Chapter 65: Playground
Under Amon’s gaze, the world began to shrink.
The shrinkage was slow at first, but gradually it deepened.
The earth shrank drastically, revealing rows upon rows of stars neatly aligned together.
The scene contracted once more, finally revealing something akin to a stadium where ball-sized planets were gathered.
Around them, spectators of countless races and creatures that wandered throughout the Milky Way galaxy watched the chaotic battles from above.
Planets fought for survival, yet it was all merely entertainment to them.
The gods exchanged words, their attention fully focused on the major planets that provided the greatest amusement.
There was Planet Dimidium, standing upon the final vestiges of life.
A terrifying SSS-rank dungeon had surrounded their world, plunging it into chaos and dragging it toward destruction.
Watching the elves of that world struggle desperately for survival brought only laughter and amusement to their faces.
Soon, the world was destroyed.
A god stretched out his hand, and the shattered world began reforming.
Yin and Yang.
One man and one woman remained in existence.
Life began anew, and many years later, so did the dungeons, bringing about the endless battle once again.
It was a repetitive cycle.
An endless one that the gods found intriguing.
Most battles unfolded similarly with each cycle. However, there were always unique ones that left them watching with bated breath, eager to see whether someone could finally break free from the world prison designed for sinners.
Yet ultimately, it was impossible.
No one had ever broken out.
And no one ever would.
The gods were not even concerned.
If anyone somehow managed to escape, they would still have to face them within the Milky Way galaxy.
Only they could decide the life and death of these sinners.
The amusement continued in silence.
The gods remained unaware of the awakening of the entity who moved the world.
Soon, even the Milky Way galaxy would hear whispers of a butcher who slaughtered his way through the heavens.
...
Amon withdrew his gaze after some time.
He and the president soon stepped into the dungeon.
Immediately, goosebumps crawled up his spine.
The air was heavy and oppressive, as though countless unseen eyes were silently observing his every movement.
Amon’s gaze swept across the surroundings, and what entered his vision caused even him to pause slightly.
Ants.
Endless ants.
The black tide stretched far beyond the horizon.
Thousands upon thousands moved in perfect formation across the earth.
Some were the size of wolves, while others rivaled buildings.
The constant movement of countless legs created a strange rustling sound that echoed throughout the entire dungeon.
The president’s face turned pale as he stared at the horrifying sight.
"What the hell is this...?"
Amon paused briefly without answering.
Even he could feel the terror radiating from the creatures.
Not only the ones here, but the ones hidden within the previous dungeons he had visited.
If these creatures were ever unleashed, Amon was almost certain Earth stood no chance.
It seemed someone truly did want to destroy the planet.
Suddenly, Amon’s eyes flickered.
His danger sense flared to life, sweeping through the area at an alarming speed as it searched for something buried deep within.
Something far more dangerous than the countless ants surrounding them.
"There."
Amon’s eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, he took a light step.
Close Yet So Far activated, and the scenery blurred.
The endless ant army vanished from sight.
Moments later, Amon found himself standing before a massive palace constructed from black crystal.
The structure towered into the sky.
Countless ants guarded its entrance, yet none dared move.
Every one of them remained motionless, as though fearful of disturbing the existence residing within.
Amon slowly stepped forward.
The palace doors opened on their own.
The interior was silent.
At the center of the enormous hall sat a woman upon a throne.
From the waist up, she possessed the appearance of an extraordinarily beautiful woman.
Below, her body merged into that of a gigantic ant queen.
Long dark hair cascaded down her shoulders.
Her appearance carried an unnatural charm, and every movement seemed capable of drawing attention.
Even her smile appeared carefully crafted.
Her crimson eyes slowly opened and immediately locked onto Amon the moment he entered.
A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"My..."
Her voice echoed softly throughout the hall.
"It has been a very long time since a visitor came to see me."
Amon remained silent as the woman slowly rose from her throne.
The countless ants throughout the palace lowered their heads.
"I am the queen of this world."
Her smile deepened.
"And who might you be?"
As she spoke, a strange power quietly spread throughout the room.
The atmosphere gradually became hazy.
The palace seemed warmer.
The woman suddenly felt closer.
More beautiful.
More alluring with every passing second.
Amon suddenly felt his thoughts slow slightly.
His eyes narrowed, and he immediately realized that something was wrong.
The woman continued approaching him.
Each step caused the illusion to deepen.
The palace transformed gradually as the surroundings shifted.
Countless pleasant images surfaced within his mind.
Endless, unimaginable strength.
Countless women.
Everything any man desired.
Everything she believed he could ever want.
The queen’s smile widened.
"Aren’t you tired?"
Her voice softened further.
"You can rest."
Amon’s expression remained calm, but inwardly his mind turned cold.
He realized just how powerful the illusion was.
Despite being here for only a short while, he could already feel his control slipping.
It seemed he would be unable to obtain any information from the woman.
After all, he couldn’t resist the illusion.
At least not yet.
The queen noticed the change, and her pupils contracted.
"You..."
For the first time, uncertainty appeared on her face.
Amon’s hand slowly moved toward his sword.
The illusion shattered instantly.
Crack.
The palace trembled as the queen’s smile vanished.
A terrifying pressure erupted from her body.
"Human."
Her voice turned sharp.
"You should have remained asleep."
’Primordial Nether Extinction Sword Art.’
The world froze.
The queen’s expression changed dramatically.
However, a streak of sword light had already crossed the hall.
The attack arrived before she could react.
Swoosh!
The throne behind her split apart, and the palace divided into two halves.
The queen herself froze completely, disbelief filling her crimson eyes.
A thin line appeared across her body and slowly spread.
"No..."
A moment later, her body disintegrated into countless fragments.
The entire palace collapsed into rubble.
Outside, the endless ant army suddenly stopped moving.
One by one, the creatures began falling lifelessly to the ground, as though they had been controlled all along.
Amon stood amidst the collapsing palace, his expression indifferent.
He was disappointed that he had failed to obtain the information he wanted.
However, he did not dwell on it.
...
Author’s note: What do you think of this Chapter? Please leave your thoughts below. Are things progressing too fast? Should we have more slice-of-life scenes? Or should we focus on digging deeper into the mysteries? Your feedback will be greatly appreciated! Thank you. If you enjoy the progress of the novel so far, please consider giving me some power stones and golden tickets and leave a review as well while you’re at it. Thank you.
