# Chapter 1: The Ancient God's Inheritance "Lady Slyveria, why did we have to hire a mortal to lead us into the Ancient Gods Dimensional rift? He can only be a burden to us here!" The complaint came in a harsh whisper from Frank Blackwood, a dark-haired young man in his twenties whose chiseled features were marred by an expression of perpetual disdain. His combat boots crunched softly against the crystalline ground of the dimensional rift as he leaned closer to speak with the figure beside him, his voice carrying just enough to reach nearby ears despite his attempt at discretion. The young lady he addressed was breathtaking in a way that seemed almost otherworldly. Lady Slyveria Phoenixheart possessed deep blue eyes that held the depth of ocean storms, perfectly complementing her flowing blue hair that seemed to shimmer with an inner light. Her hair cascaded down to her waist like liquid sapphire, each strand appearing to move with its own ethereal grace. She was encased in a form-fitting Tier III combat suit that revealed her perfectly sculpted figure—curves that spoke of both feminine beauty and lethal strength honed through years of rigorous training. The combat suit itself was a marvel of both technology and artistry. Its midnight blue surface was inlaid with silver phoenix patterns that seemed to pulse with their own inner fire. The material hugged every contour of her body while providing maximum protection, its surface rippling occasionally with energy barriers. Just the combat suit alone was worth more than most kingdoms' annual treasuries—a Tier III combat suit was enough to spark wars between nations, yet this young lady wore one as casually as others might wear silk. "Have you ever been to an Ancient ruin before, Frank?" Her voice emerged as cold as winter wind, each word precisely enunciated with the authority of someone born to command. Despite her youth, there was something ancient and powerful in her tone that made even seasoned warriors step back involuntarily. Frank blinked rapidly, his confident demeanor cracking under her icy gaze. "Well… no, but—" He stammered, his earlier bravado evaporating like morning mist. "But he's only just a mortal and probably wouldn't ever awaken any talent. Look at the other legacy students—they brought scouts with actual skills, knowledge, and awakened abilities. With talents ranging from B-rank to A-rank, their survival rates would improve drastically. This mortal clearly knows nothing beyond basic survival." Frank gestured dismissively toward the front of their formation where a lean figure moved with quiet confidence. "Half the academies brought Evolvers as scouts, and Thunder Crown Institute even managed to secure a Super-soldier scout. Yet here we are, trusting our lives to someone who can't even access the System properly." Lady Slyveria's expression remained unchanged, but the temperature around them seemed to drop several degrees. "If you can survive entering nine Ancient rifts as a mortal without losing your life even once, maintaining a seventy-nine percent survival rate for your clients, then perhaps I would have chosen you instead." The finality in her tone brooked no argument. After delivering this cutting response, Lady Slyveria turned away from Frank completely, her attention returning to the path ahead. The subtle dismissal stung worse than any outright insult could have. Several paces ahead, the subject of their conversation moved with practiced stealth. Dravin Ashfall had heard every word of their exchange, and his calloused hands clenched into tight fists before slowly relaxing. The familiar sting of prejudice and dismissal washed over him, but he had long since learned to channel such emotions into fuel for his determination. Dravin had been working as a scout for more than five years now, ever since he'd turned fifteen and Old Man Yang had taken him under his wing. Yang had been an eccentric old hermit who lived on the outskirts of Crimson Falls City—a mortal like Dravin, but one whose knowledge of Ancient ruins and dimensional rifts was legendary among those who knew where to look. The old man had taught Dravin everything: how to read the subtle signs of dimensional instability, how to identify trap mechanisms that had survived millennia, how to navigate the twisted geography that existed in spaces touched by Ancient Gods. "Boy," Yang had said during one of their training sessions, his weathered face serious despite his usual jovial demeanor, "remember this well—talent and power can make you strong, but observation and wisdom keep you alive. The dead geniuses buried in these ruins were all more talented than you'll ever be, yet here they remain while you walk away." Those lessons had served Dravin well. Within the sprawling metropolis of Crimson Falls City, he had earned a respectable reputation among the scout community. A seventy-nine percent survival rate was nothing to scoff at—most scouts barely managed sixty percent, and those were usually Evolvers with awakened abilities. For a mortal to achieve such numbers was nearly unheard of. Yet despite his track record, clients remained few and far between. The guild system heavily favored those with awakened talents, and even when Dravin was hired, it was typically as a Squire rather than a true Scout. Squires handled menial tasks: carrying equipment, dissecting monster corpses for valuable materials, and providing basic reconnaissance. The real scouting—the dangerous advance work that determined the difference between life and death—was usually left to those with System access and awakened abilities. This contract with Lady Slyveria represented something he had dreamed of for years: his first major assignment as a genuine Scout. The payment alone would set him up for months, but more importantly, success here could elevate his reputation enough to break free from the mortal stigma that had held him back. But the stakes couldn't be higher. This wasn't just any dimensional rift—it was an Ancient God's Inheritance, and he was surrounded by the most dangerous and talented young people on the continent. Behind them, the assembled group represented a concentration of power that hadn't been seen in generations. Twelve Legacy Students from the most prestigious academies on the Azuran Continent had gathered, each accompanied by their own retinues of protectors and support staff. The political implications alone were staggering—if something went wrong here, it could destabilize the entire continental power structure. Lady Slyveria's entourage was typical of what surrounded them. She traveled