CHAPTER 10

I finally managed to leave the canyon…barely escaping with my life as another lion like beast was chasing me…

Now the thirty third round.

I rested a bit.

“Challenger!” Said the voice “You seem rather exhausted. Do you wish to give up?”

“No!” I said

“Good. Then proceed forward.”

I did so and found myself this time inside another cave…this one however was glacier. The Ice was everywhere I almost felt relaxed.

I then began to move forward. I was feeling rather well…

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary even the cold was harmless to me so I continued going forward.

I then reached a clearing that gave me the feeling that I will encounter something…

There was a roar after I got to the middle of it and two big yetis emerged from underground…they had the same look of the yeti I fought that day in the dungeon of the fairy forest.

Well it seems that today I will get to have my rematch…

***

I was inside a volcanic area…it was hot, yet felt really good. It was like if heat invigorated me. I think this has to do with my body.

There were however numerous monsters here and it seems that they didn’t take notice of me yet. even though I was in the middle of them.

The monsters however were all reptilians even some red wyverns

The exit to this floor was directly in front of me, about a few hundred meters.

I took the first step and every monster near me suddenly turned…

It seems that I was inside a safe zone

I was going to release my presence to get them to squirm away but then my stomach began to growl. I mean I was seriously hungry…

I liked my lips and decided against releasing it.

The first monster to approach was a huge black snake that slithered its way toward me opening its mouth and attempting to swallow me whole.

I only had to wait the moment it was trying to chomp at me to place both my hands on the top and bottom side of its jaws.

The snake began to wriggle and tried to lift me up but I had my feet firmly attached to the ground and didn’t let it have its way with me.

After it struggled long enough I snapped its mouth over killing it instantly.

Another wyvern decided that he wants me next for his menu but my blade that found its way ito this beasts’ neck didn’t agree.

Another wyvern then attacked and I stunned it by releasing my presence for just a second then struck my blade in a rising vertical cut.

His head was split in two whilst it was still attached to its body.

Blood poured out of the beast’s flesh and showered me with it.

The blood soon afterwards began to sizzle and my cloths cleaned itself of it.

I rewarded every beast that tried to attack me with death.

Until most of those present felt that attacking me was nothing short of a suicide and they all began to flee once I released my presence. I looked back at the bodies I had left and toward the gate.

I then removed my mask and tore a piece of the wyvern’s flesh…it was easily done as it was not as hard as Arvion’s.

I then began to munch on it. It was…not that delicious…but that didn’t stop me from eating.

I ate to my heart’s content while trying the flesh of every different beast.

It seems that the taste is different based on the strength of each and every one of the consumed beasts…

It took me a few hours before I could finish but I still felt unsatisfied.

Thankfully I didn’t get bloated from the enormous amounts of flesh. As once I bit on the reptile’s flesh it transforms into some sort of liquid and disappears the moment it enters my stomach while at the same time invigorating me more.

I placed back my mask and then left.

“Challenger! You took your time. Was it that difficult?” said the Overseer while I knew that he was watching me…

“No, I was just feeling a bit hungry. So next challenge?”

“Very well. Proceed.” Said the Overseer.

I then walked into the next challenge.

Nothing again bunch of monsters here and there. Few mazes. And just normal walking

There was however a weird floor. It was I think the thirty second…

It was a valley of some sort. I looked up and saw a pillar of light and instead of walking I decided to fly and go toward it directly.

I used the dragon aspect and flew high above. I then headed directly toward the light. I noticed a few monsters here and there some wolves and even purple big cats.

Few hundred meters before I reached the gate my eye wandered down and saw a dead body of one of the cats. I didn’t bother looking for what had killed it and just kept going straight toward the exit.

I entered and walked inside the gate and prepared to get into the next challenge.

“I hope you enjoy what you will meet next Challenger.” Said the overseer.

“What…more monsters that will squirm away the moment I get in…sorry I think that is a bit too boring for the moment…” I said

“Proceed” he said.

And so I did.

