The Demon Locking Tower—a Level 89 dungeon.
At this level, one could only marvel.
Level 89 represented the upper limit of emperor-level beings, a rank at which one commands unmatched strength across realms, deserving respect in every world. In Novak's previous life, few dungeons had ever reached such a peak. Yet, here in Somi Mountain, the Demon Locking Tower did, even starting from as low as level 10.
Such high entry requirements clearly pointed to the immense rewards within. Every dungeon of this scale offered boundless wealth, and the secret realms of Somi were no exception. This was why Novak remembered Re-M-anila City from his past life as a city of legendary riches. It hosted the highest concentration of secret realm dungeons in the Faeloria Country, a factor that strengthened the evolutionists in the region immensely.
Today, Novak knew of four such realms: the Old Sewer, the Plague Sewer, the Demon Village farther out, and the Cooling Incinerator. The variety ranged from high-grade to low-grade, and each one contributed to the growth of those evolutionists who braved them. To Novak, these dungeons represented untapped future wealth.
Somi, clearly, was also a major hub for secret realms, its gains and loot undoubtedly incredible. Novak immediately grasped the significance: Somi could become an exclusive training ground for the members of Chat Group No. 001. Access to it would allow them to amass power at a rapid pace.
However, Somi wasn't his to claim, nor did he plan to monopolize it. Expanding his influence strategically was Novak's primary goal, and as for Clare, Novak had no intention of undermining her for short-term gains. Besides, as impressive as Somi was, it couldn't compare to the vast riches hidden within the Abyss.
With these thoughts, Novak exhaled, then followed the group into the core of the Demon Locking Tower. In a flash of light, a dozen or so figures vanished from the tower entrance and emerged in a shadowy realm within.
The outer structure of the Demon Locking Tower seemed modest, barely a few thousand square meters—no bigger than a factory floor. But upon entering, Novak realized its vastness was on an entirely different scale. The interior stretched endlessly, bound only by the invisible barriers of the special spatial rules.
"Brother White," Ray Theon explained earnestly, "the monsters in here are all boss-level. Each boss has its own territory, though it's hard to say if other minions lurk in each territory. To clear this level, we just have to defeat the guardian monster."
Several of the others gave Ray an exasperated look. "Thanks, Captain Obvious!" someone muttered. "It's written on the Demon Locking Tower tablet right there. Let's go; with daylight on our side, those monsters are going down!"
Watching the determined faces around him, Novak gathered that the members of Group 001 had likely taken a beating in this tower recently. And soon, he saw why.
Before him loomed the infamous toad they had all complained about—a hulking, blue-green creature standing over two feet tall.
Even though the Demon Locking Tower scaled up to Level 89, its creatures were still bound by the universal rules. These boss-level entities could die and respawn according to the dungeon's mechanisms.
His Peeping Eye of Secret quickly assessed the creature:
[River Swallowing Toad] (Level 15 – BOSS)
『Once sealed within the Demon Locking Tower, these monstrous toads possess formidable physiques, devastating tongues, and mastery over water manipulation. However, their sluggish movements leave them vulnerable to fire and thunder.』
🔹 Attributes:(Abbreviated)
🔹 Skills:Giant Tongue Whiplash, Water Source Control, Mountain Smash...
The toad's yellow, slitted eyes snapped open as the assessment completed, immediately locking onto the group with an intense, predatory focus.
Novak held back from making a move, his gaze settling with interest on the enormous toad before him.
From his experience, the larger the creature, the more evolutionary points the black light virus would consume and refine.
"Big Toad, your Grandpa's back!" Ray Theon shouted excitedly, waving to the creature. "Brother White Emperor, don't rush; let the brothers handle this appetizer! Long Snake, come on!"
Anouk, catching on, gave Ray a blank look at the nickname but didn't comment. The white snake tattoo on his body seemed to come to life in that instant.
"Edict!"
With a booming command, the phantom of a white snake vanished, freezing the giant River Swallowing Toad in place. Ray Theon extended his hand, summoning a sudden bolt of lightning.
'Boom!'
The thunder's elemental force exploded—a power renowned as the most devastating attack in existence. Clearly, this Thunderwalker job transfer scroll was no ordinary item.
Novak, as expected, refrained from intervening, instead observing the group's strength with intrigue. Just a few moves were enough for him to recognize their potential.
Ray Theon, the so-called Whiplash of the Skies, was nothing less than a formidable ally—someone Novak knew well from a past life. Novak could sense, though, that Ray's injuries hadn't fully healed; leveling usually recovered most injuries, but perhaps these were sustained when he last changed professions.
Meanwhile, Anouk's abilities caught Novak's attention. As a 'Lesser Heavenly Official', his profession was firmly among the S-tier classes despite its unassuming name. With a single sealing order, he had immobilized a level-15 boss despite being only level 11—without even touching on abilities that synced with his talents, like summoning spirits from the Thunder Clan for temporary possession.
If a level-15 boss were that easy to handle, it wouldn't have bested the chat group No. 001 so many times before.
The thunder struck again, and suddenly, the River Swallowing Toad sprang up, releasing a fierce torrent from its mouth. The waves surged forward, nearly instant in their approach.
Still, Novak remained silent, unmoving. Vince, adjusting his black-rimmed glasses, stepped up, manipulating the waves until their flow slowed immediately. Vince was a 'Ghost Sailor', skilled in controlling water and undead forces.
The others quickly joined in—Puppet Masters, martial generals, warriors wielding Taoist spells. Each demonstrated their own unique abilities, like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea.
Yet Novak felt an unexpected sense of distance. These evolutionists were already at the forefront of evolution, yet a thick, impassable barrier seemed to exist between them and him—a barrier, perhaps, even stronger than the one between Mr. Zhou and Runtu.
[Note: The comparison to the one "between Mr. Zhou and Runtu" is likely referencing Lu Xun's famous story "My Old Home", where Mr. Zhou (the narrator) and Runtu (his childhood friend) become separated by social class and life circumstances over time.]