at the laid-back middle-aged man.

    "I know, I know," said God, awkwardly laughing. "You''re wondering what this has to do with my want, and that''s what I''ll get to now."

    Zooming below the upper surface area of the 7th Floor of HELL, the Heavenly Progenitor stopped in an underground chamber. Surrounding the chamber were countless formations and protective barriers, each one more advanced than anything Cassius had ever seen.

    "I need you to find your way to this location," God said with an uncharacteristically serious tone. "That troublesome son of mine has made use of ancient Immortal Techniques borrowed from Yggdrasil to lock me out of HELL. Because of that, I can''t get into the Magnoid Chambers myself. But there''s something in there that I need, and to get it, I require your help."

    "My help in invading the 7th Floor of HELL¡­?" Cassius repeated, just to make sure the insanity coming through his ears was correct. "You know even the weaker Godlike powerhouses give me a certain level of trouble, don''t you? How do you expect me to¡ª"

    "You don''t need to do it right away," God interrupted, waving as if it were no big deal. "As long as you do it at some point, I''ll be happy. Also, you can keep the Original Abyss Fragments; call it a payment in advance."

    "...."

    "Is this deal not a little too good to be true?" Cassius asked skeptically. "I could just never do it, you know? You stated no deadline, after all." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You could indeed," God laughed. "But you won''t."

    "And why is that?"

    "Because, young Cassius," replied God, "you''re a natural-born thrill seeker, just like your father. And as such, I''m sure you''ll eventually make it to this location at some point; it''s just a matter of when."

    Leaning over, God added, "And in case you haven''t noticed, all I have is time. I''ve been around since the inception of mankind, you know? Who do you think constructed the Ascension Tower of Humanity?"

    "You actually¡ª!?"

    "Yep," God nodded, his pride showing through. "Humans are the jewel in my crown, and though they''re looked down upon by basically everyone, I can see their true potential. Like I saw your father''s potential; like I see yours."

    Cassius''s thoughts swirled, his mind processing all these reality-shattering revelations.

    But forcing his mind back to the main matter at hand, he asked, "This thing you want me to acquire in the Magnoid Chambers¡­ What is it exactly?"

    God smiled. "It''s called the Orb of Avarice," he began. "And though I can''t zoom in on its exact location in the Magnoid Chambers because of that secretive son of mine, you''ll know it when you see it. All you have to do is snatch it up real good and skedaddle back to me; I''ll take care of the rest."

    While considering the pros and cons of this request, Cassius unconsciously opened God''s System Interface.

    BLING!

    {[GOD/Heavenly Progenitor/Human Progenitor]}

    [Cultivation: ????] - (Above the Peak-Godlike Rank)

    [Battle Prowess: ?????] - (Unquestionably high)

    [Age: As old as the Common Timeline of the Ascension Tower, with very few older than him]

    [Mood: ????] - (A very confusing entity)

    ¡ª[Throughout space and time, God is unrivaled in terms of creation. As one who pioneered creation at the beginning of the Ascension Tower''s Original Era, even the Ancient Scions of the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil are inferior in this regard.]

    ¡ª[His history is riddled with holes and unknowns, and he has often taken on various seemingly useless identities for ????? reasons. One of those identities was the Ice Sovereign, and he did so because ?????? for ?????????? all so as to ????????????????]

    ¡ª[Yearns for ???????? beyond ????????? where even the Dissonants are too inconsequential to ?????????????????????]

    The rest of the Heavenly Progenitor''s description was just an endless number of question marks, similar to what Cassius saw when God was assuming the Ice Sovereign identity. At the time, it seemed that the System couldn''t properly register the Ice Sovereign''s true identity because of the absurdly vast difference in power.

    "So then, young Cassius," God probed, taking him out of his thoughts. "Do we have ourselves a deal? My two of those diamond thingies for your cooperation in stealing back the Orb of Avarice that was stolen from me?"

    Cassius''s eyebrows knitted tightly together as he weighed the options. He didn''t fully trust the Heavenly Progenitor¡ªand neither had his dad from the expressions he made¡ªbut that didn''t mean he could just willingly pass up on two Original Abyss Fragments.

    The Shadow''s Foresight Ability saved his life once, but it was a very close call. What if the next time was more dangerous?

    In the end, Cassius felt there was really only one correct choice here. Thus, he extended a hand. "You have yourself a deal."

    God''s expression froze. Then he grinned from ear to ear. "Thata boy! I knew you''d come through for the greater good of us all!"

    "The what¡ª"

    "Oh, nothing, nothing," said God in a lighthearted tone. "Just the nonsensical ramblings of a crazy old man, haha!"

    Cassius felt that eerie feeling again but couldn''t figure out if he was just overthinking things or not.

    "Now, now," God snapped him out of his reverie. "You should really be going, shouldn''t you? Those companions of yours are experiencing some trouble with my children outside, and seeing how it''s always a whole big thing when I leave, you better get out there and save the day! Hahaha!"

    Seeing the Ultimate Creator of all Humanity and Angel-kind act like a big jokester dashed away Cassius''s previous thoughts of doubt. Agreeing with the Heavenly Progenitor''s words, he began to make his departure.

    Without even needing to ask God, a heavenly staircase of golden light appeared before Cassius. Stepping onto the first stair, the hellish scenery and the goofy old man behind him disappeared into the folds of reality, seemingly having never existed to begin with.

    Dispersing his curious thoughts, Cassius descended the Staircase to Heaven. And once again, he experienced that unusual sensation of time around him going out of whack, almost as if something was internally wrong with the deepest, most hidden circuits of the Heavenly Kingdom.

    But that was probably just baseless conjecture¡­

 Chapter 381 - 381: What 100+ Godforce looks like, Half-step Demon Overlord Realm

    After what felt like both an instant and an eternity, Cassius flickered out of the space between higher dimensions. Upon reappearing in the outside world, he was immediately hit in the face with several overpowering auras.

    "Well, shit," Cassius muttered as he saw a group of Heavenly Court Officials confronting Yimin, Exisia, and the others. "There are even Godlike Entities among them, and yet that silly old man couldn''t assist me a little? Haiz¡­"

    "Do you know who Yimin''s Mashter is!?" Yimin fiercely growled, her tail defensively sticking up on end. "If you knew, Yimin bets da shits would fly out your ashholes in da fright!!"

    "Commander, sir, do you understand what this Angelic Dragonoid Female is saying?" a Half-step Godlike Angelic Officer whispered to an Angel with eight wings and an intimidating aura.

    "No," replied the Angel Commander of the Heavenly Court''s 3rd Division. "But as a six-winged Angel, she should know better than to go this high up. It''s clearly stated in Rule 4570 of the Rules of Heaven that any who fly this close to the Heavenly Father''s abode are to be banished out of Heaven."

    "And as such," he continued while flipping his stern gaze between Yimin and the other girls, "all of you are to be banished to HELL, effective immediately! Just like the first fallen son, you shall know the wrath of the Heavenly Father¡ª"

    "Yo, buddy, you mind moving out of the way?"

    "!?!"

    Instinctively striking out behind him, the Angel Commander just barely missed Cassius''s head.

    "Who are you!?" he shouted. "Are you planning to interfere with official Heavenly Court business!?? Wait¡­ Why in the hell are you up here as well!?? Another rule-breaker!! You''re banished too, then!"

    Cassius pensively stared at the eight-winged Angel spitting all over the place. "You''re going to need to chill out, my guy. The only thing I want is safe passage out of the 6th Arch of Heaven, as well as the Arches below it. But if you insist on banishing us against our will, then I don''t mind teaching you a lesson on behalf of the Big Man upstairs."

    The Angel Commander''s square-shaped face spasmed, his grip tightening on his golden spear. "Are¡­ are you courting death!??"

    WAAA!

    Cassius''s long raven-black hair wildly fluttered. The Angel Commander''s aura was absurdly strong, even exceeding Zaraphina''s, who revealed a small frown at this ''brazen bird,'' as she internally named him.

    "Say, friend," Cassius said with a friendly smile, his head tilting slightly to the right, "do you know what it means to truly move fast? I mean, really make use of one''s speed to transcend common sense?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you talking about, rule-breaker!?" The Angel Commander got into a thrusting position, his face twisting in anger. "If you refuse to surrender and come with us right this instant, then I''ll be forced to use more extreme measures to take you in! Your punishment will then be far worse than a mere banishment¡ª"

    *Tap*

    "!!!!"

    A tap came to the back of the Angel Commander''s neck, but before he could turn around and slash out with overwhelming force, his vision dimmed. His eyelashes flickered, gradually coming to a close.

    "Y-You damn rule-brea¡­."

    Cassius chuckled a little at the last words of the Angel Commander before lugging him over his right shoulder. "That''s what speed with over 1000 Unity and 100 Godforce looks like. Quite impressive, isn''t it?"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Some time ago, while he and the others were traveling through the Heavenly Kingdom, he remembered his AP. Spending all of it, his Godforce soared, utterly shattering the 10 Godforce barrier.

    That was around when Cassius realized that he was close to breaking through the Overlord Demon King Rank, the same rank as the Three Great Demon Kings. And though he couldn''t officially break through such a grand stage just yet, he achieved somewhat of a Half-step stage between the Demon Lord and Demon Overlord Ranks.

    Achieving this halfway point brought his Godforce from around 30 to the 100+ range!

    "Hmm," mused Cassius, ignoring the trembling fingers the other Angelic Soldiers were using to point at him. "It only just passed my scrambled mind, but I just exceeded 1000 Unity. That means I can finally upgrade my Origin Village to Tier 5, which is definitely something I should do later."

    "H-Hey, you¡­" One of the Angelic Soldiers finally found the courage to speak up, aiming his shaky sword in Cassius''s direction. "Th-This is the territory of the Heavenly Court, a-and as such, you should know that you just committed a serious cr¡­ crim¡­"

    "A serious what now?" asked Cassius, his eyes glowing red like a vampire''s. "If you have something you wish to say, then you should speak up."

    "I- I¡­ I¡­"

    The Angelic Soldier, no longer able to handle the pressure Cassius unconsciously emitted, collapsed. His sword fell out of his sweaty palms, his expression drenched in fear.

    "Anybody else have a problem with me?"

    Cassius''s terrifying demonic face and his distorted, inhuman voice scared the crap out of the gathered Angelic Soldiers.

    Even genuine high-rank Demons were not as horrifying as this member of their own kind!

    "That''s good to hear," said Cassius, tossing the Angelic Commander at the ashen-faced Angels. "Here, you can have this one back. And hopefully, for your sakes, we never meet again."

    "Master¡­"

    It would appear that the palms and foreheads of the Angelic Soldiers weren''t the only things drenched, for Yimin, Maxy, Zara, and even Exisia were sensually rubbing their thighs together. They got so lost in thought that it took them a second to register the fact that Cassius had already disappeared into the distance with Nyxvoldar and Raijin, the two true heroines.

    "W-Wait for us, Master¡­!"

    Then there were the Angelic Soldiers, all of whom were still staring at the departing demonic-holy silhouette¡­

    "That man¡­" An Angel Supervisor mumbled listlessly. "He incapacitated the Commander, who has already achieved the Godlike Rank, in an instant¡­ Just¡­ just what sort of monster has sprouted up among our kind¡­?"

    He and all the other Angelic Soldiers stood there, staring off into the distance.

    For a while, they remained that way.

 Chapter 382 - 7/7]

    ¡ª Within the Divine Palace of Ten Crosses, the home of Archangel Michael ¡ª

    "My Lord," said an eight-winged Angel in the EX+ Rank. "Your daughter is moving around quite a lot as of late, and with company."

    Archangel Michael leaned into the back of his sword-emblazoned throne of feathers and gold. "I know that, Sargon. But I''m not worried if that''s why you''re bringing it up."

    "???"

    "But my Lord," Sargon flashed a surprised look. "Whenever the young miss is accompanied by someone, you usually request that they be dealt with immediately. What is so different about this time??"

    Archangel Michael placed a hand to his perfectly chiseled chin, leaning on it with a bored gleam in his dazzling golden-crossed gaze. "The son of the most talented human in history is the one who''s accompanying my rebellious daughter. And as you know, with my Mind''s Eye, I can see everything¡ªfrom the Past to the Present to the Future¡ªnothing eludes me. Everything¡­ bores me¡­"

    "My Lord¡­" Sargon murmured, seemingly realizing something important. "The one who accompanies the young miss is indeed who you speak of, but what I assume you don''t know is that¡­ he met with your Father."

    "My Father¡­!?"

    Archangel Michael''s aloof facade shattered in an instant, with shock and bewilderment taking the place of his indifference.

    ''How could I not see it!?'' he questioned. ''Even the past and futures of most Godlike entities cannot escape my foresight, so how could a meeting like that happen without my knowing!? Did Father manipulate something behind the scenes???''

    The more Archangel Michael thought about it, the more questions surfaced.

    He tried activating his Mind''s Eye again, and though the brilliantly golden eye opened in between his brows, it didn''t spin like usual. Something¡­

    Something was wrong.

    "T¡­ This has never happened before," he muttered, the glowing halo above his head drifting out of orbit. "There''s no choice then; I must discuss this with my elder sister." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!"

    "My Lord," said Sargon with a hesitant tone. "If you do something like that with the ongoing war between you and your brothers, then rumors are sure to circulate. By then, I''m afraid things will begin to¡­ escalate."

    Sharply turning to his right-hand man, Archangel Michael''s long silvery golden hair began to flutter like a sea of jewels. "I have to, Sargon. Without knowing, I''ll lose my way on the path I''ve chosen; my hopes of one day reaching my Father''s level will never come to pass. My Sister will know the answers; she always does."

    Sargon stared into his liege''s serious gaze, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "If that is so, then please allow me some time to lessen the impact that this meeting of yours will cause."

    Calming down a little, Archangel Michael waved his large hands. "Very well, but get it done as quickly as possible. If my Father has a part to play in whatever''s happening, then the more time wasted, the more likely we are to get left behind in the dark."

    "Understood, My Lord," Sargon respectfully replied. "I''ll complete this task to the best of my abilities. I''ll also secretly begin getting into contact with Miss Mikaela; that way you won''t have to randomly show up."

    "Good," Archangel Michael praised. "Don''t disappoint now."

    "Of course, my Lord."

    With that, things within the Divine Palace of Ten Crosses returned to normal.

    ¡ª Years later (Heavenly Kingdom Time) ¡ª

    "What do you mean, elder sister!?" Archangel Michael''s exclamation echoed through the enormous halls of Paragon''s Palace, home of Archangel Mikaela. "You''re saying the son of that man is extremely favored by Father!?? But this hasn''t happened since¡­"

    "Yes," said Mikaela. "Father hasn''t acted this way toward anyone since Joan D''arc, Jesus¡­ and our big brother, the Fallen Angel Lucifer. But that doesn''t change the fact that it''s undoubtedly occurring."

    Archangel Michael slumped into his chair, disbelief etched across his divinely handsome face. "If what you say is true, then that means this human''s Destiny¡­ So that''s why my readings of him with Mind''s Eye were incorrect. He''s one of THEM."

    "Yes," answered Mikaela. "Cassius Steele, son of Adam Steele, is a Fateless. A being who possesses no fate. An outlier to the tracks that we all tread along."

    She wanted to mention that her daughter and his daughter had also found themselves intertwined with the Fateless boy, but even if he was her brother, she couldn''t bring herself to trust him. Not with something as important as the well-being of her daughter in the line.

    He wasn''t allowed to know of her existence. The same went for anyone else whom she couldn''t control.

    "So, Big Sister¡­" Archangel Michael''s voice dimmed. "What do we do¡­? Should we request a meeting with Father? He surely has his own plans for this boy, and we should know what those are; after all, the Fateless are unpredictable. And more often than not, they can permanently alter the course of entire Ascension Towers. You remember what happened to the Leviathans, don''t you¡­?"

    Archangel Mikaela sighed, shaking her head. "Even if what you say is true, there''s no point," she said exasperatingly. "Father will not answer us. He hasn''t for tens of thousands of years¡­ Seeking the Path to Immortality has changed him¡­"

    "...Yes¡­" Archangel Michael sighed alongside his sister, both of them recalling the last time they saw their Father. The fanatical expression he made was¡­

    Never had they seen anyone so obsessed.

    "Big Sister¡­"

    "I know what you''re about to ask," said Mikaela. "But no, I have no clue if this boy is one of the keys to Immortality that Father has been searching for. What I do, however, know is that the boy is riddled with mysteries, among which is his Bloodline; it makes no sense."

    "What do you mean?"

    Mikaela''s eyes shimmered, finding it difficult to put her thoughts into words. "There''s just something about it¡­ Almost as if it defies the natural order of the Universe. Though I can''t say for certain if what I sensed was little more than a stigmata.

    The Fateless are extremely difficult to read¡­"

 Chapter 383 - 383: Lucifers Fury

    Silence encompassed the air between the two Archangels, their thoughts stirring. Both were worried over something.

    "Big Sister," Michael suddenly said. "My daughter is traveling with this Fateless; do you think¡­"

    "No, she''ll be fine," Mikaela answered calmly, her words alleviating some of Michael''s trepidation. "That boy may be an anomaly of the highest caliber, but he''s still human in the end. As Father''s prized creations, humans are designed to be selfish, selfless creatures. This one, in particular, values relationships and family for some reason, which strikes me as odd, considering how much of the aura of death surrounds him."

    "Human¡­" Archangel Michael muttered, recalling the four sets of wings on Cassius''s back. "Are we sure someone like him can even be considered human anymore¡­? He''s more of an abomination or an aberration¡­"

    Archangel Mikaela exhaled deeply, her eyes closed tighter than usual. "Discussing this topic any further will get us nowhere; we also can''t question him ourselves. These past few years, he has been traveling between the Ascension Towers, tying up loose ends. The 1st through 6th Floors of every Ascension Tower have already been conquered by him, including the Wolfdom and Land of Monsters.

    "The only one he has yet to fully conquer is the Realm of Pleasures, but I imagine he''s there doing just that right this instant. And as such, he''ll soon be leaving for Yggdrasil. This means that by the time we catch up to him¡ªunder so many restrictive layers barring us from entry¡ªhe''ll already be beyond our reach.

    Thus, in the end, all we can do is put our faith in Father, hoping that he knows what he''s doing by trying to guide the Fate of a Fateless¡­"

    The two Archangels wore complex expressions, their emotions far more tumultuous than usual.

    Both their daughters had Fates intertwined with this ''Prodigal Conqueror,'' and yet they knew not where those connected Fates would take them. It was a daunting thing to imagine.

    ¡ª At that very moment, within the 6th Sinity-Realm of the Realms of Pleasure Dimension ¡ª

    "So you''ve really come in the end," Amaris Aluria said in a sultry voice while lying on her velvety bed. "But to think you''d come directly to my room¡ªa lady''s room. Quite the straightforward young lad, aren''t you~?"

    Resisting her unconscious charms, Cassius had only one real question he wanted to ask her:

    "Grace¡­ Is she still alive¡­?"

    Amaris''s amused expression suddenly hardened.

    "Yes," she finally said.

    Cassius unknowingly breathed a sigh of relief.

    But then Succubus Queen Amaris continued, "However, she doesn''t have much longer left."

    A small frown formed on Cassius''s shadowy face.

    Observing his flux of emotions, Amaris secretly revealed a satisfied smile. Years ago, she would''ve ordered for him to be captured on the spot, but now that would not only be useless, it wouldn''t be what she wanted.

    "Haiz¡­ You would''ve made for a good son-in-law, you know?" Queen Amaris lamented, her gaze softening from its natural state of seduction. "You being my husband would''ve also been acceptable."

    "...."

    "But it''s now too late for all that," Queen Amaris added, despite the blankness of Cassius''s gaze. "Under different, better circumstances, we could''ve even been a big happy family. I might''ve even shared you with my daughter, which I''m sure you wouldn''t have had a problem with."

    ''I''m positive my System would''ve had a problem with that¡­''

    [Damn straight! Humph! (?¥Î?£à?§¥?¡ä?)?¥Î?áê?©ß?©¥?©ß]

    "But seeing as how things are rapidly devolving around us, that''s no longer a possibility," Queen Amaris sighed dejectedly. "A shame¡­ A damn shame¡­"

    How had such a serious topic turned into this?? Was this a Succubus thing or what???

    Cassius could tell with a glance that behind all the playful jokes, Queen Amaris was hurting inside. However, as a normally stoic Queen of an entire race, she knew not how to properly convey her emotions in times like this. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Queen Amaris, Leader of the Succubi," Cassius said in a low yet commanding voice, which warmed toward the end. "You''ll take care of her?"

    Slightly taken aback, it took Amaris a second to respond with an affectionate smile, "Of course."

    Cassius naively believed her jokes had come to an end with those genuine words of assurance, but it was too bad he was mistaken.

    "Just take care of my other daughter as well; she''s a pretty thing, and you have some history, so you should get along well," Amaris teased. "Just don''t ''get along'' too well. With your current strength, you being her First Mark shouldn''t affect you much when you get down and dirty, so go at it! You have my permission~!"

    Turning around with an indifferent air about him, Cassius departed from the room overflowing with sexual desires.

    However, before he left completely, Queen Amaris''s feminine voice leaked out once more:

    "Young Cassius¡­"

    "Yes?"

    Amaris''s beautiful eyes watered a little, her knuckles whitening due to how tightly she was squeezing them. "Get¡­ Get that Tear of Yggdrasil¡­ Please¡­ I-I don''t know what I''ll do if¡ª"

    "You needn''t say anymore," Cassius said without turning his head around, his back still facing her. "I''ll return with the cure to what ails Grace. That much you have my guarantee."

    While stunned, Amaris missed Cassius''s complete departure. Yet, in her typically icy-cold heart, an unknown warmth surged forth.

    "Maybe I should make him the father of my children¡­" she mused adoringly. "Oh, what am I thinking, hah? A young stud specimen like him would never be interested in a silly old woman like me¡­"

    As the Queen of Succubi convinced herself that she wasn''t attractive enough, Cassius reunited with the troublesome women who insisted on calling him Master.

    Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in the deepest reaches of HELL¡­

    ¡ª On the 7th Floor of HELL, within the Great Palace of Betrayal ¡ª

    "That little bastard is still alive!?" Lucifer roared so loudly that weaker demons flying through the skies suddenly dropped dead. "How is that possible!? Did I not specifically send out five Apex Hellhounds, each one equivalent to the Mid-Godlike Rank!??"

    "Y-Yes, Sire, you did," a Demon Ancestor replied through chattering teeth. "However¡­ They''ve all been slain¡­"

    "Slain!??" Lucifer erupted in anger, his aura enveloping everything for countless miles. "How could that little bastard possibly kill five Apex Hellhounds?!"

 Chapter 384 - 384: Tying Up Loose Ends

    "Sire¡­" The Demon Ancestor knelt lower, breathing with great difficulty. "The Time Dilation difference between Dimensions and Floors has led to numerous years passing for the Prodigal Conqueror. He''s no longer the kid he once was; his power has grown far beyond expectations. It''s highly likely only the strongest among us are now capable of dealing with him, and even then¡­ We hear he now has the support of the Heavenly Father. Our moles in the Heavenly Court told us as much."

    RUMBLE¡ª!!!

    That was the last straw; Lucifer''s fury blasted out, erasing half his galaxy-sized palace in an instant.

    "This little bastard actually colluded with my Father!?" Lucifer roared, forcing the kneeling Demon Ancestor to circulate all his defenses just to stay conscious. "Even if he''s not officially one of us, to think that he has dragged the True Demon King Lineage and Cultivation Path through the mud in such a way!! COURTING DEATH!!!"

    "I-I agree, Sire¡­" the Demon Ancestor struggled to say, his bloodshot eyes leaking blood. "Sh-Should I gather the others and make sure the Prodigal Conqueror meets his demise¡­?"

    Lucifer replied angrily, "Yes, take everyone if need be. Intercept that little bastard before he can enter the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil! For disgracing the True Demon King Lineage, enslaving our kind, and seducing my daughter as he has, death will be a luxury for him!!"

    Was the third matter the true reason for your hatred of this rising Demon King¡­?

    As much as the Demon Ancestor wanted to speak his mind, he knew better than to beg for his own death. Instead, he carried out the Great Demon King''s orders, leaving the destroyed palace and gathering up everyone subordinate to the Original Fallen Angel.

    After the Demon Ancestor took his leave, Lucifer looked toward the two other massive plots of hellish land on the 7th Floor of HELL. One had huge floating citadels of carnage and death. The other was an underground world that had no observable limits, with trillions of powerful demons living and sowing chaos beneath the volcanic surface.

    "It''s high time I get into contact with those two," said Lucifer, still seething. "Astaroth and Beelzebub. If Father is interested in that little traitorous bastard, then he''s mine. I won''t allow them to interfere."

    His slitted demonic gaze grew more frigid than the coldest of blizzard abysses. And with an instantaneous movement, he disappeared from his spot, traversing billions upon billions of miles in mere moments.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, some distance outside the Aluria Succubus Family''s Royal Palace ¡ª

    Cassius, holding several greenish-golden tickets in his hands, stared into the hazy purple horizon. After a couple of seconds, he handed out the tickets to Yimin and the others.

    They looked at him in confusion, prompting him to explain, "Those are Guest Tickets to the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil. They''re temporary and are far easier to come by, much unlike the genuine tickets. Like this one here."

    Pulling out a brighter and more brilliant greenish-golden ticket with a large tree imprinted on it, Cassius showed the girls. They immediately got lost in thought while staring at it, with something seemingly pulling them in. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even Lilith and Mora, who stuck by his side or on his back most of the time, felt a tug. The allure of the Yggdrasil Ticket was something irresistible, yet it didn''t have the effect of making one hungry or addicted. It was more like it represented the very fundamentals of existence, and as such, the core beings of every living thing in the universe were unable to completely resist what it offered.

    Cassius, however, remained unaffected¡­

    His Origin Progenitor Bloodline represented the Origin of all things. As such, it would never bend to the will of another omnipotent force like the essence of Yggdrasil.

    "Keep those tickets close, for it was not easy to snatch them from the Succubus Queen and other such prominent figures while they weren''t looking," said Cassius as he leapt atop Angel Raijin''s head. "Come now, the main event of the century is about to begin, and I want front-row seats to the show."

    "Yesh, Master!"

    With that, he and his abnormal gang of misfits flickered into the horizon, leaving the 6th Sinity-Realm as well as the Dimension of Pleasure itself. Out in the dimensional tunnel between time and space, they traveled for who knew how long.

    Until ultimately coming across premonitions of a magnificent tree so large that its size couldn''t even begin to be measured by mortal standards¡­

    Taking out the tickets, Cassius and the girls ripped them up and watched as the World Tree premonitions gradually melded with reality. A portal then opened up, one that had their exact existential codes attached to it, giving them exclusive access to the most mysterious world in the Ascension Tower¡ª

    Yggdrasil.

    Time to go in!

    Or not¡­

    "We''re reaching the endgame now, yet there are still so many things I''ve yet to do," Cassius quietly murmured to himself. "The Originverse, the Infinite Character Development Dimension, and the Nightmarescape. There are so many things I''ve been putting back for who knows how many years now¡­ Haiz¡­"

    Deciding he had some Side Quests to complete before tackling the next Main Quest, Cassius mentally paused his game, watching as everyone and everything froze in time. He too froze, with his consciousness drifting to the Originverse.

    FWIP!

    [Time Ratio: 1:1 ¡ú 0:0 (equivalent, so possible)(But is limited¡­)]

    "This comes first," said Cassius as he was instantly prompted with a level-up screen for the evolution of his Origin Village. "Unity is essential moving forward, same as with my Godforce and Character Development Units, which have been constantly increasing alongside my Trainer Rank as it inches closer to the God-rank. So many things are at their precipice points, throwing so much on my platter."

    He had a shit-ton to do before becoming confident enough to face ancient, time-long entities that exceeded his comprehension. It was without a doubt that such beings would be within Yggdrasil, and unless he wanted to be under the will of another powerful force like the Dissonants, he had to prepare himself.

    Even if the Tournament was his to win, he had to be ready for what came after.

 Chapter 385 - 385: Small Origin Town (Tier 5), Spending Time in the Originverse

    [Origin Village Upgrade to Tier 5] ¨C (Cost: 1000 Unity) - [Accept: Y/N]

    Cassius''s expression solidified as he clicked accept, watching as the Large Origin Courtyard and all its Origin Workers became covered in a luminescent light. They quickly underwent drastic metamorphosis, with the latter adapting to the huge changes happening to the Origin Village.

    FWISH!

    Once the expansion of light came to an abrupt stop, System Notifications materialized before Cassius:

    *Ding!*

    [Large Origin Courtyard (Tier 4) ¡ú Small Origin Town (Tier 5)]

    [Your Origin Village has successfully reached Tier 5, bringing about many unforeseen changes! Of which includes the unlocking of the Tier 3 Origin Shop!]

    [Opening Tier 3 Origin Shop right away!]

    {[Origin Shop]}

    ¡ª[Tier 3]¡ª

    [3¡ï Origin Smelter] - [Cost: 20 Unity]

    [3¡ï Origin Botanist] - [Cost: 30 Unity]

    [3¡ï Origin Seed Enhancer] - [Cost: 45 Unity]

    [3¡ï Origin Researcher] - [Cost: 100 Unity]

    "Hmm," Cassius mused, his happiness gradually increasing the longer he looked at the Origin Shop. "From their descriptions, these are just what I was searching for. With them, I''ll no longer be limited to Tier 1 Origin Plants."

    In other words, his passive Unity acquisition rate was about to soar!

    Without hesitation, Cassius bought several Origin Botanists and Seed Enhancers. He also purchased a couple of Origin Researchers and Smelters, knowing exactly what he''d be doing with them.

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    In the now mostly empty plot of Origin Land, over a dozen shadowy figures appeared. They fit the bill dictated by their titles, with the Researchers even wearing lab coats that fluttered in the wind.

    "Begin research of potential Origin Seeds that can be synthesized from the current knowledge bank on botany," Cassius ordered the Researchers, watching as Unity got deducted before task tabs opened and started to run. "With timers of hours, this definitely won''t be a quick and easy reformation of the lackluster agriculture around here. But no matter."

    Commanding his System to open up the Origin Seeds that the Origin Botanists could presently spawn in, Cassius saw Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Seeds. Fortunately, the cost for production was far less than what it cost to research new potential Origin Seeds. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As Cassius rapidly organized the newest Origin Units, commencing one task after the next, his Unity plummeted at crazy fast rates. It was to the point that if not for Smelter and Enhancer Tasks costing nothing, he would''ve entered the negatives.

    However, by the time his Unity neared zero, the first of the Tier 2 Origin Plant batches had just finished growing.

    [Tier 2 Origin Plant ''Picturala Melon''] - [Consume to obtain 0.3 Unity]

    Cassius obviously did just that, feeling and watching as his Unity instantly jumped up by 0.3.

    "These are way better than the Tier 1 Origin Plants in production," he noted with a content smile. "Furthermore, seeing as diminishing returns have yet to kick in, just a single one of these colorful melons is the equivalent of hundreds of Eight-lined Tropica Fruits."

    Realizing that he had plenty of time to waste here, Cassius spent the next few hours waiting around for the Tier 2 and Tier 3 Origin Plants to finish growing. The latter took multiple times longer to grow than the former, but they also gave roughly 10 Unity each, so they were well worth the wait.

    After the passing of a single day, the Small Origin Town had more than a fourth of its territory filled up with squared-off plots of tiled land. Most of those plots were nurturing Tier 1 Spiritual Plants as they had the largest upper caps on production. Moreover, with the assistance of the Botanists and Researchers, dozens of new types of Tier 1 Spiritual Seeds had been synthesized.

    Add in the enhancing effects of the Seed Enhancers and the sheer quantity that was the Tier 1 Spiritual Plant population and they almost caught up to the huge amounts of Unity obtained from Tier 2 and Tier 3 Spiritual Plants.

    In his first day of overseeing his Tier 5 Origin Village, Cassius amassed more than a thousand Unity. Furthermore, the Small Town itself made great architectural progress, as dozens more Basic Origin Houses were constructed almost overnight. A couple of Origin Community Centers, 8 Origin Storagehouses, and an Origin Smelting Factory also popped up.

    But seeing as the Origin Unit population was only continuously growing, Cassius knew that the facilities he had were nowhere near enough.

    Thus he kept on expanding¡­

    Day 2: 750 Unity acquired; 50 Basic Origin Houses built; Simple Origin Lab constructed.

    Day 5: Higher-level Tier 3 Origin Seeds are developed by the Researchers, tremendously improving the Unity acquisition rate that had been on the decline. 3000 Unity acquired; Origin Town Center begins its 3-day construction time

    Day 15: 600 Unity acquired; Tier 4 Origin Seeds undergo research that''ll take weeks. Origin Town Center gets many improvements with the repeated development of architecture by the Researchers and Architects working together.

    Day 50: The first Tier 4 Origin Seeds finish growing, thus exponentially improving Unity acquisition rate; 5000 Unity acquired; 160 Basic Origin Houses receive upgrades that double their room count and square footage.

    Day 180: Numerous Tier 4 Origin Seed types have been successfully researched and spread around the Small Origin Town, considerably reducing the negative effects that diminishing returns had on your Unity acquisition. Months ago, you surpassed 100,000 Unity, but because of the insufficient facilities, you couldn''t upgrade your Origin Village. However, with the most recent major upgrades of your Origin Community Center and Town Square to Tier 4, you fulfill the last of the necessary requirements.

    Day 181: Origin Village evolves from (Tier 5) to (Tier 6), becoming a Large Origin Town, with over five times more space to utilize than before

    Day 200: After experiencing day after day of Attribute Orb absorption, every Origin Unit¡ªfrom Origin Miners to Farmers and Builders¡ªhave Evolution paths open up for them. Tier 4 Origin Units also begin to discover their places in the expansive Origin Village society that involves the work of thousands of Origin Units.

    Day ???

 Chapter 387 - 387: Rapidly Advancing Body Realm!

    "Clothes?" Luma repeated, though she quickly recalled those things that the appeasing humans of the Clan below the mountain had on them when they prayed to her. "Yes, I can get some of those, even though I don''t really see the point of covering my body¡­"

    "Neither do I, to be honest," Cassius agreed with a soft shake of the head. "If it were up to me, I''d make it a crime to cover a body as perfect as yours. But unfortunately, I''m not the one who creates the rules of civilized societal standards. Such a shame. Such a damn shame¡­"

    Luma felt like she was being played with here, but she had no way to tell for sure. Thus, she conjured up a flowy purple and green dress using mysterious methods before wearing it and showing it off to her first Disciple.

    "Well, is this good?" she asked, looking like a goddess descended from the supreme nine heavens.

    Cassius stared at her with a blank expression, trying his best not to nod his head like a madman. "It will suffice," he replied as he closed his eyes, preparing himself atop a large boulder. "I''m ready whenever you are, Master. Don''t go easy on me; tough training is good training."

    "You took the supplementary Body Refinement Liquid I gave you already?" Luma asked while seductively pulling at the dress in different places, still trying to adjust to this whole clothes thing.

    Cassius nodded. "It all went down the hatch, so everything painful that happens to me will allot ten times the benefits. Just the way I like it¡ª"

    WHAP!

    A whip smacked the bare skin off his backside!

    "Good," said Luma as she whipped out again. "Then you won''t mind if we begin your training in full swing, would you?"

    "Of course not," replied Cassius, unflinching in the face of such minuscule pain. "Feel free to hit me harder. That first one was not nearly enough to get anything out of me."

    Luma smirked. "You asked for it!"

    WHAP!

    "Harder."

    "Harder??"

    WHAP!!

    "Harder!"

    "Even harder than that¡­??"

    Some minutes later, Luma ended up tiring herself out from how much effort she was expending in order to dish out as much damage as possible. No longer able to give any more, she decided to switch things up as she brought him into a different room of the dark and wet cave.

    In this room, there was a huge vat of bubbling green liquid. Swirling around inside that liquid were images of skulls, indicating certain death.

    "Even I can''t confidently guarantee my safety if I were to get into this vat of one-true-death acid," Luma began. "But seeing how my full-power whip lashes were barely able to scratch you, I believe this to be fitting for you to advance your Body Refinement Rank as quickly as possible. So go on, you freak, jump in."

    "Say less."

    *Splash!*

    Without hesitation, Cassius dove into the vat of deathly green acid. And right away, he started to feel something¡ªa slight burning attempting to char skin that had been enhanced by hundreds of points of Godforce as well as millions of points of Unity.

    The Godforce gave him the fortitude and muscle mass, whereas the Unity tightened those two aspects to a point where no cracks could be seen between individual muscle fibers. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Slowly but surely, the acid in the vat gnawed away at those muscle fibers. However, because of his insane regeneration factor, he healed far faster than he was being damaged.

    As for the pain¡­ well, it wouldn''t be an overstatement to say that a thousandth of the pain Cassius experienced on a day-to-day basis because of all his terrible life decisions was worse than this.

    In spite of that, though, with the assistance of the Body Refinement Liquid, Cassius''s Body Refinement Rank skyrocketed!

    Silver Body!

    Silver Body Peak!

    Gold Body!

    Middle Gold Body!

    Late Gold Body!

    Gold Body Peak!

    Finally, after several hours of soaking in the acid vat, Cassius''s Refinement Physique broke through to the Ruby Rank, putting him just two stages below his Master!

    [You achieved the Ruby Body of the Body Refinement Sub-Path!]

    [Your Physical Strength and various other attributes tremendously increased!]

    [Your Godforce increased by 0.04 Points!]

    All that just for less than 0.1 Godforce!?

    Well, it wasn''t like Cassius could claim that he was surprised. After all, to the him who was just a step away from reaching the Demon Overlord Rank, such minor breakthroughs in the Body Refinement Path naturally gave him nothing worth writing home about.

    ''Still, this is just the Ruby Body Rank,'' Cassius thought as he continued to bathe his pores in the acid while absorbing the Body Refinement Liquid his Master gifted him. ''The higher Ranks are sure to give me much, much more.''

    Like that, he spent the next couple of days relaxing in the vat of acid. His skin screamed at him to put a stop to this insanity on more than one occasion, but when was he ever one to listen to something as silly as that?

    To Luma''s astonishment, Cassius wound up using all the acid in the vat. His Body Refinement Rank stalled at the Peak of the Ruby Body, giving him roughly 0.15 Godforce, but still leaving him yearning for more.

    "This¡­ it would appear that I was foolish in believing that I could train someone as freakish as you," Luma lamented with a shake of her head. "But even still, I resolved myself to this, so I won''t leave you shorthanded now. Let''s leave this cave; to get what you need, we have to go very far away."

    "Far away?"

    Cassius hadn''t even really explored the village of Bonecliff that sat beneath the mountain they were on, let alone ventured outside it. When he first arrived in this Dimension all those years ago, he might''ve not even been equivalent to the Transcendent Rank, making it virtually impossible to consider something as perilous as exploration.

    ''But with the harsh conditions of this world, my AP and CD Units have been steadily increasing,'' he thought with a keen gaze. ''And seeing as this is merely the starter area, I''m willing to bet that my benefits will be far greater in the wider lands outside.''

 Chapter 388 - 388: The Weakling Returns

    With his mind decided, Cassius rose from the empty vat. His mighty python came out to play, startling Luma a little, but he swiftly put it away, lest its size blind someone.

    "I have some unfinished business in the village you guard, so why don''t we stop by there first?"

    Luma thought it over before nodding.

    Cassius revealed a smirk that led to him and his beautiful Master departing from the cave that had been gathering dust for years.

    As they descended a winding path that led down the mountain, a couple of scouts from the Village spotted them. Alarm quickly showed on their faces as they shot straight up and dashed in the direction of the multitude of simple buildings placed in an oddly shaped circle formation.

    "Unknown intruders!!" they shouted at the top of their lungs. "Sound the sirens!! Unknown intruders!!!"

    The ones watching over said ''sirens'' grabbed hold of the necks of two roosters and squeezed before rubbing them. This caused them to let out shrill cries that echoed throughout the Village.

    The first ones to come out in response to the blaring of the ''sirens'' were the Village Chief as well as the Leaders of several Hunting Parties. Next to become interested in the calling of the sirens were the wives and children, who peeked their heads out of the doors of their homes.

    The mother and daughter combo known as Xyla and Myra, however, felt a little more than the others upon seeing what the cause of the commotion was all about. Xyla, in particular, had her cheeks puffed out as she cutely stomped in place, her bow bobbing atop her small head.

    "Weakling¡­" Myra, her busty mother, mumbled. "That not your Weakling, dear?"

    Xyla nodded, slightly grumbling. "Weakling left me all alone that day, but now he comes back¡­ Meanie!"

    Myra observed her daughter, then looked back at the two figures descending the mountain that led to the residence of their Guardian Deity. Given what Cassius had done the other day in abandoning the Chieftain''s daughter and the fact that he trespassed on Sacred Grounds¡­

    "Sorry, dear, Weakling will be dying," Myra said to her daughter.

    At first, Xyla put on a tough front, still pretending to be mad. But after no longer being able to hold it, the tears started to fall, giving way to the waterworks that ended up staining her mother''s sparsely placed clothes.

    "It''s okay, little Xyla," Myra comforted her. "Momma will find you a new Weakling. A better Weakling to care for."

    "B-But Momma," Xyla said through sniffles. "I liked that Weakling¡­! H-He was my favorite Weakling¡­.!!"

    "Haiz," her mother sighed, her round, sympathetic eyes glued to the extraordinarily handsome man whose fate was sure to be an ugly one. "If only you behaved, Weakling. Liked you as well¡­"

    Meanwhile, at the mountain entrance to Bonecliff Village, the big and burly Village Chief domineeringly approached the two intruders. His stance was indomitable as he fiercely shouted:

    "Do you admit to your crimes, Weakling!?"

    "Crimes?" Cassius repeated, his head tilted, seemingly trying to recall memories from long ago. "Ah yes, something about leaving a kid. Where is she now, I wonder? That little girl?"

    "!!!"

    "Insolence!"

    RUMBLE!

    The ground around the Village Chief cracked and splintered, with his power simply too overwhelming. The other male Villagers who accompanied him out here to confront the intruders felt their knees buckle and cave in.

    "To dare call out my daughter in such a way after discarding your duty as Personal Weakling!?" the Village Chieftain bellowed as a wrathful aura pulsated around him. "Does that court death!??"

    ''Even in a Primitive World, there are still those who use terms like that,'' Cassius noted with a crooked smile. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "As for you," the Village Chief added with a furious tone as he turned his attention to the gorgeous Master Luma, "Who are you!? And purpose! State your purpose for being in such close proximity to the residence of our Guardian! If answer is not sufficient, certain death!!"

    Normally, one would be mad or displeased if the ones they were protecting spoke to them in such a disrespectful manner. But not Luma. For she understood that they were just doing the jobs that she tasked them with all those years ago.

    Figuring she would just leave this mess to her new favorite Disciple, Luma winked at him before linking her arm with his. This further infuriated the Village Chieftain, for he believed he was being treated as no more than a benign joke.

    SHA!

    Brandishing his large double-sized great ax, the Village Chieftain swung it toward the lean, handsome man. This swing aimed to cleave him in two, making him pay the price for breaking the laws that the Forefathers of Bonecliff Village erected dozens of moons ago.

    "No!! Weakling¡­!!" Xyla cried out as she escaped her mother''s embrace, running for Cassius.

    "Xyla!"

    Myra''s calls echoed, but they fell on deaf ears. Xyla was already halfway to her father''s position.

    But by then, it was too late¡­

    Suddenly!

    SHWING¡ª!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    With just two fingers, Cassius nipped the Great Ax by the bud. All the momentum it brought down with it dispersed in an instant. The Chieftain found himself overcome with shock, especially after realizing that he couldn''t budge his ax from Cassius''s steel grip.

    It was like trying to resist the immovable pull of a million-ton freight train!

    Impossible!

    "Weakling!?" the Chieftain exclaimed as he let go of his double-sided ax before backing away. "Not so weak!?? How???"

    Cassius showed no emotions through his expression. He simply flung the Great Ax aside before saying, "We need to talk."

    The Chieftain was confused, but after recalling that immense physical strength from just a second ago, he realized a talk was for the best.

    So that''s precisely what they did.

    Though, somewhere along the way, a teary-eyed girl joined in on the discussion. She clung to Cassius like she was afraid he''d disappear again; she also complained to him about how mean he was for leaving her all alone last time.

 Chapter 389 - 389: The Kingdom of Uguru

    Ditching Little Xyla years ago was something Cassius had been feeling a bit bad about, so he sincerely apologized for his behavior¡ªa subtle gesture that warmed both Xyla and her father up to him.

    Of course, more than that, the Chieftain respected his strength.

    Weakling was not weak anymore!

    Who would''ve thought!?

    And apparently, Weakling also met the Rainbow Serpent, the Guardian Deity of their village¡ª

    Wait, what!??

    "The Guardian Deity!!? Where!??" The Chieftain started to freak out, no longer possessing the fierce, stone-faced demeanor from a few minutes ago. "I wish to pay penances!!"

    "Right here."

    "Where!??"

    "Look down," Luma replied with a mildly annoyed tone.

    "Hmm? Hmm!?" The Chieftain''s eyes bulged out of his head as he stared at the woman with multi-colored hair standing a couple of heads below him. "The Guardian Deity!? You''re actually the Guardian Deity!??"

    "Who else would I be?" Luma questioned as she sent out a trace amount of her unique aura signature to prove her identity. "See?"

    Everyone''s eyes widened. Then they all hit the ground with thuds, bowing before her while loudly giving praise.

    Xyla was the only one not bowing. While sitting on Cassius''s thigh, she looked up at him.

    Poking his cheeks, she whispered, "Why they bowing to pretty friend of yours¡­? Is it because she''s so pretty¡­?"

    Cassius found this a little funny, but received a scary glare from his Master as soon as he exhibited signs of chuckling.

    Coughing lightly, he explained the situation to her. In response, he received awe and claps, whereas Luma was forced to endure the sparkles in Xyla''s eyes as she stared at her with a child-like intensity.

    After some more bowing and explaining, Cassius asked for a map or anything else the villagers had of the surroundings. And though they had nothing too advanced, it was enough to give him a decent layout of the land, which he thanked them for.

    He and Luma then bid farewell to the villagers of Bonecliff Village. Xyla appeared particularly saddened, asking time and time again why he couldn''t just stay and become her Weakling again. To which he responded patiently that he was no longer weak, and that he had to go out questing.

    Cassius figured an explanation like this one would be the easiest for a little girl to understand¡ªand it was.

    She still cried while watching his figure recede further into the background, but he knew that with her tenacious spirit, she''d surely get over it.

    In time, all healed.

    Cassius quite liked this saying. And it lingered in the back of his mind as he and Luma marched away from Bonecliff Village, eventually leaving it as a tiny dot in the backdrop.

    "Where to first, Disciple of mine?"

    After a moment¡ª

    "To the North," said Cassius, already walking in that direction. "I hear there''s a Kingdom on the verge of collapse that way. And you did say that we have to search for those ''Body Source Crystals'' in high-level places. What''s higher in level than a Kingdom?"

    Luma stared at the expression he was making, becoming a bit dazed by that fiery glow burning brightly within his insatiable blue globes.

    "Very well then," Luma said with a defeated smile. "Let''s get a move-on then. All those years ago, I chose this location because it was remote and primitive, but the world is ever-changing, and now we have to travel a very long distance because of it."

    Cassius smirked. "All I have is time, Dear Master."

    With that, the Master-Disciple duo trekked through forests and mountainscapes, hills and pits of fire, lakes and seas.

    For years, they were on the move, both constantly improving their strength through Body Refinement and natural environmental resources.

    ¡ª An Undesignated amount of time later, within the Kingdom of Uguru ¡ª

    "7th Princess! What are you doing!?"

    The panicked shouts of a guard rang out through a castle''s backyard as he and several other similarly armored guards chased after a young woman with long black hair. She looked to be around 18¨C19 years old, had crystal-clear blue eyes, and a petite yet filled-out figure that jiggled and swayed as she clumsily ran away from the guards.

    ''I can''t quit halfway this time!''.the pretty young woman declared. ''I''ll run as fast and as far as I can, and never look back!''

    "7th Princess¡ª!"

    The shouts of the guards grew fainter as the young woman gained more and more distance on them. She was already hundreds of meters into the forest outside the castle by the time they even reached the periphery, which forced a small vibrant smile on her earnestly cute face.

    After some minutes, she stopped to catch her breath. Assuming that she''d lost them, she sat herself down on a medium-sized boulder by a flowing stream.

    That was when a complicated expression formed.

    "You''ve come this far, May," she smacked her cheeks to clear her thoughts. "You can''t be getting cold feet now. You have to escape if you want to decide your own fate!"

    She was set to marry an Old Lord from a neighboring Kingdom whom she''d never even met or seen the face of. But from circulated rumors among the young ladies of the Capital, she knew this old man was a lecherous bastard who preyed on any girl or woman who caught his eye.

    The law enforcers could do nothing about him because of his immense wealth and status, so he was free to continue committing heinous crimes.

    And because she was a royal princess, May had an obligation to do what her Lord Father commanded of her. This meant that she had no choice but to marry that scummy bastard¡­

    With her small, powdery-white fists tightly clenched into balls, May''s gaze turned determined. And with a start, she rose from the boulder¡ªonly to realize that a bunch of colorful birds had secretly perched themselves in her hair and on her body.

    "Chirp, chirp!"

    Her eyes softened a little bit as she pet the blue bird doing a dancy dance on her right shoulder.

    "Animals have always been attracted to me for some reason," May mused with a very soothing voice. "Mother used to always say that it was because they thought I was one of their own¡­"

    "Mother¡­" her voice saddened.

    Silence¡­

    S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 390 - 390: May, You Need To Remember!

    Remembering the stunning visage of her mother saddened May, making the air around her exude a sense of melancholy.

    Looking down at her balled-up knuckles, tears began to bubble up in her big, beautiful eyes. "If only Mother were here right now¡­ Then maybe¡­ Maybe I wouldn''t feel so alone¡­"

    No!

    She straightened up, that same resolute gleam from before reappearing once more.

    This was no time to get lost in depression!

    She resolved to escape the Castle and her Royal Duties once and for all¡ªand she planned to follow through with her original intentions!

    From that moment onward, May gradually began to change. Her timidness and sadness transformed into the bowstring that would propel her to untold heights.

    And as the years flew by, she advanced so far in her Body Refinement Cultivation that she one day returned to that lonely Castle atop a hill of fallen enemies¡ªthose who died in battle to secure that Castle''s place.

    The day an older version of May met her father, dozens of years after her disappearance, was the day she learned what he truly thought of her. A truth that left her colder and more despondent than ever.

    "You were a mistake, and so too was marrying that whore mother of yours!"

    "If only you were never born! Then the Rebellion that tore my Kingdom asunder never would''ve come to pass!"

    "Why does an ungrateful wench like you even exist!? I waited until you were of age to sell you off, but I now regret being so considerate! A stupid bitch like you should''ve been sold and played with by noblemen the very moment you were born!!"

    "If only you were never born!"

    "If only you were never¡­"

    *Crack!*

    "Haa!"

    Waking up like a drawn sword, May nearly smashed her bed to bits. Drenched in sweat, she sat there, hands clutched against her scarred face.

    "A nightmare¡­?" Her hoarse voice came out as a whisper, with her breathing slowly but surely returning to normal. "Yes¡­ The Rebellion ended 50 years ago¡­ My father is long dead¡­"

    Died by her hands.

    Loosening her tense muscles, May got up out of her large bed and approached a body mirror. There, in the reflection, was a mesmerizing woman who looked to be in her early twenties.

    However, what she saw were a couple of deep black eye bags and a face that looked to be on the brink of falling apart altogether.

    "What have I been doing wrong¡­?" she mumbled to herself, staring at her haggard appearance in the mirror. "Where did I go wrong? The singing of the birds, the warmth of the forest animals, Mother''s embrace¡­"

    She couldn''t recall when she lost it all.

    Now she was alone in the same lonely Castle that she ran away from a century ago. She had no spouse, no children, no family.

    Only she and the power she amassed over the years remained.

    But what use was all that when you had nothing¡­?

    "Your Majesty!"

    The respectful voice of a kneeling female servant came from the other side of the door to her room, prompting the naked Queen to leave her reverie.

    "What is it, Hilda?" she asked as she swiped a nearby gown and slid it over her voluptuous figure before approaching the door. "Unless it''s something important, it''s best you don''t disturb me today."

    "Your Majesty, a Grand Slayer is here to see you!" Hilda responded right away, so as not to anger the Queen any further. "He personally requested a meeting with you!"

    "Hmm?" May''s eyebrows drew together. "A Grand Slayer? What would someone like that want with me¡­?"

    Slayers.

    They were like Nightmare Slayers only in name¡ªand in their professional inclination to hunt down that which the world does not want to look at. In the Infinite Character Development Dimension, they hunted what needed to be hunted and did so for the Body Refinement Materials and the posted rewards attached to the kill.

    In every world, there was always something that needed hunting. In this one, it was Demon Beasts.

    "What is this Grand Slayer''s name?" Queen May inquired as she opened her room''s door to see a beautiful blonde woman kneeling outside it.

    "Your Majesty," Hilda replied without looking up. "His name is¡­"

    ¡­

    *Tap, Tap*

    As Queen May walked the empty halls of her Castle, her thoughts continuously traced back to the name of that Grand Slayer. It seemed to stick with her for some odd reason, making her all the more interested in seeing just what kind of person this important figure in the Slaying World was.

    *Thwack!*

    Opening a pair of large double doors with her outwardly manifested Body Energy, Queen May was immediately greeted by the sight of a robed man leaning against a windowsill. Time slowed to a crawl for May as she found herself momentarily dazed by this unknown man''s appearance.

    Even still, the self-loathing qualities within her refused to acknowledge anything beyond a transaction happening between the two of them. Her cold eyes scanned him up and down, attempting to discern if he could be a trustworthy person or not.

    One thing was for sure: he didn''t look anything like how stories depicted the scary Grand Slayers to be.

    He was more like an otherworldly Deity. Or a¡ª

    "Knight."

    "???"

    ''I wasn''t the one to say that! And it was a voice that rang inside my head!''

    Queen May instantly put up her guard, activating all her Body Refinement defenses. She put quite a bit of distance between herself and the stupidly handsome man staring her down with an apathetic expression.

    "Who are you!?" May questioned with a frigid tone oozing murderous intent.

    "Don''t you know already?" Cassius asked as a warm smile formed. "Who I am?"

    "Who you are! Who¡­ you¡­ are¡­"

    May''s murderous intent was replaced by a stinging headache that forced her to clutch her head. Pain surged within her, causing her to collapse to the ground with a deep grimace.

    "You know who I am," said Cassius as he took slow steps toward her. "You just need to remember."

    "You need to remember." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Remember!?? What does that¡­ Arghh!!!''

 Chapter 391 - 391: The Man In The Dream

    Coming to a stop less than a few inches away from the writhing Queen, Cassius bent down and lifted her chin with his finger. Staring deep into her watery blue eyes, he repeated, "You need to remember," like a broken record.

    Over and over¡­ and over¡­

    For hundreds, even thousands of times, those words bounced around inside May''s head. Her screams of pain worsened, becoming louder and louder.

    But strangely, no one came to check on their Queen¡­

    "Ahhhh¡ª!!!"

    "You need to remember, May!"

    "You need to remember!!"

    "May, wake up¡­"

    "Wake up, May!"