I entered the next area that was nothing but ice. Some sort of glacial cave. I began to walk as there was only one way and it was forward.

Then I smelled the scent of blood.

The moment I did so I released my presence just to scare away whatever was that awaited me.

And then I continued walking.

Until I saw something I was not expecting to see…

Quite frankly remembering the Overseer’s word I think I was a bit surprised.

I unsheathed my sword and walked forward. I was feeling a bit vengeful at the moment…

***

I barely managed to kill the second yeti when I felt this inexplicable terror. Utter and complete despair.

My whole body froze as if the angel of death was taking hold of me.

It was the first time in my life that I felt this amount of terror…what the hell is going on…how could something be this petrifying not even master Greetman gave off this feeling…what sort of monster would produce this amount of presence and weight. My whole body was crumbling begging me to flee.

My instinct were rampaging within me. I tried to flee but couldn’t move a muscle. I tried to use the ice around me to cover myself and hide but I couldn’t even gather energy. I was not exhausted but my mind was unclear, unfocused, I was helpless…

Then the presence suddenly disappeared. I dropped to my knees and my hands were still shaking from fright. I took deep breaths and stood back up. I had to keep going…

A second before I began to walk I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw it.

It was a man. He had a mask on his face and a drawn sword. It looked like a scimitar but it was not made of metal but of some white substance.

His mask was decorated with weird signs, they were colored purple red and pale gray. His hair was black with some purple strands but his attire was rather intoxicating.

A black and dark purple tunic and pants with shoes to match the outfit looked perfectly fitting and matched well with his hair color.

The man was walking toward me. I took my caution and began chanting.

This is probably some sort of challenge I need to clear.

I began summoning ice and said

“Who are you? And what do you want.”

The man remained silent.

“I said, who are you? State your purpose!” I said with a louder and more threatening tone.

The man still kept silent.

“This is the last warning” I said “What do you want!” and began channeling more energy around me. So much that all the flying shards began to vibrate. The coldness of the place was helping me maintain the spells without much effort.

The man just kept on walking closing the distance more and more.

I willed a shard to strike next to his feet but he was unfazed.

“I am sorry. But you leave me no choice” I said then willed all the shards to attack him.

The man stopped and began swatting away the shards. His sword moved so fast and didn’t even let a single shard pass.

After the flurry of attack ended the man continued moving forward.

I conjured a heaven piercing Javelin and threw it at him but he just held his hand forward and crushed it.

The man kept moving forward.

Fear began to creep down my heart as I knew that if I didn’t do anything I will be done for.

There was only one thing left to do.

I turned back and began to run.

I ran and ran. Not caring for whatever beast might be in front of me I just kept running.

Until I reached a dead end.

I have to think of something… there is no portal in this place. No way out. What the hell am I supposed to do? Do I need to kill that thing? I can’t no, that is impossible… what should I do…

Then I heard the same dreadful footsteps.

If I don’t do anything I am done for.

I have to use it…the only way for me to survive this is if I cast the strongest of my spells…but I fear that I might collapse the cave under me…ah I should conjure that.

“I queen of ice summon thee, grant me thy strength and power to defeat my foes…allow thy roar to echo in the realm of the living and let my enemies tremble from fear!”

A gigantic Mahojin appeared on the ground below. And he began to be summoned.

It was my last resort. The last time I casted this spell I failed miserably at controlling the power needed and conjured but a fraction of its original might. This time however I have more experience and I am much more powerful.

The ice began to form the limbs and parts of a dragon. A dragon made of ice.

The chilling air around the cave became colder and the being I called upon from the spirit world came to my aid. The only thing I think will be enough to scare away that monster.

Once the man entered the room. The dragon was fully conjured. They both looked at each other and I was certain of my victory.

The man then began to speak. In a language I have never heard and his voice was deep and fearsome.

My dragon then spoke back…it was the first time I had seen such a thing…how come a man is able to speak to spirits…I thought only I could do so.

The dragon of ice then lowered his head a bit almost like if it was bowing and began to crack. It shattered and turned to dust. And so did my hope…today is the day I die.

