"I know this," Nyxara suddenly clapped her hands lightly.

She looked at Reigns with an expectant gaze, as if silently asking for praise.

"As you heard this entire thing is a sort of Gambit. About the zone assimilation, it happened when all awakened reached Lv10 or met the condition to get out by clearing the dungeon."

"Generally there is a percentage. Suppose if 60% of players did this, the God of our world won Gambit then the zone would enter our world. Its resources and everything will become ours but if only 40% of people managed to pass and rest died, then our World will lose something but as for specific I don’t know that much."

Her words made everyone stiff. The air around them seemed heavier after hearing that.

Reigns swallowed his saliva and slowly turned his gaze toward the dungeon entrance.

For some reason, he felt that this uncertainty was becoming dangerous.

"I made my decision," saying this, he stepped forward, his expression turning firm.

"Leaving at Level 10 without getting into the dungeon is a waste but staying for too long is dangerous."

"So let’s clear it and get out. That’s my plan. Whether you want to accompany us or not is your decision," Reigns spoke aloud, giving them time to think.

"What’s there to decide.. I want to go!" Kellar spoke immediately, his voice filled with determination.

"Me too."

"Me too."

"I am a bit afraid but with these two I am sure we can take over the problem," Ren spoke, glancing at Reigns and Nyxara.

With that, the team gathered themselves and began moving toward the dungeon.

Lira paused for a moment. Her steps slowed as she looked back at Nyxara, who was still holding onto Reigns’ arm closely. For a brief second, a strange expression flickered across her eyes.

"Hey Lira what happened?"

"No.. Nothing." Lira shook her head quickly and then hurried forward, catching up with the others.

.....

In a vast space surrounded by endless darkness, everything was still and silent, as if nothing had existed there for eternity.

Then suddenly, a few orbs floating in the void began to light up one by one.

As soon as the first orb lit up, a sudden change shook the entire space. A faint vibration spread outward, and the darkness itself seemed to tremble slightly.

Subtle fluctuations began to hover in the void. Mysterious and blurry images flickered around, appearing and disappearing in fragments. Slowly, those fragments started to gather and form into a circular shape. The shape continued to grow larger and larger, expanding with each passing moment until it took the form of a half-moon like object.

From a distance, it looked calm and beautiful, like a peaceful moon casting a gentle glow.

But in the very next moment, a thin line tore across its surface.

The line widened slowly, and then it split open, revealing a deep and trembling darkness inside. It was like a mouth opening in silence, and within it, countless hands began to form.

The hands twisted and overlapped, moving in unnatural ways as they started forming various seals. Their movements were rapid and chaotic, yet carried a strange sense of purpose.

After completing the seals, the joined hands stretched outward toward the glowing orb, trying to grab it.

But before they could touch it, a mysterious force pushed them away.

The space suddenly erupted.

A powerful blast of unseen energy surged outward, shaking the void violently. The airless space rippled as if struck by an invisible storm, and waves of pressure spread in all directions. The force was heavy and overwhelming, carrying a crushing presence that distorted everything around it.

The hand, which looked like it was made of flesh and shadow, was in fact enormous, as if it was as big as several universes combined. Its sheer presence bent the surrounding space.

Yet before it could reach its target, a sharp killing intent slashed across it.

The attack was invisible, but its effect was absolute. It cut through the massive hand cleanly, slicing it apart again and again. The cuts did not stop, and they kept multiplying until a strange seal formed near the torn edges, close to what looked like the mouth of that half-moon object.

From that seal, an axe-shaped energy formed.

Without hesitation, it came down with a heavy force and chopped through the remaining hands. The impact was brutal, and the severed parts fell apart instantly.

The fallen hand was dismantled into countless pieces, breaking down into fragments that scattered into the void.

"Hmmm!"

An ancient and grievous voice resonated through the darkness. It was deep and heavy, carrying the weight of countless years.

"As expected of the Destroyer of Dimensions."

"Despite slumbering for countless years, the protection is still sharp as ever. Just because you can stop me, you can stop others."

As the voice faded slightly, the massive object slowly turned. In the distance, far away in the darkness, something began to move.

The darkness itself started to sway.

"Did you find a weak space point?"

"Yes."

"Good."

In the next moment, the darkness began to spread. It moved like a thick fluid, flowing and stretching as if it was alive. From within that moving darkness, shapes began to emerge.

They were not solid forms but shifting masses of horror.

Twisted limbs stretched outward, but they did not follow any natural structure. Some were too long, some bent at impossible angles, and others split into multiple branches that kept writhing. Faces appeared and disappeared across their surfaces, each one distorted and incomplete, with hollow eyes and wide, silent screams frozen in place.

Their bodies pulsed like living shadows, and layers of darkness peeled off them like rotting skin. From within, more limbs pushed out, as if something inside was constantly trying to escape.

Some had mouths that opened across their entire form, filled with jagged, uneven shapes that resembled teeth, yet were not fully formed. Others dragged long trailing extensions that moved like broken wings or torn flesh.

A chilling aura surrounded them, and their presence made the space feel heavy and suffocating.

Soon they fully emerged, and with them came a disturbing sound.

They emitted screeching noises mixed with broken voices, as if countless beings were crying out at once. The sound was sharp and unbearable, echoing through the void.

"Zone Crawler!"

"Go and devour the essence of the World."

With another piercing screech, the creatures surged forward.

They moved like a massive swarm of insects, countless bodies merging and separating as they rushed toward the floating orbs. Their speed was terrifying, and their numbers seemed endless.

Soon, they gathered together and formed a single streak, shaped like an arrow.

The arrow shot forward and pierced through the world.

At that very moment, a crimson intent flared up from the other side. Flames burst into existence, burning fiercely as they tried to stop the incoming force.

The fire clashed against the dark swarm, destroying large portions of it.

But at the same time, a tiny fragment from the tip of the arrow managed to slip through.

It struck at the weakest point and pierced through the world’s barrier.

For a brief moment, a dim light flickered.

And then it disappeared.