Rise Of The Infinite Sovereign

Chapter 335: Invasion Sequence, Past Life Contrast

With the exit of Zydrax and the Grandmasters from the dungeon, the figure draped in a ragged cloak ’hmm’ ed.

"Khasavar. I’ve confirmed that they are sentient beings on this planet" he said. "But it seems their average levels are even lower than expected"

"Why do you say that?" inquired Khasavar.

"A large number of people entered the dungeon, but only one Goblin was killed"

Khasavar nodded. "It makes sense for the natives to be cautious of an unknown phenomenon"

"Right now, they’re testing the waters like we are, which makes it the perfect opportunity for us to deal a the first blow"

His eyes gleamed.

"Are you notified of the death of our troops once they are out of the dungeon?"

"Yes, but that is the only ability I can use once they leave the dungeon"

"It is enough" he turns to the others behind him. "Send five more gateways to different places, makes sure its the same level of troops so we can be better assured of the planet’s strength"

They nod and get to it, dispersing immediately.

"Now, we’ll wait a while for the first few to leave the dungeon before taking it a step further"

The draped figure nods lightly, turning back to the array of magic apparatuses in front of him.

Few hours later.

The draped figure speaks. "Khasavar, the natives have begun to respond"

"You mean...?"

"They’ve started attacking our troops"

"Hmm, a warring race then? I expected more hesitance...but this good in it’s own way"

He continues. "So, how are they faring?"

"From what I’m reading, it seems they’re evenly matched, so to speak"

"Strange" muttered Khasavar. "You’d expect the more powerful ones to attack first. Then, is it that that location is not one with many powerful fighters? Or are the natives that weak?"

He didn’t believe that the strongest natives of the planet were people who could only match the lowest level Goblins in a fight.

It was more likely that weaker people had simply stumbled upon it, thinking it to be filled with treasure and then engulfed in a brawl with the troops within.

Well, he would make better theories once the other five dungeons arrived and awakened.

’But why do I feel something off?’

As a psychic, he was more receptive to mind games than others, so he couldn’t help but feel something was off.

At this time, it felt like measly itch, so he didn’t take note of it too much.

He already spent a good length of time just making sure his actions-purchases of gateways and the likes-weren’t too noticeable.

Someone would eventually take notice, but by then, he would already be far ahead, maintaining the lead.

For now, he would proceed with the original plan till he saw fit to change the approach.

Engage in small skirmishes until certain of the average level of strength, and then send combatants a rank higher to end them all in one fell swoop.

’I have to be careful about this’

Caution was essential because he couldn’t be certain the natives didn’t have a trick up their sleeves which could draw more attention towards the planet, hence putting wrench in his plans.

The exploration chronicles had told of such things happening numerous times.

As for the time it would take, this being wasn’t even worried about such a thing.

He’d already taken out his entire life savings and staked it into successfully capturing the planet, and if things went better than expected, taking the entire solar system wasn’t out of his reach.

But even at his level, gateways weren’t cheap items, to maximize efficiency, he chose to buy the most basic one aplenty.

Of course. He was in a tough spot right now, but everything was difficult at the start, and so, he wasn’t bothered.

With his golden opportunity in front of him, he was willing to weather any storm and wait as long as needed to get his prize.

There was no mark on the planet, so the highest level individual was definitely weaker than himself.

This was the core of his confidence in the success of his plans.

If all came to naught, he would personally take action.

It wasn’t the starting approach because of how costly it would be, but once necessary, he had no qualms about personally getting involved.

With the others applying his orders, they were nothing for him to do for the time being.

He leaves to increase his strength, however little.

A few days later on Orion, Zydrax received the news of five more dungeons appearing in Niton, Liye, Isla, Kreya and Tezar respectively.

Now thirty five weeks since Alvarach’s death, thanks to Zydrax’s dungeon tour, the Grandmasters were better informed and far more willing to work together on this issue.

Besides, seeing the force of forty six Grandmasters, their egos had drastically calmed as they adjusted to Orion’s new dynamic.