with twelve protectors—six male, six female—each wearing Tier II Galactus Combat Suits that gleamed with inner light. These weren't merely bodyguards but elite warriors who had graduated from the Celestial Phoenix Academy's advanced combat programs. Each protector was at least a Rank 5 Super-soldier, with several approaching Rank 8. Behind them walked three figures in dark robes whose faces were hidden behind ornate masks—these were the most mysterious and probably most dangerous members of their party. Frank Blackwood served as the captain of Slyveria's protective detail. Despite his obvious prejudice against Dravin, he was undeniably skilled—a Rank 7 Super-soldier whose awakened talent, "Iron Will Manifestation," allowed him to project his determination as actual protective barriers. His silver-lined combat suit bore the scars of dozens of successful missions. Beside Frank stood Vivian Redthorne, a sharp-featured woman whose red hair was pulled back in a severe bun. Her talent, "Flame Sword Arts," allowed her to coat her weapon in fires that burned hot enough to melt steel. As Lady Slyveria's lieutenant, she was fiercely protective of her mistress's reputation and brooked no disrespect from anyone she deemed beneath their station. But Slyveria's party was just one of twelve similar groups spread throughout the dimensional space. The Legacy Students had entered the rift simultaneously from different access points, but the nature of Ancient God inheritances meant they would eventually converge on the same central location. From Thunder Crown Institute came Prince Kael Stormwind, whose mastery over lightning had earned him recognition as one of the most promising talents of his generation. His storm-blue hair crackled with barely contained electrical energy, and his every step left small scorch marks on the crystalline ground. Kael had brought with him two Rank 6 Super-soldier protectors and a scout who had reached the early stages of the Evolver realm. The representative from Berserker Storm Academy was Marcus Ironforge, a mountain of a man whose red hair and beard seemed to burn with inner fire. His awakened talent, "Berserker's Wrath," grew stronger the more damage he sustained, making him nearly unstoppable once a battle began in earnest. Marcus had foregone protectors entirely, instead bringing three scouts and a supply specialist, confident in his own abilities to handle whatever threats they might encounter. From Nature's Sanctuary College came Aria Thornweave, a gentle-looking young woman whose appearance belied her incredible power. Her long green hair was adorned with living flowers that bloomed and changed colors based on her mood. Her S-Rank talent, "Life Dominion," gave her control over plant life and healing magic that bordered on the miraculous. Aria's protectors were unusual—instead of human guards, she was accompanied by awakened plant creatures that moved with surprising grace and intelligence. The Ancient Beast Academy had sent Vera Dragonheart, a warrior whose very presence seemed to radiate barely contained violence. Her short-cropped black hair was streaked with silver, and her amber eyes held the vertical pupils of a dragon. Her S-Rank talent, "Ancient Dragon Berserker," was among the rarest and most powerful combat abilities known to exist. Unlike most berserker talents that simply increased physical capabilities, Vera's ability literally transformed her body, granting her draconic strength, scales that could turn aside most weapons, and claws capable of rending even enchanted armor. She carried a massive war hammer forged from the bone of an actual ancient dragon, and its weight would have crushed most Super-soldiers. The other academies had sent equally impressive representatives. From the Royal Military Institute came Prince Aldric Goldmane, whose noble bearing and mastery of protective magic made him a natural leader. Shadow Realm Academy had sent Zara Voidwalker, whose ability to manipulate shadows and darkness made her nearly invisible when she chose to be. Eternal Winter College's representative was Elena Frostborn, whose ice magic could freeze opponents solid in seconds. Inferno War School had sent Darius Flameheart, whose hellfire magic burned with temperatures that could melt stone. Cosmic Mystic University's Legacy Student was Luna Starweaver, whose stellar magic allowed her to channel the power of distant stars. Mountain Fortress Academy had sent Gareth Earthshaker, whose geological control could literally reshape the battlefield. Finally, Crimson Rose Institute had contributed Lydia Bloodthorn, whose blood magic was as beautiful as it was terrifying. Each Legacy Student represented not just individual power but the backing of institutions that had shaped the continent's history for centuries. The fact that all twelve academies had agreed to this joint venture spoke to the incredible value of whatever lay within this Ancient God's inheritance. The dimensional rift itself was classified as a Fourth-Tier Ancient God Inheritance, which placed it among the most dangerous and valuable ruins known to exist. Fourth-Tier inheritances were left behind by gods who had achieved partial transcendence before their deaths, meaning the rewards within could potentially elevate someone to levels of power that bordered on the divine. But there was a catch—one that had prevented the true powerhouses of each academy from entering personally. The inheritance was protected by an age limitation enchantment that prevented anyone with a bone age above twenty from entering the dimensional space. This meant that despite the incredible dangers within, only the youngest generation could attempt to claim whatever treasures awaited. Outside the rift, the greatest masters and grandmasters of each academy waited with barely contained anxiety. They had sent in their most precious students—young people who represented decades of careful cultivation and training. The political ramifications of failure were enormous, but the potential rewards were even greater. The dimensional space itself was unlike anything Dravin had experienced in his previous rift expeditions. Where most Ancient ruins felt dead and lifeless, this place thrummed with residual divine energy that made his mortal senses tingle with warnings. The sky above was a swirling canvas of colors that had no names, and the ground beneath their feet was composed of some kind of crystalline material that seemed to pulse with its own inner light. Strange flora dotted the landscape—trees with silver bark and leaves that chimed like bells in the