Seperation

The fight was still ongoing with everyone struggling. The majority got their courage back and participated in the battle, this time the monster was strong by a huge amount, it was different from other mutants who only had an ordinary mutation, this monster mutation was unique, if left on earth growing and devouring food, eventually earth is doomed.

"Guys launch a group attack at its neck!" Sam shouted, while informing the others what to do in their current situation. That monster could produce deafening sound echos, that's why Sam wanted the others to attack its neck. The monster got tired eventually, that was as expected, since Cole kept on launching repetitive successful attacks, he even managed to make it lose its voice.

Cole shined during this current situation, it was like he was the MC, even though he is, a MC who is about to suffer alot.

The quiet girl kept shivering while trying to discern the weakness of the monster, her eyes were shaking, and couldn't focus from fear, but everyone was taking part in killing that damned monster, the elder's back hurt, and the two strangers had many scars, while the short katana's guy shirt was tattered.

This was an intense battle, no one would've chosen it voluntarily in the past, who would be stupid enough to choose a life like this with many hardships, some people are currently searching for safe drinking water. Water sources got polluted and crops got destroyed, while stores have been raided, only a few are holding a high position.

A battle of proving themselves, and having an emotional breakthrough, to prove themselves worthy of handling this harsh world.

Finally the answer they have been waiting has arrived, Cole smiled.

The quiet girls eyes glinted, she spotted the monsters weakness, they can win this fight!

"This monster's nape is weak, attack it there!" The quiet girl's voice echoed through the creepy forest with twisted tree branches, and roots acting as burdens.

Cole adreline rushed through his body, he went and striked his pole at the monster's nape, most people would rush to judgements and think poles are inferior weapons, but Cole's attack after the flexible pole rushed in at the nape made the monster weak.

The monsters weakness was related to many aspects, the small organ made to produce the echoing sound is contained there, and it's connected to many veins inside its body. Attacking the nape is similar to making it disfunctional, blocking the pathways of neurons, and the flow of blood.

"Everyone focus on blocking its movement!" Sam shouted as he commanded the battle, the most valuable assets during this battle were Cole and Sam, Jack was a huge support to with the others. Most of them had surprising capabilities, especially the elder for his age, it must have been the longevity scroll, restored his life force.

Cole's repetitive attacks finally gained value, the monster's effort have no effects anymore, it has been weakened into a miserable state.

Cole threw his pole into the monster's eyes, the monster died.. The monster died! Finally! Everyone started to be cheerful, they wanted to see what kind of reward they would get. Their struggle was epic, insane adventure. Inside this challenge no one would dare attack a monster of that calibar, but they were different, currently they are taking the peak as a team.

[Distribution of rewards: Handing out of rewards according to participation. Most contributed 30 mist essence, second 20 most essence, third 12 mist essence. 3 lottery tickets handed out. Random skill given for each participants]

Everyone got valuable rewards, even though some of them got only little rewards, it was still alot for the newbies, it means they gained the mist essence of 12 zombies! That's just alot for them. Cole got the best out of them, one of the tickets got handed to him, his luck won't run for long.

After everyone's tired floppy bodies lost the will to stand, Cole went and caught a rabbit rapidly to cook for them, it wasn't enough, so Jack volunteered to catch a rabbit too.

A campfire started and they grilled the rabbit, "It tastes so delicious!" Jack said while having his mouth wide eating the legs part rapidly. Since what they have been eating for the couple of days was just canned beans... canned beans...

Everyone got tired of those damn canned beans, there were other stuff too, in small amounts, the elder's eyes were smiling from the joy, nearly everyone was enjoying the food.

"I would gladly eat these everyday." The elder said while smiling.

"Does anyone want to share his piece?" Sam grinned as his greed peaked.

NO!

Everyone shouted at Sam while holding their food tight

After they ate the two rabbits a journey to go back home began. It was long and foggy, the sky started to darken in color, their pace if walking sped up, at night it the danger peaked.

They finally arrived to their home. "Cave sweet cave." Jack mumbled.

Everyone wanted to rest on beds, not on the hard rocky floor. That damn rocky floor, everyone was about to cry internally, they all washed up, near the waterfall, and brushed their teeth just with water and cloth.

The scene was horrifying, everyone fainted from the tiring fight, but Cole had something else on his mind, he wanted to take a stroll outside a little. Currently Cole has about 33 mist essence.

Instead of cultivating, Cole's intentions were mysterious, he wanted to check on something, but what is it? And how is he sane enough to go outside during the night.

If someone from inside the group saw Cole going outside, they would've thought he was insane, but unfortunately, everyone were deep sleeping, they were inside their own worlds.

'The location for the hidden challenge is within a diameter of 260 meters.'

Cole kept reading the signal thing, the key (chapter 7) was given with an in-built system raidar, it gave the diameter, showing the proximity of the location where the hidden challenge can be unlocked.

Cole strolled around, and he still couldn't find the location, even though he walked for an hour already, just within his area, he got tired, but his determination kept him going. Wait... What if it requires a certain time where the path will be unlocked?

'I will just go back and wait for any clue'

sigh...

6 days passed since the reach of Cole's group into this other dimension, everyone got the knack of surviving, and they are even enjoying their current situations, no mutated monsters have been met, but a monster far stronger than any of them growled near their house, happened a day ago.

"Today is the 6th day, or am I wrong?" The elder said while stretching his old yet full of vitality body, it was like he returned to his 40's.

"Yes it is, there's a mark on the wall there." The stranger said while scratching his friends back, she felt a need to get her back scratched, felt pretty good.

Everyone got pretty close to each others, especially the elder and that stranger, since they kept playing chess with each others, but the short katana guy wasn't the type to interact with people, opposite to his uncle, who loves talking to people and hates it when he stays alone without a company if someone.

The quiet girl became quiet an artist, her encyclopedia of monsters looked pretty detailed, she was interested in dissecting some of them and knowing about their organs, but no tools were available.

Jack and Sam were talking to eachothers, Jack now is as sturdy as a shield should be, while Sam was deciding their next steps, Cole just sat and meditated, the air was peaceful and the place was beautiful.

[Ping! The hidden challenge theme has been chosen, dungeon~ you will be participating as a pair of three with challengers all over the universe, time left: 23:59:59, the countdown has been started, be ready and enjoy!]

Cole's eyes drifted, the news about the hidden challenge inside the challenge had been announced, he opened his system and checked on his skills, the great domain cultivation manual has reached 1 percent progress, after he spent a ton of his mist essence and time, Cole was disappointed but understanding, this great domain is a mysterious universal wide organisation, according to his shallow understanding.

Cole didn't hear anything about the supreme being, after he instructed him to take the key, it was confusing, but currently everything was confusing to Cole, it makes sense since this apocalypse appeared out of nowhere, and the Dark abyss whatever took over and wants to do something.

Come had about 15 mist essence left, he decided to use them on his lock picking skill, LV.2 required 3 mist essence, while LV 3 required 10.

2 essence left, what should he do with them? Cole just kept them as emergency sources, 2 mist essence isn't enough to make a drastic difference.

What will Cole experience in the dungeon? that's a mystery.