Chapter 7: Leveling Up, Origin Spark, Mana Pool, Hall of Great Evils

Alex stood within pitch darkness, and system screens materialized one by one.

[System: Host Alex, you have died.]

[System: Host Alex, you have been placed in a three-day respawn cooldown.]

[System: Host Alex, as this is your first death during the tutorial period, once the cooldown finishes, you will be respawned within Lost City — Nyxare.]

[Monarch’s Gluttony: Host, this constitution has no benefits.]

[Monarch’s Gluttony: Host, you have successfully devoured Perfect Shield (B).]

He smiled only for it to vanish the next moment. He no longer felt the raw strength coursing through his body.

"I lost 1.5 Combat Value because of this death," he mumbled dejectedly, and the system continued.

[System: Host Alex, you have completed minor quest (Hunter I).]

[Quest Rewards: 1 Common Artifact loot box, 100 Experience, 100 Evo Points.]

[Ding!]

[You have leveled up!]

[Level 0 → 1]

[+2 Combat Value.]

Suddenly, Alex’s vision shifted, and he found himself suspended before a translucent octahedron with a faint shimmer across its surface. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It was his Origin Spark, and within it floated four orbs of pure light, each belonging to the Evolution System and his talents carrying a different color.

At the center was a white orb, the seed of his existence. Around it were a giant golden orb, a smaller dark red orb, and a tiny yellow orb.

Each of these orbs was connected by an iridescent string that went beyond his Origin Spark into the endless darkness, which he couldn’t even perceive.

Awed by the scene, he stared at it for a moment, and then he frowned.

His Origin Spark looked completely normal and similar to what he knew about.

"Shouldn’t it be different because of Seed of Evolution?"

Just as he muttered those words, information filled his mind.

"Ah... Seed of Evolution exists within my Seed of Existence to make any change I have to grow it into a sapling and eventually into a great tree, but to do so, I must nurture it with my existence."

A faint glimmer shone within his Origin Spark, and a screen appeared before him.

[System: Host Alex, you are now capable of wielding mana. You must choose between two of the following:

• Mana Pool

• Aura Heart

Make your decision.]

Alex rubbed his chin in thought.

The difference between the two was rather simple: Mana pool allowed the Players to wield mana while Aura Heart allowed them to use aura.

Aura was also a form of mana, but with the Player’s intent added to it. Although it stripped mana from its endless functionality and turned it into a weapon, it allowed the Player to increase their physical prowess multifold and strengthen their weapons.

For a newbie without a talent in controlling mana, aura was the best choice, and Alex had made his long ago.

"Mana Pool," he mumbled with a faint smile.

[System: Host Alex, you are forming a Mana Pool.]

The faint glimmer within his Origin Spark widened into a shimmering blue orb the size of a thumb. Before the other three orbs, it looked no different than an ant, but Alex knew one day it would dwarf all of them.

It was natural. With each level up, his Mana Pool would widen even further.

Alex closed his eyes and whispered.

"Hall of Great Evils... Heed my call."

Black smoke covered his mental body, and he disappeared.

He felt weightless for a brief moment.

The next instant, he stood before grand dark gates.

Two towering black gates rose dozens of meters high, their surface crawling with grotesque demonic carvings — twisted faces screaming in eternal agony, horns curling like thorns, heavy chains that seemed to writhe under his gaze, and ancient runes pulsing with faint malevolent crimson light.

"Holy shit..."

He stared at the gates in awe. Seeing the wailing faces, a shiver ran down his spine, yet he couldn’t help but feel excited about stepping beyond those gates into the Hall of Great Evils.

For a moment, his breathing hitched, and then he strode forward.

He placed his palm against the dark gates, and they moved by themselves as if pushed by invisible hands.

The gates groaned open as though the jaw of some ancient beast, and a red screen materialized before him.

[System: Host Alex, your level is too low. It is highly suggested that you do not enter the Hall of Great Evils until you have sufficient strength.]

Alex stared at the warning for a moment, then ignored it completely. "Heh. What’s the fun in that?"

The moment he stepped inside, he felt countless distant gazes lock onto him from every direction.

His body trembled, and his heart beat loudly against his chest.

He gripped the hem at his heart and calmed down.

"What a terrifying place..." he mumbled and looked at the walls of the great hall.

The walls were as dark as the gates with golden and crimson engraving all across them. In a twisted manner, they seemed regal.

The hall itself stretched endlessly, and countless glowing orbs floated above its surface like some malevolent stars. The ones closer to the ground had a weak glow, while those reaching the ceiling glowed like bright stars.

These orbs were the cells that imprisoned the villains whom he was supposed to defeat and turn into his loyal servants.

At the moment, though, he wasn’t even strong enough to defeat the weakest of them.

I don’t have time to waste.

Alex stepped forward and examined the nearest orb.

[Cell: Blazard – Garden of Eternal Flames.]

[Prisoner: Vespera Ashgar (★★)]

Vespera!

Alex’s eyes brightened for a brief moment. He clearly remembered how Vespera had helped Alex throughout the second world quest. When everyone was trying their best to kill him, she was the only one who had stayed by his side.

"Not yet." He shook his head and continued to move forward.

If he wanted Vespera to join him, he needed to reach B-Rank and defeat her.

He continued to search for the right cell.

During that time, he found many of Alex’s original companions and enemies, and after about half an hour, he halted before an orb floating above his head.

[Cell: Glemora – City of Neverending Joy and Happiness.]

[Prisoner: Cedric Ivaxius(★★★)]

Alex grinned.

"Found you."