A week had passed, yet the world's spiritual energy continued to surge uncontrollably. Each day, the flow of energy intensified without limit, as if the world itself was accelerating its evolution fearful of something unseen.
In just a single week, the spiritual energy had increased by 10,000 times, and it showed no signs of stopping. Some humans, unable to adapt to the abrupt changes in their environment, found their bodies disintegrating into dust. Even some beasts suffered the same fate those incapable of handling the overwhelming surge of energy exploded into pieces.
The three continents once dominated by humanity had now fallen into chaos greater than anything recorded in history. High-ranking beasts across the world were evolving at an alarming rate, becoming threats beyond imagination.
In a Level 4 city, where the secondary branch of the Meng Family resided, blue flames engulfed their entire estate. Above the sky, Meng Lin stood with an expression as cold as ice. She gazed down at the burning ruins before vanishing into the wind, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, in a Level 5 city within the Lightning Continent, the desperate screams of humans echoed across every street. Within the walls of various trading guilds, uncontracted beasts had begun evolving rapidly, turning on humans and slaughtering them without mercy. They ripped their prey apart, sinking their fangs into human flesh, their monstrous eyes gleaming with savage hunger.
Buildings collapsed into rubble, and corpses littered the streets, filling the air with the overwhelming stench of blood.
Amidst the carnage, a young girl ran frantically, tears streaming down her face as she fled from a colossal one-eyed giant with glowing red skin. The beast chased her with amusement, its massive footsteps shaking the ground with every step. A grotesque grin stretched across its face, revealing a row of jagged, bloodstained teeth.
The girl gritted her teeth, pushing her small legs to their limit. But in her terror, she tripped over something and tumbled to the ground. Her tiny body trembled as she tried to scramble away, her face drained of color.
The one-eyed giant let out a deep, rumbling laugh, thick drool dripping from its fanged maw as it reached forward, fingers curling hungrily around her fragile form.
Just as it was about to devour its prey, a silver flash split the air—and in the next instant, the giant's body was sliced cleanly in two. Black blood burst forth like a gushing fountain, staining the streets.
A shadow darted forward, catching the young girl in their arms. The Central Government officer who had arrived to save her spoke in a calm, reassuring voice.
"You're safe now, little one. It's over…"
But before he could finish his sentence, his head was gone.
The young girl's eyes widened in horror, her small frame frozen as the warmth of his blood splattered across her face.
Then, from the depths of her soul, a scream tore free from her throat.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!"
The colossal fist of another one-eyed giant came crashing down toward her, silencing her cries forever.
And in its place, the giant's booming laughter filled the air.
"Delicious... So delicious! HAHAHAHAHA!! I want more... I want more!!"
The ruthless tragedy continued without end.
Meanwhile, an emergency-level crisis alert was issued worldwide by the Central Government.
Inside the Central Government's command center located in Mystic City, a Level 6 city on the Lightning Continent, the atmosphere was filled with unbearable tension.
Reports flooded in nonstop. At first, the incidents seemed to be isolated within Level 1 and Level 2 cities, but soon after, Level 3, Level 4, and even Level 5 cities began collapsing one by one.
The vital signs of millions of Central Government officers had vanished. The situation had deteriorated to the worst possible level.
A female officer, her voice trembling, hurriedly reported,
"All Level 1 and Level 2 cities have completely disappeared. Only 587 Level 3 cities remain. Only 88 Level 4 cities are left. There are only 21 Level 5 cities still standing. Level 6 cities are currently stable… but for how long?"
BANG!!
The table shook violently as the Central Government Commander slammed his fist onto it, his rage erupting like a volcano.
"Damn it!! DAMN IT!! What the hell is this supposed to mean!? Are you telling me over 80% of humanity has been wiped out!?"
The entire command room fell into dead silence. No one dared to speak.
The Commander took a deep breath, his fists clenched so tightly they turned white. His mind raced before he finally made a decision.
"We cannot let this continue any longer. Effective immediately, ALL personnel are to be stationed in Level 5 cities. As for the lower-level cities, all stationed officers must open warp gates to Level 5 or Level 6 immediately.
