Darkness. Endless, suffocating darkness.
Before stepping into the Abyss, every adventurer who had accepted death as their fate had imagined countless nightmarish scenarios.
"I can still breathe? Shouldn’t this be outer space?"
Surprisingly, there was no immediate attack. Apart from the overwhelming darkness, the environment was eerily calm. They could breathe normally, and even the charred stench from Heaven Demon remains was thick in the air.
Small sparks of light began glowing in the void. Orson, Bradley, and the others quickly ducked, only to realize it was the glow of Heaven Demon Star Cores, still drifting toward Blue Star.
The faint glimmer also revealed their surroundings. The group looked around, stunned.
They were inside what looked like a massive subterranean tunnel—so massive that hundreds of dragons could fly through it without feeling crowded.
The entire space gave off a strange, oppressive sensation, as if they’d entered the open jaws of some ancient cosmic beast.
Priests from the Supreme Guild cast holy light spells, filling the tunnel with a soft silver glow. Shields covered the group, and the illumination slowly pushed back the darkness.
"I’m telling you, we’ve flown straight into some god’s colon." Madman clicked his tongue.
No one wanted to agree—but the dark red, pulsing, fleshy walls of the tunnel made it difficult to argue otherwise.
Bradley muttered, "Damn. These things must have a hell of a digestive system. We should capture a few of them and open up a galactic proctology clinic. Guaranteed profits!"
Everyone gave him deadpan looks. These two really had a knack for taking things too far.
The walls oozed brown fluids in pulses, regenerating rapidly, while the ground was littered with charred Heaven Demon remains, stretching endlessly forward.
Orson glanced at the minimap—surprisingly, the mapping function was still active. They could clearly see the areas they’d already explored.
"What the hell? The entrance is gone!" came Old Yin’s voice from the Celestial Fortress stationed at the rear.
"Traveling backward through the Abyss always leads to disorientation. I warned you," Endless Rift said with a smug look. "Even Primordial Titans don’t dare explore it lightly."
"Primordial Titans? Who gives a damn? Haven’t you heard the bard’s tale? They died over a damn puddle. Can’t even compare to us."
Old Yin leapt up and smacked Endless Rift square on the forehead with his staff.
"You insolent insect—do you wish to die!?"
Endless Rift’s veins bulged as he prepared to retaliate, only for Old Yin to dart behind Flame Fosset and Darkbo.
Flame Fosset grinned, "Why not join the glorious Puppet Project? I’ll make you the strongest Titan ever."
Darkbo followed with a smirk, "So, who’s stronger? The Titan King or a Dragon King? Care to spar and find out?"
Both old men eyed Endless Rift like curious scientists, itching to dissect a living Titan specimen.
"Keep moving," Orson ordered after a brief pause.
At this point, there was no turning back. If he couldn’t find the road home—he’d carve one out.
The group reassembled, focused and silent, advancing in formation.
"Scouts, stay sharp. Don’t get caught up in any fights," Bradley warned. Even though his mount was a Dragon King beast, something about this place unsettled him deeply.
Archers with enhanced vision led the way, supported by layer upon layer of defensive magic.
"Coordinates 27.40—Heaven Demon remnants spotted. AOE sweep!"
Raven returned swiftly on her chimera. As soon as she issued the order, hundreds of dragons roared and unleashed their breath, vaporizing a cluster of dying Heaven Demons into dust.
"Push forward. I’ve got your flank," Madman said, riding Quarla as he formed a rearguard with the Dragon Knights. The army picked up speed.
So far, the path remained eerily smooth. The demons they encountered were already near death, and the dragons crushed them like bulldozers. None posed any real threat to the US coalition.
Then, after more than ten minutes of silent progress, a strange light appeared deep within the Abyss.
Orson raised a hand, signaling everyone to halt.
"You’ve discovered: Watchpoint Obseria!"
Everyone stared in disbelief. A massive black city had appeared inside the Abyss, occupying nearly the entire width of the tunnel.
"Is this... the Heaven Demons’ base?" Madman muttered.
"No way," Bradley cursed. "There’s a city? You know what that means, right? Bro, Orson’s about to find himself a red-light district!"