wind, flowers that opened and closed in response to their approach, and grass that seemed to whisper secrets in languages that predated human civilization. The very air was thick with mana so dense that even mortals like Dravin could see it shimmering like heat waves. They had been traveling for several hours when Dravin suddenly stopped, his weathered instincts screaming warnings. The rest of the formation halted immediately—whatever his other shortcomings, everyone present understood that a scout's sudden caution could mean the difference between life and death. Dravin frowned deeply, his years of experience telling him something was fundamentally wrong with their current location. He squatted down and began scratching at the ground with his index finger, trying to gauge the material properties of the crystalline surface. Old Man Yang had taught him that understanding the environment was crucial to surviving in Ancient ruins—gods didn't build their treasuries without considering how the local conditions would affect potential threats. His finger barely made a mark on the crystal surface. That was unusual—most dimensional spaces maintained something resembling normal physics, even if magical laws were different. He pressed harder, applying all his mortal strength, but couldn't manage to scrape away even a small fragment. "What's the problem this time?" Frank's sneering voice cut through the tense silence. The protector's tone made it clear he believed Dravin was simply trying to appear important by manufacturing drama. "Are you pretending to be mysterious again?" If Frank had his way, this mortal would have met with an unfortunate accident long before they'd progressed this far into the rift. The mere presence of someone so weak among such an elite gathering was an insult to everything he believed in. Frank's own awakening had come early—at age twelve, he'd manifested his Iron Will talent during a school sparring match, and he'd never forgotten the intoxicating rush of power that had followed. To him, mortals like Dravin represented the kind of weakness that got real warriors killed. Dravin ignored Frank's contempt and drew his scouting knife—a well-maintained blade that had served him faithfully through dozens of expeditions. The weapon wasn't magical, but it was crafted from high-carbon steel and kept sharp enough to shave with. He drove the point downward with all his strength, expecting to at least score the crystal surface. The knife bounced off without leaving so much as a scratch. Dravin's face went pale as the implications hit him. In five years of scouting, he had never encountered material this resistant to physical damage. Even in the most dangerous ruins, basic tools could at least mark surfaces, even if they couldn't penetrate deeply. This level of hardness suggested something far beyond normal magical reinforcement. "Can you lend me your spear?" he asked, turning toward Lady Slyveria with an expression of growing concern. "Stupid mortal!" Frank exploded, his voice rising to a near shout. "How dare you ask the lady for her weapon? You actually have designs on a Tier III god-killer? You truly don't understand the immensity of heaven and earth!" Frank's outrage wasn't entirely without justification. Tier III weapons possessed artificial intelligence and actively resisted being wielded by those they deemed unworthy. For a mortal to even touch such a weapon could result in severe backlash—the weapon's spirit might actively harm someone it considered beneath its station. There were documented cases of mortals being killed instantly when they'd attempted to wield weapons far above their level. "Keep quiet!" Lady Slyveria's command cracked like a whip, and Frank immediately shrank back as if physically struck. Despite his higher cultivation level, something in her voice triggered an instinctive fear response that overrode his rational mind. She turned her attention to Dravin, her expression thoughtful rather than dismissive. "He's not entirely wrong. As a mortal, handling a Tier III god-killer could cause you serious harm. The weapon's spirit might reject you violently. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Perhaps I can assist instead." Dravin nodded gratefully, pointing at the crystalline ground beneath their feet. "I need you to pierce the tip of your spear into the soil below. Please start gently, then increase the force gradually." Slyveria raised an elegant eyebrow at the unusual request, but there was something in Dravin's manner that suggested this wasn't mere curiosity. She had hired him based on his reputation and Old Man Yang's recommendation—if he was concerned about something, she owed it to her team to investigate. "Lady Slyveria, don't dirty your weapon unnecessarily," protested another of her protectors, a young man named Devon whose talent for earth magic had earned him a place in her guard. "Allow me to test the ground instead." But Dravin shook his head firmly. "She's the strongest person here. If we're going to test this properly, it has to be her." Slyveria nodded slowly and drew her weapon—the Phoenix Heartspear, a legendary Tier III god-killer that had been passed down through her family for generations. The spear was a work of art as much as a weapon: nearly two meters of silvered metal topped with a three-pronged spearhead that seemed to burn with inner fire. Purple flames danced along its length, and the air around it shimmered with heat distortion. The weapon's spirit was ancient and proud, having bonded with seven generations of Phoenixheart family warriors. She positioned the spear point above the crystalline surface and slowly lowered it until the tip made contact. "Thud!" The sound was wrong—instead of the sharp contact of metal against crystal, it sounded more like a heavy object hitting something impossibly dense. The spear tip, which should have pierced the surface effortlessly, came to a complete stop without penetrating even a millimeter. Dravin's face went from pale to ashen. "Please… use more effort, Lady Slyveria." Slyveria frowned at his obviously panicked state, but her trust in his expertise overrode her confusion. She tightened her grip on the Phoenix Heartspear, and the weapon responded by glowing more brilliantly. Purple flames erupted along its length as she channeled her power through it, and a bloodthirsty aura filled the air around them. The strength of a Rank 9 Super-soldier was nothing to underestimate. Slyveria's muscles coiled like steel springs as she raised the spear overhead and drove it downward with her full power. The force of