I decided to try my luck and use my > to grab them. Luckily, it worked. I gained three items. The third was a syringe, which I screwed onto the needle before injecting myself.

[basic sword techniques level up! Level three! Basic evasion techniques level up! Level two! Basic soul techniques level up! Level two!]

My new sword skill was sword cross, which lets me push back an enemy whenever our swords cross each other. There's also a chance for the opponent to drop their sword. For evasion techniques, I gained identity stealing (own race), which let me mimic the physical appearance, smell, and energies of any one of the same or lesser race whom I have been in contact with. For me, this included vampires, fairies, angels, and humans. Finally, I gained soul reconstruction, which repairs a damaged soul.

[All stats +100]

That was a crazy jump! I still had no idea what the strange liquid and apparatus were, but I was glad it increased my stats by the equivalent of ten average humans! Even though it caused them all to surpass five-hundred, my race oddly didn't change. It may have been because of the strange gem, which disappeared after I touched it. It wasn't in my soul, nor was it in my spiritual world.

As soon as the notifications ended, I found myself falling through the void. I hit my head as I fell on the broken road beneath me. Furcas was next to me, and I looked up to see a bright star shining from the north, bathing us in light along with the full moon.

Furcas woke up and exclaimed, "Finally! The sixth layer!"

"What's special about this layer?" I asked.

"The sixth layer is home to most of us seventy-two demons. If you become a devil, you can easily take it for yourself since you are our master. The kings are on the seventh layer, and I don't know too much about layers below that."

Luckily, Balam did, explaining, "The eighth layer has the Nine Continents of the Eighth Layer, each ruled by an animosity demon. Even I am unaware of what lies beyond that."

Furcas began leading me towards the center of a town. He had me fly as far up as I could. There, I could see numerous castles, each with a village beneath them. He led me to his castle, which was the smallest.

There, with his permission, I took everything. He stored a lot of EXP shards! It added up to 324000 points!

[Congratulations! You have leveled up! 18àlevel 23. All stats increased by +105. SP + 210. Error: Experience held due to maximum limit reached.]

[unknown interference detected. All energies + 250, HP + 120]

[skill tickets gained: +25]

[Familiar has consumed 5 skill tickets.]

[Familiar has consumed 5 skill tickets.]

[Demon has consumed 15 skill tickets]

[level has surpassed class limit of 20, new class can be chosen. Determining available classes.]

[Class 1 chosen. Class has been chosen by dungeon. Error! Unknown interference detected! Class 2 chosen. Class has been chosen by explorer

[class evolution complete: skill lord à skill saint! All skills begin at level three. All spells begin at level three. Leveling up skills and spells have become easier. All spells and skills decrease by 100 energy (MP, SF, DE) or 1HE. All affinities +20%]

[Skill learned: skill negation: negate another being's skill if they have the same skill as you, irrespective of skill level]

[gained class apprentice voidmaster. Void gem's energy detected. Upgrading class]

[class evolution complete: apprentice voidmaster à voidmaster: wield the power of the void. Dark affinity +10%. Gained void resistance Lv 50N, allowing walking through the void]

[unlocking void energy (V). Maximum: 500,000]

[skill learned: void techniques: void walk: walk through the void. Maximum distance is equivalent to a level-seven world, but distance can be increased through multiple uses of skill]

[skills learned: void life: live within the void, void perception: always perceive the void, void freeze: freeze target with void fog, open void: opens a portal to and through the void, void call: send a call through the void, void emblem: authority of a voidmaster, able to manipulate the forces of the void through expending void energy, void connection: creates a connection between two places using the void. Void tunnel: use the void directly instead of through a dimensional tunnel]

[void defense integrating into mana shield, black armor, white armor. The void will protect user]

I gained a lot of void-related skills and knowledge, so I was excited. All of the skills used yet another energy, which, previously, just showed -1. I began practicing void walk, and it eventually got easier. It was basically long-range teleportation, and I could even bring others. It didn't work in Persephone since the void couldn't penetrate that deep into my soul, but it seemed to have worked everywhere else.