"It’s not that simple."
Orson narrowed his eyes. In the distance, the black city was ablaze, seemingly struck by devastating force.
Using his God-Emperor Earrings’ Mirror of Folding function, Orson scanned the nearby area and spotted fragments of nuclear warheads. So this... was the final landing point of the allied missile barrage.
He steadied himself and opened the combat logs.
"You participated in the defeat of [The Grey Watchers – Tuck of the Frost World]. EXP +30,000."
"You participated in the defeat of [The Grey Watchers – Obseria Garrison Commander of the Acid Waters World]..."
A glance told Orson all he needed.
He gave a cold smile. "Interesting."
"We’re moving in. Capture a few of them alive."
Bradley and Madman exchanged a look. "Alive? You planning to flirt with Heaven Demons?"
"I never said they were Heaven Demons. They’re adventurers—just like us," Orson replied calmly.
Usher’s eyes narrowed. "You mean... the real reason the Heaven Demons invaded was because of them?"
Magic energy surged within Obseria. Collapsing buildings were stabilized by elemental force, flames were extinguished by water spells, and faint screams echoed from within.
No one had expected to find other intelligent beings in the Abyss—especially not fellow adventurers.
"Reason? These fools aren’t worthy of that title." Orson’s voice dripped with disdain.
"The Grey Watchers... now I get it."
Usher had seen it too. Among the casualties in the logs weren’t just Heaven Demons—there were adventurers with the [The Grey Watchers] tag.
He had once received the blessing of the demon lord Sakan and knew that The Grey Watchers were, in fact, once adventurers themselves.
But now? They were nothing more than lapdogs for the gods.
If Orson was right, then these bastards were the ones who had led the Heaven Demons to Blue Star.
Flying on their mounts, the team swept over Obseria. The shadow of the colossal Vilitian beast loomed over the city, sending its residents into a panic.
Bradley reached down and grabbed a slimy, fish-faced humanoid, slamming its head into the ground.
The fish-creature squealed in some unknown tongue, clutching Bradley’s boot as if begging for mercy.
Bradley scowled, the noise grating. "The hell is this gibberish? How are we supposed to interrogate him ?"
"Galactic Infinite Dimensions Translator synchronized."
A chime echoed in everyone’s ears. Bradley raised an eyebrow as the strange language began to make sense.
"No way... how is this possible?! Blue Star humans actually made it into the Abyss?!"
"They’ve betrayed the gods! How dare they defy divine will!"
"Retreat to Ignarion! Summon the Nine Gods to crush these rebels!"
The fish-faced creature squealed, "Nooo! I don’t want to be killed by these ugly Blue Star humans! That would bring shame to the Ukobo Aquatics! Spare me!"
"You calling me ugly? Have you looked in a mirror lately, you damn walking anglerfish?"
Bradley nearly blew a fuse. This freak had two glowing eyeballs dangling from stalks on its head—and he was calling Bradley ugly?
Infuriated, he raised his weapon to silence him.
Orson sighed and pulled him back. Bradley reluctantly let go, still grumbling, then looked over at Divine Slash. "I’m not ugly, right?"
Divine Slash replied immediately, "Boss, you’re the hottest guy in Godslayer. No contest!"
That perked Bradley right up. Divine Slash’s judgment had never failed him.
The rest of the group gathered around, curious about this otherworldly adventurer.
[Acid Waters World – Adventurer]
Class: S-Rank Wavecaller
Skill: Water Magic Mastery
"Mabubu...?" Orson couldn’t help but chuckle.
What struck him as odd was that this guy hadn’t been converted into an Infinite Dimensions NPC. His attributes were almost identical to Blue Star adventurers.
"D-don’t come any closer! My city’s ruler is Lord Poseidon himself!"
Mabubu roared, his gill flaps pulsing with every word, trying to muster some dignity.
"Poseidon? What is that, some kind of oversized mackerel?" the group muttered, taking a cautious half-step back.
"The wrath of the gods will destroy you! Release me at once!"
Thinking he had scared them, Mabubu climbed to his feet, puffing out his slimy chest and glaring smugly with his glowing eyes.