Kae

Dungeon Diver CH910

Even as another pair of deep purple-colored reptilian eyes appear far off in the Ravine, the Royal Vibrations that ripple off this creature don’t logically add up in my mind.

From the thousands of Dragons I’ve slain, and the knowledge I have from the intricate soul bond I share with Ember, something is telling me what I’m seeing is a trick.

Dragons cannot awaken paths, at least not in this way.

I’m certain of it.

Yet, all of my enhanced senses show the silhouet...

Dungeon Diver CH909

The Demon’s expression shifts, and it hesitates for a fraction of a second, processing my words before launching an X-shaped wave of bright purple energy from a thick, curved blade at me, and four cyan-colored harpoons from a strange circular weapon at Maria.

“Oh, so that Liar Lucian actually did pick someone after all? He wasn't just playing with our lives for the fun of it?”

I swing upward, and my blade collides with the center of this incoming energy attack.

It ripp...

Dungeon Diver CH908

The fluctuation coming our way deep from within the Ravine grows stronger, and I see a familiar dark crescent of energy cutting through the void our way.

It is the same exact shot from that Royal Demon’s small dagger, the first long-range hit we received from it that sealed our fate as the losers of the first exchange. It was so powerful that I had to sacrifice my entire body and focus every drop of my energy around my cores to survive a direct hit. We have more than enough time to do...

Dungeon Diver CH907

After hours in perfect resonance, our soul bond is complete.

Our Celestial Energy cycles slow down, as we’ve reached a point where it cannot be refined any further.

I feel as though I should be fatigued, as I’ve released more energy than I ever have in any battle; yet instead, I feel refreshed and stronger than ever before.

The entire massive room we’re in is perfectly clear to my eyes.

There are flat walls, two statues at the back sides, and shattered soul weapo...

Dungeon Diver CH906

As we pull each other closer, the cycles of Celestial Energy have far more points of skin contact to flow through. Not only does this momentary blip of experiencing touch for the first time in years not break the connection, it instantly makes it deeper and more intense.

Our senses overlap and begin to pour into each other's souls.

The cycles grow faster, rejuvenating our minds at an increased rate, and allow for more and more of our senses to be heightened and released from the b...

Dungeon Diver CH905

The cycles of Celestial Energy back and forth continue to flow faster and faster, nearing their former speed.

As the cores’ cracks slowly heal, the body parts that were scattered across the temple floor reform back to their original states. Blood is regenerated, and vitality slowly grows back into the near-death human shaped vessels. The purple threads that were desperately holding them together fade away once intact and able to hold themselves on their own.

The ring returns to ...

Dungeon Diver CH904

In the Dark Blue Zone of the Upper Realm, a Demon stands on the shoreline of a small island in a vast sea.

Samir Vanguard wears a Dark Blue Suit of Armor that covers every single part of his body. There are only eye slits that expose a white glow underneath his helmet.

Calm and calculated Royal Vibrations hold his defenses together as he stares off into the ocean, where waves flow for trillions of kilometers, further than his eyes can see in the base form he relaxes in now.

...

Dungeon Diver CH903

The pair of soul-bonded partners begin to forget they are even standing in an ancient room within the Fortress.

The swirling ether around them that flows into their bodies, minds, and souls continues to increase their understandings of Celestial Energy to a staggering degree. It is as though ether maturity is flowing through their souls, adding to their foundations as if the remains of this Wyvern’s soul are now their own.

They see through the white-winged Wyvern's eyes, both be...

Dungeon Diver CH902

The unnamed Ancient Royal Demon slowly descends and pulls a bright white soul weapon from its many slowly orbiting choices.

It is a long staff that does not look like much of a deadly weapon, however it shifts its shape the longer it's in the Demon’s hand.

The object morphs into what looks like a massive bowl with a thin handle. It grabs the end of it, and throws it down through the abyss.

The object spins in the air and trails a sparkling white light behind it toward the ...

Dungeon Diver CH901

The pressure of the dark and hot atmosphere around me makes it feel like thousands of hot molten blades stab into my flesh, and gravity crushes every cell individually until the pain receptors stop sending me signals.

My whole body goes numb.

The energy wave that collides with my core is met with equal force on impact, as I've focused all of my energy into a single point.