her strike was enough to shatter boulders, punch through castle walls, or pierce the hide of an Ancient Beast. "BOOM!" The sound of impact rolled across the dimensional landscape like thunder. The air itself trembled from the released energy, and several of the weaker protectors staggered backward from the shockwave. But when the dust settled and the energy dissipated, the Phoenix Heartspear had penetrated exactly three inches into the crystal surface. Three inches. After a full-power strike from one of the strongest Super-soldiers of her generation, wielding a legendary god-killer weapon, the result was three inches of penetration. The implications hit everyone simultaneously. Even Frank's sneer faded as he realized what they were witnessing. "What… what does this mean?" Slyveria asked, though her trembling voice suggested she already suspected the answer. Dravin's mind reeled as he processed the results. In his worst-case scenarios, he had expected the ground to be magically hardened—perhaps requiring significant effort to penetrate, but not completely resistant to damage. What they had just witnessed suggested something far more dangerous. "Can't even penetrate properly? Dead… we're all dead." The words slipped from his lips as despair threatened to overwhelm his rational mind. "Brat! What nonsense are you saying?!" Vivian snapped, her flame-wreathed sword appearing in her hand as if she intended to solve the problem through violence. "Speak properly, or you won't receive your payment!" The mention of payment helped Dravin focus. He took several deep breaths, drawing on Old Man Yang's teachings about maintaining clarity under pressure. "This is a theory I formulated myself through years of observation," he began, his voice steadying as he fell into the familiar rhythm of sharing professional knowledge. "The defensive capabilities of creatures within an Ancient ruin are directly proportional to the material hardness of the environment itself." The silence that followed his explanation was deafening. Everyone present was intelligent enough to grasp the implications immediately. "Are you saying," Slyveria asked carefully, "that if we can barely penetrate this surface, we would have similar difficulty breaking through the defenses of any monsters we encounter here?" Dravin nodded gravely. "Unfortunately, yes. This isn't just magical hardening—this is fundamental alteration of physical properties. Any creatures that evolved or were created in this environment would have natural defenses calibrated to the local conditions. If Lady Slyveria's full power can only achieve three inches of penetration, then the monsters here might have hide thick enough that our weapons would barely scratch them." The theoretical nature of his observation didn't make it any less terrifying. Most of the protectors present were Rank 5 or 6 Super-soldiers—significantly weaker than Slyveria. If she could barely damage the environment, what hope did they have against creatures adapted to it? At that moment, their discussion was interrupted by the approach of another group. Prince Kael Stormwind had noticed the commotion around Slyveria's formation and decided to investigate, his storm-blue hair crackling with electrical energy as he approached. "Lady Phoenixheart," he said with a formal bow that somehow managed to convey both respect and barely concealed romantic interest. "Is there some difficulty with your route?" Kael had been pursuing Slyveria for over a year, though his advances had been consistently rebuffed. His talent for lightning magic was genuinely impressive—few people their age could match his raw destructive capability—but Slyveria had shown no interest in romantic entanglements. Still, he persisted in hoping that demonstrating his power and reliability might eventually win her attention. Slyveria quickly explained Dravin's theory and the results of their test. As she spoke, Kael's expression grew increasingly troubled. When she finished, he turned to his own scout—a Rank 3 Evolver whose earth-sensing abilities had earned him a place in Thunder Crown Institute's expeditionary forces. "Marcus, what do you make of this theory?" Kael asked. Marcus Stonewall was a compact man whose awakened talent allowed him to sense the composition and hardness of earth and stone within a significant radius. He had been scouting for Thunder Crown Institute for nearly a decade and had developed a reputation for reliability and caution. He knelt and placed his palms against the crystal surface, channeling his talent to analyze its properties. After several minutes of concentration, he stood and shook his head dismissively. "The ground is indeed harder than normal, Your Highness, but this mortal is clearly exaggerating. A experienced Evolver like myself can sense that while the surface is magically reinforced, it's not impenetrable. He's probably trying to make himself seem more valuable by manufacturing danger." Marcus's dismissal was based on both professional pride and genuine conviction. His talent had never failed him before, and the readings he was getting, while unusual, didn't suggest the apocalyptic scenario the mortal was describing. To his enhanced senses, the crystal felt like extremely hard stone rather than something supernaturally impenetrable. Dravin's face flushed with frustration and fear as he realized his warning was being dismissed. "Please, you have to listen—" "Enough!" Kael interrupted, his voice carrying the authority of noble birth and exceptional talent. "I appreciate caution, but we can't let fear paralyze us. This is an Ancient God's inheritance—of course it's dangerous. That's why we're here instead of our elders." One by one, the other Legacy Students and their parties arrived as word spread of the discussion. Soon, nearly the entire expeditionary force had gathered to debate Dravin's theory. The consensus was clear—while they acknowledged that the ruins would be dangerous, most believed that Dravin was either mistaken or deliberately exaggerating the threat. Marcus Ironforge from Berserker Storm Academy was particularly vocal in his dismissal. "I've been in dozens of ruins," he declared, his massive frame radiating confidence. "Every scout tries to make their first major expedition sound like a death sentence. It's how they justify their fees." Aria Thornweave's response was more diplomatic but equally skeptical. "While I appreciate the mortal's concern, we can't make decisions based on untested theories. Our academies wouldn't have sent us here if the danger level was truly beyond our capabilities." Vera