They were no longer the top dogs.

If Zydrax could gather them that easily, because you could bet a castle that many of them tried to resist, then he could’ve gotten rid of them and nothing would happen.

With this realization, they all bowed to his commands.

It was already good that he didn’t demand rule over every nation-because they sure would’ve done so-and they didn’t want to give him any reason to think in such a direction, hence the strange harmony.

’They spread their net to get a better feel of our strength’

Understanding the enemy’s ploy, Zydrax nodded in appreciation.

’It seems they’re not as dead brained as I thought...’

On the other hand, this made pulling off the deception more difficult.

Too little or too much at once would heighten the enemy’s wariness, and until the first large wave was unleashed, Zydrax didn’t want that to happen.

He sent orders to the Grandmasters through Frederick.

Another week passed, making it thirty six since Alvarach kicked the bucket.

"Hoo..."

While his face didn’t show it, Zydrax was ecstatic.

He could feel himself close to the end of the taxing process of creating an artifact to solve Ezra’s heart problem.

Moreover, having gone the extra mile, he made it such that it would simultaneously act as a catalyst to explosively increase his power once completed.

The artifact held so much potential even Zydrax couldn’t say just how much it would change Ezra.

But at the same time, it was now at it’s at the most delicate state.

’Just a while more. It’s not going to be long now before it’s done’

Meanwhile, Ezra was in deep thoughts as he navigated the events that had occurred and compared them.

Apart from the Emperor dying, Niton was mostly undisturbed.

No, in fact, thanks to the appearance of Black Jaws, it fathered far better than before.

Then, thanks to his efforts, the demonic cult had been thwarted, and the demon invasion had been prevented and even slaughtered.

A drastic change for sure.

Then, you had the Apocalypse.

Unlike during Kevin’s time, it’s sudden appearance was dealt with cleanly, the widespread panic of an unknown enemy was kept at the minimum and information about the dungeons were kept tightly lidded.

Which thus kept Orion from falling into a state of emergency.

With Zydrax disseminating information about the otherworld monsters, their effect on Orion was several times lower than what it was in the past time line.

The effects of knowing and not knowing were that great.

Truly, knowledge was power.

But at the same time, it was without doubt that the intensity of the apocalypse before and now, were far apart. With this one on the lower side.

In Kevin’s time, dungeons appeared en masse, enough cast a large shadow in the skies of Orion before making loud landings as they revealed they received their true forms.

’Ah, there was also that’ Ezra remembered.

The dungeons that appeared during Kevin’s time and that of now were obviously the same thing, but the contrast was also clear.

The last time, the dungeons were all activated upon landing.

Otherworld monsters then poured out of them less than a day later, prompting a massacre of millions.

Only a week or even weeks after did kingdoms rally their armies against this wave of monsters that had appeared like a bolt out of the blue.

The armies brought the monsters to a halt and slaughtered them, losing many as well.

They didn’t stop there and attacked the dungeons themselves.

Finding it futile even for Grandmasters, they enter, seeking to destroy it from the inside.

Imagine their surprise when a new horde of monsters greet them.

As one would expect, another battle ensued, and eventually, the monsters were culled.

But one problem, they were unable to destroy it even from the inside.

Remember, because those dungeons immediately activated, none had seen a dungeon crystal before.

Moreover, for dungeon to activate, the crystal lights up and shatters, executing the command within and opening up a gateway for monsters from elsewhere.

Unable to destroy nor stop it from working, they stationed a group of elite guards to each one, which would slaughter any monster that came out.

Months passed as many died, but unlike common sense would dictate, regardless of how many were monsters were killed, they never stopped coming.

In less than a day from being completely empty, monsters would have filled in once again, and with the demons also attacking, it forced many nations into a precarious state.

Then, something else happened.

The last major event before his death.

The amalgamation of continents.

’Right’ Ezra remembered and be blurted "Lumeria and Sirion!" in a tone of excitement.

"Ack!"

His blurting had disrupted Zydrax’s concentration.