Maria’s in a similar state, and still connected together, we’re sent flying backward at an absurd sp...

Dungeon Diver CH900

The clapping from above gets louder, and the hot aura that surrounds us becomes unbearable.

It is like invisible heavy molten metal has just filled the air and holds us in place. I try to move my hands, or even shift my stance, but searing hot pain makes it feel as though my flesh is being melted.

We’re forced to stand and wait…

I begin to replay my memories for answers and debate unsealing my corruption all over again, despite barely healing from the first release. Mari...

Dungeon Diver CH899

The memories of both Demons rush into my mind together, almost interlocked as a single flow of energy. The imagery I get from the Lower Realm of both of them growing up together on a Noble Grade World plays side by side through each other's eyes.

The presence of dense refined qi and demonic energy on these worlds is far thicker and more potent than anything I’ve seen from any memories in the past.

Instead of the normal procedure I’ve seen, where higher-ranked demons in the ver...

Dungeon Diver CH898

The flow of dark essence out from my core is not as slow and controlled through my pathways as it was the first time.

It doesn’t only flow down my arm into my sword. Instead, a deep purple and black eruption of corruption floods out from my chest. It stains my glowing red body dark, and I feel it saturating my muscles and mind.

The presence of thousands of Noble Demons' vibrations tingle through my body, and the instinctual energy control of Miriel, a True Royal, flickers in my ...

Dungeon Diver CH897

It rests in my chest, with an invisible barrier of stacked and tethered vibrations around it.

Peering into the pool of compacted malice, resentment, and rage that swirls within it makes my whole body shiver. It’s far more dense and intimidating than it was back in the Green Zone. Because the dark essence of built-up hatred for tens of thousands of Demons I’ve slaughtered throughout the ravine has been absorbed into it as well.

However, Miriel's will enhancing the demonic energ...

Dungeon Diver CH896

These two Demons are extremely dangerous.

One of the major edges we had on the Nobles before was the fact of our overwhelming superior control over our Vibrations.

None of them could compare to us. They couldn’t even release their Vibrations outside of their bodies or soul swords.

The crescents of fire I threw from long range could obliterate our enemies the moment they entered our ether senses, and a single nick from Maria’s blade would spread cold ice tethered to her v...

Dungeon Diver CH895

We begin to climb the massive flight of steps.

The imagery of a tower, with four flights of stairs leading up to it on all sides, similar to a flat-topped pyramid structure, is still at the forefront of my mind. This is what the temple in all the drawings looked like. So, this must be one of the sides.

Even with my ether senses at their full power, I cannot see the outer edges of these steps. We zigzag across them out of curiosity, a few kilometers to each side, but even now we do...

Dungeon Diver CH894

Another few months pass after finding the first map with the temple’s location marked on it.

Every new pedestal we climb up now has one less location to travel to, and the temple marked at the very end of it.

This measurable scale of progression begins to alleviate the monotony of exploring the darkness without progressing in our Celestial Energy purity or Royal Vibrations maturity at all.

Though, it does break us out from a completely isolated flow state and causes me to ...

Dungeon Diver CH893

Less than two hours have passed in the Green Zone, but below in the Lower Realm, time moves much faster.

Over a week has passed.

There is no visible Realm Wave in the Origin Plane, so other than a select few that have higher access within the World Wide Connectivity interface, the majority of living beings have no idea of this shift.

In order to communicate and track the passing of time, Bri and Ava send messages back and forth in a similar fashion to the first Realm Wave wh...

Dungeon Diver CH892

Below in the Green Zone, it only feels as though minutes have gone by during our month in the Ravine.

Yet, with no way of contacting or viewing the two humans that have jumped through zones, it is impossible to know this fact.

Following the initial shock of the Realm Wave, far more than just these first few minutes begin to pass.

–

Ava, with the help of many stronger 1st and 2nd Class Elemental-wielding Lords, builds the base of a new Grand Citadel floating in the sk...

Dungeon Diver CH891

At the edges of my ether senses, the visual of the strongest 1st Class Demons that were on the steps before comes into view.

Some are running across the ground, others are on the backs of their dragons and plummeting down through the air.

After absorbing this Noble’s energy, my senses have expanded past 100 meters wide on every side.

As they begin to make large splashes in the decaying avatar remains of the old guardians, even more 2nd, 3rd, and even commoner demons begin ...

