After getting some rest, we resumed our hunt for souls immediately and continued moving as far away from the horrid-looking black mountains behind us. The desert land was not so bad when you compared it to the Death Mountains. Here, the ground was more even, and our visibility wasn't that bad in contrast to the fog.
Nico had come up with the option that we locate another landmark and try fighting from there because stronger souls usually stayed around landmarks like the tentacle creature from earlier. According to his explanation, not all souls were going to make us Nexus Beings. Killing and capturing a weak soul might not be enough to convince the Nexus system. Therefore keeping us trapped in the Nexus point.
One question remained unanswered in my mind though. How exactly were we going to take down a stronger soul? We were both dormant humans but Nico had a better chance of surviving than me. I hadn't experienced any secret awakening to think I could to begin with.
'Is he mad?' I remembered I hadn't even taken a blow from any creature in this world, yet. If I had been hit by the tentacle from earlier, I would've been a corpse by now.
The sand occasionally found its way into our boots. Each time it did, we had to stop and take it out. Stepping on sand grains was equivalent to stepping on tiny razor blades. Nico tried to deliver some first aid each time that happened, proving once again he was a convenient partner to have around—like my personal bodyguard.
We continued crossing the desert. The sky still looked like red foam hiding the red sky and the sun away from our eyes. Large shadows of winged beasts sometimes loomed over the clouds. But none of them dared to descend or try to attack us.
That was good because we had nowhere to hide in case one of those creatures noticed the two small humans strolling the desert like clueless explorers.
I glanced over my shoulder and sighed. The mountains now looked smaller. " Do you see anything ahead?" I asked Nico who was currently holding a pair of binoculars.
I wasn't expecting good news so what he said next surprised me a little.
"Mhm…There is a single dark shadow," he replied, his eyes looking through the binoculars.
"What?" I doubted.
"I can see a dark shadow, though it's a bit far….Hey!"
I desperately yanked the binoculars out of his hands and quickly through their lens. My doubt cleared instantly when I indeed spotted a single dark structure growing in the middle of the desert.
Aside from its obsidian color, nothing else was terrifying about the structure.
"I guess we're going there." I exhaled as I returned the pair of binoculars to their owner.
"We have nowhere else to go but there. And if we find Devon or any others, things might turn out for the better." Nico added, sounding hopeful for what's ahead.
At this point, Devon was our trump card. If we joined him, our chances of not dying would go a bit higher. And if we're lucky, leaving this world was possible.
We rested for a small while and proceeded to what we believed was going to be the end of this Nexus Event. Whether we lived or died was something we were going to find out.
'But anyway, I never had plans of leaving this world alive. I should see this through.'
***
It took us roughly about two days of non-stop walking to finally reach the black shadow. To our surprise, the structure appeared to be a very tall black spire that jutted sharply from the heart of the endless barren desert. Its sleek and pointed form pierced the crimson sky. Its surface looked smooth and polished, like dark glass, catching faint reflections of the blood-red clouds and the black mountains behind us.
There were no visible entrances or seams, only its stark, shadowy silhouette against the vibrant sky. The desert air around it was cracked and desolate, devoid of life, the ground scarred by the weight of its presence.
The red clouds overhead seemed drawn to the spire, swirling around it in a slow, menacing vortex, casting a sinister glow on the landscape below. The entire structure looked like a forgotten monument in a world abandoned by time, radiating a dark, foreboding energy.
I was terrified.
"This doesn't look so scary." I lied with a weak smile. Just trying to look at its tip almost had me falling backward.
" It is so scary. But how do we get in?" Nico was staring at the structure with curiosity.
We both made sure to keep a safe distance just in case the black spire had some creatures guarding it.
[You have located the Dragon's Spire, do you want to enter?]
The Nexus's voice sounded through my ears. Nico must have been asked the same question judging from how he suddenly froze up at the same time as me.
Without wasting a second, I responded with a single thought:
'Yes.'
[The Dragon Monarch has been dead for hundreds of years. But his power remains, hidden in his tombs, waiting for a worthy challenger. By accepting entry, you have responded to his call.]
'Dragon Monarch?'
"The Dragon Monarch…no way!"
Before I could ask Nico, the Nexus continued:
[Number of Challengers: 7]
[Difficulty level: S]
[You have been invited.]
I don't know if it was just me. But I swear the system sounded excited for a brief moment. Did the mention of Monarchs excite it?
Suddenly, a silver key appeared in my hand seconds after the system finished its announcement. At the same, a white door materialized in front of me.
The same happened for Nico but his door was similar to the obsidian glass that made spire. His key was also of the same material.
He looked at me, his gaze sharp and thorough. "The Monarchs are beings who are below constellations. Humans who acquire the power of a Monarch become Monarchs themselves and therefore can create Domains or territories to grow their powers."
"Huh?" I stared at him for a moment. He must've noticed my confusion.
"This information is supposed to be a secret since I acquired out illegally in preparation for my life after I awaken. Please know that I'm telling this to you because you saved my life and we've both received the invitation."