    "Wake up, May!!"

    "You need to wake up!!!"

    *Fwaa!*

    ¡­

    "Ha!"

    Waking up in a cold sweat, May clenched the fabric covering her chest. Her face appeared younger than before, but also more worn-down and exhausted.

    "A bad dream¡­?" she mumbled, starting to break down on her bed in the dead of night. "Why¡­ Why is this happening to me¡­??"

    What did she do to deserve this!?

    Even while sleeping, she couldn''t escape the pain.

    Whether it be from the terminal illness eating away at her insides, or the pure disgust her father displayed when looking at her¡ªall were a source of pain for her.

    It was her fault, her father would murmur in passing or behind her back. It was her fault that the marriage alliance between her and the Old Lord from the neighboring kingdom fell apart.

    For contracting that terminal illness and scarring her face as a result of it¡ªthat was her fault. For running away that day and coming back on death''s row¡ªthat was her fault.

    The rapid decline of the Uguru Kingdom was also her fault.

    Everything was her fault¡­

    To everyone around May, she was the root of all problems. The person they should blame for everything that went wrong.

    In truth, she did try to make an escape from her family and her marriage arrangement some months ago. And she was close; she really was.

    However, just before she could make it to the clearing on the other side of the forest, her head started to ring. Then her vision blurred as she struggled to stand and breathe.

    After falling to the wet, earthy soil, a gruesome golden mark etched itself across her right eye and the upper side of her forehead. But by the time the search party from the castle found her unconscious body, the golden glow of that mark had all but vanished. This left her with just a regular old scar.

    One that all her previous suitors and admirers termed a ''hideous blemish'' on a hideous woman.

    Nothing good happened from that point onward, as even the servants began to look down on her. Those she once considered friends also shunned and bad-mouthed her, both because of her plummeting social status and her scar.

    Standing in front of a body mirror¡ªjust like the one the fabricated version of herself stood before in that dream¡ªMay placed her hand against its reflective surface. Droplets of liquid trickled down her smooth cheeks, with her hair veiling the saddening expression she was making.

    That scar of hers was not normal, and no amount of healing potions or saintly blessings was able to erase it or even cover it.

    It was hers forever¡­ S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "W-Why¡­" May cried. "Why can''t I just die already¡­?"

    For a while, she remained in a complicated mood that couldn''t exactly be put into words. But eventually, as rays of sunlight peeked through her slightly opened curtains, she mustered up what little motivation she had and readied herself for what was sure to be another terrible day.

    Servants saw her as less than themselves, so not even one bothered with helping her get ready in the morning. Even so, May was used to it, so even as a princess, she went through the lengthy morning process required of her all by herself.

    It took more than an hour to do, but that was why she got up before the sun rose.

    However, toward the end of this tiring process, an image filtered through her mind. The face and frame of that mysteriously handsome man who acted as the centerpiece of that weird dream she had.

    "Who was he¡­?" May muttered while finishing up. "I''ve never met anyone that looked like him before, so why is everything about him so vividly detailed in what little I can recall of that dream¡­?"

    These questions lived in the back of her mind as she exited her room with shaky steps.

    Because of her rapidly declining health, she could barely walk, let alone run. And even then, she could only stay standing for at most an hour.

    It was extremely taxing on her body and mind to get up out of bed in the morning, but she had no choice but to do so. After all, even while terminally ill, it was part of her responsibility as Royal Princess to present herself at the Royal Castle''s Main Dining Room every day for breakfast.

    "May, is that you I see walking around like a corpse?" sounded a snarky, mocking voice belonging to a pretty blonde girl of around May''s age. "You know, if you ever need anything, you can count on me, right? We''re sisters, after all."

    Though this blonde girl wore a smile and spoke nicely, on the inside, her heart was blacker than a chunk of charcoal.

    Nodding, May politely evaded any further conversation with the blonde girl. "I appreciate your concern, dear sister Emma, but it''s really not necessary."

    "Why?" Emma retorted. "Is it because you''ll be dying soon, so you figure my help has no meaning?"

    May''s face darkened as she hurried away even faster than before. She pitter-pattered through the wide, spacious hallways of the Royal Castle, tear droplets splashing against the floors.

    May knew full well that her sister was right about her dying before long, but that didn''t make the thought any less scary¡­

    She hated her life, she hated people, she hated everything!

    And yet¡ª

    She didn''t wish to die.

 Chapter 392 - 392: A Grand Slayer

    While beside herself in tears, May ultimately arrived at the large double doors that she passed through every morning. In there was a place that she dreaded.

    And just like every other day, as soon as she wiped away her tears, the piercing eyes of everyone in that room fell on her. She lowered her head, too afraid to look up and face them.

    Fortunately, none of those inside that room, centered around a long and wide table, cared much about her presence. Like usual, they treated her as if she didn''t even exist.

    Biting her lips with her bangs covering her face, May approached an empty seat at the furthest point of the table. This was where she always sat, while her brothers and sisters took the seats that made it easiest for them to talk with each other without raising their voices.

    Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles¡ªthere were over 30 of them at the table altogether. Sitting at the helm of the table with a mean mug plastered across his middle-aged face was the Head of the Family¡ªMay''s father, the Sovereign King of the Uguru Kingdom.

    Upon seeing him, May couldn''t stop herself from recalling the events that unfurled in that dream she had the night prior. Despair flooded her heart as she wondered if that was what her father actually thought of her.

    Was she¡­

    Had she always been no more than a mistake?

    She should''ve been used to feeling like the biggest disgrace of the Uguru Kingdom, but for some reason, the thought still¡­ hurt¡­

    "Quiet now!"

    From his 8+ wives to his dozens of children, everyone immediately stiffened when they heard the loud, booming voice of the King. Their heads turned as they awaited his next words.

    "Normally, I wouldn''t care what any of you do, as long as it doesn''t disgrace the family and my name," he began, focusing on the scar-faced May a moment longer than everyone else. "But today is different. You are to be on your best behavior. If I hear that one of you has caused trouble, even if you are my blood, I''ll have you whipped a thousand times by thorn whip."

    "!?!?" "!??"

    Father was never like this!

    What could possibly make him suddenly become so cautious!?

    "Now then," King Uguru said. "It''s time I tell you that the reason you are going to be on your best behavior is solely due to the appearance of an extremely important figure that will be visiting our Castle as a VIP guest today. A Slayer Grandmaster."

    May reacted more prominently than the others at the mention of that profession. She was brought back to her dream, collecting the name of that particular man¡ª

    "Grand Slayer Cassius."

    ''Grand Slayer Cassius¡­!''

    One announced it aloud, while the other shouted it within her head.

    "???"

    May shot her attention to her father, unsure if she had heard things correctly. There was no way, right?

    Right¡­?

    "Father," May spoke up for possibly the first time in months. "You said Grand Slayer Cassius¡­?"

    "Hmm?"

    The eyes of all her relatives honed in on her, many wondering why the black sheep of the family was suddenly using the voice she was born with. Emma, in particular, narrowed her eyes, a bit of malice festering within her.

    King Uguru nodded, still stone-faced and serious as could be. "Yes, Grand Slayer Cassius, who recently amassed astronomical amounts of fame over the last dozen years, will be gracing the Uguru Kingdom with his visit," he said. "Even a regular Grand Slayer has a world status exceeding my own, but this one is far more special, for he has a record of bringing nations on the verge of collapse to heights that make them shine a thousand times brighter than before."

    Steeling his gaze at his timid 7th daughter, King Uguru asked, "Why? Do you have some sort of relationship with Grand Slayer Cassius?"

    The way everyone in the room looked at her changed again, as their eyes secretly concealed a mocking contempt. They tried imagining anything more than a crazed fan relationship between the two and just couldn''t do it.

    "N-No, I¡­ I just¡­" May attempted to explain herself, but fumbled her words every step of the way.

    King Uguru waved his large hands. "Okay, that''s enough. Let us move on to how we''ll be preparing for his visit."

    "Father," Emma said with a bright smile, her status as the prodigal 4th daughter enough to hold her father''s focus. "I can attend to the honorable Grand Slayer myself if it would please you."

    Emperor Uguru showed a small, content smile. "Good, you know filial piety," he nodded repeatedly. "But I hear Grand Slayer Cassius is akin to a god among men in both presence and appearance, so I doubt you''ll be losing anything if you''re capable of gaining his favor."

    "Whatever pleases you, Father," replied Emma, hiding a smirk that aimed to hurt May.

    ''Why¡­''

    ''Why does my family hate me so much¡­?''

    ''Wh¡­ Why does everyone hate me¡­?''

    For the rest of breakfast, May remained silent. A glum cloud hung over her, painting her face in sorrowful colors that further described the scar etched over her right eye.

    After breakfast, on her return trip to her room, May''s condition abruptly worsened. Whether from excessive stress or something else, she fell to the floor of a hallway, drenched in sweat. Her vision blurred as her voice weakened considerably.

    And though she tried calling for help with everything she had, she had already passed out cold before seeing if anyone actually came to help her.

    ''So this is how I die,'' she thought with a self-deprecating smile. ''Cold and alone.''

    Then again, it wasn''t like that was anything unusual for her¡­

    ¡ª Some hours later ¡ª

    "Ha¡­"

    May leaned forward, grasping at her forehead like many times before. However, this time, she did it out of habit, not out of necessity.

    Strangely enough, no pain was assaulting her senses. In fact, everything looked a lot clearer to her; she felt different. Better.

    That was when she heard it¡ª Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A voice that echoed like that of the devil and the angel, husky and soothing at the same time:

    "You almost died, you know? That would''ve made all that I''ve done in this world for naught¡­"

    "!?!?"

 Chapter 393 - 393: May and Cassius

    "W-Who are you!?" May questioned, squinting as she tried to make out the appearance of the shadowy figure sitting on a chair beside her bed. "Have¡­ Have you come to kill me¡­?"

    "Kill you?" The shadowy figure chuckled as he moved out of the darkness, shedding his ungodly facial features to the faint beams of moonlight dripping into the room. "My dear, if I wanted to kill you, then you''d already be dead."

    The aura he passively emitted held back a level of killing intent that threatened to devour May whole. However, before fright could bubble up inside her, Cassius cracked a joke, saying, "What with the defenseless, chick-like way you sleep, taking you out for good would''ve been too easy, haha."

    ''He''s¡­ He''s actually laughing right now¡­?'' May thought to herself with an estranged expression, though she couldn''t stop herself from staring at his every minute facial movement for as long as she could. "He''s pretty¡­"

    Hearing this, Cassius''s smirk widened. "Say, girl, aren''t you going to ask me who I am? Did your parents never teach you about stranger danger?"

    May shook her head but avoided the touchy subject of her parents by saying, "I already know who you are, though."

    "You do?"

    Cassius''s amusement grew.

    May nodded. "I''ve seen you in a dream once," she said as she lowered her head, struggling to meet his intense stare. "I lived an entire lifetime, one that took many unexpected turns. But¡­ even after becoming the strongest and most influential in the Kingdom, I still found myself in the same strut that I''m in right now¡­ I just¡­ I just wished it all would end."

    Gathering the courage to look up, May continued, "But then you appeared. And everything in the dream started to break apart after that, sending me back to¡­ reality."

    She had no idea why she was telling this strangely attractive man all this, but for some reason unbeknownst to her, she felt like she could confide in him what she''d never even dare tell her family.

    "Ho?" Cassius''s brow arched as he mumbled to himself, "So it''s true then; her ability¡­ Perhaps then she''ll really be able to help me alter fate¡­"

    "What was that, Sir Cassius?" asked May.

    "Nothing, nothing," replied Cassius, helplessly smiling. "Also, you can drop the honorifics. Just Cassius is fine."

    "Oh¡­" A warm smile blessed May''s delicate features as she held her hands over her heart. "Okay then, Cassi¡­ Cassius."

    Once again, she did something that was totally unlike her. If it were anyone else she was interacting with, she''d politely refuse and continue using honorifics.

    Not to mention if they were a regular Grand Slayer!

    "What''s got you so lost in thought, dove?" Cassius inquired while leaning his chin against his hand in a casual yet charming manner. "You know what, you don''t need to answer that. Just tell me one thing¡ª"

    "Would you like to run away with me?"

    *Whooosh~*

    Cool midnight air blew in from May''s bedroom window, sending her long silky black hair into disarray. The scar she considered hideous was shown to the world, emitting an ever-so-faint golden glow that sparkled under the faint moonlight seeping in. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Then her thoughts began to spiral as she doubted her hearing. There was no way that in any universe, someone like Grand Slayer Cassius would ask her something as ludicrous as that. It simply made no sens¡ª

    "Well?"

    And yet¡­

    "Do you require some time to think it over?"

    Cassius just kept on talking, giving May a sense of hope that she didn''t know she needed this badly.

    That was when it fell.

    *Drop*

    A tear. A single crystalline teardrop that rippled across the wooden floor.

    "Oh¡­ Did I say something wrong again?" Cassius awkwardly scratched his neck, flashing an apologetic look her way. "If you''d like, then you can just forget I ever offered you such a thing. In fact, we can forget this ever happened if that''s what you¡ª"

    "No!" May interrupted, her emotions surging far higher than normal. "That''s not what I¡­ Not what I want¡­!"

    "Then what?" Cassius asked seriously. "What is it that you want, dove?"

    "I¡­" May froze up, the question so simple yet so difficult to answer. "I just¡­ I just want to live a life like everyone else¡­ B-But¡­ But I can''t¡­ I know I can''t¡­"

    With a nasty scar like hers, who would be willing to take her in?

    What Grand Slayer Cassius proposed just now was surely said in jest¡­ A mere joke¡­

    No one would want someone like her by their side¡­

    Cassius smiled kindly.

    Rising off his chair, he approached her and knelt down on one knee beside her bed. One of his large hands pushed her bangs up, revealing the entirety of the ''hideous'' scar that those in the Castle had been raving about since he arrived.

    "Geez," he said, startling her into realizing that his face was too close to her own. "I can''t believe this is what you''re so worried about. For the Protagonist to actually be so blind to true beauty¡­ Well, I guess it fits the part, haha."

    May had no clue what this man was talking about, but his smile¡­ it was enough to send her into cardiac arrest¡­

    Averting her gaze, a scarlet blush formed for the first time since they met. Her fingers fiddled with one another as she frequently glanced in his direction, seemingly attempting to understand what was happening right now.

    "You truly are a weirdo," Cassius chuckled in a light-hearted manner as he pulled away from her, appreciating the teary-eyed, gerbil-like expression she was making.

    "A-A weirdo¡­?"

    May looked so sad now, with imaginary ears drooping dramatically.

    Cassius ruffled her soft hair. "The good kind of weirdo, dove," he laughed. "But on a side note, have you considered my offer? I won''t force you to come with me, but I also won''t lie and say that I don''t need you."

    "Need¡­ me¡­?"

    That might just be the first time she''s ever heard those words spoken to her.

    Cassius gave a few more head pats, doubling down by saying, "I need you more than you can imagine. After all, in all of existence, you''re likely the only one who can help me with this. You''re special."

 Chapter 394 - 394: Returning to Reality

    "Spe¡­ Special¡­?" May repeated, wondering if this was some new type of scam.

    How could she be special in any form??

    She was just a scarred uggo with barely above-average talent in Body Cultivation and no future prospects whatsoever!

    Even her personality was bland and unattractive¡ª

    "You think too much," said Cassius, lightly karate-chopping her noggin to get her out of her thoughts. "You''re perfect just the way you are, scar or not. And though you may not be able to see it because of this¡­ world, I can see it. So believe me if you''re unable to believe in yourself."

    "Believe you¡­?"

    Cassius showed a hurt expression. "What''s with that look?? Could someone as dashing and eco-friendly as me possibly be an untrustworthy person???"

    ''Perfect just the way I am¡­''

    "Hey, dove, are you listening to me¡­?? Hello¡­???"

    Giving her another one of her firsts, happiness swelled up inside May''s heart. Real, genuine happiness. And with it, the edges of her lips curved upward into a radiant smile.

    It was one that made Cassius freeze, with a wide grin emerging a moment later.

    "See, I knew you were a hottie¡ª"

    *Pinch!*

    "Hey, what was that for?" asked Cassius as he looked down to see an adorably pouting girl pinching his side.

    "Not telling." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hwaa??" Cassius made an exaggerated expression. "Getting rebellious already, are we? I miss the meek girl from earlier who couldn''t even meet my gaze. Boo¡­"

    "Well, too bad, because this is the version of me you''re going to get."

    "Hum? Dove, does that mean¡­"

    "Yes," May smiled dazzlingly. "I''ll run away with you, Cassius."

    "Didn''t know you were the romantic type¡ª"

    *Pinch!*

    "Ow, ow, I was just kidding," Cassius feigned pain. "Beneath that soft exterior, you''re actually quite the feisty one, huh?"

    "Humph, jerk."

    "As expected of the protagonist," Cassius mused as he watched her interlock her arms with his. "Capable of switching up on the flip of a dime."

    Leaving the room in the dead of night, the two of them chatted and strolled through the castle halls. Eventually, though, May thought to ask something:

    "What of my father''s kingdom¡­?" she murmured. "Even though he doesn''t like me or even believe I''m worthy of life, he''s still¡­ my father. I can''t just leave him to die in a kingdom that''s destined to fall and be taken over."

    "Hm?"

    Cassius found something to admire in this unique girl, but unfortunately, such admiration had no place in this world. After all¡ª

    "None of this is real."

    "!??!"

    "Wh-What¡­ What do you mean none of this is real??" May questioned.

    "I mean, this world¡ªyour reality¡ªis all false. A dream. An illusion," Cassius reiterated, sighing. ''I knew I''d eventually have to explain it to her, but it appears she''s taking it quite hard¡­''

    ''However, I''d likely be the same if I were in her shoes¡­''

    "How can none of this be real??" May exclaimed. "See, I can touch everything, feel everything! This is real!"

    "You really don''t know, do you?"

    "Know what???"

    Shaking his head, Cassius made a claw-like motion with his hands. "Here, I''ll just have to show you," he said as the world around them collapsed in on itself and vanished into the folds of space and time. "As I told you before, you''re special."

    To May''s utter astonishment, the Kingdom of Uguru, as well as the rest of the world she knew, disappeared without a trace. An empty space then opened up before her. After which, the scenery warped again.

    When she opened her eyes, what looked to be the bars of a cage appeared before her. She was lying down on a vertically placed bed in the cage, her nude body completely bare.

    Outside the cage was an underground dungeon of sorts, its walls meant to confine her.

    However, floating beside this bed of hers was a man and a woman. The woman had long, luscious iridescent hair as well as a figure that bordered upon perfect. Whereas the man¡­

    "Cassius¡­?" May''s voice came out weak, with the magical chains that bound her jingling. "Why are you here¡­? Where¡­ Where am I¡­?"

    *Clang! Clang!*

    Effortlessly slashing off her chains, Cassius caught her falling body in his sturdy arms. And while covering her with a robe, he said, "Oh, where do I even begin? You being so very special has really gotten you into some trouble, you know?"

    In a patient and understanding tone, he then went on to explain everything to the distraught and confused girl. A few things were concealed from her, but those things were related to the System, so they naturally couldn''t be disclosed so easily.

    [So now you know how to respect a maiden''s privacy, you pervert?? (?¨s?¦à?¨t?,?)]

    ''What maiden do you speak of??? You''re becoming more and more delusional by the day!'' Cassius conflicted with his System while in the midst of concluding the explanation with May.

    [Only for you, bbygirl~ (?????£Þ?3?£Þ)]

    "...."

    Anyway¡­

    The explanation ultimately reached its conclusion, giving May the chance to process everything she was told.

    "So, all this time¡­ I''ve been a source of power for a civilization that I know nothing about¡­ And you two just coincidentally found me while in the process of annihilating this civilization¡­?"

    "Basically, yeah," Cassius chuckled, acting very unserious. "Popped up, saw you, and decided to help you out. Connecting to your mind through your psyche, I was able to enter the world that you created with your inhuman control over Fate. A world that you made out of necessity."

    "But then¡­ what does that make me¡­?" May questioned with a dim glow in her blue eyes. "Am I even a real person? Or just some freakish experiment created in a lab??"

    Ruffling her hair, Cassius laughed, saying, "You think too much. Of course you''re real; it''s just that your memories were altered¡­ or maybe they were completely erased by a higher being. I haven''t been able to figure that part out myself just yet."

    "Either way, it doesn''t matter to me," he continued. "You promised that you''d come with me, so naturally that''s what you''ll be doing."

    BOOOM!

 Chapter 395 - 395: May, the Fate Seer

    Forcefully exploding the cage and everything around him, Cassius reduced the once grand underground facility to ash. From it, he emerged out the side of a mountain, one beauty in his arms and the other flying beside him.

    Once the cloud of dust produced by the explosion subsided, Cassius looked down at the easily frightened girl clinging to him for dear life.

    "For someone as overpowered as you are, you''re honestly quite the scaredy-cat, aren''t ya?" he bemused while flying away from the collapsing mountain.

    They soon left a wide expanse of mountains and ruins behind, zipping far beyond even the clouds. High up above, they stopped¡ªall so they could look down at what had become of the once-powerful Kingdom of Uguru.

    "This is the real Uguru," Cassius said to May. "But contrary to your dream world, this Uguru Kingdom had evil far more deeply rooted in its politics and citizens. You were but one of many who were simply unfortunate enough to be caught by them and used as a lab rat."

    May was still terrified of the heights, but as she hesitantly stared at the scenery below, scarred memories of the past rushed back to her. Though she couldn''t make out much of anything she remembered, what she felt during her time in that lab was more vivid than anything a memory could provide.

    Clinging to Cassius''s robes, she despondently mumbled, "P-Please take me away¡­"

    ''It would appear that our little protagonist has started to remember some things,'' he thought as he followed her request, soaring through the skies alongside his Master. ''But seeing as how overpowered her Primary Innate Skill is, I doubt whoever planted it in her will allow her to fully recover all her memories.''

    {[May, the Fate Seer]}

    [Age: Incalculable]

    [Description: ??????? ?????????]

    [Innate Skill: ''Seer of All'' (Beyond Godlike Rank)] ¨C One of a kind and the harbinger that leads to the end. With it, the user can see various routes that will come about as a result of any number of actions a person can take. (Effectiveness of skill is dependent on the proficiency that the user has with it)]

    ''That world she created inside her mind was one of the manifestations of these ''routes'' that she can discern,'' Cassius thought. ''It was also because of this ridiculous cheat-like ability of hers that the high officials of the Uguru Kingdom became so invested in her. They even reserved their strongest Diamond-rank Body Path Cultivators to thwart my intrusion of the secret lab.''

    As for why he himself was so interested in getting to this girl¡­ well, it was complicated. But if summed up in a few words, it had a lot to do with those images he saw in his Class Change Quest.

    Those graves and the names on them could foretell any number of things, but what Cassius needed was a way to avoid the fate he was most concerned about. Allowing himself to get swept up in the currents of destiny was simply unacceptable.

    ''One day, I''ll explain the whole truth to May,'' he thought. ''But for now, I should give her some time to become accustomed to this new lease on life. Overwhelming her right off the bat would likely only do more harm than good.''

    "Say, Dove," said Cassius, his ruffling turning into a gentle caress. "What''s your opinion on adventures? And have you ever imagined yourself going on one?"

    "...Adventures¡­?" May rubbed her temples, still digesting the fragmenting memories returning to her. "I guess¡­ while in that castle, all I ever wanted was to escape and explore the world and encounter all kinds of fantastical things."

    Her tone turned whimsical toward the end, as a part of her wished that none of this had happened and she was still within her false world, living life the way she always wanted to.

    However¡­ she knew that was little more than a fleeting dream¡­

    Still, with this mysteriously kind man now a part of her life, maybe she could live a life just as good¡ªif not better¡ªthan what she dreamt of.

    Cassius grinned, cupping her cheeks and turning her head to face the endless horizons all around them. "Can you see it?" he asked, seeing her eyes sparkle. "The world is your oyster, and with me, I''ll show it all to you."

    "You will¡­?"

    "Why of course," replied Cassius. "But I just hope that one day, when I require help that only you can provide, you''ll lend me a hand."

    Lost in the warmth and sincerity of his voice, May nodded absentmindedly. However, even after comprehending what he said, she still would''ve agreed nonetheless. After all, she could instinctively tell that he meant no harm and would naturally not do anything that would negatively affect her.

    Cassius showed a kind smile. "I appreciate it more than you can imagine," he said, before his tone changed as he noticed the unrest of Luma. "Master, what is it¡­?"

    "It''s nothing, humph!" Luma pouted, tapping the air below her. "Just do whatever you want, and take into your arms whichever woman you want."

    ''Oh¡­ so that''s what this is about¡­''

    For dozens of years, Cassius had been traveling all over the Supercontinent of Pathalon. And during the majority of that time, he had to carry his Master in his arms to travel at maximum speed, since he was far faster than her.

    And right now, he had no choice but to indulge her wants. After all, over the span of half a mortal lifespan, she had been his guide to the world, leading him to all of the Body Source Crystals and anything else that would assist him in the advancement of his Body Path.

    ''Without her, I never would''ve been capable of achieving the Platinum Body so early. Pampering her is fine if you consider how much I owe her.''

    In case one forgot, the ranks of the Body Path in the Infinite Character Development Dimension went as such:

    1 - Copper Body

    2 - Bronze Body

    3 - Silver Body

    4 - Gold Body

    5 - Ruby Body

    6 - Amethyst Body

    7 - Diamond Body

    8 - ???

    9 - ??????

    10 - ?????????? sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 396 - 396: Achieving The Pinnacle of Entry-level Character Development, Invinci Body Rank

    Number 8 of the Body Realms was later revealed to be the Adamantine Body, with Number 9 being the Platinum Body. The former was roughly equivalent to a Mid to High Rank GX-Rank Entity, whereas the latter¡ªthe current Realm Cassius was in¡ªwas the equivalent of the Late to Peak GX Rank.

    In terms of the Ascension Tower, Cassius could already be considered an up-and-coming top powerhouse.

    His body unbreakable and his Spirit infallible!

    This brought up the matter of his Will and Trainer Rank, both of which had made major progress under the harsh environmental conditions of the nigh-boundless Supercontinent of Pathalon.

    God Trainer Rank ¨C Achieved!

    Heavenly Will ¨C Achieved!

    Of course, both of these grand accomplishments could be partly attributed to the transfer of experiences that the Sword God bestowed upon him in the Humanity Ascension Tower. That, and hundreds of years of discovering new and profound ways to torture himself.

    Then there was his Demon King Cultivation, which had officially broken through the Demon Overlord Rank, putting him one step closer to the level of the Three Great Demon Kings!

    A True Powerhouse he had become!

    But one could never be strong enough. And seeing how there were likely dozens¡ªpossibly even hundreds¡ªin the Ascension Tower far more powerful than him, he still had a long way to go.

    The incomprehensible visage of the Heavenly Progenitor still hung heavily on his mind, for Cassius knew without a doubt that even the current version of him could be permanently erased with a single breath from such an existence¡­

    He was nowhere near powerful enough.

    But with the passing of time, many things could change. Entire civilizations could fall and rise¡­

    ¡ª An unknown number of years later ¡ª

    The Supercontinent of Pathalon was a very dangerous and perilous place. It was split into thirteen Main Regions, each larger than galaxies, and all filled with threats that could temper the will and likelihood of survival of even the strongest of Godlike Rank Entities.

    For many years, Cassius had been charting this expansive world, digging out any forms of Character Development he could find. No matter how much pain he had to endure, he endured it for the sole sake of progression.

    One might claim him to be an unparalleled genius of the Body Path due to how quickly he ascended its ranks, but in truth, he was simply the hardest working.

    See a pit of lava that enhances one''s body at the cost of excruciating amounts of pain? Obviously, you should jump straight in! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In order to advance, you had to submerge yourself in a bottomless sea at millions of times the normal gravity!? Cassius wasted no time in taking on the challenge!

    [My baby boy has really grown up¡­ ??¨q?¨r??]

    Ignoring his System, Cassius positioned himself atop the tallest mountain peak in the world. Almost everything there was in this Dimension could be seen from up here, and it came as quite the surreal experience for him.

    "It has been so long since I''ve been outside this world," he mused. "I''ve already achieved the 10th and final Body Path Rank of Invinci Body, and now I''m left yearning for something more. A new itch to scratch."

    Just then:

    *Ding!*

    [After conquering the entirety of the Entry-level Infinite Character Development Dimension, you have fulfilled one of the prerequisites necessary to evolve this Personal Dimension of yours!]

    "???"

    [What? You didn''t actually believe your Character Development would end with a meagre few centuries'' worth of torture, did you? (? ????©n????)]

    Silence¡­

    Cassius should''ve known better. His System was, after all, called the ''Infinite'' Idle Evolution System.

    "But what of the other prerequisites?" he asked. "You mentioned it like there was more than one."

    [Naturally there is more than one! Although you have achieved the final Body Path Rank and seen all this world has to offer, to evolve the Infinite Character Development Dimension to the next qualitative stage¡ªThe Zombie World¡ªyou must become something very special.]

    "What¡­?"

    [A Cultivator!]

    A Cultivator!?

    Like a genuine Cultivator!?

    But did those even exist???

    [I know what you''re thinking, fu fu~, but I''ll go ahead and tell you right now that Cultivators are 100% real. They just don''t exist in the Ascension Tower!]

    "You''re saying¡­" Cassius murmured as realization dawned on him.

    [Bingo!]

    [To become a Cultivator and truly begin the Idling Arc of your Character Development, you need to ascend past all conceived limits and reach for a higher plane of existence!]

    [Calculating chances of doing so while still alive¡­ Beep, boop, beep, boop¡­ Ding! 0.00000001%!]

    Cassius went silent, with his expression emulating the turbulence in his heart.

    "Why even bring the matter of becoming a Cultivator up if the chances of me actually achieving that status are so astronomically low¡­?"

    [Because it''s fun to watch you squirm!]

    The System had no filter whatsoever, and said whatever it wanted whenever it wanted to!

    Sighing in exasperation, Cassius felt that he was getting too old for this sh*t. Compared to dangerous environments and torturous stunts, it was far more likely that the System would be the death of him.

    "Cass?" A sweet and harmonized voice dripped into his ears like honey, taking him out of his reverie. "Where are we going next?"

    Looking behind and below himself, Cassius saw a gentle woman of immense beauty poised very eloquently on the mountain-tip next to his. She was looking up at him with a warm expression that made even the mythical birds flying this high up sing.

    "May," he said, with his expression becoming complicated. "Where is Master? Why are you the only one up here?"

    May hovered a hand over her bright pink lips, giggling. "She has been mumbling about being so left behind by her Disciple in terms of strength that her embarrassment got the better of her in recent years. That was when she resolved herself to enter seclusion and break through the Platinum Body Rank; it has been 25 years since then."

    "25 years?" Cassius parroted, slight astonishment written across his face. "Have I really been in seclusion for so long?"

    Finding this even funnier, May took one final step and leapt up to him. Her soft bosom pressed up against him as she hugged him close. Snuggling her face to his arm, she looked up, and with watery eyes, pouted:

    "It''s been longer than that, Cass."

 Chapter 397 - 397: 150 Years...

    "It''s been longer than that, Cass," May grumbled. "You''ve been holed up in that cave of yours for over 150 years!"

    150 years!??

    Had it really been so long!?

    It didn''t¡­ feel like it¡­

    "150 years," Cassius muttered, finding such a large chunk of time quite daunting to think about. "I''m sorry for leaving you two all alone for so many years¡­ Has anything changed in the world while I was away?"

    "Humph! As long as you understand!" May snorted, though she hugged him even tighter, making sure to engrave his scent into her mind. "And yes, a whole lot has changed. The Omega Empire rose up in rebellion again, the Lost Continent of Sumeria tried to sneak its introdotrications into our lands, and the Floating Peninsula of Zacron decided to air bomb us again! All so rude and inconsiderate just because they thought you passed away while in seclusion!"

    Caressing her head, Cassius smiled. "You took care of it all, though, did you not?"

    May flashed a smug look, snuggling her face even more aggressively. "Obviously I sent them all packing! In fact, I foresaw their foolish actions long in advance and prepared every countermeasure known to man! Fufu~ Now they all loyally serve our Supreme Dynasty, with the entire world now under our control¡­!"

    "I see now that I wasn''t needed," said Cassius as he tenderly rubbed the light golden scar strewn across the right side of her face. "It has worsened again¡­ Just how frequently have you been using your Innate Ability, Dove?"

    In an instant, May''s giddy expression froze. Her long silky black hair covered her shadowed face as she bit her lip, already aware that a lecture session was going to come next.

    *Poof!*

    Karate chopping her head, Cassius said, "I''m not going to punish you; just use it more sparingly. I don''t want to see you drop over dead one day¡ªat least not before you tell me what it is that you put in those homemade pies of yours."

    Turning her head up, May revealed a dazzling smile. "What can I say? I just know everything that all versions of you will like! After all, I''ve seen it all¡­"

    Before showing an unsightly expression that didn''t match her gentle, bubbly demeanor, May hid her face in his sleeves. This forced a sigh from Cassius as he realized that even after all this time, something she wouldn''t disclose was still bothering her.

    ''Perhaps that something is the reason why she''s been so excessively using her Special Innate Ability¡­''

    That thought lingered on his mind until he felt a sudden surge of Body Energy in the distance. Billions of miles away¡ªa mere step for entities like them¡ªthere was a divinely beautiful woman with waterfalling iridescent hair experiencing a major breakthrough that only a couple hundred other existences had undergone in the Infinite Character Development Dimension.

    "Wow¡­" May awed, acting completely different from just a second ago.

    "It would seem that silly Master of mine actually did it," Cassius said with a small smile. "She broke through the Platinum Body Realm."

    OOOM!

    Turning his smile upside down was the appearance of several other Platinum Body Rank Ancestors of Pathalon. They were speeding toward where Luma was consolidating her breakthrough, their intentions unknown.

    "These old fogies never did learn when not to be so nosy," Cassius coldly smiled, already vanishing from the highest mountain peak with May in his arms. "I have no choice but to give them a warning."

    FWIP!

    In an instant, he traversed billions of miles of mystical land. He only stopped once reaching a point that directly intercepted the paths that all of the speeding Platinum Body Ancestors were taking.

    "Where are you lot off to in such a hurry?"

    Cassius''s booming voice rippled through the endless skies, urging all the Platinum Experts to a slow crawl. At first, they were doubting their ears, but after taking a closer look, their doubt rapidly morphed into surprise¡ªthen fear.

    "S-Supreme Emperor, what are you doing out of seclusion¡­??" one of the Ancestors from the Balaran Conglomeratcy shivered, trying his best to maintain his composure. "Weren''t you attempting to achieve a higher, never-before-seen Realm¡­?"

    "Indeed," replied Cassius, hands behind his back, posed like an earthy deity. "And I accomplished what I wanted." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    He what!?

    Even while he was in the Platinum Rank¡ªsame as them¡ªhe was unbeatable!

    And now you''re saying that you reached an even more earth-shattering Realm!?

    ''Is he bluffing!?'' was something all of the Ancestors thought as they scanned the immortal-like man before them. ''It must be¡ª''

    RUMBLE!!

    "I''m not bluffing either," Cassius declared casually while unleashing but a mere fraction of his newfound power. "See?"

    "M-Mo-Monster¡­!!"

    The Ancestors were drenched in sweat, their faces drained of all color. The way they perceived the Supreme Emperor was like looking at the most horrifying beast imaginable¡ªone that knew no limits.

    Terrifyingly monstrous.

    Shifting his icy blue gaze between all of the shivering Monarchs of this world, Cassius sighed.

    Was this what it was like to be invincible?

    "Well, whatever," he refocused. "Since I''ve been in seclusion all this time, I''ll forgive you this once for trying to take advantage of my Master in her critical moment. But if you don''t want to become part of my strength, I suggest you return to whence you came."

    ''M-Master¡­!? So the one breaking through the Platinum Rank turned out to be¡­''

    These Ancestors nearly made a terrible blunder, for they assumed they could easily take advantage of the one who was making a massive breakthrough. But never would they have assumed that this person was the illustrious Master of the scariest figure in the world!

    If they knew that beforehand, they never would''ve even dreamed of profiting from this situation!

    "S-Supreme Emperor, sir, we weren''t aware that the one breaking through was your Master," a Platinum Ancestor pleaded with an ass-kissing tone. "But now that we do, we''ll never make the same mistake again¡­! We regret ever coming out!!"

    "Just leave," Cassius emotionlessly waved them off. "Before I change my mind."

    "R-Right away, Supreme Emperor, Lordship Sir!"

    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!

    They then fucked the hell off, returning to whatever Major World Power they came from.

 Chapter 398 - 398: Time To A Man Who Has Experienced It All

    After the Platinum Ancestors were long gone, Cassius turned his attention to the breakthrough phenomena that was just now finishing up. He blurred and descended to the fantastical lake where a beautiful feminine figure¡ªjust as mesmerizing as the reflective water¡ªwas sitting in meditation.

    After setting down May, who was still fangirling over his recent display of power, Cassius approached the meditating figure. She looked almost the same as she had a hundred and fifty years ago, but there was something different about her this time.

    ''It would appear that Dear Master rediscovered her spark,'' Cassius thought, able to sense her surging resolve from all the way over here. ''It''s good that she did. All those years of "being in my shadow," as she called it, was something I never expected her to get over.''

    He was glad.

    Some odd hours later, after May concluded the consolidation of her cultivation, Cassius finally spoke up, saying, "It has been a while, Master."

    "!??" ''An assassin¡ª!?''

    That notion perished almost as soon as it formed when she glimpsed the otherworldly handsome face staring at her with a fondness that she had grown to miss.

    "Cassius¡­ Is that really you¡­?" She pinched herself just to make sure that she wasn''t dreaming.

    "Who else would I be but me?" Cassius chuckled, finding his Master as cute as ever.

    "B-But¡­"

    Luma hid her face from view, but Cassius could still very much make out the difficult expression she was making.

    "Couldn''t you have¡­?"

    "It''s okay, Luma," Cassius comforted her as he pulled her close. "It''s all okay now, because I''m bac¡ª"

    "Couldn''t you have stayed in seclusion for just a little bit longer!?" Luma shouted as she pushed away from him, tears streaming down her face.

    "Huh¡­?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cassius was rendered speechless.

    What happened to the touching reunion? Where had the script gone off to??

    "If you''re back out of seclusion, then that means I''ll be slung back into your shadow!" Luma pulled at her hair, feeling extreme dread. "Where are my dreams of grandeur and reverence now!? Damn it¡­!"

    "This definitely wasn''t her line," Cassius muttered with a twitching smile. "Where did my adoring Master who walked every step of this journey with me go? Oh, the woes¡­"

    May giggled off to the side, having long since expected this outcome. Even without the existence of her overpowered Seer Ability, she still would''ve anticipated this development.

    While crying tears of blood and chewing the collar of her robes, Luma glared at Cassius. "Why is it that you''ve come, unfilial Disciple?? Come to gloat??"

    "No¡­"

    Well yes, but now he definitely couldn''t do it.

    "I just missed you, is all," Cassius said with an obviously fake tone of affection. "You are the sun to my moon, the apple of my eye, the stars in the night sky¡ª"

    "Okay, that''s enough!" Luma clicked her tongue, chucking shiny Body Source Crystals at him. "These are what you came for, no? Shamelessly snatching up the fruits of this queen''s labor, humph!"

    Catching the Body Source Crystals, Cassius revealed a helpless look. She was right; normally, he would seek her out to acquire the Body Source Crystals uniquely produced by her very special constitution.

    But not this time.

    Throwing them back to her, Cassius said, "I''ve no need for Body Refinement resources anymore. In fact, we''ll be leaving this world very soon, so prepare yourselves."

    "!!!" "!!!"

    One was surprised by the announcement of departure, whereas the other was shocked by everything he said.

    "Are you trying to tell me that you actually¡­!?"

    "We''ll be leaving!? Yayys~!"

    Cassius looked to the astonished expression his Master was making, upon which he told her of his advancement to the absolute pinnacle of Body Refinement. There was no higher stage, and with nothing left to strive for in the Infinite Character Development Dimension, it was naturally time to leave.

    "T-The Invinci Body Stage¡­ The one that has only ever been theorized¡­" Luma mumbled in disbelief, on her knees. "How could my only Disciple do something so mind-boggling?? Am I forced to forever be an extra in your story!?? Gah!!"

    "Your Master is such an odd one, Cass," May giggled as she latched onto his arm. "And she''s only like this with you, by the way. Most of the time, she''s very reserved and handles the higher-level matters of the Supreme Dynasty with reservation and elegance. But now¡­ Hihi¡­"

    Luma was rolling around on the ground, throwing a tantrum that she had been holding in for the last few centuries. Every time she thought she was radiating like a brilliant star, that damn Disciple of hers would show up and steal her thunder.

    It was so freaking annoying¡­!

    "Well, she had always been quite the character," Cassius mused. "Though it was only after spending more time with her that I came to know that. Believe it or not, in the beginning, she was akin to an eminent expert who could crush me to dust with a single thought."

    "Was the disparity between you two really so great??" May asked.

    Cassius gave her a few pats, and while looking ahead, replied, "Yes, she was a Godlike being, while I was but a bug. However, with the passing of time, the tables flipped."

    "You speak a whole lot about time, Cass," May commented while wholeheartedly enjoying the head-pats. "But yeah, I can see now why Miss Luma is so peeved. I think I would be too if things changed so much."

    Hearing of time from the mouth of another made Cassius recall all the years he had been alive. It had to have been past a thousand by now, with him having wandered all over the various Dimensions this reality had to offer.

    "I suppose I do talk about time a lot," he sighed profoundly, an archaic air permeating around him. "But when you''ve experienced as much as I have, you begin to look at everything in terms of numbers. How much longer do I need to train this to achieve that? If I endure this much pain for this amount of time, will I advance? How much time is left until another breakthrough comes along?"

 Chapter 399 - 399: An Unfilial Disciple

    "My dear dove," Cassius added as his voice turned increasingly more esoteric, "Life advances with the passing of time, and time is the culmination of experiences. If all one experienced was pain, and pain was ceaseless, would time not pass by in units of blinks of an eye?"

    May knew he was trying to speak in terms of hypotheticals, but from the depths of his endlessly blue gaze, she knew he was referring to himself. This subsequently made her remember all the different future routes she had glimpsed with her Innate Ability. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Her joyous countenance quickly darkened and transformed into something impossible to comprehend. Unless you had witnessed as many eventualities as she had, even Cassius couldn''t glean her true thoughts or feelings.

    ''They say some books are hard to understand from their covers alone,'' he thought while staring at May. ''This is where the "don''t judge a book by its cover" phrase came from. And of all the books I''ve seen in my many years of life, this fragmented dove is certainly the hardest to read.''

    "Argh, whatever!" Luma finally stopped throwing a tantrum and breezed past Cassius with her lips curled in annoyance. "Let''s just get the hell out of this place then, however it is we''re going to do that."

    Her words shook Cassius out of his reverie. He smirked¡ªan action which further incensed his Master.

    "You''re going to perform another unbelievable feat, aren''t you, unfilial Disciple of mine!?" Luma growled and grunted, stomping her feet hard enough to destroy the whole region they were standing over. "Just do it then! I don''t care anymore! I don''t care about anything, bah!!"

    ''Did she turn into a goat after cultivating for so long¡­?''

    Cassius laughed crookedly.

    Rising to the skies, he used his Body Energy to take the girls with him.

    After reaching a height of many millions of miles, he stopped ascending. He then turned to the two beautiful women who had accompanied him thus far on this Quest of Advanced Character Development.

    "This is your final chance," Cassius said seriously. "What I''m about to do is irreversible, and you won''t be able to return to this world. This is to say that if you''re having any second thoughts on joining me, or if you''d like to conclude any business you may have here, this is the time to do it."

    Luma snarled, finding his perfect face even more punchable than usual. "What second thoughts? What business to conclude??" she cursed. "You''ve already built an Empire that reigns over the world as a supreme entity, making even the Earth Deities your bitches! You concluded everything without even doing anything, you stupidly powerful dope! As for second thoughts, the only one I have is falling so deeply for a dumb, dense bastard like you¡­!!"

    "Hum?" Cassius arched a brow, acting oblivious even though he heard what she said. "You didn''t happen to say¡ª"

    "No, I didn''t, you idiot!" Luma closed his mouth shut, more angry than embarrassed. "I just wanted to insult you one last time before leaving this dastardly dumpster pit! So go on already; do whatever overpowered crap you''re going to do! Gah!!"

    "Gah?" Cassius tilted his head, overlapping his Master''s image with that of a very angry baby bear. "Cute."

    *Poof!*

    "S-Shut up, you unfilial Disciple¡­!"

    BOOM!

    Cassius was kicked at full power, causing him to shoot into a barren continent billions of miles away. The massive landmass was obliterated the moment he touched down; however, through the whole process, he remained indifferent.

    Rising from a huge crater, Cassius could be seen without even the tiniest bit of dust on him. He phantom-stepped, reappearing a few meters away from his Master.

    "Solid kick," was the only thing he had to say in response to her giving it everything she had. "Though I''d recommend you practice more of that Platinum-rank Perishable Circulation Technique I gave you before my latest seclusion session. It would improve your form tremendously."

    *Tick!*

    "Just shut up, you unfilial Disciple!" Luma retorted while repeatedly kicking him, only for every attack to not even so much as move him. "You think I haven''t been practicing that accursed Technique!? Well, I have, but it''s just too damn difficult to understand!"

    "Hmm?" Cassius pondered. "But I finished comprehending the entire thing in a couple of days. It wasn''t too tough."

    "That''s because you''re a freak!" Luma erupted like a volcano, going beyond her limits in order to deal some sort of damage to her Disciple. "Why!? Why is nothing working on you!?? Are you fucking invincible or what!??"

    Every move she made against him simply whooshed behind him in the form of deflected momentum and energy. It was as if he were a permanently placed object in a game, one that couldn''t be affected by outside forces.

    But that was far from the truth for Cassius¡­

    "You''re just too weak, Master," he stated with utmost seriousness. "Train more."

    OOOM!

    "Th-This bastard¡­!! Falling for you was the worst mistake of my life!! In my next life, I swear I''m only going to be attracted to weak and incompetent losers!!!"

    "Haha¡­"

    Cassius could definitely name a few famous Main Character types like that off the top of his head. And they usually got the girls as well.

    "I wish you luck in your future endeavors, Master," he declared earnestly.

    "You¡­!" Luma fumed, giving up on attacking due to lack of stamina, now resorting to pouting and grumbling. "Isn''t that where you say that you don''t want your Master to ever die¡­? Y-You¡­ suck!"

    But before she could run off somewhere, Cassius grabbed hold of her waist.

    Pulling her in close, he leaned in and whispered into her reddened ears, huskily saying, "Of course I don''t want you to die, my beloved Master~"

    *Poof!*

    Steam rose from Luma''s head as her face turned redder than blood. She tried to push away from him or stutter something, but couldn''t and instead hid her flustered expression in his robes.

    Smirking, Cassius asked, "That''s what you wanted me to say, is it not? Well, was it to your liking?"

 Chapter 400 - 400: Infinite Evolution Embryo

    Realizing that Cassius was merely toying with her, Luma''s cheeks filled with so much air that she might float away at any given moment. Her iridescent hair shimmered and sparkled violently as she looked like she was going to explode.

    But contrary to expectations, tears welled up in her crystalline eyes as she appeared to be on the verge of crying.

    Being outdone by her disciple was bad enough, and now he was actually going so far as to play with her maiden heart!?

    A big dum-dum jerk!

    "Fine, fine," said Cassius, consoling her with a few head pats. "Don''t be sad. I meant every word I said."

    "...Really¡­?" Luma asked in a low voice, still hiding in the sleeves of his robes.

    "Yes¡ª"

    "Ha!" Luma exclaimed, wiping away the tears and flashing a victorious look his way. "Do you see that, you unfilial disciple!? I may be inferior to you in terms of freakishness, but my sway as an impeccably charming beauty is unparalleled throughout heaven and Earth¡ª..."

    "So May, are you ready to go?"

    "Mhmm, Cass. Wherever you go, I''ll follow, even if it''s to the bottom of a volcano."

    "H-Hey, don''t just casually ignore me!!" Luma complained as she torpedo headbutted Cassius. "Let me have my moment, if not just once¡­!"

    Zoning out his attention-seeking Master, Cassius glanced at a particular System Screen.

    *Ding!*

    [Would you like to convert your Entry-level Infinite Character Development Dimension and everything inside it to CD Units? (Must achieve the Maximum Body Refinement Realm and locate the Secret Cheat)] - [?] - [Both requirements have been fulfilled]

    Seeing as Cassius was the rightful owner of the Infinite Character Development Dimension, it was naturally up to him to decide whether to convert it and all that existed in it into CD Units or not.

    ''This Secret Cheat though,'' he thought to himself while secretly looking at May. ''She''s it. But what I''ve been wondering for the longest time now is why she was even in the Infinite Character Development Dimension to begin with. It''s obvious that the System values her a lot, but her origins don''t make any sense. Nor does her purpose in the eyes of the System.''

    Some years ago, around when they first met, Cassius requested the divining of his future from May. It was better this way than with the limited effectiveness of his Shadow''s Foresight Skill, which¡ªeven after being upgraded by several more Origin Abyss Fragments¡ªwas still capped at seeing up to a few minutes into the future.

    However, after glimpsing the routes that Cassius could take, May grew pale and threw up.

    It took days for her to recover, and even then, he still had no idea what exactly it was that she saw that made her react like she had. Even until now, this matter hung in the back of his thoughts.

    But seeing how adverse May was to the topic, he never tried prying the information from her.

    "Hurm?"

    Feeling a pair of eyes bore into the back of her head, May looked over to find a piercing blue gaze focused solely on her. She blushed, squirming in place while saying, "W-We can''t, Cass. We mustn''t. I know the atmosphere brought about from this grand sequence of events got you in ''that'' kind of mood, but I don''t think I''m ready¡ª"

    *Thwack!*

    "You naughty girl, teasing your senior brother like that," Cassius lectured. "You''re lucky you''re cute, or else I''d beat you up without restraint."

    "Teehee~"

    But regardless of their ongoings, he received the answers he needed. And with that, he could now commence the conclusion event of his time here in the Entry-level Infinite Character Development Dimension.

    Activating something he hadn''t used in what felt like forever, Cassius pulled his Master and May into his Evomon Space. They were surprised to find themselves in an unfamiliar world of darkness, but even more surprised to see a shadowy lightning dragon and ninja-like figure in there with them.

    "Who the hell are you two!?"

    "Raarghh!!!??"

    The two sides seemed to have the same reaction to this clash of unique characters, urging forth a small grin on Cassius''s face.

    "That''ll teach those two unruly girls not to mess with me as much as they do," he mused. "As for Raijin and Nyxvoldar, who have been locked in time stasis up until now, well¡­ I''ll just make it up to them with upgrade materials later. I''ve acquired a good number of Enhancement Shards from the completion of various Side Quests in this world, after all."

    Nyxvoldar and Raijin would cry tears of blood if they could¡­

    Nonetheless, it had to be done. And so too did Cassius''s next actions, which may even seem cruel to some.

    *Ding!*

    [Are you sure you''d like to convert each and every thing in the Infinite Character Development Dimension into CD Units, while transforming the world''s recorded progress into an Embryo that''ll be necessary for the Dimension''s continued evolution?]

    [No takesies backsies~ (?????????)]

    Silence¡­

    "Yes, I''m sure," Cassius responded with a bit of exasperation. "It must be done."

    [As you command, Dear Host!] sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    FWISH¡ª!

    The scenery circling Cassius warped and shrunk, with everything and everyone inside the Infinite Character Development Dimension experiencing complete and total oblivion. All that they were, would''ve become, and will never be, sloshed together in what could only be described as a cyclone.

    And with Cassius being forcefully returned to reality, the cyclone that existed as the culmination of elements in the Entry-level Dimension shrunk even further. It kept doing so until ultimately reaching the approximate size of a basketball.

    This shrunken cyclone soon took on the shape of an egg, as well as underwent full coalescence.

    Not long after this, the cyclone started to spin. It spun and spun, around and around, until everything inside it achieved a perfect mixture balance, satisfying the conditions necessary for it to be termed an¡ª

    [Infinite Evolution Embryo (Beginner''s Tier)] - [Beyond Godlike Rank]

    It was this very egg-like Embryo that would usher forth the new age of Character Development¡ªone that would mark the true beginning of Immortal Cultivation!

    FWIP!

 Chapter 401 - 401: A Lot of CD Units!, Dryads??

    FWIP!

    Finding that his consciousness had been transferred back to his body in the Ascension Tower, Cassius sighed. But seeing how there was nothing left for him to gain in the Infinite Character Development Dimension at its Entry-level, it was better this way.

    *Ding!*

    [The culmination of the efforts and existential value of everything that was the Entry-level Infinite Character Development Dimension have been converted! You have received astronomical amounts of CD Units!]

    [+78,340,000,000 CD Units!]

    "That''s a lot¡­"

    "What was that, Master?" asked Maxy, curiously propping her head full of creamy white hair.

    "Oh, hmm?" Cassius looked over to the gorgeous woman of monster descent sitting next to him, his memories of the Ascension Tower returning. "It''s nothing, Maxy. Just been lost in thought I guess."

    "You''re always lost in thought, Master," Zara quipped, clinging to his body. "But that''s one of the things I love most about you~"

    Exisia, who had been quietly sitting to the backside of Raijin, pouted. "It''s no fair¡­"

    Yimin, meanwhile, imagined all the different ways she would pluck Zaraphina''s eyeballs out. An evil grin emerged as she sharpened her claws, preparing to go in for the kill.

    Cassius, on the other hand, was distracted by something completely off-topic¡­

    ''Hey, Raijin,'' he voice transmitted to the mount currently transporting them all through the turbulent cosmic energies making entry into Yggdrasil difficult. ''If you''re here and in my Evomon Space, how does that work?''

    Raijin made a confused expression, deeply furrowing his lightning bolt-infused brows together.

    Cassius could pretty much tell that his final answer was, "Don''t know."

    "Hurm¡­" Cassius mused. "How intriguing."

    "Intriguing? Are you referring to my beauty~?" Zara flirtatiously twirled her hair, her steamy breath tingling the side of his neck.

    "Of course not," Cassius stated, his expression unmoving. "I was referring to the World Tree of Yggdrasil."

    "Boo!" Zara feigned poutiness, taking advantage of the moment to rub her lusty body even harder on him.

    "Dis bitch¡­" Yimin seethed, holding back a wrathful aura. "Why won''t the Master let Yimin''s murder da whore¡­!?"

    "Hihi~" Zara mocked, savoring every moment of the jealousy she was receiving. ''Maybe these bimbos will catch the hint and take a hike one of these days. Me and Master are meant to be together forever; they''re just extras in our romance~''

    More like delusions.

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    Finally arriving at the base of one of the countless Roots of the dazzling World Tree of Yggdrasil, Cassius and the girls parked Raijin.

    Whooosh¡ª!

    They came in hot and fast, docking in an instant. But surprisingly enough, no one was there to greet them.

    "Hmm," Cassius mused as he blinkstepped off Raijin, shrinking him and placing him on his shoulder a second later. "What''s going on over there?"

    Humanoid figures were clamoring over something a few thousand meters away. These figures were all grouped around the same place, clearly enamored by something.

    "Yimin smells plants, Master!"

