CHAPTER 691: WE’RE NOT DONE HERE

"Attack!"

"Attack!"

"Attack!!"

...

With Ethan’s command echoing through the air, the entire Emerald Castle army erupted in a frenzy of excitement.

They’d just been supercharged with insane power—what better time to stretch their legs and crush some skulls?

Holding back now would be a waste.

Meanwhile...

The Dorinval Empire and the Silvermoon Dominion—once two of the most dominant forces in the Umbral Abyss—were both reeling from a brutal war with the Kazzan Empire. The battlefield between them was a wasteland of corpses, blood soaking the ground, the stench of death hanging thick in the air.

The King of Dorinval sat slumped atop a mound of bodies, his face streaked with blood, his armor cracked and scorched.

"Those bastards... they went too far!"

He slammed a fist into the ground, rage burning in his eyes.

"Someone! Gather every last soldier we’ve got left! I’m marching straight to their capital—I want answers, and I want blood!"

His voice rang out, and the battered remnants of the Dorinval army began to rally.

They were furious. The ambush had been a nightmare—half their brothers had died without even knowing what hit them.

But just as they were regrouping, ready to strike back—

The Emerald Castle army arrived.

Led by Elira, they swept in like a tidal wave, their numbers vast, their presence overwhelming.

Before the Dorinval soldiers could even process what was happening, Elira was already in their midst—cutting them down like wheat before a scythe.

"Who the hell are you?! Where did you come from?! Are you reinforcements from the Kazzan Empire?!"

No one answered.

The Emerald Castle warriors didn’t speak—they didn’t need to.

They were machines of war, slicing through the Dorinval ranks with terrifying precision and zero hesitation.

"No—no!!"

The Dorinval troops, already exhausted and wounded from their last battle, couldn’t even put up a proper defense. And the Emerald Castle army? They were on a whole different level—faster, stronger, relentless.

The tide wasn’t just turning—it was a massacre.

One by one, the Dorinval soldiers fell. And when the king’s head finally hit the ground, his eyes were still wide with confusion.

He never understood why Emerald Castle had come for them.

Over on the Silvermoon Dominion’s side, things weren’t much better.

Their king had already been beaten half to death, and their forces were in shambles. So when Ethan’s army rolled in, it was over in less than thirty minutes.

Total annihilation.

Ding!

"Congratulations, player Valkarion. You have claimed dominion over the Umbral Abyss. You now possess full access to its power. All Creature Dwellings are at your disposal."

"Hell yeah. Finally!"

Ethan stood atop a high tower, grinning from ear to ear, the wind whipping through his hair.

In his mind’s eye, the entire map of the Umbral Abyss unfolded—every region, every stronghold, every hidden lair. Dozens of Creature Dwellings lit up across the landscape, each one now his to command.

He never would’ve guessed—not even in his wildest dreams—that the Umbral Abyss was hiding this many Creature Dwellings.

How the hell had the locals not tapped into all this?

Idiots, Ethan thought, exhaling slowly as he steadied his breath.

Then—boom—his power surged outward from the high tower, spreading like a shockwave across the entire Umbral Abyss.

In an instant, the entire realm was saturated with his aura.

It was his now. All of it.

The remaining factions scattered throughout the Abyss felt it immediately. One by one, they began making their way toward the heart of the territory—drawn by a strange, irresistible compulsion.

They didn’t know why, but they had to kneel.

And honestly? They didn’t have much of a choice.

Ethan’s power was overwhelming. He’d just wiped out the strongest empires in the region like they were nothing. Anyone who didn’t submit would be crushed. Simple as that.

As the crowd of leaders and warriors dropped to their knees before him, Ethan didn’t feel the rush of triumph he thought he would.

No thrill of conquest. No smug satisfaction.

All he could think about was getting stronger—fast.

Because this? The Umbral Abyss? It was powerful, sure. But compared to the Sky Citadel?

It was nothing.

The strongest beings here barely scraped the peak of Tier 18. But the Sky Citadel? That place probably had full-fledged Tier 19 monsters walking around like it was Tuesday.

He took another breath, sharp and focused, then gave the order: everyone was to return to their posts. The Emerald Castle army was to be split up and deployed across the Creature Dwellings. Their mission? Summon as many troops as possible. Build the war machine.

RUMMMMMMBLE...

Back at the central tower, Ethan stood tall, arms outstretched as raw power poured from his body. Hero units and elite troops began materializing around him, one after another, summoned from the depths of the Abyss.

The next few weeks passed in a strange, focused calm.

Everyone had a job. Everyone was grinding.

And by the end of the month, Emerald Castle’s strength had more than doubled.

They were ready.

Ethan was just about to give the order to march on the Sky Citadel when—

BOOM.

A violent, chaotic surge of energy tore through the northern skies.

It came from the farthest edge of the Umbral Abyss—a place so remote and cursed that even the native factions avoided it like the plague.

No one went there.

Because something lived in that place.

Something ancient. Something monstrous.

A demon so powerful that even approaching its domain risked waking it—and being devoured.

And now... it was stirring.

Ethan’s expression darkened. He didn’t hesitate. Grabbing a few of his top lieutenants, he headed north to investigate.

What they found made even him stop in his tracks.

Floating in the sky was a massive, grotesque demon head—its eyes shut tight, still in slumber. But the energy radiating off it was pure chaos, raw and unfiltered. It was like standing in the middle of a storm made of fire and blood.

And the power level?

Tier 19.

"Wait... what?!"

"Tier 19?! Are you serious?!"

Ethan’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected this. Not here. Not in the Abyss.

Ding!

"Congratulations, player Valkarion. You have unlocked the Abyssal Demon Dungeon. Defeat the demon to instantly ascend to Tier 19. You may also choose one subordinate to be promoted to the same Tier."

Ethan’s lips curled into a grin.

"Well... looks like we’re not done here after all."

...