Chapter 22: Apocalypse

Chapter 22: Apocalypse

Thump...

Thump...

Thump...

Deep underground, in the vicinity of the Zearthorn sect, footsteps echoed through the vast caverns. The intense crashing could hardly be recognized as footsteps, however.

The thing that walked looked like a beautiful woman.

Although, even from afar, it was clear that this wasn’t some random lady taking a stroll through the monster-infested depths. Her skin was of pure gold, her clothes were woven of silver, platinum, and bronze, and her entire body was ornate with precious crystals.

Her eyes were fashioned out of pure diamond, and her hair was shaped with threads of precious red metal. A calm smile hung on her lips.

These details, however, could be partially obscured by the darkness. However, the fact that she was over four meters tall was significantly harder to hide.

It was rare for creatures that dwelled as deep as her to make their way toward the surface. After all, the surface was far too barren.

Not to mention there were barely any precious metals.

However, just a while back, she caught a whiff of something...

Delicious.

Could it be?

She thought.

Is there more to the surface than trees, rocks, and dirt?

She was excited to find out.

***

Harel lay on the ground face first, practically kissing the soil as she prostrated before the emperor.

The emperor!? What is the emperor doing here!?

“Greetings, Marven. It has been a long time since we’ve last spoken.”

“Indeed.”

“So.” The emperor turned in the direction of the sect, sighed, and turned back to Marven, “I would like to hear what happened here.”

Marven frowned, but he relented and told the story. He retold how Neave found the book and everything that happened afterward. The emperor noticed Marven dodging the explanation of why he destroyed the sect. That wasn’t the biggest problem, however.

“Oh, heavens, so the report was true? Your child defeated an elder eight steps above him in power?”

“Hmmm... Honestly, I have a solid reason to suspect it was nine.”

The emperor’s eyes widened.

“The foundation realm!? An eleven-year-old child in the foundation realm defeated a cultivator on the third step of the silver path. Are you sure that was the case!?”

“I have been a sect master for hundreds of years. I have seen several hundred thousand disciples train and grow. Even though Neave had hidden his cultivation, I can still tell the difference in physical ability. He was certainly in the foundation realm.”

The emperor pinched his nose bridge and asked Marven another question.

“Why did you destroy the sect?”

Marven winced and tried staying silent, but given that the emperor wasn’t dropping the subject, he responded.

“As far as I know, I was perfectly within my right to do so. Unless the empire has changed its policy on interference with sect business?”

“I can still ask you as a person, Marven.”

Marven looked down, a hint of bitterness and sadness sneaking into his expression. The emperor continued.

“The empire doesn’t get involved in the sects’ business for as long as it doesn’t directly involve civilian lives. While this is one such case, remember that your actions have left several nearby settlements barren of protection. You will be sanctioned for that.”

“I understand.”

“Very well then.” The emperor turned to leave but then turned to Marven one last time. “I still remember what you said to me back then. And I hope you do as well.” Then he vanished.

Harel was certain she was about to have a heart attack.

“W-W-W-Wh-What did he m-mean by san-sanction?”

Marven chuckled.

“Nothing can defeat your curiosity, can it? It’s nothing much. If I ever make a sect again, the empire will alert anyone who wishes to live or do business under my protection of what I did here last night.”

“R-really? That’s... That’s it?” She was already calming down, so she got up and took a few deep breaths.

“The empire only cares about the citizens at the end of the day. Or at least that’s what they say.” Marven laughed wearily. “Come now. It is time for us to leave.”

***

Neave chuckled like some sort of greedy imp. He held dozens of shiny monster cores, some even a few inches across in size. There was something unusual about monster cores that made them so... Hoardable. Shiny, pretty rocks that held ominous powers within.

What was there not to love?

The Emperor couldn’t believe that idiot Marve let him escape. One of the most valuable people Jeevian had ever heard of was allowed to run severely injured through the damn wilderness.

Jeevian had been searching for hours, but it was clear that the boy had already left the vicinity of the Zearthorn sect. Jeevian pinched the bridge of his nose bridge in displeasure. He would have to send others to look for him if he lost the boy.

He couldn’t tell anyone except those he trusted the most. If the information that Jeevian was looking for him ended up in the wrong hands, that would only ensure he died.

Just as he was tapping his forehead, trying to come up with a solution for this problem, he felt it.

“Dear heavens above, no!”

