Flashback to daytime.
When Adeyemi saw the notification for the worldwide survival quest, he didn't let it bother him. His only focus was to grow stronger, reclaim his ancestral land, and rule over it as the rightful heir. Unlike before, his black eyes now glowed red, and even his hair carried hints of red. The aura around him was thick, heavy with the scent of blood. Adeyemi was now a Level 7 Ascendant, and he seemed to have control over his strength.
Niyi and Philip were beside him, observing the notification on their screens.
"What do you think, Niyi?" Philip asked.
"I don't know, but it seems we've met all the requirements for the quest," Niyi replied cautiously.
"Yeah, and I don't see any usefulness in this quest," Philip added, pondering aloud.
"That's because it was never meant for us in the first place," Adeyemi interjected, his voice filled with confidence and authority. "It was designed for those who have yet to fulfill the requirements."
"Not for us? Then who?" Philip asked, his brow furrowed.
Adeyemi smirked slightly. "It seems you're all brawn but no brain, Philip." Philip's face burned with embarrassment, but he stayed silent; he knew the prince was speaking the truth. Philip had never been a thinker—if a problem could be solved with money or power, he would use them, but his mind had rarely engaged in critical thought.
"This quest is for those who don't want to participate, who hide away in corners to avoid being toyed with by the gods," Adeyemi explained.
"Oh, so that's how it is," Philip nodded, understanding the situation better.
Niyi also nodded, seeing the potential in Adeyemi's words. Then, a thought struck him, and he saw an opportunity.
"Your Highness, I have an idea," Niyi said, leaning forward slightly.
"What is it?" Adeyemi asked, intrigued.
Philip turned to Niyi with suspicion, as if questioning his sanity. Adeyemi, however, simply pondered quietly.
"How about we turn this situation into something that benefits you?" Niyi proposed.
Philip stared at him, incredulous. "Outsmart the gods? Your brain can handle that?"
Adeyemi glanced at him, unimpressed. If not for Philip's loyalty, he might have punished him for his foolishness. He ignored him, turning his attention to Niyi.
"Leave him be. Tell me your plan," Adeyemi said, voice firm. Philip's scowl deepened, but he remained silent.
Niyi ignored Philip completely. "We can use this opportunity to help others become Ascendants while ensuring they become loyal and indebted to you, Your Highness," he explained.
Adeyemi's eyes lit up as he understood the scope of the plan. By helping others, he could cultivate loyalty and indebtedness. They would see him as their savior, and in return, he could build a strong army of Ascendants, all bound to him.
For the first time in a while, a smile appeared on his face. His path to reclaiming his ancestral land now seemed brighter, more fruitful.
"Niyi, you are a great friend. When I rebuild our kingdom, you will be my right-hand man, answering only to me above all others," Adeyemi praised.
Niyi bowed humbly. "No, Your Highness. It is already my greatest pleasure to help you achieve your goals, and we haven't even reached there yet."
"Yes, you are right. We haven't reached there. Until that time," Adeyemi said, nodding.
"Philip, you should…" Adeyemi began, but before he could finish, monsters appeared out of nowhere, charging toward them. The creatures had grown stronger, their ability to evade senses was unexpected.
The three immediately assumed battle stances. The monsters' numbers were overwhelming, and Adeyemi realized that if they engaged recklessly, death was imminent.
"Let's get out of here," Adeyemi commanded. He wasn't running out of fear, but as an aspiring wise ruler, he knew when to fight and when to retreat.
Adeyemi, Niyi, and Philip sprinted away at full speed, leaving behind nothing but dust as the monsters lunged futilely at empty space.
As they moved, they encountered similar scenes: humans struggling against monsters but falling due to their weakness. Adeyemi and his guards intervened, eliminating the beasts to give civilians a chance to survive.
Later, Niyi observed something interesting. The monsters they killed hadn't helped the people at all. He suggested to Adeyemi that they beat monsters until they were half-dead and then let civilians finish them off. This method allowed humans to awaken their Ascendant potential while building loyalty toward Adeyemi.
They repeated this process, helping humans ascend and ensuring their loyalty, quietly amassing a personal army of Ascendants.
Eventually, they noticed a group of people forcibly taking weak civilians, those who hadn't yet ascended but had survived the apocalypse. Adeyemi's instinct was to rush forward, but Niyi and Philip restrained him.
"Your Highness, we need to be careful," Niyi warned. "This is the first time we've seen a group so organized."
"I agree. They could be cults or powerful factions. We must be cautious," Philip added.
Though Adeyemi's patience was tested by the brutality in front of him, he held back his impulses. They continued following the group from a distance, even losing track when the enemies used vans for transport.
By nighttime, they reached the faction base. Adeyemi assessed the heavy security. He used his senses to detect powerful individuals inside, but his range was limited.
Once the guards were momentarily distracted, the trio silently neutralized them, knocking them out without killing them. Adeyemi had no intention of taking human life unnecessarily.
With the guards incapacitated, they pressed forward. What they saw inside shocked them. It was the same group of civilians kidnapped earlier, now trapped in a massive arena cage. Monsters fed on their flesh and bones, while surrounding Ascendants cheered as if watching a grand spectacle.
Adeyemi's blood ran cold.
This was a truth far darker than anything outside, it wasn't monsters or Mutated beasts on the streets that were the greatest threat; it was humans who had discarded their humanity, reveling in the suffering of others.
His aura flared to full strength, enveloping him and his two guards. The room's atmosphere grew icy, fear gripping the hearts of everyone present. For the first time, Adeyemi's killing intent wasn't aimed at monsters, but at humans like himself who had become worse than beasts. He was determined to make them pay for existing in this world.