The walls of the dungeon pulsed faintly, exhaling a malevolent energy that seemed to breathe life into its suffocating darkness. The Corruptor Beast, a hulking mass of muscle, venom, and shadow, lay defeated behind Lu Yan. Its scaled hide, once impervious to mortal weapons, had been sundered by his blade. But something about its death felt hollow—unfinished.
As he stood amidst the remnants of the battle, Lu Yan's sharp green eyes scanned the chamber, catching faint tremors in the stone beneath his feet. The black ichor oozing from the beast's corpse twisted unnaturally, as though unwilling to surrender to death. The dungeon wasn't merely a battlefield—it was alive, a malignant organism, and these beasts were only its pawns.
A cold voice slithered into his mind. It wasn't the Heaven Tree's this time—it was different. It carried a weight, ancient and venomous, coiling around his thoughts like a serpent tightening its grip.
"You think you've defeated my Corruptors, but you're mistaken. You're nothing but a distraction, a fleeting nuisance. The real game begins now. You won't reach me. I'll make sure of that, and by the time you finally understand what awaits, it'll be far too late."
Lu Yan grimaced as the voice faded into mocking laughter, echoing through the pulsating walls. There was no doubt now—these beasts were not acting on instinct. They were commanded, puppets of a master hidden deep within the dungeon. A master whose influence seeped into every shadow, every crack, every poisoned breath of air.
The Heaven Tree's pulse resonated again in his chest, cutting through the lingering venom of the Poison God's voice.
"Deeper… you must go deeper. The one who commands the Corruptors hides below."
Wiping the acidic blood of the beast from his Techno-Melanin sword, Lu Yan adjusted his grip. The blade's dark runes pulsed hungrily, feeding on the remnants of the beast's corrupted energy, growing sharper and darker with every kill.
"Jian Mo," he said coldly, tapping the glowing orb on his wrist communicator.
"Master," Jian Mo's voice crackled through the static, strained. "Scans confirm your suspicions. The beasts are linked—there's a core of corruption ahead. Energy readings suggest abyssal-class danger. The control nexus may be tied to the Poison God's altar."
Lu Yan's expression didn't waver. Abyssal-class creatures, a direct link to the Poison God, and a web of corruption designed to entangle him in endless death? He had faced worse odds.
"Understood," he replied, sheathing his blade momentarily as his aura flared, forcing back the tendrils of mist slithering toward him.
As he descended deeper, the faint cries of the dungeon beasts echoed through the halls, but this time, they weren't attacking. They were waiting—watching. He could feel their collective presence, tethered by an unseen force. Whatever controlled them was close, and it would not go down without a fight.
With each step, the dungeon seemed to close in on him. The walls darkened further, the air thickening with a palpable, oppressive energy. The faint hum of the Poison God's laughter echoed through the hall, a quiet promise of suffering. Yet, Lu Yan remained unfazed. He had faced far worse. Gods bled, just like any beast.
"Master," Jian Mo's voice crackled, strained, carrying a weight of urgency. "Energy levels are spiking as you move forward. The corruption is deeper than expected, layers upon layers twisted into the very structure of this place. The next zone… it's a significant escalation. You're heading into abyssal-class territory."
Lu Yan's expression didn't shift. He'd faced abyssal-class monsters before, and he was still here. But something about this dungeon was different—an insidious intelligence, a predatory patience that made even him uneasy.
[Dungeon Interface – Floor Progression: 3/10]
• Next Floor: Abyssal Corridor of Thorns
• Estimated Danger Level: SS
• Objective: Survive the Trial of Poisoned Fate.
The interface flickered and disappeared, leaving him with the oppressive silence of the dungeon. He gripped his sword tighter, the Heaven Tree's power thrumming faintly in response. His bond with it was his trump card—but it was also a double-edged sword. Every time he pushed the Heaven Tree beyond its limits, he felt it feeding on something deep within him.
He took a step forward. Then another. The corridor ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, a chasm of shadow and faint green light. The air thickened with every step, clinging to his skin like oil. The acidic mist began to eat at his endurance, seeping through even his natural resistance.