After having my fun, Furcas lead me to the balcony to announce his return. He did so, boasting and acting like a king. As soon as they heard the announcement, hundreds of demons began gathering and clamoring. Furcas, quickly, had them get in line. In front of the castle, the 1320 demons separated into twenty legions. In thirteen of the twenty legions, 65 were demons in race, with a demon knight leader. In another five, high demons made up the majority, with demon royalty being the head. The final two legions were made entirely of demon knights, except for the royalty heading it. Furcas called the twenty leaders to come closer, so as to talk with them.

He led them and me towards a conference table, where we both sat at the head. He began explaining about how he was trapped on the losing side of a long, drawn-out war from time immemorial.

He continued his explanation, and, this time, he was glorifying me as his savior and attempting to draw a picture for them of how powerful I was. He included me being both a midnight vampire and an angel, my new voidmaster class, Typhon, and how I had dukes and a king under me.

The excited legion heads eagerly wished to submit to me, so I agreed and had them swear the blood oath, connecting them with my soul slightly. They explained the rest of their legions had sworn allegiance to Furcas, so I didn't have to personally intervene. I still accepted the demon knights from the two legions. I didn't have a place for them, but they were fine staying on this layer.

Since Furcas was the only hellfire (golden) demon able to leave the ring's confines, he was the ruler of the entire place! All of the other demons' legions came to talk with him. They also talked with me.

The few demons in my ring also relayed messages to absolutely follow my orders, as I was their master. This shocked both them and the remaining demons' legions. They weren't expecting someone like me to be able to subdue so many demons. According to a few of the gathered demon royalty, they wouldn't even think a nightmare vampire could subdue more than one or two. Andromalius made it nine, and there were still many more I was expecting to take as subordinates.

I used my realm disruption to create a portal and link it back to Earth. Currently, there were only seven days until my birthday—March 18th. That also meant that it had almost been a year since I started exploring the dungeon in early April.

When I arrived on Earth, government agents quickly met me and had me drive with them. There were a few more C-ranked people, but, since almost all orbs lost their power, they didn't expect any more. They were most surprised by some G-J-ranked jumping up either a star or rank. They didn't know how it was possible.

In these last few months, they explained, the government had found many dungeons, which, in fact, were smaller branches of the main dungeons of the world. They took control of each one, assigning six guards in pairs using an eight-hour shift system. Some dungeons were harder than others to get through, so they were assigned grades similar to those used on the populace; however, the grades were much higher.

Their system of grading dungeons was: if someone of a rank above and stats of seven-starred could clear the dungeon by themselves, then it would be given the corresponding rank. Using theoretical stat levels, they also calculated those above C. Most dungeons were ranked D and C, with very few being E. In major cities, some dungeons theorized to be ranked B, and even A appeared. Once, some being from another planet came down to attempt to take over the single dungeon on the line between A and S. Luckily, the angels fought the being and drove them back.

The angels also reported to me, telling me that it was minor. The guild's grading system was based too low. The angels, together, defeated the A/S dungeon, and they were the only ones besides me able to become an owner. They used their powers to close the dungeon and secretly gave me a card with all the points they gained from it—roughly 500,000. The guild also reported about how they became like an international government, with the ability to call upon any essence wielder. I pretended to be confused and surprised as they explained to me how I became the head of it all.

Soon, we arrived at a large, obelisk-like tower. Instead of going up, we went straight down into the guild's headquarters.

Down here, it was as if we had entered an underground city. The ceiling was at least seven stories high. Beneath us, there were many two- and three-story buildings. They each had different functions based upon the skills that the people held.

The government agents were actually bodyguards from the guild, which had higher authority than the US government. They gave me a tour of the facility.

The first building we went to was the headquarters of their intelligence division. Inside, there were servers full of information about known and suspected essence wielders and other information compiled throughout the guild. The employees working here were mostly bureaucrats and did little field work unless it was an emergency.

The next place we visited was a mansion that housed the headquarters of the bodyguards and escort services. There were some actual field agents stationed here, for the security of high-priority individuals, such as me. There were also administrative offices. Out back, there was a large training field for skill practice. If their skill was too dangerous, they would have to practice elsewhere.

The third building we visited was only a single story since not much was known about the dungeons. They were in charge of appointments for teams who wanted to enter, but these were usually handled more locally. They also dispatched people for newly-discovered dungeons. Usually, the head of such teams would be from here.

