Theon’s gaze locked on the next wave. Four of them.Two reptilian brutes shaped like alligators, their backs armored with thorny scales that caught the light like fractured metal. One rodent-shaped thing reared on two legs, claws clicking against stone. And a short, stocky wood brahman, its shoulders hunched like it carried the weight of a mountain.None of them looked as terrifying as the hecephalus. But Theon saw it anyway; the dust rising behind them, the silhouettes of more beasts cresting the dune. Another wave was coming. And another after that. If he didn’t end these four fast, he’d be buried.“Warning! Host! Someone is keeping surveillance on level twelve.”Theon’s lips pulled back in a mocking sneer. “Of course. Who else but Solvyn can waltz into the control room and watch to see if the beasts finally did what he couldn’t?” A dry laugh escaped him. “Funny. Truly funny.”He must’ve seen the hecephalus drop. Must be tearing through every memory he had, trying to decode how Th

Theon’s chest tightened until it felt like iron bands were crushing his ribs. He was truly exhausted. Every drop of energy in his reserves had been scraped out. The storm dragon twelve moves demanded immense aegis and spiritual intensity. Holding that kind of power for so long had pushed him to the absolute breaking point, right to the edge where he thought his core would fracture and spill his life into the sand. He hadn’t even had time to absorb a single thread of blood essence or daegis from the mountain of slain beasts. How could the System expect him to entertain more quests when his body was running on fumes? Theon exhaled, lips pinching together until they went white. “System, tell me honestly. Did you have a feud with me or my parents? Why do you try to kill me so much?” The System let out an evil chuckle and went silent. Smug. Enjoying it. Theon didn’t waste breath arguing. He stretched both arms out wide and slammed his primordial yin yang devouring body to life. He nee

Theon called back his weapons into his hands with a thought, chest rising and falling steadily as he circulated energy through his meridians. His body was already healing his internal injuries from when the Dino's tail sent him flying.Grrrh! The creature roared again, its teeth jagged and terrifying. Theon scoffed. “Thirteen minutes to go, Dino friend, I can't waste all day with you. I'm quite interested in the energy from your other friends here.”His words seemed to have infuriated the creature for it rushed forward, neck swinging towards Theon. Theon disappeared, his movement technique turning him into a streak of grey wind that whooshed through the crack between the creature’s giant legs to reappear behind it. He pushed out his ultimate attack power, sending his sword straight to the Dino's lethal tail. The creature was quick, worthy of being a level thirteen monstrous beast. The moment he sensed Theon disappearing from his initial position, its head snapped back, guessing h

MARTIAL COLLOSEUM.A loud blare echoed across all levels of the monster realm, signalling the end of the trials. At the same time, a gigantic building at the edge of the martial arena began to light up. The building was a gigantic white tower which had space crystals and space runes carved all along it in strategic points of its frame. The building was shaped like a spire, and had eighteen floors. Legend has it that no one had ever entered the seventeenth and eighteenth floor, except one person. Each floor was circular with numerous doors. You can not enter one section from another, because all those glowing doors were portals leading to different locations. The first floor had doors leading to the first ring of the monster realm, which was also the first level. The second realm had portals leading into the second level, same with the third one, and upwards. While entering the monster realm, everyone entered from the pavilion which had a central system to determine each person's

It was still afternoon when Theon returned to his room. The wooden bucket he filled with water was still there. He wrinkled his nose. With the amount of dirt and grime on his body, wiping with a washing rag wouldn't cut it. He needed to make his way into the river. But it was still four in the afternoon; it wouldn't be light out for some hours. “Aish!” He stomped on the ground, raking a finger through his hair. Kraaa! The sound made Theon's heart skip multiple beats. He looked down at the floorboard. Hairline cracks were spreading from the spot he stomped on, and dust was already dropping to the floor below his. His mouth opened and closed, eyes wide with incredulity. “It can't be, right? I'm not that heavy. The house really won't collapse because of me, right? Damn! I'm very broke. I can't even afford to feed myself at this point. How can I compensate the academy?” As if in response, a louder kraaa sound followed, and he felt the building shake. He quickly stepped back, gas