CHAPTER 85: ZEUS’ WORSHIPERS (2)

The disciples looked puzzled. Understanding combat theory was one thing—but applying it correctly was another.

One of them finally cupped his hands and bowed slightly. "We don’t understand quite clearly, Core Disciple Alaric. Would you mind demonstrating for us?"

The disciple spoke with careful respect. After all, incurring the wrath of a core disciple—especially in front of a Grand Elder—was a risk no newcomer dared take.

Alaric’s pride swelled at the display of deference. He extended his right hand toward a disciple.

Without hesitation, the selected disciple hurled his training sword into Alaric’s waiting palm, drawing the envious gazes of the others. Being the one whose sword Alaric chose—it was an honor they all craved.

But they held their envy in check. Gritting their teeth, they continued to observe in silence.

Alaric caught the wooden sword effortlessly, then gestured for the disciple who made the mistake to step forward.

Excitement lit up the chosen disciple’s face as he complied. A chance to spar with Alaric—an opportunity most would dream of.

Noticing the thick tension in the air, Alaric offered reassurance with a smile. "No worries. You’ll all get your chance to spar with me. Just watch closely. Learn from my stance, and understand your mistakes."

The atmosphere eased, the disciples’ envy melting into focused anticipation.

Alaric began to spar with the chosen disciple, offering corrections mid-combat, demonstrating technique, timing, and control. He engaged each disciple one by one, dissecting their form with surgical precision, correcting their posture and technique until the flaws were gone.

When the final bout concluded, Alaric returned the training sword and said with a smile, "Alright. Begin again from the start. With this technique mastered, you’ll all be formidable opponents."

And so, the training resumed.

Time passed—how long, no one could say. Eventually, the white-haired elder at the back stepped forward.

"You did well, Alaric."

"No worries, Sword Saint Victor. I’m merely passing on what you taught me."

Victor chuckled softly. "Do you mind if I have a word with your disciples?"

"I wouldn’t dare stop you."

"Good. Listen carefully," Han Sen said, clearing his throat. The disciples, still catching their breath, turned their full attention toward him.

"All of you were geniuses in the outside world," he began. "Some of you are young masters from powerful noble clans. You survived the Qi apocalypse—the same apocalypse that came when the self-proclaimed Soul God replaced the Qi energy our world once thrived on with soul energy."

His gaze swept over them slowly. "But I doubt many of you truly understand the bloodshed that paved the way for your clans’ current positions."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle.

"So tell me—what do you know about this world as a whole? Information is power. Before you were recruited to the Bureau, I’m sure many of you did your own research. So tell me—what do you think of this world?"

One of the disciples raised his hand hesitantly. Victor gave a nod of permission.

The disciple stepped forward slightly and spoke, keeping his words brief. "Apocalypse descended with the rise of Qi. But when the world stood at the brink of destruction, a god appeared and saved us by switching Qi to soul energy, giving us easy and direct methods to use the beast and zombies apocalypse to strengthen ourselves instead, not only that, he stopped the spread of the Zombies Apocalypse."

Victor let out a tired sigh. "Your information is... lackluster. Yes, it’s true that Deus Anima saved the world. But it might’ve been better if he’d left it to its natural course. His so-called help has brought more harm than good, the existence of this bureau in this Labyrinth, which you’ll are all fortunate to join, is to reduce the harm he caused to put world, taking the brunt of the consequences of the God’s actions."

He looked into the sky, as if seeking answers beyond the clouds.

"Unlike what everyone believes, this world is far from safe. It could be destroyed at any moment... and most wouldn’t even see it coming."

The air grew heavy with silence, and every disciple listened intently, knowing that whatever came next could shake the very foundations of what they believed.

*****

But then Victor suddenly asked them, "What do you think a Dungeon is? What do you think a Labyrinth is?"

"A dungeon is a secluded space that contains monsters, which when all the monsters in it are killed, would be destroyed and would be converted to the world energy and then used for the advancement of a world. While a labyrinth is a secluded place with beasts just like dungeons but killing all the monsters in a labyrinth would not bring destruction upon it unlike a dungeon."

"You’re right. For your information, E-rank to A-rank dungeons can be called secluded pocket spaces, not qualified to be called a world. But S-rank to SSS-rank dungeons are an entire world on their own," Victor said, revealing a shocking piece of information.

"A world?" One of the disciples blurted out in surprise, but he became embarrassed as everyone listening to Victor’s words started looking at him.

"Yes, a world," Victor said, his expression calm and serious, gaining the attention of these youngsters once more.

He took a momentary pause, letting the silence build tension, before throwing the bombshell.

"What if I tell you that this galaxy, this world you live in, this entire Earth... is an S-rank dungeon?"

"What!?"

"...!"

They were all shocked.

Some widened their eyes, others gasped loudly, and many of them simply stared in disbelief. A few of them instinctively looked around, as if suddenly unsure of the ground they were standing on. Many of them could not believe what they had just heard.

"Yes. The world you live in is a dungeon—an S-ranked one."

Alaric was not shocked by what Victor said, as he was told of this shocking information when he first entered the Salvation Bureau.

He watched the stunned expression on the faces of the recruits with an amused expression on his own. He remembered the day he was told this very same truth...