Dragonheart's reaction was typically blunt. "If the monsters here are stronger than expected, we adapt and overcome. That's what warriors do." Only a few members of the expedition seemed to take Dravin's warning seriously. Lady Slyveria herself remained thoughtful, clearly troubled by what they had witnessed but unwilling to abandon the mission based on theoretical concerns. A few of the more experienced protectors and scouts also showed signs of unease, but they were outnumbered and outranked by those eager to proceed. Dravin made one final desperate attempt to convince them. "Please, we should withdraw and report these findings to the academies. Let them send higher-level scouts to evaluate the situation properly. This isn't cowardice—it's prudence!" His plea fell on deaf ears. The combined political and personal pressures were too great. No Legacy Student wanted to be the one to abandon an Ancient God's inheritance based on a mortal scout's untested theory. The potential rewards were too great, and the social consequences of appearing cowardly would follow them for the rest of their lives. "Thank you for your concern, Dravin," Slyveria said formally, "but we will proceed as planned. However, I want you to remain close to me during our exploration. Your observations may prove valuable." It was the best outcome Dravin could have hoped for—at least one person was taking him seriously, even if she wasn't willing to act on his warnings. The twelve Legacy Students reorganized their formations and continued deeper into the dimensional space. Though they maintained separate groups for political reasons, the practical reality was that they were all following the same predetermined path. Ancient God inheritances were notorious for their linear design—multiple entrances that funneled challengers toward a single central chamber where the real treasures awaited. The path ahead led through a landscape that grew increasingly surreal as they progressed. The crystalline formations became larger and more complex, forming archways and spirals that defied conventional geometry. The air grew thicker with divine energy, and several of the more sensitive individuals began reporting minor hallucinations and temporal distortions. After several more hours of travel, their path terminated at a sight that left everyone speechless. Before them stood a gate that could only be described as divine in origin. Rising nearly a hundred meters into the swirling sky, the massive portal was crafted from what appeared to be solid gold, but gold that burned with an inner radiance that hurt to look at directly. Intricate carvings covered every surface—scenes of battles between gods and demons, of creation and destruction, of power beyond mortal comprehension. The gate stood partially open, revealing only darkness beyond its threshold. But from that darkness emanated a presence so overwhelming that several of the weaker protectors actually fell to their knees involuntarily. This was the gateway to the heart of an Ancient God's inheritance, and everyone present understood that crossing that threshold would change their lives forever—assuming they survived the experience. "The Gates of Eternity," whispered Luna Starweaver, her extensive studies of Ancient lore allowing her to identify the landmark. "According to the old texts, gates like this only appear at the entrances to the most significant divine treasuries." The various Legacy Students gathered before the gate, their earlier bravado replaced by a mixture of awe and terror. This was the moment of truth—beyond this point, there would be no retreat, no calling for help from their elders. Whatever lay within would have to be faced with their own strength and skill. Prince Kael was the first to speak. "We've come too far to turn back now. Our academies are counting on us." One by one, the others voiced their agreement. Even those who had been harboring private doubts about the wisdom of their mission found themselves caught up in the momentum of the moment. The potential glory of claiming an Ancient God's inheritance outweighed their fears. Dravin made one final attempt to dissuade them. "Please, reconsider. Something this powerful—we're not ready. None of us are ready." But his words were lost in the tide of determination and ambition. The Legacy Students began filing through the golden gate, their protectors and support staff following close behind. Slyveria paused as she reached the threshold, looking back at Dravin with an expression that might have been apologetic. "Stay close," she said simply, then stepped through the gate. Dravin had no choice but to follow. As the last member of their expedition crossed the threshold, the golden gate began to close behind them with the inexorability of fate itself. The space beyond the gate was a throne room of impossible grandeur. The ceiling disappeared into shadows so deep that they seemed to have substance, while the walls stretched away into the distance far beyond what the exterior dimensions should have allowed. The floor was polished marble that reflected their images with perfect clarity, creating the unsettling illusion of walking on the surface of a mirror-still lake. But it was the room's occupants that drew every eye and stilled every breath. At the far end of the chamber sat a throne that dwarfed everything else in sight. Carved from a single piece of black stone that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, the throne rose nearly a hundred meters into the air. Upon it sat the petrified remains of something that might once have been a god—a figure so massive that its outstretched hand could have held a dozen men, wearing robes that had turned to stone but still retained hints of their original magnificence. Kneeling before the throne were seven enormous humanoid figures—the Titans of old legend. Each stood at least thirty meters tall, their muscled forms carved from different materials: obsidian, marble, gold, silver, platinum, diamond, and what appeared to be crystallized starlight. Their arms were raised in supplication, and in their massive hands they held treasures that glowed with power so intense it was visible to the naked eye. Weapons, armor, scrolls, gems, and artifacts of every description filled the Titans' grasp. Even from a distance, it was clear that these were not mere magical items but relics of divine origin—treasures that could reshape the balance of power across entire continents. But perhaps most disturbing of all were the statue-lined walls of the throne room. On the left side of the chamber stood two