Creating A Succubus Army In A Fantasy World!-Chapter 148: Pyramid Of Dominion! (1)

With the danger gone and the creepy silence returning, the walls of the chamber rumbled softly, and with a grinding groan, a hidden passage slowly opened behind the broken worm nest, revealing a clean, winding hallway made of smooth black stone.

A faint crimson glow lit the path like torches of liquid ruby, and for the first time in hours, the air actually felt truly breathable.

Creed, Tierra, and Lilith exchanged glances—no words were needed. They walked forward with a casual confidence, the way elite squads walk after defeating a boss monster without breaking a sweat.

As they moved through the twisting corridor, Tierra began to chatter—her voice a playful mix of irritation and pride.

"So, while you were out there sleeping like a stone statue, guess who was holding the line? That’s right—us! Your lovely, battle-worn women!"

Lilith chimed in, arms crossed as she floated beside him with a proud smirk. "Three Stage 3 silver worms, Creed. Three. We held them back for almost ten minutes while you just... sat there like a fancy lawn ornament having an out-of-body experience."

Creed chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair, "You’re making it sound like I was just sleeping."

"Oh no," Tierra said with mock seriousness, "You were sleeping like a newborn that overfed on breast milk, but then you wake up and kill three terrifying worms in, like, two seconds. Talk about upstaging your girls!"

Creed laughed, but there was something more beneath that smile.

As they continued walking, listening to their lively banter, he felt a deep warmth rising in his chest—not the kind that came from magic or cultivation, but something simpler.

After hearing how they had brought him to the exam location and struggled through the harsh trials to reach the point he found them, he felt happy.

Gratitude. Admiration. Even affection. They hadn’t run away. They hadn’t hesitated.

They had stood their ground while he was vulnerable, risking their lives without a second thought. That kind of loyalty wasn’t just rare—it was priceless.

And knowing they did it willingly made him feel even better.

He stopped walking for a moment, looked at both of them, and without warning, reached out and ruffled their hair with both hands.

"Thanks," he said softly, his voice sincere. "Seriously. You two are amazing."

Tierra blinked, then pouted. "You can’t just go around giving praise like that without paying up!"

Lilith narrowed her eyes, a mischievous grin creeping onto her face. "Yeah. When we get out of this rift, you owe us. Big time. Like, seven-course-meal levels of feeding. Daily."

Creed’s smile grew dry and knowing. "I have a feeling your version of feeding means I won’t be leaving bed for at least two days."

"Try three," Tierra said, giggling.

"Minimum," Lilith added with a wink.

He shook his head and sighed, but the truth was—he didn’t mind. In fact, he was kind of looking forward to it.

Finally, after winding through the passage for several minutes, the trio came to a stop in front of a massive stone door unlike anything they’d seen before.

Towering at least fifteen feet high, it was shaped like the open maw of a snarling lion, its teeth jagged and its fangs stained crimson, as if it had just finished snacking on some unfortunate explorer.

The entire structure was painted in swirling hues of black and blood-red, the patterns shifting ever so subtly like they were alive. This was no ordinary door.

This was the kind of door you didn’t just walk through, you earned the right to pass.

The three of them stood silently before it, the weight of the moment pressing down like thunderclouds before a storm.

Creed instinctively checked his body and gear, while Tierra and Lilith both took a deep breath and began preparing themselves for the final stretch.

They all knew it. Whatever was behind this door was going to decide everything.

"This has to be it," Lilith whispered, eyes narrowed at the door. "The real entrance to the pyramid."

"Yeah," Creed agreed. "No more side tunnels. No more worms. The final arc starts here."

He placed his palm against the lion’s mouth, and the moment he did, a violent burst of crimson light erupted from the stone, flooding their vision like a supernova.

All three of them winced and instinctively shut their eyes. The light wasn’t just blinding—it was loud, buzzing in their ears and crackling through the air like living electricity.

When the light faded and Creed opened his eyes, he immediately realized something was wrong.

Tierra and Lilith were gone.

He looked around in shock. The hallway was gone too.

He now stood inside a narrow corridor bathed in glowing red and black light, the floor patterned with rotating sigils and the walls breathing with veins of energy like the arteries of a living beast.

And then he noticed something on his chest—an unfamiliar badge, black with glowing red edges, shaped like an upside-down triangle with three stars on its surface.

Before panic could fully bloom, Creed focused and summoned Tierra and Lilith back—and to his immense relief, they reappeared beside him in swirling flashes of light.

Both girls looked disoriented but otherwise fine.

"Whew," Tierra gasped. "That was... something."

"I don’t like forceful summoning," Lilith muttered, brushing herself off.

Creed exhaled and took a moment to center himself, his hand touching the strange badge. It pulsed softly with energy, almost as if it was watching him back.