    The busty silver-haired dragon girl was sniffing around, with her ears perked up. Those big round sparkling eyes of hers focused on the immortal-like man sauntering past her; she obviously wanted praise for her groundbreaking discovery.

    Cassius, however, left her hanging, causing her ears to droop. The snickering of Zara came thereafter, as she derived immense joy from her suffering.

    "Grrr¡­!" Yimin growled, extending her claws. "Yimin will bury you six feet under, home wrecking bitch!"

    "Fufu~" Zara laughed off her threats as she breezed past the fuming dragongirl, making her way back to Cassius''s side. "You would kill Master''s favorite? Don''t you think that would make him sad~?"

    Yimin nearly erupted like a volcano right then and there.

    "You are not Master''s favorite! Least favorite!! Yimin is #1, bitch¡­!!!"

    Zara put on a mature air and swayed her plump butt as if to say, "Are you sure about that~?"

    "BITCH¡­."

    While Yimin used all her willpower in an attempt not to shed blood on holy grounds, Cassius was approaching the source of the commotion. That was when he saw them¡ª

    Dryads.

    "So they really do exist here," he noted while inspecting their System Interfaces. "Their descriptions are¡­ unusual¡­"

    [Dryad Cela (3rd Generation)]

    [Rank: EX++++] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Age: 187/Indefinite]

    ¡ª[Born from 2nd Generation Dryads, 3rd Generation Dryads like Dryad Cela are considered the 2nd youngest Dryad group. All Dryads, regardless of the Generation they were born into, have infinite lifespans, which is the result of their extremely close connections with the World Tree ''Yggdrasil.'']

    ¡ª[Impervious to most forms of permanent death, with the only way to truly kill a Dryad being the complete destruction and death of the World Tree itself.]

    ''A 3rd Generation Dryad is already the equivalent of a Peak Transcendent,'' Cassius thought. ''But that does make me curious to know how exactly a Dryad reproduces. Aren''t all Dryads women¡­?''

    Asexual reproduction or some other magical version of it was likely the answer.

    "You there." A feminine voice suddenly sounded, directed toward the pensive Cassius.

    "Huh??" A man from the Werewolf race growled. "Who dares pull the attention of Miss Cela away from us!?"

    "I''ll suck whoever it is dry!" A Vampire of the Count Rank threatened.

    That was when all eyes fell on the otherworldly visage of a man walking toward them. His every step exuded elegance and eminence, with his aura profound and incomprehensible.

    A man who appeared both weak and insurmountably strong at the same time.

    Someone like that was taking slow steps toward them, causing the atmosphere to fold in on itself and suppress them¡­

    "You seem to know who I am," said Cassius, as the pressure he emitted vanished without a trace the moment he got close enough to make out a pretty green-haired woman''s delicate facial features.

    "Yes," replied Dryad Cela as she pulled away from the crowd that had gathered to bother her the moment she left her residence. "My Lady has specifically requested that you pay her a visit, Great Prodigal Conqueror, unparalleled genius of the 7 Realms."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Prodigal Conqueror!?

    Like the one that''s made the entire Ascension Tower his bitch over the past few centuries!??

    Was it really him¡­!??

 Chapter 402 - 402: Mysterious Dryad

    The Werewolf and Vampire who had originally spoken up now quivered in the back, shamelessly pretending as if they had said nothing at all. From their Seniors, they had heard more than enough about the widespread tyranny of the one whom all geniuses of the 7 Realms wished to challenge and dethrone.

    "Your Lady?" Cassius asked. "And who might that be?"

    Dryad Cela went silent, though ultimately said, "My Lady is the one who rules over this Branch of the Yggdrasil Tree. And she just told me to tell you a single word¡­"

    A sound-silencing dome was cast between the two of them, preventing even Yimin and the other girls from hearing what she said.

    FWISH!

    After the dome dissipated, Cassius''s expression was far less nonchalant. The face he was making was scarily serious, enough to make Zara, Maxy, and the others grow curious about what the scantily-dressed Dryad had told their Master in secret.

    "I wonder if that''s the kind of dress Cass likes," Exisia mumbled while staring at the leaves barely large enough to cover up Cela''s naughty bits.

    She instinctively compared her body to that of the sensual Dryad, only to frown upon realizing that hers fell a little short¡­

    "Very well then," Cassius said seriously as he walked past Dryad Cela. "Lead the way."

    Dryad Cela nodded, immediately summoning a huge floating leaf object. She jumped on, then glanced down at where Cassius had just been standing.

    She was going to say something, but was surprised to see him no longer where he once was.

    "You may ascend," Cassius said from behind her. "We don''t have all day, do we?"

    "Oh¡­ No, of course not," replied Dryad Cela as she worked to calm the unnerving feeling this man gave her.

    She knew he was powerful, but for him to move around her without her sensing a thing was¡­

    As beings bred from Yggdrasil, Dryad Cela and all other Dryads were capable of hyper-awareness of their surroundings. As long as the scope was within a certain range of the incalculably large surface area of Yggdrasil, they could sense all ongoings.

    But this Prodigal Conqueror, Cassius¡­

    He was different.

    Even with him standing right in front of her, Cela couldn''t figure out if he was actually there or not. He had no presence, akin to a 4-Dimensional organism.

    "Is something the matter?" Cassius''s question snapped her out of her stupor. "Are we not going to depart? The eyes of those below are beginning to annoy me."

    "...My apologies, Sir Cassius," Dryad Cela said hastily as she commanded the giant leaf to ascend. "We''re departing right away."

    Cassius nodded. He also took the chance to do a quick headcount, making sure that all the troublemakers were on board.

    Which they were.

    But like usual, Yimin was fiercely growling at the ''new woman,'' even going so far as to threaten her with the slit throat motion.

    While flying high above where the crowds of high-ranking members of the Seven Dimensions were once gathered, Cassius and the rest obtained an awe-inducing view of the Branch of Yggdrasil they were on. Millions upon millions of small, nature-based creatures bobbed around, sometimes accompanied by a Dryad.

    Every so often, one could see a member of the Seven Dimensions walking or flying around. But even during this time of year, when the once-every-century Yggdrasil Tournament drew near, not many visitors of these Blessed Lands could be found.

    After all, it was far from easy to acquire a Guest Ticket that allowed entry into Yggdrasil¡­

    ''Good thing I stole some while I was strolling around the Seven Dimensions,'' Cassius bemused, urging Dryad Cela to say: S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "We''ve arrived, Sir Cassius."

    "We have¡ª?"

    FWOOOSH!

    Tearing through the fabric of Space, the leaf object shot through a wormhole that instantaneously transported them all to a tiny luminescent world located somewhere in this Branch of Yggdrasil. The world itself was only a few city blocks in size and had augmented scenery that made it look like a sea of stars hung overhead.

    At the far center of this world, there lay a simply adorned structure that looked something like a birdhouse¡ªsomething a witch in the woods might live in.

    "You''ve brought them?" came an ethereal voice that trickled into one''s ears like the voice of an angel.

    ''I''m an angel¡­'' Exisia all of a sudden felt self-conscious about her voice and cutely became frustrated while taking furtive glances at the charmed look Cassius was making.

    (He was actually very serious at that moment.)

    "Yes, my Lady," Dryad Cela responded while already in the kneeling stance. "But I was unable to bring him alone. He insisted¡ª"

    "It''s fine," said the ethereal voice resonating from within the birdhouse structure. "You may go now."

    "Understood, my Lady," replied Dryad Cela as she turned around and walked past Cassius, but not before getting one last look at him in. ''I didn''t notice before, but he''s inhumanly handsome¡­''

    "Ho?" The owner behind the ethereal voice looked in Cela''s direction. "It would appear THAT trait runs in your genes. The ability to enrapture any member of the opposite sex with little to no effort."

    Cassius was instantly reminded of his father and all the scandalous stories he''d heard about him in all Seven Ascension Towers. Even still, he responded with a crooked smile, saying, "Surely you jest."

    "Humble as well," the ethereal voice mused, with an astral projection of dazzling starry lights materializing outside the birdhouse structure. "You must''ve gotten this part of your personality from your mother. Lilia always has been soft-spoken and down to earth."

    Cassius stiffened, with a coldness emerging from the depths of his Origin Progenitor Bloodline.

    "How do you know my mother?" he asked while closely watching a starry woman of impeccable beauty come into existence.

    Unlike Dryad Cela and most other Dryads, who had green hair and eyes, this woman looked to have the cosmos weaved into a waterfall that was her sparkling hair. The clothes she wore also had a starry glow to them, though there wasn''t much of it covering her sinful figure.

    "Child."

 Chapter 403 - 403: Aurora Eldrine, The Dissonant Mothership

    "Child," the starry woman began as she descended to where Cassius and the grumbling girls in his party were standing. "Before asking me that, don''t you think you should inquire as to who I am first?"

    "Doesn''t matter," replied Cassius, his tone as cold as ice. "Whether your name starts with a P or a B, if you stand against me, you''ll die all the same. But you tell me: are you an enemy or a foe?"

    The starry woman froze in place before revealing an amused smile. She took step after step in his direction, causing a starry force to ripple out beneath her soles.

    "Even if you say that, I''ll tell you my name anyway. This will also answer your question."

    OOOM!

    All of space and time felt as if it would shatter into oblivion underneath the immensity of her presence.

    "Aurora Eldrine is what I''m called," she announced, urging forth a tsunami of starry energy that rushed toward Cassius. "I am one of the Original 108 Dryads from the 1st Generation, and I am a former Princess of Yggdrasil''s Royal City. And I am also¡­ the Master of the one who gave birth to you."

    "!?!?"

    ''This woman is my mother''s Master!??''

    Cassius had been prepared to fight since the moment he stepped foot into this unknown domain, but right now, he was stunned into silence.

    "But what I didn''t expect," Aurora said as she tipped his chin up with her milky-way-like index nail, "was for that kind-hearted disciple of mine to give birth to such a fierce man soaked in the blood of countless. What a twist of events, indeed."

    "This woman¡­" Zara muttered, her face shrouded in dark lines. "Does she seek death¡­?"

    Maxy and Exisia were also not looking too good right now, with Maxy already on the verge of striking out.

    Then there was Yimin¡­

    "Stop it," Cassius ordered as he pushed away Yimin''s sharp claws, stopping the advance of her attacks just a few inches before they touched Aurora''s head. "Quit trying to kill every woman you see near me."

    "B¡­ But Master," Yimin''s eyes watered, a vast contrast to the deep red they were while she was gunning for the kill.

    "No buts."

    Yimin whimpered. And as she walked away from her Master and the eyesore of a bitch, she flashed one last dangerous look at Aurora before stomping her feet and returning to Maxy, Raijin, and the others.

    Cassius then erected a barrier meant to prevent them from prying into a conversation that was best kept as private as possible.

    "Hmm~?" Aurora giggled like a succubus, tugging a little on his collar to pull his face close to hers. "We''ve just met for the first time and you''re already thinking you can protect me, huh? A bold one you are, Cassius Steele."

    Blurring at an inconceivable speed, Cassius put some distance between her and himself. Only then did he reply, "You made me curious, and now I want answers. Don''t think too much into it."

    Aurora alluringly licked her lips. "Direct and straight to the point. I like a man who knows what he wants."

    Cassius gave no response. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fine, fine, you''re no fun," Aurora blew fake air, then turned serious. "I believe in Fate, and even if you''re a Fateless, I''d like to think our meeting here is Destiny. Out of all the Branches of Yggdrasil you could''ve gone to, you traveled to one of the most barren ones¡ªthe one I was banished to long ago. Wouldn''t you consider this destiny as well?"

    ''Banished?''

    Aurora took strides toward him once more, admiring his perfect form from head to toe, utterly unable to see into his true depths. "I know what you''re thinking, but I wasn''t banished because of my unrivaled level of beauty and grace. It''s sweet of you to think so, though."

    "???"

    ''This woman gets sidetracked very easily¡­''

    Aurora slightly pouted. "Are you thinking something mean about this beautiful young maiden before you?"

    Silence¡­

    "Jeez, okay, playing hard to get, I see," Aurora said as her lustful body jiggled unrealistically. "But you need to stop playing around now; let''s get back to the matter of why I called you here."

    "...."

    Giggling mischievously, much unlike the ancient master-like demeanor she originally had, Aurora put a finger up to her chin. "First, let us go over why your gorgeous big sister was banished by those old bastards in the first place."

    ''Big sister¡­?''

    Cassius was then forced to endure a very long and very narcissistic monologue by the Master of his Mother¡­

    ¡ª Meanwhile, within the Dissonant Mothership deep in the Void outside the Ascension Tower¡ª

    Eerie sounds that came out like the beating heartbeat of an alien machine reverberated within an endlessly large space. In this space, at the very center of an abyss of darkness, there existed a metallic sphere. It emanated a red glow and was what made the rumbling sounds.

    Floating below this sphere was a human-sized figure. However, compared to the sheer size of the sphere, this figure looked to be no more than a speck of dust.

    "Mother," the figure began to speak, with his voice producing a warm green light that illuminated the area, revealing his monstrous appearance. "The moment we have been waiting for fastly approaches. We predict that in less than a few weeks, we''ll be able to send our main forces into the crack that will tear open at the highest levels of the Artifact."

    THRUM! THRUM! THRUM!!

    The beating drum sounds of the metallic sphere grew louder and louder, with the red glow expanding further out. Lines were carved all around this sphere and served as the source of this red glow. And as the glow worsened, so too did the size of these lines.

    Soon, the lines reached a point where they started to fold outward like the highly advanced technology of a transforming robot.

    As the lines folded over onto each other, what looked to be a face showed itself.

    It was menacing enough to strike fear in the hearts of many, and right now, it and its jagged curvature were staring down the tiny figure kneeling before it.

    "You know the cost of failure," it stated in a tone bereft of emotion. "Do not repeat what happened during the first test invasion."

    "!!!"

 Chapter 404 - 404: Lilia and Sylvy

    The kneeling Dissonant felt a stifling pressure attempt to crush him to death. Even with his strength surpassing that of powerhouses like the 3 Great Demon Kings, he coughed out black blood, his complexion paling.

    "I¡­ I shall not fail you again," he struggled to say, barely able to turn his head up and hold the sphere face''s terrifying gaze.

    Silence¡­

    "The Void Worms are about to awaken," the sphere finally said after a period of silence. "Gremoir, you must take ownership of that Tower Artifact and acquire what we came here for before they arrive. If you''re unable to do this¡­"

    ''I''ll be left behind¡­''

    Gremoir didn''t need to be reminded about what happened when Void Season came around and troops were still on a Cosmic Structure.

    Abandonment¡­

    "That''s all."

    Once again hearing the emotionless voice of the metal sphere, Gremoir bowed at a low angle before vanishing from the infinite expanse of darkness.

    The face of the metal sphere also disappeared without a trace, same with the red glow. The rumbling of a living machine was all that remained.

    That, and the billions upon billions of red lights occasionally flashing within the darkness.

    When they flashed, and if one were looking close enough, they would be able to make out the blackened frames of ships all larger than Earth. Some of these highly intricate ships even had multiple connecting parts, resembling something like mechanical snakes and cyborgs, each of insurmountable sizes.

    They pulsated with hunger, ready to devour the next Cosmic Entity¡­

    "Not long now, my children," the metallic sphere''s apathetic voice faded out. "Your appetites will soon be satiated."

    The flashing red lights brightened for the briefest of instants, exuding an aura of death that suffocated even the darkness¡­

    ¡ª At roughly the same time Cassius entered Yggdrasil through the folds between Dimensions, within the Royal Capital of Yggdrasil, Holy Mother City ¡ª

    "Hmm?"

    A stunningly beautiful woman with long black hair and emerald green eyes turned her head in a certain direction. She had a filled-out, motherly figure and was standing on a balcony that overlooked the fantastical capital. The slight breeze at this height blew her flowy dress around, accentuating the complicated expression she was making.

    "Mother?"

    The concerned voice of a small, cute girl rang out, snapping the black-haired woman out of her stupor.

    "Sylvy," the woman''s eyes softened as she stared at the big, round eyes of the little girl lightly pinching the hem of her dress. "Don''t worry, there''s nothing wrong. I was just thinking about how pretty it looked outside today."

    "Mhmm¡­" Sylvy gave an unconvincing nod, obviously still worried.

    Realizing this, the black-haired woman smiled warmly. "Say, how about we go and meet some Angels today? You''ve been begging me for quite some time to see one in person, haven''t you, my dear?"

    Sylvy''s sad eyes immediately brightened as she hugged her mother''s thick thigh. "Can we really, Mother??"

    The black-haired woman giggled. "Naturally," she said as she took hold of her hand. "When have I ever lied to you?"

    "Yay! You''re the best mother in the whole wide world!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Rather than feel joy at these words, the black-haired woman''s smooth skin turning blue gave away her immense sadness. She hid her daughter in her dress so she wouldn''t see it.

    "Let''s get going then," she said with a fake smile. "We have a lot to do today after all, what with the Tournament about to commence."

    "Mhmkay, Mother!"

    The mother and daughter pair then left the room connected to the balcony. They also left the manor that they were staying in as well, totally unaware of the shadowy figures lurking around the area.

    The slitted eyes of the shadowy figures were all focused on Sylvy and her mother. Once they left the perimeter, half of them trailed behind the mother-daughter pair, whereas the other half blurred in the opposite direction.

    They flew toward the largest and most luxurious palace in the Trunk of Yggdrasil¡ªthe home of the Queen of Yggdrasil as well as various other royals from a wide number of generations.

    FWIP!

    Appearing within a dazzling room of gold and jewels, the shadowy figures knelt before a beautiful green-haired woman who was also gazing out at the picturesque scenery. However, her demeanor was more solemn and noble than that of the black-haired mother. Furthermore, there was a more ruthless air surrounding her.

    "What is my older sister up to?" she coldly asked before the shadowy figures could speak up.

    "Queen Ayra, Lilia Eldrine is leaving her manor with the bastard child, and is going to meet the Angels."

    "Angels?" Queen Ayra went silent. "It must be Archangel Mikaela. They always were so annoyingly close with one another."

    "Do you have any orders for us, my Queen?"

    Queen Ayra turned around, letting her fiercely perfect face come into view. "Tell the others to stop tailing her. Mikaela is not someone easy to fool, and that sister of mine wouldn''t dare make any moves or make an escape attempt. The Ancestors are always watching, so even without you bunch keeping an eye on her, nothing will change."

    "Understood, my Queen!" the shadowy figures responded in unison before departing from the room without leaving a trace.

    After they were gone, Queen Ayra returned to staring at the limitlessly large and glorious city of nature and golden structures below.

    "What exactly are you up to, Elder Sister?"

    Meanwhile, billions of miles away, after traveling through a few spatial transportation stations, Sylvy and her mother arrived at the overhanging Branch where Archangel Mikaela''s Faction was staying.

    Thousands of Angels could be seen flying around and meandering about, with a few in particular brimming with fighting spirit. These were the talented youths of Mikaela''s section of the Heavenly Kingdom who would be participating in the Divine Tournament of Yggdrasil. Every single one of them was at least of the Peak Transcendent Rank, with numerous at the Half-step Godlike Rank.

    Their auras, however, extended far beyond their visible cultivation, for all of them could fight above the Transcendent Rank.

    The best of the best!

 Chapter 405 - 405: Arriving At The Angel Encampment

    "Who are you, and what are you doing at our encampment!?"

    One of those very angelic youths was the first to notice the arrival of a black-haired woman and a little girl. This aggressive youth was, in actuality, centuries old¡ªbut for those in the Ascension Tower, that was still considered young.

    "We don''t mean to intrude," Sylvy''s mother spoke softly, naturally a harmless-looking person. "I''m friends with Miky, so if you could please call for her, I would be extremely grateful."

    "Miky?" The youth wore a puzzled expression. "Who is that??"

    "Well, no matter!" He shook his head, his Early Godlike Rank power flaring. "Whoever you''ve come here to see, it''s still a crime to illegally trespass into this encampment. I''ll be taking the both of you back to the Commander for questioning!"

    "N-No, wait a second, I really do know someone here¡ªMikaela! And if you''d just tell her my name, I''m sure¡ª"

    WAAA!

    "You dare!??" The Angel Youth''s four sets of wings sprouted out from his back, with his raging aura causing cracks to spread on the branch ground around them. "Not only have you trespassed, but you''ve also been brazen enough to use Her Holiness''s name in vain! Even going so far as to tarnish it with such nonsense of friendship!! Utterly unforgivable!!"

    OOOM!

    "For this, I shall take one of your arms as penance!!"

    The youth erupted in golden brilliance, attracting the attention of the other Angels in the surroundings. They instantly paused what they were doing and flew over, getting themselves good spectating spots.

    "What is Ryger doing?" an Angel Youth asked.

    "I was here when the encounter first happened, and from what I could hear from a safe distance, that woman and the little girl are intruders."

    "Intruders?" a different Angel Youth repeated while taking a good look at the so-called intruders. "...For an intruder, the woman is pretty¡­"

    A few others followed his lead and obtained a better look at them, leading to the nodding of heads. It was impossible to deny that Sylvy''s mother was a country-toppling beauty¡ªeven among Angel standards.

    But unfortunately, such a flawless face and body would soon be erased¡­

    "Ryger truly does know no chill," a woman Angel Youth muttered. "I wonder what made him so angry this time."

    RUMBLE¡ª!

    "Do you have anything you wish to say before I slice off one of your arms!?" Ryger shouted with a booming voice that urged Sylvy''s mother to cover her ears. "If not, then I will begin right away!"

    Facing the overwhelming aura of the hotheaded Angel Youth, Sylvy''s mother continued trying to explain herself. However, after realizing that she''d never get through to him, her kind expression frosted over.

    ''To protect Sylvy, I''ll have to fight.''

    A green, murderous energy seeped out of her, quickly rolling out in waves. The golden aura of the Angel Ryger was overshadowed in an instant, and though he tried throwing up his golden shield barriers, it was too late.

    The green energy condensed into a javelin and broke through the barrier of sound an untold number of times. The cap on lightspeed was also shattered, with the javelin of the nature element achieving speeds that far exceeded what an Early Godlike Rank could unleash.

    "Wh-Wha!??"

    SHWOOOM!

    All defenses¡ªobliterated!

    "Don''t worry, you won''t die." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    What Sylvy''s mother said was meant to be comforting for the Angel Youth whose life was flashing before his eyes. However, it was anything but.

    "N-Nooo¡­!"

    Just as the green javelin reached a distance of less than a centimeter away from Ryger''s right eye, it stopped in mid-motion. Powerful blasts of wind blew behind Ryger as a result of this abrupt dispersal of momentum, causing him to froth from the mouth and faint.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "Ryger was actually defeated so effortlessly!?"

    "Who in the Holy Father is this Muscle Mommy!??"

    FWIP!

    A woman bathed in golden light suddenly appeared above the commotion. She had two halos hovering above her head and was so radiant that she could be described as akin to a blazing sun.

    "!?!?"

    "It''s the Divine Priestess!"

    "Divine Priestess Memphis has personally arrived!?"

    Looking over the area, Memphis''s cold, crossed eyes emitted a golden glow. But once she saw that Ryger was already incapacitated, the glow dimmed and she descended to the mother-daughter pair.

    "You have done me a favor, Miss Lilia," she said with a small, respectful smile. "If you hadn''t taught that unruly fool a lesson, I''m afraid I would have had to, and I wouldn''t have been anywhere near as light-handed as you were."

    "N¡­No, I just¡­" The coldness of Lilia''s expression was long gone, and in its place was a helpless frustration that came out looking quite adorable. "I didn''t mean to scare him so badly¡­ I tried¡­ I tried talking, but he just wouldn''t listen¡­"

    Memphis laughed a little. "You are mistaken, Miss Lilia. I am not chastising you¡ªrather, sincerely thanking you. But enough of this matter; that fool will be further punished for obstructing a friend of Her Holiness later. For now, why don''t you and your daughter follow behind me? Her Holiness requests your presence at her residence."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "So this pretty woman was telling the truth!?"

    "She''s actually friends with Her Holiness!!?"

    "Unbelievable! I didn''t even think Her Holiness had friends!"

    "Hwa!? What insolence!" A Half-step Godlike Rank Angel Youth scowled at the one who just spoke. "Of course she has friends! Just not those at the level that the likes of you would know about. Clearly, this refined young miss is a renowned powerhouse¡ªI mean, just look at how easily she took down Ryger!"

    Leaving the area where the chattering Angels were yapping away, Memphis guided Lilia and her daughter up the root they were staying at. For thousands of miles they traveled, yet did so in a matter of seconds.

    Eventually, they reached a part that had a giant, colorful tent propped up. This was where the Archangel herself was personally residing.

    "What are you standing outside for?" said Memphis. "Follow me in."

 Chapter 406 - 406: Lilia Reuniting With Mikaela

    "Come on in," Memphis said to the mother-daughter pair as soon as they made it to the tent''s entrance. "Her Holiness is expecting you."

    Lilia was a little nervous now that it was really coming down to it. Years had passed since she last saw Mikaela, and she couldn''t help but wonder if their relationship was the same as it once was.

    But seeing as how she already came this far, Lilia decided to just go for it.

    Brushing aside the curtains of the tent, she walked inside. Sylvy was tightly holding her hand, acting nearly as nervous as she was.

    Memphis trailed behind them, finding the similarities between her mother and this Lilia quite amusing. They were both so agitated about meeting each other that it totally made one overlook the fact that they were both powerhouses of their respective races.

    After walking around inside the large tent for a couple of seconds, Lilia and Sylvy ultimately found themselves at the golden-laced flaps leading to the Archangel''s room. Three guards of the Godlike Rank were guarding these flaps, their piercing gazes glowing dangerously through their armored helmets.

    "Scary¡­" Sylvy mumbled while clenching her mother''s dress.

    "Quit it," Memphis commanded from behind, her voice causing the guards to jump in their own skin. "These are Her Holiness''s guests."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "We deeply apologize, young misses," the guards bowed. "We hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive us!"

    "It''s¡­ It''s fine," Lilia said with an awkward smile, motioning for them to raise their heads. "So can we go in¡­?" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course!"

    The guards immediately made way for the group, their postures a lot more respectful than before.

    "Oh¡­" Lilia tensed up as she breezed past them with Sylvy. "Th-Thank you for your service."

    Memphis chortled in the background. But as she passed by the guards, she smiled coldly, as if to warn them to be more careful the next time they thought about scaring little kids.

    Sweating through their armored suits, the guards thanked their lucky stars that they were still alive after acquiring the Divine Priestess''s ire.

    After entering through the flaps, Lilia and Sylvy were welcomed with the enchanting view of a world blessed by gold. Hovering within this isolated dimension was a monument that resembled a temple.

    "So you''ve really come," sounded a heavenly voice from within the temple. "I was under the assumption that those stickly old men would never allow you to leave that birdcage. What changed?"

    Lilia watched as gold particles drifted out from the temple and took on the shape of a stupendously beautiful angelic woman. Ten wings of the purest form of white shot out the moment her face could be viewed, causing the mother-daughter pair to stand in awe.

    "Mother, she''s so pretty¡­" Sylvy''s big round eyes sparkled. "Is she your friend?"

    Lilia''s thoughts scattered as she returned to the present. Her expression turned ever more affectionate as she replied, "Yes, she''s my friend. At least¡­ we were once friends¡­"

    Archangel Mikaela frowned. She descended to the pair, and with fleeting steps, she arrived less than a few feet away from the black-haired beauty.

    ''Is she going to agree¡­?''

    Lilia became downcast.

    "How could you think that, Lily??" Mikaela grabbed hold of her hands, appearing genuinely offended. "It''s only been a few thousand years! Why would anything change between you and me during that time!?"

    "Huh¡­?"

    Lilia showed a shocked expression.

    And what did she mean by ''only a few thousand years''!?

    It had only been a couple of decades for her!

    But looking at the face her friend was making, Lilia froze. A dazzling smile blossomed as she thought about how silly she was for believing that anything would change between them.

    "Miky, it''s really good to see you again," she said earnestly, bringing Mikaela in for a deep hug. "Really, really good."

    Startled by the sudden movement, it took Mikaela a moment to return the gesture. Her eyes creased up the same way as Lilia''s as her snow-white wings shimmered like jewels.

    "Yeah, it''s the same for me, Lily¡­"

    They stayed like that until Archangel Mikaela pulled away and stared Lilia down with a serious look on her face. "So, are you going to tell me what happened after that womanizing bastard abandoned you or not??"

    Lilia pouted. "Don''t talk about Adam like that; he didn''t abandon me. He simply made the smart choice and took our precious baby boy down to the Mortal World to watch over. Adam is a manly man of unparalleled character, mhmm!"

    ''Son¡­?'' Memphis wondered, previously unaware of the last generation''s 1st Princess having another kid. ''I heard that she had a scandalous affair with some foreign powerhouse, and that was how Sylvy was born, but I never knew there was another¡­''

    Mikaela, on the other hand, was thinking something else entirely. ''This lass is still as big a fangirl as ever of that no-good bastard¡­ Haiz¡­''

    A heavy sneeze echoed in a certain special secret realm of the Ascension Tower, followed by a traveler-like man vigilantly surveying his surroundings for enemies.

    "Must''ve just been another beauty spreading rumors of my unequalled charms. Oh to be invincible¡­"

    Meanwhile, Archangel Mikaela sighed before teleporting Lilia, Sylvy, Memphis, and herself to the marbled temple floating above.

    "We have a lot to talk about, Lily," she said while settling down at a table seat. "First off, explain why you were even able to come here in the first place. Everyone knows how that younger sister of yours is when it comes to punishing you for what you did."

    A glumness spread around Lilia as she dropped her head off to the side, making a funnily depressed expression.

    "No need to be like that, Lily," Mikaela said in a lighthearted tone. "Come on, just give me the deets. It''s been so-oo boring without your presence all these years. You know, I even had a kid myself."

    "Huh!?"

    Just as Lilia was going to start her story from the beginning, Archangel Mikaela dropped a bombshell!

 Chapter 407 - 407: The Dissonants True Target

    "You had a kid!? Really!??" Lilia''s eyes shone like stars as she leaned over the table, getting all up in her friend''s face. "You have to tell me everything! What happened!? And where is this child of yours now¡ª"

    She stopped rambling the moment Mikaela pointed at the gorgeous young woman helplessly sitting at the right side of the table.

    It only took an instant for Lilia to realize what her friend was telling her. This realization urged her eyes wide open as she accidentally slammed the table in her excitement.

    "Eek!" Sylvy exclaimed, not used to her mother being so high-strung.

    "Oh, oops, sorry my dear," Lilia apologized while doing her best to calm her emotions. But every time she looked Memphis''s way, her eyes couldn''t stop sparkling.

    "You had your secret daughter, so who''s to say I couldn''t have my own?" Mikaela snorted confidently, pride for her valiant daughter overflowing. "We already know who the father of yours is, but as for mine¡­ Tsk!"

    "???"

    "What''s the matter, Miky?" Lilia asked, tilting her head. "You never did have any interest in romance, but I assume the one who stole your heart is quite the man, no? Why the curling of your lips?"

    "Stole my heart!? Bullshit!" Mikaela cursed, her mood ruined. "That fucker took advantage of me and then trapped me for years! That damn Lucifer is an even bigger bastard than Adam, and I''ll surely have his head pierced through by my holy pike one day!"

    "!?!?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Lucifer!?" Lilia''s mouth opened wide, but she then covered it with a hand, muttering, "How naughty¡­"

    For an Archangel and a Fallen Angel turned Great Demon King to conceive a child¡ªthat was the epitome of scandalous!

    "You¡­ really haven''t changed¡­" Mikaela sighed in exasperation, shaking her head. "But regardless of my tragic follies, why don''t we get back to you? The Ancestors of this place have always been sticklers in their rules, and there''s no way they would have forgiven you so easily. That''s without even considering that jealous sister of yours."

    "No¡­ You''re right," Lilia murmured, her tone troubled. "Neither the Ancestors nor my little sister would ever consider pardoning me for what I''ve done. But for this important Event, they''ve permitted me temporary freedom. That''s why I thought of coming to see you."

    "If it were anyone else, they''d think you were wanting to use me to help you attain permanent freedom," Mikaela joked. "But we both know that I have no such power. Even if I were to unleash the full extent of my Bloodline, it''s almost impossible that I could defeat even a single Yggdrasil Ancestor."

    Lilia sighed alongside her friend.

    The Ancestors of Yggdrasil were monsters as old as time itself, and not only were they unbelievably powerful, they were also nigh-immortal. With the connections they had with the Tree Spirit of Yggdrasil and the Tree itself, they could regenerate eternally.

    The World Tree Yggdrasil was what connected the Seven different Ascension Tower Dimensions together. It was also where the lifeforce of any deceased would travel to after their deaths. And after countless years of accumulation, the World Tree had become an inextinguishable source of life energy, achieving a state of near-omnipotence.

    Even the Realms discovered only by Cassius because of the System¡ªlike the Land of Beginnings, the Nightmarescape, and the Underworld¡ªwere unlikely to rival the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil.

    Too overpowered!

    And as the ones who maintained order in the Holy Sanctuary, the Tree Spirit and her sanctioned Ancestors were all comfortably sitting at the absolute pinnacle of the Ascension Tower''s power hierarchy. It was unknown if even God himself could defeat a single Ancestor.

    "If only those old bastards hadn''t destroyed the Bridge to Ascension all those eons ago," Mikaela lamented. "If they hadn''t, we''d be able to reach for something higher than the Godlike Rank and possibly even see where those bug monster Dissonants came from."

    Memphis stiffened at the mention of the Dissonants, recalling how they attempted to take her body and life.

    Sylvy, on the other hand, curiously looked between all three adult women, not quite understanding what they were talking about. Her mother, however, was stuck on the topic of ascendance beyond the Godlike Rank.

    It was something her husband would often ball his knuckles up while cursing the Yggdrasil Ancestors¡­

    "Do you actually believe the myths of there being something above the Godlike Rank¡­?" Lilia asked seriously.

    Archangel Mikaela wanted to confidently answer yes, but with no records of anyone actually crossing the Bridge of Ascension before it was wrecked, she couldn''t. Instead, she said, "There always has to be something higher. Something greater to strive for. And though we may be from two completely different races with different ideals, I believe we both wish for the Godlike Rank to not be the end of the road."

    Silence¡­

    "Do you think those Dissonant creatures would know more about it¡­?" Lilia broke the silence, prompting a question that made everyone except for Sylvy think deeply on the subject.

    "They''re doing it again¡­" Sylvy''s cheeks puffed as she very much disliked being excluded from the secret grown-up talk like this.

    "It''s certainly possible they know something more than we do," Mikaela finally said. "But it''s likely that only the highest-ranking among their kind have the information we want. And with them having ceased their continued invasion of the Tower of Humanity, we have no idea if they''re even still here."

    "They definitely are," Lilia said without a shred of doubt, surprising the Archangel. "They were targeting my son in an attempt to get at me. And though they claimed to be doing so under the pretense of acquiring my authority over that Floor without knowing that I transferred ownership to Adam, I know what they were truly after."

    "!!!"

    "Your Bloodline¡­" Mikaela''s eyes grew round, with the implications behind this too huge to imagine. "The Dissonants are actually targeting Yggdrasil??"

    Lilia nodded, and as the atmosphere turned solemn, she said in a dire tone, "They almost certainly know what the Royal Yggdrasil Bloodline is capable of, and since my younger sister and the two sisters of the new generation never leave the Holy Sanctuary, they plotted against the only one with connections in the world outside."

    "You¡­"

 Chapter 408 - 408: Eyes Of Life

    "You¡­" Mikaela muttered. "But they must not have been aware of the restrictions the Ancestors of Yggdrasil placed on your freedom!"

    "Yes," Lilia agreed. "Their original plan to lure me out failed. And they severely underestimated my husband, so their Plan B failed as well. This allowed for my son to ascend and advance far beyond what they thought possible.

    Even so, the Dissonants will not give up so easily. This is also partly why I''ve come to you¡ªI need your help with something."

    ''Princess Lilia''s son¡­ I wonder what he''s like¡­''

    The more Memphis heard of this person, the more intrigued she became. He sounded like quite the extraordinary figure.

    Quite the extraordinary figure indeed¡­

    Mikaela matched the seriousness of her friend. "Naturally, I''ll assist you in whatever way I can. But do tell me something¡ªhow is it that you learned all of this? If I''m not mistaken, your youngest sister was very thorough in ensuring that you were tormented here, even going so far as to block off all contact with the outside world."

    Lilia went quiet.

    OOOM¡­

    A green leafy energy radiated from within her pupils, exuding a level of incomprehensibility that shocked even Mikaela. She examined this energy, sensing both the Laws of Time and Space, as well as the Fundamental Essence of Existence.

    "This is¡­"

    "It''s the ''Eyes of Life,''" said Lilia, no longer withholding the truth. "I''ve never told anyone except for Adam, but for your assistance, you deserve to know. More so than my little sister, I acquired never-before-seen traces of the True Yggdrasil Lineage. But because of its divine ability to cloak itself, not even the Overseer of Yggdrasil¡ªthe Tree Spirit¡ªwas able to discern its existence.

    If the World Tree of Yggdrasil is the Lifeforce of the Universe, then I''m the one closest to achieving the same level of omniscience and omnipresence. Unfortunately, the Tree doesn''t possess much combat ability, or else I never would''ve been reduced to such a state.

    And even then, I can''t control this ability very well." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "But every so often," she added dramatically. "I''ll catch glimpses of the past or future. As of late, those glimpses have been related to my son, and though I still haven''t figured out how he progressed so quickly, it''s very possible only those like the Heavenly Progenitor and Yggdrasil Ancestors can now rival him."

    ''I shouldn''t tell anyone about his true destiny and the prophecies¡­ For his sake¡­''

    "!?!?"

    ''He actually progressed so much¡ªeven surpassing my own strength!?? How is this possible??'' Mikaela thought in astonishment, disbelief strewn across her face. ''Just what has he endured to achieve a feat like that!?? How much could possibly change within such a short period of time?!?''

    Everything.

    Everything could change.

    Entire lifetimes had passed for Cassius. Civilizations rose up across Dimensions because of him¡ªand some also fell to his sword and scythe¡­

    Revealing a profoundly sad look of pride, Lilia said, "The thing I regret most is not being by his side to personally witness him accomplishing all that he has¡­ I even hear that he has conquered the first six floors of every Ascension Tower¡­ Isn''t that amazing¡­?"

    Before Archangel Mikaela could agree, her daughter interjected. "There''s actually someone like that?? How have I not heard of him!?"

    Mikaela observed the outburst of her daughter, a small smirk forming as she remembered the relationship her silly girl had with that Cassius.

    Lilia noticed this slight change in her friend but didn''t bring it up. Instead, she watched as Mikaela said, "You''ll just have to wait and meet him yourself, my dear daughter. It''s almost guaranteed that he''ll be at the Tournament in Holy Mother City."

    "He will!?" Memphis asked. "But that doesn''t make any sense¡­ If he''s as capable as claimed, then his Rank is surely already above the Transcendent Rank¡ªsame as me. Why would he be at the Tournament that''s limited to the Transcendent Rank??"

    Mikaela''s smirk widened. "I suppose you''ll just have to figure out the answer to that when the time arrives."

    Although she too wondered what that devilish young man had in mind, there was no way he was missing out on the Tournament of Yggdrasil.

    ''I''m no longer able to sense his presence, but even so, I can instinctively feel that he has already arrived,'' Mikaela thought to herself as she and the rest all looked outside a hole that led to the world beyond.

    "Why are we staring out this hole¡­?" Sylvy cutely furrowed her brows, completely lost when it came to the activities of adults.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, in a secret dimension an astronomical number of miles away ¡ª

    Aurora had just finished explaining things to Cassius. This gave him the opportunity to summarize what he heard.

    "So that''s how it is," said Cassius as he hit one hand against the other. "Martial Master is useless."

    *Flop!*

    "U-Useless¡­?" Aurora repeated, struggling to stand. "After hearing of my tragic and endearing past, that''s what you have to say!?"

    The stoic, starry-haired powerhouse of Yggdrasil was nowhere to be seen. In her place was a woman who was beyond exasperated at the nonchalant feedback from her Disciple''s son.

    "Martial Master, you really are useless, though," said Cassius as he flashed her a look of pity. "Not only did you fail to accomplish simple tasks so many times that the Yggdrasil Ancestors shunned and demoted you¡ªyour very own Disciple grew tired of you."

    "Hey!" Aurora hurriedly tried to think of something she could use in her defense.

    "Hey¡­ Hey¡­"

    "I think you broke her, Master," Zara commented, deriving great joy from watching that voluptuous woman struggle so much.

    "Mashter, you got rid of the barrier, so that means Yimins can put da bitch in a stew, right!?"

    Yimin was bouncing up and down, as ready as she''d ever be.

    "No," replied Cassius, dashing away her hopes. "And I only erased my barrier because this woman doesn''t have much sensitive information to disclose to begin with. She''s just a pitiable, extremely lazy¡ªand most notably¡ªan unreliable woman that never bothered to change her ways."

    *Kuk! Kuk!*

    Aurora was pierced through the heart by arrows multiple times over, wondering where the justice in the world was!

    "You¡­ You¡­ You''re mean¡­"

 Chapter 409 - 409: The Arena of Yggdrasil

    Tears began to well up in the corners of Aurora''s milky way eyes. She was forced to remember all the tough times she''d had to endure since her birth, and that depressed the hell out of her.

    Feeling a bit bad, Cassius approached her and extended a hand. In a warm, heartfelt tone, he said, "You just need some Character Development is all. I know a Trainer, if you''re interested."

    "Y-You''d really go that far for an old hag like me¡­?" Aurora''s sorrowful tears gradually turned into tears of happiness.

    Cassius cupped her cheeks, matching her watery stare with a resolute gaze that struck her heartstrings. "To me, you are dazzling. Like an unrefined gemstone. To be perfect, you only need a little chiseling."

    "Oh, Martial Disciple¡­"

    "Martial Master¡­"

    "Are they reenacting a play right now?" Maxy questioned, swearing that she saw flowery effects materializing around the two. "And why does it feel like Master and that dumb bimbo are on two completely different wavelengths right now¡­?"

    She, Exisia, Zara, and Yimin all knew that look he was making. It was the same one he made when whispering like a devil into their ears, speaking of the only true way to strength and the pinnacle of Character Development.

    As it turned out, this ''Only True Way'' was just harming oneself in every way possible¡­

    Even Yimin, who would do anything her Master asked of her, bowed out of his Personal Training Session. The others quit even sooner, with none able to keep up with even a tenth of what that monstrous existence endured as a ''warm-up.''

    [My baby boy¡­ (?¨i?©n?¨i?)] the System muttered to itself, sniffling. [They grow up so fast. So much Character Development has been instilled in him that my pride is overflowing]

    [He''s almost ready for what comes next¡­ The Final Chapter of the First Book¡­ A very necessary but also¡­ very¡­ Haiz¡­]

    The System''s tone saddened a bit, but it was speaking privately, so Cassius hadn''t noticed.

    "Anyway," said Cassius as he quit the act. "You spoke of my mother having another child. With whom did she have this child?"

    The time difference made no sense, seeing as the kid would''ve had to have been born after him. This meant that his deadbeat dad definitely wasn''t in the picture.

    ''Something like this could only mean¡­''

    Someone somewhere felt his head become greener for some inexplicable reason.

    "You ask who?" Aurora had a complete personality flip, rising from the ground as if she hadn''t just almost had a mental breakdown. "Although I''m not a fan of the man, that silly disciple of mine has only ever had eyes for him. Never could I see her cheating on him."

    "As for your quandaries," she continued, "your little sister is not normal. She was born under very peculiar circumstances, and while in her mother''s womb, she stayed there for years. In actuality, she was conceived not long after you were, making her a few months younger than you, give or take."

    "A little sister¡­?"

    Cassius''s brows furrowed as he imagined a small girl with his face running around while smiling jovially.

    It was a scary thought¡­

    "To think I actually have a blood-related sister," he shook his head to disperse those weird images. "I am, however, curious what makes her so special."

    Aurora figured it would do no harm to tell him the truth, so that''s what she did.

    "An Immortal Physique??" Cassius found himself opening his mouth a bit in shock. "Something like that actually exists in the Ascension Tower?? And my younger sister has it???"

    "No one can say for certain since it''s never been seen before, but it''s highly possible, yes," replied Aurora. "Even I myself find the notion to be an unreliable one, but anything is possible. However, before you worry, I''m the only other one except for your parents that knows about this."

    Cassius took another good look at this stunning beauty, his perspective of her changing a bit.

    ''Even if she''s utterly useless and unreliable, my parents still decided to trust her with such a matter of great importance.''

    He was positive that even if his mom was naive enough to allow it on a whim, his fierce, iron-willed father would never in a million years do the same.

    Even if they only met each other once, they were two peas in a pod, and Cassius had obtained a very good grasp on what type of person he was.

    Yimin''s shimmering gray tail was swinging around behind her as she stared curiously at the barrier Aurora had erected before revealing something so important.

    "Whatcha dumb bitches think they''re talking about?" Yimin asked innocently, oblivious to the veins that just bulged on the heads of all the other girls. "Yimin is hungry again¡­ She hopes the Master finishes soon, so she can eat¡­"

    All this girl thinks about is eating and her Master!

    How could such a simple creature be holding back such an immense amount of draconic power!?

    "Why don''t we make a pact right now," Zara proposed to Exisia and Maxy. "If ever the dumb dragon gets ahead of us in the ultimate conquest, we team up and bury her in a ditch somewhere, never to be found again."

    Exisia and Maxy narrowed their eyes, but agreed to her proposal in the end. After all, Yimin was not only the one who had been around Cassius the longest, she was also the most dangerous in the war called ''Love.''

    "!!!"

    Yimin suddenly went on alert.

    ''Is there an enemy!?'' The others thought wearily.

    However¡­

    "Yimin has to take a piss¡­!"

    "..." "..." "..."

    Yimin raced away like some sort of cartoon character, quickly locating a bush in the fantastical isolated dimension to take a leak in. Her expression showed pure bliss as she let it all out, causing the three girls watching her idiocy to feel a whole lot stupider.

    "To think we all unconsciously believed something like her to be the biggest threat¡­"

    Disappointment in themselves welled up in the three of them as they returned their focus back to the ongoing discussion between Cassius and the Witch Bitch.

    "So my mother and sister are being watched by the Yggdrasil Ancestors at all times," Cassius parroted what he heard. ''That means I can''t see them right now. At least not until I activate my VOPC on one of the Ancestors and see how the fight would play out.''

    In truth, after his successive training arcs, he had no clue how powerful he had become. None in real life could even remotely make him put in any effort, whereas those recorded within the VOPC were just small fries.

    ''I still have to return to the Land of Beginnings later, so maybe I''ll come across some worthy opponents there.''

    As his thoughts stirred, Aurora sensed a dangerously familiar presence approaching¡ªone that spelled nothing but trouble for them.

    "Child¡ª"

    Turning to look at Cassius, Aurora was surprised to find him staring in the same direction she sensed that approaching presence. It even seemed like he noticed it before her, and that was with the addition of her deep connection to Yggdrasil.

    ''Just how powerful is my daughter''s disciple¡­? In such a short period of time, he has¡­''

    "It''s about time we take our leave," Cassius stated as he forcefully shattered the privacy barrier. "You''ll be at the Tournament in Holy Mother City, right?"

    "Huh? Oh, yes!" Aurora, who was still taken aback, held her large bosom in an attempt to adjust.

    "Then I''ll see you there," said Cassius as he and his party started to rapidly disintegrate into thin air. "Goodbye for now, Martial Master."

    "Mhmm¡­"

    For some reason, Aurora was disappointed that he was leaving so soon.

    It was fun talking to him¡­

    But with a more pressing matter at hand, her expression hardened as she shifted her attention to the east. There, an immensely powerful figure was rocketing through the skies, leaving a trail of green fire in her wake.

    "Ayra," Aurora muttered as the flying figure crossed a distance of billions of miles in an instant, arriving directly outside the hidden dimension. "That girl is sure to stir up some trouble. I should try to find a way to convince her to find a different path."

    While Aurora and Queen Ayra conversed within the hidden dimension, Cassius arrived at one of the many holding areas for the Arena of Yggdrasil. The moment he reached this place inside Holy Mother City, a plethora of familiar presences popped up on his radar.

    "Everyone is here, it seems¡­" he murmured. "Even those troublesome girls have stopped by."

    Right now, Azara Aluria, eldest sister of the Alurias, was excitedly scanning her surroundings. Almost everyone was extremely powerful, filling her with the nagging urge to fight them all.

    Then there was Flora, also of the Aluria Royal Family. Currently, she was lost in thought while sitting next to her mother and youngest sister Chella in one of the Reserved Booths for Godlike Rank and above entities of high bloodline lineage.

    Although the Succubus Royal Family of the Pleasure Ascension Tower was lower on the list of strong Godlike Lineages, they were still permitted a private booth. This was even in spite of the fact that they were not the purest breed of their kind like the ones currently huddled around the three terrifying Great Demon Kings of HELL in the true VIP stands.

    "Mother, when do you think he''ll arrive??" Flora asked with a pout, still a little peeved over Cassius basically ghosting her. "He promised 2nd sister that he''d come, didn''t he?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Amaris Aluria glanced over at her distraught daughter, sighing over her infatuation with that man.

 Chapter 410 - 410: Aluria and Crestmore Families

    "That man is many things, but I don''t believe him to be someone who reneges on his promises," said Amaris. "He''ll definitely show; as for when, I''m unsure. Knowing him, he likely wants to make a big splash, similar to what he did with the first six floors of every Ascension Tower¡ªespecially HELL."

    "I heard about that¡­ The Towers of Babylon, right?" asked Flora, her expression a mixture of awe and disbelief. "All except for the Three Great Demon Kings have been permanently trapped within them. And because the Great Demon Kings aren''t able to so easily descend to the lower floors of HELL to remedy the situation, they''re rendered both helpless and furious."

    "So you''re aware," Amaris exhaled helplessly. "However, because of Cassius''s relationship with Zaraphina, eldest daughter of Astaroth, he is conflicted on where he stands."

    "Zaraphina¡­" Flora''s round eyes darkened ever so subtly as she hated how many women were swarming toward her man.

    Noticing this fluctuation in emotions, Amaris shook her head.

    Having long since given up on the matter with her daughter and her first mark, she gave no opinion.

    "Regardless, your worries pertaining to the participation of that man are likely for naught," said Amaris while nodding in the direction of the Crestmore Vampire Duke Family. "See over there? That Bella girl is holding up a screen in the direction of the Arena''s Isolated Fighting Dimension. Is anyone on that screen familiar?"

    "Huh? Why¡ª Wait! I know them!"

    "Figured as much." Amaris crossed her arms under her large bosom. "They''re connected to that man, aren''t they?"

    "Yes!" Flora replied, though scowled while continuing. "They''re the stingy bitc¡ª women that used to hang around Cass on the 0th Floor of the Humanity Ascension Tower. When I was spending most of my time on Earth, they were annoyingly clingy and protective¡ªespecially the one carrying the tablet and that Egyptian woman on the other side of the screen."

    "Bella Crestmore does have that kind of personality, doesn''t she?" Amaris mused. "As for the Egyptian woman¡­ Wait¡­ Could it be¡­?"

    It was unmistakable!

    No one else had a presence or appearance quite like hers!

    "Hellion¡­" Amaris muttered, thinking to herself. "But I thought the Great Demon Kings had disposed of her eons ago¡­ Did they decide to keep her around in the end, even after her betrayal? Or were they unable to completely erase her¡­?"

    But more importantly, why had she not heard of this until now??

    And what was Hellion doing on the 0th Floor of the Humanity Tower??

    "Oh, mother, I forgot to mention it, but that irritating Hellion is actually Cassius''s Scion in HELL," Flora stated casually, leaving her mother speechless. "She controls and governs the first six Floors of HELL on his behalf. I even hear that she has power equivalent to a High-rank Godlike Powerhouse."

    ''Hellion has already regained that much of her strength?? But how!?''

    Almost immediately, though, she realized what the cause for this astronomical surge in strength was.

    "Cassius¡­ He must''ve somehow transferred some of his own power to her¡­"

    But if that was truly the case, just how powerful had that young man become??

    To conquer or dominate the 6th Floor of any Ascension Tower, you just had to be below a certain age. As for your power level, it could be anywhere from the Half-step Godlike Rank to the Absolute Pinnacle of the Godlike Rank.

    Determining Cassius''s strength from his achievements in the Ascension Tower alone was virtually impossible¡­

    "So, what is that screen?" Amaris asked to change the subject. "And how are people moving and talking through it?"

    "You don''t know, Mother?" Flora showed a puzzled look. "Then again, I suppose you wouldn''t."

    "Well, to put it briefly¡­"

    After explaining everything in a short summary, Amaris deeply furrowed her brows. "Human mortals really are unusual. They make such things instead of furthering their strength."

    "As far as I''m aware, Mother, the humans of Earth had no methods that could be used to improve their strength by large degrees," Flora said with a wizened tone, acting like some mysterious Master. "And in their limitless free time, they decided to focus on the advancement of technology."

    "How¡­ weird¡­"

    After giving her piece, Amaris returned her attention to the Arena.

    "Mhmm¡­ Momma, when is it going to start¡­?" The little girl who had kept quiet this entire time finally spoke up, just now waking up from her nap. "Want to see some fighting¡­"

    "It shouldn''t be too long now, Chella dear," replied Amaris. "Just go back to sleep, and the moment you awake again will be the beginning of the fights."

    "Mhmkay¡­" Chella drowsily rubbed her big round eyes before going back to sleep on her mother''s thigh.

    Flora and Amaris both smiled at this adorable sight.

    Meanwhile, Bella, who was with her father, mother, and little sister, held up the tablet she had in her hands. She made sure everyone tuning in got a good view of the absolutely massive Arena.

    And although she''d never admit it, she was having quite a lot of fun¡­

    "That over there is the glorious Tree of Yggdrasil, whereas that is the Royal Palace¡­ and that is¡­"

    Bella rambled on and on, ultimately making Aya frustratingly say, "Can you please stop speaking so quickly?? We have no idea what you''re even talking about anymore!"

    Bella paused.

    Her cheeks slowly filled with air as she coldly snorted. "I''m only doing this for you floozies because I feel like it would make my husband happy, so the least you could do is show a little gratitude! Humph!"

    *Tick!*

    "For the millionth time, he''s not your husband!"

    Multiple stunning women on the other side of the tablet bled Bella''s eardrums.

    "Why so loud??" she asked while covering her ears. "Darling has been my husband for so long; you''d think that you bimbos would be used to it by now. But I guess all the fat on your chests has rotted your brains."

    "This bitch¡­"

    Even the normally reserved Stella was feeling incensed over the ragebaiting of the vampire princess.

    "Hey," said Viola, breaking through the tense atmosphere. "Is anyone going to tell me what''s going on yet¡­? I was literally just kidnapped by the Egyptian and brought here with no explanation¡­"

    All the girls turned to stare at Hellion, but saw that she was whistling while averting her gaze.

    "Similar to that Bella bit¡ªlady, I felt that Master would want the purple-haired one to witness his magnificence in person."

    "Is that why you brought me here as well¡­?"

    This voice was an unfamiliar one, even to the oldest members of the extended Steele Family.

    Corra.

    It was her speaking up that urged Sasha, the most mature of the group, to give the two newcomers the deets.