hundred and forty demonic figures, each unique in its horrible magnificence. Some had multiple heads, others bore wings of tattered flesh, and still others wielded weapons that seemed to drip with malevolent energy. Every statue was carved with such incredible skill that they seemed on the verge of movement, their eyes following the intruders with malevolent intelligence. On the right side stood their counterparts: two hundred and forty angelic figures, each bearing eight wings and wielding weapons of light that hurt to look at directly. But these were not the benevolent angels of religious art—these beings radiated a cold, implacable judgment that was somehow more terrifying than the demons' obvious malice. The expedition members spread out across the throne room, their voices dropping to whispers in the face of such overwhelming grandeur. Everyone present understood that they were standing in a place of power that predated their civilization by millennia. "Incredible," breathed Prince Aldric, his training in military history allowing him to appreciate the strategic implications of what they were seeing. "The weapons alone could outfit entire armies." "Look at those scrolls," Luna added, her scholar's instincts overriding her caution. "Those could contain magical knowledge lost since the Age of Gods." The greed that filled the air was almost palpable. Despite the obvious dangers and the unsettling presence of the statues, every person in the room was calculating which treasures they might be able to claim. Marcus Ironforge was the first to act on his desires. The berserker had been staring at one particular Titan—the one carved from obsidian—whose raised hands held a war hammer that dwarfed even his own impressive weapon. The hammer's head was wreathed in flames that never went out, and its handle was inscribed with runes that seemed to writhe and change when viewed directly. "A Tier IV god-killer," he whispered, his voice filled with reverent hunger. "With that weapon, I could challenge even the Grandmasters." Before anyone could stop him, Marcus broke from the group and charged toward the obsidian Titan. His massive frame moved with surprising speed as he scaled the kneeling statue, his berserker talent beginning to activate in response to his excitement. Red energy crackled around him as he climbed, and his eyes took on the characteristic glow of someone whose rational mind was being subsumed by battle-lust. "Marcus, wait!" Prince Aldric called after him, but the berserker was beyond hearing. Marcus reached the Titan's outstretched hands and grasped the flaming war hammer. For a moment, triumph blazed in his eyes as his fingers closed around the weapon's grip. The hammer's flames seemed to recognize him as a worthy wielder, flaring brighter as he lifted it from the Titan's grasp. Then, without warning, Marcus Ironforge simply… came apart. There was no explosion, no visible attack, no dramatic display of force. One moment he was standing triumphant atop the Titan's hands, and the next moment his body was separating into perfect cubes, each no larger than a child's toy block. The cubes fell like bizarre rain, pattering against the marble floor with soft sounds that seemed impossibly loud in the sudden silence. Even Marcus's scream was cut into pieces. Everyone stared in horror at the neat pile of flesh cubes that had been, moments before, one of the most powerful young warriors on the continent. The war hammer he had tried to claim lay among the remains, its flames flickering innocently as if nothing unusual had happened. "What… what just happened?" someone whispered. Nobody had an answer. The attack—if it could be called an attack—had been so subtle that nobody had seen it coming. There had been no magical buildup, no warning signs, nothing that their enhanced senses had been able to detect. "Did anyone see what killed him?" Prince Kael demanded, electricity crackling more intensely around him as his fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. The responses were uniformly negative. Even the most skilled warriors present had observed nothing that could explain Marcus's death. "I swear I saw one of the statues move," said Devon, Slyveria's earth-magic protector. His voice was shaky, but he pressed on. "Just for a second, out of the corner of my eye." Several others began voicing similar observations—glimpses of movement that vanished the moment they tried to focus on them. The more they talked, the more certain they became that the statues were somehow responsible for Marcus's death. But it was Dravin who made the crucial observation that sent ice through everyone's veins. "Look at the third angel from the left," he said quietly, pointing toward the angelic statues with a trembling hand. "Its sword." Everyone turned to stare at the statue he had indicated. The eight-winged figure stood in the same pose as all the others—serene, majestic, holding its crystalline sword in a guard position. But the blade, which had been clean and pristine moments before, was now stained with fresh blood that still dripped slowly onto the marble floor. The implications hit them like a physical blow. The statues weren't just decorations—they were guardians, and they moved when nobody was watching them directly. "Weeping Angels," Luna whispered, her extensive reading finally providing a reference point. "I've read about constructs like this in the most ancient texts. They're quantum-locked—they can only move when unobserved, but they're incredibly fast and utterly lethal." The silence that followed her explanation was broken only by the soft drip of blood from the angel's sword. "How many are there?" Prince Kael asked, though he already knew the answer would be catastrophic. "Two hundred and forty demons, two hundred and forty angels," Aria counted, her face pale with horror. "Four hundred and eighty guardians total." "And how many of us are there?" Gareth asked, though he too already knew. "One hundred and fifty-three," Slyveria replied after a quick mental count of all the expedition members. The mathematics were brutal and simple. Even if each person could somehow defeat multiple guardians—which seemed unlikely given Marcus's instant death—they were outnumbered more than three to one by enemies that could strike without warning the moment attention wavered. As if summoned by their growing fear, the slaughter began in earnest. A scout from Mountain Fortress Academy simply vanished—one moment he was standing with his group, the next moment he was gone, leaving only a spray of blood on the floor. A protector from