And then, just like magic, a translucent golden screen unfolded before his eyes.

[SYSTEM BROADCAST: WELCOME TO THE PYRAMID OF DOMINION]

⸻

"Attention, all candidates. Welcome to the final phase of the elite entrance exam; The Pyramid of Dominion. This is your last chance to prove you are worthy of joining the most coveted halls of our academy."

"The Pyramid stands as more than a test of strength. It is a living arena forged by ancient magic and modern madness—designed to test your skill, strategy, instinct, adaptability, and the very essence of your potential."

⸻

[I. PRIMARY GOAL]

"The ultimate goal of this trial is simple in words, yet complex in execution: Ascend to the Apex Floor of the Pyramid, seize the Throne of Dominion, and claim the Crown of Merit.

Those who sit on the throne for the duration of the timer will earn their place and receive guaranteed entry into the Elite Class. However, there is an additional, hidden benefit for coming first in this trial."

⸻

[II. STRUCTURE & FLOORS]

"The Pyramid is divided into seven ascending floors, each more chaotic, unstable, and dangerous than the last.

You begin on the base floor. As you gather Dominion Keys and Dominion Points, you’ll gain access to higher levels. The higher you go, the stronger the enemies and the better the rewards."

• Floor 1–3: Common Combat & Basic Trials. PvE and low-tier PvP.

• Floor 4–5: Arena Lord Encounters. Complex mechanics and high-stake zones.

• Floor 6: Strategic Warfare. Fewer contenders, but more traps, illusions, and shifting layouts.

• Floor 7 (Apex): Final Warzone. Only 12 contenders will be allowed to enter at once. Whoever controls the Throne at the end becomes the Dominion Victor.

⸻

[III. DOMINION KEYS & DOMINION POINTS]

"There are two critical currencies in this trial."

• Dominion Keys: Required to solely activate your throne. You can earn them through exploration, defeating mini-bosses, winning duels, or stealing them from others.

• Dominion Points: Advance to higher floors, influence your ranking. Killing, surviving, discovering secrets, or completing objectives grants you points.

But be warned: if you lose or are defeated, you’ll lose points and possibly drop a Dominion Key.

These are tracked via the crystal badge on your chest. If the badge is destroyed or you surrender, you are eliminated from the trial and teleported out."

⸻

[IV. FLAME OF MERIT]

"Only one Flame of Merit exists at a time. It randomly appears somewhere in the pyramid and constantly shifts between locations every 5 minutes.

Whoever holds it earns triple points and causes their location to be broadcasted across all floors. Claiming the Flame is a high-risk, high-reward gamble."

"Holding the Flame for a full hour without dying grants you a guaranteed spot in the Top 12. But beware—Flame Bearers become everyone’s favorite target."

⸻

[V. ARENA LORDS & DOMINION GUARDIANS]

"Each floor past the first will be ruled by an Arena Lord, a powerful AI-driven entity infused with ancient soul fragments and programmed to kill.

Defeating them grants one a floor control key, and the position of Arena lord of that floor for the duration of your stay on that floor."

"Some Arena Lords can only be defeated through puzzle-solving, team cooperation, or battlefield manipulation. This is not a brainless slaughterhouse. Use your minds."

⸻

[VI. PLAYER VS PLAYER RULES]

• PvP is enabled across all floors.

• You may form temporary alliances.

• You may steal Keys, Flame of merits, and points.

• You may betray your teammates.

• There are no penalties for cunning—only for stupidity."

⸻

[VII. SUMMONS, CONTRACTED BEASTS, AND SUPPORTS]

"Yes, your summons and beasts may participate. They are part of your power. But note: if your badge is destroyed, you and your summons are out.

Summons who attack without their host’s badge nearby will be disqualified. Stay linked, or get erased."

⸻

[VIII. OBSERVATION & RANKING]

"Every action will be broadcast and judged by staff, alumni, and the Headmaster himself. Those who show unique potential, clever tactics, or extraordinary breakthroughs may be offered opportunities beyond the pyramid."

⸻

[IX. TIME LIMIT]

"You have 72 hours. After that, the pyramid seals permanently. Whoever managed to sit on the Throne of Dominion when time expires gets a guaranteed entry to the elite class and honor badges. The top 50 based on Dominion Points will also enter the elite class. Everyone else... will be dismissed."

⸻

[X. FINAL WORDS]

"This is not a game. This is war. If you bleed, bleed smart. If you die, die well. This pyramid rewards not the strongest, but the most complete. Strength, intelligence, leadership, and adaptation—bring all of it. Or get out of the way."

"Let the Pyramid of Dominion begin."

⸻

A wide grin slowly spread across Creed’s face. "Finally," he whispered, excitement coursing through his veins like lightning. "The real game begins."