Dungeon Diver CH890

The sight of the enormous dragon would normally shift my mindset in battle. Especially the fact that it is saturated full of dense white celestial energy with purity greater than my own.

Even the Noble Demon that runs forward at us again, its Vibrations heightening in intensity.

The facade it was putting out before, telling anyone and anything to challenge it, is completely gone. Now there is only primal anger and the strength of an animal putting its life on the line to protect t...

Dungeon Diver CH889

Large amounts of the text that is carved into the floor cannot be read, but with my senses stretching increasingly far every few dozen meters we walk, another recognizable symbol comes into view.

Many depict similar symbols to what we saw in the caves, of void creepers surrounding an orb, and lots of the text is similar too.

However, I do not see any carvings of that winged void creeper depiction, nor do I see the horned creature that was called a “Half Demon.”

The only ...

Dungeon Diver CH888

We land on our feet, back to back again.

Both of us are standing on a single step of this massive staircase while over half a dozen demon and dragon pairs come both running and flying our way.

Though, with royal Vibrations tethering to the outsides of our bodies; enhancing our footsteps and strengthening our blades, these demons are nothing to be wary of.

Even their raw Celestial energy is not enough to make us second-guess our movements. After siphoning and refining the Dra...

Dungeon Diver CH887

I sense the floor below me disappear from sight.

All I see is the hand I hold onto, and Maria’s sword frozen to the pointed tail of a Demonic Dragon.

We’re pulled upward, away from the cave, and deep into the dark black void.

I would have been far more apprehensive to plunge into the darkness, as I felt our strength was lacking just minutes ago. But now, as this Demon and Dragon have been forced to retreat, only excitement and intrigue fill my mind.

Instead of wand...

Dungeon Diver CH886

Seconds ago, I only had the epiphany that Vibrations could be warped and tethered to Celestial energy, and now, moments ago, I’ve witnessed Maria act upon this thought and attempt a rudimentary barrier.

I already have far more experience and confidence as I lunge forward and begin focusing solely on the sharp tip of my blade.

While I don’t have the capability to access my system and activate a full Royal Bloodline Transformation, the basic nature of my Vibrations is still pres...

Dungeon Diver CH885

The Noble Vibrations that radiate out from the abyss grow stronger as we stare off into the pure black darkness.

Unlike the wall we’ve been following, no matter how far into the abyss I try to sense, there are no signs of any structures or vantage points.

Even the thought of walking too far away from the wall is troubling.

The darkness that surrounds us isn’t just a lack of light. There is something else coursing through the atmosphere that, no matter how much I try, I c...

Dungeon Diver CH884

The Celestial energy from the dragon burns through me, but with many other threats coming our way, there is no time to sit and wait to refine it in peace.

Instead, I grit my teeth and bear through the pain.

Maria deals with the abnormally unrefined surge of energy that comes through her with a painful expression as well; but it doesn't slow us down.

We both run past the dead demon lying face down on the floor. The surge of new Celestial Energy expands our ether senses even f...

Dungeon Diver CH883

As we leave the cave and stay within ether-sensing distance of the black rock walls, this strange realm we’ve been dropped into grows into a far larger mystery in my mind than I thought it was before.

I had theories that this might be one of those Demonic breeding grounds, like the Noble Grade worlds I’ve seen in many past demon memories; but after seeing the writing of another race, I’m having second thoughts on this.

The fact that there are fledgling demons weak enough for...

Dungeon Diver CH882

This is an image that needs no translation. Maria can interpret it just as easily as I can, and we’re left with an ominous sinking feeling.

These creatures in the drawings… They look very similar to an anomaly we faced back in the human world dungeons.

The Association called them Titans, but Ember called them Void Creepers.

I can’t understand any of these other symbols to get more context, but I’ve never seen any other monsters that have these characteristics; facele...

Dungeon Diver CH881

The slow ooze of black liquid from outside my ether senses grows in size.

At first, just a trickle, now it looks like the floor is being flooded with this dark demonic waste.

We slowly take steps backward, until the wall behind us, covered in scratches, comes into view again.

However, after a few more seconds pass, the flood of this black liquid even covers the demon’s remains, speeding up its decay.

There is no way to smell in this void, but if I could, I imagine it...