Activating Nature Breath's, he filtered out the worst of the toxins, but the effect was minimal. The poison here wasn't ordinary. It was alive, evolving, as if tailored to adapt to his strengths.
The ground beneath his boots trembled.
"Warning: High-Priority Threat Detected."
From the blackened abyss ahead, a creature emerged—a massive, grotesque figure that seemed to embody the very essence of the dungeon. Its form was a nightmarish amalgamation of thorned vines and corrupted flesh, its body pulsating with an eerie green glow. Spikes jutted from every angle, each dripping with a luminous venom that hissed and burned as it hit the ground. The creature's hollow eyes locked onto Lu Yan, a primal hunger burning within them.
The Venomous Thornbeast monster rank A, let out an ear-piercing screech that reverberated through the dungeon walls, shaking the air itself. Without hesitation, it lunged forward, a blur of jagged spikes and writhing vines, its movements far too quick for something so large.
Lu Yan dodged instinctively, activating Phantom Step to blink 30 meters back. The creature's spiked appendage slammed into the ground where he'd stood, shattering the stone floor into a cascade of deadly shards. He twisted mid-dash, his Techno-Melanin sword slashing through the air.
The blade struck true, carving into the Thornbeast's side, but its skin was like reinforced steel. The attack only left a shallow gash that sealed itself almost instantly. The creature hissed, a wave of poison erupting from its body, filling the corridor with an acidic cloud.
"Annoying," Lu Yan muttered, activating Nether Burst. A surge of void energy exploded outward, reshaping the terrain and scattering the poison mist. Ethereal tendrils of shadow lashed out, striking the Thornbeast and forcing it back.
The Heaven Tree pulsed again, its ethereal power flaring through his veins. Lu Yan called out to it, summoning its core ability—Forest Domination.
From the corrupted ground beneath him, thick roots burst forth, glowing with a vibrant green light that contrasted starkly against the dungeon's darkness. The roots lashed out like whips, entangling the Thornbeast's limbs and slowing its movements.
The monster roared in defiance, but the roots tightened, siphoning its energy. From the Heaven Tree's influence, a Titanwood Guardian emerged—a massive, towering figure of living bark and vines. It crashed into the Thornbeast with unrelenting force, the ground trembling beneath their clash.
Lu Yan didn't hesitate. With the Thornbeast distracted, he planted a Seed of Life in the corrupted ground, channeling a surge of mana into it. The seed sprouted instantly, transforming into a Verdant Viper, its emerald scales shimmering as it coiled around the monster's throat, injecting lethal doses of venom.
The Thornbeast's screeches turned to gurgles as its body began to fail, overwhelmed by the combined assault. Lu Yan leapt forward, his Techno-Melanin sword glowing with a dark, destructive energy as he activated Soul Entanglement.
The Thornbeast froze, its very essence bound to the Heaven Tree. With a final, deafening roar, the creature disintegrated into a cloud of green mist, its essence absorbed into the dungeon walls. The room fell silent, save for Lu Yan's steady breathing.
[Dungeon Interface Update]
• Floor Progression: 4/10
• Reward Chest Unlocked
A faint light appeared ahead, revealing an intricately carved chest. Lu Yan approached cautiously, the Heaven Tree's whispers growing faint. He opened the chest to reveal a glowing Venom Core, its power radiating a malevolent energy.
"Jian Mo," he said, holding up the core. "Extract data. This might be useful for the final floor."
"Understood, Master. Be careful—the next floor's energy signature is unlike anything we've seen."
Lu Yan closed the communicator, his gaze hardening as he turned to the spiral staircase leading deeper into the dungeon. The air was colder now, heavier, and the shadows seemed to crawl. The abyss was calling—and he was ready.
"Let's see what you've got."
The walls groaned as if alive, their surface twisting and shifting under Lu Yan's cold gaze. The Abyssal Corridor of Thorns wasn't just a passage—it was a creature, a breathing entity that pulsed with venomous malice. Each jagged thorn seemed to pulsate, glowing faintly with sickly green poison that dripped like blood, pooling into the cracks beneath his feet.
