Reborn as the Apocalypse Master

It Is I

​[Alert. Intruders detected.]

​A viewing window popped up in the center of the room. It showed a live feed of the first floor cavern.

​The glowing blue exit portal flickered. Five figures stepped through the magical gate. They wore steel armor and carried massive battle axes.

​Kai leaned closer to the floating screen. He recognized the dented gray armor of the lead warrior. He recognized the arrogant swagger of the archer trailing behind.

​They were the Iron Vipers.

​Kai felt his blood run cold. His hands curled into tight fists. He remembered their faces perfectly.

“​Three months ago” Kai stared at the monitor. “I carried their gear through a poison swamp rift”

​They used him as bait to distract a venomous serpent. The serpent bit Kai in the leg. The venom burned through his veins for days. The Iron Vipers laughed at his agony.

​They refused to pay his contract. They beat him in the streets and threw him into an alley to die. They told him he was nothing.

​"Look at this mess." The leader of the Vipers kicked a dead Varnid. His name was Zoe. His voice echoed through the cavern. "The Silver Fangs cleared the floor and left the trash."

​"Good for us." The archer spat on the stone floor. "We can sweep the scraps and claim the salvage. Easy money."

​"Keep your eyes open." A third man gripped a heavy war hammer. "The Silver Fangs are arrogant. They might have missed a crawler in the shadows."

​"Stop whining." Zoe scoffed. He holstered his axe and pulled a small canvas sack from his belt. "Start cutting the glands. We are not leaving until this bag is full."

​They were greedy. They assumed the first floor was safe. They walked over the dead bodies without checking the dark ceiling above them.

​They knelt in the dirt to carve up the dead monsters. They argued over who got the largest pieces.

​"System." Kai dragged his finger across the holographic map. "Spawn twenty Varnids in the ceiling crevices above the main path. Set them to ambush mode. Do not kill them immediately."

​[Command accepted. Deducting two hundred Dungeon Points.]

​Kai watched the monitor. Deep in the dark cavern above the scavengers twenty sets of red eyes snapped open. The nightmare bugs crawled silently along the stone ceiling.

​"Lock the exit portal." Kai gave his second order.

​[Command accepted. Deducting fifty Dungeon Points. The portal is sealed for one hour.]

​On the monitor the glowing blue gateway sputtered and died. The cavern plunged into dim shadows.

​"What happened to the light?" The archer knocked an arrow. His voice cracked with sudden panic.

​"The portal is dead." Zoe raised his heavy shield. He spun around in a frantic circle. "Form up. Shield wall now."

​The five men scrambled into a tight circle. Their heavy boots scraped against the stone floor. They bumped into each other in the dark.

​They realized they were trapped. Their easy payday was a lie.

​Kai crossed his arms over his chest. He watched his old tormentors sweat. He felt the cold authority of the rift coursing through his veins.

​"Drop the Varnids." Kai said softly.

​On the screen the stone ceiling seemed to explode. A rain of armored beasts and corrosive acid fell upon the screaming humans.

​The heavy steel armor of the humans hissed as the acid made contact. The Varnids landed on their shoulders and their shields. Sharp mandibles clicked in the dark.

​"Get them off me." The archer screamed. He dropped his bow and swatted at the giant bugs tearing at his leather straps.

​Zoe swung his axe wildly. The blade bounced off the thick gray carapace of a Varnid. The beast spat acid directly into his face visor.

​Zoe shrieked in agony. He dropped his axe and clawed at his melting helmet.

​The formation broke instantly. The men scattered across the cavern floor. The Varnids chased them relentlessly.

​Kai watched the feed without blinking. He felt no pity for the men bleeding on the screen.

​They used him. They beat him. They left him to rot. Now they were screaming in the dark.

​A notification popped up in his vision.

​[Intruder slain. Fifty Dungeon Points awarded. Rift energy increased.]

​The archer fell to the stone floor. Three Varnids pinned him down and tore into his chest. His screams echoed through the cavern before abruptly cutting off.

​One dead. Four left. The remaining men fought desperately to keep the bugs away. They were losing ground.

​Kai tapped the glowing blue screen. The image of the second floor appeared.

​"System." Kai spoke with cold purpose. "Summon the Malakor to the entrance of the Sanctum. I am going up."

​[Command accepted. The floor boss awaits your arrival.]

​Kai walked toward the heavy stone doors of the core chamber. They swung open silently. A steep staircase carved from black obsidian led up into the darkness.

​The Malakor stood at the top of the stairs. It was fifteen feet tall at the shoulder. It looked like a nightmare mantis draped in thick armor plates.

​The vertical maw spun with glowing purple teeth. It was the exact same beast that cut Kai in half just hours ago.

​Now the beast lowered its massive featureless head. It bowed to the new Rift Master.

​Kai stepped up to the beast. He grabbed the thick plating on its back and pulled himself up. He settled onto the broad shoulders of the monster.

​"Take me to the first floor." Kai grabbed a spiked ridge for balance. "We have guests."

​The Malakor shrieked. The sound was a horrific blend of grinding metal. It lunged forward into the dark tunnel.

​The beast carried Kai up the winding path with terrifying speed. The cold air rushed past his face.

​Back on the first floor the remaining four Vipers fought a losing battle. Zoe managed to rip his helmet off before the acid burned his eyes. His face was blistered and red.

​"Hold the line." Zoe swung his axe at an approaching Varnid. "They are just bugs. We can kill them."

​A deep resonant hum vibrated through the stone floor. The temperature inside the cavern plummeted. The frost on the ground thickened into solid sheets of ice.

​The Varnids stopped their attack immediately. They backed away into the shadows. They formed a neat line along the cavern walls.

​The remaining men gasped for air. They gripped their weapons with shaking hands. They stared into the dark tunnel ahead.

​The heavy footsteps of the Malakor echoed through the cavern. The massive beast stepped slowly into the dim light.

​Zoe dropped his axe. It clattered loudly against the stone. All the color drained from his blistered face.

​"A floor boss." Zoe fell to his knees. "We are dead."

​The Malakor stood tall over the broken squad. The glowing purple teeth spun in the dark.

​Kai sat calmly on the back of the terrifying monster. He looked down at the men groveling on the floor. He recognized the terror in their eyes.

​Zoe stared up at the beast. His eyes drifted to the human rider sitting on top.

​The leader squinted through the dim light. He saw the black tunic. He saw the cold stare. He recognized the face of the porter he left for dead three months ago.

​"You." Zoe choked on his own breath. He pointed a trembling finger at Kai. "You."

​Kai leaned forward. He rested his hands on the armored plates of the Malakor. He let a cold smile touch his lips.

​"Yes." Kai said softly. "It is me."