NOVEL NEXT Chapter 210: Dodge Now
Atlas was resting on Theo's back as they raced across Aridonia, and the sun beamed down; thanks to growing stronger, the Blood Bat King could deal with most monsters that tried attacking them on their journey.
He watched as the dungeon creature tore apart a group of ulcer-looking monsters. A few hours later, the sun started to set as they passed by a giant karst; Atlas pointed at it and spoke to Theo, 'Land there boy; I need to rest.'
The summoned monster agreed and landed on the stone pillar with a thud. When he jumped off its back, a notification popped up.
[Dungeon Conqueror, the Otherworld and Call of The Void unlocked the Monster Realm to organize your creatures even better]
Atlas's eye widened in shock, but when he saw this, he activated it, and an azure portal appeared, causing Theo to be wary as the monster spoke, 'Why does it feel like the Void Realm but different?'
''It combined with another useful skill of mine,'' he answered the Blood Bat King.
Following that, Atlas entered the portal only to see the land he built for the Scalebreakers and Stormeagle, but what caught his attention was the five portals hanging in the air representing the dungeons he conquered.
Theo soon entered the Voidwalker Realm while glancing around in fascination before speaking in an amazed voice, 'Can you summon a few more of my kind Master? I believe we can live here as we would be outside the sungeon.'
Atlas looked at the Blood Bat King and agreed with a nod while pulling up the Stage One list for the Monster Realm.
***
[Stage 1]
[Rivers - Gently alters the terrain, enhances the fertility of nearby land, and provides water for creatures - Cost: 500 Mana]
[Floating Islands - Suspended above the ground, these islands provide new realms for your monsters to explore/Can make yourself a home - Cost: 3000 Mana]
[Grasslands - A fertile expanse of open plains/Food for certain members of your army - Cost: 500 Mana]
[Hills - Gently rolling terrain that adds texture to the landscape - Cost: 750 Mana]
[Mountains - Majestic peaks rise from the earth, providing shelter for rare species - Cost: 2000 Mana]
[Increase realm size - More space for the monsters - Cost: 5000 Mana]
[Underground Tunnels - Tunnels under the earth - Cost: 4000 Mana]
[Large lake - Cost: 3000 Mana]
[Mansion - Build a home for yourself wherever you want, including everything needed to live inside the Monster Realm - Cost: 50000 Mana]
***
Upon noticing this, Atlas expanded the realm, creating a vast lake for Medusa. He then introduced floating isles and extended the grasslands, giving Nala and her pack space to roam freely.
After that, he summoned the Death Serpent, Death Gorillas, Dreadmaw Lions, and more Blood Bats. The creatures expressed their gratitude before setting up their new homes throughout the realm.
'I can feel them at peace,' he mused. 'I need to get more monsters, but I won't add just any; they must be strong and smart.'
Atlas sensed that Raymond and Cera were busy with their lives. He smiled when he saw all his monsters growing stronger thanks to basking in his void mana, which would be helpful in the future.
Once done, he summoned Drax, the Void Raptor King, and a dozen smaller ones. The giant monster looked at him as his voice rang in his mind, 'Make yourself at home. When I call upon you, it will cost the same, but I can summon you to the Voidwalker Realm at no cost.'
The colossal dinosaur nodded in acknowledgment before unleashing a mighty roar to command its horde of Void Raptors. The monsters charged into the dense jungle to set up their new homes.
Afterward, Atlas set up his tent and built a fire, admiring the Monster Realm and the starry sky above. "I'll gather more creatures for my growing army," he muttered, "but they must be strong."
He added more wood to the firepit before lying down, gazing up as shooting stars streaked across the night sky. Once it was roared to life, Atlas pulled out his sleeping bag and lay down.
Feeling comfortable, Atlas drifted off to sleep as the roars and chirps of the surrounding creatures echoed through the night, yet none dared approach his camp. The following day, he awoke with a yawn, only to see a fierce storm raging across the Voidwalker Realm.
Atlas stood up, packed away his gear, and called for Nala. The lioness appeared within seconds, licking him affectionately, bringing a smile to his face. He stroked her sleek fur before climbing onto her back, and together, they charged through the portal.