"Currently, there are four Monarchs in all of humanity, and I only two of them: The Blood Monarch and The Sword Monarch. Bloodhaul is owned by the Blood Monarch." He whispered. "Once we awaken, we will be direct soldiers of the blood monarch."
Why was he whispering? Was he afraid of being heard?
'But there is no one here but us.'
"Soldiers of The Blood Monarch? Wait, like slaves?" I whispered back, trying to make sense of whatever he was saying to me.
He nodded.
"Yes. The blood that flows through our veins is that of a real Monarch, we're alive because of him," Nico explained. "We're part of his domain. If I might say. Unless…."
"Unless what?"
"You become a Monarch yourself." He continued. A crazed smile crept up on his face when an idea surfaced. "If any of us becomes a Monarch, we will be freed from the chains that bind us to him…or her. We can become something more. We need to see this through, Astrid…"
My brain froze for a moment. I didn't expect to learn about that today. So the real world was ruled by Monarchs who were capable of creating domains to extend their powers. That sounded straight out of a comic book if you ask me.
"Fine." I sighed. I was still trying to digest this "illegal" information.
"Great. Then I will see you on the other side."
Nico then straightened his posture and went on to place his hand and key on the black door. There was a bright flash of white light coming from the door before he disappeared with it in the blink of an eye.
I turned to my door and then to the spire. I hadn't planned to live this long. Yet, here I was about to attempt becoming a Monarch. How unpredictable of me. To be honest, I was amazed by my sudden will to survive.
"I consumed Dragon Ichor…is this how you found me?" I grimaced as stared at the key in my hand. I hadn't shown Nico the key because the keep had a silver dragon head at its tip.
It was warm, emitting a welcoming presence.
This entrance was a special one. Special in a way that it was taking me to the exact tomb because of the ichor I consumed, I was 99% sure of that. If I had picked the interest of a constellation because of my blood, why not The Dragon Monarch?
'Sigh. I guess the answers were within me all this time.' I sighed and made a few steps to reach the door. I placed the key and my hand on the surface with hesitation.
Then closed my eyes. The warm presence of the key spread into my body, making me quiver slightly.
There was a powerful jolt of energy that rushed up my spine and struck my brain. I convulsed as if getting shocked by hundreds of volts of electricity. I fought back to the power and lost to it when I heard the system's voice again.
[You have accepted the Dragon Monarch's invitation.]
NICO
Traveling through the portal was still a nauseating experience. I had thought I would get used to it since I walked through one to get here. But I was wrong. It was still a terrible experience.
"I hope she's alright." I thought out loud, recalling my last moments with Astrid. If this was a normal situation, I would've been running around in search of her, she was too weak to survive on her own.
But after seeing her door, I was sure of it.
'Astrid was invited by the Dragon Monarch.'
Suddenly, all my suspicions about the small girl were no longer suspicions. The scientists were indeed right when they said she consumed the Dragon ichor and survived. No one aside from Devon had consumed ichor of such a high grade and survived its effects.
Unfortunately, that single factor didn't mean that she was going to become a monarch.
"I have to help her." I groaned as I lifted myself off the ground and quickly analyzed my surroundings.
Despite the thick darkness surrounding me, my eyes could see thanks to the ichor I was given a few years ago. The ichor was called Nightlord, a B-grade potion designed in Bloodhaul. Few of these potions usually came with special gifts aside from granting a human three times the average strength and endurance. Nightlord made the night my ally atop of the fact that I was superhuman.
As I expected, I had appeared in some sort of chamber inside the Spire. The floor and wall were made out of black stone. And in the center of it, there was a fountain with glowing water flowing from the tip to the small basin at the bottom.
I approached the fountain and dipped my right hand into it.
At the same time, something behind me moved and my body instinctively summoned a sword.
Creak! Creak! Creak!
Small screeching noises bombarded my ears and I quickly turned around while tightening the grip on the handle. I glared at the darkness and narrowed my eyes to peer deeper into it.
Just then, I noticed some movement. I immediately rolled out of the way, avoiding getting stepped on by a giant leg that descended from the darkness and destroyed the stone I was previously standing on.
What came next was a series of guttural growls that reverberated through the darkness, each one more menacing than the last. A large, grotesque creature slowly emerged from the shadows, its hideous eight limbs skittering with a sickeningly wet sound. Its multiple bug-like eyes glinted with pure malice and bloodlust, each one fixed on me with an unyielding, predatory stare. The creature's maw yawned open, revealing circular rows of jagged, pointed teeth that seemed to glisten with a vicious hunger. From the same horrific mouth, a viscous, putrid fluid dripped, hissing and bubbling as it corroded the floor with every noxious drop. The stench of decay and sulfur filled the air, choking me with its intensity.
Looking at my adversary, my only reasonable action was to run. A dormant human had no business with a creature like this.
Unfortunately, there was nowhere to run to at the moment because I hadn't explored the chamber enough to know that much. The only option was to fight it and hopefully survive.
I exhaled. 'I guess your soul will do.'