Every step Lu Yan took was deliberate, his eyes scanning for threats while his mind maintained its connection to the Heaven Tree. The pulsing rhythm of its energy coursed through his veins, sharp and ancient. His senses were heightened; every flicker of light, every shift of air reached him like an unspoken warning.
The dungeon's whispers began, faint but growing louder. It was as if the abyss itself was mocking his intrusion, testing his resolve. The poison mist hung in the air, thick and suffocating, attempting to crawl into his lungs. But Lu Yan's passive skill, Nature's Breath, worked tirelessly to filter the toxins. Yet even with its aid, the dungeon's oppressive nature weighed on him like an iron shroud.
The Heaven Tree stirred, its presence sharp and commanding.
"The last trial deepens. Prepare."
The corridor opened into a massive cavern—a cathedral of darkness. The ceiling soared high above, encrusted with jagged, glowing crystals that radiated the faintest green light, casting long shadows across the space. At the cavern's center was a vast abyssal pool, its surface boiling with caustic venom that hissed as if alive. Floating above it was the boss.
A massive serpent-like entity coiled around itself, its body covered in scales that glimmered like polished obsidian. Its glowing green eyes bore into Lu Yan with predatory hunger. Spines jutted from its back, each dripping with corrosive venom that burned the stone floor beneath it.
Name: Abyssal The God of Posion
Rank: S
Abilities:
• Corrosive Wave: Emits a wave of venom, melting everything in its path.
• Poisoned Dominion: Enhances the dungeon's poison effects, weakening all intruders.
• Regenerative Core: Absorbs ambient poison to heal itself.
The boss hissed, a sound that shook the cavern, reverberating through Lu Yan's very bones. Its coils rippled, each movement exuding raw power. The venomous mist thickened, wrapping around Lu Yan like a living entity.
Without hesitation, Lu Yan moved. His mana surged as he activated Phantom Step, his body blurring into an afterimage as he closed the distance in an instant. His sword, the Techno-Melanin Blade, slashed forward, its dark energy humming with destructive force.
The blade met the serpent's scales. Sparks flew as it connected, but the scales were like steel—resilient and unyielding. The serpent retaliated with lightning speed, its tail whipping toward him like a bladed whip.
Lu Yan twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the strike, landing gracefully on a jutting rock. His expression remained cold and calculating.
"Now."
At his command, the Heaven Tree's power surged. The ground beneath him shuddered as massive roots erupted from the stone floor, glowing with a verdant light. The roots twisted and coiled, forming a barrier around him before lashing out toward the boss.
The serpent roared in defiance, releasing a Corrosive Wave that dissolved the roots closest to it. But the Heaven Tree was relentless. Its tendrils regenerated almost instantly, growing thicker and stronger with each strike.
Lu Yan raised his hand, summoning one of his most dangerous skills: Forest Domination. The cavern erupted into chaos as plant creatures materialized from the dungeon floor—vines with razor-sharp thorns, venomous blossoms that spewed corrosive pollen, and towering treants made of bark and stone.
The serpent thrashed violently, its venomous spines firing like projectiles, cutting through the plant army. But for every summoned creature that fell, another took its place. The Heaven Tree's roots glowed brighter, feeding on the dungeon's ambient mana.
Lu Yan didn't wait for the serpent to recover. Activating Soul Entanglement, he bound the boss's very essence to the Heaven Tree. Ethereal chains erupted from his core, wrapping around the serpent's body and sapping its vitality.
The boss howled in pain, its glowing green eyes flickering as the Heaven Tree's roots pierced its scales, draining its poison and converting it into mana.
Victory seemed within reach when the dungeon itself trembled violently. The venom pool at the cavern's center bubbled furiously before exploding outward, drenching the cavern in a corrosive rain. Lu Yan leaped back, raising a barrier of roots to shield himself.
"What now?" he thought, his eyes narrowing.