They appeared atop the karst, and Nala started jumping down as Atlas spoke, 'We're heading Southeast. We need to reach Carthage to heal my arm and Lilith.'
Following that, the duo traveled across Aridonia and dodged army patrols. It took them a few days to reach the area the capital was in, but as they got close, chaos erupted. Nala barrelled straight into a battle.
Thousands of soldiers clashed in a brutal battle, and the moment both sides spotted Atlas and Nala, they attacked. 'What's going on here?' he wondered, his eyes narrowing. 'Looks like we'll have to fight our way through.'
Nala tore through dozens of enemies with lethal precision while Atlas unleashed a barrage of Void Bullets, cutting through the swarm of attackers. Explosions rang out and sent the soldiers flying.
The lioness bounded across the battlefield as arrows flew toward them, causing him to cast Void Guard. As the shield appeared, the projectiles pinged off it, allowing them to pass through unharmed.
Hours later, Nala stopped running when the duo arrived on top of a hill a mile away from the Nubian capital. Atlas spotted the massive city stretching out in all directions, with three walls guarding different sections.
'This place is giant,' he mused. 'How am I going to find a spirit mage?'
Atlas shrugged before speaking to Nala, ''Don't go near the city, girl; they will target us.''
'Yes, Master. There are some woods nearby; I will stop there,' she replied as she dashed down the hill.
A sudden, ominous feeling washed over Atlas as they neared the city, and he shouted, "Dodge now!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than explosions erupted around them, hurling him through the air. Nala let out a pained roar, but Atlas swiftly sent her to safety before crashing down himself, with his Void Guard absorbing most of the impact.
Fueled by a rising fury, Atlas sprang to his feet, eyes locked on the horde of Nightowls and Immortal soldiers charging toward him. A momentary pang of uncertainty flickered in his mind, but he quickly crushed it.
'I can't back down. Only the strongest survive,' he thought, his heart pounding with resolve.
The first Nightowl assassin darted in, blade flashing in the dim light. Atlas knocked aside the attack, then drove his blade through the killer's throat in a single, lethal thrust. He spun on his heel without hesitation, narrowly avoiding another attacker's strike.
With a slash, he severed the soldier's ankles, sending the foe crashing to the ground in agony. Atlas unleashed his fury with a primal roar, moving like an azure storm through the battlefield.
These were the hunters who had chased him across Aridonia, and now they had finally caught up. But they would regret it. His body surged with energy as he faced them head-on, Void Guard shimmering around him like a shield of darkness, deflecting incoming strikes from every direction.
Sparks flew as swords clashed against the shield, but none could break through. Atlas lunged at an Immortal soldier and slammed his palm into the soldier's chest while unleashing a devastating Void Blast right in their face.
The explosion sent the Immortal flying back, his armor shattered, leaving nothing but a crater where he once stood. More enemies swarmed him, but he was a blur of motion, dodging and countering brutally.
Atlas ducked beneath a Nightowl's sweeping attack, but it knocked his sword out of his hand. He still managed to retaliate with a bone-shattering punch, Void energy rippling from his fist as the attacker's body crumpled.
Another Immortal came at him with a spear. Atlas spun out of the way and delivered a devastating upward strike, slicing the weapon in half before driving his blade through the warrior's chest.
With every enemy that fell, his fury only intensified. Each strike, block, and dodge became sharper, driven by an unyielding rage that carved a path through the relentless horde trying to capture or kill him.
Twenty minutes later, even more Immortals and Nightowls surrounded him, their faces filled with shock as they took in the battlefield littered with hundreds of lifeless bodies. His remaining arm hung limp by his side as an enemy managed to slash it.
'I need to get out of here,' Atlas thought, glancing around the chaos as an idea came to him, causing a smile to appear.
In a flash, he began hurling Thunderclap, Frostfall, and Inferno Bombs at the enemy, creating utter mayhem. As smoke enveloped the area, he summoned Theo, who swooped in to lift him high into the sky.
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