I dropped to my knees and awaited my end. The man then walked toward me. His sword sheathed this time. He won’t be needing it. Not with his strength…

A portal soon opened behind me. It was the gateway to the next floor. But I had no strength in me to even try and go through it.

The man stopped in front of me. Looked at me then looked forward. He then ignored me and walked away. Walked into the portal.

***

‘Stupid! Stupid, Stupid!’ I said to myself.

What the hell is wrong with me! I was just trying to scare her for a moment but damn I got smitten the moment I saw her face...and couldn’t do anything…Dumb Asura Very, Very dumb!!

She however still attacked me…well I can’t help it if I was approached by a mute and masked man with his damn sword sheathed I would have done the same…

I was just trying to speak to her then she began to run…Why the hell am I even thinking of this?! She stabbed you man, get your shit together!!!

However her magic seemed to have improved by a bit… that dragon though. Thankfully it agreed to going away if I didn’t attack her…it seems to have known that I had the body of one of his kin but what the hell is she doing in the crucible in the first place?

Ugh…I should just keep going…nothing to do here…nothing to do.

Then I heard her walk out of the portal.

She was panting from exhaustion and then looked at me and bowed instantly saying

“I am sorry for attacking you!”

I turned forward and gave her no reply.

The next gate opened and the overseer seemed a bit quiet…I wonder why…

“I only did so because I was thinking that it was some sort of challenge…I am sorry…” she said

I walked forward and before I entered the gate, I stopped. I turned around and looked at her

She was in tatters…miserable, clothes torn hair unkempt and dirtied…but still…still she looked beautiful…why is she here…a place that is only fit for monsters…if you think of it she is a part monster too…a very beautiful monster… sigh…

I signaled her to come. I didn’t want my identity to be known so that is why I didn’t speak and at the same time I didn’t want her to die.

“You want me to come with you?” she said.

I nodded

“I am sorry but…” she said “I cannot…”

She is not trusting me…Well you can’t help it given the mask and all…

I then began to write in midair. It was the same principal of magic text writing only the letters I am using this time were supposed to be read as a message.

I wrote. ‘I can help.’

She looked at me and hesitated a bit.

She was probably considering her odds

She then sighed and said

“Well. If you wanted to kill me you would have done so back there…I actually don’t think myself capable of reaching the fiftieth floor alone…I would probably die so I might as well try my luck.”

So she is going for the fiftieth floor. Well it matters not I have more floors to climb anyway…

Hang on a second, DUDE WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING!!! How in the hell is your god damn mind working!! You were stabbed by this girl remember? Why the hell are you helping her?!!

Oh god I feel like an idiot…

“So thank you very much, I am in your care. Mr.?”

She wants to know my name

I then wrote.

‘Arvion’

“Arvion-san… My name is Yuna. Yuna-Korima”

Then she bowed.

I then turned around and entered the gate. Cursing my stupidity at being unable to find a better name

Why the hell have I chose the name of a god damn primordial dragon?

***

“My Overlord.” Said Vasbokh

He was now back into the dark palace of the Overlord. He was the only one present of the Devil lords only he and his Overlord.

“My Overlord, I had finished my task. I rallied all under your lordship’s lands and made them come to us. To help us in taking over the great plains” Said the kneeling Vasbokh

“Quite impressive, Vasbokh. However I still need more time to recover. It takes enormous amounts of energy to break down that gate.” Said the overlord.

“My forces will await until the day you wish us to invade. We will patiently await your order.”

“Very well. Now leave me. You have done a great job and you shall be handsomely rewarded once we go back to Lagaris.” said the overlord

“My only reward is your satisfaction your lordship.” politely said Vasbokh and left.

The overlord then as if talking to himself.

“The day of deliverance is near. The day when we reclaim what was once ours. The day when we are finally free…”

To be continued…

“When the gentle ones are hurt, they promise revenge. But once the opportunity presents itself, their conscious screams at them “Mercy”…”