Aengus reached the top of the hill and began searching for the cave the girls had mentioned. Before long, he found a small entrance nestled between the rocks.
Entering the dark cave, his advanced vision pierced through the gloom, revealing a few scattered skeletons. However, there were no signs of those Creatures or Soul Cores, much to his disappointment.
Leaving the cave empty-handed, Aengus scoured the surrounding area, hoping to find any further clues.
After some time, his attention was drawn to a massive Rhinoceros, 15-20 meters long, lazily lying on the ground. His eyes narrowed as he noticed a familiar white orb embedded in its stomach. It was unmistakably another Soul Core.
Aengus scanned the area for traps but found none, so he casually approached the massive Rhinoceros, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses. The beast’s large eye opened, sensing his presence, and it slowly rose to its feet. The Soul Core floated in the air, suspended by some magical force.
“A human, eh? Is it that time already?” the Rhinoceros spoke in a deep, rumbling voice, surprising Aengus slightly.
“Why are you here, human?” it continued. “Is it for this thing?” It gestured to the hovering Soul Core.
Aengus, calm and composed, replied, “Yes. Hand it over, or I’ll have to kill you for it.” His eyes flashed with killing intent as he released his aura to intimidate the creature.
The Rhinoceros, sensing his overwhelming power, wavered. It doubted it could defeat the human, even with all its magical strength.
“You’re truly intriguing,” it rumbled. “So strong at such a young age. I bet that person will be expecting you soon.”
Aengus’ curiosity piqued. “What person are you talking about, Ralph?”
The Rhinoceros froze, its eyes widening in disbelief. “H-How do you know my name?”
Aengus smirked. “Give me the Soul Core, and I’ll tell you.”
Ralph shook his head in disbelief, but when he saw Aengus drawing his Judgment Blade, panic set in.
“Wait, human! What’s the hurry?” Ralph stammered, sweating inwardly. In a rush, he sent the Soul Core toward Aengus, relieved once it left his possession.
Aengus casually stored the Soul Core in his spatial bracelet.
Curious, Ralph asked, “What’s your name, human? You seem like an anomaly to me. I’ve never encountered anyone like you before.”
Aengus ignored the question and instead asked, “Do you know where I can find more of these orbs?”
Seeing the distrust in Aengus’ eyes, Ralph hesitated but finally answered, “If you’re looking for more of these, you won’t find many here. You’ll need to go to the Trial Ground, I heard. Don’t ask about directions because I also don’t know where it is either.
But I warn you, if you’re from the outside world, it’s not a place you should tread lightly,” he said acting as secretive as possible.
“And why is that? What exactly is this Trial Ground?” Aengus pressed on.
Ralph sighed. “Human, I can’t say much, and it seems I’ve already failed to stop you. Go if you must, but be very careful. Trust no one.”
Aengus nodded, satisfied.
He turned and walked away, heading back to his original path.
As Ralph watched him leave, he muttered to himself, “Will there be another annihilation… or is something about to change?”
—
In just an hour or so, Aengus reached the base of the mountain, feeling the cold atmosphere around him. He used his special eyes to look toward the top of the mountain, which seemed endless, much like Mount Everest.
It would’ve been extremely easy if he could just fly, but the restrictions in this place slowed his progress. He didn’t like it at all.
He considered using his Death Leviathan form, which might have allowed him to make the climb. However, the energy cost was too high, so he dismissed the idea.
He picked up his pace, climbing through the harsh cold that seemed to seep into his bones. Only his high stats and defense allowed him to endure the harsh conditions.
Except him, No one else would be foolish enough to attempt such a climb.
With his agile body and the effects of his passive skills, Aengus maneuvered through slippery slopes, rugged terrain, and avoided wild beasts with ease.
As he climbed higher, the air grew colder, but he pressed on, covered in ice and snow. Occasionally, he used Hellfire to warm himself, turning the snow around him into steaming fog.
He encountered various snow monsters, but he ignored them for the most part. However, when they foolishly sought their own deaths by attempting to hunt him, he gave them a quick end and sent their bodies to his Dimensional Space for breeding.
[ Monster Breeding ]
[ Level: 5 ]
[ Dimensional Space: 2.5 km (diameter) ]
[ Summonable Units: 9,198 ]
D-Rank: 664 (Monsters and Beasts)
C-Rank: 20
Lesser Demons: 7,200
Greater Demons: 1,314
His Dimensional Space now resembled an independent world, full of greenery and wild landscapes where his legion resided, slowly growing stronger. He had the ability to synthesize his creatures, but for now, it wasn’t necessary.
Once everything settled, he planned to further empower his legion by adding more members in large quantities, provided he could gather enough mana to perform the task. If only he had infinite energy, he wouldn’t have to worry about it so much.
Thanks to his superhuman strength and enhanced endurance, Aengus swiftly scaled the treacherous mountain, each step propelling him higher into the freezing, hostile environment.
The biting winds howled around him, and the frost clung to his skin and armor, but he pressed forward undeterred.
His breath crystallized in the air as he reached a vantage point high enough to observe the vast expanse below. He hadn’t even reached the summit, yet the sheer height gave him an unparalleled view of the world spread out beneath him.
Aengus paused momentarily, his sharp gaze sweeping over the distant terrain. The valleys below appeared as tiny creases, rivers like silver threads weaving through the snowy wilderness.
Off in the distance, almost hidden among the rugged landscape, he spotted what he had been searching for; a massive construct nestled between two jagged peaks.
It was a colossal mausoleum like structure, ancient and formidable, its stone surface cracked and weathered by time. Yet, it pulsed with a strange, radiant energy that rippled outward, almost tangible in its intensity, as if the structure itself was alive and calling everyone to enter inside.
The mausoleum glowed faintly, its energy signatures so vivid that they cut through the sky like a beacon. Pillars of ancient stone stood around it, towering like sentinels, while faint arcs of energy spiraled from the ground, meeting at a central point above the construct. It gave off a sense of foreboding and power, as if whatever lay within was both dangerous and deeply valuable.
Aengus took his time to carefully survey the landscape, noting every detail. The steep cliffs, the narrow mountain paths, and the scattered ruins leading up to the eye-catching mausoleum—likely the Trial Ground he recently heard about.
He mentally marked every possible route and obstacle, creating a detailed map in his mind. The aura around the mausoleum suggested a powerful presence or treasure within, or something incomprehensible hidden.
Satisfied with his observations, Aengus took one last glance at the imposing structure before preparing to descend and make his way towards his new destination.
