*Crack*

Zyrus jumped from one tree to another while trying to finalize his plan. The key to the whole resting mechanism was his base. What was considered a base?

For the first time, the ophidian warriors revived in the dungeon he was at. From the third time onwards, they were summoned to the mountain he had conquered. It was at this moment that he got access to the map and the classification of terrain.

Green areas were under his control and he could build various facilities there. It was logical that his summons would revive there as it was his base zone. Now that the glemorax army had taken over the mountain range, it should be considered a red or orange zone.

‘And the answer lies with the second summoning,’

When the dungeons broke out and the earth’s climate changed once again, where did the Ophidian warriors go?

‘On a more fundamental level, where are they resting in those 12 hours?’

He was too busy to consider the order of things. What was the strange and monochrome dimension he saw? He was always on the run or busy doing experiments. There were a lot of unanswered questions, but for the time being, he could narrow down the possible causes behind it.

Of all the things Zyrus had seen and experienced after regression, there was one variable that defied the laws of space and time.

*ROOAR*

Zyrus ignored the lion-headed summoner who was getting impatient and took out the cube. It had changed quite a bit after clearing the first ring.

He knew that there were nine seals on the cube. He had received the mission to retrieve the fang of Nidraxis when the first seal reacted, and that same seal was broken when he cleared the first ring. But although it was broken, it didn’t completely disappear.

An inch-long metallic shard was floating beside the black cube. Just as Zyrus was about to take a turn, he felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck. All he could do was roll aside to avoid whatever was coming his way.

*BOOM*

*ROOOAR*

Oroszlan stood up with a jump and roared towards Zyrus. Perhaps the giant was triggered by the cube’s energy or maybe the system was punishing him for running away. Regardless of which, Zyrus didn’t care.

The cube was his one and only key to finish the trial. He didn’t like to rely on things which were out of his control, but this was the most logical solution he could find. The most crucial part of his plan was forming a connection to earth or wherever his summons were.

*Bang*

‘Connect to the dimension where my summons are.’ Zyrus conveyed his will while dodging the tree that was thrown his way. After a long practice he was more or less accustomed to the cube’s behavior. Apart from the things it gave out on its own, Zyrus could ask for a limited amount of stuff.

The more complex his demand, the less likelihood of success. Even when he did succeed, there would be a cooldown period of anywhere between an hour to a week.

‘As expected, that’s a no,’ Zyrus was calm despite the lack of energy fluctuations. It was apparent that the request was too difficult with just one seal lifted.

‘Summon the ones in my warehouse.’

This time, the cube did respond with red pulses of energy. Zyrus heaved a sigh of relief as he ran without looking back.

His warehouse should be intact due to its hidden location plus it being a natural domain. He hadn’t been idle while he waited for the glemorax chief to arrive at the mountain. He had experimented with the powers of abyss on the ophidian warriors and the amargs, and he was confident in his success.

*ROOOAR*

Zyrus’s scales trembled under the giant’s roar. Oroszlan had picked up his running speed, so there wasn’t much time left.

‘He’ll catch up in a minute, but that’s enough.’

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Zyrus was able to feel a faint connection with his warehouse. It would take a dozen minutes if he left the entire process to the cube. But he wasn’t a dimensional mage for nothing.

He didn’t need a spell to summon creatures from his warehouse. Arcanists were known for their knowledge on multiple schools of magic, and he was no exception.

‘Been a while since I used an incantation,’ Zyrus stopped running and stood atop the tallest tree he could find.

Unlike spells that relied on mathematical calculations and laws of the world, incantations were based on sheer willpower. The former used mana to guide the world's laws in the casters' favor, while the latter used mana to change laws based on the casters will.

Neither was better than the other. Any arcanist who was worth their salt knew when to use which method.

With the laws of Void, I Awaken thou from thy eternal slumber

The clear sky darkened as Zyrus channeled the entirety of his abyssal mana. The crown on his head started absorbing the light and mana from the island, further empowering his magic.

Curse these lands, O legion of Abyss

Zyrus recalled the memories in his bloodline and called out to the Sylvarix who were devoured by the abyss. It didn’t matter whether they existed or not. It didn’t matter how far they were from the sanctuary. The core of incantations depended on the caster’s desire.

March forth, In the name of thy king.

He was the Void monarch and the last Sylvarix. And if he wanted them to answer his call, they will.

