MONARCH OF SPACE AND TIME

MYSTERIOUS CAVE

In the choking fog of the mountains, the clash of steel rang again and again.

Twenty-eight warriors circled a single humanoid beast, purple mist curling around its form. To an untrained eye, it looked like they might win but the truth was bitter. The beast was too fast, too cunning.

If not for Ethan's water-restriction skills holding it back, half the squad would already be dead. Whenever it tried to single Ethan out, the others struck back in unison, crushing its body with blows that shook the ground. Its thick skin endured, but even it couldn't stop the damage piling inside its organs.

Just when victory seemed close, the monster let out a hiss 

Puff!

 its body melted into thick purple smoke and vanished.

"Stay sharp!" Ethan barked.

But it was too late. A healer screamed as his head burst into mist, his body falling limp. The squad froze, blood chilling in their veins.

Ethan and Sunny didn't move, every muscle wound tight. They couldn't afford a mistake now the enemy had become far more dangerous.

As expected of a devilish Beast… this one is comparable to a Suppressor, Ethan thought grimly. Looks like I'll have to use my hidden card.

His body shimmered—then dissolved into white mist. He blended perfectly with the fog.

"Wha—?!" Sunny's eyes widened. He knew Ethan's armor was far beyond his own, but this was something else entirely.

The squad saw only two masses of mist colliding one purple, one white. The air trembled with every clash. Ethan's A-class skill, Phantom Ghost, was in play. A technique so refined even some Suppressors would struggle to sense him.

Bang!

A strike landed. The beast stumbled out of the fog, missing an arm, desperation etched in its twisted face. Shock rippled through the warriors. They knew how deadly this monster's sneak skills were—and yet Ethan was overwhelming it.

The creature tried to flee, but it was too late. Ethan shot forward like a death wraith, blade flashing. One clean arc—

Slash!

The beast's head spun into the air, dread still frozen in its eyes. Its body collapsed with a thunderous bang.

Ethan wasted no time, plunging his hand into the corpse. A shining red bead rolled into his palm a devilish

 Beast Soul Stone.

"Bleurgh…" He spat blood, knees trembling. His armor was shredded, his insides screaming. Who could fight a Heavenly Beast and come out unscathed?

"Quick, run! It's alerted its kin—they'll be here soon!" Sunny shouted, panic breaking through his calm.

The squad didn't argue. They bolted, speed exploding like a fleet of Lamborghinis tearing down the mountain.

Moments later, dozens of purple beasts stormed into the clearing, roaring at the sight of their slain comrade. Their shrieks shook the peaks. They gave chase.

But this squad was no pack of weaklings. For three relentless days they ran, fought, and evaded. Finally, battered and bleeding, they reached a cave and set up camp.

The healers worked swiftly, mending Ethan's wounds.

"Damn, Ethan," one Ascended muttered, eyes wide. "How the hell did you do that?"

The others leaned in, eager. They had all played their part, but Ethan's technique had turned the tide.

"It's a secret," Ethan said with a tired chuckle.

"Cool or not, you did a great job," Sunny admitted, trying to reclaim some footing as leader.

The others nodded in agreement. Respect for Ethan grew quietly in their eyes.

"Haven't you heard?" Colt, the healer Ethan had saved earlier, added. "He's being tutored by a Transcendent the Second Chief of the Vanguard."

"What?!" Shock rippled through them, quickly replaced with gratitude. They owed their lives to him, again and again.

"Don't flatter me," Ethan said, scanning the cave walls with his sharp gaze. "I'm just doing my job."

Strange carvings twisted across the stone, symbols that seemed to writhe the longer one stared.

"Odd… look at those patterns. Almost like some kind of language," Sunny muttered. "Feels like I could lose myself in them."

Heads grew fuzzy as the others stared too long.

"Let's not get lost already," Ethan warned. "We should leave before trouble finds us."

"No," Sunny shot back, still bitter. "We'll rest here a while. The beasts aren't chasing us anymore."

"Fine, boss," the others said.

Ethan stayed quiet, but unease gnawed at him. Something about this cave felt wrong. He slipped a hand into his pouch, brushing the talisman hidden there a Transcendent artifact worth 150 million Ace Tokens. One use only, but if things went south, it might save his life.

Two days later, they climbed higher. The jagged cliffs tore at their boots, but for the Ascended it was nothing. Only the few Awakened struggled.

By now, Ethan was healed, but his eyes were grim. His instincts screamed at him, warning again and again. He told the team. Sunny ignored him, confidence brimming in his Apex aura.

Then they reached the mountain's peak.

A vast expanse of snow stretched before them. And there in the distance.

"The portal!" someone cried, elation surging through the group.

They raced forward. Sunny smirked.

"See, Ethan? I told you there's no da—"

Spurt!

His head spun through the air, eyes wide in shock.

For ten seconds, the world froze. No one moved. No one breathed. Even the falling snow stopped.

An Apex. Slaughtered in an instant.

Ethan's heart clenched.

"Scatter!" he roared. "It's a Hellish Beast!"

But the warning came too late.