If anyone wanted to know what death felt like, Prince could put their mind at ease.
It was nothingness. Just straight nothingness. The sort of nothingness where you weren't aware that you weren't aware. The sort of nothingness where you completely forgot you had ever existed at all.
Prince came too, a single notification appearing within darkness. Now he could remember. Before, he was actually dead- now, he had experienced death and lived to tell the tale.
VICTORIOUS SPIRIT IS ACTIVATING…
Prince wasn't sure if coming back from deadly attacks was common in the multiverse. Probably not.
The scenery around him changed.
Prince found himself staring at a colossal golden eye with a dark slit as a pupil. Prince looked down, finding that he stood on a nail. The monstrous finger that was connected to the nail had tufts of golden-brown fur.
Time until rebirth: 9 seconds
This aura… It was so high, so towering and monstrous that Prince couldn't even measure it. Then he realized… He may be strong, but really? He was a drop in the bucket.
This insane existence was so far above him that Prince could assess a correct comparison. Maybe a grain at the bottom of the Mariana Trench to the very peak of Mount Everest? But even that didn't do it justice.
Name: ??? ??????
(Immortal Faction of #1A-A001)
Race: Monkey
Origin: Planet Zero (#1A-A001)
Level: ??? (?-?????)
Prince couldn't even comprehend what he was seeing, because the eye was staring at him. Observing him.
Time until rebirth: 6 seconds
He felt stripped bare, as if this otherworldly being could see right through him. It watched him carefully- well, Prince wasn't sure what to refer to it as, as it did seem to be a cultivator.
The eye narrowed. Prince felt something probe his soul.
He couldn't even resist. The chains on his soul shattered with ease, replaced with golden runes that were definitely the eye's doing.
Time until rebirth: 3 seconds
WARNING!
Seal has been undone. Auditors have been notified. Please stay put.
"WUKOOOONG!" A familiar voice roared.
The eye flicked toward something to the side, but before Prince could follow, he vanished.
Time until rebirth: 0 seconds.
The world wiped away.
…
The Great Squid thought it was done.
It was not.
Prince's corpse suddenly surged with life energy. He was reconstructed, his body healing the wounds dealt by the attack that killed him, but no further.
Prince's eyes opened, the residual energy still hot. His body felt weak and sore all over. Titan's Awakening was off, but since he had technically died, he didn't need to deal with the backlash.
His cloak had been tattered, until only a few scraps of cloth around the back of his neck remained. The same went with his shorts. Thankfully, they would repair themself.
Prince hurriedly looked at his Storage Ring. It was still safe. The attack hadn't harmed it one bit.
Prince then looked inward. His soul was free and unbridled now. His Essence was plentiful, it flowed like gas. The Dao was bursting within him. Every movement followed his Dao of Martial Arts.
It was like wearing socks. Manageable, but when you got home and took them off, it would feel so good.
Prince then turned his eyes toward the Great Squid, which had recognized Prince's aura.
Prince felt a strength surge in him. He was 25% stronger than he had been before, thanks to Victorious Spirit.
Prince clicked his tongue, dashing toward the Great Squid. He casually threw a punch at its beak, carrying a wave of Essence behind him. How easy it was!
The beak imploded, the punch continuing onward. The aftermath of the blast had weakened the squid to the point where Prince could seriously harm it.
Prince threw a few more punches, ripping through it easily, and left a floating mess in the mall.
You have killed an E-Grade as an F-Grade! As a result, you have been awarded the following title: Grade Defier (I)
You have killed a Giant Squid! As a result, you have been awarded the following title: Giant Slayer
Dungeon is ending in 1 minute. All monster groups are vanishing. Add monster groups to your faction?
"Yes." Prince said. This could be used as a training ground once Valkyries and others got too strong for the monkeys and goblins.
Monster groups added under Faction Pets. Dungeon is now Towering Peaks territory.
Territory has been converted into a Safe Zone.
Nexus Crystal has been created.
A blue crystal materialized before Prince, as per normal. Prince nodded toward it as it floated- a beacon.
Another screen appeared.
Claim rewards?
"Yes."
Administering rewards…
A golden, ornate spear materialized into existence.
There was no flash to light. No fading, no audible sound. One moment nothing was there, and another a golden spear floated.
Spear of Tides (E-Grade)
A spear crafted by a skilled blacksmith. Contains a powerful Water Affinity. Is a soul weapon.
Following the spear, which floated into Prince's hand, an iridescent orb descended, along with a bottle full of dark liquid.
Soul of the Sea (E-Grade)
An orb containing heavy Water Dao. Meditate on for insights. Helpful Dao Treasure to F-Grades.
Great Squid Ink (E-Grade)
Ink of a Great Squid, contained. Use to strengthen any item it is poured on. For a more efficient effect, use in alchemy for a variety of potions.
Prince skimmed over the descriptions and quickly placed all of the items in his ring. These would be helpful. Not toward him, but toward his Faction.
Then he took out his credit card and pills. He downed two pills, floating over to a broken ledge. He sat down on it, letting the pills work their magic, while he looked at the number on his credit card.
It was going up. Up. Well past 10,000. It kept going before it finally settled on 50,000.
It was a nice sum. Prince pocketed both items before he stretched. He was tired.
I'll just rest. Then I'll leave this place…
Prince yawned, swimming over to a furniture section. He found a comfortable, intact bed and immediately fell asleep.