All within this organizational section were trained in all-hazards incident management and the incident command system. This helped streamline the process. Their next-door neighbors were in charge of researching the Great Catastrophe and the dungeons in general. They were composed of researchers from various fields, including earth scientists, chemists, physicists, academics, linguists, and others.

We had to go down another elevator, which brought us to mountains of treasures. From here, we had a short walk. I was escorted by security guards through this area, as my bodyguards didn't have the necessary clearance. Some low-leveled skill and spell books didn't interest me in the level below.

Apparently, these could cost millions of dollars for just a single one. That's why only my deputies, whom I have never met before, and I had access.

Finally, below this, we entered the armory. The weapons here were, at most, D- and mostly E and F weapons.

Finally, I met my deputies. They were mainly distributed for geographical needs. The one physically here was in charge of the Americas. There was also one for Africa, Europe and Asia, Antarctica, and Australia.

Unfortunately for the area around Russia, there were numerous mutated animal monsters rampaging, which no one could seem to stop. The land has been mostly abandoned until it reached a stronghold. Here, there was constant fighting and rewards from monster drops.

I learned all of this from the deputies' video-conferenced in. They also showed me their weapons, which they said seemed to be the most powerful. I looked and determined they were D ranked. They also had one saved for me in my office below.

I finally went into my office for the first time. It was located in a secure area, so deep underground that not even a nuclear warhead could penetrate it. I had my own cooling system, which was necessary with the heat usually permeating down here. Ventilation was also personally controlled, as was the server controlling my data. The deputies, now that I had officially assumed the position, could not enter here; however, before, the tech-savvy one had installed all this equipment.

I soon went back to the dungeon. While we had spent a lot of time together these past few months, my family was ready to go back exploring. Furcas returned to my soul, as we didn't want to alert the dungeon to his presence.

We all went all-out throughout the seventh volcano, soon reaching the eighth floor. This floor was gigantic, so I summoned a few hundred skeletons to assist with getting through it all. With their help, as well as Samantha's, the floor was also completed. Mostly various potions dropped.

Before we could continue to the eighth of the ten volcanos, the door to the void reappeared.

"System, tell Craig this is occurring," I commanded.

I didn't know whether this was good or bad news

"We wish to congratulate you. Somehow, you managed to become an actual voidmaster—not just an apprentice," the same ancient voice began.

He soon crossed the threshold. This time, the void fog stayed away from both of us. The rest of my family already hid in Persephone.

He had a robe for me as well.

"Please accept this present from our Council of the Void," he said, gesturing for me to accept the robe.

First, I appraised it with Pristine. It showed that the robe repelled the power of the void, increasing the distance which I could travel to. With my void tunnel and coordinates, I could travel through most of the universe now. I could easily go to Archipelago and back. The vampire world was no different, but it would take a few minutes—it was very far away. Previously, I didn't understand these distances, especially since Earth didn't have a unit of measurement greater than gigaparsecs. Now, though, I could truly understand the vastness of space.

I also understood that lightyear was flawed—light bent and changed speed while passing through the void.

"Here's our realm coordinates. We hope to see you soon," the man said. "The Council of the Void resides here."

The coordinates he gave me were unlike the normal ones. There were at least fifty dimensions to it. If it weren't for my > skill, I wouldn't have realized just the transmittance created a small link to another realm.

Realm Disruption: Void Council

Rank: breaker

Description: Summon a gateway between the living realm and the realm of the Council of the Void, connected to the void robe. Can also connect Void Council back to Dungeon: Black tower and Earth from Void Council. Coordinates can be changed. Further use requires greater comprehension over relevant laws.

Just like the other realm disruption, it didn't show up in my stats list.

"By the way, I'm Metallic Volcanoman Glenn, an Emperor Voidmaster."

I had to research the racial evolution chart for him, and I learned that a metal volcanoman becomes a metallic volcanoman, who was equivalent to a pixie. The voidmaster power was much greater, though, than the racial powers. Racial wise, the evolution was high on the list, but the entire race was little in power.

"Nice to meet you," I told him before taking him up on his offer.