From the venomous depths emerged a figure—a shadow cloaked in darkness. It was humanoid but monstrous, its form wreathed in abyssal flames. Its crimson eyes burned with malice, and the air around it warped with raw power.
[Unknown Entity Detected]
Name: ???
Rank: Unknown
Abilities: Unknown
Mission :
• Objective: Escape from the Unknown
Reward :
• Last Dungeon Key
Lu Yan's instincts screamed danger. This wasn't part of the dungeon. The creature's very presence felt wrong, as if it didn't belong in this world.
Before he could react, the entity moved—faster than anything he'd ever encountered. It struck with a blade of pure abyssal energy, aiming for his chest. Lu Yan managed to twist his body, but the blade grazed his side, leaving a deep, searing wound. Blood spilled, staining the ground beneath him.
Gritting his teeth, he activated Chrono Bloom, slowing time around him. The entity's movements became sluggish, giving him a precious moment to retaliate. With a roar, he summoned the Titanwood Guardian, a massive construct of bark and stone, to shield him.
The guardian intercepted the next strike, its colossal frame shattering under the force of the blow. But the delay was enough. The Heaven Tree's roots surged forward, wrapping around the entity's legs and pulling it back.
Lu Yan staggered slightly, his vision blurring. His body screamed in protest from the brutal fight, and the blood loss was starting to take its toll. But he couldn't afford to fall here, not now. His grip on the weapon tightened as he steadied himself, pretending like nothing was wrong. He couldn't let anyone see it—especially not Jin Mao.
His left hand instinctively went to his side, where a deep wound still leaked blood, but he quickly pulled it away, as if dismissing the pain altogether. He forced a deep breath and stood upright, pushing past the exhaustion and the gnawing feeling of weakness.
With all his remaining energy, he focused his mana. His Heaven Tree ability pulsed to life around him, and the roots of the tree began to shift, forming the massive spear of energy he had used to strike down the shadow entity. It glowed brightly in the dim light of the dungeon, and the last bit of his strength surged into it as he hurled it forward, piercing the creature and ending the battle. The entity dissolved into black mist with an ear-splitting shriek.
[System Notification]
Mission Completed
• Objective: Defeat the Unknown Entity
• Reward: Last Dungeon Key
[Level Upgrade to 98]
..
But escaping came at a cost. His breath ragged, vision blurring, the injury on his side burned like fire. Yet, Lu Yan refused to let it show. The moment anyone saw him falter, they would question him—question his strength, his resolve. He couldn't afford that, not now. Not when the final dungeon awaited.
He forced a smile, despite the pain, and turned to Jin Mao who had just approached him. "It's over," he said, voice steady as if nothing had happened.
In the middle of the Night, the distant low sound of cheers caught his attention. People—citizens, allies—gathered in the distance, their voices rising in unison as they celebrated his survival. Their faces were full of hope, but in Lu Yan's eyes, the gleam of victory felt hollow. The battle had only just begun, and the depths of the final dungeon were more treacherous than anything he had faced before.
Jin Mo's voice broke through his thoughts again. "The celebration can wait. We need to be prepared. What lies ahead in the Last
Dungeon."
"I know," Lu Yan said, his voice steady, but heavy with experience. He glanced at the Last Dungeon key on his pocket, his expression unreadable. "If we do nothing, the result will be the same as when you failed a test on Earth. It's just a slow death, and we won't get a second chance."
Jin Mao stopped before him, his expression as unreadable as ever. His eyes lingered on Lu Yan, sharp and unwavering, not a word escaping his lips. But in that brief silence, there was a depth, an unspoken understanding, that only those who truly knew each other could grasp.
After a brief pause, Jin Mao gave a knowing nod, and without another word, they turned and made their way forward.
Jin Mao's eyes flicked over his body, briefly noting the way Lu Yan's posture was slightly off, the way his breath was just a little too shallow. His gaze narrowed ever so slightly, and though he didn't comment, it was clear he had noticed something.
Lu Yan straightened, trying to act unaffected, his body protesting every movement. He couldn't allow his weakness to be exposed.