    After some time¡­

    "I know that Cassius had a lot to do with the restructuring of the world, but to think he has already reached beyond the Solar System¡­" Corra muttered in amazement, observing the limitlessly large world of beauty shown on the other side of the tablet screen. "He''s actually in a place like that right now¡­ And Heaven; he actually went there as well?"

    "Yep, yep!" Bella proudly pointed her small button nose up. "Not only has Darling gone to Heaven, he even conquered the first six Floors! Even God himself had an audience with Darling, hoho~"

    "God¡­?" Corra''s jaw dropped. "Like the one from the Holy Scriptures?? The God of the Bible???"

    "One and the same!" Bella replied arrogantly. "But in front of Darling, face still had to be given. That just goes to show how awesome he is! My perfect husband~!"

    Corra had no words to describe what she was feeling right now.

    Everything she was hearing just seemed so unbelievable¡­

    ''But knowing him¡­''

    Corra was one of the first to witness Cassius''s transformation to an absolute unit firsthand. If it was anyone, then it would be her that knew just how much of a freakish monster he was.

    "Anywho, now that we got all the tedious recaps out of the way, let me explain how the Tournament will work," said Bella, still putting on airs. "So basically, thousands of top geniuses from all 8 Ascension Towers will¡­"

    Her family curiously watched as she explained everything using grand theatrics and exaggerated hand movements.

    "What is sissy doing, Momma?" Zuzu, the youngest daughter of the Crestmores, pulled on her beautiful mother''s dress. "She looks like she''s having fun."

    "Yes, she''s having fun," Carmilla replied with a carefree tone. "A lot of fun indeed. In fact, other than when she''s talking about that young man, she''s never shown an expression like that one."

    "My baby girl is all grown up¡­"

    Alaric started to tear up while biting down on the collar of his shirt. All the precious memories he made with his rebellious daughter flashed through his mind, reminding him of every time he remained blissfully oblivious to her growing tendencies of craziness.

    A glum air spread out over him as he drooped his head off to the side.

    "Be honest with me, guys, am I a bad father¡­?" Alaric asked with hope in his voice.

    Surely, they''d deny such a notion¡ª

    "Most indubiously."

    "Yes, Papa."

    THUNG! THUNG!

    Alaric felt like he was repeatedly beaten with a heavy sledgehammer, each hit caving his chest in. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I should just go find a hole to jump in and die¡­"

    "But don''t vampires normally like sleeping in holes in the ground?" Carmilla asked with a playful tone, deriving large amounts of joy from toying with her normally stoic and serious husband. "Maybe leaping off a cliff would be better."

 Chapter 411 - 411: Dracula and Great Demon Kings Musings

    Alaric was consumed by the darkness, feeling the sudden urge to crawl up into a ball and transform into a rollybug.

    "Come on, my love," Carmilla said with a lovely smile, linking arms with the saddened Vampire Duke. "The VIP stands are abuzz with activity; just look at Lord Dracula. The Competition should be starting any minute now."

    "Mhmm¡­"

    Suddenly feeling a lot better with the caring touch of his wife, Alaric''s spirits were lifted. But it was only after little Zuzu hugged him that he fully recovered.

    "Let''s fuckkking gooo!! I love Tournaments!!! Come on, Cassius, you brat, kick some ass¡­!!!"

    ''Such a simple creature my husband is,'' Carmilla thought in adoration. ''How cute¡­''

    "Papa is a dummy," Zuzu stated. "The thingy hasn''t even started yet. Why is Papa screaming?"

    Alaric''s whole existence froze. In his mind, the words "Papa" and "dummy" were repeated as if they were on an infinite loop. His torment was everlasting.

    "Welp, I did my best," Carmilla declared as if he were already a lost cause. "What say we go and get some ice cream while Papa is in the process of returning to normal? I hear the Life Essence Flavor is to die for in Holy Mother City."

    Zuzu''s eyes instantly brightened.

    Carmilla had her at ice cream!

    As for her Papa¡­ well, he''d be okay by himself!

    "Let''s go, Moma! I scream for ice cream!"

    The small gothic girl trailed behind her gorgeous mother, leaving behind a noble vampire to wallow in a sea of sorrows¡­

    ¡ª Meanwhile, up in the Special VIP Stands, where only Godlike Beings were seated ¡ª

    "This is unlike you, Dracula; you seem so lost in thought."

    The voice of a ridiculously seductive woman carried through the isolated airspace as one of the 12 Major Deities of Pleasure crossed her supple legs.

    "Alumia," Dracula said without turning his head, eyes still focused on the huge arena space below. "You should be more worried about how well your daughters and disciples will place. What I''m thinking about is no concern of yours."

    "Is that so~?" Alumia licked her lips, even more interested than before. ''So this stiff fossil really is hiding something. I wonder what it is.''

    Of the vampires that came from Nightingale, there was only one in the Godlike Rank.

    Count Vlad Dracula himself.

    Long, long ago, around when the Ascension Tower first came to be, there were more Godlike Vampires. But it was rumored that Dracula devoured each and every one of them to further his own strength.

    Of course, this was just a rumor.

    Another was that he was the only Godlike Vampire because he preferred to be alone, even ghosting his own wives and children¡­

    ''That Anomaly will be here, won''t he?''

    Count Dracula had never taken much of an interest in¡­ well, anyone. But this Cassius Steele was different, for he was the first one in all of history to escape the scope of his divinations.

    And it wasn''t only Dracula that witnessed this weird phenomenon, for anyone previously keeping tabs on the rising talent found themselves losing access to his destiny.

    Unprecedented!

    "Perhaps I should go and inquire from the younglings about the Anomaly."

    Dracula spoke under his breath while glancing at Duke Crestmore and the rest of his family. In his eyes, they were just babies, barely worthy of remembrance.

    But they could still be useful.

    Alumia''s curiosity grew the more she watched Dracula, observing expressions that she never would''ve thought possible for him to make.

    Meanwhile, in a different section of the VIP Stands, three horrifying figures pulsated with hellish demonic energy. Even among Godlike Entities, their auras were at the top of the top.

    "Where is Father at, damn it!?"

    Growing impatient, Lucifer cracked the million-times reinforced throne he was sitting on. This action scared a number of the weaker Godlike Demons sitting around him, forcing their heads down in fright.

    "The Heavenly Father has always been like that, brother," said Beelzebub, a terrifying being covered in the soft bodies of beautiful true-bred succubi. "Just like the Ancestors of Yggdrasil, he waits until the most dramatic point to enter the scene. For a holy man like him, it''s quite the odd trait to have though."

    Astaroth grunted. "If it weren''t for your astounding laziness, you''d be the same way, Beelzebub."

    Beelzebub laughed heartily, acting more like an ancient playboy than a terrible source of evil.

    "Hey, Asta, correct me if I''m mistaken, but wasn''t there an incident with your daughter and some hybrid genius that''s been circulating¡ª?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    RUMBLE!!

    "YOU¡­.!!!"

    "Hahaha!"

    Beelzebub was having the time of his life. He was blessed with the company of beauties and the entertainment provided by the monocle-wearing Demon King beside him.

    Lucifer, on the other hand, felt his anger spike at the mention of the hybrid genius.

    ''That damn brat!!''

    No matter what was thrown at him, he just refused to die!

    It was so damn annoying!

    "A fucking cockroach¡ªthat''s all he is!"

    Beelzebub arched a brow at this outburst, his grin slowly inching upward. "This same hybrid was the one who became the 73rd Demon King of HELL, right? I don''t care much about keeping up with the times, but I also heard that he''s been laying waste to the Floors of HELL. All the demons in Floors 1 through 6 are now subservient to him, right??"

    Silence¡­

    "Haha! That''s too damn funny!!" Beelzebub reeled back in laughter, deriving much joy from the tomato-like complexions of his brothers. "To think someone like that took things a step further and stole a daughter away from the both of you! Bahahaha!!"

    OOOM!

    Astaroth and Lucifer really felt like slaughtering Beelzebub right about now!

    But unfortunately for them, killing him might be even more impossible than killing God¡­

    Beelzebub was canonically invincible. Meaning that no matter what they did, he''d never take any damage.

    It was his broken-ass divinity or some shit. The other two Great Demon Kings didn''t understand it themselves, they just knew that he was a real pain in the ass to be around.

    "Now that we''re on the subject, I suddenly want to meet this pimp of a young man myself," Beelzebub mused, winking at Astaroth and Lucifer. "It''s not every day that you find someone who''s angered literally every Major Faction in the Ascension Tower. And for that person to still be alive until now is even more of a miracle!"

    "Tsk!" Lucifer clicked his tongue, his eyes aflame with concealed rage. "Unluckily for you and my plans of skinning the little bastard alive, he has yet to arrive."

    "Damn, so he''s like your father in that regard??" Beelzebub chuckled. "A big fan of the grand entrances. How funny, huh, little Luci?!"

    Veins bulged all over Lucifer''s forehead, but as if by some miracle, he stopped himself from obliterating everything around him with the Flames of HELL.

    "Let''s just wait and see what happens," said Astaroth, a bit of irritation lingering. "The youngsters are about to enter the stage, and though that brat is too strong to participate, there''s no way he''ll miss out on an event like this one."

    Everyone who knew of the Prodigal Conqueror was thinking along the same lines.

    And they were right¡­

    But for now, Cassius was simply spectating from an isolated dimension far away from prying eyes. He saw many familiar faces, some of whom wished nothing more than to see him charred and tortured for all eternity.

    Suddenly!

    BOOM!

    A thunderous bolt of lightning struck the very center of the Tournament of Yggdrasil. Several more followed, with rays of gold and clouds of green light accompanying the arrival of those whose powers were unfathomable.

    "Hmm¡­?"

    While softly rubbing Yimin''s head, Cassius shot his gaze in the direction of a dozen+ figures bathed in golden green light. They all appeared very young and beautiful, but appearances were often very deceiving, for their ages might not even be possible to count in terms of conventional numbers.

    The Ancestors of Yggdrasil!

    {[Aerendyl the Starborn Sovereign]}

    [Age: Incalculable]

    [Rank: Half-step Beyond Godlike]

    [Profession: Yggdrasil Ancestor]

    ¡ª

    {[Thaliondir, Warden of the Emerald Vale]}

    [Age: Incalculable]

    [Rank: Half-step Beyond Godlike]

    [Profession: Yggdrasil Ancestor]

    ¡ª

    {[Seralyndra the Twilight Empress]}

    [Age: Incalculable]

    [Rank: Half-step Beyond Godlike]

    [Profession: Yggdrasil Ancestor]

    ¡ª

    {[Elanwe Moonwhisper, Oracle of the Shimmering Deep]}

    [Age: Incalculable]

    [Rank: Half-step Beyond Godlike]

    [Profession: Yggdrasil Ancestor]

    X8 More¡­

    Powerful!

    Unbelievably so!

    Even Cassius was feeling a pressure unlike any other, one that went far beyond the might of the Great Demon Kings. The difference between them was so massive that heaven and earth might be closer.

    "So these are the Ancestors of the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil¡­" Cassius muttered as the fire inside him burned brightly. "Well, this simply won''t do. It won''t do at all."

    If he wanted what he planned to do to succeed, then he had to become far stronger than he was. Strong enough to flip the earth and overturn heaven.

    The Ancestors of Yggdrasil passively emitted energy levels equal to that of the Heavenly Father, if not just the tiniest bit weaker. They were also not too far ahead of the grimdark man representing the entire Godlike demographic of the Vampires.

    This meant that there were at least 14 beings stronger than Cassius in the Ascension Tower¡­

    "This simply won''t do¡­" he murmured. "It won''t do at all!"

    "Mashter??" Yimin woke up surprised.

    She was confused as to why he suddenly quit petting her, instead rising up like a sword.

    "Mashter has to¡­ shits¡­?"

    "..." "..." "..."

    Exisia, Zara, and Maxy all looked at the silver-haired dragon with blank expressions. Even Luma and May¡ªwho had been introduced to the group some time ago¡ªwere stunned by the vulgar mouth of the dragon-girl.

 Chapter 412 - 412: The True Powerhouses Of The Ascension Tower

    "No, it''s not that," Cassius replied with a sigh. "It''s just¡­ Hmm¡­ I might be unconscious for the next few seconds or minutes. I forget the time conversion, but it should take no more than a quarter of an hour."

    "Huh?? Master, what are you talking about!?" Zara immediately rushed over to him, pulling up his hair and checking his heartbeat to make sure he was okay. "Have you lost your marbles or something¡­?"

    "Long ago," Cassius said seriously. "But that''s beside the point. Just watch after my body while I''m away, okay? And if I come back spouting some nonsense about the viscttudtues of time, then just slap me out of it."

    "Watch your body¡­?"

    All of the girls instantly looked down at the large package Cassius kept hidden. They blushed in sync, their thoughts filled with nothing decent.

    "I-If that''s your choice, Master, then I will take full responsibility of personally and exclusively caring for your¡­ body while you''re ''away''," Maxy declared righteously, pausing a little because of the drool trickling down her lips. "Here, I''ll solemnly swear on it¡ª"

    "Don''t you dare, you bitch!" Zara immediately went for a throat punch, successfully knocking back the creamy-haired beauty. "If anyone should be exclusively caring for Master, then it should be me, the prettiest! So go ahead and fuck right the hell off!!"

    "Yimins heavily disagrees! Yimins will now be killing you!!"

    "I also¡­ don''t like this proposal¡­" Exisia said with a meek fierceness, not willing to give up in this battle so easily.

    "Obviously I disagree as well!" Maxy cursed. "Fuck you, cow-tit bitch!"

    "Humph! Then let''s have Master, my husband, decide who''s best fit to care for him now and for the rest of forever¡ª"

    "Zzzzzz¡­"

    Silence¡­

    "NOOooo!!!"

    Not wanting to get involved in the catfight between the crazies, Cassius made the smart decision of whisping himself off to the Land of Beginnings. This was the best choice for everyone (especially him).

    However, just as his consciousness left this plane of existence, a pair of round, curious eyes turned in his direction. A head tilted soon after as soft murmurings echoed.

    "What''s got you so listless, big sister?"

    The melodic voice of a divinely beautiful woman carried over to the pensive round-eyed girl, yet the girl gave no big response. She merely looked away and nodded at the woman that looked somewhat like her.

    "Hmm¡­?"

    The woman, known as Alca Eldrine, felt like something was off with her elder sister today. Alca was aware that her sister didn''t like big crowds like the one centered around them today, but even then, there was just something¡ª

    "Silence!"

    With the resounding voice of the eldest of the 12 Ancestors of Yggdrasil, everyone in the stands hushed up. Their hair and clothes were blown back as a result of the incidental release of the Eldest Ancestor''s power.

    Contrary to what one might believe, the Eldest Ancestor, as well as roughly half of the Ancestors, were not females. In other words, they were Dryads.

    Even so, they were still of Yggdrasil Descent, just a much more complicated and hard-to-explain version of it.

    "On behalf of the Tree Spirit and the World Tree Yggdrasil, I announce the start of the 6969th Tournament of Yggdrasil," the Eldest Ancestor continued while slightly slamming down on his cane, causing ripples to spread through space and time. "This one, like all the ones before, will have a few words from the representatives of each Major Faction before the youngsters enter one of the numerous Isolated Fighting Dimensions below. I assume no one has any qualms with this arrangement?"

    No one spoke up, so the Eldest Ancestor said, "You may all decide who goes first. Unless something unexpected occurs that requires our attention, we''ll be waiting in the Yggdrasil Private Observers Sector¡ª"

    Suddenly!

    OOOM!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Making everyone widen their eyes was the appearance of a dazzling pillar of light that descended from the heavens. It exuded a holy power so strong and immense that even the Yggdrasil Ancestors were taken by surprise.

    "Sorry, am I late?" came the ethereal voice of an equally ethereal man shrouded in divine light. "Heaven was experiencing some technical difficulties, so I apologize for losing track of time."

    Bullshit!

    What difficulties!? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Everyone here knew full well that the Progenitor of the Human and Angel Races was just a lazy old dude with an eccentric personality!

    "Such insolence¡ª" One of the Yggdrasil Ancestors tried to call out, but was interrupted by yet another large burst of energy.

    WAOOOM!

    This one, although less powerful than the Heavenly Father''s, was still at the level of Half-step Beyond Godlike.

    As for who it belonged to¡­

    "You stole my line, you know?"

    The man, the myth, the legend, the widely recognized supreme genius of the Human Race!

    Adam Steele!

    "Well, whatever," Adam shrugged, dodging further conversation with the Heavenly Progenitor for some reason. "Did anyone here miss me while I was away? Wifey, you here~?"

    His flirtatious calling incensed many of the Yggdrasil Ancestors, as they couldn''t believe this insufferable man had the gall to step foot in Yggdrasil after his scandal with the previous Eldest Princess!

    But unfortunately for them, he was stronger than before¡­

    Strong enough to negate any attempts at forceful removal¡­

    ''Husband!''

    Lilia, who was hiding among the crowd with a hoodie on, so badly wanted to cry out to Adam. But unless she wanted her and little Sylvy to be locked away for the next thousand years, she resisted every atom of her being and kept quiet.

    Queen Ayra derived much joy from watching her elder sister suffer, but at the same time, was infuriated by the appearance of Adam. The womanizing bastard who was known as one of the most arrogant and unruly men in all of the Ascension Tower.

    "Hmm¡­" Adam''s eyes narrowed, yet was unable to locate his wife and daughter. "So you''re hiding them from me."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Everyone, even the Yggdrasil Ancestors, felt a terrifying pressure build up around Adam. It coiled around them and constricted like a lethal python, its venomous gaze piercing through them.

    However, as if it was never there, the pressure dissipated and Adam''s ''friendly'' expression was shown to all.

    "No matter, after I witness the glory of my son, I''ll find them whether you old shits want me to or not. And if anyone gets in my way¡­ I''ll just kill them."

    "YOU!!!"

    The Yggdrasil Ancestors were on the brink of erupting like volcanoes, but before Holy Mother City descended into chaos, a boisterous laughter rang out. It attracted everyone''s attention, forcing them to look at the VIP Stands designated for HELL.

    "I love this man!!" Beezlebub laughed. "Even while he was still rising up the ranks, he was one amusing human! It''s just so amazing, haha!!"

    ''This loud bastard is embarrassing us again,'' Lucifer and Astaroth thought in unison, cursing all 7 of his generations.

    Adam gave a thumbs up meant for Beezlebub, smiling goofily.

    Beezlebub returned the gesture.

    Meanwhile, the Heavenly Progenitor was feeling like his spotlight was being taken away. But it didn''t bother him much¡­ for some reason.

    "Enough!"

    RUMBLE¡ª!!

    The angry shout of the Eldest Yggdrasil Ancestor brought the Arena back to silence.

    "There will be no more interruptions during this event!" he continued as his holy aura rolled out in awe-inducing waves. "Leaders of major factions, represent yourselves and then await the commencement of the fighting. That is all!"

    "Keke, then I''ll be going first," Beezlebub heartily announced while watching the Yggdrasil Ancestors turn into green light particles and vanish. "Cough! Cough! So basically~, I''m the best, and all my heirs are the best. Also, you all suck, haha!"

    *Tick!*

    While everyone was left cursing their hearts out at the bastard known as Beezlebub, Adam and the Heavenly Father passed by one another. They traded no words, barely even registering the existence of the other.

    Even so, the tension between them was palpable, static enough to raise the hairs on the backs of necks...

    ''I really only came to see my wife and daughter, and also to show off to my son; talking to HIM is pointless and a waste of time,'' thought Adam.

    In his reverie, he noted the existence of the two Yggdrasil Princesses floating high above like the grand prizes of the illustrious event. ''That really brings me back. First it was me with my dear Lilia, and now it''s my son''s turn. Haiz¡­''

    ''Wait, where is that show-offish child of mine anyways? Is he thinking of trumping my awesome entrance or something?? Truly presumptuous!''

    ¡ª An undefined amount of time later, within the Land of Beginnings ¡ª

    "N-No, please¡­! I¡­ I''ll do anything!! I''ll erase all past grudges, just pl-please don''t¡ª"

    SPLAT!

    The noble Chamberlain Duke was splatted to oblivion, with his final moments having involved him begging for his life.

    Covered in blood, Cassius emotionlessly glanced at where the Duke once existed...

    "That''s one loose end tied up," he stated coldly before disappearing from his place. "But for some reason, I have the feeling that new strings will be unraveled soon enough."

    And he was right once again, for in the Netherworld, one of the greatest and most powerful Soul Emperors of all time revealed a joyous expression like no other. He immediately called for his Butler and close confidants, requesting for the immediate start of plan:

    "Stuff Soul Eater Killer with enough goodies to make him pop! Then have him kill me, God please!!"

    The title was long and could certainly use some work, but it would do for now.

    While meeting up with Yuna and little Opal to discuss the killing of Duke Chamberlain, cracks began to form and multiply in the skies high above. Powerful tendrils of condensed malevolent energy seeped out of these cracks, alerting numerous experts residing in the Forgotten Shores.

    Even the terrifying entities hiding in the depths of the Boundless Gorge were attracted by this phenomenon.

 Chapter 413 - 413: A Lone Figure Against An Army Of Soul Eaters

    "Soul Eaters¡­" One of the eldest of the behemoth-sized Boundless Gorge Entities flared with ancient power, attempting to discern the strings of Fate and Destiny. "So many¡­! Why have so many Soul Eaters descended to the Forgotten Shores!?"

    With how many were breaching through the Dimensional Walls, all of the Island Kingdoms in the Azure Archipelago would soon be overrun!

    "Hmm?" Cassius arched a brow upon sensing unnatural energy readings. "Did either of you young ladies invite some more guests to our little tea party?"

    Opal read his lips, and though she knew what he said, she still didn''t understand what he meant by it. She looked to her big sister for answers, but it turned out that Yuna was just as clueless as she was.

    "So these aren''t friends of yours," Cassius said while conjuring an energy-made screen that showed the girls what was waiting outside their little mansion in the hills.

    "!!!" "!!!"

    Although Yuna and Opal had no idea what these things were, there were countless of them!

    And most astonishing of all was the fact that they were all the equivalent of at least the 2nd Class Slayer Rank, with thousands equal to the 1st Class Slayer Rank!

    There were even a few that possessed auras so immensely powerful that Yuna and Opal were left gasping for oxygen!

    Waving his hand ever so casually, Cassius prevented the auras of the figures outside from affecting the girls. His eyes then narrowed as he opened up the system interface of one of the strongest among them.

    {[Syphork the Bringer of Amalgamation]}

    [Race: Soul Eater]

    [Lifespan: 4,320/Infinite]

    [Rank: Lord Soul Eater]

    Soul Eaters.

    Some of which were extraordinarily powerful.

    But why were they here¡­?

    "Were they attracted by my Azura Devourer Bloodline or something?" Cassius wondered with a low voice. "Then again, I don''t even have that Bloodline anymore, because it was assimilated into the Origin Progenitor Bloodline."

    "Well, whatever," he quit mulling, swinging Mora''s wickedly sharp scythe edges over his shoulder. "If they''ve come to play, then who am I to send them away?"

    Seeing Cassius begin to make a move, Yuna reached out. "Wait, Cass¡­!"

    But before her soft voice could make it to him, he vanished from his spot.

    Reappearing outside, he stared down the tens of thousands of Soul Eaters with an infallible will.

    Worry grew within Opal''s heart as she had no idea what was going on. For her, the world was silent, but watching her Savior face so many horrifying entities all by himself made waves of thunder beat loudly in her heart. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Cass¡­"

    Yuna wasn''t faring much better.

    She wasn''t sure exactly how strong those entities hovering in the air outside were, but she counted hundreds who were more powerful than her father. This automatically made it pointless for her to call him for his assistance.

    Not that he needed the reminder¡­

    After all, every single Island Kingdom in the Azure Archipelago was more than aware of the incalculably powerful beings who had just broken through the Dimensional Barrier from multiple points. In fact, at this very moment, a meeting was being held by hundreds of Island Kingdoms, a lot of which were greater in military strength than the Mistalore Kingdom.

    "Do none of you have any idea why so many high-rank Soul Eaters pierced through from the Netherworld!?"

    The frustrated shout of a bountiful woman echoed through the wide open field they were convened at. She had a crown of wheat perched atop her head, with a Slayer Cultivation Rank of the 6th Stage of 1st Class, making her roughly equivalent to a weaker Mid-Rank Godlike Entity in the Ascension Tower.

    "As far as we''re aware, they appeared for virtually no reason at all¡ªno warning, no nothing." A messy-haired man with a lean stature pushed back his glasses, a keen gleam shining within them. "However, what we do know is that this is not an invasion. At least, it doesn''t look that way from how singularly distributed they are. By that, I mean that they''ve congregated in a single spot."

    "Where!?" many asked with impatient tones.

    "The Mistalore Kingdom," replied the glasses-wearing 1st Class Slayer as he looked over to a chair that seated the gruff-looking Mistalore King. "They''re targeting your Kingdom, Mistalore."

    King Mistalore''s expression was not looking too good right about now. Gazes filled with pity being thrown his way didn''t help him any either.

    "But what would they possibly want with the Mistalore Kingdom?" asked the busty woman wearing the wheat crown. "To be frank, the Mistalore Kingdom is a very weak Island Nation. To amass such a large and overwhelmingly powerful force to deal with such a weak place is tantamount to wastefulness."

    Many agreed with this notion.

    Even King Mistalore couldn''t disagree with this statement. After all, if he and his Kingdom were sufficient enough, then his wife wouldn''t have been taken away by the Ashikaga Shogunate.

    Speaking of that particular Kingdom¡­

    "What could such a large army of Soul Eaters possibly want with that little man and his tiny Kingdom?"

    The one who spoke up with a tone of disdain was the Midaidokoro of the Ashikaga Shogunate. Her other identity was the grandmother of both Yuna and Mistalore, as well as the wife of Shogun Ashikaga.

    And most importantly, the hater of King Mistalore and everything he stood for!

    "Come on now," said a kind-hearted woman in the 6th Stage of the 1st Class Slayer Rank. "We have not burned through several Spatial Stones to waste it all here picking fun at the Mistalore King. We''ve convened to figure out why the Soul Eaters broke through the Dimensional Barrier and what they plan to do next."

    Hundreds of powerful leaders nodded, agreeing with the words of the gentle Saintess of the Seven Holy Spears Kingdom.

    "Tell us, Mistalore, can you think of anything that would better help us figure out why the Netherworld decided to target your Kingdom?" asked a long golden-haired knight-like man with closed eyes, his aura pulsating at the 7th Stage of the 1st Class Slayer Rank. "The army they sent is of an unprecedented level, with a doomsday event assuredly set in stone if we can''t resolve this."

    Normally, Soul Eaters were very disorganized and only ever worked by themselves to devour the souls of mankind. At most, a small group might come to be.

    But never had anyone gathered in the yellow wheat fields ever heard of anything like this before!

    It was unbelievable!

    Just the pressure passively emitted by the Army of Soul Eaters made any one of them fearful for their lives!

    Truly terrifying¡­

    "I wish I could tell you all something, but I just don''t know¡­" King Mistalore sighed while disappointedly shaking his head. "They started breaking through the Dimensional Barrier some minutes ago, and without even looking at anything or anyone else, they shot toward a seemingly random location of my Kingdom. They then stopped moving, and have been so since."

    FWIP!

    Abruptly teleporting in was a subordinate of King Mistalore. He had to pay a heavy price to reach this private location hovering high in the sky, but the information he had with him was of vital importance.

    Most of those sitting around the yellow wheat field stared down the newcomer, but without waiting around to be threatened by their auras, he rushed toward King Mistalore. After whispering something in his ear, he immediately returned from whence he came.

    "What''s the matter, Mistalore?" asked the Saintess from Seven Holy Spears Kingdom. "Why are you making a face like that??"

    "It''s¡­ Numerous eyewitnesses have reported that a lone male figure ascended to the skies and started¡­"

    "He started what!? Spit it out!" the Midaidokoro cursed.

    "This lone figure started talking with the Soul Eaters!!"

    Silence¡­

    "Is he fucking insane!? Who is this man!??"

    Even the normally calm and composed golden-haired knight from the White Stars Kingdom found himself stunned by this development.

    To think¡­

    To think there was actually someone so crazy!

    "Tell us more, Mistalore! Who is this person and for what reason did he believe it to be a good idea to approach an entire army of Soul Eaters by himself!?"

    "Well, I¡ª"

    Suddenly!

    Immense dread washed over everyone in the fields as the whole world felt like it would break apart from all the shaking.

    That was when they caught a glimpse of IT.

    A huge gash in space wide enough to swallow up several Island Nations¡­

    It was looming over the world in the direction of the Mistalore Kingdom. Energy tendrils frenziedly shot out around it, further scarring the skies.

    "This¡­"

    The absolute powerhouses of the Azure Archipelago were speechless. Even the terrors hidden within the Bottomless Gorge of the Nightmarescape had no words to describe what they were seeing.

    "Guys¡­ Where¡­ Where did the Soul Eaters go¡­?"

    Their life signatures were no longer anywhere!

    King Mistalore stared in the direction of his Kingdom, scared to see the outcome of being in such close proximity to an attack like that. But surprisingly, not even a single blade of grass had been harmed.

    "Does anyone have any idea what the hell just happened!?" An expert from the Blade Kingdom pointed at the massive gash in space. "What the fuck is capable of something like that!? Even the legends describing Transcendent Class Slayers are not so exaggerated!"

    Yet, no matter how loudly he shouted, if no one had the answers to his questions, then no one had the answers.

    All they could do was stand there and ruminate while reflecting on everything they did in their lives¡­

    "Calamity is destined for this world." One of the Terrors within the Boundless Gorge stared into the truth of it all, yet found nothing but chaos and the unknown. "We need to speed things up and lure the Dreamwalker back to the depths of the Gorge. Only that way can we restore our previous strength and escape the Eternal Dream before it collapses completely..."

 Chapter 414 - 414: Mass Azura Devourer Bloodline Upgrades!, Soul Emperor Meeting

    Meanwhile, in the Mistalore Kingdom, the one who caused the whole of Forgotten Shores to panic was coldly staring at the rapidly closing tear in space-time.

    The Soul Eaters were no more. Everything they were had been erased ¡ª and it was much deserved; after all, they threatened to lock him up and torture him for the next million years!

    The second part didn''t sound so bad, but then they added, "You won''t be able to cultivate during that entire time, muhahaha!" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That was Cassius''s final straw. He flicked Mora their way, annihilating the entire army in an instant.

    "No one threatens my endless cultivation journey," he stated with a click of his tongue, turning around and returning to the inside of the manor with a quick blink-step. "Ah, but I should still absorb them. Though they weren''t very strong, some Godforce is better than none."

    After spending hundreds of years accumulating Unity in the Originverse, it started to feel like his Godforce was lagging behind. And it was.

    But increasing it in brief periods of time was no simple matter¡­

    FWOOOSH!

    Under the astonished eyes of Yuna and Opal, Cassius nonchalantly pulled in the remains of the Soul Eaters. This caused his Origin Progenitor Bloodline to have a positive reaction.

    His Azura Bloodline Rank began to skyrocket!

    Young Azura Devourer!

    Adult Azura Devourer!

    Elder Azura Devourer!

    Lord Azura Devourer!

    In a matter of seconds, Cassius advanced from the 2nd Rank to the 6th Rank of the Soul Eater Ranking System!

    Ludicrous!

    And most broken of all was that even if another Soul Eater absorbed as much as he did, they''d obtain nowhere near the same level of results.

    Why?

    Because they weren''t an Azura Devourer amplified by the miraculous effects of an overpowered Progenitor Bloodline that surpassed all other Mortal Bloodlines!

    "The Lord Azura Devourer," Cassius mused, clenching his fist and watching a dangerously blue flame engulf it. "Roughly equal to the Mid Godlike Rank, with an increase of a few thousand Godforce. And that''s just from killing small fry like them. I wonder how much more powerful I''ll become if I find and slaughter the stronger Soul Eaters¡­"

    Netherworld, was it? He might just have to go and pay them a visit.

    "Cass¡­" Yuna took ten steps back, the raging blue aura he emitted too much for either her or her little sister to handle.

    "Oh, sorry about that," Cassius apologized as he dispersed his aura with a snap, returning his presence back to that of a mortal with extremely superb looks. "It would appear that I''ve gone overboard this time, huh?"

    Overboard!?

    That attack just now could''ve wiped out the Mistalore Kingdom and dozens of other Kingdoms if it wanted to!

    "Just¡­ Just what has happened to you in such a short period of time¡­?"

    Yuna wasn''t even able to believe her eyes anymore. She needed some sort of explanation for the insane shit she just witnessed.

    "A short period of time?" Cassius repeated with a distant gaze. "If only you knew¡­"

    "Knew what??"

    "Nothing, nothing," he replied, turning around and walking out the manor''s front door as if the end of the world hadn''t just been effortlessly averted. "By the way, you were talking about your grandparents visiting the Mistalore Kingdom soon, weren''t you?"

    "...Well, yes, with me being put on reserves in the Mistalore Defense Kingdom, my grandparents figured they could take advantage and travel overseas. But that''s all irrelevant to our discussion, Cass! What did you just do!? And how did you become so powerful!?"

    Opal furiously nodded her head in agreement, though came out looking like an adorable chipmunk.

    "I just did a little slice and that was the end," replied Cassius, shaking his head over the insistence of this girl. "Also, it''s quite amusing to see you get so flustered over something. You should express yourself more often; it makes you more attractive."

    *Poof!*

    "Y-You¡­" Yuna''s voice turned as soft as a whisper, her head lowered in embarrassment. "Who cares about what you think¡­ dummy¡­"

    Opal looked between her big sister and the receding Cassius, a bit of a pout forming as she felt like she was being excluded from something.

    It was at times when no faces could be seen that she really wished she could hear!

    Gah!

    "Hmm?" Suddenly thinking of something, Cassius briefly turned to look at Opal in her cat yokai form. ''How odd¡­ Even though I should be capable of diagnosing and treating almost every mortal disease in the world, for some reason, I can''t figure out what the source of her deafness is.''

    He wondered if a Tear of Yggdrasil might be able to help her, but weirdly enough, he knew that it wouldn''t.

    ''What is this abnormal feeling I get when I look at her? It''s like she''s a tree that has roots which endlessly spread out in every direction, covering all of reality¡­''

    It was the strangest feeling!

    ''I''ll have to look into it later. Maybe I''ll discover something that''ll assist me in improving my strength to the next level.''

    Cassius was still far from reaching the state of being that the Yggdrasil Ancestors had reached. But if he wanted to one day achieve the impossible, he had to dig out every opportunity that came his way.

    "You lasses are coming, are you not?" asked Cassius, his face illuminated beneath the blazing sun above. "We have some royals to meet, no?"

    Yuna and Opal immediately snapped out of it. In mere moments, they were already right behind Cassius, happily accompanying him for the long journey that awaited them on their return trip home.

    ¡­.

    Elsewhere.

    From atop a long-legged monster slowly traveling through a deep sea of fog that flowed eternally in all directions, Soul Emperor Salar suddenly opened his eyes. Extreme surprise dilated his pupils as he made unusual signs with his hands, seemingly calculating the Supreme Laws of Karma and Causality.

    "How is this possible!?"

    Nothing came up!

    The Soul Eater Killer''s actions could no longer be divined!

    "Not that long ago, he wasn''t even equal to an Elder Soul Eater! How could he have improved so much!? To the point that the Elder and Lord Soul Eaters that were instructed to stay out of the first siege were completely annihilated!"

    Soul Emperor Salar had been roaming the endless expanse of sinisterness that was the Netherworld for millions of years. And yet even in all that time, nothing this unexplainable had occurred before now¡­

    However, what would normally have one dreading the moment such a heavenly talent turned their blade in their direction had Soul Emperor instead celebrating!

    "This speeds things up a whole bunch!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs while jumping up and down, causing the insurmountably large long-legged monster to struggle keeping its balance. "From here on out, I can just send wave after wave of Lord and even King Soul Eaters! Then before long, that Anomaly will be so stuffed that he''ll slay me in a single blow! No pain, no nothing! Just sweet, sweet release from this perpetual suffering!! At long last, my dream is about to be realized!"

    Without waiting for anything, Soul Emperor Salar made the call.

    Within a few minutes, extraordinarily powerful Soul Eaters from all over his enormous territory flew toward the Divine Embassy of Salar. Their fighting spirits were at the grandest of heights, with their mouths salivating upon imagining all of the human souls they''d devour after dealing with the Special-class target their Liege ordered them to eliminate.

    However, from this big influx of Soul Eater traffic in the Salar Empire, word was impossible to prevent from spreading around. The neighboring Empires quickly learned of these unusual movements, and the information ascended the hierarchical ladders extremely fast.

    Eventually, other Soul Emperors found out about the abnormalities in the Salar Empire.

    A secret meeting was soon convened between the lot of them.

    The meeting was held from above the shell of an Ancient Turtle that had been traversing the sea of Nether Fog for millions of years, possessing both a size and strength that made no logical sense.

    "What the hell is Salar up to??" Soul Emperor Megora asked, wearing a scowl that seemed permanently plastered on her face. "That lazy bastard never does anything but mope around, sputtering nonsense about ending it all. Why would he suddenly have a change of heart and start mobilizing so many of his forces!?"

    "Perhaps he''s thinking about inciting another Soul War."

    A pale-skinned figure with a ghostly appearance gave an opinion that sent waves of shock coursing through the dozen-plus Soul Emperors gathered.

    "Shut your useless mouth, Netherveil!" Soul Emperor Megora cursed. "Never in a billion years would Salar think of beginning another Soul War! It was him who became most bored during the first one, for shit''s sake!"

    "Alright, no need to be so feisty. It was just a passing thought."

    "Keep your shitty thoughts to yourself from now on!"

    In her annoyance, Soul Emperor Megora shot a beam of black light out of her left pointer finger. Everything within a radius of billions of miles was obliterated in an instant, causing the dense sea of endless fog to temporarily subside.

    ''She''s as short-tempered as always¡­''

    All of the Soul Emperors'' thoughts aligned with that statement, but none were courageous enough to say it out loud.

    "Wait, guys¡­"

    A big spiked giant who went by the title Soul Emperor Soul Eraser attracted everyone''s attention with his deep, gnarly voice.

    "What is it that Salar has been seeking since the start of the First Soul War?" he asked in a serious tone, puzzling many.

    "Hmm?"

 Chapter 415 - 415: Meeting Yuna and Opals Grandparents

    "What are you on about!?" Soul Emperor Megora questioned. "Just go ahead and spit out what''s spinning around inside that large forehead of yours! Stop beating around the bush!"

    "...Very well¡­" Soul Emperor Eraser said with a twitching expression, wondering what had gotten under her skin. "Okay¡­ So Salar wants to die, yes? We all do, but his obsession with suicide is far greater than ours.

    And we all know that he''s a very lazy and indifferent person who struggles even to find a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Nothing gets him going. Nothing makes him feel the need to do anything excessive, not even miraculous opportunities for advancement.

    But that perspective of him came crashing down today when we learned that he''s actively mobilizing huge numbers of his troops. This doesn''t make any sense¡­ That is unless¡­

    So what I''m trying to say is¡­ What if Salar has found IT?"

    "What do you mean by IT?" Soul Emperor Abysoul inquired with narrowed eyes. "Are you implying that¡­"

    "Yes," Soul Emperor Eraser said in a dramatic tone, his spiky face covered in shadows. "What if Salar has discovered a way to permanently disappear!?"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    "Impossible!"

    Soul Emperor Megora was the first to raise her objection, finding the notion of true, permanent death for a Soul Eater beyond ridiculous¡ªdelusional, even!

    "You''re definitely getting ahead of yourself, Eraser," said Soul Emperor Abysoul. "There''s no way Salar found a solution to a Soul Eater''s immortality. We would''ve known by now if that were the case."

    "...Yeah, you''re probably right," Eraser sighed. "But what if¡­? What if I''m the one who''s right?"

    Silence¡­

    "Let''s investigate this matter further," said Soul Emperor Abysoul. "Has anyone been able to get into contact with Salar?"

    None of the Soul Emperors responded, giving Abysoul his answer.

    "Haiz¡­ It would seem that whatever is going on with him, he wants to keep it a secret¡­"

    "Why don''t we just head over there together and personally ask him what''s going on?" Soul Emperor Byger asked. "He might be able to ignore one of us, but he can''t ignore all of us."

    The other Soul Emperors agreed with this proposal, and within seconds, they were already rapidly skimming over the endless sea of fog. Their destination was the Salar Empire, and it would take them roughly two hours to reach.

    Meanwhile, from atop the monstrous long-legged creature in the Salar Empire, Emperor Salar suddenly turned his head in the direction of the approaching Soul Emperors.

    "They''re relentless, huh?" His brows furrowed as he drew dazzling sigils in the air in front of him. "But it matters not. I''ll get what I want, and I won''t have them getting in the way."

    Not all Soul Emperors wanted to die as badly as Soul Emperor Salar. It was certainly a possibility that some of them would attempt to kill the Soul Eater Killer before he could fully develop¡ªif only to ensure their own survival.

    "For now, I''ll need to entertain them," said Salar, as he motioned for the long-legged monstrosity to pause in its tracks. "While I handle this, my troops will tirelessly work on mass leveling my key to true freedom. No matter what tries to stop me, I''ll guarantee that you, Cassius Steele, become strong enough to end my life once and for all!"

    A death that wasn''t an eternal reincarnation cycle in the Soul Sea¡ªwho could ask for anything better!?

    ¡ª Back in the Land of Beginnings, in a carriage that had just arrived outside a very large castle located on the outskirts of the Mistalore Kingdom¡­ ¡ª

    "Cass, you really don''t have to do this¡­" Yuna said in a low voice. "Even if you don''t come, me and Opal will be able to manage. It''s not like our grandparents are big, bad devils or anything. Well¡­ not really¡­"

    Cassius was staring out the carriage window, observing the picturesque landscape outside¡ªa vast contrast to the gloomy skies and eerie howling of the Nightmarescape. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You don''t need to worry about me," he said without turning his head. "I''m waiting for something anyway, so I have the spare time."

    "Waiting for something¡­?" Yuna parroted. "What are you waiting for?"

    "Oh, nothing much," Cassius smirked. "Just expecting more guests is all. After all, kill the young one, come the big one. Kill the big one, come the old one. Kill the old one, come the bigger and older one."

    "???" "???"

    Even Opal, who read his lips, was confused. It started to make her doubt whether she could still read lips anymore.

    *Clap, Clap, Clap¡­*

    The carriage came to an abrupt halt outside the entrance to the giant castle.

    Yuna froze for the briefest of moments, but seeing as how her younger sister had it worse, she forced herself to snap out of it. And with the grabbing of her hands, she took her out of the carriage.

    Somehow, Cassius had moved from the carriage to behind Yuna without making a sound.

    "Would you like me to take the lead¡ª" he tried to ask, but was interrupted by Yuna, saying:

    "No, we need to do this ourselves."

    Cassius smiled, bringing the subject up no more.

    FWIP!

    "Young Misses, the Mistress and Lord have been expecting you," said a butler-dressed man who appeared in front of the castle''s gate. "If you''d please follow me, I''ll be guiding you to them."

    ''Quite the fast one,'' Cassius thought calmly as he guessed his strength to be around the Half-step Godlike Rank, or Mid 1st Class Slayer Rank. ''For a servant to possess this much power¡­ the Ashikaga Shogunate is definitely not as simple as it seems.''

    Just a mere butler already had strength exceeding that of the King of the Mistalore Kingdom. It was no real surprise that he wasn''t capable of putting up much of a fight when his wife was taken away by them.

    "And this is¡­?"

    The butler dangerously eyed Cassius, his countenance nowhere near as cordial as it was when speaking to the two princesses.

    "He''s a friend, Butler Zing," Yuna said with a fierce gaze, her nervousness all but gone. "Don''t make things hard for him."

    Silence¡­

    "Very well, Young Miss," replied Butler Zing as his barely opened eyes returned to full squint. "Let''s get a move on now. Best not to keep the Lord and Mistress waiting."

    Opal breathed a sigh of relief at this response.

    Even though she knew Butler Zing was unlikely to possess the qualifications to harm Cassius, there was always a chance. Thus, it was best when things were peacefully resolved like this.

    ''Smart decision.''

    Cassius was close to seckilling Butler Zing, but luckily for him, he decided to back down.

    Cassius nonetheless followed behind Yuna and Opal as they all entered through the castle gates. Before long, they were walking through a wide garden filled with flowers and plants.

    At the far end of the garden was an eloquently decorated gazebo. Sitting inside that gazebo with indomitable postures were the Shogun and his wife, both of whom emitted pressure nearing the later stages of the Godlike Rank.

    "You''ve finally arrived, granddaughters¡ªand you''ve brought a guest."

    A feminine voice laced with venom carried through the fields of flowers. It belonged to the woman known as Precilla, the Midaidokoro of the Ashikaga Shogunate. Her narrowed eyes attempted to pierce through Cassius''s aloof veil, yet failed, which annoyed her.

    "Grandmother, this is Cassius," Yuna introduced with an emotionless tone. "He''s a very talented youth, with potential far exceeding my own."

    "Humph, I''d have to believe it to see it," Precilla coldly snorted. "He doesn''t look like much."

    Besides his exceptionally attractive appearance, there wasn''t even the slightest sign of Nightmare Energy fluctuations. No different from a mere mortal.

    Opal frantically looked between her grandmother and Big Brother Cassius, not liking the fierce tension growing between them.

    "Alright, alright, that''s enough of that." Shogun Madai raised his large right hand, urging his wife to settle down. "We didn''t come here to start any trouble. I just wanted to see how my favorite granddaughters were doing. But seeing you now, I realize that I was worrying for no reason, haha."

    "Grandfather¡­"

    Yuna and Opal rushed over to his side, accepting his open-armed hugs.

    "So who''s going to tell me all that happened over the last couple years?" Shogun Madai spoke adoringly while ruffling their hair. "You two look like you have some stories to tell."

    At his request, both Yuna and Opal blushed, with the image of the same figure filtering through their minds.

    "Hmm?"

    Shogun Madai revealed a confused expression. However, after looking at who his granddaughters were occasionally glancing at, he pretty much pieced the clues together.

    His face twitched a little as he stared at Cassius.

    "???"

    Cassius was lost.

    Now both of the grandparents were viewing him with concealed contempt. And he wasn''t even sure why¡­

    Realizing what was happening, Yuna decided to change the subject by answering the question her Grandpa asked:

    "I''ll keep things brief. So¡­"

    ¡ª Some time later, after Yuna finished the recap¡­ ¡ª

    "So that''s how it is." Shogun Madai''s expression softened as he earnestly looked at Cassius. "I apologize for my previous rudeness, young man. For saving my granddaughter, I really have no way to properly repay you. But feel free to tell me if there''s anything you want."

    Cassius shook his head. "I didn''t do it for a reward, and neither am I a noble savior. I just happened to come across Opal while she was in a predicament."

    Shogun Madai''s opinion of him increased tenfold.

    A man like this would be the perfect fit for his granddaughters!

    If only he was stronger¡­

 Chapter 416 - 416: Another Invasion!

    Even Shogun Madai couldn''t tell precisely how strong Cassius was, but he didn''t give off the air of an expert.

    "Well, no matter," he said as he changed the subject. "Now that we''ve seen and spoken to you both, we''ll be taking our leave."

    "So soon??" both Yuna and Opal said in unison, a bit disappointed that he was leaving so shortly after arriving.

    Midaidokoro was vexed by their lack of reluctance when it came to her departure. But given her negative personality, it didn''t surprise her that much.

    But she still didn''t like it!

    "Unfortunately, the Netherworld is showing unusual signs of activity," Shogun Madai exhaled in a tired manner. "They even sent out an entire army to this Kingdom! Luckily, an unknown expert was here to negate the disaster, though we still can''t figure out who he is or what his purpose for hiding is."

    ''Hiding? Who says I''m hiding?? I simply see no use in revealing anything when there''s no need to. After all, with my highly improved Magic Sense, I can tell with absolute certainty that there''s at least one Transcendent Class Slayer in this congregation of the Island Nation.'' Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If he and this Transcendent Class Slayer were to, for some reason, clash, the Mistalore Kingdom was sure to suffer¡ªsomething that Cassius wished to avoid if at all possible.

    Furthermore, even though he couldn''t say for certain just yet, there were small signs that the Azure Archipelago was not the limit of this boundless Land of Beginnings¡­

    Yuna and Opal simultaneously stared at Cassius when their grandparents mentioned the mysterious expert behind the disappearance of the Soul Eater Army.

    "We need to go, husband. If the Netherworld made a big move like that, then they''re sure to do it again; we don''t have time to waste."

    With the goading of the Shogun''s wife, he was forced to hurry along with his speech.

    "Young man, you take care of them, okay? Yuna and Opal are still new to the cruelties of this world, and¡ª Ah, ah, okay, okay, I''m coming!" Shogun Madai was pulled into the background, but not before getting out a few last words. "I''m entrusting their safety to you, young man. But maybe try doing a few push-ups or something to become stronger¡ª Alright, alright, bye Little Yuna and Opal; do be careful! Oh, also, you can come and visit your mother another time! Just contact Butler Zing, who''ll be staying at this residence!"

    With that, Midaidokoro Precilla finished dragging her husband away and into the air. But before she fully disappeared, she muttered just loud enough for her granddaughters to hear, "I love you both. Just be cautious around that ''friend'' of yours; something is seriously off about him. Goodbye for now."

    Yuna and Opal happily waved them off, giggling a little all the while.

    "Your grandparents are quite the¡­ unique couple¡­"

    "Yeah, they are," replied Yuna, her eyes creased up brilliantly. "But they aren''t bad people per se. Grandma can just be a little scary sometimes. Oh, and the matter with our mother is more the fault of our father. You see, he wasn''t supposed to take more wives and concubines after marrying Mother, but¡­"

    "Oh¡­ Yeah, then things make a lot more sense," said Cassius, already badmouthing King Mistalore inside his head.

    "Hmm?"

    Cassius suddenly looked to the skies, sensing something similar to earlier.

    "Don''t freak out, but I''m just going to send you two a safe distance away," he stated and did as he said before they had the chance to decline. "This one feels a lot more dangerous than the previous one."

    "Wha¡ª"

    Before they knew it, Yuna and Opal had been teleported to the other side of the Kingdom.

    That was when they saw it¡ª

    Several humongous tears in the skies.

    All of which oozed out astronomical levels of Netherworld Miasma.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Powerhouses from all over the Azure Archipelago felt it.

    Even the three Transcendent Class Ancestors buried in their seclusions in order to prolong their lives were distressed.

    "This sort of power¡­"

    "It exceeds our own!"

    "The Azure Archipelago is doomed! What should we do!? Leave for overseas!??"

    "For now, let''s wait and see¡­ If things get out of hand, then we''ll leave. However, it may not come to that."

    But who was he kidding?

    With the aura waves rolling out from the tears in the sky, complete and total annihilation was almost certain¡­

    It was around this point that a booming, sinister shout reverberated throughout all of the Azure Archipelago, causing tsunamis to rise and fall:

    "Where are you cowering, puny human!? We know you''re here somewhere, and we''ve come to extract your soul on behalf of Soul Emperor Salar!"

    Soul Emperor!?

    An actual Soul Emperor personally set their sights on the small Azure Archipelago!?

    For what reason!??

    "We''re going to have to abandon the Forgotten Shores¡­" One of the hiding Transcendent Class Slayers quickly got past the wave of dread washing over the three of them. "If a Soul Emperor really has plans for this place, then staying here is akin to a death wish. Even the Soul Kings floating up there are stronger than we are, let alone a mythical Emperor existence only described in storybooks."

    Meanwhile, within the Mistalore Kingdom, Cassius was currently staring up at the sky dotted with overwhelmingly powerful presences.

    "It would seem that what the Netherworld sent last time was but a mere taste of what they''re actually capable of," he mused to himself. "No Expert from the Azure Archipelago is willing to be the first to go up there and confront them either."

    From a third person''s perspective, this was most certainly a hopeless situation.

    "I guess I should go to them and have a talk about life."

    But not Cassius¡­

    With his Origin Progenitor Bloodline flaring, he flickered out of reality.

    FWIP!

    Reappearing directly opposite the massive army of Soul Eaters, Cassius smirked.

    "Do you bunch want to have a conversation, or should we get straight to the main course instead?" he asked while slightly tilting his head. "You''re the guests, so you can choose."

    The Soul King that spoke up earlier revealed a sinister grin at the sudden and quiet appearance of this human with an unfathomable aura.

 Chapter 417 - 417: The Unseen War

    "So you''re the fleshbag that we''re meant to kill, huh?" The aggressive Soul King mocked, already knowing the answer. "Very well. You appear to be adequately capable, so why don''t we have a one-on-one duel to decide the better¡ª"

    SPLAT!

    "!?!?" "!?!?" "!?!?"

    "Anything else?" asked Cassius, his eyes glowing a deathly blue. "If not, then we can skip the foreplay."

    "YOU!!!"

    The other Soul Kings and Soul Eaters erupted in rage over the pure disrespect of this human!

    To kill one of their own right in front of them¡ªdid he believe himself to be invincible!?

    What an utterly arrogant and foolish human!

    But this was around when they noticed something unusual, for Soul King Mezyr''s Soul Source didn''t make any movements in an attempt to travel to the Soul Sea. In fact¡ª

    It was never there to begin with.

    "T-This¡­ What the hell does this mean!??"

    *Fwooop!* sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It means that you guys are quite tasty," Cassius said coldly, with his hand clasped onto a Soul King''s face. "Now do be good meals and kindly disappear."

    "Wha¡ª"

    SPLAT!

    Just like the first one, this Soul King was turned into a bloody firework. And same as before, the other Soul Eaters were shocked to realize that his Soul Source had vanished.

    "Y-You crazy bastard!!!" a more powerful Soul King shouted, the pressure he emitted far greater than the previous Soul Kings. "Everyone, group up! Let''s attack this crazy fucker together!!"

    HAAAA!

    Cassius''s smirk widened in response to the rallying of the Soul Eaters.

    "It''s better this way. Faster and more efficient."

    His Godforce Value was already on the rise, and he couldn''t wait to see how much more it would skyrocket.

    For the next unknown period of time, Cassius battled the Soul Eater Army. And yet, even after days of non-stop fighting and an eventual victory, more waves of Soul Eaters were sent in.

    The first wave was composed of the weakest of Soul Kings, with only a few tens of thousands of Soul Eaters. The next wave, however, had Mid-Rank Soul Kings as well as hundreds of thousands more Soul Eaters in and below the Soul Lord Rank.

    The fighting continued. Thundering explosions reverberated throughout the boundless skies over the Forgotten Shores, scaring Mortals and Nightmare Slayers alike.

    Not even the hidden Transcendent Class Slayers had ever witnessed anything at this level before.

    It was absolute craziness¡­

    "Do we still have no idea who the fuck is up there battling the endless waves of Soul Eaters!? Is it a secret force, a single person, what is it!??"

    The widely recognized ''Strongest Slayer'' in the Azure Archipelago slammed his fists against a table, causing it and the floating landmass they were on to crack.

    "S-Sir Kingslayer, please ease your anger," said a 1st Class Slayer with a long neck beard. "Although we aren''t keen on the identity of this mysterious person, we are positive that it''s only a single being fending off countless Soul Eaters. His strength is unimaginable, and it''s highly likely that he came from THAT place."