I activated the skill, which opened another void door. Before I could leave, I remembered that the first door appeared in the dungeon. Quickly, I hid the robe by combining it into my shirt.

Craig and Victoria arrived. This time, he could no longer forcibly summon me to the conference room. Quickly, I told them about the man who arrived. They told me to be careful, and Victoria gave me a pink crystal.

"If you ever need this in an emergency, this has a rare power inside it that can combat the void. Only use it in emergencies, though, as even I do not have many," Victoria explained.

I graciously accepted it and thanked her. I warned them he was going to come back because he forgot something and take me along. They then seemed even more worried. They had no way, however, to prevent me from going forth. Nightmare vampires may have been able to, a little, but there are none around.

When they left, I summoned the door and quickly entered. I felt my body being compressed and stretched before I found myself on a road. In front of me, it was reminiscent of a graveyard. There was fog everywhere, obscuring what lay ahead. As I walked by, the void fog slowly dissipated. An ancient-looking village appeared, with houses made of stone held together by frozen void fog.

It was an interesting sight. Soon, Glenn reappeared. He explained that apprentice voidmasters each had a house here, and each village was led by a voidmaster. Naturally, I would be able to as well. We walked through many narrow paths, through the fog, until we found a small, rundown village. There weren't more than ten people living here. All happened to be humans and apprentice voidmasters. Of the ten, seven were very old, appearing to be near death. Two others weren't present, so I couldn't meet them. They apparently never showed up. Only the final one, a girl named Amy, seemed normal.

It looked like the Council of the Void didn't think highly of me, giving me such a rundown city. Luckily, there was a library here. Through it, I was able to learn a little about how the realm was structured. Apprentice voidmasters, who made up the majority, lived in villages.

A large group of villages, known as a country, was ruled by an elder. An arc voidmaster ruled a continent, and a grand arc ruled a layer since it's a realm. Glenn, as an emperor, was a member of the council itself, which ruled over all of the layers

After meeting the few villagers present, Glenn brought me through the void to the library for the entire layer.

"The Council of the Void gives each new voidmaster one-time access to the layer's library. The contents are mostly the same between layers. Once you become an arc voidmaster, you will gain access any time you wish. Please enter now. With your void emblem, you'll be able to enter the first four floors of the sub-dimension."

I entered and immediately began having Pristine record all of the information in each of the books gathered here. The first layer contained general information and wasn't too interesting. The second layer could be useful. It was gigantic, containing history books about a few trillion worlds within. As for the third layer, there was information about the natural laws and different races.

From the natural laws here, along with help from the earrings, I was able to figure out 80% of the law of mana, an additional 10% of space and 5% of time, 90% of water, a few miscellaneous laws, the 35% of swordsmanship, and 5% of life and death.

The fourth floor contained information on artifacts, weapons, and important matters regarding the void. There were also some catalogs of spell and skill effects. Blacksmithing, potion making, alchemy, and other professions also had their own sections. I took all the information.

I tried my luck on the fifth floor, and, surprisingly, I was able to get past. Only elders should be able to come here. The information on this floor, though, was just more detailed versions of that on the fourth floor.

Since I could enter the fifth, I tried the arc floor. Here, there were some books on runes I stored. The runes listed were intermediate and advanced, so I couldn't learn them yet. There were also books on advanced-level techniques. Again, they weren't useful to me yet. I stored them anyway.

The seventh floor was where different grand arc voidmasters could learn strategies for battles and war, politics, manipulation, and other underhanded methods involving fighting and killing. There were even books detailing exact deadly poison recipes. It looked like the goal here was to create strong military commanders.

The emperor floor only contained information about various ranks of monsters in the void. For example, I learned that, before void beasts, they evolved from void monsters. Void monsters further evolved from void terrors. It went even further down, and each had an innate talent and strength, represented by the royalty rank. Typhon was king, a high rank. Above him, there were emperor and demigod talents.

I found an entire section about Typhon while recording all of the information.

Before I could continue further, I realized it was my birthday in thirty minutes. Going to Persephone to celebrate wouldn't harm my chance to continue.

When I arrived at another new house, I was glad to see the preparations they had put up. The house was decorated in streamers and confetti. Balloons were tied around multiple surfaces. There was a cake, and the only thing missing was my family.