Jin Mao studied him for a moment longer, before turning his gaze to the path ahead, his silence more revealing than any words he could have spoken. The two of them stood in that moment, the weight of unspoken understanding hanging between them. Jin Mao hadn't addressed the injury—he hadn't needed to. He knew Lu Yan too well.
Without a word, Lu Yan gritted his teeth and followed Jin Mao, pretending as if nothing had happened, even though every step felt more difficult than the last. The dungeon loomed ahead, and he knew the real test was yet to come. But as long as he could keep moving, as long as he could keep pretending, he would survive.
An hour later, Lu Yan reached his apartment, each step heavier than the last. He pushed the pain deep inside, the dungeon's horrors still weighing on him. He entered the car Yao had driven, the engine roaring to life, the hum of the tires on asphalt barely masking his suffering. The ride felt long, but eventually, the apartment came into view.
Meanwhile, Jin Mao had already reached his home. The man, ever sharp, had completed his own tasks with his usual efficiency. Unbeknownst to Lu Yan, Jin Mao hadn't missed the subtle signs of exhaustion—his eyes flickering briefly as Lu Yan stepped out of the car, a faint concern behind his otherwise stoic expression.
In the dead of night, as Lu Yan approached his bedroom, he opened the system interface. The serpent, once a fierce and unyielding force, now lay weakened and bound. Its resistance shattered. With a swift, decisive motion, Lu Yan drove his blade deep into its skull, ending its wretched existence.
The cavern quaked beneath him as the dungeon's malignant energy began to fade.
The poison mist evaporated, and the suffocating aura that had plagued the air lifted, leaving an eerie calm in its wake.
[Dungeon Cleared]
Rewards Obtained:
• Abyssal Venom Core: Contains concentrated poison energy.
• Regenerative Thorn Cloak: Absorbs poison and heals the weare,
• Immunity to Poison: Grants complete resistance to all toxins, venoms, and poisons, allowing safe passage through even the deadliest environments.
Lu Yan collapsed to one knee, his hand clutching the wound in his side. Blood soaked his clothes, but he didn't let himself collapse entirely. The Heaven Tree's energy flowed into him, attempting to mend the injury, its roots weaving through the gash. It wasn't enough to heal him fully—only about 35%—but it was enough to keep him from falling apart.
After eight hours of restless sleep, Lu Yan finally rose at 6 AM. He made his way to the table and sat down, exhaustion still clinging to him. Jin Mao, standing nearby, glanced at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Hungry?" he asked, his voice calm.
Lu Yan nodded slightly, his usual response. Without waiting for more, Jin Mao moved into the kitchen. Within minutes, he had prepared a freshly cooked hamburger with seasoned beef patties based on the Demonic Cow Meat the most expensive and hard to find in Dungeon level 30 and crispy fries, placing the meal in front of Lu Yan with quiet efficiency.
Lu Yan ate in silence, the simple meal offering a brief moment of comfort before the chaos that lay ahead.
With the key to the Last Dungeon clenched tightly in his hand, Lu Yan took a step forward. His resolve hardened with every passing moment, but he knew the true challenge had only just begun. He would need every ounce of strength, every strategy he had learned, to survive.
Just as he steeled himself, a familiar presence stepped from the shadows. Jin Mao. His face was set, his eyes burning with a quiet intensity. His concern was evident, though he said nothing. The two shared a look, unspoken understanding passing between them.
"Are you ready?" Jin Mao's voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the urgency in it. The abyss was waiting.
Lu Yan paused, holding the dungeon key tightly in his hand. His eyes focused on the ominous horizon where the abyss awaited. He had no time for doubt; this was the final moment, the one that would determine everything. He needed to know everything about what he was about to face, so he called upon the system.
"System, check the information on the Last Dungeon Key," he commanded.
The familiar voice of the system responded.
[System: Dungeon Details]
Dungeon Name: The Abyssal Trial
Dungeon Rank: SSS
Difficulty: Extreme
Required Team: 3 SSS-Rank Adventurers
Primary Objective: Eliminate the Unknown Entites
Warning: High probability of environmental manipulation. Unknown anomalies detected. Only the strongest can survive.
