Keep Low Profile, Hero!: Abyssbound

"Commander, what do you mean?"

"It's hard to believe, but the Stupid Monkey has actually made it to the 6th floor."

Rakan shook his head in confusion.

"Hah, fine. I'll try to catch him while we pass through."

"Good. You may leave now."

"I'll take my leave, then."

Rakan gave a slight bow, turned around, and started walking away.

"Ah, one more thing."

Rakan stopped, hearing the voice from behind the door.

"Be careful of the Evil Dragon."

"... I'll keep that in mind, Commander."

A shiver ran through my body.

The Evil Dragon. They were a terrifying race, even the Monster Emperor couldn't fully control them.

Their aggressive and impulsive nature made them untamable by anyone, despite being intelligent lifeforms like us.

"But don't worry, they rarely leave their nests."

Not long after, the spaceship we were aboard reached the island where the Evil Dragons and Stupid Monkey were located.

Two spaceships were docked near this world-sized island.

One belonged to the Two-Headed Lion, and the other to the Thundering Sky Drake.

"So, you're the representative of the Thundering Sky Drake?"

"And you?"

"I'm Rakan, of the Two-Headed Lion race."

"Dread, of the Thundering Sky Drake."

We met in the void of space.

Both of our ships remained docked along the starry river, which connected the paths between islands.

We quickly descended and entered the island inhabited by the Evil Dragons.

"Is that him?"

Dread spoke with a monotone voice, showing no interest whatsoever.

I squinted, observing the Stupid Monkey talking to himself like a lunatic and beating up monsters that clearly lacked intelligence.

"Yeah… I'm not sure if he's actually stupid or what…"

"Should we kill him?"

A murderous intent burned in Dread's eyes, but Rakan just watched calmly.

"Why don't we mingle with the lowly monsters and play with him?"

"Hahaha! Great idea! I love it! Let me go first!"

Dread dove down, his humanoid form transforming into a smaller Drake.

Rakan followed, his majestic humanoid figure gradually changing into a two-headed lion.

***

"Aren't you going to attack?"

I tilted my head. I thought they only knew how to fight recklessly, but it seemed like they recognized that I was stronger than them.

The Drake stepped forward and spoke. He was currently in his humanoid form, but I could sense his familiar energy.

"Congratulations, Stupid Monkey. Your race has evolved to the point where you could reach this place. You must have fought hard."

But the one confused was me.

"Stupid Monkey? Is that what you call the human race?"

"That's what you call yourselves. We call you Stupid Monkeys," replied the two-headed lion beside him.

It seemed humans were weak in this world.

"So, why don't you just die?"

The Drake beside the lion disappeared. I guessed his direction of movement.

I turned my head.

"Over here, idiot!"

The Drake struck my stomach hard.

"Kuack!"

Damn, he turned around the moment I saw his movement!

SWOOSH—

I was flung a kilometer away.

A streak of lightning quickly chased after my airborne body.

"Take this."

BOOM!

The Drake's heel rose and then kicked the mountain below, shattering it.

***

[A new skill has been created: Shadow Step (Grandmaster—Profound Stage)]

"Hmm? Where are you hiding, little rat—"

KWANG!

I countered, striking the Drake hard.

The Drake was thrown far to the side, momentarily stunned by a mild concussion.

"Shadow Step."

Quickly, I appeared behind the Drake's shadow.

"Corrosive Strike!"

***

[A new skill has been created: Corrosive Strike (Grandmaster—Profound)]

"Fourfold Cut."

A series of sword slashes—horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and a piercing stab—tore through the Drake's tough scales.

A deadly poison began spreading through the Drake's body.

I clasped my hands together as if forming a hand seal.

"Thunder Smite."

Dark clouds rapidly engulfed the battlefield.

A thunderclap echoed—a sound both eternal and fleeting.

A lightning bolt struck the Drake's body.

"RAWWRR!"

***

[A new skill has been created: Thunder Smite (Grandmaster—Profound Stage)]

A massive crater formed from the blue lightning bolt summoned by Arov.

Mountains shattered and collapsed, rivers vanished into steam.

Arov furrowed his brow.

"Pathetic… Is this the extent of your strength?"

Through the black clouds, the massive figure of a Drake covered in lightning and thunder emerged, startling Arov slightly.