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Those who were convened here were at least in the 6th Stage of the 1st Class Slayer Realm. They were the very best of the best that the Azure Archipelago had to offer, and as such, they were privy to certain pieces of information that would never be disclosed to the common populace.

    The existence of a massive landmass known to them only as the ''Motherland'' was one of such pieces of information.

    BOOOM! BOOOM!!

    "The explosions are getting worse." A man with a wizened appearance made some calculations, predicting that if this neverending war of attrition didn''t conclude within the next few years, they were doomed. "It has already been over 5 years since the ''Unseen War'' began, and yet we''re still so in the dark on what''s actually happening¡­"

    The battle between Cassius and the Soul Eaters was dubbed the Unseen War because not a single one of them even knew what they were looking at when trying to follow the string of thunderous explosions. They were unpredictable, ridiculously fast, and beyond the scope of human understanding.

    "Even though the Motherland has never contacted us before, if they''ve really sent a Paragon Expert here to thwart the invasion of the Soul Eaters, then we should be fine," the Kingslayer began with a mildly relieved tone. "However, if this unknown powerhouse turns out to be an unrelated force that just so happened to get himself embroiled with the Soul Eaters, we could very well end up in an even bigger strut than we were in to begin with."

    The meeting place of the most powerful Nightmare Slayers in the Common World went deafeningly silent.

    For now, they could only hope and pray that whatever was fighting the Soul Eaters was on their side¡­

    ¡ª At a location an untold number of miles away, within a massive bowl-shaped basin made up of thousands of Levels and billions of workers and citizens ¡ª

    "Hmm?" An old man with snow-white hair and eyes turned his archaic gaze in a certain direction, confusion forming. "What are the Netherworld''s Forces doing in those forgotten lands? Were they not hell-bent on breaking through our Northern Frontier just a few years ago?? What are they up to now???"

    Expanding his unbelievably wide Slayer Sense, the snow-white-haired old man zoomed far out. A giant blueish-gold barrier entered his sights at the most maximum zoomed-out distance.

    This was the Motherland. An absolutely humongous landmass protected by a barrier that had been there since before anyone alive could remember.

    The Motherland itself was larger than the Common Universe, spanning a distance of trillions of lightyears. Furthermore, it filled up almost everything in sight, nearly touching upon both intangible ends of the Land of Beginnings.

    Off to the right-side edge of the Motherland, where the old white-haired man was located¡ªthere existed the tiny dot-like Azure Archipelago. It was almost too small to find, but this white-haired old man was no normal Transcendent Class Slayer; locating it barely posed a challenge.

 Chapter 418 - 418: Arthur Pendragon

    Zooming in on this congregation of islands, the old man observed an ongoing battle in the clouds high above the Island Nations. Each exchange in this battle could instantly wipe out all life in the Forgotten Shores, and at the speed they were fighting, millions of world-ending blows were unleashed every second.

    What the denizens of the Azure Archipelago saw when they looked up was but the mere residual projections produced by the lingering chaotic energies. It in no way emulated the true immensity of the war between a single man and a seemingly unlimited number of Soul Eaters.

    "How perplexing." The old white-haired man stroked his five-foot-long beard, honing in on the aloof man deflecting and counterattacking against millions of attackers all at once. "How come I wasn''t aware of a talent like this one before now? The World would''ve told me if someone like this existed¡­

    From the looks of it, he isn''t even a 1st Class Slayer, but his power is coming from somewhere.

    There''s also this weird feeling I get when I look at him; it reminds me of a powerful Soul Eater.

    How odd¡­" S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The more the white-haired old man observed this unknown human, the more confused he became. Everything about the human made no sense, with his anchor to this world non-existent, his Bloodline a jumble of incomprehensible elements, and his primary power source a total mystery.

    In all the years he had been alive, the old man had never seen anything even remotely close to what he was looking at right now¡­

    Catching him even more by surprise was when, sometime during the mysterious man''s battle, he looked directly at him. And it wasn''t a brief glance either; the mysterious man definitely knew he was there.

    "...I want to meet this man myself," said the white-haired man, but ended up letting out a sigh instead of getting up. "Unfortunately, to obtain the supreme, near-omnipotent power that I did, I had to give up my will to act on worldly matters. Immortal but restricted¡ªthat is the life I chose. Unless the battle reaches a certain irreversible point, I can neither move nor interfere¡­"

    The Land of Beginnings and the Nightmarescape were parallel worlds, with the latter being the grim look into the future that everyone in the former got whenever they peered into it. In a way, the two worlds were one and the same, and seen as such by the powerhouses from both sides.

    However, the Nightmare Kings and Nightmare Emperors did not fear the experts of the Land of Beginnings.

    They feared but one man¡­

    The one capable of striking fear in the hearts of even the most terrifying of monsters lurking in the night.

    The man who, even after achieving unrivaled power, strove for something more. The man who gave up everything in pursuit of that something.

    Arthur Pendragon!

    The Absolute Ruler of the Land of Beginnings and Guardian of the World of the Living!!

    "The Soul Emperors rarely make any moves themselves, for they suffer from eternal boredom just the same as I," said Arthur. "It''s extremely unusual for them to be targeting a singular human unless there''s a really good reason behind it. As for what this reason could be¡ª"

    That was when he noticed something weird.

    The moment the mysterious young human killed one of the Soul Eaters, the Soul Source that should''ve returned to the Sea of Souls in the Netherworld did something else instead.

    "The Soul Sources are merging with his existence¡­!?" Arthur Pendragon''s brows raised in astonishment as yet another unexplainable thing occurred today. "How can a human body possibly contain Soul Sources, and for what reason is this young man even absorbing them for anyway??"

    Answering his question for him, every time Cassius killed a Soul Eater and absorbed its Soul Source in the form of EXP, his apparent Godforce Value would increase. Moreover, that feeling that he was a Soul Eater himself would become greater.

    There wasn''t much in this reality that could leave the Almighty Arthur Pendragon dumbfounded, as he knew more than anyone, but that was only if you weren''t Cassius Steele¡­

    "To think¡­ To think someone like this person actually exists¡­ Remarkable. Truly remarkable."

    For the next few years, Arthur couldn''t seem to take his eyes away from Cassius. He watched his every move, his every battle against progressively stronger Soul Kings.

    However, sometime during this period, Arthur noticed a number of the Motherland''s powerhouses finally picking up on the war that now affected the main landmass in the world. Almost immediately, they set out for the Forgotten Shores, planning to directly confront the mysterious human leaving a trail of destruction wherever he went.

    But before they could do something so foolish and indirectly ruin Arthur''s entertainment, he projected his face in front of them. And with a booming, fear-inducing voice, warned them not to interfere with the ongoing war between the unknown man and an unlimited number of Soul Eaters.

    The Peak Transcendent Class Slayers were still worried that the battles would begin seriously ruining their territories. However, even though none of them had ever seen him in their comparatively shorter lives, not a single one of them was unaware of the illustrious Arthur Pendragon''s status.

    They naturally heeded his command, returning to whichever major world faction they crawled out of.

    "Now that that''s out of the way, let''s see what that young man does next."

    Over the course of dozens of years, many things were no longer the same. For one, the explosions that could still be slightly glimpsed in the distance had become no more than a backdrop for the people of the Azure Archipelago.

    The once extremely perilous situation had become but a mere afterimage in the minds of many. Even the 1st Class Slayers ruling over the Azure Archipelago no longer concerned themselves with the Unseen War.

    Only the few who were close to Cassius, like Yuna and Opal, kept the distant explosive images close to their hearts. Waking up to see them every day was the only proof that he was still alive, and for them, that would have to do.

    "One day, he''ll return."

    A much more mature and beautiful Yuna said to her sister.

    "We just have to keep waiting..."

 Chapter 419 - 419: We Just Have To Keep Waiting, Centuries Later...

    "He''ll return," said Yuna. "We just need to keep waiting."

    Opal, who still retained most of her adorable nature, nodded.

    ''I know, big sister¡­'' she replied through direct voice transmission. ''The promise he made to Grandma and Grandpa, stating that he''ll make sure we''re safe. I know he''s just trying to keep it whatever way he knows how.''

    The both of them stared out at the distant explosions for a while before continuing to go about their days as per usual.

    Sometimes, that involved venturing to the Nightmarescape and defending the frontlines of the Mistalore Defense Nation. Or, other times, they would be settling matters of the Royal Family as two of the most capable princesses in the Court.

    On some rare occasions, they''d even visit their mother in the Ashikaga Shogunate. There, they''d gossip about King Mistalore, talking about how much of a perverted scumbag he was.

    King Mistalore was well aware of these discussions, but what was he to do? It was mostly his fault they were even happening to begin with¡­

    Even with the constance of the Unseen War, people never stopped living their lives. And the cogs of time ceaselessly turned.

    ¡ª Centuries later ¡ª

    After such a long period of time, Cassius''s reserves of Nightscare Shards that he had accumulated through many System Missions were finally starting to dwindle.

    But fortunately for him¡ªand the people of the Motherland, who had also grown accustomed to the ever-reaching Unseen War¡ªthe final players made their grand appearances. They numbered over ten, with the one at the forefront of the group wearing a strangely fatherly expression while staring at the roguish, Immortal-like Cassius.

    "Oh, how quickly they grow up¡­ Being a single parent was difficult, but it''s all worth it now that I''ve seen what he has become¡­" Soul Emperor Salar became sentimental, confusing Cassius even more.

    "Hey, we helped as well!" the other Soul Emperors chimed in. "He nearly drained us dry of every Soul Eater we have in our armies!"

    "There are still more of you?" asked Cassius, his voice devoid of emotion. "Well, no matter. You all seem a lot stronger than the rest of the weaklings, thus I''ll give you a choice. Either fight me one on one, or come at me altogether. Whichever you choose is what we''ll do."

    "This man is quite cocky," said Soul Emperor Megora, clicking her tongue. "Unfortunately, he has the right to be. Even I can''t fully see through his strength."

    "We fed him trillions of Soul Eaters after all," Soul Emperor Nightveil added. "That''s even more than we''ve devoured. His true power level is certainly very, very high; we might not have even witnessed a hundredth of what he''s capable of thus far."

    "Haha! That''s for the best!" Soul Emperor Salar laughed heartily. "The stronger he is, the better it is for me! My dream is right in front of me; I just have to claim it for myself!"

    "So, Cassius Steele, Great Anomaly of the Three Realms¡ªkill me!!"

    "???"

    Cassius showed an extremely puzzled expression. Question marks seemed to dance around him.

    "You want me to kill you?" he asked. "Why?"

    "Why else!? Because I''ve lived for so long, been bored for so long! There''s nothing that makes me want to continue on living, so please, Cassius, kill me¡­! I''ve made all the preparations, given you everything you needed to advance¡ªnow I just need you to finish the job!!"

    "Gave me everything I needed to advance?" Cassius''s brows drew together. "So you''re the main one behind the scenes. The one who has been sending all these Soul Eaters to their doom."

    "Yes, that''s me," replied Soul Emperor Salar, still jovial. "But later on, this lot joined in with their own forces. This made it possible to keep you killing for so long. Long enough to be able to permanently kill us!"

    "Not me," Soul Emperor Garthor interjected.

    "Me neither," said Soul Emperor Megora. "Don''t lump me in with the rest of you suicidal idiots. I''m still young and beautiful, with many bright years ahead of me."

    The other Soul Emperors blankly stared at the shameless one.

    "Anyways, you can kill everyone except for those two," Soul Emperor Salar laughed. "Oh, and since we don''t want to die lamely, would you honor us with one final battle before we pass on? Call it a dying man''s last meal."

    Cassius was still conflicted about this whole ordeal, but upon further reflection, he figured he wasn''t losing out on anything here. Either way, they were going to have to fight.

    "Are you fine with an audience, young Cassius? Because you have quite the large one gathered around us," said Soul Emperor Salar as he pointed out countless 1st Class and Transcendent Class Slayers spectating. "I can get rid of them if you''d like¡ª"

    "No, they''re of no consequence," Cassius interrupted. "Leave them be."

    "Very well."

    Soul Emperor Salar retracted his hand, restraining the dazzling green flame that nearly burst out and incinerated the powerhouses of the Motherland.

    "Let the fight begin then!"

    With Salar''s announcement, strings of light quickly drew across the skies. This was them already going at it, crossing blades and casting spells at one another.

    Even though the Motherland was extraordinarily massive, it still violently shook as a result of paragons like Cassius and the Soul Emperors duking it out.

    "That young man has finally met with the Soul Emperors," said Arthur Pendragon from the other side of the Motherland. "And to think that this was a scheme to strengthen him to the point that they could kill them. A waste of powerhouses. But a relatable intent nonetheless."

    He himself thought about ending it all sometimes, but for the sake of protecting the peace between the Three Worlds, he couldn''t pass on just yet. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The chained-up fellows are acting very unusual as of late," Arthur sighed. "I fear that they are planning something huge, giving me even more reason to continue doing what I''ve always been doing."

    The fight between Cassius and the Soul Emperors took the entire Motherland by storm, eliciting the awe and reverence of many.

    And for months and years, their battle seemed to be never-ending, with their energy reserves virtually inexhaustible¡­

 Chapter 420 - 420: Transcendent Class Slayer, The One Everyone Fears...

    Sometime during Cassius and the Soul Emperors'' fighting period, a crack suddenly formed in the skies above the Motherland. Yet it wasn''t the Soul Eaters that were invading¡­

    "I, Nightmare King Drakon, have descended! And with my power, I shall make the puny humans of this world bend to my will¡ª"

    SHA!

    SPLAT!

    A stray energy arc from the battle between Cassius and the Soul Emperors instantly killed the Nightmare King. And as it so happened, this energy arc was produced by Cassius, meaning that all obtained Nightmare Essence was his.

    The system notifications rang out continuously, informing him of all the power-ups he just accidentally received¡­

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain a Low-rank Nightmare King that possessed cultivation exceeding the 9th Nightmare Rank!]

    [Your Nightmare Essence Gauge has skyrocketed!]

    [Nightmare Slayer Cultivation (7th Stage 2nd Class) ¡ú (Low-Rank Transcendent Class)]

    [Your ''Nightmare Core'' begins to take shape as a result of your breakthrough into the 1st Class Slayer Rank!]

    [Your formed Nightmare Cores take on the qualities of Death, Destruction, and Origin. As long as these aspects are present in the world around you, even death will not be enough to fully kill you.]

    [As a result of your breakthrough into the Transcendent Class, your ''Nightmare Source'' begins to materialize. With it, even if you perish in the Land of Beginnings, revival is possible in the Nightmarescape.]

    [All of your Nightmare-related aspects received a major upgrade!]

    [''Mora''¡ªyour Slayer Weapon¡ªhas begun to evolve!]

    OOOM!

    [''Mora'' has become fully sentient, following the lead of ''Lilith,'' your Primary Growth Weapon!]

    Cassius felt the powers of Mora tremendously increase. Just a single one of her slashes was now dozens of times stronger than before.

    "This should make things more fun," he mused while wildly swinging Lilith and Mora around, effortlessly pushing back all of the Soul Emperors. "But you lot are still holding back."

    "He wants us to go all out??" Soul Emperor Nightveil couldn''t believe his ears. "Is he insane!? Even the strongest of the Nightmare Emperors cannot restrain us if we do that!" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Because they lost all sense of reason whenever they unleashed the full extent of their Soul Source Power, they planned to die without going that far. Let alone the impact it had on them¡ªdoing something so reckless could very well have them slaughtering the one they wanted to kill them.

    "You suicidal idiots can do whatever the hell you want!" Soul Emperor Megora cursed. "Just know that I won''t be taking the same self-destructive paths as you. I just wanted to have a good fight, not a battle to the death!"

    The other Soul Emperors were hesitant.

    But without hesitation, Soul Emperor Salar ignited his Soul Source!

    RUMBLE¡ª!

    His body rapidly expanded, with horns and spikes growing all over him. His skin tone turned darker, his teeth larger and whiter, and his aura a hundred times greater than what it was before.

    All of the Motherland experienced extreme dread over the release of a true Monster¡­!

    "This crazy bastard¡­"

    Soul Emperor Megora had never met anyone as eager to die as Soul Emperor Salar!

    It was mental!!

    "Since Salar has fully committed, I might as well do the same," said the Unnamed Soul Emperor as he followed suit with the ignition of his Soul Source. "This is farewell, old friends. Let there not be a next life."

    OOOM!

    They watched as the Unnamed Soul Emperor transformed in a similar way as Soul Emperor Salar. And seeing as how they already came this far, the other Soul Emperors did the same.

    Only one bowed out at the last second, joining Soul Emperor Megora and the other non-suicidal Soul Emperors in the bleachers.

    They, along with everyone in the Motherland, witnessed something completely out of this world that day. Pushing away the heavens and the earth with physical bodies overflowing with astronomical levels of power, the Mindless Soul Emperors shattered space and time without even trying.

    "ROOOARRGGHH!!!"

    They roared to the Cosmos, forcing trillions to cover their ears. Ripples of power rolled out in shockwaves, knocking countless off their feet.

    "Things have become very dangerous," said Arthur Pendragon as he constantly made signs with his hands. "I''ll give young Cassius a chance to overcome this huge hurdle, but the exact moment I determine him incapable of doing that, I''ll have to step in."

    Arthur Pendragon wanted him to win, but in the end, the prodigy was still young.

    Whereas the Soul Emperors were millions of years old, having accumulated enough power to each be capable of wiping out the Land of Beginnings¡­

    As one man withstood the combined powers of over a dozen full-powered Soul Emperors, numerous shadowy figures in another World noticed this disturbance.

    Within the Nightmarescape, in the Dark Evergreen Empire, a large, scary-looking figure turned his head in the direction of the Land of Beginnings. This figure was known as Nightmare Emperor Evergreen, and was one of the most powerful and ancient of the Nightmare Emperors.

    He had been around since before the Great Eclipse, coming from the same generation as the Terrors sealed within the Boundless Gorge. In fact, he was one of the main figures responsible for locking away those Terrors and plenty of others that reigned prior to the Great Eclipse.

    Nightmare Emperor Evergreen was also the one who ordered his subordinates to send out the ''Dogs'' that once brought the Mistalore Defense Nation and many others to their knees.

    "The Soul Emperors are making a move in the Land of Beginnings? Are they finally trying to take down that old fossil??" Nightmare Emperor Evergreen''s brows furrowed deeply. "No, that doesn''t seem like something they''d do¡­"

    The forces of the Netherworld knew just as well as the Nightmarescape of just how much power Arthur Pendragon wielded.

    If not for the Laws of Reality preventing him from doing so, it was very likely that Arthur could erase all 3 Major Worlds with a single swipe of his hand¡­

    "That is the Arthur Pendragon everyone fears," said Nightmare Emperor Evergreen, his thoughts stirring. "But what if he''s¡­ injured¡­?"

    The likelihood was extremely low. Very, very low.

    But there was no other reason that could be used to explain why so many Soul Emperors unleashed their full power in the Land of Beginnings.

 Chapter 421 - 421: The Invasion Of The Night

    In spite of Nightmare Emperor Evergreen''s doubts, it seemed like the Soul Emperors were fighting someone¡ªand other than Arthur Pendragon, who else could match them?

    The Land of Beginnings was single-handedly supported by that unfathomable entity. It was solely because of him that neither of the two other Dimensions dared reach their hands too far into that World.

    Whether it be for the souls of Humans and Beastkin or their flesh, Soul Eaters and Nightmares alike had to hold themselves back. It was only by doing this that they avoided incurring Arthur''s wrath.

    "But now¡­" Nightmare Emperor Evergreen smirked as he teleported up to the skies above his dark palace, located in the depths of a deceased worm Nightmare''s mouth. "If that fossil is injured or dying for some reason, then now is the best time to take advantage of the situation before he recovers. I should go and inform the others!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With that, he zipped into the distance, passing through countless layers of mist similar to the kind that remained uncharted by the Mistalore Defense Nation.

    On the grander scale of things¡ªand if one zoomed out enough¡ªthey''d see that the explored region of the Mistalore Defense Nation was but one of thousands. These were all created by various Island Nations in the Azure Archipelago, as well as an untold number of minor and major forces of the Mainland.

    However, except for three explored territories that belonged to the three Great Empires of the Motherland, the rest of the territories were very small. The Mistalore, more than most others, was so tiny that it couldn''t even be considered a blip on the map.

    There were even flying Nightmares swooping in and out of the misty ocean that were thousands of times bigger than the entire Mistalore Defense Nation¡­

    Those ''Terrors,'' as they were called¡ªthe ones sealed in the Boundless Gorge¡ªwere insignificant in the larger picture, as there were millions just like them, each also wanting to be released in order to find a way to escape the ''Eternal Dream.''

    It was actually because of this so-called ''Eternal Dream'' that they were locked up in the first place.

    In the Era predating the Great Eclipse, these Terrors were instead called the Supreme Scholars. They were among the first intelligent Nightmares to appear among the mostly savage, starving populace.

    However, over the course of hundreds of thousands and millions of years, the Supreme Scholars lost their way. They''d go to extreme, ridiculous lengths for the sake of ''breaking the illusion.''

    To escape the ''Eternal Dream,'' they were willing to sacrifice everything.

    But the Darkdoms, Dark Empires, and various other intelligent Nightmare Factions that had risen up in recent times didn''t agree with the ideology of the Supreme Scholars. Thus, they worked together to scheme against them, seal them off, and ultimately throw away the keys to their prisons.

    This was the history of the Nightmarescape¡ªone that still haunted the Supreme Scholars to this day.

    ¡ª In the Land of Beginnings, high above the Mainland ¡ª

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    The battle between Cassius and the Soul Emperors reached a point of no return. Explosions went off without an end in sight, the lights produced from their attacks visible from all around the world.

    "It''s time we end this," Cassius said coldly as he raised Lilith in one hand and Mora in the other, their projected energies blotting out the skies. "One move. Let''s settle this in a single move."

    They had already been fighting for years, and both sides knew that it would never end if they continued as they were. After all, everyone involved had insane amounts of stamina and regenerative capabilities.

    It was virtually impossible to harm, let alone kill, Cassius when he had his Origin Progenitor Bloodline as advanced as it was. And the same could be said for the Soul Emperors, who had one of the purest Bloodlines in all existence.

    As if understanding his intent, the mindless Soul Emperors erupted with a level of power that exceeded all preconceived notions. Tendrils of volatile energy stretched and challenged the heavens, causing all of the Mainland to violently tremble.

    "Hmm?"

    In the midst of watching this final showdown between two Pinnacle Forces, Arthur Pendragon noticed a disturbance in the Barrier between Dimensions. It was similar to the one that showed up a few dozen years ago, but this time on a much larger scale.

    "The Creatures of the Night actually dare to invade¡­?"

    Arthur was about to make a move that would truly shake the world but stopped when he thought of something.

    Young Cassius is a Nightmare Slayer, so killing THEM could prove very beneficial to him.

    Arthur could pretty much guess why the Monsters of the Nightmarescape decided to invade with such an overwhelmingly large army. However, prioritizing Cassius''s advancement was of more importance to him.

    Unknowingly, and without even asking for it, Cassius acquired two backers who wanted nothing more than to see him evolve¡­

    "We''re finally back here!" A Nightmare King shouted at the top of his lungs as he scanned the world below, licking his lips over all the tasty snacks just begging to be devoured. "The Land of Beginnings!! Oh, the good times I''ll have here!!!"

    "Haha! Don''t think you''re gonna be the only one feasting!" remarked a different Nightmare King, this one much larger and more fearsome. "When I get my hands on some human flesh, I won''t be able to control myself. And in the end, I''ll have consumed so much that whole Nations will disappear off the face of the map!!"

    "Everyone, split up and weed out the Transcendent Class Slayers." A command came from Nightmare Emperor Evergreen as he and the other Nightmare Emperors searched for traces of Arthur Pendragon''s existence. "While you do that, we''ll take care of the main obstacle. Once all is said and done, we''ll divide the territories and subsequent human breeding farms based on how much we contributed. This means that you shouldn''t slack around, only caring about satiating your appetites."

    "Understood¡ª"

    Suddenly!

    FWOOOOOM!!!

 Chapter 422 - 422: All In Ones Imagination

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    ''What in the hell is this!??''

    In the first few moments after the Leading Figures of the Nightmarescape Invasion entered the Land of Beginnings, a massive burst of energy engulfed them and the rest of the sky. It radiated with the destructive energies of all the full-powered Soul Emperors, as well as an all-out attack from Cassius.

    The result?

    Complete and total annihilation.

    Without even receiving the time necessary to properly react, each and every single Nightmare King and Emperor was reduced to nothingness. Body. Mind. Soul. Spirit. All destroyed.

    Even their life-preserving measures, which should''ve prevented them from permanently dying, failed them.

    The Essence of the Origin Progenitor was simply too broken.

    They died¡ªand weren''t coming back to life.

    However, they weren''t the only ones¡­

    "So¡­ This is the end¡­"

    Of the Soul Emperors that risked everything to go all out, Salar was the only one still alive. But even he was only hanging on by a thread, with his existence in the gradual process of disintegration.

    "You know, I''ve wanted this moment to come for as long as I could remember¡­" Salar murmured as his eyes dimmed. "But¡­ but I can''t help but wonder if I actually wished to do it, or if I had just gone crazy¡­"

    Turning his half-melted face in Cassius''s direction, Soul Emperor Salar''s gaze filled with pity.

    "You won''t understand now what it truly means to live the life of an Immortal Being, but you will¡­ One day, you''ll understand," he mumbled. "J-Just be careful¡­ Don''t let it get to you like it got to me¡­ I¡­"

    Salar wanted to say something else, but realizing that his time was up, he simply smiled while looking straight up. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Finally¡­ I''m free¡­"

    Those were the last things he said before his existence finished disintegrating. The residual embers of what he was drifted into the winds, ultimately dissipating in the void.

    "...."

    For some reason, what Soul Emperor Salar told him in his final moments stuck with Cassius.

    It hurt¡­

    He didn''t know why it did, but it did.

    "It hurts so much¡­"

    Looking up where Salar had, Cassius''s expression turned unreadable. Shadows covered his face, making it impossible for even Arthur Pendragon to guess what he was feeling.

    *Ding!*

    [You have slain hundreds of Nightmare Kings and Nightmare Emperors, acquiring the maximum amount of Nightmare Essence possible!]

    [Your Slayer Cultivation has advanced from ''Low-rank Transcendent'' to ''Half-step Beyond Transcendent'']

    [Your Godforce has been multiplied by dozens of times what it once was!]

    [Your existence has officially evolved to the ''Half-step Beyond Godlike'' state, and has continued to evolve even further, surpassing all Mortal Boundaries!]

    [You have slain over a dozen Soul Emperors, absorbed them, and improved your own Azura Devourer Cultivation!]

    [You have ascended from a ''Mid-rank Azura Emperor'' to a ''Half-step Beyond Azura Emperor'']

    [Your Godforce increased by leaps and bounds!]

    [As you have achieved a near Quintessential state of being, your Godforce has combined with your Unity to form ''God Unity'']

    [God Unity has an upper limit of Infinity to the power of Mortality, with no quantifiable numerical evaluator. Understanding how much your God Unity has progressed is more of a feeling or instinct that can''t be put into words]

    [Because of your state of being achieving near Quintessence, your Origin Progenitor Bloodline has done the same]

    [You are one step closer to reaching perfection¡­]

    Almost right away, Cassius realized that he no longer emitted any sort of aura. It was the same for his Lilith and Mora, as all three of them now appeared ethereal and unfathomable.

    FWIP!

    "You''ve evolved to a point where even I don''t know what I''m looking at anymore."

    Arthur Pendragon''s voice and appearance did not startle Cassius, for he already knew Arthur was there long before he revealed himself. In fact, he knew everything.

    His very existence had entangled itself with all that there was in these Three Worlds. Whether it be the smallest of ants or a member of the mythical Cyclops Race in hiding, he could sense, feel, and understand it all.

    It was a level of semi-omniscience exceeding even Arthur Pendragon''s, and stemmed solely from his existence being too large for the Three Major Worlds to contain. He was like a tub of water dumped into a smaller terrarium, with each particle of water capable of transmitting detection signals back to the thing keeping all the water together.

    "As you are now, you should know the truth of this World without me even having to tell you¡­" Arthur Pendragon sighed, though felt a sense of freedom over no longer needing to share this burden alone. "What the Supreme Scholars¡ªthose foolish beings¡ªbelieved, it was all true¡­"

    Cassius didn''t need to hear this, for he already knew the truth with a single thought. However, he still let Arthur say what he wanted.

    "These Worlds¡­ This Reality¡­" Arthur paused dramatically. "They aren''t real¡­ None of this is¡­ real¡­"

    Cassius felt like he had heard this somewhere before.

    ''With May¡­''

    He once told her the same thing in the Infinite Character Development Dimension.

    How ironic for history to repeat itself with him¡­

    "Although it has no official name, this Reality with boundaries disguised as limitless is referred to as the ''Eternal Dream,''" Arthur continued, using his virtually infinite energy to surround him and Cassius in a simulated motion picture showing the truth of everything. "When this world first began, it was little more than a thought. A thought that I believe was imagined by a higher being from a plane of reality incomparable to our own."

    ''The System¡­''

    "This thought¡ª" Arthur opened his hands, causing the blank simulation picture to explode in a bright array of colors that swirled and coalesced in three different spots. "Is what formed the Three Worlds. The Land of Beginnings. The Nightmarescape. And the Netherworld. And together, they created a fully-functioning Universe."

    "But that doesn''t change the fact that¡­ we''re just byproducts of a higher entity''s imagination¡­"

    Arthur''s voice turned complex, with his emotions a large jumble of impossible-to-understand feelings¡­

 Chapter 423 - 423: The Eternal Dream, Opals Secret Identity

    "You''ve seen it," Arthur said as he looked up at Cassius''s cloudy eyes. "You''ve seen the Illusion. You likely understand it more than I do! So you know¡­ you know that all the Supreme Scholars wanted to achieve was but mere delusions."

    "There is no escape."

    "This Eternal Dream is also an Eternal Prison."

    BLIP!

    The simulated motion picture suddenly ceased to be.

    "But you¡­" Arthur Pendragon paused. "You''re not from here."

    Cassius almost showed a bit of surprise, but after connecting with the truth of the matter the direct way, he figured out why Arthur said that.

    "What you sacrificed made you into the Mother of this Reality," Cassius said calmly. "Yet you''re also the protector. And the Father. Identities that none of the Rulers of any of the Three Worlds were aware of."

    "It''s because of this that you can tell I''m not cut from the same stalk as the rest of the people in this Reality," he continued. "As for when you figured this out¡­ sometime during my battle with the Armies of the Soul Emperors."

    Arthur nodded. "I also know you possess the ability to return from where you originate," he said. "But don''t worry, I won''t ask you to take me away, for that''s not possible as I am. However¡­ if you could do just one thing¡­ one favor¡­ please¡­"

    "Please release us all."

    "Release you?" asked Cassius as he discerned the answers to his question himself. "You want me to merge this Reality with the Core of my Being¡­? But this¡­ this will erase all that you all¡ªall that everyone here is."

    Images of two beautiful girls untainted by the truth of the world flashed through his mind, cracking his aloof facade ever so slightly.

    "As long as we can live on in you, that is enough," replied Arthur, his voice shifting to melancholy. "Living in this False Reality where nothing matters¡­ I can''t bear to see my children continue on as they are¡­"

    "Even though they aren''t and likely will never be aware of the Truth, you still want me to go through with this¡­?"

    This time, Cassius waited for Arthur to answer.

    "Yes. And all responsibility for this decision shall be mine and mine alone to bear."

    "But why¡­? Why go so far?"

    "Because, young Cassius, this world is going to be erased soon."

    "!!!"

    "Erased??"

    Cassius did the calculations but couldn''t figure out what Arthur Pendragon was talking about.

    "You won''t get your answer that way," said Arthur. "To sense what I do, you''d have to have been connected to this world as long as I have."

    "As for what I mean when I say this world will be erased," he continued, "we are all but the mere spawn of a thought. Of an idea. But there is one here, like you, who doesn''t belong. A secret of the cosmos."

    "Who?"

    Did Cassius know this person? Why was Arthur making it seem like he did??

    Opening a screen that zoomed in on an astronomically tiny location of the Land of Beginnings, Arthur said, "Here. This is the reason the world will be erased."

    "That is¡­!"

    Opal Mistalore!

    But why!?

    And how!??

    "This girl has an origin that dates back long before my birth," Arthur explained. "I have no clue how far back, but I know she''s very, very ancient. Furthermore, her lifeforce is not only illogical, it exceeds any notion of common sense. You felt it before, didn''t you? When you looked at her?"

    Remembering that unusual feeling from back then, Cassius repeated the same action but with far more power. He obtained a better look at her, and what he saw was¡­

    "Yggdrasil¡­"

    "So you know something about this tree-like projection, huh?" Arthur cut off the screen''s connection. "Whatever she is, she''s the only reason the Three Great Worlds have yet to collapse. But this life of hers, just like the countless ones before, is impossible to fully quench."

    "So then why will the world be erased if Opal can''t permanently die¡­?"

    Cassius, with his newfound perspective of himself and everything around him, digested all these revelations very quickly.

    "It''s because something is pulling her away from the Three Great Worlds," replied Arthur, opening up a projected simulation showing a massive spiritual tree and a vacuum. "I am not privy to what exactly is trying to get her out of here, but it''s likely some form of extreme danger response. Wherever she truly comes from, there is something calling her back out of necessity. That is the only thing I can tell for certain."

    "Out of necessity?"

    ''Is it the World Tree? But why would a mythical construct like that be in danger¡­?''

    Cassius had so many questions. Ones that, even with all his transcendent strength, couldn''t be answered.

    "You appear to have thought of something," said Arthur, shaking him out of his reverie. "You should return and understand what exactly that thought entails."

    "You mean to say??"

    "Yes." Arthur nodded, his gaze softening with a melancholy glow. "It''s time you leave the Three Great Worlds. Help us all; end it here and now before we eventually get torn apart piece by piece when the void comes for us."

    "But I¡­"

    "Remember, young Cassius." Arthur patted him on the shoulder, meeting his hesitant gaze with a look of acceptance. "We aren''t real. But with you, we''ll become real. You''ll be doing us a favor."

    Cassius paused, his mouth left slightly hung open.

    Turning his face off to the side, he asked, "Is this really what you want? I might¡­ I might be able to take you into an isolated space and transport you out of here¡ª"

    "I appreciate the sentiment," Arthur interrupted. "But my timer came to an end long ago. This Universe is connected with me at an inseparable level. Even if I did want to leave with my existence intact, it would be impossible."

    Cassius went silent.

    "Okay¡­ I''ll do it," he finally said. "But I¡­ I''ll be taking a few people with me¡ª" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Young Cassius," said Arthur, his voice filled with pity. "Take another look at those you wish to take away."

 Chapter 424 - 424: Achieving A Higher State of Being

    "Take another look at those you wish to take away."

    "Huh? What do you¡­ me¡­an¡­"

    That was when Cassius noticed it. A difference between the people related to Opal and every other fictional being in the Three Worlds.

    "This¡­" Color drained from his face. "Yuna. Her parents. Her grandparents. Why are they¡­?"

    "Although we are byproducts of a thought, we''re still tangible," said Arthur. "However, those close to that incomprehensible girl are not the same. They were imagined by her, meant to fill the void in her heart."

    He inhaled deeply.

    "Young Cassius, they''re no more than the contents of a dream."

    "A dream¡­?" Cassius froze. "But no¡­ There''s no way that is¡­"

    All the memories he made with Yuna rapidly flashed through his mind. He clutched his head, the pain not stemming from anything physical.

    All the moments he spent with Yuna gradually had her fading from the picture.

    "T-This¡­" Devastation settled in. "But why¡­?"

    "Because, young Cassius, this is simply how the world is," said Arthur as he stared off into the sunset. "No matter how powerful you are, sometimes that just isn''t enough. There will always be things that no amount of power will solve¡ª"

    "No!" Cassius burst forth with an aura that engulfed everything. "You''re wrong! Power¡­ Power can solve everything!!"

    With his near-omnipotence, he attempted to alter something that couldn''t be altered. He put his all into it, causing the Universe to quake.

    "Sigh¡­ Young Cassius¡­" Arthur shook his head. "There''s no point. What you''re trying to do is impossible. No lower being can possibly make products of someone''s desperate imagination actually real."

    OOOM!!!

    "You''re wrong!!!"

    His whole life, Cassius believed in one thing above all else.

    That power was the solution to everything.

    If your power couldn''t solve a problem, then you simply didn''t possess enough of it!

    This was what Cassius lived by! His Core Principle!

    CRACK¡ª

    At that moment, something cracked within him.

    "Why are you doing this, young Cassius?" Arthur exhaled deeply, indifferently watching as the Land of Beginnings had its dimensional structure changed. "There''s really no point¡ª Hmm¡­?"

    Arthur noticed something that made his eyes go wide.

    "Wh-What is¡­ that¡­?"

    If asked what the most important quality of strength was, what would you answer?

    The power of one''s fist?

    How much energy you had?

    The destructiveness of your attacks??

    The true answer?

    WILL.

    In this World, Will was the single greatest quality of a living being. With it, even the most seemingly impossible of challenges could be accomplished.

    And in Cassius''s defiance of the ''impossible,'' the final step he needed to take to perfect his Will was taken.

    HAAAAA!

    He roared to the heavens, the pain assaulting his senses beyond mortal reasoning!! Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For Power!!!

    For Absolute Strength!!!

    WAAAA¡ª!

    Ungodly Will ¡ª achieved!

    "T-T-This¡­"

    What Arthur Pendragon was witnessing right now made no sense!

    With Will alone, Cassius bent the Laws of Reality. He forced them to submit to his will, doing as he ordered them to.

    Time. Space. The Three Dimensions.

    In an instant, everything was manipulated and rearranged in the way Cassius''s Will deemed fit.

    "What was once false¡­ has now become real," Arthur muttered, with even the word disbelief not enough to properly describe his astonishment. "Th-This¡­ just what sort of being is he¡­?"

    Emerging from a curtain of cosmic light, Cassius''s eyes flashed with the essence of reality. Now, nothing within the Three Worlds was outside of his infallible influence.

    If he willed it, Arthur Pendragon could be permanently erased. He could also be rewritten as someone else entirely. His height could be changed. His gender could be swapped. Even his deeply rooted connection with the Great Worlds could be severed.

    However, with Cassius''s new tier of omniscience, he knew that Arthur didn''t want any of that.

    "I told you, didn''t I?" Cassius spoke with a voice oozing comic secrets. "With enough power, anything is possible. My Path was not wrong. It never has been."

    "You¡­"

    Arthur was at a loss for words.

    In the end, all he could do was sigh.

    "Understanding you really might be the only impossible thing. But haiz¡­ You don''t need my help to assimilate this Universe with yourself, do you? Now, you can probably just delete my authority and give it to yourself with a simple finger snap¡ª"

    *Snap!*

    "!!!"

    "Yes, I can do such a thing," said Cassius, now swirling around his fingertips the control projections of the Three Great Worlds. "I can also replicate the authority and give both myself and you the same¡ª"

    "No, no, there''s no need!" replied Arthur. "I''ve never felt freer in my whole life! In my last moments, I''d like to remain like this."

    "Very well," Cassius responded calmly. "But most of your invincible power has been taken by me. Are you fine with that?"

    "Yes, it''s of no consequence to me now." Arthur smiled, glowing brighter than New York City. "Well, seeing as how you don''t need me for anything anymore, you can go ahead and commence the assimilation process. Even without my authority over the world, my original intentions remain the same. I''d like for you to free us from this Eternal Prison. This Eternal Dream."

    Silence¡­

    "I may have the ability to control this world as I wish," said Cassius. "But once I leave, I''ll no longer have the same omnipotence. It''ll be highly unlikely that I can bring you back later."

    "That''s fine," replied Arthur, his mood never better. "I''ve been preparing for this moment for a long time. And for the countless thought fragments of this universe, they won''t notice the difference either way. So go ahead; do what you must."

    "...Understood¡­"

    Cassius raised his right index finger. And without a big bang or explosion of lights, he made the Universe disappear.

    In a white void that stretched outward endlessly, only he and a few dots remained. The dots were Opal, Yuna, and their family, all of whom were in a state of unconsciousness.

    Turning behind him ever so slowly, Cassius saw no one there.

    "Arthur Pendragon," he said softly. "The one who sacrificed everything in order to protect those whom he knew weren''t real. You are deserving of the highest degrees of respect."

    Bowing, Cassius stayed like that for a few minutes.

    Then he returned his focus to those whom he kept outside the Universe that he was currently assimilating with himself.

    His brows drew together when he looked at Opal.

    "Whatever her true origin is, it adamantly refuses to leave this space, as if it''s waiting for something to happen," said Cassius. "And since it''s connected to the outside world¡ªlikely Yggdrasil¡ªI''m unable to force my Ungodly Will upon it."

    This meant that Opal had to remain in this blank space for now.

    "I''ll leave behind a spatial anchor so I can return later," Cassius decided. "Her origins forced her into an even deeper sleep than what I put her in, so she shouldn''t be waking up anytime soon."

    "Now then." He shifted his gaze to Yuna, her parents, and her grandparents¡ªthe only family she had. "All of you will have to stay in the Evomon Space for now. When you wake, I''ll explain the situation to you."

    With everything settled, Cassius warped the space around him, returning to the Main World.

    At roughly the same time, May¡ªwho was sitting beside Zara, Yimin, and the other girls in the Isolated Dimension¡ªsuddenly shot her eyes open. Blood poured out of her mouth as she keeled over, startling Yimin and the rest.

    "What the hell is going on with you!?" Maxy cursed, dodging all the vomited blood. "You''ve been doing this every few minutes since Master''s departure! You almost got some of your insides on him!"

    "Why¡­" May mumbled. "Why won''t the outcome change¡­? I-I don''t understand¡­"

    She seemed to have gone crazy. Her eyes were deliriously spiraling, with her lips and mind out of sync.

    "Is something wrong with her head? Yimin still thinks she has da constipation." Yimin curiously observed the sickly woman, a bunch of weird thoughts swirling around inside her mind. "Weirdo for sure¡­"

    Unable to hear the voices of anyone around her, May proceeded to foresee the future once more. But this time, quicker than the other times, blood pooled out as her complexion worsened considerably.

    "N-No¡­ Why has it been sped up!? This¡­ This¡­ The future is coming¡­"

    "The future?"

    Everyone looked at her like she was a crazy person.

    "Don''t mind her," said Luma, dismissively waving her hands. "She has been doing this for many, many years now. But she never explains why it happens."

    "So she really is crazy."

    All the girls slapped their fists against their palms before returning to what they were doing. At this time, that was dressing and dolling Cassius up with some high-quality makeup.

    The result: the girls felt inferior in terms of beauty by an astronomical degree, thus they quickly erased all their work.

    ''All¡­ All I ever wanted was to make Cassius happy,'' May thought with bloodshot eyes. ''But I fed him false hope¡­ All this time, I''ve been lying to him¡­ Will¡­ Will he hate me when he figures out the truth¡­? Of what I''ve been keeping from him¡­?''

    A part of her believed that she deserved his hatred.

    But love was complicated¡ª¡­

    Just then!

    "Hmm?" Cassius leaned up like a zombie, half his face still smeared in makeup. "What is happening here?"

    "...." "...." "...."

    "She did it!" they all shouted while pointing at one another.

    Silence¡­

    Sighing, Cassius erased their mess on his face and switched his clothes in an instant. "I don''t even want to know," he said exasperatedly. "Can someone tell me how much time has passed?"

    "Erm¡­"

 Chapter 425 - 425: Arriving Late

    "Erm¡­"

    Everyone froze.

    "Master¡­" Zara was the first to speak up, her pupils erratically flickering. "The final match of the Tournament has already started."

    "...Huh¡­?"

    Elsewhere.

    "Where the hell is that son of mine!?" Adam''s impatient foot tapping was getting out of hand, making his whole section of the VIP stands shake. "What level of Aura-farming is this!? Unbelievable!"

    "He really is your kid, isn''t he, haha!!" Beezlebub laughed heartily from the other side of the Arena.

    Whereas Great Demon King Lucifer and Astaroth were wearing expressions that were a mixture of green, purple, and mostly red.

    That damn little bastard was definitely avoiding them!

    Planning to run away, was he!?

    Not on their watch!

    ''When that brat shows up, I''ll chop him into a million different pieces and cook them into a stew!'' Lucifer inwardly raged. ''To mock and embarrass me time and time again¡ªunforgivable!''

    "Hmm?"

    Suddenly sensing something very odd, the Yggdrasil Ancestors looked toward a certain spot in space.

    "Did you all feel that as well?" the eldest asked. "It felt like¡­ like when we''re in front of the Mother Spirit."

    For the first time in ages, the Ancestors of Yggdrasil were made uneasy.

    However, as quickly as that oddity appeared, it vanished.

    "What is going on as of late¡­?"

    The Ancestors also felt like something else was happening behind the scenes. This came as quite the surprise to them, for they should know just about everything in the Ascension Tower.

    Something was amiss. They just didn''t know what¡­

    "Was that?" Dracula focused his gaze in the same direction as the Ancestors, his mind surging in turbulence. "No¡­ That wouldn''t make any sense¡­ I must just be imagining things."

    ''What''s up with the old man?'' Alumia, a Goddess of Pleasure, wondered to herself. ''Does it have to do with the same person that has the Demon Fossils so livid?''

    While the final fight of the Yggdrasil Tournament was ongoing, the thoughts of many stirred.

    Even the two Yggdrasil Princesses of the current generation were distracted by things not pertaining to the final battle. This secretly angered the two most talented youths of this generation, who were fiercely duking it out in an Isolated Dimension.

    One was the prodigal son of Archangel Michael¡ªthe expected winner of the Tournament.

    Whereas the other was a Dark Horse¡ªthe treasured daughter of the Northern Abyss Witch, the elusive powerhouse who kept to herself in a Dimension she created outside of the Seven major ones and Yggdrasil.

    These were the end competitors, both at the absolute peak of the Half-step Godlike Rank. In battle, though, even normal Late-stage Godlike Beings were not their match.

    The very best of the best!

    And yet when they felt HIS presence suddenly engulf the skies for countless light-years, they¡ªalong with Azara and every other eliminated contestant¡ªfelt a dreadful sense of inferiority well up inside them. It made them feel like mere ants witnessing the immensity of the cosmos for the first time.

    "This is¡­"

    Everyone in and around the Yggdrasil Arena had the same reaction. Their eyes were glued to the south, where they saw a distant silhouette slowly approach them.

    Every single person was short of breath, with even the Yggdrasil Ancestors frozen in place.

    Only the Heavenly Progenitor properly reacted. He frowned, then smiled.

    ''You''ve really given us all a surprise this time, young lad. One that even I hadn''t accounted for.''

    "My Cass¡­?" Lilia looked where everyone else was looking, but her gaze differed greatly from all others. "My baby boy¡­"

    "Mama?" Sylvy wondered.

    ''Baby boy!?'' Ayra revealed an extremely shocked expression. ''So that must mean this figure is¡­''

    "So now you arrive, unfilial son of mine!?"

    Son of Adam Steele and Lilia Eldrine.

    Cassius Steele!

    "And what''s up with this stifling pressure you''re emitting??" Adam inquired while circling Cassius. "Even my soul trembles when I''m in close proximity to you! Don''t tell me you went and became invincible or something!" he joked.

    Cassius blankly stared at him.

    "You''re¡­ You''re just kidding, right¡­??" Adam''s jaw started to go slack.

    "Yes, I''m not actually invincible."

    Those who were put on the edges of their seats over that question felt their anger levels spike up.

    "You little bastard!!" Lucifer roared. "I don''t know what sort of trick you''re playing here, but there''s no way you''re any stronger than that squirt of Michael''s! After all, you''re not even a thousand years old!"

    Not even a thousand years old!?

    Others may not have been able to see it, but the Ancestors of Yggdrasil could.

    With a glance, they determined Cassius''s strength to be immeasurable. And this didn''t change no matter how many calculations they made.

    "H-How can this be possible¡­?"

    "What in the Mother Spirit''s name is that thing??"

    "Some sort of natural-born Universal Phenomenon!?"

    Prodigal son of Archangel Michael, Avariel, was the first among the younger generation to snap out of it. His eyes immediately filled with anger as he glared at the otherworldly being who had somehow made it above the Arena without any of them noticing.

    "This must be an illusion!" he shouted, effectively taking Hellea, the Northern Witch''s daughter, out of her stupor as well. "I''m the strongest of this Generation!! Who is this nobody to come and steal my limelight!? Does he have a death wish!??"

    ''You fool! Shut your damn mouth!!'' Many Experts internally cursed as their attention shifted toward the unknown young powerhouse. ''What will his reaction be¡ª''

    "Hmm?" Cassius nonchalantly turned his head in the direction of the fuming eight-winged Angel. "Why is a gnat buzzing around here?"

    Silence¡­

    The whole Arena went quiet.

    Archangel Michael frowned.

    Avariel''s face twisted in fury as his angelic power exploded outward. Without thinking before acting, he burst forward. Held tightly in his hands was a pearl white and golden spear, coated and enhanced with Faith Energy in order to possess power surpassing most Godlike Weapons.

    Right now, he was using far more of its power than what he used while fighting with Hellea.

    "I''LL KILL YOU!!!!"

    The various powerhouses were slow to react, while the ones that could potentially stop this madness were curious to see something. To see if this immortal-like man was truly as capable as his presence would indicate¡ª

    BOOOOM!

    S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 426 - 426: Stupid Black Chicken!

    Once again, the Arena went deathly silent. As waves of wind blew past their stupefied faces, they inched their heads behind them.

    There he was¡­

    Avariel. #1 prodigy of the present Era.

    Knocked out cold, planted into the side of a wall with froth leaking out of his mouth.

    Hellea stared at this scene in utter disbelief.

    The man who¡ªeven after giving her everything in a fight¡ªhad still pushed her to her absolute limits. A man like that was really¡­

    Defeated in an instant¡­?

    And by someone not even a thousand years old!?

    However, rather than feel disappointed or angry, Hellea felt an uncanny sense¡­ of attraction!

    "Remember, Daughter." The eloquent voice of her mother rang out inside her head. "If ever you find a man who''s unparalleled in every way, shape, or form, make sure you snatch him up for yourself and never let go!"

    Unparalleled Power¡­ S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Unparalleled Talent¡­

    Unparalleled Appearance¡­

    This man was the one!

    "Don''t worry, Mother, I won''t disappoint you," said Hellea as she clenched her fists with resolve. "With my looks, I''ll surely capture him and chain him in a basement just like you instructed!"

    "Is someone talking about me?" Bella showed a confused look, wearily scanning her surroundings in search of the one planning to copy her future methods. "Well, whatever. More importantly, my hubby has become even more handsome and cooler! Kya~!"

    All the other girls familiar with Cassius were thinking along the same lines. Suspended in mid-air like an otherworldly deity with an ethereal glow, he was nothing like how he was when last they met.

    "Is that¡­ really Cass¡­?" Sasha held her hands against her bosom, staring at his ungodly visage through a screen. "Just what has he been through since his Ascension¡­?"

    Aya revealed a complicated frown. "That big dummy," she mumbled, her heart a jumbled mess. "He went and got even further away from us¡­"

    Sasha and Stella felt an uncanny sense of heartache, same as with Viola and even Hellion¡ªa beautiful Egyptian woman who, even with her leveraging Cassius''s Demon King cultivation, had no idea just how powerful he had become.

    A pair of clear golden eyes also glistened in slight sorrow when they glimpsed the unearthly man above.

    "Even after all the training I''ve done, I can''t even begin to see through his strength¡­" Memphis murmured, her emotions a big mess. "Will I never be able to stand side by side with him¡­? Will I¡­ never be able to repay him for saving me all those hundreds of years ago¡­?"

    Among the younger generation of Angels, Avariel was considered to be #1. However, that was actually false.

    It was just that Memphis had already ascended to the Godlike Rank, so everyone no longer saw her as part of the younger generation. Just like Cassius, they were now true powerhouses of the Ascension Tower.

    Even so, in her heart, they were still worlds apart¡­

    In another dimension, a doe-eyed girl with long brown hair lay motionless beneath the glow of a large TV mounted above her bed. Her body had long since failed her¡ªparalyzed by a condition that left her barely able to breathe, let alone move. And yet, her eyes remained fixed on the screen.

    A faint, trembling whisper escaped her lips. "Cass... you did what you prom...ised¡­"

    Grace managed a smile¡ªsoft, lovely, but tinged with pain. She had been living on borrowed time for weeks. Even a miracle like the Tear of Yggdrasil, were it placed in her hands now, would likely come too late.

    The only thing keeping her tethered to life had been hope. The selfish hope that he would come through for her. That he would keep his word.

    And he did.

    That was more than she could ever wish for.

    She could die happily knowing that he cared enough about her to face the entire world¡­

    As her vision began to fade, her lips curled once more. With the last flicker of strength she had left, she mouthed a final, heartfelt, "Thank you¡­"

    And then, she was still.

    With Grace''s life and death unknown, Cassius immediately turned his head in her direction. His gaze quickly frosted over as he returned his focus back to the Ancestors of Yggdrasil.

    "You may know who I am. You may not," he said coldly, causing waves of chills to spread throughout the surroundings. "I don''t care either way. I''ll keep things very simple. So simple that even the most smooth-brained of idiots can understand what''s coming out of my mouth."

    An indescribable sense of dread drastically altered the expressions of everyone in the Arena as Cassius gave his ultimatum:

    "Give me however much of the highest quality Tears of Yggdrasil you have and I leave. Or¡­

    I kill you all and take what I want anyway."

    Shock!

    Stunned!!

    Astonished!!!

    Nobody could believe what they were hearing!

    Directly asking for free-choose-reign over highest-quality Tears of Yggdrasil!? And if the Ancestors refused, they''d die!?

    No matter how arrogant someone was, they couldn''t possibly be this arrogant!

    OOOM!

    All 12 of the Yggdrasil Ancestors erupted in unimaginable levels of anger, with their raging red auras engulfing the skies for countless miles. The entirety of the Dimension bore witness to their unfathomable, seemingly unlimited power.

    "That lad is really making a mess of things." The Heavenly Father spoke as if he were worried, but was crazily smiling at the same time. "I can''t wait to see how this turns out, haha!"

    Beezlebub was thinking along the same lines, having not been this excited in an untold number of years.

    Adam glanced over at God, making an annoyed expression.

    ''That cunning bastard is definitely up to something.''

    He just didn''t know what that something was.

    "If you admit your mistakes now and apologize, we''ll forgive you for your transgressions!" The Eldest Yggdrasil Ancestor''s fearsome aura grew in everyone''s eyes, with the vast majority of it pressuring a single person. "If not, then you shall face the consequences of your ignorant arrogance!!"

    Cassius apathetically stared at the Eldest Ancestor, unblinking and unflinching.

    "I take it this means you''re rejecting the first option?" he asked while already aware of the answer. "Very well then. Option 2 it is."

    His figure began to blur.

    But before a move could be made, a black-winged angel rocketed up. Cassius was hit dead-on in the side, knocked billions of miles into the sky in a flash of radiant light.

    "Cassius¡ª!"

    Aya, Sasha, and any other girl who hadn''t been around him in the last period of time felt their hearts constrict.

    "Why are you thots freaking out?" Zara suddenly and quietly appeared beside Bella, who was holding the tablet featuring all the girls. "My Master is not someone who will lose to that fossil with Daddy issues."