Something was crawling out of the depths nearby. He took a deep breath. Jeevian hurried to at least try stopping it. If what his spirit senses were telling him was correct...

He flew into a cave and descended into the underground.

***

She paused.

Something else was coming.

It smelled appetizing. It wasn’t what she was looking for, but she felt like having a small snack.

She was contemplating hurrying to chase it, but it was clear that it was approaching her. So she waited. And then she saw it. She cocked her head. It was like a golem of meat. Was it an evolved flesh golem? It reminded her of her looks, but it looked soft and small.

And fragile.

The tiny creature pulled a massive sword out of nowhere and flew toward her.

Was it trying to attack her? It made no sense. Creatures far more powerful ran from her on sight. She raised her hand to block its weapon.

One of her fingers suffered a tiny cut of damage.

***

Jeevian was a composed man even when things got ugly.

Now, he was panicking. He had used his most potent qi technique, and the entire damn cave collapsed around him. The creature didn’t even suffer any damage. It was time to get desperate.

***

Her... Her finger was damaged. She had suffered damage from an attack.

That was impossible. This weak little creature managed to hurt her? That was... That was unheard of. This thing that wasn’t even worthy of being called a snack dared to strike at her?

She glowed bright-hot as a whirlwind of intense plasma surrounded her. She lifted her hand to turn the entire vicinity into a lake of lava.

Her enemy struck again. This time its sword burned bright red, and something that looked like a transparent winged lizard appeared behind it. Then the creature thrust its sword, impaling her straight through her head.

***

Jeevian had sacrificed half his life force to trigger the dragon’s descent on this creature. The strike's aftermath seriously threatened to bury him underground. His sword was stuck in the golem’s head.

Yet it still moved, shakily gripping the sword. Its metallic fingers screeched as it bent the priceless blade like scrap metal. The emperor went wide-eyed and tried his best to make some distance from the creature. The aftermath of the spirit power he had used impeded his movement.

Then it moved. It didn’t move too quickly, but he couldn’t move at full speed. The Emperor had to resort to blocking the strike instead.

His forearms were utterly shattered by the impact and the punch connected with his chest. He flew away from the golem at such speeds that once he struck the cave wall, he sank hundreds of meters into the stone.

Jeevian coughed blood, and another one of his spirit powers was triggered. His wounds rapidly recovered from the blow, but not even his spirit power could fully restore the damage the strike had caused.

It was clear that he wasn't winning this fight. He used another spirit power, and white mist surrounded his body. Then he disappeared.

***

Did it die?

No. She hadn’t felt any substance enter her core. It must still be alive.

But it disappeared. Her senses were telling her that it was somehow gone. Where did it go? Was it hiding?

She was furious. It dared. It dared violate her beautiful face. She shook. This was an unforgivable sin. So she lifted her arm again. On the top of her palm, black lightning gathered. It screamed so loudly that the noise tore the nearby stone apart. She pointed toward the direction of the creature.

A black beam fired out of her palm. The stone in the surrounding area darkened and turned to dust. The entire side of the cavern she struck exploded in a massive cloud of smoke. The pressure the smoke caused was so great that the cavern she was in and several others nearby immediately started collapsing.

She would be buried for a while beneath the rubble, but it was worth it if she could exterminate that pest.

Then she looked at the sword buried in her head. It was made of strange green metal that felt wonderful to touch. Could she have made a mistake? Was this a gift from the creature? It mattered not. All would eventually be her possession.

And all that lived would die by her hands.

***

Jeevian had used a spirit power to turn invisible. He felt a terrible sense of foreboding as he ran past the golem and out of the cave. Black smoke traveled at immense speed and struck his back. He was launched out of the cave and flew through the forest, smashing into trees and breaking them like dry twigs.

The entire world rose. The cave spewed black smoke out at ever-increasing pressure, but it wasn’t enough to release the stress within the cave. He shakily got up and ran for his life.

The landscape around him exploded like a black volcano of death, raining darkened soil and stone, burying the forest beneath.

The surface of Jeevian’s entire body was charred. He felt his skin peeling away. His spirit power kicked in again, and he healed much of the damage he received. Yet, some splotches of black remained.

He crawled out of layers of withered soil and ran. He hoped the creature would give up on going up to the surface, but that was unlikely. It was time to gather everyone.

A myth golem of unprecedented power had left the underground.