"Seriously? You're even using lightning against me. I am Dread of the Thundering Sky Drake! Be proud, Stupid Monkey, for I'll show you what it means to be strong!"

Arov smirked.

"Heh, I haven't even used a third of my strength. Looks like I need to teach you a lesson!"

"Hmmph! Arrogant fool."

[Lightning + Shadow]

***

"Khukhukhu."

[Perfect Match!]

"How about we go all out?"

Dread couldn't believe this stupid monkey was still challenging her.

"Fine."

Dread reverted to her humanoid form. She now appeared as a tall woman with long blue horns on her head, white hair cascading down to her waist, and small wings extending from her arms to her wrists.

Arov was slightly taken aback.

"Heh, do you think that cute and beautiful form will save you?"

Dread's face flushed red with anger.

"...You insolent fool!"

She materialized a pair of gauntlets out of nowhere and equipped them.

"Time to die, stupid monkey!"

Thunder and lightning crackled from the heavens.

A fierce wind howled across the battlefield, creating soundwaves so intense they could shatter the eardrums of thousands.

An oppressive force crushed the area around Arov.

As the target, he bore the brunt of it. The ground caved in, mountains flattened, and unlucky monsters either perished instantly or fled in terror.

"This is..."

Wasn't this too much?

Nine hundred ninety-nine strikes of lightning formed in the sky, each one imbued with destructive blue energy.

If not for Everlasting Elemental Sovereign, Arov would have died on the spot.

"And they even have tracking capabilities!"

Wouldn't this world be destroyed the moment those bolts hit the ground?

Arov shivered at the thought. It felt as if all his earlier efforts had been in vain.

"Do you think I'm scared? Hahahaha! Bring it on, idiot! Let me feel your sting!"

Arov's mind sharpened as he prepared for the ultimate clash.

The 999 strikes of lightning descended toward him.

"Everlasting Elemental Sovereign Series..."

"Volt Eclipse."

[A new skill has been created: Volt Eclipse (Epic Tier 1—Entry Stage)]

[DANGER!!!]

[THE SKILL IS TOO POWERFUL! CONTINUING ITS EXECUTION WILL DESTROY THE WORLD...]

The world seemed to lose its color.

Light vanished from the land, and darkness engulfed everything.

Only a lunar eclipse remained to illuminate the shadowy domain.

Monsters and inhabitants of this world trembled in fear, their minds consumed by a single thought—death.

In this silent world, no being dared to move.

From the ground to the sky, a streak like a brushstroke cut through the heavens.

It seemed slow, yet it surpassed comprehension.

What about lightning? Wasn't it already fast?

Yes, it was fast.

Now imagine that lightning raced through shadows—how much faster would it become?

[Congratulations, Host has earned the title "World Destroyer."]

Lightning coursed through the shadows, obliterating every obstacle in its path.

Be it living creatures, landscapes, or anything in existence—it was all reduced to nothingness.

An overwhelming surge of mana conformed to the rules of this annihilation skill.

In the sky, Dread didn't even realize what had happened. Time seemed to freeze across the world.

Suddenly, she was obliterated by the very element she ruled over.

Even the mighty Thundering Sky Drake, a race born from lightning and thunder, perished under the bolts that struck her.

***

Space.

In the starry sky river connecting one world to another, two spaceships—one belonging to the Two-Headed Lion race and the other to the Thundering Sky Drake, remained docked on a nearby asteroid.

Their races rarely interacted due to the vastness of the 6th floor, which contained tens of thousands of worlds.

"Hmm... Haven't they been gone for too long?"

The Two-Headed Lion captain leaned back in his chair, frowning.

"It's been 30 minutes. Should I contact Team Leader Rakan?"

The conference table was filled with Two-Headed Lions of similar stature to the captain.

Their massive size necessitated a larger spaceship.

"No need. I've already received communication from Rakan."

The captain dismissed the suggestion.

A competitive glint burned in his eyes.

"Those Drakes or whatever they're called probably received the news too. Let's move quickly, we have to land there first."

"Understood, Captain."

At that moment.

In the first second—a supercharged electromagnetic wave swept through both spaceships.

In the second second—darkness blanketed the entire world.

In the third second—the world was obliterated.

"...Huh?"

The crew aboard both spaceships had no idea how to react.

Before their eyes, the world disintegrated into nothingness.

"..."

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(8/10)