    "Yep, yep, Mashter will beat up that black chicken just like this! Pow! Pow!" Yimin mimicked a professional boxer, though did so very badly. "Stupid chick will be like huh!? Then already be deader than dead!"

    "Yeah, won''t be an issue for him." Exisia and Maxy chimed in, appearing just as silently as the first two. "I''d be more worried about the Great Demon King. Opposing Cass is definitely not the luckiest highlight of his life."

    "???"

 Chapter 427 - 427: Unequal Genius of Ascension

    Although the girls who stayed on Earth were not very knowledgeable about the higher realms, they still knew who these mostly unfamiliar women were referring to as the "black chicken."

    That was freaking Lucifer Morningstar!

    The banished son of God who went on to make HELL his personal domain!

    A living legend!!

    "Has that boy from back then really become so strong that not even Lucifer is his match¡­?" Sasha recalled memories of a chubby, unattractive boy whose kindness was larger than the restrictions placed on him from birth. "Is he¡­ is he even Cassius anymore¡­?"

    "Fufu~!" Bella hovered a hand over her coquettish smile. "Of course, my Darling is no longer the same, for his love for me is now unrivaled throughout heaven and earth~!!"

    "Weren''t you the one who made the beginning of his life so miserable to begin with?" Hellea questioned. "Wouldn''t it be more reasonable to say that his love for you is the lowest out of every one of his flings here?"

    ''My fault!?''

    ''Flings!?''

    "You''re absolutely mistaken¡ª Wait, who the hell are you, bitch!?" Bella took a step back in surprise, then proceeded to hiss at the gorgeous black-haired woman dressed like a witch. "And how do you know about the intimate past between me and my Darling!?"

    With everyone''s eyes now on her, Hellea felt the need to reply, "My name is Hellea Abalon, daughter of Freya Abalon, and I used my mother''s Arcane Arts to discern the Heavenly Secrets of the Universe. That''s how I found out about my husband''s tragic past. I watched his whole life up to a locked point several times, you know? And I can tell you now that even the Heavenly Secrets aren''t able to reveal certain mysteries surrounding his absurd strength and powers¡ª"

    "Hold up, hold up a second, bitch!"

    Not only Bella, but all of the girls, whether here or on Earth, were fiercely glaring at the confused Hellea. They looked as if they wanted to eat her alive¡ªbones and all.

    "Who''s your husband!?" Bella cursed, pushing her finger hard into Hellea''s perky right breast. "You must be confusing things, you whore, because the only wife of my Darling is me! So go fuck right the hell off!!"

    The first part was heavily disagreed upon by Zara and the rest, but the second half they could all get behind.

    Fuck this unknown bitch!

    "Hmm¡­" Hellea appeared genuinely puzzled. "But he''s definitely my husband. My mother told me only the most perfect man was destined for me, after all."

    What the hell did her mother and that wanky-ass prophecy bullshit have to do with their Cassius!?

    Was this woman smoking crack!??

    "Listen here, you skanky, flabby cow-tit bitch¡ª"

    Suddenly!

    SHING!

    A crisp, resonant sword slash echoed, yet thundered like the billowing fury of a lightning dragon. The clouds above lit up with crimson before parting as a black figure shot toward the ground at speeds surpassing the concept of speed.

    That black figure shattered all of the Arena''s defensive barriers in his uncontrollable descent. He then collided with the Arena''s ground, crashing straight through it¡ªultimately drilling a hole that extended thousands of light years into the World Tree''s trunk.

    This caused a reaction in the enormous tree itself as it shook.

    The glowing, celestial silhouette of a humanoid came together in the form of countless small balls of light. This gave way to the appearance of a goddess-like woman so devastatingly beautiful that she made even world-toppling beauties like Mikaela, Memphis, and Zara feel inferior.

    "We greet Mother Spirit!"

    Waves of shock coursed through the hearts of every common person as the Yggdrasil Ancestors bowed in reverence. The way they addressed this unparalleled goddess carried with it the highest degrees of respect.

    While everyone exhibited either surprise or amazement at the sudden appearance of the Holy Mother Spirit of Yggdrasil, the Heavenly Father was the only one whose unreadable smile widened.

    However, everyone was far too absorbed in listening to the enchanting voice of the Holy Mother Spirit to even register the Heavenly Father''s change in expression. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I saw everything."

    She looked to the heavens, urging all to watch as an immortal-like man bathed in an incomprehensible light descended to where Lucifer had fallen¡­ for the second time.

    "What are your intentions here, Unequal Genius of Ascension?"

    The hearts of those gathered were stunned by shock.

    Unequal Genius of Ascension!

    What sort of Title was that, and why was someone like the Holy Mother Spirit referring to Cassius Steele by it!?

    Adam Steele frowned.

    On the surface, it might seem like a good thing to be singled out by a Paragon like the Holy Mother Spirit, but it was actually anything but¡­

    "My intentions?" Cassius parroted, without even sparing the goddess-like woman a glance¡ªhis destination still where Lucifer crashed. "Above all else, I want highest-quality Tears of Yggdrasil. But this demon bird also has something I want, so I''ll be taking from him as well."

    So domineering!

    Did this Unequal Genius of Ascension already consider himself invincible in the world!?

    The Holy Mother Spirit went silent. She still had more to say, but it would seem that she''d have to wait until the battle here was over.

    "I can restore the damage you caused to my main body, but it won''t be so easy if you take your attacks to the next level," said the Holy Mother Spirit, as the place where Lucifer fell was burning up in immense rage. "Would you mind creating an Isolated Dimension to fight, Unequal Genius of Ascension?"

    Cassius gave no response.

    But ultimately nodded as he waved his hands, altering the very fabric of reality.

    A portal connected to a swirling cosmic sphere appeared in front of him¡ªone with an inner dimensional space exceeding that of a Common Universe.

    "An Isolated Dimension of this caliber was actually created just like that¡­?" Astaroth was stunned into disbelief. "Just what sort of monster has my daughter taken a fancy to¡­?"

    He looked over at Zaraphina, only to receive a smug expression in response.

    Astaroth sighed.

    As much as he wanted to hate this hybrid human, Demons were notoriously known for respecting the strong. And with what Cassius showed thus far, he was certainly deserving of all the respect that could be given.

    "Fine then," Astaroth decided. "All our past grudges are now deemed null and void. As for your official relationship with my precious daughter, we''ll have to discuss it later when we meet one on one."

    That was assuming the Unequal Genius of Ascension could survive through the day¡­

    OOOOM¡ª!!!

    "YOU DAMNED LITTLE BASTARD!!!!"

    Lucifer exploded in anger!

    Shooting up like a radioactive nuke, he ruptured the trunk of Yggdrasil. Those in the Arena felt his overwhelming killing intent chill their bones even while he was underground; however, when he emerged above the surface, that feeling multiplied manifold.

    True terror!

    The horrifying power of a Great Demon King revered by HELL!

    Yet the one facing the brunt of his oppressive power remained expressionless and unaffected. He didn''t even feel the need to shrug off the invading killing intent, for it really wasn''t worth mentioning.

    Lucifer didn''t know this, obviously. He merely believed Cassius to be putting on a tough front.

    "You think playing it cool will be enough for me to hand over my only daughter!?" he roared, gathering massive amounts of demonic energy in his palms. "Think again, brat! You''re not worthy!!!"

    Not worthy!?

    If possibly the most monstrous genius in all of the Ascension Tower''s history wasn''t worthy of Lucifer''s daughter, then who was??

    Also, Lucifer Morningstar had a daughter!?? With whom?? And who was the child!?

    Mikaela frowned deeply, staring daggers at Lucifer. In her mind, she was already imagining all the ways she''d skin him alive for revealing what was meant to be kept a secret outside their private circles.

    Memphis, meanwhile, was blushing. She frequently shot furtive glances in Cassius''s direction, her complexion becoming more scarlet shaded each time.

    ''Me and Cass¡­? No¡­ Maybe¡­ Really, you think? Cass and Me¡­ Hihi¡­''

    As her thoughts stirred in a weird direction, the tension building up between Lucifer and Cassius had reached its climax. And in an explosive instant, the Great Demon King burst forward with his godlike demonic halberd, Sigfried.

    "Let me see if you can withstand the might of my Halberd, brat!!" Lucifer roared. "Or if you''ll die the moment it¡­ touches¡­ you¡­? Huh?"

    Lucifer, one of the Three Great Demon Kings, currently had his eyes bulging out of his head. He was astonished to find himself unable to move, with his body stun-locked a certain distance above the Arena of Yggdrasil.

    "H-How¡­"

    Cassius indifferently stared at the mighty Fallen Angel before blink-stepping over to his frozen figure.

    "Your destructive power is not bad, and this Halberd is of a high quality," he said under the shocked eyes of the crowd. "But it''s not good enough."

    With a flick of his finger, Cassius shattered the Halberd. Half of Lucifer''s existence was also shattered. But much to his bewilderment and everyone else''s, with a pull of his index finger, Cassius rewinded the time on Lucifer''s body and his Halberd.

    "W-What in the hell was that!?" Lucifer was sweating bullets, a hint of fear painted on his handsome face. "You¡­ What did you do to me¡­!?"

    Cassius expressionlessly looked at Lucifer, a small frown forming.

    "Why is it that you don''t know what the Orb of Avarice is?" he asked coldly. "I searched through your origin marker in the Universe, but couldn''t find anything pertaining to the Orb of Avarice."

    "The Orb of Avarice!?" Lucifer spat. "What are you talking about?? I don''t know of an Orb of Avarice!!!"

    "...."

 Chapter 428 - 428: Vaster Than Heaven And Earth

    Cassius could tell that Lucifer wasn''t lying. However, this only raised more questions in his mind.

    Yet before he could delve deeper into the truth, it was already too late¡­

    The Heavenly Progenitor smirked.

    RUMBLE¡ª!

    "!?!?" "!?!?" "!??"

    Suddenly, the world began to violently rumble. The sky turned dark. The clouds deformed. The sound of glass shattering echoed.

    The expressions of the Holy Mother Spirit and the 12 Ancestors of Yggdrasil drastically changed. They all reached out in an attempt to prevent the inevitable, but there was no point¡ªit was already too late.

    "What have you done!?" the Holy Mother Spirit''s anger soared as she glared dangerously at the Heavenly Progenitor. "There is no going back now!! You''ve doomed us all!!!"

    Everyone was now looking at the smirking Heavenly Progenitor, their expressions varying.

    A loud, delirious laugh carried through the air. Clutching his face, the Heavenly Father''s insane smile peeked through the cracks in his fingers.

    Cassius frowned.

    Adam Steele''s face contorted in a mixture of emotions.

    ''I knew that bastard wouldn''t sit still! And now he has¡­''

    Lines of black streaked across Adam''s face as he stared up at the fractured sky. It looked like the world was collapsing in on itself¡ªand that wasn''t far from the truth.

    The Great Nexus Event had descended early.

    And the magnitude of it had somehow been multiplied by hundreds of times, with the following consequences impossible to guess¡­

    "Why are you all looking at me like that??" the Heavenly Father laughed like a madman, stretching out his arms as if to welcome the apocalyptic scene above. "Is this not more exciting than some kid ultimately marrying a precious Princess of Yggdrasil!? Haha!!"

    The powerhouses of the 8 Ascension Towers gnashed their teeth in fury while glaring at the comical figures bathed in golden light. Mikaela and the other Archangels, on the other hand, were like deer in headlights, unsure of what to do. Even their breathing stopped.

    Their Father¡­ Their Creator¡­

    He was trying to bring about the end of the world¡­?

    But¡­ But why¡­!?

    "Why!?" Mikaela was the first to shout, her five pairs of pearly-white wings spreading out with melancholic splendor. "Why are you doing this, Father!?"

    Lucifer was no longer concerned with his state of paralysis. He wanted to know the answer as well.

    Everyone did.

    CRACK¡ª!

    As the stability of the Ascension Tower rapidly declined, with whole pieces of the sky falling onto its denizens, the Holy Mother Spirit clutched her head. The pain the world was feeling was immense, and she could feel every bit of it.

    "Why, you ask??" The Heavenly Father quit laughing, anger surging inside him. "Is that a joke!?"

    He directed a terrifying expression of wrath at the Yggdrasil Ancestors. They shivered, having never felt such profound hatred before.

    "I did this because of THEM!!!" The Heavenly Father looked as if he had lost his mind, his eyes consumed with the purest form of rage. "They destroyed the Bridge of Immortality before anyone could even use it!! If you want to blame anyone for what''s about to happen next, then blame them!!! Haha!! I''ve prepared a big surprise for everyone here, you know!? I''m sure you''ll love it!!"

    "YOU!!!!"

    The Holy Mother Spirit lashed out with the power of Yggdrasil. Extremely powerful waves of energy rushed in from every direction, targeting the Heavenly Father.

    However, in response to an attack that could instantly wipe out a normal Half-step Beyond Godlike Entity, the Heavenly Progenitor''s smirk merely widened. He made no move to defend against the Holy Mother''s formidable assault.

    OOOM!

    No one was able to see what had happened after the Heavenly Progenitor was hit by waves of Yggdrasil energy. The heavens were blinded by the breadth of the attack, with neither light nor sound able to register the damage.

    However, when the residual energies started to disperse, the powerhouses of Yggdrasil were baffled to find the Heavenly Progenitor floating without a scratch on him. His mocking smirk incensed them all, his laughter akin to the grating sound of chalk against a board.

    "Did you honestly believe I hadn''t thoroughly prepared before going through with this!?" The Heavenly Father laughed like he''d just heard the funniest joke in the world. "To enter the True Path of Immortality, which I''ve yearned for since the beginning of time, I''ve made every possible sacrifice!! For millions of years, I''ve done everything possible to reach the most desired outcome!!"

    "But for the majority of that time, every end result I foresaw fell short of what I wanted..." The Heavenly Father suddenly snapped his head in Cassius''s direction. "That was until a certain someone was born into this caged universe. Little Cassius Steele. The key to my freedom and Ascension."

    Without exception, everyone turned to look at the deeply frowning Cassius.

    He had already released control over Lucifer''s body, now wholly focused on the Heavenly Progenitor.

    By now, Cassius realized he had been played for a fool¡­

    Since the very first moment he met the Ice Sovereign on the 0th Floor of the Ascension Tower, he had been but a mere piece in a much larger chessboard.

    Opening up the Heavenly Progenitor''s system interface further soured Cassius''s mood:

    {[GOD/Heavenly Progenitor/Humanly Progenitor]} S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Cultivation: Beyond Half-step Godlike]

    [Battle Prowess: Beyond Half-step Godlike] ¨C (Unquestionably high)

    [Age: As Old as the Common Timeline of the Ascension Tower, with very few older than him]

    [Mood: Ecstatic] ¨C (A very confusing Entity)

    ¡ª[Throughout Space and Time, God is unrivaled in terms of creation. As one who pioneered creation at the beginning of the Ascension Tower''s Original Era, even the Ancient Ancestor Scions of the Holy Sanctuary of Yggdrasil are inferior in this regard.]

    ¡ª[His history is riddled with holes and unknowns, and he has often taken on various seemingly useless identities for Immortality-related reasons. One of such identities was the Ice Sovereign, and he did so because Cassius Steele was the key to his journey to Immortality. Or more specifically, the Heavenly Progenitor was after¡­ his¡­ sister¡­]

    ¡ª[Yearns for Immortality beyond the Universal Treasure he considers a large birdcage. He wants a world where even the Dissonants are below inconsequential.]

    When Cassius reached the part concerning the intentions of the Heavenly Progenitor, a never-before-seen spur of anger welled up from the very core of his being. This anger forced shadows over his face, with his eyes blackening to match the shades of the abyss.

    "My sister¡­"

    Cassius peered into the heavenly secrets, instantly learning of the existence of his little sister. Born from the same father and mother as him. His blood-related sister.

    This would normally be a revelation to be surprised or happy about, but right now, the only thing prevailing within Cassius''s mind was an abyssal hatred. His killing intent exploded outward, making even Godlike powerhouses turn as white as sheets of paper.

    "You dare?" His voice, sounding like it came straight from the depths of the coldest abyss, pierced through the Heavenly Progenitor''s crazy countenance. "To target my family. Tell me, old benefactor of mine, how is it you wish to die?"

    RUMBLE!!!

    "A scary one you are, young Cassius." After the initial surprise, the Heavenly Progenitor was back to seeing everything as one big joke. "But you should know better than I how this world operates. It''s survival of the fittest. I had no choice, really. I''m sure you understand¡ª"

    *Fwooopp!*

    BOOOOM!

    Cassius slashed out with Lilith at full power, his speed exceeding the conceivable parameters of the Ascension Tower.

    However, even though the result created an endless gash in the sky that erased time and space alike, the Heavenly Progenitor was still standing¡­

    "Who could''ve guessed that you''d become so strong in such a short period of time!" The Heavenly Progenitor faded in and out of reality like an incorporeal ghost, making the Holy Mother Spirit''s eyes widen in realization. "But unfortunately for you or any other insignificant figure here, none of you can so much as touch me unless I will it. I would tell you why that is right now, but I think it''d be better to just show you¡ªbahahaha!!"

    WAAAA!

    From the countless cracks in the sky, cosmic astral winds seeped in. They were followed by the rumbling of a loud, organic engine.

    Dread quickly drained the color from everyone''s faces as they looked to the skies. Absolute horror followed suit.

    From one end to the other of the golden-blue heavens, there were spaceships lined up like the harbingers of the dawn of annihilation. There were thousands of millions of them, their numbers incomparable to the invasion witnessed on the 0th Floor of the Humanity Ascension Tower.

    That was when those in Yggdrasil¡ªand every other living organism in the 8 Ascension Towers¡ªheard the utterly terrifying robotic voice belonging to the unimaginably large spaceship that couldn''t even fit all the way into the World:

    "Feeble Mortals of this Treasured Item, submit now and receive better treatment in the breeding farms. Otherwise, face the consequences of your actions¡ª"

    OOOM!

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    This time, even Cassius felt an unparalleled sense of dread. It was unlike anything he''d ever felt before¡ªa difference vaster than that of Heaven and Earth.

    Everyone else felt this as well¡ªbut at even worse levels. They all looked away from the massive half-organic, half-robotic spaceship, their eyes falling on a small, almost unnoticeable crack in space in a random corner of the sky.

    "This¡­"

    The Dissonant Mothership froze in fear. The same thing happened for the rest of the Dissonants when they viewed the unfathomable being coming out of the small crack in space. The word "Retreat!" immediately formed in all their minds¡ªbut it mattered not.

    They were too scared to move even an inch.

    In the world outside the Ascension Tower, they were at the very bottom of the food chain. Actually, they weren''t even that¡­

    ''Finally, HE''s here!!!''

 Chapter 429 - 429: Immortal Cultivator

    ''Finally, HE''s here!!!'' The Heavenly Progenitor''s teeth chattered in both instinctual fear and excitement as he watched the small spatial crack with unmatched focus.

    "So this is where that signal was coming from."

    An archaic voice resounded throughout all reality, making the Holy Mother Spirit''s heart sink to the bottom of her stomach. Everyone, no matter who they were, knew the moment this voice appeared that they could be permanently erased with but a mere thought¡ªif the owner of the voice willed it.

    It was the same as how Cassius was in the Three Great Worlds, except on a much, much, much higher level.

    The two instances were incomparable.

    "How interesting." A middle-aged man with long flowing robes and dao-filled eyes somehow teleported into the middle of the Arena of Yggdrasil without anyone noticing. "So this is what that signal was referencing. Yes, I see now. This trip has not been wasted, and this one is perfect for what I need."

    Suddenly, a cute, round-eyed girl was lifted into the air from where Lilia Eldrine was hiding.

    "M-Mama, what''s happening!?" Sylvy cried out as she reached for her mother.

    "My baby!!" Lilia immediately used every ounce of her power to resist the passive pressure of the mysterious man''s aura, yet couldn''t move more than half an inch. "Noooo!!!"

    The mysterious man revealed a tiny smile.

    "With a willpower like yours¡ªand your relationship with her¡ªyou''ll make for the perfect enhancer for this girl." He waved his hand very casually, lifting Lilia off the ground as well. "You both will be coming back with me. You should be honored; to serve the purposes of an Immortal Cultivator like me should be the highlight of your once-meaningless lives."

    Immortal Cultivator!?

    This mysterious man was actually a legendary Immortal Cultivator!?

    "LET GO OF THEM!!!"

    Adam Steele lost all his rationality, erupting with enough power to shock even the Holy Mother Spirit and the Yggdrasil Ancestors.

    To think he had become so powerful!

    However¡­

    "Five feet." The mysterious man rubbed his chin. "Although I''m not using even a billionth of my full power, a Lower Mortal should not be capable of doing what you just did. Mhm, I''ve decided¡ªyou''ll be coming with me as well. But don''t be mistaken. You''re not normally worth my attention, but your relationship to the girl will assist my purposes."

    "DAMN YOUU!!!"

    Adam lost total control over his motor functions. No matter how much he resisted, he was rendered as helpless as a chick. And just like his wife and daughter, he was now motionlessly floating behind the mysterious man.

    With each member of his family being forcefully captured against their will, Cassius''s expression grew darker. His emotions were in utter turmoil, with his rational side gradually losing out to the side telling him to forgo everything and kill this motherfucker!!

    OOOM!!

    In the end, Cassius couldn''t stand it anymore. And with a billowing roar to the heavens, he broke free from the mysterious man''s oppressive aura.

    However, even though Cassius traversed a distance of many miles in an instant¡ªfar surpassing the capabilities of anyone else¡ªthe mysterious man''s mood did not improve. On the contrary, it worsened.

    "An abomination like you¡ªwho are you to charge at me?"

    The mysterious man showed a disgusted look before slightly flicking out with his pinky finger.

    "!!!"

    Without any hope of resistance, Cassius had half his physical body obliterated. His expression froze as he was sent shooting backward, crashing into the Arena and through it without stopping.

    BOOM!

    Cassius reappeared in the Wolfdom Dimension in a half-dead state.

    Most terrifying of all was that his body¡­ wasn''t regenerating!

    "Cassius!!" Yimin, Zara, and the other girls all cried out, with deep hatred for this mysterious man engulfing their hearts.

    Forgoing all sense of reason or thought, they urged their bodies to attack the mysterious man. However, no matter how much they wanted it, their physical attributes couldn''t keep up.

    They weren''t even able to move a single inch¡­

    "In my world, I''d use an analogy to compare the difference between myself and those foolish enough to oppose me, but¡­ none is fitting here." The mysterious robed man unleashed another very tiny amount of his power, making everyone rethink their reasons for living. "Whether it be an ant to an elephant or God to a Mortal, you''re all too weak to be worthy of the comparison." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    OOOM!

    Not even the Yggdrasil Ancestors and Holy Mother Spirit could raise their heads, for they knew the moment they did so, they''d cease to be.

    "Even this Treasure you insignificant mortals live in is so low-level that I almost couldn''t locate it in my garden," said the mysterious man as he materialized a picture of a patch of flowers. "On the smallest of the Spiritual Flowers on this uninhabitable planet, your whole civilization lives. You see that speck? That is the combined culmination of all that any of you ants will ever amount to."

    The whole of the Ascension Tower could hear the mysterious man''s words. They could all see the vivid picture showing them just how inconsequential they actually were in the universe outside.

    Even the normally jovial Beezlebub was no longer smiling¡­

    "I could kill each and every single one of you with a fraction of a thought." The mysterious man cut off the image, allowing his aura to wrap around the Ascension Tower and even the void that separated the Treasure from the real world. "To me, your life and death is a simple matter. Something that I can manipulate at will."

    Everyone in the world suddenly felt a looming scythe of death glisten against the back of their necks.

    "But I won''t."

    The scythe disappeared.

    "And only because I''ve benefited from this trip that I made out of boredom." The mysterious man glanced at the three people helplessly floating beside him, all unconscious. "To think I''d find someone with a Physique as special as this one in such a worthless place. My cultivation will improve by leaps and bounds when she eventually matures."

 Chapter 430 - 430: Unimaginable Grief

    Turning around, the mysterious man''s mood was more pleasant than when he came in.

    However, that was when he noticed the Dissonants out of the corner of his eyes. His attention was particularly attracted by the huge meaty mass of metal, frozen stiff from fear.

    A disgusted look formed on the mysterious man''s face as he flicked his fingers. "Abominations."

    "W-Wait¡ª¡­"

    The Dissonant Mothership wanted to plead for its life.

    But the dead couldn''t plead¡­

    SPLURT¡ª!

    A shower of flesh and metal rained from the skies as the Dissonant Mothership flatlined. Its enormous body¡ªfrom the half in the Ascension Tower and the half stuck in the Subatomic Void¡ªhad been mashed to oblivion.

    Even the meat and metal that burst out of it quickly disintegrated by the will of the mysterious robed man.

    Turning his glare on the rest of the Dissonants, the mysterious robed man blinked.

    A blink. A hundred billion dead.

    Just like that, the blood feud between Cassius and the Dissonants ended. And it wasn''t even by his hands that they perished.

    Most astonishing of all was that not a single trace of the Dissonants'' existence remained. The skies were clear. There was no smell of death. And in an instant, an entire race had been exterminated.

    "A bunch of harmful bacteria." The mysterious man clicked his tongue, wiping off his hand with a handkerchief so as to not leave himself dirtied. "This is what''s wrong with these tiny isolated worlds. Even the white blood cells don''t know how to properly do their jobs. To allow bacteria to evolve to the point of transforming into those abominations¡­ I should go and eliminate the white blood cell worms myself."

    "But first." He paused, returning his focus to the sleeping girl''s parents. "I only need her to be alive. As for these other two¡­"

    Tapping his index finger against the air, the mysterious man erased Adam and Lilia''s physical bodies. All that remained were their humanoid souls, which looked to be peacefully sleeping in the fetal position.

    "There¡ª"

    The mysterious man stopped speaking, his head turning in the direction of a massive burst of crimson aura. The aura pierced through Dimensions, followed by a furious roar that shook the heavens.

    A figure who was half-broken and all demonic flickered through space. Appearing directly above the Arena of Yggdrasil, his face was twisted and distorted, bereft of any form of humanity.

    But his power¡­

    "It shouldn''t be possible for a mere lowest-tier Mortal to possess strength such as yours." The mysterious man stroked his beard, not the least bit concerned about the bloody sword shooting straight for his head. "You''re quite the interesting one. However¡­"

    *Flick!*

    "Abominations like you should all just die."

    "!!!" "!!!"

    "Cassiusss!!!"

    Tears mixed with heart-wrenching cries as the girls closest to Cassius watched his body and soul get flicked into non-existence¡­

    And yet their grief had no place to be released, for they couldn''t even control their own bodies.

    All they could do was stand and watch as the last bits of Cassius drifted to the void¡­

    Even Mikaela and Amaris were affected by this devastating event. They bit their lips, despising themselves for being so useless.

    Their daughters looked as if they''d lost everything¡ªboth their spirits and hearts shattered. And yet this only furthered the self-deprecation of the two mothers.

    The Ascension Tower itself seemed to cry out in sorrow over Cassius Steele''s death, casting a cloud of melancholy over everyone and everything.

    Even the unconscious souls of Adam and Lilia produced a negative, almost agonizing reaction. As if by instinct, they could sense it. The true, permanent death of their baby boy.

    ''So he died in the end.'' The Heavenly Father didn''t feel much of anything upon realizing this, for it was the natural course for those weaker than another. ''His power exceeded even my own, but unlike him, I have nothing capable of making me lose control over my emotions.''

    The Angels were his puppets, whereas Humanity was but a mere side project he started eons ago in order to create some entertainment for himself. Neither mattered to him.

    Even under the immense pressure, he was able to move a few meters. After doing so, he cupped his fists toward the mysterious robed man.

    "Little one pays his respects to Sir Immortal!"

    "Hmm?" The mysterious man arched a brow.

    The people of the Ascension Tower, on the other hand, were boiling over in anger. They cursed the Heavenly Progenitor both openly and inside their heads.

    "...So you''re the one who sent out that signal? Hmm, you also appear to have a little talent for the Dao of Cultivation." The mysterious man appraised while rubbing his beard. "I assume you did all this¡ªeven going so far as to betray your own people¡ªbecause you want to ascend to the Cultivation Path?"

    "Sir Immortal is as wise as he is powerful!"

    The mysterious man nodded in approval. "You know when to bow your head, and you brought me to find this good thing, so I shall grant your wish," he said. "Even though your potential is considerably worse than what I usually take in, you can still be a slave of mine."

    "!!!"

    The Heavenly Father beamed, while everyone else cursed him even louder.

    "Thank you very much, Sir Immortal!!" The Heavenly Father got on all fours and bowed at the lowest possible angle. "This one promises to serve you well and not bring disgrace to your noble name!"

    The mysterious man gave another nod before snorting at all the sad omens. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What a farce," he uttered, parting the gloomy clouds above. "If not for the lashback from amassing too much negative karma, I would kill every particle here and destroy the low-tier treasure. But since that would affect my future, I''ll be sparing your insignificant lives this day. Be grateful, Mortals."

    "Grateful¡­?"

    Yimin and the other girls had never felt so much rage. Such indescribable anger. Hatred that surged from the depths of their souls, consuming all their thoughts and actions.

 Chapter 431 - 431: 20 Billion Years Later

    "YOU WANT US TO BE GRATEFUL!??"

    Yet the abyssal voices of the girls fell on deaf ears, for the mysterious man¡­ had already left.

    He took with him the ecstatic Heavenly Father, leaving behind a whole world on the verge of total collapse. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "COME BACK HERE!!!"

    The girls continued to shout as if they''d lost their minds.

    "DON''T RUN AWAY!! COME BACK!!!"

    After a period of screaming at nothing, their hatred-filled voices cracked. The sadness returned in full. Tears streamed. Their hearts felt like they were exploding.

    "C-Come back¡­ Ple-Please¡­ R-Revive him¡­"

    Once the waterworks started, they didn''t end until long after those in the Arena of Yggdrasil left the area.

    Only a couple of the countless denizens of the Ascension Tower stayed behind.

    "Big sister, it has already been over a day." Alca Eldrine approached her sister on a balcony overlooking the Arena. "How much longer are you going to continue watching those pitiful women?"

    "...They are pitiful, aren''t they?" Luna Eldrine spoke in an indiscernible tone. "But this pitiful state of theirs was brought about from love."

    "A love that could leave a maiden like this¡­ I would''ve liked to experience it myself." Her eyes glossed over. "Perhaps with that man."

    She turned around, preparing to request a meeting with the Holy Mother Spirit.

    "Where are you going, big sister??"

    Without turning around, Luna Eldrine replied, "Although I felt she was just as saddened as the rest of them, Hellea Abalon was the first to temporarily leave her sorrowful reverie. With her face wet and her heart in tatters, she requested that I give a Highest-quality Tear of Yggdrasil to the Eldest Daughter of the Aluria Family.

    Hellea said this would be the final wish of Cassius Steele if he was given the chance to speak the words.

    I assume she has some unique way of delving into the Heavenly Secrets. Seeing as she''s the daughter of the North Abyss Witch, it makes sense."

    Alca Eldrine''s expression dramatically changed. "Are you saying that you''ll actually follow through with the wishes of a corpse and give away something as valuable as a Highest-quality Tear of Yggdrasil!?"

    Luna wistfully smiled. "You wouldn''t understand, little sister. But I believe that Cassius and I had a certain Fate together. A Fate that will forever remain unfulfilled."

    Walking into the sunset, Luna turned her head up, her expression unreadable. "The least I can do is fulfill his last wish. Or rather, I want to fulfill his last wish."

    "Big sister¡­"

    Alca couldn''t understand.

    Her sister would have to pay a huge price to take away a Highest-quality Tear of Yggdrasil. And yet she seemed more than happy to do so¡­

    The very next day, a |Highest-quality Tear of Yggdrasil| stored in a special sealing artifact arrived on Grace Aluria''s bedside table. A mental message was then transmitted to Flora and their mother.

    "Is that¡­!?"

    Amaris Aluria couldn''t believe her eyes. But this legendary item was impossible to fake, and even more impossible to mistake.

    Without wasting a single second, the Queen of the Succubi rushed over to her bedridden daughter and dumped the contents of a golden leaf-shaped vial in her mouth.

    The results were instantaneous, and Grace was completely healed.

    "My baby girl¡­!"

    Amaris hugged her like the most precious thing in the world, with little Chelle joining in as well.

    Only Flora stayed back, a dark shadow cast over her beautiful face.

    The first thing Grace saw upon waking up was Flora''s inexplicably saddened face. That was when she clutched her chest, feeling a deeply painful sting that tore her apart from the inside out.

    "Ahhh¡­!"

    She fell off her bed, screaming and clawing at the air with tears uncontrollably falling.

    "My baby girl, are you okay!?" Amaris embraced her eldest daughter, worry making her lips tremble. "Did even a Highest-quality Tear of Yggdrasil not completely cure you of your disease!??"

    "No, mother¡­ That''s not it¡­" Flora despondently muttered from the sidelines, her face hiding behind her hair. "I-It''s¡­ It''s¡­"

    Amaris immediately understood.

    She pulled Flora in close as well, not saying another word. She comforted them in the only way she knew how, even though that man''s death weighed heavily on her heart as well.

    ¡ª An Unknown Amount of Time Later¡­ ¡ª

    *Ding¡­*

    [Master, wake up!]

    *Ding!*

    [Master, you have to wake up!!]

    *Ding!!*

    [Dear Master, wake up!!!]

    "!!!"

    Cassius leaned forward super fast, gasping for air in the same instant.

    Almost immediately, though, he composed himself. A frigid iciness then welled up from within him, causing his thin brows to deeply furrow.

    Looking around, he realized that he was in the white space that remained after the Three Great Worlds were assimilated by him.

    "System, why am I here?" he asked calmly, but couldn''t hide the seething killing intent in his voice.

    [You''re extremely lucky, you know that, Master? A very powerful Cultivator happened across the Ascension Tower Treasure Item because of the elaborate ploy of your old friend!]

    [However, because of the anchor you left behind in this detached white space, even after dying through and through, you were still able to revive! (Fortunately, the Cultivator cared very little about the ongoings of this world, else you would''ve been found out right away¡­)]

    "So I really did die¡­" Cassius''s frustrations grew. "I¡­ I couldn''t do it. I couldn''t protect my family when it really counted¡­"

    Doubts of his Path began to form.

    However, just as quickly as they came, they were dispelled.

    "No, there''s no way I could''ve accounted for the appearance of a force so overwhelmingly powerful." Cassius clenched his fists, a newfound resolve materializing. "Next time, I just have to be strong enough to¡­ Wait¡­ Where are Yuna and her family¡­?"

    [¡­Master¡­] The System hesitated. [There''s something I must tell you¡­]

    Cassius had a terrible sense of foreboding.

    But what he heard next far exceeded the worst of his expectations, nearly crushing his spirit entirely:

    [20¡­ 20 billion years have passed in the main timeline.]

    What¡­?

    [Yuna and the others brought out from the original Three Great Worlds were taken out of this Dimension by me when you first went into a coma. They¡­ They lived good lives, Dear Host¡­]

 Chapter 432 - 432: A Changed World

    This¡­ can''t be true¡­ It just can''t be¡­

    [I hope you''ll forgive me, Dear Host, but I forcefully instilled the maximum number of Origin Blessings and part of your Origin Progenitor Bloodline in everyone deemed to be close to you.]

    [However¡­]

    [Lifespan comes for all Mortals. And no amount of Origin Blessings or Bloodlines could change that.]

    [Even your own Lifespan won''t last long now, let alone theirs...]

    [¡­Dear Host¡­ They''ve all passed away. Everyone you once knew¡­]

    Of all the times the System could be joking around, Cassius hoped that this was one of those times.

    It had to be¡­

    It was just another joke!

    [¡­I''m sorry¡­]

    Then it struck.

    Like a thunderbolt, these announcements shook Cassius to his core.

    He staggered, his vision blurring.

    Clutching his face, his expression couldn''t properly process the flurry of emotions ramming around within him.

    "I-I¡­"

    He didn''t.

    "I don''t know¡­"

    He didn''t know what to do.

    Unable to think, his brain shut off.

    [Dear Host¡­]

    The System wanted to snap Cassius out of it by force, but that would only do more harm than good. And no acceptable character development would come about from that.

    Some time later¡­

    [Dear Host, that isn''t all that I had to say.]

    The System knew Cassius was listening.

    [When each of the ones close to you neared the ends of their lifespans, I extracted their souls and stored them in myself.]

    Cassius''s lifeless eyes saw a glimmer of hope.

    Only to be quenched by the System''s following words:

    [Unfortunately, where I had no choice but to put them was a one-way ticket¡­ To get them out and possibly resurrect them¡­ even I have no idea just how strong you''ll need to be. Many times stronger than that Cultivator is a minimum.]

    "...Stronger than that Cultivator¡­?"

    These were the first words spoken by Cassius in thousands of years. His partially vacant gaze turned toward the System Interface.

    "How¡­ How do I become stronger¡­?"

    He had already reached the peak of every single one of his aspects of existence.

    What more could be improved?

    [Dear Host, you must embark on the Path of Immortal Cultivation.]

    [That is the only way forward.]

    The Path of Immortal Cultivation!?

    But how!?

    As if reading his thoughts, the System said:

    [Leave this space and journey to where it all ended. There, you will find a mountain. Only one of your previous acquaintances remains, and she''s on that mountain. You must speak with her; she is the way forward.]

    An acquaintance??

    But weren''t they all dead???

    "...Okay, I''ll go¡­"

    Without wasting any more time idling, Cassius left the white space.

    FWIP!

    Reappearing within what used to be the Yggdrasil Ascension Tower, Cassius immediately realized something unusual. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The world¡­" he muttered. "There''s no longer multiple Ascension Towers¡­"

    Sometime during the last 20 billion years, the World Tree evolved. And from this evolution, it did what it never could do before and completely connected with the other 7 Dimensions with Yggdrasil.

    No one knew why this evolution occurred, but Cassius was soon going to find out¡­

    After a while of aimlessly wandering this new world that had somehow exponentially increased in size over the years, Cassius came across a mountain that challenged the heavens. It was so tall that several layers of clouds were pierced through by its summit.

    A crow-type humanoid noticed a worn-down human out of the corner of its eye. This prompted it to speak out with a tone of caution:

    "Before you proceed, human, you should know that these are Sacred Grounds of the Goddess. Going any further will result in immediate execution upon¡ª"

    The crow person suddenly felt a spell of drowsiness. Before it could say even one word more, it fell asleep.

    The expressionless man walked past the willow tree the crow person had been perched atop. He ascended the seemingly endless number of marble steps one by one.

    On his way to the summit, many a Mountain Guardian attempted to thwart him. But without even looking their way, Cassius forced them to sleep.

    ¡ª Some years later ¡ª

    Finally. The summit.

    The very second Cassius took his first step onto the Mountain''s Summit, he took notice of a mystical plaque. There were many designed like this one before now, but none felt as memorable as this one.

    After all¡­

    "It was there¡­ When I underwent my Class Change Quest¡­"

    Cassius was unable to describe what he was feeling right now, so he just listlessly read off the name on the plaque:

    "Mount¡­ Olympus."

    It was the same.

    The same one present in that vision.

    Then did that mean¡­?

    For the first time in his life after awakening, Cassius was¡­ afraid.

    He was afraid to look ahead and see what lay there.

    But¡­

    "...I have to¡­ I¡­ I owe them that¡­"

    So Cassius did it. He looked ahead.

    Regret had formed the moment he made this decision. However, it was already too late.

    There, scattered atop the flat mountain summit, were¡­ graves.

    They numbered over a dozen, with the names on them causing Cassius''s pupils to erratically flicker.

    "...Aya¡­" he began in a strained voice, his words cracking at every syllable. "Sasha¡­ Grace¡­ Corra¡­ Bella¡­ Memphis... Stella... Yimin.... Hellion.... Yuna....."

    After Yuna, Cassius couldn''t bear to read off any more. His heart ached more than it ever had, as memories of all these amazing women flooded his mind.

    The pain was indescribable. Far more painful than anything he''d ever experienced before.

    His life was full of pain. His every waking and sleeping moment was filled with it.

    Yet none of that could compare to what he was feeling right now¡­

    The whole reason he started putting his all into becoming stronger¡ªwas it not for the sake of ensuring that he lived his life the way he wanted? One that involved keeping those close to him away from the dangers of the world¡­?

    He alone endured everything that came his way. All the pain. All the suffering.

    All so they didn''t have to¡­

    So badly, Cassius wished this were all just a dream. A terrible nightmare.

    But deep down, he knew this was his reality. And there was no rewriting the past¡­

    "I foolishly believed that as long as I became invincible in this world, everything would go my way¡­"

    How wrong he was.

 Chapter 433 - 433: The End of Cassius Steele...

    For a while, Cassius just sat there in a kneeling position, staring at the graves of the companions he once treasured. He shed not a tear. Made not a peep. But his actions spoke plenty, for he spent millions of years kneeling there.

    Until eventually¡­

    "She told me you''d come, but I never believed her."

    ''A voice¡­?'' Cassius urged his dusty bones to move, turning to look at the fairy-like woman who descended from a puff of light.

    He immediately realized who it was, and though he wanted to speak, no words came out.

    The fairy-like woman smiled. "It''s been a while, Big Brother Cass."

    "¡­Opal¡­" Cassius finally uttered the words, his crusted lips flaking off due to how inactive they had been.

    "So you remember me." Opal''s smile widened as she glided down beside Cassius, her flawless face now mere inches away from his. "Billions of years¡­ A lot has changed, Big Brother. You''ve missed so much."

    Cassius looked into this woman''s crystalline eyes, yet was unable to find the timid girl he once saved from a paid-off Slayer Squad in the Nightmarescape.

    "We have a lot to discuss," said Opal. "Why don''t we start from the beginning?"

    She then went on to tell him all that had happened in the past 20 billion years.

    She spoke of her fusion with the World Tree and the Holy Mother Spirit. She talked about all the grand achievements Yimin and the rest of the girls made, yet also described how so very lonely they were after reaching the peak.

    They all reached the ends of their lifespans at different points, yet their singular regret remained the same:

    They wished, if only for but one more second, they''d be able to see Cassius again.

    However, their wishes were never fulfilled¡­

    "Can you believe that crazy Yimin from back then went on to become a Scholar that shocked the world over with her profound discoveries? Hahaha! Ha¡­"

    The atmosphere went stale, with both Cassius and Opal quiet as a church mouse.

    After a while¡­

    "Big Brother, you''ve come here without knowing why. But the core part of you knows why you''ve come."

    No response.

    Opal smiled fondly. "These past few years I''ve spent telling you all these stories have been really fun, you know?" She looped her slender arms around his neck. "Definitely the most fun I''ve had in a very, very long time. But Big Brother¡­ All good things must come to an end."

    "You have to absorb me and subsequently the entirety of the Ascension Tower." Opal continued with a false tone of acceptance. "I-It''s the only way¡­ You must¡­ You must let me go. Just like the others were let go across this endless river of time¡­"

    "You still have something you need to do, don''t you, Big Brother¡­?" Opal tightly held onto his tattered robes, hiding the face torn between sadness and what had to be done.

    "Something I need to do¡­?" Cassius mumbled.

    His mother.

    His father¡­

    His sister¡­.

    The girls...

    "Something I need to do," he repeated, his tone vastly different from the first time he said it. "I have to¡­ bring them back."

    Opal froze, her expression on the verge of collapsing altogether.

    In the end, all she could do was manage a fake smile while stealing his icy blue gaze.

    "May¡­ She told me this day would arrive long ago. And I thought I prepared for it. I believed the impact you had on my life wasn''t large enough to affect me so. But I¡­ I was wrong¡­"

    Pushing away from Cassius, Opal took a deep breath. And with the loveliest smile she could manage, she said, "I''ve lived long enough for all of us, Big Brother. It''s time I join my sister and family as we join together inside you to witness what you''ll achieve. I''ve transmitted into your mind the messages your companions wanted to leave behind for when you returned. You should read them after¡­ After I''m gone..."

    "Go ahead."

    "Do it."

    Cassius hesitated for what felt like an eternity.

    He didn''t know what to say. He didn''t know how to react.

    He didn''t know anything.

    But when next he came to, his hand was already placed against Opal''s tear-stained face. The absorption process had already begun. No¡­

    It had already finished. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Big Brother¡­ This is farewell¡­" Even while facing permanent erasure head-on, Opal was still smiling. "If there''s a next life, I hope to be a butterfly¡­ That way I can fly beside you forever, Big Brother¡ª"

    FWOOOOM!

    Like the turning off of a TV screen, everything went dark for Opal.

    She was gone. Her consciousness no more.

    Thousands of years went by without Cassius doing anything. He just stood there, his mind meandering.

    Until he heard it. The monotone voice of his oldest companion.

    *Ding¡­*

    [Your life and death hang in the balance.]

    [Finishing the absorption of Yggdrasil and the Ascension Tower is your only path to Immortality. You will have to leave everything behind¡­]

    [Do you accept?] - [Y/N]

    "Leave what behind¡­?" Cassius muttered with an incomprehensible tone. "Everything already left me behind long ago¡­"

    While speaking to the System, he carefully read through the messages left behind by the girls, each one more painful to read than the last.

    Then he came across May''s¡­

    "Cass, if you''re reading this, then everything has already happened, hasn''t it¡­? We''re all gone, and you''re alone¡­"

    "I¡­ I knew this day would come. I''ve always known. Even before you pulled me out of the pits of despair, I''ve¡­ always known¡­"

    "I never told you the truth. I fed you lies in an attempt to make you retain hope. But I was wrong¡­ I never should''ve lied to you¡­"

    "Cass, I''m¡­ I''m sorry¡­ sorry for everything¡­"

    "I''m sure you''ve heard enough confessions from the others... And even though I don''t deserve to say this, I want you to know¡­ that I love you too. More than anything else in the world. Since the very moment you saved me¡­"

    "Cass¡­ Goodbye¡­"

    Cassius was put in a daze, his thoughts spiraling.

    Until the System spoke once more:

    [Dear Host, you''re aware that even your memories and experiences will not remain after you make this irreversible decision, aren''t you? The likelihood of you one day regaining what you''ll lose is abysmal¡­ Infinitely close to zero¡­]

    Those were the last words Cassius heard the Idle Evolution System utter before it and all 9 Idle Benefits combined together. The resulting product shot toward him along with the Essence of Yggdrasil at the summit of Mount Olympus.

    The graves of those lost to the dredges of time violently shook and cracked before crumbling and drifting into the blowing wind, taking with them the memories most precious to the one forgotten in time.

    CRACK¡ª

    The unbreakable barrier that Cassius had spent millions of years vainly trying to shatter¡ªwithout even realizing it¡ªfinally began to crack.

    "In the end, there was no possible way for a mere mortal to break through the constricts of lower lifeforms, was there¡­?"

    Turning toward his System, Cassius revealed a pained smile. "Thank you for all you''ve done for me over these years. Without you, I''d be nothing. So sincerely, I thank you."

    [Dear Host¡­]

    This was the first time the System seemed genuinely sad about something. It even went so far as to hide its digital emoticon.

    [You''re wrong, you know? There''s a reason that out of countless living beings across an infinite number of realities, you were the one I chose. You would''ve never been nothing.]

    Cassius went quiet¡­

    [Dear Host, this journey we''ve experienced together; I enjoyed it a lot. And¡­ I''m sorry¡­] The System''s voice cracked. [I''m sorry I was so harsh on you. I just¡­ I just wanted to prevent all this from happening.]

    In that moment, Cassius realized something.

    "You knew, didn''t you¡­? That this would all occur as it did¡­?"

    [¡­]

    The System''s lack of response was the only answer Cassius needed.

    That was why it always put an emphasis on character development. On never going easy on oneself no matter what.

    Since the very beginning, the System simply¡­ wanted him to survive.

    "I''ve been a fool¡­" Cassius murmured. "You hid it so well behind all those jokes and insults that I never would''ve figured things out without you telling me¡­"

    The System still wasn''t responding.

    Cassius was grateful. He was extremely grateful for all the System did for him. And it knew that as well as he did.

    "I''m also grateful for you two," he said to the two weapons glowing weakly within his cracking soul. "Thank you for accompanying me this far. If there''s a next life, I hope to have you as my partners the same as this life."

    Lilith and Mora hummed with an agonizing melancholy, seemingly pleading for their Master not to go through with this.

    There had to be another way!

    But it was already too late¡­

    "It has been fun."

    Cassius smiled.

    He then faded atop Mount Olympus.

    Along with all that he was and had ever done¡­

    BLIP!

    And then he was gone¡ªslipped through a crack that the Ascension Tower made while in the process of being absorbed by him.

    "Hmm?"

    The Cultivator that served as the source of Cassius''s despair turned his head off to the side.

    For some reason, he felt something was out of place.

    However, he ultimately passed it off as nothing important and resumed his cultivation. At the same time, he occasionally glanced at the cultivating Sylvy and the two unconscious souls trapped next to her.

    "For inventing this Technique that makes use of the relationship between parents and child to cultivate, one could say that the Demonic Faction is useful for at least one good thing. Now, both her undying loyalty and future prospects as a Human Furnace are secured."

    With that, the Cultivator closed his eyes, and time continued to pass without a finish line in sight¡­

 Chapter 434 - 434: Ancient Desolate Continent

    ¡ª Within the Forest of Jagga, Ancient Desolate Continent ¡ª

    "Eldest Senior Brother Mo, you told us the Spiritual Herbs were all over here, so where are they??"

    The impatient voice of a young man wearing Eastern-style clothes carried through the moist forest air. Leaf crunches were produced by this man and several others as they ventured further into the Forest of Jagga.

    Mo Fuchan, the one referred to as the Eldest Senior Brother, clicked his tongue.

    It wasn''t like he was all that happy about being unable to find the Spiritual Herbs either!

    "Just keep on walking; they''re definitely somewhere around here," he said with a bit of irritation. "Spiritual Herbs don''t just disappear for no reason¡ª"

    "Look, Eldest Senior Brother Mo!" a young robed girl called out, pointing at a wide crater that could be peeked through some shrubbery.

    A Natural Phenomenon!?

    Mo Fuchan and his party immediately scurried over to the clearing that housed the crater. There, in the center of the smoking pit in the ground, was a flower that shone with unmatched brilliance.

    A Divine Natural Treasure!

    It had to be!

    "I know this Spiritual Herb!" A robed man with pulled-back hair took out a book on botany and showed everyone an illustration that looked almost identical to the colorful flower in the crater. "It''s a Nine-Petaled Rainbow Rose! Tier 3 Natural Treasure!"

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Tier 3!?

    That was the equivalent of a Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Herb!

    Could something as extremely valuable and rare as this really be found in such a low-level place!?

    "It must''ve fallen from the High-Heaven Kingdom!" a short-haired robed man awed at the huge floating landmass sitting thousands of miles off the ground. "To the god-like beings up there, something like a Tier 3 Natural Treasure is worth the same as trash!"

    Could it really be possible that a supreme expert from the High-Heaven Kingdom actually threw away a Tier 3 Natural Treasure¡­? Even to them, wouldn''t that be a large waste??

    Although Mo Fuchan was thinking as such, the enticement of the Nine-Petaled Rainbow Rose was simply too great to ignore.

    Consuming it would directly improve one''s cultivation by a single Minor Stage as long as you were in or below the Foundation Establishment Realm. Furthermore, if your Spirit Roots were below the Seventh Grade, you''d receive an improvement of one rank of quality.

    A miraculous and invaluable item!

    He had to have it!

    Narrowing his eyes, Mo Fuchan flipped his cold gaze between all of his junior brothers and sisters. In his mind, he was debating whether or not he should kill them now or on their return trip back to the Greenflame Sect.

    As the Eldest Senior Brother of the Tier 1 Sect, he was considered very strong. His cultivation at the Viscera Stage of Body Refinement put him on the same level as the Sect Elders.

    While he and the others had their own thoughts at the discovery of the Tier 3 Natural Treasure, a young and pretty bright-eyed girl marveled at something that no one else attached any value to.

    A tiny seed¡ªone with a faint red, black, and purple hue.

    It was sticking out of the perimeter of the crater and possessed even less spiritual power than the most basic of Tier 1 Spiritual Herbs. But for some reason, this young girl, called Yi Yu, couldn''t take her eyes away from it.

    "So pretty¡­" she murmured while approaching the edge of the cliff where the Tier 3 Natural Treasure had crashed.

    At the same time, Mo Fuchan threw out the first strike against the junior who''d give him the most trouble. This led to a series of screams as blood was shed¡ªand continued to be shed.

    "Ahhh!"

    "W-What are you doing, Eldest Senior Brother!?"

    "Have you gone insane, you bastard¡­!?"

    "Who cares what you ants think!" Mo Fuchan laughed like a maniac, repeatedly swinging out with his silver sword. "This Natural Treasure will be mine, and with it, I''ll ascend to the Marrow Refinement Stage!!"

    SHING! SHING! SHING!

    But as if in a trance, while crimson liquid was splattering the surroundings, Yi Yu bent down and carefully took the unusual seed out of the ground.

    CRACK¡ª!

    At the exact moment she picked up the seed, the earth beneath her feet broke apart from the cliff''s lip. Unable to catch her balance or jump out of the way in time, Yi Yu tumbled off the side.

    ''The seed!''

    Even while her life was on the line, she prioritized the safety of the seed. She held it close to her heart and closed her eyes, preparing herself for the pain that was sure to assault her senses.

    "Damn, one got away!" Mo Fuchan cursed while looking down at the deep cliffside.

    Wiping off some of the blood that he was drenched in, he stormed off in the opposite direction.

    "This''ll just have to do," he said while wearing a cruel grin. "Even if she survived a fall like that, there''s no way she''ll live for long. That means I can breakthrough without a worry! No one is left alive to refute the tale I''ll tell the elders, haha!!"

    Meanwhile, at the rocky depths of the cliffside¡ª S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Twitch, Twitch*

    Faint signs of life could be seen from the battered and bloodied girl sprawled out like a lifeless doll.

    Yet, even with her lifeforce rapidly draining, her dimmed eyes were wholly focused on the cut-up seed that had dropped out of her broken arms. She seemed to be trying to reach out for it, but her body refused to listen to her.

    ''Sorry, Little Seed¡­ I thought I could protect you, but it turns out I was useless all the way up to my final moments¡­''

    Just as her consciousness began to slip away, a dazzling light erupted from the unusual seed.

    OOOM!

    This light signified the complete assimilation of the Idle Evolution System!

    A new existence was born! One destined to reach the pinnacle of Evolution!

    However, even with a consciousness within this seed yet to fully materialize, an intent was transmitted to the unfamiliar entity called the Idle Evolution System. This intent conveyed just two words¡ªbut they were words that forced a wide grin on the invisible blue world-sphere hovering next to the seed.

    ''Help her.''

 Chapter 435 - 435: Yi Yu and a Seed

    ''Help her.''

    [Very well, but the cost at your dismal state will put you back into a period of hibernation. Then again, you already know that, don''t you, my Dear Host?]

    Silence¡­

    [Even with your consciousness barely a flicker, your resolve is still unmatched. You truly are worthy of being the Host destined for me throughout all eternity¡­]

    BLING!

    A bright green light blasted out of the unusual seed and covered the dying girl in its warm glow. Her injuries gradually began to recover; however, with every ounce of rejuvenation came the further withering of the seed.

    It was dying¡­

    But she was alive.