Crimson Rose Institute tried to turn and flee, only to find his head separating cleanly from his shoulders before he'd taken two steps. The deaths came faster than anyone could track. Blood began to paint the pristine marble floor as bodies fell in pieces, the guardians moving with surgical precision whenever eyes weren't directly upon them. "Back to back!" Prince Aldric shouted, his military training kicking in. "Form a circle! If we can keep all the statues in sight, they can't move!" It was sound tactical thinking, and the survivors immediately began implementing his strategy. The remaining expedition members—now reduced to perhaps eighty individuals—formed a tight defensive circle with their backs to each other, each person responsible for watching a specific section of the room. The killing stopped. For several tense minutes, they maintained their formation, eyes straining as they tried to keep track of nearly five hundred statues simultaneously. It was exhausting work—the human eye wasn't designed to maintain perfect vigilance over such a wide area, and everyone knew that the moment attention slipped, death would follow. Dravin found himself wedged between two of Slyveria's protectors, his mortal senses straining to contribute whatever he could to their collective defense. Perhaps because he lacked awakened abilities, or perhaps due to simple luck, the guardians seemed to prioritize targets with stronger magical signatures. For the moment, he was relatively safe. "We can't maintain this forever," Vivian said through gritted teeth, sweat already beading on her forehead from the strain of absolute concentration. "Someone's going to blink, someone's going to look away, and then—" "Then we die," Frank finished grimly. His earlier contempt for their mortal scout had evaporated in the face of their desperate situation. Survival had a way of clarifying priorities. But even as they spoke, their situation was about to become infinitely worse. The statues that had been frozen by their collective gaze began to tremble. Stone limbs that had been motionless for millennia started to crack and shift, and ancient joints began to move with the sound of grinding rock. "Oh no," Luna breathed, her scholarly mind immediately grasping what was happening. "The stasis field is breaking down. They're awakening fully!" She was right. Whatever mechanism had kept the guardian statues locked in their quantum state was failing, probably triggered by the massive number of deaths and the amount of spilled blood. The angels and demons were coming to full animation, and when that happened, being watched wouldn't stop them anymore. "Everyone, prepare for combat!" Prince Kael shouted, lightning beginning to dance between his fingers. "If we can't run and we can't hide, then we fight!" The transformation was terrifying to witness. Stone became flesh, marble eyes began to burn with inner fire, and weapons that had been decorative became functional implements of destruction. But most disturbing of all was the fact that the newly animated guardians completely ignored the huddled humans. Instead, they turned toward each other. What followed was a battle that defied description. Angels and demons clashed in aerial combat that shook the foundations of the throne room itself. Weapons of light met claws of darkness, and the resulting explosions sent shockwaves through the air that could pulverize stone. The humans found themselves caught in the middle of a divine war that had been frozen in stasis for countless centuries. Stray sword strikes carved trenches in the marble floor, missed spells created craters that glowed with residual energy, and the very air became thick with magical discharge that made it difficult to breathe. "This isn't about us anymore!" Slyveria shouted over the chaos, her Phoenix Heartspear manifesting protective flames around her group. "They're fighting their own war!" She was right, but that didn't make their situation any less deadly. The collateral damage from the battle was devastating. A missed hammer blow from a demon warrior struck the ground where Prince Aldric's group had been standing moments before, creating a crater ten meters wide. An angel's wing buffet sent three protectors flying into a wall with enough force to shatter bones. The expedition members scattered, abandoning their defensive formation in favor of trying to find cover wherever they could. Some hid behind fallen chunks of masonry, others pressed themselves against the walls and prayed that the battle would pass them by. But there was no true safety to be found. The throne room had become a battlefield where gods and demons fought with weapons that could reshape reality itself. Every step was potentially fatal, every breath could be their last. Slyveria found herself separated from most of her protectors, sheltering behind one of the kneeling Titans with only Frank, Vivian, and two of the masked figures for protection. The Phoenix Heartspear blazed in her hands, its flames providing a barrier against the worst of the magical discharge, but even her considerable power was barely adequate to the task. A stray blast of hellfire from a demon's weapon caught her directly in the chest, sending her flying across the chamber to crash into a marble pillar. Blood sprayed from her lips as several ribs cracked from the impact, and her combat suit's energy barriers flickered dangerously low. "Lady Slyveria!" Frank shouted, abandoning his own cover to rush to her aid. But before he could reach her, an angel's sword strike meant for a demon opponent caught him across the torso, and his upper and lower body separated with surgical precision. Slyveria struggled to her feet, calling upon her phoenix heritage to begin healing her injuries. But the damage was severe, and her regeneration was slow. Another stray attack—a demon's claw swipe that missed its angelic target—opened deep gashes across her back, and her phoenix flames flickered as her strength wavered. It was then that one of the masked figures revealed its true nature. The dark robes fell away to reveal not a human protector but an ancient artifact—a death-replacement doll crafted by master enchanters generations ago. The doll absorbed the killing blow meant for Slyveria, crumbling to dust as it transferred her fatal wounds to itself. But the dolls were finite resources, and Slyveria had brought only three. Over the course of the hour-long battle, she was struck by five separate attacks that should have been lethal. Each time, one of the precious artifacts sacrificed itself to preserve her life, but