Chapter 23
Meanwhile, in another place, on an unknown continent.
A child stared at the drawings inside his book, eyes distant, listening to the energy coursing around his body. He slowly lifted his head and looked through the window.
The sky was no longer dark.
It was crimson.
His eyes widened slightly as he took in the sight. Then he smiled, as if he had just received a gift.
With speed far beyond human limits, the chained boy sprinted through enormous halls that stretched for thousands upon thousands of miles. In less than a minute, after several sharp turns, he arrived before a massive brown door.
Without hesitation, he shoved it open.
Inside the room sat a young man, around sixteen, calmly reading from a notebook. Around him were several chained children, boys and girls of different ages. The oldest looked no more than ten. The youngest was a little girl, barely five.
If there was one thing they all shared, it was the crimson X branded into their necks and backs. A mark burned so deep it felt etched into their very souls.
The children pleaded. Not for food. Not for freedom. Only for one thing.
To be unleashed.
They had stayed here, tamed, for far too long. They wanted to go wild. To go berserk.
Their desire sounded wrong, twisted. But if anyone were here to witness the aura radiating from each child, they would be left utterly stunned. The air itself felt wrong.
Because of the strange phenomenon outside, the children had misunderstood what was happening. They believed it was finally time. Some had already begun releasing their power, causing violent spikes in the world's energy around them.
If any cultivator were present, even without sensing their auras, just by observing their eyes and the way they comprehended world energy, only one question would remain.
Are these children… or monsters?
And if they are monsters, what was done to them?
The chained boy finally approached the young man.
"Hey, Necro. Can we go kill some people now?"
His face was innocent. Cute, even.
The one known as Necro, still young himself, glanced at the boy and smiled faintly.
"Not yet, Jimmy."
Jimmy frowned. "But what we're seeing outside… doesn't that mean it's time already?"
"No," Necro replied calmly. "There's still time. You'll be allowed to do as you like later. For now, focus on comprehending your strength. Surpass your limits."
Jimmy wanted to protest. He really did. But the Lord himself had not given the order yet. And without that command, they could not leave and kill as they pleased.
He sighed.
More boredom.
Turning back toward the window, Jimmy stared at the crimson sky. A quiet question formed in his mind.
What lies beyond the walls of this castle?
Why do I want to kill whatever is out there so badly?
Immense energy radiated from his body before he forcefully suppressed it.
He would follow the Lord's wishes. After all, the Lord was their father.
It was not time yet.
Somewhere in the mortal realm, above the seas, clouds of cold lightning rumbled violently, as if the heavens themselves were preparing a tribulation. The weather wailed. The crimson hue swallowed the entire sky.
Yet amidst the destruction, the raging energy, and the roaring thunder, a single house floated gently in the air.
Unaffected.
Untouched.
Anyone who reached this height would be crushed by the pressure alone.
But the house remained.
Inside the small house was a space far larger than anyone could comprehend. Lanterns hung in every corner, glowing softly, illuminating the vast room that stretched beyond the eye could see.
An old man lay asleep, snoring peacefully, undisturbed by the raging weather outside. But then… something changed.
One of the lanterns suddenly flared bright, then shattered. The old man didn't stir.
Seconds passed. Another lantern exploded. Then three more. And more.
Crack. Shatter. Pop.
The sound built into a relentless rhythm, louder, faster, unstoppable. The old man jolted upright, eyes wide, heart hammering. The lanterns weren't ordinary.... they cracked only when something occurred that would affect the mortal realm in a profound way.
Usually, three lanterns breaking at once signaled catastrophic, continent-spanning chaos. But now… there was no end. Lantern after lantern burst, each second another sign that disaster was raining down upon the world. It was endless. Infinite.
"What kind of trouble is the mortal realm about to face?" the old man whispered, voice trembling. His face drained of color as the room darkened, the soft glow vanishing, swallowed by shadow.
His hands shook, eyes darting around the dim space as panic gripped him.
"How the hell am I supposed to stop whatever is coming? How… how… how?!" His voice cracked, strained beyond limit. "HOW—!!!"
The darkness pressed closer, and with it, the world outside whispered of chaos yet to come.
To be continued.....
Author's Note:
Alright, warriors of the story, this is where I need you to step up.
Every vote, every review, every little bit of support isn't just a numbe..... it fuels the chaos, the battles, the explosions, and every insane twist you love.
Here's the deal: 200 power stones unlock an extra chapter. Yes, you read that right.... an extra chapter packed with carnage, revelations, and jaw-dropping moments just for you. 100 collections? That's another extra chapter.
And those reviews? Every 10 reviews give you one extra chapter. Every comment, every thumbs-up..... it all matters.
So if you want the next chapter to come faster, with more action, more tension, more of that raw, unfiltered intensity you crave, this is your moment.
Don't just sit there ..... vote, review, collect, and make your mark. Your energy becomes mine, and together, we push the story further than anyone could imagine.
Remember: every extra chapter is a reward for your dedication. Don't sleep on it. Let's break limits. Let's tear through the world of this story and see just how far we can go. Vote. Review. Collect. Make the chaos unstoppable.
The next chapter will dive into the source of the crimson chaos and reveal the force threatening the mortal realm. Trust me....you won't want to blink.