Two more months passed in the Dream Realm, and the hunt never ceased.
I had killed the Iron Spider Matriarch. Its massive, armored body now lay buried beneath the cavern where it once ruled. Its death marked a turning point—not just in my strength but in my confidence. If I could slay something like that, then maybe… just maybe… I could take down that Cursed Herald.
It was a dangerous thought, but I didn't reject it.
I had fought through swarms, dissected my techniques to perfection, and adjusted my entire fighting style to suit the monstrosities of this world. Every battle was a test, every kill a lesson, and with each victory, I stepped further away from who I once was.
But I wasn't done yet.
Now, I hunted not only for strength but for a purpose. The Dawn Shard. Somewhere in this endless labyrinth of tunnels and nightmares, it waited. A fragment of power, hidden deep beneath this land of horrors.
I had to find it.
My body moved on instinct, the rhythm of battle ingrained in every fiber of my being.
A pack of Crimson Gnashers lunged at me, their elongated jaws snapping hungrily. There were five of them, their gaunt, sinewy bodies covered in thin, pulsating flesh. Fast, aggressive, but reckless.
I sidestepped the first, its momentum carrying it past me, and slammed my palm into the back of its skull with a brutal snap. The second lunged from my blind spot, but I had already pivoted, driving my elbow into its throat with bone-crushing force.
The remaining three surrounded me, their fanged maws dripping with hunger. I didn't wait.
I lunged forward, feinting a strike before twisting into a low kick, a modified White Tiger Crescent Moon. My foot slammed into one's leg joint, shattering it instantly. The monster collapsed, howling, but I was already onto the next.
One of them leaped at me, but I met it mid-air, redirecting its force with a modified Heavenly Hand of Defense, using its momentum to slam it into the cave wall. A brutal crunch echoed as its bones shattered.
The last one hesitated. That was all the opening I needed.
I closed the distance in an instant, striking through its eye socket with the Mount Tai Dragon Claw technique, my fingers piercing straight into its brain. Its body convulsed before going still.
Five enemies. Less than ten seconds.
I barely had time to recover when another wave arrived.
Dark Stalkers. Silent, humanoid creatures with elongated limbs and dagger-like fingers. Six this time.
I didn't let them surround me.
I dashed forward, closing the gap before they could use their speed to their advantage. My palm struck one's throat with a precise burst of force. It collapsed instantly, but the others adjusted, their movements erratic.
A claw slashed at my side—I twisted, redirecting the force with a modified deflection from the Heavenly Hand of Defense, minimizing the impact. Another one lunged from behind. Tortoise Ripple. I aimed for the weak point in its structure, firing a compressed blast of air from my mouth. It staggered, just long enough for me to drive my knee into its chest, caving it in.
Two down. Four left.
They attacked together. I met them with absolute precision.
One tried to slash my neck—I ducked, grabbing its wrist and snapping it before driving my palm into its face.
Another went for my legs—I jumped, twisting mid-air, and slammed my heel down onto its skull.
The last two hesitated for a fraction of a second. That was all I needed.
I landed, pivoted, and ended them with a flurry of strikes, my body an extension of my will.
The fight was over. My body ached, but my mind remained sharp.
[You have slain Awekened Monster: Dark Stalker]
[You have slain Awekened Monster: Dark Stalker]
[You have slain Awekened Monster: Dark Stalker]...
[Your soul is full]
[Your soul takes shape]
I felt a heart wrenching pain from my insides, but i gritted my teeth and endured it, as i was forming my second soul core.
Name: Christopher
True Name: King of Men
Rank: Dreamer
Soul Core: Monster
Soul Fragments: [0/2000]
Memories: [Veil of the Sovereign's Sight],[Second Skin],[Casket of Forgotten Threads]
Echoes: -
Attributes: [Mind-Body mastery], [Enhanced senses], [Master of the Chi-You]
Aspect: [Sovereign's Edict]
Aspect rank: Divine
Innate ability: [Sovereign's Tribute]
Aspect ability: [Heavenly Gaze]
Flaw: [Mirror Touch Synesthesia]
I had been scouring the labyrinth for weeks now, searching for any sign of the Dawn Shard's location. The deeper I went, the more dangerous the monsters became. It was a brutal confirmation—I was heading in the right direction.
But the paths were deceptive, twisting endlessly. Caves that seemed promising led to dead ends. Ancient ruins of long-forgotten structures teased at secrets long buried, yet none held what I sought. The only clues I had were the shifting currents of energy, the faint traces of something greater hidden beneath layers of stone and time.
I had lost count of the hours, the days blending into one long pursuit. The silence between fights was suffocating, the only sound my own breathing and the distant echoes of the creatures that lurked unseen.
Then, finally, I found it.
A massive crevice, carved unnaturally deep into the earth. Unlike the other tunnels, this one was wrong—a heavy presence lingered in the air, a pulse of power emanating from below.
I stepped closer, peering into the abyss. It was different from the rest. The air was thicker, the shadows darker. This wasn't just another cave.
This was the entrance.
My grip tightened as I prepared to descend.
I had come too far to hesitate now.
The path to the Dawn Shard lay ahead.
And I was ready to take it.