Chapter 34 - The Endless Abyss!
He activated the Heavenly Eye to get a better grasp of his surroundings. The reality sank in quickly: he was indeed in the middle of space. Far off in the distance—tens of thousands of miles away—he could see countless meteorites, billions of them, floating aimlessly. His gaze caught sight of other participants beginning to materialize on nearby meteorites. Sam assumed they must be from different trial zones.
As he continued scanning, something peculiar caught his eye. On one distant meteorite, a pack of Siberian huskies appeared, their thick fur ruffling as if in response to a breeze that didn't exist. Sam froze, his mind reeling. What the…? Dogs? It wasn't just humans participating in this tutorial. The realization hit him hard: the system was managing more than just humanity.
"Does every meteorite have its own abyss? Is this event truly for all living beings on Earth?" Sam muttered under his breath, grappling with the implications of what he was witnessing. The strain of using the Heavenly Eye to survey such vast distances began to weigh on him, and his mental power dipped dangerously low. He deactivated the skill, his heart still racing.
"Wow," Eve exclaimed, breaking his thoughts. "We're in space! How are we even breathing?"
Ann nodded, her voice tinged with wonder. "Right? For a second, I almost grabbed my neck because my instincts screamed I needed air."
Their group exchanged observations, their amazement at the alien landscape palpable.
Sam tore his focus from the mesmerizing expanse of stars and turned his attention to their immediate surroundings. About 500 meters to his right, he spotted a lone building standing stark against the barren ground. It was the only structure in sight, and it seemed as good a place as any to begin.
"Over there," Sam gestured to the building. "Let's check it out."
Without hesitation, his team nodded and began following him, their earlier awe replaced by a sense of purpose.
Sam approached the building's entrance, noting its surprisingly familiar design. "A tavern?" he muttered, tilting his head as he took in its impressive size. Curiosity got the better of him, and he pushed the door open, stepping inside. The interior was eerily quiet. Empty tables and chairs were scattered across the space, and a bar lined one side of the room. It felt abandoned, devoid of any staff or occupants.
He frowned, glancing around. "I thought there'd be some kind of guide here. Guess I was wrong."
Sam began exploring the tavern, searching for anything useful. Eddie's voice called out after a few moments. "Hey, I found something!"
Sam and the others gathered around a large map pinned to the wall. The map outlined the area, marking the tavern as the central point of the safe zone, with its radius extending for 1 kilometer.
"So, this building is basically just a landmark," Michael commented.
"Seems like it," Sam replied, studying the map.
Before they could delve deeper, other participants from their trial zone began filtering into the tavern. It appeared that most had chosen to stick close to the safe zone, wary of venturing out. The once-empty space became crowded and filled with chatter.
"This place is getting packed," Sam remarked. "Let's move. Staying here won't help us understand this stage."
Eve asked as they left, "Where are we even going to start? We don't know anything yet."
Eddie chimed in, "How about we just explore for now? See what's out there?"
Sam nodded, taking the lead as the group set out to investigate. The terrain outside was barren, resembling the meteorite's rocky surface. They wandered cautiously, scanning for any signs of life—or Chaos beings. But so far, the area seemed devoid of anything living.
After some time, a voice called out in the distance. "Hey, I found something!"
Sam and his team hurried toward the source of the shout. They arrived to find a group gathered around what appeared to be a set of stairs leading underground. The entrance was dark, with no light emanating from below. Above the stairs was a translucent system notice:
[Resource point: Tier 1]
Entry: [0/10]
[Warning: There is no exit once you go inside until all chaos is defeated.]
The group exchanged glances, the ominous warning hanging heavy in the air.
Sam's expression darkened as he surveyed the stairs leading down. "The fairy didn't tell me we'd have to fight for resources point," he muttered.
Michael shrugged. "Maybe she thought it was normal—something we'd figure out for ourselves."
Sam considered this, nodding slightly. "That might be the case." He glanced at his team. "Alright, let's go in. I'll lead. Anyone else want to join?"
Several participants volunteered immediately, stepping forward with determination.
As Sam descended the stairs, the light from the surface faded, replaced by a heavy darkness. When he reached the bottom and turned back, the stairs behind him led into a pitch-black void, the entrance above completely gone.
"Stay alert," Sam cautioned his team, his voice steady.
Ahead of them was a red stone door, ominous and foreboding. Without hesitation, Sam pushed it open, revealing a vast cave with a high ceiling. The air was heavy, and an unsettling roar echoed through the cavern.
Fifty twisted goblin-like creatures charged toward them. Their deformed bodies glowed faintly with a dark, red aura, their appearance grotesque and unnatural.
[Chaos Spawn: Level 30]
"GARRRR!!"
The creatures ran at them with relentless aggression.
Eve stepped forward, gripping her spear tightly. "Let me handle this!" she declared confidently.
Sam shook his head, his tone firm. "These aren't normal monsters. Don't be careless. Everyone, get ready!"
Eve frowned, frustration flashing across her face. She felt as though Sam didn't trust her capabilities but swallowed her feelings for now, focusing on the approaching threat.
Sam charged ahead, plunging into the heart of the monster group. With a surge of power, he unleashed a controlled explosion, scattering the Chaos Spawns in all directions. The shockwave disrupted their formation, throwing several of them off balance.
