Chapter 8: The Countdown Begins
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As Crow walked through the dense forest of the dungeon, he kept his gaze locked onto the Divine Egg in his hands. The golden shell pulsed with a soft glow, radiating warmth, as if a heartbeat thrived within. His mind raced with possibilities—what kind of creature would emerge? Would it be a divine beast surpassing even his White Tiger?
Then, a familiar chime echoed in his ears.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Divine Egg Detected
Current Status: Unhatched
Hatching Process: Initiated
Time Until Hatching: 168:00:00 (7 Days Remaining)
Conditions to Enhance Growth: ???
Warning: Neglecting the egg may weaken the creature inside.
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Crow's eyes widened. Seven days? He had a full week before this thing hatched. But what caught his attention was the conditions to enhance growth—the system wasn't telling him what they were. That meant he had to figure it out himself.
Looking at his two beasts, Crow nodded. "We're on a time limit. If we want the strongest possible creature, we need to find a way to make sure it hatches in peak condition."
The Hell Hound let out a deep growl of agreement, while the White Tiger flicked its tail, eyes full of understanding. They knew—this wasn't just about waiting. It was about preparing.
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The Search for Power
Crow quickly considered his options. The system had given him clues before. The Hell Hound evolved due to the system's enhancement. The White Tiger had its divine potential unlocked, skipping its cub stage entirely. That meant there had to be a way to strengthen whatever was inside this egg before it hatched.
But how?
"Maybe…" Crow muttered, glancing at the surrounding environment. "Dungeons have strong monsters and rare resources. If this egg absorbs energy like my other beasts, maybe it needs exposure to certain conditions."
He quickly opened his Dungeon Map, scanning for high-energy zones. His eyes locked onto a Mana Convergence Point deep within the dungeon—an area where magic naturally pooled, creating an environment rich in spiritual energy.
"That could be the key," Crow said, tightening his grip on the egg.
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A Dangerous Journey
Reaching the Mana Convergence Point wouldn't be easy. According to the map, it was in the depths of the dungeon, an area where monsters were at least Level 15 and higher. Given that his strongest beasts had stats of 2,000, they could likely handle it—but Crow wasn't arrogant. Even one mistake could be costly.
Still, this was the best chance to increase the egg's potential before it hatched.
"We're going," Crow declared, leading his beasts forward. The Hell Hound barked, and the White Tiger let out a soft chuff before they both followed.
With the egg's timer ticking down, Crow had one goal: make sure that when the egg hatches, it's the strongest divine beast the world has ever seen.
And to do that, he would need to push himself and his team further than ever before.
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[TO BE CONTINUED...]
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