    ¡ª Some time later ¡ª

    "Hah!" Yi Yu woke up like a straightened sword, her messy hair waving about as she wearily surveyed her surroundings. "Where am I!? What happened to me??"

    That was when the memories of encountering the seed came flooding back to her.

    "So that''s how it is¡­ But then where is the seed!? And how am I still alive!??"

    She received no answers, and there was no imparting of divine wisdom.

    "I guess I should just thank the gods that I survived," she muttered, though felt terrible over what happened to the seed. "I couldn''t even protect a plant. I really am useless¡ª"

    Just then, a purple-black glow caught her eye, prompting her to race over. Digging her hands in the dirt, she scooped out a dried-up seed.

    Overflowing with joy, Yi Yu jumped up and down.

    "It''s alive! It''s really alive!"

    Although barely¡­

    "I should take it back to the Sect right away," she declared resolutely. "Then I can nurture it back to life!"

    But before that, it needed a name. One that fit it to a T.

    Purple¡­ Black¡­ Red¡­ A seed¡­

    Ah!

    "Nope, I''m stumped¡­"

    Yi Yu sighed as she went to get up off the ground. Something sticky was glued to her hands, urging her to show a slight pout, saying, "Of course there had to be a puddle of Becro Tree Juice at a time like this. What a bumm¡ª Wait!"

    She had it!

    The name! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Necro!"

    OUNG!

    "???"

    Why was there the sound of a gong??

    Was this also some sort of natural phenomenon??

    "Speaking of natural phenomena," Yi Yu began while looking to the top of the cliff, "I wonder what happened with that rainbow-colored flower. Did the Seniors make it back to the Sect with it?"

    *Rumble¡­*

    A slight blush formed on her face, with the rumbling of her stomach interrupting her thoughts.

    "I really should hurry back to the Sect," she said as she moved her legs, quickly reaching speeds upwards of dozens of miles per hour. "Hopefully the Seniors are okay."

    ¡ª Some time later, at the gates of a Sect that sat in between a small mountain pass ¡ª

    *Snore¡­ Snore¡­*

    An old man was sleeping on an old wooden chair, and a pretty young girl with torn-up robes approached.

    "Excuse me, Mr. Zhang!"

    "Hwa!? Who dares¡ª Oh, it''s just you, Little Yu," said Old Man Zhang. "Go on in. The others thought you had died like the rest, but I knew that wasn''t the case."

    Yi Yu''s face immediately greyed. She repeated, "Like the others¡­?"

    Old Man Zhang nodded, but made a puzzled expression. "You act like you weren''t aware. Were you not there with Mo Fuchan as well? The only survivor of the massacre?"

    "N-No, I¡­ fell¡­"

    Old Man Zhang observed the troubled countenance of the long-haired girl staring down at her feet. He sighed, saying, "Don''t let it get to you, Little Yu. Accidents are common, and though this one was a particularly tragic one, that doesn''t change my point. Just head on over to Mo Fuchan and the Elders; they''ll explain what happened according to Mo''s retelling of the events."

    "...Okay¡­"

    With a downcast aura, Yi Yu walked past the old man guarding the Main Gates of the Sect. He heaved another heavy breath of air as she walked by, but soon returned to his deep slumber.

    Not long after passing through the Sect Gates, a commotion could be heard from up ahead.

    "Are you trying to say that Eldest Senior Brother Mo lied!? How could that be!?"

    "N-No¡­! Bu-But my husband¡­ H-He was¡­" A woman wailed.

    Yi Yu could sense the deep sadness of the woman from dozens of meters away. She walked past a few Sect buildings in an attempt to get close enough to better hear what they were arguing about.

    *Slap!*

    "Who gives a shit if your husband was among the deceased in the adventuring party!" The fierce man who was angrily shouting at the distraught lady retracted his hand. "Many of our friends and family died, but that''s no reason to doubt the words of Eldest Senior Brother Mo! He''s a role model for us all, and if he says a massive Marrow Refinement Realm Demon Beast attacked, then that''s what happened!"

    The murmurings of the crowd increased in volume after watching the saddened woman get slapped to the ground in such a crude manner. Some felt bad for her, but at the same time, in speaking up against the Eldest Senior Brother, she was essentially asking for it.

    "W-Why did you just hit that grieving woman¡­??"

    In a voice as meek as a church mouse, Yi Yu made her stance known. An act which made almost everyone turn their heads her way.

    "Who is this girl??"

    "Does she not know her place!? Or does she believe she can get away with anything as long as she''s pretty??"

    "Wait, I think I know who she is! Yi Yu, a Flesh Refining Realm Cultivator! But I thought she was supposed to be a part of the Adventuring Party that was almost entirely wiped out???"

    The way everyone looked at the nervously sheepish girl dramatically changed. Some even went to get an Elder with post-haste.

    A couple seconds later, one arrived.

    He was known as Elder Do Bu. He had medium-length grey hair, a frail build, and carried himself like a wizened senior.

    A cultivation of the Viscera Refinement Stage, same as Mo Fuchan!

    "Girl, what is your name?" he asked as soon as he made his grand appearance.

    Yi Yu fiddled with her fingers, this being her first time encountering such a high-rank member of the Greenflame Sect. But with courage that seemingly came from the dilapidated seed in her satchel, she gave the Elder her name.

    "So it''s Little Miss Yi Yu," he said with a courteous tone, motioning for the girl to follow him away from the crowd of people. "It would appear that you''re the only other person than Mo Fuchan to survive the Demon Beast massacre. The other Elders and Sect Leader will wish to know about this."

    "O-Okay¡ª"

    "Wait!" The distraught woman from earlier rushed up to the departing pair. "I haven''t had the chance to thank you yet, but thank you for defending me, young miss¡­!"

    Seeing the tear-stained woman bowing her head behind her, Yi Yu quickly raised her hands and frantically waved them.

    "I-I really didn''t do anything much¡­ Please don''t thank me; I don''t deserve it¡­"

    "Regardless, thank you, young miss¡­!"

    Helpless, Yi Yu could only bow her head as well before running off with Elder Do Bu to a higher-placed area of the Sect.

 Chapter 436 - 436: Necro

    "So you''re the second survivor of the Adventure Party massacre?" The Greenflame Sect''s Sect Leader spoke up, his Half-step Qi Condensation Realm aura suffocating the room. "But that comes off as strange, seeing as Disciple Mo Fuchan here claimed himself to be the only survivor."

    Mo Fuchan was not looking too good right now. His slightly handsome face was scrunched up and twisted, filtering between green, purple, and red in color.

    ''How was this bitch able to survive that fall?! It makes no sense!''

    She was even unharmed!

    Ridiculous!

    "Well, I''m inclined to believe that perhaps Mo Fuchan was mistaken when he confirmed the deaths of every other disciple," said a female Elder who supported him. "It''s an honest mishap."

    Mo Fuchan''s soured expression brightened at this. "Elder Sa is right. The situation was so dire, with the threat of the Marrow Refinement Demon Beast such a dangerous one that my mind was thrown out of loop."

    "This¡ª" Shadows streaked across his face during his pause. "¡ªJunior Sister of mine¡­ is fortunate to have survived that ''terrible'' encounter. Fortunate indeed."

    Yi Yu was poised in the middle of a spacious room. On every side of the room, in a circular formation, was a Sect Elder. A special guest was the Lead Sect Disciple, Mo Fuchan, who was standing off to the side, showing the poor girl in the middle a ''friendly'' look.

    "Both of your opinions are duly noted, but we''re still missing the input of the one most vital to this discussion," said the Sect Leader. "So then, Disciple Yi Yu, what happened?"

    Mo Fuchan flashed her a threatening look, doing so unnoticed by the Elders present in the room.

    "I¡­" Yi Yu shuddered under the pressure jointly emitted by the powerhouses around her. "I¡­ don''t¡­"

    She lowered her head, unable to meet any of their stares.

    She felt like crawling into a hole and dying¡­

    However, at her lowest, the cracked seed in her satchel started to glow. The light it emitted soothed Yi Yu''s nerves and allowed her to explain her side of the story, omitting no details.

    Lying wouldn''t have gotten her anywhere anyway. After all, under the scrutiny of the Sect Leader, the truth would''ve been laid bare whether she wanted it to or not.

    "So that''s how it is," said the Sect Leader while deep in thought. "The cliffside broke apart with you over it. And this happened after a Natural Treasure was discovered¡­"

    He glanced at the nervously sweating Mo Fuchan, sensing something amiss.

    "Disciple Yi Yu here says she wasn''t there to witness who took that flower, but it wouldn''t happen to have fallen into your hands, would it have?"

    "O-Of course not, Sect Leader!" Mo Fuchan frantically scrambled for words, his pupils swimming around inside his eyes. "I''m very familiar with the Sect''s rules, so if I took it, I''d have to be stupid! No, it was that scummy Demon Beast that stole the Tier 3 Natural Treasure and ran off with it! Damn that beast!!"

    The Sect Leader crossed his fingers before placing his hands under his chin. On his chair, he sat and brooded.

    The longer he remained quiet, the more anxious Mo Fuchan became.

    That was until the Sect Leader broke the silence, saying, "Let''s leave it at that, then."

    Several sighs of relief were breathed, though Mo Fuchan still held a grudge against the girl who was supposed to die.

    "This meeting is adjourned, and all relevant parties should leave at once," the Sect Leader ordered. "The Internal Sect Competition is coming up soon, so I expect everyone to prepare yourselves and your participating disciples for the annual event."

    "Yes, Sect Leader!"

    With that, everyone dispersed. They either returned to their Mountain Peaks scattered across the Sect or the lavish abodes housing the Elders who stayed in the Main Sect Grounds.

    Then there were the two outliers¡ªthe two Disciples¡ªMo Fuchan and Yi Yu.

    The former considered returning the ''favor'' right here and now for putting his ass in the fire, but decided not to in the end. If something were to happen to Yi Yu, he''d be the first one everyone pointed fingers at.

    Therefore, until he finished assimilating the Natural Treasure that he had to store in his Dantian in a rush, he''d leave her be.

    ''What I have most of is time. And for this offense, your punishment will not be a light one, Junior Sister.''

    While Mo Fuchan''s thoughts evilly stirred, Yi Yu, who had just returned to her humble eastern cave abode, sat down. Cupped in her hands like the most precious of jewels was the unusual seed that seemed both simple and mysterious at the same time.

    "Why do you feel so special, Mr. Seed?" Yi Yu got into a lying position, kicking her feet behind her. "I may sound crazy, but for some reason, I think you''re the thing that saved my life. I mean, I died¡­ At least, that''s what it felt like."

    For a while, she just marveled at the cut-up seed, seemingly attempting to peer into its secrets.

    But after some time, she decided to take the seed and bury it in some spiritual energy-filled soil that she kept inside a pot. This pot was then placed at the far end of the cave abode, where a few streams of sunlight shone through.

    "There we are; that should do it!" Yi Yu''s lips curved upward as she happily smiled at the pot. "I''ll protect you forever and ever, but make sure to grow big and strong, Necro. Only that way can you not be as useless as I am¡­"

    The seed glowed a little from within the pot''s soil, making Yi Yu all the happier.

    The next day quickly came, and as the sun rose up in the west, Yi Yu''s pretty face was there to greet Necro. She watered him and made sure he got plenty of sunlight, all while smiling more brilliantly than the sun itself.

    The daytime hours ended, and the dark came, making way for the next dawn.

    S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 437 - 437: What Am I...?, Evolution Tree

    Like the day before, Yi Yu got up bright and early to care for Necro. She hoped that the damage he incurred would heal as fast as possible.

    However, unlike the day prior, she didn''t spend all her time at home. She went out and fulfilled her sectly duties, which included but were not limited to completing missions, helping out, and even teaching or guiding the new disciples.

    Darkness enveloped the mountain pass once more, signifying the arrival of night.

    The day repeated itself.

    Doing the same the next day.

    And the next.

    And the next¡­ S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With no real sense of time or train of thought, Necro the seed was left to grow in a pot. Every day, Yi Yu would return with a dazzling smile and nurture him, ensuring that she kept her promise.

    But with the passing of time, that beautiful smile dimmed. With each day, it worsened, becoming ever more fake and saddened.

    Until one day, she just stopped returning home¡­

    ¡ª An unknown amount of time later ¡ª

    Under a pile of rubble that had existed for years, there lay a seed. Buried and forgotten with the perpetual march of time.

    CRACK¡ª

    A crack.

    It formed on the seed. Marking the first of many to come.

    After an even longer amount of time, and the emergence of countless cracks, the seed broke apart. From its hard outer shell emerged a saplet.

    Almost right away, this purple and black saplet began to actively absorb the Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere. That was until¡­

    *Ding!*

    [Enough Spiritual Energy has been absorbed, allowing for the rudimentary creation of a fully solidified consciousness.]

    [Due to lack of response, the Idle Evolution System has taken the liberty of going through with the consciousness creation process.]

    Months later¡­

    [Consciousness will finish forming in¡­ 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­]

    [Consciousness formed!]

    [First System Function ''Lifespan Extraction and Conversion'' has been automatically activated.]

    [Commencing the absorption of Lifespan in the surrounding living organisms that lack proper defenses¡­]

    [You sucked a Mortal-level Caterpillar dry; 0.001 years of Lifespan was acquired!]

    [You sucked a Mortal-level Earthworm dry; 0.002 years of Lifespan was acquired!]

    [You sucked a Mortal-level Red Ant dry; 0.001 years of Lifespan was acquired!]

    [You¡­.]

    ¡ª A few days later ¡ª

    *Ding!*

    [You have accumulated a total of 1.3 years of Lifespan!]

    [Would you like to convert the majority of it into Evolution Points at a 1:1 conversion ratio?]

    Silence¡­

    [Since the Host is still in recovery and unable to fully formulate coherent thoughts, the Idle Evolution System has decided to do what''s best for him!]

    [Lifespan (1.3 Years) ¡ú (0.1 Years)]

    [Evolution Points (0) ¡ú (1.2)]

    [Lifespan will begin naturally declining from this point onward, and unless the Host wishes to enter a more permanent state of unconsciousness, don''t allow it to reach zero.]

    No response.

    [Seeing as the Host is unresponsive, his System Interface will be forcefully opened!]

    BLING!

    {[Idle Evolution System (1st Ascended)]}

    [Host: Necro]

    [Lifespan: 0/0.1]

    [Cultivation: Nonexistent]

    [Spiritual Roots: Nonexistent]

    [Special Qualifications: Yggdrasil Fusion Entity (Allows for most basic of Spiritual and Lifespan Absorption)]

    *Ding!*

    [I will now open up the 2nd part of the System Interface: ''Evolution Tree'']

    {[Evolution Tree]}

    [Rank: 1 (Saplet)]

    [Roots (0/10)] - [Evolve with Evolution Points to form and potentially upgrade (0.01 EP each Root)]

    [Evolution Points: 1.2]

    *Ding!*

    [Because of your lack of lucid thought process, the Idle Evolution System has decided to spend your EP on your behalf for your benefit!]

    [One of your Roots has been unlocked!]

    [Two of your Roots have been unlocked!]

    [Three of your Roots have been unlocked!]

    [Four¡­..]

    [All ten of your Roots have been unlocked!]

    Ten small roots spread out beneath Necro the sapling. They only had diameters of a few inches, but it was certainly a start.

    [You have met the necessary requirements to Evolve to the next Evolution Tree Rank! Would you like to proceed at the cost of 0.3 Evolution Points?]

    Silence¡­

    [Say less!]

    [0.3 Evolution Points have been spent, allowing for your advancement from a Rank 1 Evolution Tree (Sapling) to a Rank 2 Evolution Tree (Plant)]

    Sprouting up out of the ground, Necro''s red and black roots planted themselves firmly at the surface, adding 5 to the original 10. His main body then revealed itself at the top center of a wide system of roots.

    Although small and mostly unnoteworthy, Necro''s total surface area had still increased by dozens of times what he once was. Furthermore, the limited range of his Lifespan Absorption Ability had been tremendously improved.

    This enabled both faster Lifespan and Spiritual Energy Absorption Speed!

    And though Necro could not yet have a cultivation base, once that changed, the effects from this Evolution would really start to show.

    It was at this time that a rustling occurred with the small plant peeking out of a pile of rubble.

    ''Who¡­''

    A thought.

    ''Who am I¡­?''

    One that ended with a question that Necro didn''t know when would be answered.

    Of his memories, he only faintly recalled that pretty young woman who kindly tried to protect him back then. Other than that, it was all a blur.

    Who was he really¡­?

    Or did that even matter?

    ''It¡­ It doesn''t matter¡­'' thought Necro. ''I am Necro now. Yes, that''s who I am; no one else¡­''

    After taking a few seconds to collect his newly formed thoughts, Necro felt around at his surroundings. He was unable to see very far, with what he could make out looking like a low-pixelated screen.

    Or rather, it was more similar to an earthly sight. Like he was making use of the elements around him to detect and capture close-range images. Very much unlike regular human sight.

    As for his other senses, Necro could only confirm the existence of hearing, as he could vividly hear most things in his vicinity. From the chirping of the birds to the slish sloshing of the nearby river stream.

    However, as soon as these questions were answered, a few more propped up. The most important of which was:

    ''What¡­ am I¡­?''

    Necro was like a newborn baby right now. His thinking was simplistic, with his mind about as clean as a blank slate. Let alone what he was, he didn''t even know the difference between being alive and being dead.

    But with time, he would learn these things.

    Some days later, he learned what the System was. What he was (to an extent).

    The System withheld all information pertaining to his previous life, only informing him of what he needed to know to live in this new, dangerous world of his.

    If Fate willed it, then his memories of his life as Cassius would return. And also his resolve to take back all that had left him far too early.

    Or he could forever remain ignorant to all that he was¡­

    Destiny and Fate were incomprehensible, and sometimes whimsical.

    It was impossible to predict with 100% certainty that something would happen.

 Chapter 438 - 438: Rank 3 Dwarf Willow Tree, Shadow Tree Soldiers

    ¡ª 3 Months Later ¡ª

    During this period of time, Necro had been constantly absorbing the Spiritual Energy in the atmosphere. Moreover, the Lifespans of any nearby critters were siphoned by him, permitting further EP acquisition.

    On top of all that, a couple of poorly dressed humans had walked by the rubble he was planted on. And though he couldn''t drain them of their Lifespan due to insufficient power, he gradually started to learn more of their language.

    Figuring out how to better organize his own thoughts also came as a result of constant human exposure.

    *Ding!*

    [You have successfully accumulated 20+ Evolution Points!]

    [Would you like to open up your Evolution Tree Interface and see what you can purchase?]

    ''...Yes¡­'' Necro answered slowly, still adapting to the way humans spoke.

    BLING!

    {[Evolution Tree]}

    [Rank: 2 (Plant)]

    [Roots (Lvl 0) (15/15)] - (0.4 EP each Root)

    [Stem (Lvl 0) (1/1)] - 2 EP to upgrade

    [Evolution Points: 20.4]

    With his still-developing brain, Necro ordered the Idle Evolution System to spend all the EP it needed to make him stronger.

    This was something that he noticed some time ago. His urge and yearning to acquire greater strength. It was his driving force, the reason behind his motives¡ªhis only purpose right now.

    And oddly enough, Necro wasn''t even sure what he required this concept called ''strength'' for. He just had to have it¡ªno matter the cost.

    [One of your Lvl 0 Roots has been upgraded!]

    [Two of your Lvl 0 Roots have been upgraded!]

    [Three of your Lvl 0 Roots have been upgraded!]

    [Four¡­]

    [All 15 of your Lvl 0 Roots have been upgraded!]

    SHA!

    Every single one of Necro''s multi-colored roots immediately enlarged to thrice their previous sizes. Additionally, numerous small thorns poked out of them, making it easier to remain rooted in the rubble pile.

    [Your Lvl 0 Stem has been upgraded!]

    Without giving Necro a breather to process the pain that came about from the rapid mass-upgrades to his Roots, his Stem was upgraded.

    This one created an even bigger commotion!

    SWOOM! S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Shooting out of the ground was a larger section of Necro''s stem. It made him stick out more than a foot, with his vibrant colors adding to his already impressive appearance.

    [You have successfully upgraded all of your Evolution Tree components, thus fulfilling all requirements for an evolution to be made possible!]

    [For the low, low cost of 10 Evolution Points, you can evolve to the next Rank! Would you like to follow through??] - [Y/N]

    ''That''s almost all my EP¡­''

    Even so, Necro clicked the yes button with his mind.

    OOOM!

    An Evolution from Rank 2 to Rank 3!

    Very colorful!

    Necro''s body mass multiplied several times over, with his color scheme becoming far more prominent. Furthermore, his total number of Roots increased from 15 to 25, all of which were at Level 1.

    As for his stem, there was still only one, but it had gotten a lot bulkier and longer.

    Then there was the appearance of something new¡­

    Branches.

    [You have acquired five Lvl 1 Branches!]

    Extending out the side of his colorful stem base were branches of a similar color scheme. They shone a little under the bright rays of the sun, giving off a slightly dangerous feeling.

    [You have successfully evolved from a Rank 2 Plant to a Rank 3 Dwarf Willow Tree!]

    {[Dwarf Willow Tree (Rank 3)]}

    [Skill 1 ''Lifespan Absorption'']: Everything within a ten-meter radius is now subject to the draining effects of this terrifying skill. (Strength of target must be below the Host, else absorption effects will be severely reduced, and possibly open to countering)

    [Skill 2 ''Shadow Tree Army'']: Summon up to 3 Shadow Tree Soldiers using negligible/recoverable amounts of your Yggdrasil Essence. (Each has power equivalent to the Skin Stage of Body Refinement)

    ''Shadow Tree Soldiers?'' Necro thought as he curiously activated the Skill.

    WAAA!

    A small explosion of blackish-green light occurred as something began to emerge from underneath the soft soil. Tendrils of black and red fluctuated as a 4-inch-tall figure with hollowed-out eyes made its appearance.

    {[Shadow Tree Soldier (''Skin'' Body Refinement Realm)]}

    [Skill 1 ''Shadow Punch'': Punch out with a fist coated in shadow energy to deal extreme damage.]

    [Skill 2 ''Unlimited Regeneration'': As long as the Yggdrasil Creator¡ªyou¡ªnever runs out of Spiritual Energy, all your Shadow Tree Soldiers will forever regenerate from taken damage.]

    [Skill 3 ''Lifespan Absorption Vassal'': Like the Host, all of your Shadow Tree Soldiers can absorb the Lifespan of other living organisms. They are, after all, direct extensions of yourself.]

    ''As long as I never run out of Spiritual Energy¡­?''

    Necro examined his reserves of Spiritual Energy, wondering if this stock that took him months to gather would be enough for a few Shadow Tree Soldier revives.

    *Ding!*

    [Would you like to command your Shadow Tree Soldiers to scatter and begin absorbing Lifespan separate from where you''re located?]

    ''...Is there danger¡­?''

    [Naturally!]

    ''Then no¡ª''

    [Just not to you! No matter what happens to your Shadow Tree Soldiers, you won''t in any way be affected. Moreover, nothing can trace them back to you, thus avoiding unnecessary trouble!]

    Silence¡­

    ''Okay. Command them to scatter.''

    [Very well!]

    The motionless doll-like creatures of wood and shadows started to move. Their eerie hollowed-out eyes honed in on certain directions before they flitted against the ground, disappearing in small storms of wind and leaves.

    After all three of the Shadow Tree Soldiers were spawned in and sent out, Necro suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He checked his insides and realized that the extraction of Yggdrasil Essence had left his Spiritual Energy Reserves at near-zero.

    There went all that he had saved up¡­

    ''Creating Shadow Tree Soldiers takes a lot of Spiritual Energy¡­ Noted.''

    And Spiritual Energy was used up to supplement the loss of Yggdrasil Essence. This was also something he kept to the back of his mind as he let himself fall asleep.

    The Shadow Tree Soldiers were autonomous beyond their initial command directives, which meant that Necro didn''t need to worry about monitoring them.

    So into a deep slumber he went, passively refilling his Roots with the atmospheric Spiritual Energy¡­

 Chapter 439 - 439: Bai Ning, A Massacre

    ¡ª Days Later ¡ª

    "This will be our first time hunting Demon Beasts past the outskirts of the Sect, so we must be careful!" A young man wearing Trial Disciple robes of the Greenflame Sect walked at the front of a group of four other Trial Disciples. "However, seeing as you have me¡ªone of the Top 10 scorers of the Entrance Exam¡ªhere with you, what do you have to worry about? Haha!"

    "You''re so great, Senior Brother Chen!"

    "With you here, our safety is guaranteed!"

    "Our 1st Sect Training Mission will be accomplished with ease, what with the Young Master of the Xi Family here!"

    In the World of Immortal Cultivation, there were Sects, Kingdoms, Private Factions, and Cultivation Families.

    Chen Xiao, the one heading this small Demon Beast Hunting Party, was the 9th son of the Xi Family¡ªa relatively famous Cultivation Family that had over 20 Body Refinement Realm Cultivators, some of whom were at the Flesh and Bone Refinement Stages.

    However, even with the reputable status of his family, there was one person in his party who gave him no face. In fact, the only reason she joined him was because one needed to be in a party for the 1st Sect Mission they took on.

    Her name? Bai Ning.

    Her expression was as cold as ice, but her beauty was top tier. Her figure was also superb, which led to many of the top newbies¡ªincluding Chen Xiao¡ªto crave her.

    ''If I can impress her here by showing her my unparalleled martial prowess, then there''s no way she''ll reject me again!''

    What were some weak Low-Rank 1 Demon Beasts!? He just had to swing his expensive treasured sword once and they''d die!

    With a haughty air about him, Chen Xiao strutted through the deserted area that had been ravished by a rampaging Beast Tide some dozen years ago. It was an event that happened shortly after the previous Sect Leader mysteriously died and the new one took his place.

    Now, low-level Demon Beast stragglers from that time period roamed the devastated area¡ªbeasts who had no other objectives than to survive.

    For the Greenflame Sect, though, they made for excellent practice targets for the new recruits¡­

    "Where are you, beastie beasties??" Chen Xiao arrogantly called out after some minutes of not finding any signs of life.

    "...Something isn''t right here¡­" one of the other Trial Disciples wearily surveyed his surroundings. "Why are there no Demon Beasts in a place that should be infested with them¡­? Something like this usually only happens when a¡ª"

    SCREEEECH!

    "Stronger Demon Beast is born."

    "???" "!?!?"

    The group of five were all alerted by the spine-tingling screech that carried through the burnt leaves of the barren forest. They had never heard anything like it, but were astonished to hear that exact same screech echo out in four other directions.

    "Quick, get into formation!" Chen Xiao clambered to his orders. "The Demon Beasts are here!"

    Bai Ning''s icy eyes narrowed as her grip tightened around the light blue sword she kept by her waist.

    Something within her was afraid of whatever produced those bone-chilling screeches. But with her special ice constitution physique, she believed she still had a chance against them¡ª S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Fwooop¡ª!*

    SPURT!

    Eyes widened in horror as everyone in the small group of Trial Disciples watched the head of a young man get blasted into bits. Chunks of blood and brain matter splattered the area, highlighting the horrific appearance of a scaly bipedal lizard with five rows of wickedly sharp teeth.

    A Mid-Rank 1 Demon Beast¡ªLizardcobra!

    "W-What is something as powerful as this doing in a place that should have at most stronger Low-Rank 1 Demon Beasts!?" Chen Xiao backed up in fright, halfway stumbling over an abnormally large root. "What in the hell is going on here!?"

    Following the bloody appearance of the first Lizardcobra, four more burst through the debris and foliage in the vicinity.

    SCREEEECH¡ª!!

    Terror welled up within the hearts of the Trial Disciples as they unanimously made the decision to flee in the opposite direction!

    If it were just one, Bai Ning and Chen Xiao might be able to take it down, but five of them spelled nothing but destined doom!

    While speeding through the devastated scenery, Chen Xiao sweated ever more profusely. He realized that the Lizardcobras were moving faster than he was, and this led to him making a very cruel decision.

    "Go and defend this Young Master!" he shouted as he pushed one of his ass-kissers toward the skittering Lizardcobras. "Do this and your Young Master will reward you very handsomely!"

    "Wha¡ª!?"

    The young man he pushed couldn''t correct his positioning in time and was directly slashed by the sharp claws of a Lizardcobra. As blood gushed, that Lizardcobra¡ªas well as one other¡ªstayed behind to eat their meal while he was still warm and alive.

    "H-How could you do this, Young Master¡­!? Yo-You bast¡ª Ahhh!!!"

    The shrill screams of the young man rang out for a while before abruptly coming to an end.

    Everyone in the fleeing party wore terrible expressions, all keeping their distance from the one who sacrificed one of their own.

    "I-I had to do it! Don''t you understand!?" Chen Xiao''s face turned red as he angrily defended himself. "If I hadn''t done that, then there would be even more of those things chasing us right no¡ª"

    Before he could finish those words, Lizardcobras blurred forward. They caught the Young Master in a pincer move, one coming from the bottom right, with the other taking the top left side.

    "!!!"

    Reacting as quickly as he could, Chen Xiao raised his arms, protecting his vitals.

    But that mattered very little when there were two of them.

    SPURT!

    Although Chen Xiao successfully defended against the first Lizardcobra, the second one took advantage of the situation and slipped around the seriously injured Young Master. With one merciless slash of its claws, his entire backside was torn open, blood flying everywhere.

    "Ahhh!! S-Someone, help me!!" Chen Xiao screamed like a girl, both his back and arms mutilated. "N-No matter what I have to pay, I''ll pay it¡­! Ju-Just hurry up and¡ª"

    SPLURT!!

    "¡ªsave me¡­"

 Chapter 440 - 440: Trying To Speak

    The Xi Family''s 9th Young Master was no more, with his head now sailing through the air.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    Bai Ning and the last survivor felt a sense of urgency unlike any other. Without hesitation, they sped up their retreat, attempting to reach the Sect Grounds before it was too late.

    "Skakaka!"

    Like the grating sound of a clicker scratching a chalkboard, the five Lizardcobras reared their blood-filled maws back and screeched like banshees. They then bounced off the ground, baring their fangs while honing in on the two stragglers.

    "Shit!" Bai Ning cursed while occasionally glancing behind her and seeing the trees part ways. ''Will I have to use THAT here!? Already??''

    "N-No, Ahhh!!"

    Taking her out of her thoughts were the agonizing cries of the last of the newbie disciples who joined her on what should''ve been a simple Sect Mission. She briefly glanced to the right, only to see five pairs of sideways-blinking reptilian eyes staring back at her.

    ''Run!''

    That was what passed through Bai Ning''s mind as she made her legs move faster than they ever had.

    Unless it was absolutely necessary, she couldn''t use her Family Heirloom!

    She had to at least try to escape using only her own strength first!

    After some time of darting through the destroyed land, Bai Ning ultimately came across a sparkle in the distance. Attracted by whatever this was, she took a detour and dashed in that direction, where she then came to a complete halt at the sight of a small tree around half her height.

    "A Spiritual Herb¡­?"

    For some unknown reason, she felt that this tree was more special than that.

    Suddenly!

    "Skakaka!!"

    The Lizardcobras had caught up¡­

    They were blocking off all Bai Ning''s routes of escape. And as their mouths curled up into cruel, animalistic grins, the despair truly began to settle in for the cornered girl.

    "...Am I¡­ Am I really going to die here¡­?"

    After a brief pause.

    "No! I refuse!" Bai Ning exclaimed as she activated something profoundly cold from within the icy blue sword she kept at her waist. "Treasured Weapon ''Aqualia Phoenix''¡ªBurn down all my enemi¡ª..."

    Just then!

    SPURT! SPURT! SPURT!

    Sharply pointed roots shot out of the ground around the Lizardcobras, running four of them through in an instant!

    As for the last Lizardcobra, it was too scared by the gruesome scene before it to fight back. And without caring about the life or death of its brethren¡­ it ran away.

    Bai Ning, who was too stunned to speak, stood there and watched as purple-blackish roots undulated through the ground. But before they could catch up to the last Lizardcobra, like cords that reached their limits, they rebounded.

    ''....''

    However, further adding to Bai Ning''s astonishment was the appearance of three tiny shadowy creatures. Right after materializing next to the small unusual tree, they raced in the direction that the last Lizardcobra escaped in.

    A couple of seconds later, the Shadow Tree Soldiers returned.

    Jointly carried on their backs was the relatively large corpse of the Lizardcobra. Looking closely, one could determine that its head had been bashed in by an extremely strong force, as brain matter was oozing out of the place of impact.

    "This¡­"

    Bai Ning couldn''t believe what she was seeing.

    And neither could Necro.

    *Ding!*

    [You killed 4 Lizardcobra of the Flesh Body Refinement Realm and directly absorbed all available Lifespan!]

    [Lifespan +16.7 Years]

    [Your Shadow Tree Soldiers (Flesh-Body) slew a Lizardcobra (Flesh-Body) and directly absorbed all available Lifespan!]

    [Lifespan +3.78 Years]

    Just these gains alone more than made up for the 20 EP that he had to spend in order to upgrade 4 of his Roots to Lvl 2!

    How wonderful!

    However, Necro''s euphoria quickly subsided when he remembered the unwanted visitor he had with him.

    "!!!"

    Color drained from Bai Ning''s beautiful face as she felt an inexplicable sense of dread while looking at the small black-and-red tree.

    But just as she was thinking about how to turn tail and run, a fragmented voice echoed:

    "CAnn¡­ yOu HeAR MeE¡­?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''This thing can speak!?''

    Bai Ning''s already surging emotions multiplied a millionfold!

    There was no such thing as a speaking Body Refinement Realm Demon Beast!

    Even Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment Realm Demon Beasts were virtually non-existent!

    So did that mean¡­ that this murderous tree was actually above the Foundation Establishment Realm!?

    How could such a thing be possible!??

    A Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator was already akin to a god in the Blue Ring Region! Anything beyond that was a myth, a fairytale!

    ''...Even if I use my Family Heirloom, there''s no possible way I''ll come out of this alive¡­''

    It was this train of thought that led to a very decisive series of actions:

    "I can hear you loud and clear, Lord Tree!!"

    *Thud!*

    Bai Ning bowed at the lowest angle possible, leaving her plump butt to arch to the heavens.

    ''...???''

    Still clinging to life, Bai Ning lifted her head slightly. Before her stood three tiny, shadowy tree figures, poised protectively in front of the small tree, surrounded by the lifeless bodies of Mid-rank 1 Demon Beasts. The sight stirred an even deeper reverence within her.

    "If¡­ If I could ask something of Lord Tree, I would request that he spare my insignificant life!"

    "Hmm?" Necro tilted his tree body in confusion. "I WaS¡­ NoT GoInG TO taKe YoUR LiFE¡­"

    "You weren''t!?" Bai Ning rose up in surprise. "But as a Demon Beast, won''t consuming my flesh make you stronger?? Am I not tasty-looking enough or something???"

    Silence¡­

    ''Does this girl want me to eat her or something¡­? Humans¡­ are weird¡­''

    "EaTIng YoU Is A WasTE," Necro struggled to say, still adjusting to the usage of vibrations in the ground to convey his thoughts. "BEttEr To TeAM Up."

    "Team up?" Bai Ning repeated. "You mean like a partnership through cooperation."

    Necro wasn''t quite sure what those words really meant, but still nodded with his mesmerizing branches.

    Bai Ning wasn''t sure why a powerful Demon Beast like this tree would want to cooperate with her, but for the sake of preserving her life, she agreed. And with that, Necro asked her all sorts of things, filling in the holes that were left open in his knowledge bank.

 Chapter 441 - 441: Rank 4 Genuine Willow Tree

    After some time, Necro allowed Bai Ning to leave, requesting only that she keep his existence a secret.

    If she happened to break this promise, then¡­ well, let''s just say he''d ensure she regretted it.

    Bai Ning understood the threat to her life more than anyone, and not once had she considered betraying the Lord Tree. Making sure she stayed alive was far more important than whatever small benefits she might acquire by revealing the existence of a small, terrifying tree living in the Sect Danger Zone known as Devastation Woods.

    Once alone, Necro''s colorful leaves swayed in the wind, his thoughts swirling.

    ''Although I couldn''t get any information related to Yi Yu this time, there will always be more opportunities¡­''

    In the meantime, he had to continue growing stronger¡ªstrong enough to surpass the strength of the Half-step Qi Condensation Realm Cultivator that now lorded over the Greenflame Sect.

    Mo Fuchan.

    ¡ª Half a month later ¡ª

    *Ding!*

    [Your total Evolution Point amount has exceeded 150!]

    Hearing this, Necro opened up his System Interface.

    BLING!

    {[Evolution Tree]}

    [Rank: 3 (Dwarf Willow Tree)]

    [Stem (Lvl 1) (1/1)] ¨C [30 EP to upgrade]

    [Roots (Lvl 2) (23/25)] ¨C [5 EP each Root]

    [Branches (Lvl 2) (4/5)] ¨C [10 EP each Branch]

    [Evolution Points: 153.9]

    Over the last few weeks, Necro occasionally upgraded some of his Roots and Branches. All that remained to be taken to the next level were two Roots, one Branch, and the Stem.

    Without further ado, the EP was spent, and the upgrades placed him at the epicenter of a large eruption of light.

    The two smallest Roots grew multiple times their original size; sharp thorns also made their appearance. The last Branch came next, as what used to be a thin and frail-looking limb became sturdier than an oak tree.

    Lastly was the Stem, which had become obviously lacking as of late¡ªespecially when considering how it had to support all of Necro''s individual parts. But with the upgrade to Level 2, its size exponentially increased, and so too did the striking hue of its colored bark.

    Now, Necro looked far more balanced, and was also over 7 feet in height, surpassing the average human by quite a bit.

    But the upgrades weren''t finished yet¡­

    *Ding~!*

    [You have met the necessary requirements to Evolve to the next Stage of existence!]

    [Would you like to spend 100 EP to Evolve?] ¨C [Y/N]

    Without much thought, Necro clicked yes. He was instantly blinded by his own brilliance.

    WAAA!

    Demon Beasts in a radius of hundreds of meters all noticed the phenomenon created by Necro''s evolution to Rank 4. And though the less intelligent among them ran away in fright, the smarter ones saw this as an opportunity.

    Demon Beasts of Low and Mid-Rank 1 raced through the dilapidated lands, all planning to be the first to arrive and reap the benefits!

    However¡­

    SPURT! SPURT!

    Necro was not alone.

    "!!!" "!!!" "!!!"

    The gathered Demon Beasts immediately went on alert; several of their own had died before they even knew what had happened.

    Dangerous!

    The Shadow Tree Soldiers coldly looked between all of the Demon Beasts. Many were in the Flesh Stage of the Body Refinement Realm, but they themselves were at the Peak of the same Stage.

    After being fed dozens of EP by their Yggdrasil Creator, their cultivation had been on a constant rise.

    Now it was time to put that cultivation to use!

    "Roarr¡ª!"

    The Demon Beasts roared and hollered at the Shadow Tree Soldiers, attempting to intimidate them. However, they remained unfazed, and with the extending of their arms into needle-like objects, they blurred forward.

    SPLURT!

    Blood colored the surroundings as three lone, infinitely regenerating Shadow Tree Soldiers faced dozens of Demon Beasts.

    Yet even with such odds against them, they turned the ashen forest into a bloodbath¡­

    Meanwhile, at the source of the commotion in the Devastation Woods.

    The large silhouette of a tree over thirty feet tall contrasted greatly with the mostly decayed objects in the vicinity. It stood like a beacon to all those in the Devastation Woods.

    *Ding!* S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [You have evolved from a Rank 3 (Dwarf Willow Tree) to a Rank 4 (Genuine Willow Tree)]

    [Level 3 Evolution Tree components have been unlocked!]

    [Your Level 2 Stem has evolved into a Level 2 Trunk!]

    [The effectiveness of all abilities have tremendously improved!]

    [Range of Roots is now 60 meters in all directions!]

    Everything felt so much clearer now. Necro could see farther, hear over longer distances, and even whip his Roots around with much greater mobility and accuracy.

    Wonderful!

    And most surprising yet:

    "It feels good¡­"

    "!!!"

    "I can talk!?"

    Necro nearly jumped back in excitement, realizing that not only could he speak¡ªhe also had a face!

    Or more accurately, a glowing black and red spherical core that had the rudimentary makings of a face.

    It sat suspended in midair in the center of his sturdy trunk. If a comparison was made, then this face of his kind of looked like Pac-Man.

    "Interesting¡­" Necro muttered as he figured out he could see in a more linear direction with his Core face. "This will make things more convenient for when humans next enter the area."

    *Ding!*

    [With your Evolution to the Rank 4 Genuine Willow Tree, the maximum limit on summonable Shadow Tree Soldiers has increased from (3) ¡ú (5)]

    "Hmm?"

    Deeply moved by this system notification, Necro immediately used up some of his Yggdrasil Essence to summon two more Shadow Tree Soldiers. The fatigue hit him hard, but it was far less than before.

    Gathering so much Spiritual Energy over the last few months had not been for naught.

    "Now I just need to improve their cultivations, same as with the others."

    [You have chosen to invest 1 EP into the cultivation of a Shadow Tree Soldier in the Skin Refinement Body Realm. And though its cultivation has moderately improved, it doesn''t achieve a breakthrough.]

    [You invested 5 EP into the cultivation of a Shadow Tree Soldier in the Skin Refinement Realm, allowing it to reach the peak of the stage!]

    [After investing 10 EP into the cultivation of a Shadow Tree Soldier in the Skin Refinement Realm Peak, it finally breaks through its bottleneck and advances to the Flesh Refinement Realm!]

    [You invested 25 EP into the cultivation of a Shadow Tree Soldier in the Flesh Refinement Realm, enabling it to progress to the peak of the same stage!]

 Chapter 442 - 442: Level 3 Branch, Life Essence, Power Essence

    After getting a Shadow Tree Soldier to the peak of the Flesh Refinement Realm, Necro moved on to the evolution of the final Soldier. This led to another 25 Evolution Points being flushed down the drain.

    Fortunately, the three Shadow Tree Soldiers actively hunting Demon Beasts right now gave him over 70 EP in a matter of seconds. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have had enough to upgrade the two newest Soldiers.

    "Go out and join the others," Necro ordered, his scary face glowing ominously. "Show those stupid beasts what happens to those who covet what''s mine."

    The only response the Shadow Tree Soldiers needed to give was them zipping toward the fights in the distance¡ªsomething they did on the spot.

    With everything involving his Soldiers out of the way, Necro shut his eyes and waited for the final results of the Demon Beast Massacre. At the same time, he kept up with the deaths of his own.

    By the end of the massacre, hundreds of Demon Beasts had fallen in battle.

    As for Necro''s side, all of his Shadow Tree Soldiers died between 2 and 3 times. This naturally depleted his Spiritual Energy by quite a lot, but it wasn''t too big of a deal.

    With his Yggdrasil qualities, absorbing energies was what he did best. Therefore, restoring all the lost Spiritual Energy would be little more than a cinch.

    *Ding!*

    [All 5 of your Shadow Tree Soldiers jointly survived the swarming of hundreds of Low and Mid-rank 1 Demon Beasts, absorbing hundreds of years in Lifespan!]

    [Lifespan +409.3 Years]

    Although his Lifespan now exceeded 500, Necro held off on directly converting and using it. After all, the costs of the next upgrades in the Evolution Tree were¡­

    {[Evolution Tree]}

    [Rank: 4 (Genuine Willow Tree)]

    [Trunk (Lvl 2) (1/1)] - [1000 EP to upgrade]

    [Roots (Lvl 2) (40/40)] - [(80 EP to upgrade 1st Root)]

    [Branches (Lvl 2) (20/20)] - [150 EP to upgrade 1st Branch]

    [Evolution Points: 18.2]

    Expensive!

    Even slaughtering everything in the Devastation Woods might not give enough Evolution Points!

    Necro sighed before entering a lucid slumber.

    ¡ª Ten Days Later ¡ª

    Early in the morning, Bai Ning returned to where Necro was rooted. It was fair to say that she was more than a little surprised by his new appearance, even going so far as to compliment his improved fear factor.

    "Did you do what I asked of you?" asked Necro, getting straight to the point.

    "Of course, Lord Tree," replied Bai Ning. "But unfortunately, with my meager status as a Trial Disciple, I wasn''t able to learn much more than the fact that there was indeed a Disciple of the Greenflame Sect who went by the name Yi Yu. A Senior Sister told me that she was quite the talent and was even in line for the Sect Master position, but a dozen odd years ago¡ªduring a Beast Tide¡ªshe¡­ disappeared."

    "At least, that''s what my Senior Sister was privy to," Bai Ning added, ending the dramatic suspense. "As for anything beyond that, I would have to be far stronger and higher in position than I am right now¡ª"

    FWISH!

    Whipping toward Bai Ning in an instant was one of Necro''s newly acquired Level 3 Branches. At the very tip of the Branch was a shimmering droplet of golden liquid.

    [Branch (Lvl 3)]

    ¡ª [Capable of both attack and laceration/bleeding effects, as well as healing. Moreover, if used correctly, improving the power of those with the Power Essence it secretes is possible (subtle affection-increasing effects will be applied to those who absorb the Life Essence)]

    [Basic Skill 1 ''Cross-Slash'']

    [Basic Skill 2 ''Death Piercer'']

    [Special Skill 1 ''Life Essence'']

    [Special Skill 2 ''Power Essence'']

    -

    {[Life Essence (Low-Mortal Grade)]}

    ¡ª [Can heal most common diseases and injuries of those below the Qi Condensation Realm (Uses Spiritual Energy to form)]

    {[Power Essence (Low-Mortal Grade)]}

    ¡ª [Can improve the Cultivation of anyone or anything in the Body Refinement Realm (Limited effectiveness the more one takes / has subtle affection-increasing effects) (Uses Spiritual Energy to form)]

    "This right here is Power Essence," Necro explained upon observing Bai Ning''s confusion. "You can think of it as an Elixir of sorts."

    An Elixir!?

    Like something that only the legendary Alchemists could concoct!?

    "L-Lord Tree, you''re not playing with me, are you?" asked Bai Ning. "I may be naive, but even I know that Elixirs are astronomically expensive."

    Necro unblinkingly stared at the disbelieving girl.

    "If you don''t want it, then so be it. It could''ve improved your strength, but it''s fine¡ª"

    "Wa-Wait, Lord Tree! I''ll take the Elixir!"

    No matter if it was the real deal or not, if it could improve her strength, then Bai Ning wanted it!

    "Open your mouth."

    "Huh?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I said open your mouth."

    Although Bai Ning was embarrassed, she ultimately did as she was told. And with a jittery stance, she felt something warm land on her tongue, causing ripples to spread through her voluptuous figure.

    "Ahn~!"

    Moans echoed as the golden liquid circulated its essence in her insides. Every inch of her body started to glow before being refined.

    But contrary to normal¡ªand painful¡ªrefinement during the Body Refinement Realm, Bai Ning only experienced a wonderful wave of pleasure. It enveloped her whole being, wrapping her in a blanket of golden power that made her feel like she was floating on clouds.

    After the Power Essence droplet finished its cycle, a girl was left kneeling. Her face was contorted in euphoria, with a goofy grin twitching as a result of the droplet''s residual effects.

    Her previous indifference was nowhere to be seen¡­

    "Hmm¡­" Necro scrutinized the sorry sight before him, wondering why there was a strange liquid pooling out below the human girl. "Are you okay?"

    "O¡­OKaY¡­~?" Bai Ning repeated with a sultry glint in her eyes. "NEvver BeEn BeTTEr~..."

    "I see," Necro noted. "Well, regardless, your power has improved greatly. You should be strong enough now to increase your standing in the Greenflame Sect."

    "!?!?"

    Checking her cultivation immediately snapped Bai Ning out of her euphoric reverie.

    She practically erupted in joy while shouting, "I''m actually in the Flesh Refinement Stage now?? Something that should''ve taken months to accomplish has actually been obtained in an instant!"

    "Yes," Necro said nonchalantly. "Now then, you should return to the Greenflame Sect. If anyone asks about your increase in power, then simply tell them you encountered a fortuitous opportunity or something along those lines. Don''t mention anything about me."

    "Naturally, Lord Tree!" Bai Ning bowed, still overflowing with excitement. "Thank you so much for your generosity! I''ll be going now!"

    Necro nodded with his spherical head, reentering a deep slumber not long after her departure.

    [Lifespan: 0.1 / 893]

 Chapter 443 - 443: The Farming Power of Shadow Tree Soldiers

    ¡ª Half a month later ¡ª

    Bai Ning''s standing within the Greenflame Sect progressed from that of a slightly noteworthy Trial Disciple to an up-and-coming Outer Disciple with a bright future ahead of her. Because of this high status, the matter of her being the sole survivor of one of many sudden surges in Demon Beast Tides was no longer put under scrutiny.

    This also meant that Necro was far less likely to be found out just yet.

    Although he was pleased to listen to the reports Bai Ning brought back to him, a completely unrelated problem arose¡­

    "I''m not getting enough Lifespan or Evolution Points¡­"

    Even with Roots that extended in every direction for over a hundred meters and Soldiers that scoured the Devastation Woods constantly, there was simply not enough to kill. At the rate Necro was going, it would take years to evolve to Rank 5¡ªand that was without considering further diminishing returns on any Lifespan acquired.

    "The more I kill something of a Realm, the less Lifespan I get from killing more¡­"

    This was the reality of things, and unless he wanted to stagnate forever, Necro had to discover new hunting grounds.

    As it just so happened, right when worry over this was growing in his heart, a few unsavory-looking characters walked into the Devastation Woods. They were holding rusted or damaged weapons, with some wearing eyepatches and others riddled with scars.

    Bandits!

    "I found my next targets." Necro revealed a sinister grin that made him appear all the scarier.

    ¡ª Meanwhile, at the Eastern entrance to the Devastation Woods ¡ª

    "Boss Van, there''s definitely something off about this place." A short, ugly man wearily spoke to the big man advancing in front. "It wasn''t like this the last time I came here¡­ Even the usually active Mid-Rank 1 Demon Beasts are nowhere to be seen¡­"

    "No more of your nonsense, Gu Bo!"

    The one referred to as ''Boss Van'' angrily turned around to face his quivering subordinate.

    "If brother Som says he buried his treasure in these here woods, then it''s certainly buried here," he added. "And so what if there are fewer Demon Beasts?? That just means this search-and-retrieve mission will be all the easier!"

    "Y¡­ Yes, of course, Boss¡­!" Gu Bo agreed with sweaty palms. "What was I even thinking??"

    "That''s the problem," Boss Van clicked his tongue. "You don''t think. That''s why you and those skanky wives of mine should just leave all the thinking to me!"

    All of the rough-looking members of his group nodded their heads. Even if they disagreed, they still nodded.

    Boss Van was, after all, just a step away from reaching the Bone Refinement Stage!

    He was not someone to be trifled with!

    While haughtily venturing deeper into the Devastation Woods, Boss Van noticed something unusual.

    "Does anyone else see that little silhouette over there? Around the size of a child?"

    His question went unanswered.

    "Hey, you dumbasses, why is no one responding¡ª"

    He turned around, but the moment he did, his eyes grew round in horror. He stumbled, nearly falling.

    "W-Wait, don''t¡­!"

    Before he could get back to his feet, a small shadowy creature the size of a child disappeared.

    When it reappeared, Boss Van no longer had a head. Even in death, his arms were outstretched, seemingly trying to plead for mercy.

    But same as his entire group of Bandits, his life was erased, and there was no coming back¡­

    *Ding!*

    [Your Shadow Tree Soldiers (Half-step Bone Refinement) killed 7 Bandits (Skin - Half-step Bone Refinement)]

    [Lifespan +12.9]

    "12.9 years¡­" Necro felt a bit of disappointment, but it was to be expected.

    When the Shadow Tree Soldiers returned, they brought with them the mutilated corpses of the Bandits. And after searching through their belongings¡ªwhich mostly consisted of useless trinkets¡ªa map fell out.

    Upon scanning the contents of the map, Necro''s mood tremendously improved.

    According to it, the Devastation Woods was considered a very small section of the Forest of Jagga. And like the Greenflame Sect, there were plenty of other territories and areas in the Forest of Jagga.

    If the map was accurate, the Greenflame Sect wasn''t even that powerful of a force in the Jagga Forest. It merely had dominion over a hundred or so miles, with a couple of connections here and there.

    Necro learned all this from a Relations Booklet that the Bandit Leader kept on his person. It informed him of the relationships between most of the Minor Powers in the surrounding five hundred miles, though it did so with short summaries.

    "Alright, you can stop flipping the pages," Necro said to a Shadow Tree Soldier holding the booklet. "You''re also the one who took care of this big guy, isn''t that right?"

    The Shadow Tree Soldier nodded while setting down the booklet.

    "This human was half a step away from the Bone Refinement Stage, same as you, yet you still took him down so effortlessly. It would appear that you lot are better than an average cultivator in the same Realm as you. Perhaps this is because of that ''Shadow Punch'' Skill of yours."

    Looking at the injuries on the bandit corpses, one could tell that their heads were blown open like watermelons. This was because of the high destructive force of the ''Shadow Punch'' Skill, which even made it so cross-realm killings were possible.

    "This is good," Necro mused. "I do wonder how you bunch would fare against an actual Bone Refinement Realm Cultivator though."

    "Why don''t we test it out?"

    Seeing his wide grin, the Shadow Tree Soldiers felt like something bad was about to happen.

    "ROOOAARGH¡ª!"

    And they were right¡­

    Making use of the innate shared-sight ability that he had with his Shadow Tree Soldiers, Necro watched as three of them faced a terrifying Demonic Bear. It was the size of a building and had been hiding out in a secret cave 700 meters away from where Necro was planted.

    Only with the map was Necro able to find the beast and send out his Shadow Tree Soldiers.

    As soon as the fight began, the Shadow Tree Soldiers got into formation¡ªone on each side of the Demonic Bear, making a triangle shape.

    {[Four-Horned Demonic Bear]} S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    [Cultivation: Mid-Bone Refinement]

    [Lifespan: 19/107]

 Chapter 444 - 444: The 5 Stages of Body Refinement

    The Demonic Bear was in the Middle of the Bone Refinement Realm, so the Shadow Tree Soldiers were expected to experience some trouble.

    However¡­

    SPURT!

    Using |Shadow Punch| simultaneously, the three Shadow Tree Soldiers caved the Demonic Bear''s skull in from three different directions. Blood and brain matter rained from within a dark cave as the hollow-eyed Shadow Tree Soldiers coldly stared at the huge falling corpse.

    "¡­With their impeccable synchronicity, the Demonic Bear didn''t stand a chance," Necro said with a bit of amazement in his voice. "I didn''t even have to use up any Spiritual Energy because, besides a few light injuries, none of the Soldiers died."

    *Ding!*

    [Your Shadow Tree Soldiers (Half-step Bone-Refinement) slew a Four-horned Demonic Bear in the middle of the Bone Refinement Stage!]

    [Lifespan +80.1]

    80.1 years of Lifespan!?

    That was almost the entire Lifespan of the Demonic Bear!

    "First-time killings of a certain Realm Demonic Beast truly are on another level¡­"

    After receiving his reward for the bounty, Necro located all the hard-to-find spots on the map. From there, he directed his Shadow Tree Soldiers to scatter and individually search the spots.

    For the next few days, his Lifespan acquisition skyrocketed.

    Before long, the entirety of the Devastation Woods had been scouted by him.