"Now!" Sam shouted, signaling his team to advance.
The group moved in, targeting the creatures still recovering from the impact. One spearman lunged forward, driving his weapon into a Chaos Spawn's chest. But instead of retreating or succumbing to pain, the creature clamped onto the spear, dragging itself closer.
The spearman's eyes widened in horror as the monster lunged and bit into his hand with razor-sharp teeth. "AHHHHHHH!" he screamed, recoiling in agony.
Another team member rushed to his aid, smashing the Chaos Spawn's head with a mace, finally stopping its rampage. When Sam reached the injured man, he noticed the bitten hand dissolving, eaten away by a corrosive substance.
Sam knelt beside him, his voice calm but commanding. "Don't resist." He placed his hand over the injured arm, activating Source of All Matter. A silver mist enveloped the wound, rapidly restoring the man's hand.
The injured man stared at Sam in awe and relief. "Thank you…"
Sam nodded and turned his focus back to the battlefield. Injuries were happening everywhere. Despite their Tier 2 strength and vitality, the Chaos Spawns were proving to be far more dangerous than expected.
These weren't ordinary monsters—they fought without hesitation, throwing themselves at their targets with a mindless drive to kill. Their attacks were brutal, and their dark aura seemed to sap the energy of those fighting them.
The battle dragged on, chaotic and bloody. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last Chaos Spawn fell. The cavern grew silent, save for the labored breathing of the team.
Though no one had died, almost everyone was injured, their Tier 2 vitality enough to keep them alive. Sam surveyed the aftermath grimly.
As the last Chaos Spawn fell, Sam heard a faint hum emanating from the center of the room. Blue light particles began to swirl and coalesce, gradually forming a treasure chest. He approached cautiously, opening the chest to reveal its contents: ten yellow potions and a pair of uncommon gloves.
"These must be the ration potions the fairy mentioned," Sam muttered, inspecting the potions briefly before handing the gloves to Michael. "Distribute these to whoever needs them," he said.
Michael nodded, taking the gloves and organizing their allocation. Meanwhile, Sam turned his focus to the injured, methodically using Source of All Matter to heal their wounds.
When everyone was stable and the group had recovered, Sam addressed them, his voice steady but firm. "Let's get out of here."
The team nodded, though many were still visibly shaken by the brutal fight. The Chaos Spawns' relentless aggression had left a deep impression on them.
As they climbed back up to the surface, Sam heard the distinct sounds of battle—shouts, roars, and the clash of weapons. Emerging from the stairs, they were met with chaos.
Their group was locked in combat against an army of Chaos Spawns. Sam's eyes narrowed as he quickly gauged the situation. The creatures swarmed in from all directions, numbering around a thousand, every one of them Tier 1.
Without hesitation, Sam leaped into the air, taking a moment to assess the battlefield. Spotting the densest cluster of Chaos Spawns, he aimed his newly mastered Proton Sphere at them.
"Vmmmmm... VMMMMMMMM!"
"BOOMMMM!!!"
The massive explosion ripped through the horde, creating a temporary gap in their formation. Landing amidst the chaos, Sam charged toward the front line. "Take the injured back!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the din.
Every punch he threw unleashed another devastating explosion, scattering Chaos Spawns like leaves in a storm.
"BOOMMMM!"
The shockwaves of his attacks rippled through the battlefield, disorienting the enemy and providing his team with much-needed breathing room.
After what felt like an eternity, the Chaos Spawns' numbers began to dwindle. Sensing the tide turning, Sam stepped back, allowing his team to handle the remaining creatures.
He made his way toward a cluster of injured fighters being carried to safety. Kneeling beside one of them, he asked urgently, "What happened? Where did they come from?"
The man winced as he replied, "It started right after you went into the underground. These monsters came out of nowhere and surrounded us from all directions—it was like they planned to ambush us."
Sam frowned deeply, his mind racing. He knew Chaos Beings were mindless individually, driven purely by instinct to destroy life. But in large groups, they developed a Collective hive mind, growing smarter and more coordinated the greater their numbers. If this was only the first floor, the deeper levels would undoubtedly hold far greater dangers.
Ding!
You have slain an enemy [Chaos Spawn: level 34]
...…
...…
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have earned a new title: Chaos Enemy]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have reached level 49]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have reached level 50]
Ding!
[Class Evolution Available]
Sam smirked with satisfaction as the notifications appeared. It was true—the system rewarded extra experience for defeating Chaos Beings. He even gained a title after only defeating a few of them.
[Chaos Enemy]: You are the enemy of Chaos Beings - Increases all stats by 7.
Reading the description, Sam felt a surge of excitement. Not only had his stats increased, but he had finally reached the threshold for Tier 2 evolution.
Surveying the battlefield, he noted the aftermath. The Chaos Spawns were wiped out, and thankfully no one from his group had died. Their superior tier had made a significant difference, though many bore injuries.
Sam helped Michael heal the injured with Source of All Matter. As the last wound closed, Sam spoke, "Cover me. I'm going to undergo my evolution. Chaos Spawns might ambush again, so stay on guard."
Michael nodded, his expression serious. "Don't worry. We've got this. Just focus on your evolution."
Sam nodded and sat down on the ground. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and opened the Class Evolution option.
Ding!