As for the cities that have already fallen… dispatch a minimum of 5 Epic-ranked officers to investigate. If ANY survivors are found, warp them to Level 5 or Level 6 cities at once."
A chorus of voices responded in unison,
"Understood, Sir!!"
No one questioned his orders. Every officer sprang into action, immediately issuing commands to their respective divisions. The entire government was mobilizing at full force.
The world had fallen into chaos. Humans and beasts alike were fighting desperately to survive amidst the uncontrollable surge of spiritual energy. But while the surface world descended into madness, in the heart of the vast ocean, where no one knew of its existence, a massive, mysterious island stood tall.
At its center, an ancient, colossal tree pierced the heavens. It was so enormous that its branches stretched across the entire sky, covering the island beneath a vast, shimmering canopy. Its leaves glowed like celestial gemstones, while its roots extended deep into the earth, reaching depths beyond comprehension.
Suddenly, a radiant peacock with iridescent feathers shimmering like precious gemstones soared across the sky. Its body emitted a dazzling glow, and its wings reflected a divine rainbow-like brilliance, as if they belonged to a celestial being.
As soon as it reached the island, the peacock dived straight into a hidden dimensional barrier within the colossal tree. This place was not a part of the mortal world but rather an entirely separate realm, concealed within the massive ancient tree.
The moment the peacock passed through the dimensional gate, its body radiated with blinding light. Its brilliant feathers dissipated, revealing a young man standing in its place.
He was a figure of breathtaking elegance, his porcelain-white skin resembling the finest jade, and his eyes gleaming with a celestial glow. Every movement he made exuded an undeniable air of nobility, as though he were born from the lineage of gods.
Within this hidden dimensional realm, an enormous tree, resembling the Tree of Chaos, stood at its center. The various regions of this realm were each vastly different, reflecting different elemental forces.
On the upper branches, powerful winds howled, forming an infinite pathway through the skies. Beneath its massive trunk, molten golden lava burned eternally, filling deep caverns with a scorching glow. In the depths of its roots, an icy abyss lay hidden, where frozen blue rivers glowed with an ethereal light.
As the peacock youth flew across the vast avian sanctuary, he passed by an enormous flock of legendary birds phoenixes, thunder eagles, golden crows, frost-winged falcons, and countless other ancient aerial beasts, numbering in the tens of thousands.
The moment these majestic creatures caught sight of the peacock, they all bowed their heads in unison. It was not merely a show of respect toward a powerful being, but rather an instinctive reverence for the sovereign ruler of their bloodline.
Eventually, the peacock youth arrived at the highest peak of the colossal tree, where a lone woman sat in meditation.
Her flaming-red hair flowed like molten fire, and behind her, the wings of a phoenix flickered with a divine radiance. Her face bore an aura of supreme majesty and icy composure. Though her spiritual presence seemed calm and restrained, it carried an immeasurable divinity that was beyond comprehension.
The peacock youth knelt before her and spoke with deep reverence.
"The Great Awakening is upon us, my lady."
The woman, who had kept her eyes closed, slowly opened them. Within those eyes lay the reflection of the future, as though she could perceive all that was to come.
"Prepare yourselves," she said, her voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Those who cannot withstand the world's transformation, let them retreat into the Hidden Dimension. Do you all understand?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a thunderous cry erupted from the countless birds below, their voices shaking the very fabric of the realm.
"Yes, Honored Ancestor!"
A faint smile graced the woman's lips before she gently waved her hand.
At that moment, the dimensional barriers that had been sealed away shattered open, allowing an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy to flood the realm, like a storm raging across the heavens.
Every winged beast within the domain felt their power surge exponentially. Some, who had already reached the pinnacle of strength, even transcended beyond their previous limits.
The sky echoed with triumphant cries, a chorus of divine beasts, resonating like a hymn of celestial glory.
However, not all could withstand the immense influx of power. Those too weak to endure shattered instantly, their bodies bursting into nothing but misty blood.
The red-haired woman slowly lifted her hand and whispered softly,
"System, Sign In."
Ding!
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully signed in for 10 consecutive years.][You have received +1 Chaotic Sacred Flame and +1 Gourd of Primordial Dao Essence.]
A joyful smile appeared on her face as her eyes sparkled with excitement.