CHAPTER 532: I’LL SLAUGHTER YOU!

This was it—the oldest, most terrifying, and most mysterious abyssal zone in the entire Dungeon. A place where a thick, ominous cloud of dark magic hung in the air year-round, constantly radiating waves of pure darkness.

So intense was the power here that many of the Dungeon’s most formidable beings came to this place to meditate, to absorb its energy in silence, and to grow stronger.

And now, as The Dark Sovereign and her group arrived, they moved with practiced ease, following a familiar path that led them deeper and deeper into the abyss.

It didn’t take long before they reached their destination—a vast underground canyon, riddled with rivers of molten lava and surrounded by erupting volcanic craters.

Here, the dark magic was so dense it practically oozed from the walls.

Anyone with even slightly weaker strength?

They’d be crushed by the pressure alone—mind shattered, body broken.

Shhhk.

At that moment, as they stepped into the canyon, a strange sensation washed over them. It felt like something—no, someone—was watching. That kind of gaze... it crawled under your skin, made you itch with unease.

The Dark Sovereign’s expression darkened. Her voice was cold, sharp as a blade.

"After all these years locked away, you still haven’t learned your place. No respect, no fear. Just the same arrogant trash."

"That’s... that’s an Overlord-class monster," someone whispered, their voice trembling. "We... what can we even do?"

"Get lost," The Dark Sovereign snapped, her tone flat and emotionless. She didn’t even glance at them as she strode forward, completely unfazed.

Soon, she stood before a massive glowing formation—an arcane seal forged from countless interlocking magic circles, all bound together by chains of pure dark energy.

At the center of the formation...

Was a monster.

A hulking, armored demon soldier—only this one was grotesquely oversized. It looked like a warrior, but it had no mind, no thoughts. Just raw, primal instinct. A beast of destruction.

"ROAR!"

The creature let out a deafening roar, its eyes locked on The Dark Sovereign with murderous intent. It wanted to tear her apart, to devour her whole.

But she just smirked, cruel and mocking, like she was looking at a bug.

"Becoming part of my power... that’s the greatest honor you’ll ever have. You pathetic waste."

She stepped forward, raising her hand and placing it on the demon’s massive chest.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOM.

A vortex of energy exploded outward. The monster’s body trembled as its power surged out of it, flowing straight into The Dark Sovereign. She absorbed it all, her body glowing with dark energy.

And then... silence.

But that silence?

It wouldn’t last.

Because when it broke again...

A new monster would be born.

...

Meanwhile—

Ethan and his crew had run into a new enemy of their own.

They’d been steamrolling through the region, conquering city after city with overwhelming force. But then, out of nowhere, a powerful figure stepped in to block their path.

Another Overlord-class warrior—Dolorak, one of The Dark Sovereign’s top lieutenants. Stronger even than Vaelstra.

"Master, let me handle this one," Cicero said, stepping forward without hesitation.

He launched himself at Dolorak, striking first. It was a clash of titans—Overlord versus Overlord.

Cicero had grown stronger. After witnessing Ataneya’s power firsthand, he was determined to prove himself.

But as the battle dragged on, he realized something—he wasn’t weaker than Dolorak, but taking him down alone? That was another story.

BAM!

After another brutal exchange, Cicero was knocked back. He landed beside Ethan, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Master... I’m sorry. I—"

But Ethan cut him off before he could finish.

"Cicero, don’t say that. This isn’t your fault. You did nothing wrong."

"Master..." Cicero’s eyes softened, touched by the support. "Then let’s fight together. If we team up, we can take him down easy."

Ethan nodded, about to respond—

When suddenly, Elira, who’d been goofing off and wandering around the battlefield, appeared right in front of Dolorak.

She floated up to him like it was nothing...

And casually threw a punch.

...

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

Dolorak—the same Dolorak who had just gone toe-to-toe with Cicero—was sent flying by that one, lazy punch from Elira.

BAM!

One hit. Just one.

Dolorak crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut, like a balloon with the air punched out of it. He slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash, unmoving.

Hissss—!

The moment that scene unfolded, everyone—except for Ataneya and Namyanna—visibly recoiled, their pupils shrinking in shock as they collectively sucked in a breath. The disbelief was palpable.

"She... she’s insanely strong..." Seraphina muttered, eyes wide with awe.

