Power Of Beast Souls!

The only disadvantage of raiding his dungeon is that…

Firstly, if you are not strong enough, you would be killed by the beasts in the dungeon during the trial.

Secondly, one can't gain soul energy from killing the beasts in the dungeon.

But putting everything into consideration, including the rewards, one would find out that everything is worth it. And also, even if you grow stronger by killing beasts outside before coming to clear the dungeon, the beasts would always be arranged to still be stronger than you. So the fight between a person and the dungeon beasts is a pure test of skill and talent — strength has nothing to do with it.

Meanwhile, Deus, lying on the bed, smiled faintly as he watched Lancelot combine with those beast souls. He let him combine, but increased the pressure even more.

No matter how much Lancelot tried to increase his strength to withstand the crushing gravity, the gravity kept increasing, heavier and heavier, like the sky itself wanted to crush him.

At some point, he couldn't handle it any longer — blood started dripping from his nose, then his ears. His vision blurred, and every muscle in his body screamed. He felt like he was going to burst open at any moment now, like a balloon stretched too thin.

Deus did this on purpose. He wanted to make sure Lancelot would never dare use him as a tool, as some kind of shield, by luring enemies towards him so that Deus himself would clean up the mess.

'If Lancelot was that weak, then maybe… maybe I'd consider helping him. But he can face those people and defeat them. They're all peak Two-Star Soulers, with only the scar-faced one being a middle-stage Three-Star Souler. And Lancelot? He's a Peak Three-Star Souler himself!'

His eyes narrowed. 'His cowardly behavior annoys me!'

'People like him die easily. The fact he's survived this long in the apocalypse is surprising… just because he's low on soul essence, he thinks they'll beat him?'

Deus's killing intent flared even more. 'The next time he tries this stunt again will be the end of his life. I have no use for cowards like him!'

After some while, Deus finally spoke, voice cold as ice. "Who do you think I am? A hero? Your servant!? You dare lure your enemies to me for me to kill them for you... If you think that you're useful to me, then you're wrong! What I need is your wife. I will not hesitate to eliminate you if you prove to be a nuisance!"

Lancelot gulped hard. The metallic taste of blood on his lips made him shudder. Sweat drenched his entire body like he had just crawled out of a river.

All he wanted right now was for this torture to end.

'What the hell have I gotten myself into? This God, or whoever he is, is so strict and mean!'

Deus's lips twitched slightly as he heard Lancelot's thoughts. He sighed, shaking his head, and decided to let him off this once. He pulled back the killing intent and released the crushing pressure.

The moment the weight disappeared, Lancelot gasped, gulping down mouthfuls of air as if he'd been drowning. He breathed in heavily, relief flooding him, before collapsing to the ground in a heap.

His entire body ached. He was beyond exhausted, completely spent. All he wanted now was a long, deep sleep.

He didn't even care where he slept anymore. Sleeping beside Deus made him shiver, so he chose the bare ground — sandy, dusty, and rough. Yet, right now, it felt like the softest bed.

His essence was completely drained. He had used up every drop when he called out all his beast souls, and they too wanted to rest and recover.

But just as he was about to drift off, he felt something… different. Something refreshing.

A rush of energy surged into his body — a large amount of pure soul essence sent by Deus. The feeling washed over him, soothing his pain, revitalizing every cell. His body felt light, his strength returning at once.

All his previous tiredness vanished, gone as if it was never there.

Although he knew that transferring soul energy between people was unheard of, he wasn't too surprised.

'What else do I expect from a God if not something unbelievable?'

He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power building up inside him. A small smile tugged at his lips.

'I wonder why he's doing this…'

Deus's voice cut through the silence. "Make sure to kill them all before the sun rises! If you can do that, you will get a chance to receive my second blessing."

Lancelot's face tensed. But the promise of a reward… that made his heart race in curiosity.

'At least now I stand a chance. He did say second blessing... What does that mean?'

With thoughts swirling through his mind like a storm, he slowly pushed himself up and walked out of the room.

Stepping outside, the cool night air hit his face. He smiled faintly. He hadn't been confident before — his soul energy reserve had been dangerously low. But now… now it was full. His strength restored, he knew it wouldn't be hard to kill them.

The reason he had wanted to lure them to Deus was simple: even if he managed to defeat them on his own, he would have been exhausted and defenseless afterward. That was dangerous. In this world, weakness for even a moment could cost your life.

He clenched his fists tighter, feeling excitement bubbling up inside him.

'Today… I will show you guys why I am called the Emperor of Draecia Dome!'

As he walked, he spotted a silhouette up ahead. A familiar one. His lips curled into a broad smile.

He knew exactly who that was.

Walking quietly, like a predator stalking its prey, he manifested his Tyrant Bull Phantom, merging with it. His body was instantly coated with a deep brown glow, like hardened earth.

The person, who hadn't noticed him yet, suddenly frowned at the sudden flare of light. Sensing danger, he turned sharply toward the source.

When his eyes landed on Lancelot, his face drained of color.

Lancelot's grin widened at the sight of that pale, fearful face. "Well, well, well… what do we have here? We meet again, Void."

Void stiffened but quickly forced himself to stay calm. His heart pounded, but he drew in a breath. Luckily, his own soul energy had recovered a little.

Without wasting time, he called out all of his beast souls, manifesting them at once before quickly combining with them. Layers of power wrapped around him like armor.

But deep down, he knew. He wouldn't last long against a Four-Star Souler like Lancelot.

Lancelot's smile turned sharper, darker.

He raised his hand and chanted calmly, like a death sentence. "Void Shattering Dragon, Physical Manifestation — Sword Type!"

Void's face turned ghostly white. He staggered back, eyes wide as saucers.

'No way… His Beast Soul… it's one of those rare Physical Manifestations!?'

The shock pierced him to his core.

If Lancelot wasn't bluffing — if his Void Shattering Dragon could truly manifest as a weapon — then there was only one truth.

Void swallowed hard..He and his little bounty hunter group were done for.

Lancelot was going to massacre them.

Brutally. Without mercy. Weak and strong alike — all would fall.