The afterglow of the Hollow Purple's devastating power lingered in the air as I stood amidst the remains of the once-mighty Amphisbaena. The 27th floor was eerily quiet now, devoid of the usual ambient noise that permeated the Dungeon's depths. The floor, once the battleground for a fierce fight, was now nothing more than a desolate, charred landscape, with no trace of the twin-headed dragon that had once terrorized adventurers.
I took a deep breath, feeling the rush of victory course through my veins. There was an exhilarating satisfaction in being able to obliterate a Monster Rex so decisively. Yet, as the adrenaline ebbed, a familiar pang of doubt crept back into my mind. What had I altered this time? The Dungeon's balance? The world's narrative? The repercussions of my actions began to weigh on me.
I shook my head, dispelling the thoughts. This world was mine to shape now, and if some events had to change, then so be it. But the feeling persisted, like an itch I couldn't scratch. Hestia's voice echoed in my mind from our earlier connection. Her concern was palpable, almost as if she could sense the turmoil I was beginning to feel.
With the Amphisbaena defeated, I gathered the drops and magic stones that littered the battlefield. The Gate of Babylon opened, its golden portals swallowing the treasures in an instant. I paused for a moment, contemplating my next move. There was no point in delving deeper; I had already proven my point. But something inside me urged me to keep pushing, to test the limits of this world further.
Before I could decide, the floor beneath me began to tremble. My senses flared as the air grew heavy with an ominous presence. The Dungeon, it seemed, was not done with me yet. Cracks spread across the walls and ground, as if the very structure of the Dungeon was reacting to my overwhelming power. It was a phenomenon that should not have occurred—not from the death of a single Monster Rex. Yet, here it was, and the sense of unease only grew stronger.
From the fissures in the ground, a deep, rumbling growl echoed. My instincts screamed at me to be on guard. I quickly activated Infinity, my skin tingling as the barrier of absolute defense enveloped me. The Gate of Babylon's portals shimmered into existence, ready to unleash a torrent of weapons at a moment's notice.
The cracks widened, and from the depths of the Dungeon, a creature unlike any I had ever seen began to emerge. It was a massive, amorphous shadow, its form constantly shifting as if made of pure darkness. Eyes—dozens, perhaps hundreds—blinked into existence on its surface, each one exuding an ancient, malevolent intelligence. The sheer pressure of its presence was almost suffocating, far beyond anything I had encountered before.
This was no ordinary Dungeon monster. It was something far more ancient, far more powerful. And it was drawn to me, to the power I had so carelessly flaunted.
"So, this is the Dungeon's answer," I muttered, more to myself than anything else. My grip on reality tightened as I prepared to face this new threat.
The creature lunged at me with impossible speed, its form twisting into tendrils of shadow that sought to engulf me. I unleashed a barrage of golden weapons from the Gate of Babylon, each one slicing through the air with precision. But the tendrils merely reformed after each strike, as if my attacks were nothing more than annoyances.
Realizing that brute force wouldn't be enough, I focused my energy. With a gesture, I activated Blue, drawing the creature's mass towards a single point, compressing it with tremendous force. The beast resisted, its form distorting wildly as it fought against the pull. But I was stronger—I had to be. With a final, decisive effort, I combined Blue and Red, creating a singularity of immense destructive power.
The resulting explosion shook the entire floor, the shockwave ripping through the air. For a moment, everything was engulfed in blinding light and deafening sound.
When the dust settled, the shadowy creature was gone. Or at least, it appeared to be. But the floor, now cracked and unstable, was a testament to the sheer force of the battle. I could feel the Dungeon reacting to the damage, its walls groaning as if alive.
I exhaled, letting my energy dissipate as I surveyed the aftermath. It was over—or so I thought. But as I turned to leave, a voice, ancient and filled with an unfathomable depth, echoed in my mind.
"You who wield powers beyond this world… You have awakened something that should not be disturbed."
I froze. The voice was not one of the gods, nor was it something I could recognize from my knowledge of this world. It was something else, something that lay deep within the Dungeon, something that had been waiting for a catalyst. I had unwittingly provided that catalyst.
My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the gravity of what I had done. This wasn't just about changing the story anymore. I had disrupted something fundamental, something ancient. And now, it was awake. But so felt I and I wasn't gonna sit here and let it happen so I had to do something I had thought I wouldn't have to for a long time. To train and find my way to the undisputed Top.