**Dragon Country**
**Eastern Province**
**Abyss Battlefield**
A dark red, spherical portal crackled with black lightning, casting an ominous glow.
In front of it lay a bustling military camp, where soldiers equipped with a myriad of gear moved with purpose. Despite their differences, each bore the same emblem on their chest—a five-clawed dragon, glowing and radiating an aura of power. Determination was etched on every face.
In a secluded corner, two young men conversed by a bonfire, holding roasted meat in their hands.
"Hey, the abyss is growing more unstable. I think a beast tide is imminent."
"Yeah, but with the old commander here, no monster will breach this camp, even if it costs us our lives."
"Stop chatting and go patrol the northern sector if you have time to spare. We're here to protect our homeland, not die in vain," a stern-faced, resolute man interrupted, reprimanding them. The two men stood, saluted, and departed.
"Hey, it seems a big battle is coming. Master Zheng, what will it be? Can we stop it, or will this abyss dungeon also fall?" sighed the middle-aged man as he walked away to patrol.
This world mirrors Earth, but a thousand years ago, six portals appeared worldwide. Under a blood-red moon, a fog accompanied these portals, revitalizing spiritual energy and triggering waves of mutations. These mutations were intelligence-based, and humans quickly restored balance. Mutations in animals, birds, and plants were controlled, although Earth's landmass expanded a thousandfold. Adaptation was swift, and humans attacked mutated creatures before they could grow dominant. Many creatures were tamed, while fierce beasts were hunted. Plants, though of low intelligence, became highly valuable for their tonic properties, leading to their cultivation alongside docile animals.
Aware of oceanic dangers, humans enchanted lands and sent strong warriors to hunt sea beasts periodically. Despite being vastly outnumbered by oceanic creatures, humans established bases due to the vast distances and expanded lands.
Before humans could celebrate, the six portals, named The Evil Hex One to Six, broke, unleashing monsters from other worlds. Unprepared, humanity's numbers were halved before alliances formed, strong warriors arose, and the Hex Break was halted. It was a dark era. Nations quickly allied, forming Hex Protector, an organization dedicated to preventing further Hex Breaks. While other secret realms existed, the Evil Hex portals posed the greatest threat.
The portal in Dragon Country, known as The Evil Hex Four, is the second most dangerous, surpassed only by The Evil Hex Two in the Pacific Ocean, guarded collectively by all nations. Despite ongoing threats from monsters, humans have maintained a balance, but internal conflicts have resurfaced. Assassinations of geniuses from other countries are now common.
Inside The Evil Hex Four lies a desolate, evil, and destructive landscape, guarded by soldiers wielding Reiki Weapons, crafted from monsters. The world is digitized; monster crystals extracted from slain creatures are highly sought for cultivation, as absorbing them increases strength. However, humans can only awaken their blood power at 18—attempts before that age result in death. This age is considered optimal for potential.
After numerous sacrifices, a strict rule was established: every human must awaken at 18, and anyone hindering this process faces execution. Geniuses are state-protected, with exclusive academies and concentrated resources. Many families rose to prominence during this crisis, while others fell due to lack of ability.
Blood power is classified into common, rare, epic, legendary, and mythical, represented by white, bronze, blue, purple, and gold respectively. Categories include combat, auxiliary, and life, all equally important. Blood power not only enhances strength but also improves cultivation speed, comprehension, and the ability to fight stronger opponents.
Cultivation levels range from Rank One to Nine, followed by General, King, Monarch, and Emperor, each divided into Lower, Middle, and Peak tiers. Progressing to the next level requires a breakthrough, exponentially increasing attributes, making higher levels virtually unbeatable by lower ones. This underscores the importance of blood power awakening rank, which grants the ability to challenge higher ranks.
This is the tale of one who harbors deep hatred for monsters and beasts—a story of an orphan whose parents perished in a Hex Break, a student whose master was slain by a monster leader, someone entangled in a dire situation. This is the saga of a person destined to uncover the secrets of The Evil Hex and vanquish the mastermind behind it all. Stay tuned for an epic journey filled with surprises, where the lines between right and wrong blur.
(Note: This is a medium-paced novel, but expect many twists that will leave you questioning who is right and who is wrong.)