*RUMBLE*

*CRRRRAAACK*

Dark bolts of lightning struck down the forest behind him. A gigantic spatial crack appeared in the sky above Zyrus, looking like a drop of ink on a white paper. Its momentum even surpassed Oroszlan’s summoning.

Guided by the cube, the power of abyss had corrupted and torn down the barriers between the warehouse and The Proving grounds.

[Your summons have transformed into fallen beings from Abyss!]

[Congratulations! You have earned the achievement: Call of the kin (A)]

[Maximum Limit +5% when summoning Abyssal creatures]

Zyrus activated his eyes of annihilation and glared at Oroszlan. Even the brave giant was forced to stop his charge under his crimson eyes. It wasn’t out of fear, but rather, acknowledgement.

*Shatter*

As if someone had thrown a stone at a mirror, the sky shattered into thousands of fragments.

*Grrrr*

Barbary lions growled in fear at the broken sky. They were summoned creatures themselves, and as such, they could perceive the beings that stood on the other side of that oval portal.

And so could Zyrus.

“Annihilate them.”

“As you command, My Liege.”

The ophidian warrior, or rather, the fallen knight answered Zyrus’s command. The knight resembled his appearance to a good degree. He was without a doubt a Sylvarix that had evolved in a similar manner like him. Emerald scales, black armor, and a halberd on his back. Even their vertical pupils shared the same yellow color.

*Clinck*Clinck*

Like a medieval army, the 200 ophidian warriors marched out from the portal. They were vastly different after fusing with the powers of abyss. Their smooth green scales were smeared with a taint of black patterns, not to mention their claws which had grown a foot longer with black aura.

[Your summons’ power has exceeded the limit of the trial]

[Recalibrating….]

[Trial’s difficulty will increase]

[Awakening the slumbering will of Oroszlan]

[Trial will resume in 00:01:00]

*AAARGH*

“Well, it would be difficult to Annihilate them now,” The knight spoke in a somber tone.

“This place wouldn’t be called the proving grounds otherwise.” Zyrus agreed with the fallen knight’s realistic assessment.

Oroszlan was roaring in pain under the golden power that descended from the sky. Zyrus didn’t need his eye of annihilation to know that it was the power of the sanctuary.

‘Time, space, and order. These are all the laws I can observe so far.’

He had seen the former two during the blood fusion. As for the law of order, he had felt it when the players got the blessing from the keeper of order. The laws were like the stars in the sky. One could see them with ease, but they were far out of reach.

‘Not that I need to reach them.’

Zyrus believed that it was the wrong approach. Rather than reaching the stars, one had to become the star.

I like the look in your eyes, challenger

“The feeling’s mutual.” Zyrus responded to the telepathic voice in a calm tone. He wasn’t the least bit surprised about the real ‘Oroszlan.’

Hahaha, interesting. Looks like I’ve been asleep for far too long

The difference between an opponent with and without will was like the gap between the heaven and earth. Zyrus knew without a doubt that the lion-headed giant could crush him with one hit. Thankfully, neither of them were allowed to use external powers to complete the trial.

“I’m curious, how did you end up in this place?”

While I would like to chat with you, I must assess your strength before anything else

“Fine by me.” Zyrus spread his arms and released his abyssal mana. The barbary lions were also strengthened along with Oroszlan. It was a 200 vs 500 battle where his mana and mastery over summoning arts were inferior to his enemy.

You seem rather confident

The motley group of barbary lions was now arranged into ten squads. They surrounded Zyrus from all sides and prowled towards the ophidian warriors.

“It is you who have underestimated the power of abyss,” Zyrus surrounded himself with the ophidian warriors. Not even a minute had passed since he started releasing his mana in the air.

‘My MP is far from enough, but this should do it.’

“Spread out and link with my mana in the air,” Zyrus commanded with a wave of his hand.

The fallen knight relayed his orders to the ophidian warriors. They had yet to finish their evolution into true abyssals, but it didn’t hinder them from connecting with their master’s mana.

An interesting power, but it is useless in front of raw strength

Zyrus didn’t reply to the curious Oroszlan. He focused on the seeds of abyss he had planted in his summons. What made the ‘Abyss’ attribute terrifying was its ability to corrupt all things.

He didn’t have enough mana to showcase its true might. Still, this was a different case as his summons were present.

A bucket of ink might not pollute a river, but what if there were hundreds of them?