The Annihilator: Killer Of Gods

Karsha and the shadow guards raced toward the first blind spot he sensed using his Overlord abilities. He didn't know what awaited them, but he was certain that these locations were where he needed to go, and fast.

From what he had gathered, the events that had taken place since his arrival on the island weren't random. They were preplanned, and he was merely playing his part. At first, he believed they were orchestrated by someone—someone mysterious—but after meeting Nfang, he realized he might not be far from such a person.

It was his doing, or rather, the doing of a part of his past self. He wasn't ready to accept the fact that he had past reincarnations. He needed time to process that, but that was for another day. For now, he needed to collect all the items he could before returning to the human world. Since this hotspot was one of those locations, he had to get there quickly.

After a short while, they arrived at the site. Karsha and the shadow guards disembarked from the flying boat and headed toward their destination. Soon, they stood in front of a cave, guarded by seven Nagas—half-human, half-snake creatures.

Ayarr and the other shadow guards immediately became tense, seeing the terrifying creatures before them. Though they had evolved into mutants, the Nagas were one class above them, and that single class made the Nagas far stronger.

Karsha, however, continued walking toward the Nagas without hesitation. All seven Nagas dropped to their knees when he was only a few steps away.

"My Lord, welcome to the treasury."

Karsha appeared calm on the outside, but inside, he was filled with conflicting emotions. Ever since he had broken the curse, he knew he had begun to change, but he wasn't sure exactly how.

Looking at the Nagas kneeling before him, he realized he had transcended beyond his previous status as just a human. On this island of snakes, he had become something greater—a young man with the powers of an Emperor, an Overlord.

Ayarr and the others were in shock. They had been prepared for another battle, but seeing the Nagas now, it was clear there would be no fight today. Karsha had become something they couldn't fully understand.

"Stand up and tell me what this place is," Karsha said. He didn't need to ask why they addressed him as "Lord." His status as the Overlord was answering enough of all his questions.

The Nagas rose to their feet but remained in a respectful posture, something Karsha never imagined he would witness. But he didn't dwell on it too long. It was easy, and he was quietly pleased with how things were turning out.

"My Lord, this place is a treasure we were tasked with guarding," one of the Nagas said.

Karsha had a feeling they wouldn't know much about the place, and he was right. The Nagas had no real knowledge of what the treasure was or its purpose. Their only job was to protect it from any danger, and that's all they knew.

Even the Overlords who once ruled the region didn't have the authority to enter this place. Karsha didn't understand why, but he was certain there was some kind of barrier preventing anyone from coming here. The Nagas seemed like mere puppets, placed here to guard something far beyond their understanding.

His thoughts wandered back to Nfang, his past self, whom he had encountered during his battle with Khinux. Karsha couldn't explain it, but he felt an odd thrill at how things were progressing. Time was running out, and he knew he had to do everything he could before leaving.

"How do I open it?" Karsha asked, his eyes fixed on a massive door several kilometers away. The door had no visible keyhole, and he had no clue how to unlock it. He figured the Nagas might at least know that much.

The Naga leader hesitated for a moment before answering, "The door has no physical key, my Lord. It responds to only one thing—blood. The blood of the one."

Karsha's eyes narrowed. Of course, it made sense now. This place wasn't meant for just anyone; only him, that's what he knew from the start, he was the one meant to open it, and only his blood could access it.

He walked toward the door, feeling the moment's weight as he approached. He knew he had what it took to open the door, so he didn't panic or anything, he just walked and stopped in front of the large door.

Without a word, Karsha drew a small blade from his belt and made a shallow cut on his palm. Blood dripped onto the door, and almost instantly, the massive door began to rumble, the stone grinding against itself as it slowly slid open.

Behind him, the Nagas watched in silence, their expressions unreadable. Ayarr and the shadow guards exchanged uneasy glances, but they remained ready, awaiting Karsha's next move.

Suddenly, as the door opened, a shimmering portal appeared. Karsha was momentarily taken aback by the sight, but he didn't say anything. At that same instant, his mind was flooded with information about the place beyond the portal, as if something or someone was guiding him.

He turned back to the Shadow Guards and the Nagas. "You seven continue guarding this place. My friends and I will be going inside for a while," he said to the Nagas. They nodded in understanding and resumed their watch over the area.

"Let's go," Karsha said, signaling to his companions. He and the shadow guards stepped through the portal.

On the other side, they found themselves in a peaceful, almost otherworldly environment. The air was impossibly clean and fresh, almost unnaturally so. Lush trees and vibrant flowers surrounded them, while birds and butterflies fluttered through the air, adding to the surreal beauty of the place. It was mesmerizing, almost like they had stepped into a dream.

The serene atmosphere felt out of place compared to the tension they had just left behind. For a moment, they all stood still, taking in the breathtaking scene.

"This place... it feels like we've crossed into another world," Ayarr muttered, unable to hide his amazement.

Karsha nodded and turned toward a small house just a few kilometers away. "Guys, I'll be going there for a while. Use this time to examine the area. I won't be long," he said to the shadow guards. Without waiting for a response, he began walking toward the house.

It didn't take him long to reach the door. Without hesitation, he placed his hand on it. Although the cut on his palm had healed, traces of his blood still remained. The moment his hand touched the door, it slid open, revealing the serene interior of the house.

But Karsha wasn't concerned with the house itself. His focus was on a chair and table positioned in the center of the room. He walked over and sat down, feeling as though the place belonged to him. On the table, a ring and a note were neatly placed, catching his attention.

He glanced at the ring, then at the one already on his finger. "The Nine Calamity Soul Space Ring," he muttered, recognizing it immediately. It was identical to the ring he was wearing. Find your next read at empire

Without wasting time, Karsha picked up the note. The message was brief but clear:

"You have taken the first step in claiming your destiny. Now, you must move forward like one without a predetermined fate. Inside this ring are some of the tools you need. Take them and carve your path toward dominance."

He set the note down and reached for the ring, but before he could examine it, the ring shot from his hand and merged with the one on his finger. Before Karsha could react, the two rings fused into one.

He was momentarily stunned, but he didn't panic. Instead, he focused inward. What he saw in his mind made him numb. Inside the ring was wealth beyond his imagination: spirit stones, spirit crystals, and treasures he had never seen before.

He wanted to explore everything at once, but before he could, the note suddenly vaporized and entered his forehead. At that same moment, more information flooded his mind.

"It seems I really prepared myself this time," he said to himself, still amazed by the careful planning of his past self.

His eyes drifted to the walls, which were segmented into rectangles. He didn't need anyone to tell him that these were safes, likely containing more treasures. But he wasn't ready to explore them yet. First, he needed to process the new information now imprinted in his mind.

"The Nine Primordial Treasures, huh... looks like Nfang outdid himself," he murmured, a small smile crossing his face.

"I have to go down," he said aloud, as if knowing exactly what to do. Almost immediately, the chair and table began descending, revealing an underground space below. The path ahead was clear—deeper into his destiny.

Shortly after, he appeared inside the room below only to be given another shock.