Rift of Oblivion

The gigantic flying boat of the Heavenly Dragon Sect hovered in the air like a leviathan of the skies. Its doors creaked open, and first to step out were Thanos, flanked by his subordinate Lee and another disciple, Meng. Seven other disciples followed closely, their faces a blend of determination and anxiety. Elders of the sect trailed behind, their seasoned eyes scanning the horizon for potential threats.

But the real spectacle was the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, an elusive figure known as Gu Nan, who led the group of "old monsters." His very presence seemed to bring the wind and sky under subjugation.

"Sect Leader, we must appoint more powerful cultivators to deal with this issue. These creatures have been indiscriminately killing everything on their path; it will not be long before they invade our territory as well," warned one of the elders.

Gu Nan pondered briefly before nodding. "So be it. We'll allocate more personnel to deal with this infestation."

The issue had been festering for months—strange bug-like creatures plaguing the lands, killing, and consuming everything in their wake. Their reproductive capabilities were terrifyingly rapid and grotesque. News of their encroachment had even spread to unorthodox territories, making it a continental headache. Unbeknownst to them, the mastermind of these monstrosities was currently leisurely admiring the scenery.

They reached a translucent barrier. With a flick of his wrist, an Elder tore through it, creating an opening large enough for even Kai Thanos to pass. All ten disciples felt an immense and terrifying pressure emanate before them.

As they entered, a crushing pressure suffused the air. Before them was a dimensional rift—circular, pulsating with powerful Qi emissions. It roared ominously like the maw of a terrifying dragon. Thanos studied it intently, a chuckle echoing in his mind. A treasure chest just waiting to be opened.

Near the rift, another group of cultivators awaited. Led by a woman in cultivation robes, they were the winners of the Unorthodox Sect's own version of the tournament.

Gu Nan nodded. "Indeed."

Thanos analyzed the interaction and concluded she must be the Sect Leader of one of the Unorthodox Sects. His gaze shifted back to the rift, the true reason for his stay in this world. A peculiar mechanism allowed only cultivators between Stage 1 to 4 to enter, higher tiers simply being repelled. Both Orthodox and Unorthodox factions had decided to hold tournaments to determine the 20 participants.

Once 20 souls stepped in, the rift would vanish, not reappearing for decades—unless someone managed to escape it alive.

"It's worth the risk," Thanos thought. Only one person had ever survived the rift and died shortly after but not before securing enormous wealth for his family. He felt his heart palpitating, his right hand trembling. "Is it trepidation or the feeling of nearing death?" Thanos wondered as he watched the cultivators begin to enter the rift.

Rarely did he gamble without holding all the cards. Now, the uncertainty of the risk wrestled with his thrill for power.

Finally, it was his turn. As his foot crossed the threshold, the rift snapped closed behind him, sealing the destiny of the twenty cultivators from the outside world. The rift vanished, leaving only a void where it had been, as though it had swallowed them whole.

Before crossing, however, Thanos sent a mental command to the Swarm: "Begin the Slaughter."

What the cultivators didn't know was that they'd only seen a fraction of the Swarm. Over the years, their numbers had grown to a staggering million, each new generation inheriting some traits of the creatures or humans they were spawned from.

As Thanos crossed into the unknown, the Swarm obeyed their master's command. Their mandibles clacked, their wings buzzed, and their venomous stingers twitched with sadistic anticipation.

Back in the world they left behind, the sky darkened as the Swarm erupted from their hiding places, their numbers so vast they blotted out the sun. The smell of blood and the screams of the dying filled the air. The earth shook, not from the footsteps of dragons or the power of cultivators, but from the sheer, overwhelming force of a million ravenous beings let loose upon the world.

The Swarm had begun their slaughter, and the scent of death—both sweet and pungent—spread like a dark cloud across the continent.

And somewhere, in a dimension far removed from this carnage, Kai Thanos smiled.

Inside, darkness enveloped them. They were now in another dimension, one laden with a palpable sense of dread. The Qi here was chaotic, untamed. The only light came from the glowing sigils on their robes.

Suddenly, a beastly roar echoed, shaking the very ground they stood upon. A monstrous creature, unlike anything they'd ever seen, lunged out from the shadows—fangs bared, eyes glowing a sinister red.

Lee clenched his fists as they gleamed with a mystical light. Meng chanted an incantation, summoning a protective shield around them. But Thanos, he merely looked at the beast.

"Let's see what this realm has to offer," he whispered, a savage grin cutting across his face.