Lu Yan's grip tightened around the dungeon key as he stepped into the depths of the unknown. He had no illusion about the magnitude of what they were about to face. The final dungeon wasn't just another trial—it was a death sentence to those unprepared. And he wouldn't go into it alone.
He turned to Jin Mao, his voice steady but urgent. "Get in touch with Fan Zhi and Lila. As soon as possible. They need to be here. We can't afford to go in without them."
Jin Mao didn't ask questions. He simply nodded, vanishing into the shadows as if he'd never been there. Lu Yan felt the weight of the task ahead settle heavier on his shoulders, but he couldn't hesitate.
The dungeon required more than just strength—it demanded teamwork. And that meant he needed the help of strongest, Fan Zhi, strongest warrior, and Lila, the most formidable magician in this world.
A few hours later, they gathered in the dimly lit room, the tension in the air thick enough to slice through. Fan Zhi walked in first, his tall, broad frame commanding attention. His tan skin, weathered from years of harsh training, caught the light. His gray eyes, sharp and unwavering, told of countless battles survived. The battered armor clung to him like a second skin, a testament to his unbroken spirit. Silent but powerful, he exuded the confidence of a warrior who had faced endless struggle and emerged victorious.
Following him, Lila stepped inside, her presence a sharp contrast. Slender, Pale skin, with ethereal features that seemed to belong to another world, her long silver hair cascaded around her, shimmering like starlight. Her eyes like the ocean at dawn, shimmered with a faint, untapped magic, powerful enough to shatter mountains. Her robes flowed as she moved, the very air seeming to bend in response to her presence.
They exchanged glances but said nothing. Their expressions spoke volumes—recognizing the gravity of the situation, they waited for Lu Yan to speak.
Lu Yan stood in the center of the room, his eyes unwavering as he addressed the group. He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable weight.
"I acquired this link artifact by sheer luck, deep within Dungeon 70," he began, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small, intricately carved talisman. The faint glow it emitted cast a dim light across his hardened features. "It was after we defeated the Snow Beast… a rare drop, something that wasn't meant to be found."
He held the talisman up for them to see, the edges glinting as though the artifact itself recognized the gravity of the situation.
"This Artifact," Lu Yan continued, his voice steady but tinged with the heavy reality of its purpose, "has a singular, brutal power. If we fall, if the worst happens… it has the ability to bring us back from any dungeon we've cleared, through Jian Mo my servant link connection." He paused, letting the information sink in. "But there's a catch. There are only two uses. Once used, one of us must die"
Fan Zhi looked at the talisman, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of acknowledgment in his eyes. The weight of those two uses was clear.
"I found it by chance. I wouldn't count on it," Lu Yan said, his voice slightly quieter now. "But… it's something we can't afford to overlook."
He glanced around, his gaze sharp. "Do any of you, the strongest, have something like this? Something that can bring us back if everything goes wrong?"
Without wasting time, Fan Zhi pulled out a small talisman, the artifact he had unlocked by chance in finishing Dungeon level. It was his reward for countless battles fought and won, the product of relentless perseverance. The faint glow pulsed from the symbol etched into its surface, casting a soft, eerie light in the dim room.
"This talisman…" Fan Zhi started, his voice low and steady. "If things go wrong, if we fall, this can bring a team back from any dungeon we've been through. However it's limited only one available."
Lila broke the silence, her voice cool, sharp. "And if we don't get the chance to use it?"
"Then we die," Lu Yan said, his voice steady but cold, as though the answer was obvious.
Lila "...."
Lu Yan's gaze hardened, fixing on the entrance that led into the abyss. "Anyway, that's the plan. But hopefully we can survive to see the next day."
The team stood in quiet agreement. There were no more words, just the cold reality of what lay ahead. The dungeon wasn't just a test. It was a final trial. And only the strongest would walk out alive. With that, Lu Yan led the way, stepping forward, knowing full well that there was no turning back now. The real battle had only just begun.