At the critical moment of his promotion, it was thanks to the little yellow dog's vigilance that Ren had been prepared for Tirus Sanda Vicki's ambush. Now, as the battle concluded, he had no intention of sparing her. His tail, crackling with thunder, coiled ominously as he prepared to strike once more.
The little yellow dog trotted toward the massive bird's head, its excitement evident in its every step. As it approached, a light yellow spiritual pressure radiated from its body, stirring up a whirlwind of dust and smoke. When the dust finally settled, a formidable figure emerged—a godlike presence, exuding power and dominance.
He was no longer the small, harmless pup he once appeared to be. Instead, his true form was revealed: a dark yellow giant dog, towering at three meters tall and spanning over eight meters in length. Without hesitation, he opened his enormous maw and swallowed the bird's empty head in one gulp.
This was Rhubarb's true body. He had followed Ren on countless hunts, devouring the remnants of hollow creatures, growing stronger with each passing day. At first, he could only scavenge scraps left behind by Ren, barely sustaining himself. But that was a thing of the past. Now, he was no longer the fragile newborn Ren had encountered at the start of their journey. He had transformed from a weakling into a formidable entity—still weak in the grand scheme of things, but undeniably powerful compared to his former self.
Now, with the head of Tirus Sanda Vicki consumed, his evolution was just around the corner. The transformation would propel him to new heights, bringing him ever closer to the realm of true power.
After absorbing the essence of his latest meal, Rhubarb's massive form shimmered and compressed, reverting back into the shape of the small yellow dog. With an expression of joy, he turned his gaze toward Ren and wagged his non-existent tail, eager to share his triumph.
Ren, watching the scene unfold, nodded in satisfaction. A sense of finality settled within him. "Now, with your strength, Tirus Sanda Vicki, another giant hollow, is no longer a match for you. You have grown beyond my expectations. And now… it's time for me to go to that place."
Determined, Ren made his decision without hesitation. He looked at the little yellow dog before him, his voice calm yet resolute. "The place I'm heading to next is far too dangerous for you. It's time for us to part ways. With your current power, you'll be safe here in this new land. You can protect yourself now. There's no need for you to follow me any longer."
"Woof!" Rhubarb let out a deep, sorrowful cry. The sound carried the weight of reluctance, of an unspoken bond that neither of them wanted to sever.
Ren crouched down, extending a finger to gently stroke the little yellow dog's head. Rhubarb responded by nuzzling against Ren's hand, licking his finger in an affectionate gesture that mirrored a time long past.
"A tough puppy," Ren murmured with a faint smile. "Live well. Survive."
With that, he waved his hand in farewell, turning his back on the creature that had been his companion for so long. Without looking back, he dove into the endless sea of sand. As he disappeared beneath the shifting dunes, the distant, heart-wrenching whimper of the little yellow dog echoed in the vast emptiness.
But Ren did not stop. He did not hesitate. The reason he had taken Rhubarb with him in the first place was simple—when he first laid eyes on the small pup, he had been reminded of another Rhubarb, one from his previous life. A moment of sentimentality had led him to take the creature under his wing.
But beyond that, the pup had served a purpose. In his early days, when he had been weak, Rhubarb had helped him lure prey, ensuring his survival in this brutal world.
Now, however, things had changed. Ren had ascended. He had become a giant hollow, and his combat prowess was even beyond that of the average giant void. He no longer needed Rhubarb's assistance to hunt.
Besides, with the strength the little yellow dog now possessed, as long as he remained in the New Land, there was little that could threaten him. The parting was necessary.
Ren's path to transcendence was his own, and nothing—not sentiment, not companionship—could be allowed to interfere with it.
His destination was clear: the Great Void Forest, hidden deep beneath the sand.
Ren moved swiftly, plunging deeper into the shifting sands than he ever had before. Previously, his lack of strength had forced him to travel cautiously along the surface. But now, for the first time, he dared to delve into the depths.
The descent seemed endless. He swam through the sand, pushing further and further downward, yet the legendary Great Void Forest remained elusive. Doubt threatened to creep into his mind—had he taken the wrong path?
No, he reassured himself. He knew the Great Void Forest lay beneath the sand. He had studied the ancient texts. He had seen the signs. He just had to keep going.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of diving, he hit something solid.
"A rock formation?" Ren muttered, his large, masked head ramming against the unyielding barrier. The stone was impossibly strong, preventing further descent.
Frustration flared within him. He had been traveling for so long, and now, an obstacle barred his path?
Without a second thought, he gathered his strength and struck the rock with all his might.
"Bang!"
A sharp crack echoed through the void. The next thing he knew, he was falling—plunging through open air, his balance thrown into chaos.
As he tumbled, his keen eyes took in his surroundings. Towering tree trunks, hundreds of meters tall, loomed around him. The sky was as dark as ever, shrouded in eternal night.
"This is… the Great Void Forest!" Ren exclaimed, a surge of excitement washing over him.
He twisted mid-air, hooking his tail onto a tree trunk to steady his descent. With a controlled landing, he touched the forest floor.
But as soon as his feet hit the ground, he realized he was not alone.
All around him, groups of massive void creatures loomed, their towering forms locked in battle. The sudden intrusion had not gone unnoticed.
As Ren stood amidst the chaos, the combatants momentarily ceased their fighting, turning their attention toward the newcomer.
"Oh," Ren muttered, his tone laced with amusement. "Looks like I crashed a party."
The brief pause ended as quickly as it began. Without warning, the giants lunged, encircling him in a deadly siege.
Ren smirked, flexing his claws in anticipation. "Well then… let's begin."
A giant squid-shaped hollow spewed out a stream of corrosive ink toward him, the dark liquid sizzling with toxic energy. Ren did not advance but instead swiftly retreated, using his tail to hook onto a sturdy tree trunk and propel himself out of harm's way. As he dodged, arcs of lightning crackled around his body, forming a barrier of pure thunder. In an instant, he wielded his thunder whip, striking with precision—the weapon lashed out, sinking into the squid's form and ripping its soul from within.
Without hesitation, Ren's tail shot forward, piercing deep into the squid's flesh. Activating his ghoul soul ability, he consumed the creature entirely, leaving nothing behind.
Though this squid hollow was a giant like Ren, its strength was nowhere near that of Tirus Sanda Vicki. It had no chance—it was felled in a single encounter.
"One down. Now, it's your turn!" Ren sneered, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Without wasting another second, he launched himself toward the remaining dozen giant hollows.
The Great Void Forest had welcomed him with an unexpected feast, and Ren was more than happy to indulge.