The others were no different—completely stunned, their faces frozen in expressions of pure disbelief and fear.

But Elira?

She just shook her head, looking bored. Like it hadn’t been nearly enough fun.

Ethan chuckled when he saw that. "Go on," he said casually. "She’s handing you a gift."

Turns out, just like Ataneya had done before, Elira hadn’t finished Dolorak off. She’d left him barely clinging to life—just enough for the others to land the final blow and earn the experience.

That kind of overwhelming, one-sided beatdown?

Ethan didn’t even find it surprising anymore.

After all, Elira might look like a harmless little girl, but in reality, she was an SSS-ranked Crimson Ultimate Hero—stronger, more absurd, and more terrifying than even Ataneya, Andona, or Namyanna.

So yeah. This was normal. Expected, even.

Meanwhile, Dolorak—the poor bastard who’d just been turned into a chew toy—was spiraling into a full-blown existential crisis.

"No... no way... How could she have that kind of power?"

"I’m an Overlord-class Dungeon boss! I’m an S-rank Crimson Ultimate Hero! Even the current Dark Sovereign couldn’t take me down like that..."

"Don’t tell me... her power’s already on par with the Dark Sovereign at her peak? That’s... that’s SSS-level... That’s impossible..."

He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. His mind was unraveling. He couldn’t believe it—he, a proud Overlord of the Dungeon, had been flattened like a bug?

And worse—

She might actually be SSS-ranked?

But it didn’t matter anymore.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The next moment, Ethan’s team surged forward, swarming Dolorak and finishing him off without mercy. He was done. Just another casualty.

And with his death, his power was absorbed—fuel for Cicero, Seraphina, and the others. Their levels surged, their strength climbing even higher.

With that, the battle was over.

"Master, should we keep going?" Cicero asked.

"Of course," Ethan replied. "How far are we from the Dark Sovereign’s territory?"

"I’m not sure exactly," Cicero admitted. "But if we keep pushing and wipe out all her forces, we might be able to pinpoint her location."

"Yeah... makes sense."

"In that case," Ethan said, eyes narrowing, "we keep going. I want every inch of her territory under our control. We’re taking it all."

And so, the campaign continued.

Over the next few months, they swept through the Dark Sovereign’s lands like a storm. City after city fell. Fortress after fortress crumbled.

One by one, the remaining Overlord-class Dungeon bosses under her command were either killed or fled. Her entire network was dismantled.

Eventually, they even found her palace.

But she wasn’t there.

They learned she had descended into the deepest part of the Dungeon—the abyss itself.

"Damn it," Ethan muttered, frustrated. "So after all this, the real threat isn’t even here? We came all this way and she’s just... gone?"

He was still trying to figure out their next move when—

BOOM!

A wave of terrifying dark energy exploded outside the palace, rippling through the air like a shockwave.

"Who’s there?!"

"Who dares trespass in the domain of the great Dark Sovereign?! I’ll slaughter you!"

"Show yourself, now!"

The voice was a furious roar, echoing across the palace grounds.

Ethan and the others rushed outside—and there she was.

The Dark Sovereign herself.

"That’s her," Cicero said grimly, his expression tightening. "That’s the one we’ve been looking for."

He could feel it—the crushing pressure radiating off her. It was suffocating.

She was terrifying.

"So it’s you," the Dark Sovereign sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "The little insects from Emerald Castle. Perfect. I’ve got old scores to settle—and now, new ones too. Today, I’ll break your necks and shatter your souls."

And with that, she attacked.

Ataneya, Namyanna, and Andona exchanged a glance—and then vanished in a blur, launching themselves at her.

"Umbral Detonation!"

"Oceanic Surge!"

"Divine Verdict!"

BOOOOOOM!

Three devastating attacks exploded at once, slamming into the Dark Sovereign and sending her flying.

But when the dust cleared...

She was still standing.

Barely scratched.

"So... SS-rank, huh?" she said, brushing herself off. "No wonder those other weaklings lost. But it doesn’t matter."

"In front of the great Dark Sovereign, even SS-ranks die."

BOOM!

She roared, unleashing her full power. A monstrous aura erupted from her body, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Ethan’s face darkened as he felt the pressure.

And then, quietly, he muttered—

"...SSS-rank?"