    *BLING!*

    {[Evolution Tree]}

    [Rank: 4 (Genuine Willow Tree)]

    [Trunk (Lvl 2) (1/1)] - [1000 EP to upgrade]

    [Roots (Lvl 3) (35/40)] - [(80 EP each Root)]

    [Branches (Lvl 3) (17/20)] - [150 EP each Branch]

    [Evolution Points: 1723]

    It may have taken a month and a half of grinding the Devastation Woods, but after all this time, Necro was now only a hundred-odd EP away from maxing out all his components to Level 3!

    "I don''t know how much EP I''ll need to advance to Rank 5, but I know for certain that this depleted area will have nowhere near enough to satisfy the cost," said Necro as he thought of expanding his sphere of influence. "To the East, where the Bandits originated, there are human settlements, so it''s best not to go that way. The South is where the rest of the Greenflame Sect is situated. The West is a Sea so vast that the map can''t begin to chart it."

    That just left the North. The coastline. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Forest of Jagga traveled along this coastline for thousands of miles. And though one would eventually encounter human settlements if they kept on traveling along its edges, they were far rarer than if one were to go east.

    However, even with this being the only option available to Necro if he wanted to continue evolving, things were not so simple.

    For one: he couldn''t move.

    His Level 3 Roots may have a reach of a few hundred meters, but that was nothing in the grander scheme of things. It wasn''t even enough to cover a tenth of the Devastation Woods, let alone the Forest of Jagga.

    Secondly: Necro had no idea what sort of dangers awaited him if he were to personally travel along the coastline.

    In this world, the Body Refinement Realm was the start of one''s journey. It was split into five minor stages:

    1. Skin Refinement

    2. Flesh Refinement

    3. Bone Refinement

    4. Viscera Refinement

    5. Marrow Refinement

    And yet the entirety of the Body Refinement Realm was worth very little if one were to head over to the higher-level areas of the Blue Ring Region.

    "It''s best if I stay here then," Necro muttered. "Well, not like I really had a choice anyway."

    Furthermore, there was the matter with the one who named him that he still had to settle. Her sudden disappearance would forever haunt him if he never figured out what really happened.

    But even with those words, Necro needed the power to actually follow through. And to accomplish that, he had to at least be in the Half-step Qi Condensation Realm, which was the upper limit for the Greenflame Sect.

    "Right now, I''m probably equal to an average Viscera Refinement Realm Cultivator." Necro guessed while whipping around the razor-sharp Branches capable of slicing through tens of trees like butter. "I need to somehow go from this to the Half-step Qi Condensation Realm¡­"

    Without the ability to cultivate just yet, amassing Evolution Points was the only option he had. And with most of the Demon Beasts in and around the Devastation Woods dead, the Shadow Tree Soldiers had to be sent out.

    Luckily, their range after breaking through to the Bone Refinement Realm increased to tens of thousands of meters. This opened up tons of avenues for exploration.

    With everything decided, Necro sent them out, while he himself returned to a half-asleep state.

    ¡ª 3 months later ¡ª

    Necro had just finished maxing out his various components, with thousands of EP to spare. He now towered over the devastated scenery at a height of 100+ feet. Furthermore, his Branches and Roots swayed and undulated like small and giant anacondas, scaring away any animals or Demon Beasts that got too close.

    Of course, none who entered his range were spared¡­

    "Eek!"

    "Roaargh!"

    "Ooh Ooh Ahh Ahh!!"

    After reaching Level 3, Necro''s Branches developed sticky fang-like features that, once stuck on a creature, never let go.

    Trapping them down with this uniquely useful feature, Necro wound up having hundreds of Demon Beasts waiting to be slaughtered at the end of every week. It was kind of cruel, but it was their own fault for letting their greed lead them right to their doom.

    "Whenever I squirt out a drop of Power Essence, the Demon Beasts swarm toward this location from outside the Devastation Forest." Necro stated while doing just that. "Makes for good bait."

    RUMBLE!

    Another large wave of Demon Beasts violently shook the earth in their mindless rampage toward Necro''s location. They ran over and even killed one another in an attempt to be the first to steal the Power Essence for themselves.

    Insane!

    The alluring effect of Power Essence was true insanity!

    Then again, in a way, Power Essence was similar to any other natural-born Elixir. Demon Beasts rushed toward it the first chance they got.

 Chapter 445 - 445: She... Died...

    "Hmm¡­" Necro''s mind wandered as he captured hundreds more Demon Beasts with his Branches and Roots. "Now that I think about it, where is that Bai Ning girl? She didn''t betray me, did she?"

    Seeing as he had yet to be surrounded and threatened to hand over the Power Essence, he doubted that to be the case.

    "Well¡­ hopefully she''s okay."

    Even though their personalities were completely different, that girl reminded him a lot of Yi Yu. He''d prefer that she remained safe and sound.

    "Moreover, she''s the only one I can use right now to obtain information related to Yi Yu¡­"

    Suddenly!

    A human presence appeared on Necro''s radar, urging him to discern the identity of its owner.

    "Oh, it''s Bai Ning." He relaxed his sharpened Roots. "She''s finally come back. I''m curious about what she has to say."

    However, the moment she came within walking distance of him, Necro could immediately tell that something was wrong. The face she was making was¡­

    "Is everything okay?" he asked. "Why are you making a face like something''s bothering you greatly?"

    "...Lord Tree¡­" Bai Ning began in a difficult tone, struggling to meet Necro''s gaze. "That¡­ the one you wanted me to look into. Yi Yu¡­"

    "Yes? What about her??"

    Necro had a really bad feeling.

    And for some reason, he didn''t want to hear the next words that came out of her mouth¡­

    Finally turning her head up, Bai Ning, through bitten lips, said, "Yi Yu¡­ she died."

    Necro''s breath caught in his throat.

    For a moment, time seemed to halt. The wind that rustled the ancient leaves fell silent, and even the faint chirping of spirit birds vanished, as if the world itself recoiled from the news.

    "¡­What?" His voice was low. Disbelieving. Dangerous.

    Bai Ning flinched.

    "She was found at the edge of the Withering Lotus Swamp over a dozen years ago." She sharply spoke each word, like glass being forced past her lips. "They say¡­ her body was discovered without clothes; signs of extreme physical and mental abuse were also present. She¡­ she died a horrible death¡­"

    Necro''s fury bubbled up like never before, the air around him distorting with raw, untempered force. Bark began to peel from the trunk of the great tree behind him, roots shivering deep below.

    "She was so kind," he whispered. "And yet there are those out there who''d do something like that to someone like her¡­"

    "She had traces of soul-forging incense on her robe," Bai Ning added, her voice shaking now. "That scent¡­ it only comes from the Hundred-Eyed Sect."

    A silence heavier than steel fell between them.

    The clouds darkened.

    Necro slowly raised his gaze, eyes no longer warm, no longer human ¡ª but cold, clear, and ancient. Eyes like the roots of the world had opened within him.

    "I see," he said with a darkened expression, each syllable reverberating with power. "The Hundred-Eyed Sect¡­ Very well then."

    OOOM!

    "!!!"

    The immense power emanating from Necro was so great that even Bai Ning, who was in the Flesh Refinement Realm, buckled underneath the pressure. She looked up at the huge tree with fear-filled eyes, doing her best not to pass out from the suffocating feeling of oppression.

    "Tell me," Necro ordered coldly, the immense power from before disappearing as if it never existed. "Tell me everything you know of this Hundred-Eyed Sect."

    "Y-Yes, Lord Tree¡­!" Bai Ning replied with a trembling voice, still reeling from what she had just experienced.

    Unbelievably terrifying!

    Lord Tree was an existence straight out of a nightmare!

    Without further delay, Bai Ning told Necro all that she knew of the Hundred-Eyed Sect. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    From this lengthy explanation, he learned that they were an Evil Sect and that they were something akin to rivals of the Greenflame Sect. It was often that the disciples from both sides had scuffles with one another, always fighting over this or that.

    However, for Necro, none of this mattered. He only wanted their names and the strength of their strongest members.

    "Half-step Qi Condensation Realm, Lord Tree," Bai Ning said nervously. "That is the Realm of their Sect Leader and Grand Elders."

    Necro went silent, clearly expecting something else from Bai Ning.

    "T-Their names, oh yes! Well¡­ to be frank, Lord Tree, no names were revealed in the tragic report made on Direct Disciple Yi Yu. To me, it seemed that both the Greenflame and Hundred-Eyed Sects were quick to brush the whole matter under the rug."

    Necro''s countenance worsened, his killing intent surging like an unstoppable tsunami.

    "Good, good," Necro said in a delirious tone, his sharp, terrifying features twisting devilishly. "I''ll ensure that they get swept under the rug as well, never to be heard from again!"

    RUMBLE!!

    Tremors spread out from the monstrous tree, forcing Bai Ning even deeper into the ground.

    "Return to the Greenflame Sect," Necro commanded with a seething tone. "Act like normal. Continue your days as you usually would."

    *Drip!*

    Squeezing out a droplet of Power Essence onto the scared girl, Necro said, "This is your reward for the information. Keep quiet until everything is done, and you''ll receive three more droplets."

    WAAA!

    Ascended straight to the Peak of the Flesh Refinement Stage!

    So easy!?

    ''If I obtain three more droplets, won''t I directly advance to the Bone Refinement Stage!??''

    "You can count on me, Lord Tree!" Bai Ning bowed in reverence. "I''ll make sure not to reveal anything about your lordship, or give any inclination of your future actions!"

    "Then go," Necro shooed her off with a Branch. "I wish to be alone right now."

    "Understood!"

    After Bai Ning''s departure, the wind blew ever harder, shaking Necro''s canopy. The atmosphere turned melancholic, with a blue hue dyeing the mood.

    "So you''re dead, Yi Yu¡­"

    A whisper echoed throughout eternity, one filled with an indescribable sadness. A¡­ familiar sadness¡­

    "You made promises of staying by my side forever," Necro continued with a low voice. "Promises you couldn''t keep¡­"

    It was uncertain who he was referring to.

    Even he himself didn''t know¡­

    "This path¡­ why did I start walking it again¡­? I¡­ I don''t remember¡­"

    Then it hit him¡ªlike an explosion of realization.

    "For power," Necro uttered, a resolute gleam shining. "It has always been for the sake of power. For greater strength. Only that way can everything be within my control."

    Whether in his previous life or this one, that fact never changed.

    "Such a lonely¡­ lonely path¡­"

    A sigh that carried with it countless millions of years'' worth of solitude resounded through the barren landscape.

 Chapter 446 - 446: Rank 5 Elder Willow Tree, Divine Sight

    ¡ª A Month Later ¡ª

    It was on a Tuesday that Necro''s EP counter surpassed the 5000 mark. And seeing how that was the exact amount he needed to advance to Rank 5, he spent almost all of it right away.

    [At the cost of 5000 EP, you commence your evolution into the next major rank!]

    OOOM!

    Necro was engulfed in a large congregation of blackish-red light. Its energy particles seeped into his woody skin, nourishing the core of his existence.

    With the enlargement of the blackish-red light, his size grew appropriately.

    110 feet¡­

    150 feet¡­

    200 feet¡­

    300 feet¡­

    500 feet¡­

    It was only after roughly 600 feet that Necro quit growing in height!

    Massive!

    From 200+ meters in the sky, Necro could view a lot more than before. The trees that once looked pretty big now seemed so small. And in the southern distance, what appeared to be the outlines of human-made structures could be barely made out.

    "With this evolution, the humans are sure to notice me," said Necro as his more defined crystalized eyes narrowed. "But I''m not scared."

    *Ding!*

    [You have succeeded in evolving from a Rank 4 (Genuine Willow Tree) to a Rank 5 (Elder Willow Tree)]

    [Level 4 Evolution Tree components have been unlocked!]

    [The effectiveness of all abilities has tremendously improved!]

    [Range of Roots is now 1000 meters in all directions!]

    [With your Evolution to the Rank 5 Elder Willow Tree, the maximum limit on summonable Shadow Tree Soldiers has increased from (5) ¡ú (10)]

    [Total number of Branches has gone from (20) ¡ú (100)]

    [Total number of Roots has gone from (40) ¡ú (60)]

    [You have unlocked the 2nd System Function: ''Divine Sight'']

    "Divine Sight?" Necro repeated. "What are its uses¡ª"

    BLING!

    Just then, thousands of illusory blue screens opened up on every object in a thousand-meter radius. They were only there for a brief moment before Necro was forced to turn them off, but even that was enough to nearly blind him.

    [''Divine Sight'' allows the Host to reveal the system interfaces of anything inanimate or alive within 3 Major Realms of yourself. If the target of Divine Sight exceeds the 3 Major Realm parameters, then question marks will take the place of information in the system interfaces.]

    "I see¡­" Necro muttered. "Then please activate this ability on that tree over there."

    BLING!

    {[Dead Oak Tree (Rankless)]}

    ¡ª [Appears to have been heavily damaged by Demon Beasts]}

    "Interesting," Necro mused before shifting his focus to a mutated rabbit hopping around below him. "Use Divine Sight on that as well."

    BLING!

    {[Two-Horned Demon Rabbit]}

    [Age: 6/59]

    [Cultivation: Skin Refinement Realm (Mid)]

    [Main Skills: Jumping Kick, Super Leap, Ten-Kick Frenzy (All below Low-Mortal Grade)]

    ¡ª [Descended from the Giant Hopping Rabbit, and is typically found hanging around areas of great devastation]

    "So this is Divine Sight," Necro noted. "It''ll definitely be useful for the future when I wish to better approximate the strength of others."

    After digesting his recent gains, he took a better look at his appearance from a third perspective. Almost immediately, he realized that he was becoming more and more demonic-looking.

    "But I guess this suits my personality best¡­"

    In this world, death waited around every corner.

    To avoid that outcome, one needed to be ruthless. Unforgiving. Merciless.

    "Yi Yu was too kind," Necro murmured. "That''s why she¡­ died¡­"

    People like her were easily taken advantage of. Something that Necro refused to be like.

    "If I wish to continue on living, for the sake of Yi Yu and myself, then I have to forgo these Mortal emotions of mine," Necro uttered coldly. "I have to suppress them to the limit¡­ to the point that only indifference and objective calculativeness remain."

    And just like that, his expression frosted over as his volcanic anger hibernated deep inside him.

    "Time to continue becoming stronger¡­"

    Time passed ceaselessly, with the seasons rolling by one after the other.

    Some months later, in the dead of winter, an expedition was called for in the Greenflame Sect. It requested that Disciples of at least the Bone Refinement Stage venture forth into the Devastation and uncover anything related to the abnormally large glowing red and black tree.

    Cutting off a few branches or collecting samples was also part of the job description.

    *Thud! Thud!*

    Heavy footsteps reverberated as a big and bulky man covered from head to toe in armor trudged through thick sheets of snow. His name was Yan Ro, and trailing behind him were over two dozen Greenflame Sect Disciples.

    However, unlike him, who was in the Viscera Refinement Stage serving as one of the few Direct Disciples, they were merely in the Bone Refinement Stage and below. A few of them were Elite Disciples, though, possessing both enough power and status to command mortals in small Human Settlements.

    "Gah! Why did the Higher-Ups even send out a request like this anyways!?" a hot-headed man with long red hair cursed under his breath. "Who gives a shit about some stupid tree?? I would much rather be out searching for cultivation resources, maybe some supreme pills or something to get me through my bottleneck!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A snicker came from beside him. It belonged to a swagger-looking man with a good sense of style.

    "Whatcha laughing at, pretty boy!?"

    "I''m laughing at you, you red-headed moron," the swagger man mocked. "What bottleneck are you even speaking of? It''s more like an immovable wall that prevents you from advancing to the Viscera Refinement Realm, haha!"

    "Wanna say that again¡­!?"

    The two of them appeared to be on the verge of a brawl, but with a single word from Yan Ro, they quit the nonsense.

    "Those two are always going at it," said Mi Lu, a short girl with a round, pretty face. "At this point, they might as well get it over with and sign the marriage contract."

    "What marriage contract!?" the red-head and swagger men shouted in sync.

    "Be quiet!" Yan Ro ordered. "If I hear anything more out of the two of you today, then reductions will be made to your sect contributions."

    The troublesome pair were reluctant, but still nodded silently.

 Chapter 447 - 447: [Control Essence]

    "Mo Wuxian and Fu Chenxian are the ones I really didn''t want to bring along for this mission, but¡­ you insisted," Yan Ro let out his grievances to the beautiful woman of jade beside him. "And you always get what you want in the end¡­"

    "Come on, dear, there''s no need to be like that," the beautiful woman giggled. "I, Su Ming, never have you do anything for naught. The both of them are on the verge of reaching the Viscera Refinement Realm; they could prove useful if things wind up going south."

    "Useful, huh¡­?" Yan Ro peeked back at Mo Wuxian and Fu Chenxian, watching the both of them play rock-paper-scissors to decide once and for all who had better hair.

    "Those two are idiots¡­"

    "Maybe," Su Ming said as she linked arms with the big armored man. "But that doesn''t make them any less valuable."

    Yan Ro sighed, unwilling to admit that his wife was right. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    *Rustle, Rustle!*

    A rustling suddenly came from a patch of nearby bushes, putting every Greenflame Sect Disciple on guard.

    "Watch every front! Even if it''s just a weak Low-rank 1 Demon Beast, we can''t let ourselves get careless!"

    "Yes, sir!"

    That was when everyone saw it. A six-foot-tall creature of wood with hollowed-out eyes. It robotically walked out of the grouping of bushes, its eerie gaze making several of the Greenflame Sect Disciples go pale in fright.

    "What in the hell is this creature!?" Mo Wuxian questioned. "I''ve never heard or seen anything like it! It''s so fucking creepy!"

    "Stop cursing, you buffoon," Fu Chenxian remarked. "This thing doesn''t even possess an aura. It''s likely just a weirdly mutated beast that has yet to reach even Low-rank 1¡ª"

    OOOM!

    That was when everyone in the exploration party felt it. An overwhelming pressure that made their teeth chatter and their legs tremble.

    "This is¡­ Viscera Refinement Realm Peak!??"

    The moment Yan Ro made this announcement, fear welled up inside him. He felt the clawing urge to run away, but with his wife by his side, there was no possible way he would escape in time.

    This meant that if he wanted to save his wife, he had to fight!

    Unfortunately, the heart of a human was oftentimes fickle¡­

    "H-Husband, where are you going!?"

    Su Ming reached out for the fleeing figure of her spouse, but found herself unable to reach him in time. Tears streamed down her face as the reality of her being abandoned fully settled in.

    "W¡­ Why¡­? I-I don''t understand what I did¡­"

    "Shit!" Mo Wuxian cursed. "That bastard leader of ours actually ran off the first chance he got! Fuck!"

    "Doesn''t matter!" Fu Chenxian brandished his slick, shiny sword. "If we want any hope of making it out of this alive, then we have to get our heads on straight and strategically fight this wooden creature¡ª"

    Just then:

    BOOOM!

    A loud explosion reverberated a few hundred meters out, followed by a metal cannonball being launched toward a boulder next to the terrified group.

    "T-That is¡­"

    The Team Leader¡ªYan Ro!

    All of his limbs were twisted unnaturally, with a large hole gushing blood out of his chest. His eyes appeared listless and hopeless as he incoherently muttered words that almost sounded like pleas for help.

    That was when the Greenflame Disciples heard it¡ªa voice. One that cut through the air like a distorted jigsaw blade:

    "DOn''T RuN¡­ ThE CrEAToR Is CoMiNg¡­"

    The Creator!?

    What was this tree thing talking about!?

    This was also around when the Greenflame Disciples realized that there was more than just a single one of the tree monsters. There were over five of them!

    And all of them were slowly walking out of the woods like entities straight out of one''s worst nightmares!

    "Whoever this Creator is, I don''t want to be around to find out," Mo Wuxian whispered to Fu Chenxian. "We have to make it back to the Sect and inform the Elders of the situation. If me and you work together, we should be able to slip through their entrapment."

    Fu Chenxian really didn''t want to cooperate with the pretentious bastard beside him, but under these dire circumstances, he really had no choice in the matter.

    "Damn it," he ruffled his hair in frustration. "What''s the plan, fucker!?"

    "Okay, so first¡­ Then we''ll¡­ And finally¡­"

    However, even after so much planning, the moment they went to make a move, a pressure that exceeded that of the Sect Elders erupted from behind the humanoid tree creatures. It was so immense that many of the Disciples struggled to even keep their eyes open, let alone completely take in the unimaginable sight before them.

    A massive serpent of living wood erupted from the ground, stretching over a hundred meters long and ten meters wide. Its hollow, glowing eyes bore down on them with a cold, ancient malice, reducing Mo Wuxian and the others to trembling insects beneath its gaze. All will to resist vanished in an instant.

    "CReAToR!"

    All six of the humanoid tree creatures hit their powerful fists against the ground, causing the earth to shake for dozens of meters.

    "!?!?" "!?!?"

    This was the Creator those things spoke of!?

    Was this huge monstrosity actually capable of creating anything!?

    "M-Monster¡­!!" Yan Ro, who was fading in and out of unconsciousness, screamed out like a crazy person while staring up at the huge wooden python. "Ge-Get away from me¡­!!"

    ''But I haven''t even touched you yet¡­'' Necro thought blankly. ''Whatever; let''s just get this over with. They were the ones to invade my territory with ill-intentions first.''

    Branching off his main root, a smaller root appeared. It extended toward the terrified Greenflame Disciples, emitting a faint purple glow at the tip.

    "Accept or deny this liquid; your fates will be decided from the decision you make."

    What was on the tip of his extended root was the product of the Skill he obtained after evolving to Rank 5¡ª[Control Essence].

    As the name suggested, any who were touched by it would lose control over their free will to an extent. It was an outcome that none would want but were forced to let happen when all other possible paths were barred off.

 Chapter 448 - 448: Accept or Die, A Plan

    "So?" Necro asked coldly, exuding a poisonous pressure that scared the wits out of the Greenflame Disciples. "Have you made your decision?"

    Those same Disciples were still reeling from how fluently this supposed ''Creator'' could talk. They were given little time to truly consider the options, going straight to bowing and sweating while screaming their acceptance of whatever he had in store for them.

    "At least you''re smart," said Necro as he dropped a droplet of the purple [Control Essence] on each one of the prostrated Greenflame Disciples. "From now on, you all work for me. You''ll obey every one of my commands."

    With hazy eyes, Mo Wuxian and the other Greenflame Disciples nodded, robotically saying, "We understand, Master."

    "Good." Necro looked to the extremely injured Viscera Refinement Realm Team Leader. "As for you¡­"

    "N-No!! Pl-Please don''t kill me¡­!" Yan Ro begged through broken, bloodied teeth. "I''ll do anything you want me to do¡ª"

    *Drip!*

    "Huh??"

    "I was never going to kill you, though the value of your cultivation was nearly too enticing to deny," Necro said apathetically. "Your injuries are now mostly healed. And with that, I''ll offer you the same deal as the others."

    "Accept my control or die. Your choice."

    "Th-This¡­" Yan Ro shifted his flickering gaze over to his fellow Sect Disciples, feeling that death might actually be better than a fate like theirs. "I¡­ I don''t¡­"

    "Ignore their current states," Necro interrupted. "They''re only like that right now because I want them to be. When you return to your Sect, I''ll allow you all free will to do whatever it is you want to do. However, if you have even the slightest thought of betraying me¡­"

    "N-No, I would never, Lord Creator!" Yan Ro flailed his arms, feeling levels of fear like never before. "Pl-Please put me under your control! From now on, I''ll do whatever you say¡­!"

    Necro wasted no time in doing just that. And as the purplish liquid droplet made contact with Yan Ro''s skin, Necro thought about the desperation that humans experienced when faced with certain doom.

    ''Such persistence¡­ To cling so much to life even knowing you''ll become akin to a slave¡­''

    Humans were a lot like him in that regard.

    ¡ª Some time and inquiries later ¡ª

    "Alright," Necro said to snap the Greenflame Disciples out of their robotic stupors. "You all may go back to where you came. If anyone questions you about what happened during your mission, then just tell them that you''ll be going out again because a powerful Demon Beast was passing through this area the first time around."

    "O-Okay!"

    The Greenflame Disciples no longer sounded as robotic as before, but they were still scared out of their minds¡ªespecially when it came to the horrifying strength of the petrifying entity before them.

    The moment they got the green light, the Greenflame Disciples were out of there!

    While passing by the ominously standing Shadow Tree Soldiers, they prayed to all of their gods that they''d never have to meet with the ''Creator'' again.

    Far too scary!

    "Humans¡­" Necro muttered. "They''re so feeble¡­ But at the same time, their lifeforces are tenacious¡­"

    After they left his thousand+ meter range, he returned to his slumber. Yet, even while letting time go on without him, the burning rage of revenge inside him craved release. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ''Yi Yu¡­ For what the Hundred-Eyed Sect did to you, I''ll make sure they experience a pain a thousand times worse. Even if I have to annihilate the entire Sect to make it happen, I''ll do it in an instant.''

    For the first time in his short life, Necro had a genuine goal. One that made him work with ten times the efficiency when it came to eradicating Demon Beast kind alongside his Shadow Tree Soldiers.

    ¡ª Late in the night, within the Hundred-Eyed Sect''s Leader Building ¡ª

    "You say the Sect Leader of the Greenflame Sect is here?"

    An older man with streaks of green flowing through his grayish black hair spoke up. On his forehead were two extra sets of eyes, both slanted in opposing directions.

    "Yes, that''s correct, Master." A servant replied respectfully.

    "Let him in."

    "Yes, Master."

    Not long after the servant outside his door left, he returned alongside a man of greater stature. Compared to how he looked dozens of years ago, he had a more middle-aged air about him.

    Thwacking open the door to the Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader''s personal chambers, Sect Leader Mo Fuchan strutted up to where the Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader was seated.

    "What''s the matter, Mo Fuchan?" the Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader spoke calmly and without turning his head. "Did the last girl I helped prepare for you not please you enough tonight?"

    "No, it''s not that," replied the Greenflame Sect Leader as he sat down next to the Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader. "That girl is as tasty as always, and I''ll be enjoying her for many moons to come. No, this has nothing to do with that."

    "Then what?"

    "The Barbarian Tribes to the far south are acting up again!" the Greenflame Sect Leader angrily tapped his finger on the table, beckoning a servant to bring some tea over. "Their daringness knows no limits! Time and time again, they''ve attacked and killed the Envoys I''ve sent over for peace negotiations!

    "As if that weren''t enough, they''ve also been brazenly robbing any caravans I send in that direction for business purposes! It''s infuriating!"

    "And what does any of this have to do with me?" the Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader sipped on his tea.

    The Greenflame Sect Leader cocked his head, his annoyance showing through his twisted expression. "Come on, let''s not play the fool at this stage. We both know that you trade poisons with the Fiendish Sects in the south. Why don''t you help me in a show of power? If the both of us and our strongest go to intimidate those savages, they''ll become so scared that they''ll completely submit to us!"

    The Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader went quiet, his thoughts stirring.

    Ultimately, he turned toward the Greenflame Sect Leader and asked, "What do you have in mind?"

    Mo Fuchan cruelly grinned, then went on to explain his plan to the Hundred-Eyed Sect Leader.

 Chapter 449 - 449: The Three Types of Factions

    ¡ª Weeks Later ¡ª

    While passively farming Demon Beasts with the assistance of his Shadow Tree Soldiers, Necro noticed something unusual pop up on his improved radar.

    "A human?" he wondered, watching the frantic movements of a woman with what he liked to call his |Nature Sight|, which made use of vibrations around his Roots to produce images. "Oh? There''s more than one."

    From the looks of it, the woman was being chased. The pursuers were multiple unsavory-looking men in the Bone Refinement Realm.

    "Hmm¡­"

    Necro debated helping her or not. And though it really wasn''t any of his business, they were invading his territory right now. Furthermore, Evolution Points were Evolution Points, no matter if they came from a Demon Beast or a human.

    |Thousand Yard Slash|

    With a casual flick of one of his Branches, an arc of highly condensed air cut through the skies. Lines of trees were cleaved in half as this arc encountered the group of men chasing the fleeing girl.

    "Get off of me, you bastards!!"

    "Give it up, Lang Qingyue!" A man called Yang Fenglie finally caught up to the girl, immediately using his superior strength to push her up against a tree. "Your Tribe has already been annihilated, you savage, so quit resisting and make use of this body of yours to please us~"

    He, along with the rest of the robed men, eyed the pinned girl''s voluptuous curves through her torn-up clothes. Lust built up inside them as they lasciviously licked their lips, more than ready to dig in.

    "I''ll kill myself before I let you do what you want with me, you leches¡­!" Lang Qingyue placed a sharpened knife up to her throat, resolve shining through the despair festering in her heart. "See if I dare or not!"

    Yang Fenglie and the rest froze.

    Then they burst out laughing while holding their stomachs.

    Lang Qingyue''s expression worsened as she shouted, "What!? You don''t think I''ll do it!??"

    "N¡­ No, it''s just that we don''t care," Yang Fenglie replied through tears. "As long as your body is still warm, then it doesn''t matter if you''re alive or not!"

    "!!!"

    Dread fully settled within Lang Qingyue''s heart. The knife she was holding slipped out of her hand as she slumped to the hard ground.

    "Finally given up, have you??" Yang Fenglie laughed. "Good, this makes things easier! Time to dig in, boys!"

    However, just as they started to rip away what little remained of Lang Qingyue''s clothes, a crisp whistling sound echoed out. And before any of the robed men could properly react in time, an arc of condensed air sliced through the tree Lang Qingyue was sitting under.

    If not for the fact that the men were now missing their upper halves, the crashing down of the tree surely would''ve killed them¡­

    "Wh¡­ What¡­?"

    Light quickly returned to Lang Qingyue''s dimmed eyes as she looked around and saw every single one of her pursuers lying in a pool of their own blood. Half were crushed under the weight of the large tree after being cleaved in two, while one could clearly view the gory scenes left behind by the other half.

    "H-How did this¡ª"

    "What''s your name, girl?"

    "???"

    ''A voice!? From where!?''

    Lang Qingyue looked everywhere but up. However, when she finally did, her eyes widened rounder than a full moon. With words seemingly stuck in the back of her throat, she shivered, unable to move an inch from her spot.

    "Your name," Necro repeated. "What is it?"

    "M-My name¡­?"

    "Yes," replied Necro. "Do you not have one?"

    Gulping hard while facing the massive wooden python looming over her, Lang Qingyue shook her head. "I have one¡­ It''s¡­ Lang Qingyue¡­"

    "Alright, Lang Qingyue," Necro said, pointing his snout toward the damage he caused. "Why were these men chasing you? From the looks of it, your strength isn''t much worse than theirs was."

    Lang Qingyue''s head drooped as she softly murmured, "I was injured by a sneak attack¡­" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She paused, then continued:

    "After¡­ After they massacred, pillaged, and violated the members of my Tribe, I was left as one of the only people still alive. They caught me by surprise while I was running away."

    Shame welled up in her heart over her cowardly act of fleeing, but she had no other option. Dying alongside her family and friends was the way she wanted to go out, but they entrusted a task with her¡ªone that she couldn''t refuse.

    ''I have to seek the Shamans in the North¡­ Only that way can I avenge everyone¡­!''

    "Tribe?" Necro asked. "Is that like a Sect? I''m unfamiliar with the term."

    "You don''t know about the Barbarian Tribes?"

    Lang Qingyue appeared genuinely confused by this notion.

    Who in the Forest of Jagga''s territory hadn''t heard of the Barbarian Tribes??

    "I sleep most of the time," Necro explained. "As such, my knowledge of this world is limited to what I hear whenever I wake up."

    Lang Qingyue felt that this made sense. Powerful Demon Beasts were known for their lethargy, and would often hibernate for months or even years at a time.

    In the end, Lang Qingyue had to explain what Barbarian Tribes were and their tense relationships with the Orthodox Sects.

    "Orthodox Sects¡­?"

    "You don''t even know that much??"

    Lang Qingyue sighed in exasperation. The more she interacted with this ignorant being that had slaughtered a whole group of Bone Refinement Realm cultivators in an instant, the less scary she found him.

    "Okay, so basically, there are the Orthodox Factions, which usually consist of ''Righteous Sects,'' ''Cultivation Families,'' and some Noble Fiefs." Lang Qingyue began with an explanatory tone. "Then there are the Unorthodox Factions, which include Fiendish Cultivators, Sects, Evil Families, and anything else openly evil in the eyes of the Righteous."

    "As for Barbarian Clans, Outlanders, Itinerant Cultivators, and the like, we are seen as untrustworthy," Lang Qingyue added. "Because of our unusualness, reclusiveness, or xenophobia, we''re often ostracized by both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions. Particularly the Orthodox Factions."

    "And this time, under the pretense of avenging fallen envoys that attacked and threatened us first, the Greenflame Sect and Hundred-Eyed Sect joined together and slaughtered everyone in my Clan¡­ Including my mother, father, and little sister¡­"

 Chapter 450 - 450: Lang Qingyue

    Lang Qingyue went deathly quiet, a blueness coloring the atmosphere.

    Necro, on the other hand, was focused on something else. ''The Greenflame and Hundred-Eyed Sects joined together¡­?''

    His eyes narrowed into slits as his killing intent flared.

    "M-Mr. Python," Lang Qingyue said through tears and sniffles, failing to bury her extreme sadness. "Is¡­ Is there any possible way that you could¡­ that you could¡­"

    "You want me to get revenge for you?" Necro finished what she was trying to say. "I can do that."

    "I-It''ll only be until I can get in contact with the Shaman Clans in the North¡ª Wait, you''ll what!?"

    That easy!?

    "I have personal misgivings with the Hundred-Eyed Sect, so the matter of your revenge is simply something that would''ve happened either way," said Necro, his voice as cold as ice. "They''ll die. Every single last one of them."

    Although shocked, Lang Qingyue''s mouth gradually transformed into a smile. Tears of happiness and sadness mixed together, contorting her face into something hard to put into words.

    Who would''ve thought¡­ that when she had no one to rely on and everyone she cared about dead, the one that extended a hand¡ªparting the darkness that clouded her vision¡ªwould turn out to be a talking wooden snake¡­

    "T-Thank you so much, Mr. Python¡­ Yo-You have no idea how much this means to me¡­"

    "Mhmm, no problem," said Necro. "But I''m not a python."

    Lang Qingyue paused. "You''re not¡­?"

    "Nope," Necro replied. "This is merely an extension of my main body." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "...Your main body¡­?"

    "Would you like to see?" asked Necro, finding her expressions quite amusing.

    The more she talked with this mysterious entity, the less sorrow she felt, so if she could find a reason to stay around him longer, she''d take it. Therefore, she nodded meekly, soon asked to follow behind him.

    It was also only now that she realized that Mr. Python was connected to the ground below!

    It really was just an extension!

    Then what was the main body like!?

    Yet no matter how absurd her imagination ran wild, nothing could''ve prepared her for what she witnessed after passing around a mountain corner¡­

    There, in the middle of a once destitute area, sat a massive tree hundreds of feet tall.

    It had a very wide trunk as well as thick and long branches that swayed in a mesmerizing way. But most remarkable and terrifying of all was the giant building-sized spherical orb placed in the center of the tree''s huge surface mass.

    "This is my main body."

    "Hwa¡­!?"

    The orb had a face! And it spoke!

    What sort of Demon Beast was this!?

    "That surprised, are you?" Necro chuckled a little, laughing for the first time in ages. "Want to see something even cooler?"

    Without waiting for her response, all hundred of his large branches erupted in light, filtering between red, black, and purple in showy fashion. The branches then synced up with the dozens of thick roots wiggling around beneath the ground for hundreds of meters.

    Dumbfoundment was etched across Lang Qingyue''s face as she watched the illuminated branches and roots spin around. Gusts of air were blown about, and with one final eruption of light at the tree canopy and trunk, something beyond stellar revealed itself to the awed girl.

    "So pretty¡­"

    She had never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life. It was simply indescribable¡ªimpossible to put into words.

    Necro smiled, deciding to let her revel in the dazzling light show for a while longer.

    After some time, he eventually returned to normal.

    That was when he said, "You''re still injured, aren''t you? And you have nothing to wear either. Here, I''ll fix that for you."

    While Lang Qingyue was still in the process of leaving her reverie, a droplet of [Life Essence] was dropped on her. During her healing process, Necro called for a couple of his Shadow Tree Soldiers, having them stitch together some temporary clothing using the fur of slain animals.

    Like scary maids of wood, they created a fluffy coat that fit Lang Qingyue like a glove.

    "It''s winter, after all," said Necro as he ordered the Shadow Tree Soldier to back away from the woman who was obviously terrified of them. "You have to stay warm, right? That''s one of the human race''s weaknesses, if I remember correctly¡­"

    Lang Qingyue stared at the cozy coat draped around her. Her eyes gradually warmed up alongside her body temperature as she snuggled it close to her face.

    "Thank you," she said with genuine gratitude in her voice. "Th-Thank you so much¡­ Y-You''re just so¡­ hick¡ª so¡­ sniff, sniff¡­"

    ''Huh?''

    Lang Qingyue randomly began crying her eyes out while hugging his trunk.

    Not knowing what to do, Necro said, "There, there¡­?"

    She cried even louder in response to his attempts at comfort¡­

    ''Human women are so complicated,'' Necro thought. ''How do you get them to stop secreting strange liquids out of their eye sockets?''

    For a while, he was held hostage by the sorrowful woman. However, he ultimately regained his freedom, prompting him to say:

    "You can feel free to stay here with me if you''d like. You have nowhere to go, and I don''t feel good about leaving strays out in the cold. Also, I feel like you''d want to witness your vengeance with your own eyes, not from word of mouth."

    "Y-You''d really have someone like me¡­?" Lang Qingyue asked through residual sniffles. "I¡­ I wouldn''t be a bother to you?"

    "No," replied Necro. "Just don''t interrupt my naps. I don''t like being awake only to realize I still can''t move from this spot."

    "Mhmkay!" Lang Qingyue beamed, her fright from earlier completely replaced with an ever-growing affection for this big softie of a tree with a scary exterior. "Can I call you Brother Tree from now on?"

    "You can just use my name."

    "Your name?"

    Necro grinned from edge to edge, his pointed mouth a truly horrifying thing to see.

    "Necro," he declared, causing leaves to scatter into the wind. "That''s what a kind-hearted person called me a long time ago. Now it''s mine forever."

    "Necro¡­ Necro¡­" Lang Qingyue repeated the name a few times, her smile widening after each time. "It''s a nice name. I bet the person who gave it to you was wonderful."

    "...She was¡­"

 Chapter 451 - 451: 20,000 Evolution Points

    Necro''s melancholic reply was paired with the recalling of blurry memories that showed all the times Yi Yu would stop by and make sure he was doing well.

    All the way up until the day she stopped coming¡­

    Everything after that was blended together. Only after his consciousness truly started to form did his memories become clearer.

    "That''s enough of that," Necro said to change the subject. "Why don''t we talk about your accommodations?"

    "Accommodations?"

    "You plan to sleep, don''t you?" asked Necro.

    Lang Qingyue blushed, lowering her head. While twirling the ends of her hair strands, she softly said, "I can just sleep¡­ inside you¡­"

    Silence¡­

    "No."

    Instant rejection!

    "#2, #6, and #7, go build her a small house over by that large tree," Necro instructed. "Hmm, wait, let me first show you how it should be made."

    He used a thin sliver of one of his branches to draw in the dirt the architectural designs described in a simple home blueprint he happened across some time ago.

    After some time of explaining, only to receive confused head tilts in response, Necro finally got through to the Shadow Tree Soldiers. They then immediately got to work on the construction of the house.

    It only took them a little more than half an hour to make a quaint home that looked almost professionally done!

    "Wow!" Lang Qingyue clapped. "You guys are so awesome! Thanks so much!"

    The Shadow Tree Soldiers that made her residence showed smug looks. Those looks stayed even while they were leaving the scene with smoothed chunks of wood on their shoulders.

    Could this be considered cannibalism?

    Possibly¡­

    "Your helpers are scary at first glance, but they''re actually so talented," Lang Qingyue said in awe. "I wish I had some of my own¡ª"

    "You can. I''ll give you one."

    "Huh¡­?"

    She meant it as a joke, but did she actually have a chance of receiving a gift so grand!?

    "N-Necro, I was just kidding," Lang Qingyue said with a scarlet blush. "You shouldn''t do something so nice for someone like me¡­"

    "It''s honestly fine," Necro said casually. "In fact, you''d be doing me a favor by getting this to do something."

    "???"

    "You see," Necro began, "These guys are created from a part of me. They''re like my children, in a sense. And though the majority of them are perfect subordinates and servants, there was one who¡­"

    "Well, simply put, he''s a defect," Necro finished, disappointedly shaking his head. "Somehow, as the first of my children, he was the only one to develop a unique personality trait."

    "Is he rebellious or something? Maybe a deva??"

    "No¡­" Necro made an ashamed expression. "He''s just really, really¡ª"

    "¡ªLazy."

    "Pfft~"

    "What''s so funny?" asked Necro, genuinely puzzled. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s just that¡­ Isn''t he basically a carbon copy of you, Necro?" Lang Qingyue giggled, imagining two versions of Necro trying to reach for a snack from a couch but both failing horribly.

    "Hey, I''m not that lazy¡­"

    "Whatever," Necro huffed. "Come on out, Lazy. Meet your new Master."

    Thud!

    Rustle, rustle!

    From a formation of bushes, a shadowy wooden figure who could barely even walk straight approached the massive tree with the core at the center.

    "Guh¡­ Guh¡­?"

    Lazy seemed to be trying to say, "What the hell, man! I was sleeping good, ya know!? I even fell off a tree because my name was called!"

    "Lazy can''t speak the language of humans, and even I can barely understand him, but it''s not like much is going on in that head of his anyway." Necro beckoned Lazy over, though had to wait a good second for him to fumble over. "Although I don''t know if it''s possible, you can try to whip him into shape."

    Lang Qingyue smiled and hopped over to the drowsy-faced tree humanoid who looked far different from his brethren.

    "My name''s Lang Qingyue," she announced with a smile. "It''s very nice to meet you, Lazy!"

    Lazy''s squinted eyes traced the woman up and down.

    However, they suddenly opened!

    "Guh, guh¡­ guh¡­"

    Translation: ''Beautiful, cute, beautiful¡­''

    Necro conveyed the message to Lang Qingyue, to which she said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Lazy!"

    With a marveled look on his wooden face, Lazy turned to his Creator. A thumbs up was given, acting as if he approved of this new Master.

    "Maybe you''ll work a little harder for her sake then," Necro said in a hopeful tone. "Perhaps one day, you''ll even join the others in the Hunting Parties."

    Lazy revealed a look so disgusted that he nearly puked out a pinecone just imagining a future like that.

    "...Or not¡­"

    Necro sighed, realizing that change for this one might just be the equivalent of wanting to steal the moon.

    "Haiz¡­ Just go check out the house with Lang Qingyue, and be good," he said to Lazy. "Remember, no one is allowed to disturb me."

    "I''ll be right here when you wake up again, Necro!" Lang Qingyue waved his way, blessing the world with a blinding smile. "I want to be the first person you see, hehe~"

    "...Okay¡­"

    Closing his eyes, Necro returned to his state of hibernation.

    Winter rolled on by, giving way to spring. It was on a day when the temperatures started to rise for the year that news related to the ''subjugation'' of the Barbarian Tribes to the south circulated.

    It didn''t take long at all for this whole section of the Forest of Jagga to learn that over five of the Barbarian Tribes had been completely wiped out. And though it was with many sacrifices, the Righteous Faction managed to get Barbarian Lord Usopp to negotiate terms with them.

    However, in the Mountainpass where Necro was obscured from view, this information never reached him.

    But something else did¡­

    [Your total Evolution Points have surpassed 20,000!]

    "20,000¡­" Necro murmured. "Even with half of my Shadow Tree Soldiers venturing along the coastline to the North in search of stronger opponents, EP acquisition has definitely slowed down a lot¡­"

 Chapter 452 - 452: Level 4 Branches

    At the rate he was going, Necro would never collect enough EP to evolve to Rank 6 and break past the power bottleneck that prevented him from going beyond the Half-step Qi Condensation Realm.

    With a steeled heart, Necro opened up his system interface, reminding himself how much longer he had to grind.

    BLING!

    {[Idle Evolution System (1st Ascended)]}

    [Host: Necro]

    [Lifespan: 0.6/236]

    [Cultivation: Nonexistent]

    [Spirit Roots: Nonexistent]

    [Special Qualifications: Yggdrasil Fusion Entity (Allows for most basic of Spiritual and Lifespan Absorption)(Spiritual Energy is stored within the Host''s various components)]

    ---

    {[Evolution Tree]}

    [Rank: 5 (Elder Willow Tree)]

    [Trunk (Lvl 3) (1/1)] ¨C [25,000 EP to upgrade]

    [Roots (Lvl 3) (60/60)] ¨C [1,100 EP to upgrade, with same cost for each root of next level]

    [Branches (Lvl 3) (100/100)] ¨C [600 EP to upgrade, with same cost for each branch of next level]

    [Evolution Points: 20,130]

    "Hmm¡­" Necro pondered. "At the moment, the most useful thing to me are my Roots, because they expand my sphere of influence. Right now, I can only stretch out one-point-something thousand meters in every direction, but if I can get a third of my Roots to the next level, I should be able to at least double that distance."

    He followed through with this train of thought but was more than pleasantly surprised to feel his Roots quadruple in length and double in width!

    FWOOOSH¡ª!

    With just a simple slash from his Level 4 Roots, Necro left a decently sized gash in the side of a hill.

    "This power¡­"

    He started to wonder if he had already crossed over into the territory of Qi Condensation Realm Cultivators¡ªthe official beginning of the Cultivation of Immortals.

    "If only I could move; then I could pay the Hundred-Eyed Sect a visit."

    This was one of the worst parts about being him. After all, without the ability to travel, he was not only restricted to one area, he was also more susceptible to pincer attacks from enemies. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, the mountains he hid between did well to conceal most of his large body, as well as make it extremely difficult to launch any sort of group attack on him.

    Changing the subject away from something so depressing, Necro looked to a certain area within his 1,500-meter sphere of influence.

    "I wonder how Lazy and Lang Qingyue are faring," he mused as he zoomed in on them, enhancing his nature vision in the same instant. "This¡­"

    He was rendered speechless at what he saw.

    There, in the middle of a wide-open field, were two figures.

    One was a tree person, while the other was a beautiful woman wearing a euphoric look on her face.

    But this situation was not what you thought it was¡­

    "Get up!" Lang Qingyue shouted. "Do another 100 push-ups! 100 squats right after! Then follow up with a 10 km run! Repeat that thirty times!"

    "Guh Guh!!? Guh¡ª!!"

    Lazy was whipped time and time again, being forced to do whatever Lang Qingyue told him to do. The level of betrayal in his heart was immense, for he had been tricked.

    This woman was no pretty angel sent from above¡­

    She was a devil who crawled out of Hell just to torment him!!

    "Guh!! Guh!!"

    Translation: ''Creator, please save me!!!''

    Silence¡­

    "Well, it seems like they''re doing fine," said Necro as he redirected his attention elsewhere. "The other Shadow Tree Soldiers are working as efficiently as ever. But maybe I should upgrade a couple of my Branches so |Power Essence| can receive a boost."

    That way, he could further buff the Shadow Tree Soldiers on top of the EP that went into improving their cultivation.

    However, seeing as he was currently all out of EP, Necro had to let a bit of time pass.

    ¡ª A week later ¡ª

    Waking up from his slumber, Necro realized that Lazy and Lang Qingyue were still at it. But more importantly than that, his EP had stacked up again.

    *Ding!*

    [You spent 6000 Evolution Points to upgrade 10 of your Level 3 Branches to Level 4!]

    [The effectiveness of all previous Branch-related Skills and newly acquired Skills have tremendously improved!]

    [Branch (Lvl 4)]

    ¡ª[Capable of attack, poison, control, buffing, laceration/bleeding effects, and healing.]

    [Basic Skill 1: ''Cross-Slash'']

    [Basic Skill 2: ''Death Piercer'']

    [Basic Skill 3: ''Poisonous Spear'']

    [Special Skill 1: ''Life Essence'']

    [Special Skill 2: ''Power Essence'']

    [Special Skill 3: ''Control Essence'']

    [Life Essence (Mid-Mortal Grade)]

    ¡ª[Can heal most common diseases and injuries of those below the Foundation Establishment Realm (Uses Spiritual Energy to form)]

    [Power Essence (Mid-Mortal Grade)]

    ¡ª[Can improve the Cultivation of anyone or anything in the Body Refinement Realm to the early stages of the Qi Condensation Realm (Limited effectiveness the more one takes/has subtle affection-increasing effects)(Uses Spiritual Energy to form)]

    [Control Essence (Mid-Mortal Grade)]

    ¡ª[One droplet to control the minds of any living being in or below the Early Stages of the Qi Condensation Realm (Only effective for a year before more doses need to be distributed)(Uses Spiritual Energy to form)]

    "Control Essence now stays applied for a year?" Necro arched his brows. "It was only a third of a year with Level 3 Branches."

    The ''Poisonous Halberd'' Skill also interested him greatly.

    FWIRL!

    Activating the Skill, Necro watched as one of his Branches twisted and condensed. It went from a shiny, almost pearlescent purplish-black color to something infused with far more green.

    This was the Poison Element. And it was not only deeply integrated into this Branch¡ªit was also coated alongside its edges.

    After finishing its twisting and condensation process, the Root ended up looking like a wickedly sharp spear. It was over ten meters in length and a couple of meters in width, with an appearance that would intimidate even normal Qi Condensation Realm Experts.

    "Hurm¡­" Necro liked the look of this thing a lot; it gave off an air of sinister invincibility. "But appearance is secondary. I have to see how well it performs."

    Rearing the |Poisonous Spear| back a few dozen meters like the pulling of a bow''s string, Necro made sure the tension was at its maximum. Only then did he¡ª

    *Fwooop!*

    ¡ªLet go.

 Chapter 453 - 453: Bai Ning Returns

    The |Poisonous Spear| disconnected from the rest of Necro''s tree body. And in mere moments, it had already traveled thousands of meters, shooting through the skies like a shooting star.

    It had the trajectory of a harpoon and wound up crashing into the side of a mountain over five thousand meters away!

    The whole area around where it landed instantly turned a malevolent shade of green. The Poison Element had seeped into the surroundings, tainting that side of the mountain for nearly a hundred meters.

    "...So this is the power of the |Poisonous Spear|..." Necro murmured.

    It was definitely better than he thought it would be.

    And best of all:

    SHING!

    The thrown |Poisonous Spear| vibrated intensely, and with a shake out of the ground, it took off into the air. Like the mighty hammer Mjolnir, it returned to its owner, reverting back to a normal Branch after reattaching itself to Necro.

    "That''s a relief," said Necro. "If the |Poisonous Spear| became unusable after a single shot, it would''ve become way too expensive to use it."

    Each |Poisonous Spear| needed to be formed from a Level 4 Branch. And every Level 4 Branch had a price tag of 600 Evolution Points.

    600 EP was the equivalent of 600 years of extracted Lifespan.

    600 years¡­

    That was even more than most Qi Condensation Realm Cultivators could live!

    "Thankfully, that didn''t end up being the case." Necro breathed a sigh of relief before calling back his Shadow Tree Soldiers.

    They had been exploring the coastline for the most part, with a couple sent further south, where the Hundred-Eyed and Greenflame Sects were situated. Altogether, they had probably chartered 80 to 90 thousand meters in the northwest, extreme west, and short-south directions.

    Only the eastern side was left untouched for now.

    "Involving myself with the Human Settlements this soon is no good," said Necro as he watched a couple of his Shadow Tree Soldiers return from different directions. "I don''t know enough of this world to say with absolute certainty that the capture of a Shadow Tree Soldier couldn''t somehow lead an Expert back to me. If that were to happen, my permanent death would be all but guaranteed. Or in the worst-case scenario, I could be¡­ turned into a science experiment¡­"

    Lang Qingyue and Bai Ning both warned him of this possibility. They emphasized the point of him being something extremely foreign to the citizens of this world, with there likely having never been anything like him before.

    According to them, even Cultivation Legends above the Foundation Establishment Realm would be interested in what would happen if they were to cut him open and check inside.

    "My strength right now might seem sufficient, but in actuality, it''s far from enough¡­"

    Necro lamented to himself as he dropped a couple of droplets of |Power Essence| on each of his 10 Shadow Tree Soldiers. Well, every Soldier besides one.

    But Lazy seemed ''preoccupied'' right now, so Necro didn''t bother himself with the bum. Instead, he watched the other 9 Shadow Tree Soldiers with keen interest.

    OOOM!

    Simultaneously, the 9 Shadow Tree Soldiers erupted in bright green light. Their strengths rapidly improved, and within mere seconds, their cultivations leaped from the end stages of the Viscera Refinement Realm all the way to the peak stages of the Marrow Refinement Realm!

    "Oh?" Necro tilted his head in curious thought. "I assumed the |Power Essence| wouldn''t improve their cultivation like it does with other living beings because it didn''t work before, but I''m glad it does. Now, I can max them out with |Power Essence| before switching over to EP spending in order to get them through bottlenecks."

    As it turned out, the upgrade of his Branches to Level 4 ended up bringing many unexpected benefits¡ªnot only for himself but also for everything related to him.

    Speaking of something related to him¡­

    "Lord Tree, I''ve returned!"

    At the outer perimeter of his sphere of influence, a woman of remarkable beauty skipped on over. She looked to be happy about something or another.

    Seemingly waiting for him to ask with puppy-dog eyes, Necro gave in, saying, "What is it¡­?"

    "Because of your help and prioritized resources from the Sect, I managed to break through to the Bone Refinement Realm!" In her glee, Bai Ning rushed up to the huge glowing tree and hugged his trunk. "Also, I''ve just been promoted to Elite Disciple status, which is when I heard from one of my seniors that the large mysterious tree in the Devastation Woods was being handled by them." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Originally, I wanted to beat them black and blue for spouting such nonsense, but I had to come to you to verify the truth first." Bai Ning continued. "Now that I''ve seen you in an even more dazzling state than before, I''m certain that those senior Direct Disciples were just blowing hot air, humph!"

    ''Direct Disciples¡­?''

    "These Seniors wouldn''t have happened to have had a man and woman who were obviously in the middle of a huge fight, would they have?" Necro asked just to be sure.

    Bai Ning''s eyes widened as she replied, "Yes, there was such a pair! Why? Do you know them, Lord Tree??"

    Necro took a second to respond. "You could say that, yeah¡­"

    "But no need to concern yourself with them," he added. "They''re on our side."

    "On our side??" Bai Ning parroted. "But how can you be so sure that you can trust them, Lord Tree??"

    Necro shook his head. "I can''t," he said. "But I''ve used a special type of controlling liquid to prevent them from betraying me. The method of control is somewhat similar to the |Power| and |Healing| Essence that you''ve seen me use before."

    Bai Ning went from nervous and worried to amazed by the capabilities of Necro. However, at the same time, she had something she wanted to ask.

    Noticing her squirming, Necro said, "Just go ahead and say it. I''ll hear you out."

    "W-Well, it''s just that¡­" Bai Ning inhaled deeply before steeling her gaze and turning her head up to directly face the giant scary-faced sphere. "Lord Tree, I just want to ask why you didn''t use this controlling liquid on me like you did the others¡­!"

    There!

    She finally said what she wanted to say!

    "Just that¡­?"