by the end, she was exhausted, wounded, and completely vulnerable. It was then that Dravin made his choice. The mortal scout had been watching the battle with growing desperation, seeing the people around him—people he had come to respect despite their initial prejudice—being cut down by forces beyond their comprehension. When he saw Slyveria stumble, her phoenix flames guttering like a candle in a hurricane, and noticed the demon warrior whose wild swing would crush her skull in the next instant, something inside him snapped. He threw himself forward without hesitation, putting his own body between the descending claw and the woman who had been the only one to treat him with genuine respect. The demon's claw, meant to deliver a glancing blow to an angel opponent, caught Dravin directly in the head. His mortal skull, unprotected by magical barriers or enhanced physiology, shattered like an eggshell. He was dead before his body hit the ground. But in that moment of sacrifice, something extraordinary happened. Death was not the end for Dravin—it was a transformation. His consciousness, scattered by the physical destruction of his brain, suddenly found itself somewhere else entirely. Memories that were not his own flooded through his awareness—memories of another life, another world, another existence entirely. He had been James Chen, a software engineer from Earth who had died in a mundane traffic accident. He had been reading a web novel on his phone during his lunch break, a story about cultivation and system mechanics and beautiful women who could level mountains with their power. The truck that ran the red light had killed him instantly, but apparently, death was not the end of his story. When consciousness returned, Dravin—or James, or some fusion of both identities—found himself looking up at the chaotic battle still raging around him. But something had changed. Something fundamental had shifted in the way he perceived reality. Floating in his vision was a translucent blue screen that definitely hadn't been there before: **[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]** **[XXX Beauty Bonding System Activated]** **[Host Status: Recently Deceased - Emergency Protocols Engaged]** **[Congratulations! You have been selected as a Host for the Ultimate Beauty Bonding System!]** The system interface was exactly like something from the web novels he had read in his previous life, complete with stat screens and upgrade options and a distinctly perverted twist that made him wonder what kind of cosmic entity had designed this particular form of reincarnation support. **[System Functions Available:]** - **Beauty Bonding Contracts** - Form permanent magical bonds with female targets - **Shared Power Enhancement** - Gain percentage of bonded partners' abilities - **Upgrade Shop** - Use Sex Points to purchase improvements and items - **Lottery System** - Random rewards based on Sex Points investment - **Partner Enhancement** - Use Sex Points to increase bonded partners' power levels **[Current Host Status:]** - **Name:** Dravin Ashfall (James Chen) - **Age:** 20 - **Cultivation Level:** Mortal (Recently Deceased) - **Available Sex Points:** 10,000 (Starter Package) - **Available Bonding Slots:** 3 (Upgradeable) **[Emergency Situation Detected!]** **[Scanning for viable bonding targets in immediate area…]** **[Scan Complete: 3 Compatible Targets Identified]** Three names appeared in glowing text: 1. **Slyveria Phoenixheart** - Compatibility: 94% 1. **Aria Thornweave** - Compatibility: 87% 1. **Vera Dragonheart** - Compatibility: 91% The system was offering him a chance not just at survival, but at power beyond anything his mortal existence could have provided. But it came at a cost—he would need to convince these women, in the middle of a battle for their lives, to accept magical contracts that would bind them to him permanently. **[Warning: Host's current physical condition is critically unstable. Immediate bonding recommended to establish power base sufficient for survival.]** **[Note: Due to Host's low level, bonding requests will be sent through targets' existing System interfaces. Accept/decline options will appear to them as emergency assistance offers.]** Dravin could feel his physical body beginning to fail as his consciousness stabilized in this strange new existence. Whatever force had brought him back was temporary—without a significant increase in power, he would die again, and this time it would be permanent. He activated the bonding function, targeting all three women simultaneously. Across the chaotic battlefield, three separate women suddenly found urgent notifications appearing in their personal system interfaces: **[EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE OFFER RECEIVED]** **[Source: Dravin Ashfall - Mortal Scout]** **[Offer: Immediate power enhancement and ongoing mutual strengthening]** **[Warning: Acceptance will result in permanent magical bonding]** **[Current Situation Analysis: Critical danger - multiple party members deceased]** **[Recommendation: Accept assistance - probability of survival increases by 847%]** **[Accept: YES / NO]** Slyveria, bleeding and exhausted, stared at the notification with a mixture of confusion and desperate hope. Dravin was dead—she had seen his body fall—but somehow he was offering help through the System itself. The power enhancement promised was exactly what she needed to survive the ongoing battle. But the mention of "permanent bonding" gave her pause. In the cultivation world, such bonds were not entered into lightly. They typically involved sharing not just power but life force, emotions, and sometimes even thoughts. It was a level of intimacy that went far beyond mere alliance. Another stray attack—a demon's flaming whip that carved a molten line across her shoulder—helped make the decision for her. She was going to die if something didn't change, and soon. **[Accept: YES]** The moment she made the selection, Dravin felt a surge of power unlike anything he had ever experienced. Slyveria's strength, her phoenix flames, her years of combat training—all of it flowed into him like molten gold poured into an empty vessel. He gained twenty percent of her total power, along with random selections of her skills and abilities. But more than that, he gained access to her talent itself. Phoenix flames that could burn away death and rebirth the dying suddenly blazed within his own spiritual channels, and he felt his physical body beginning to reconstitute itself around his renewed consciousness. **[Bonding Successful! Host has gained:]** - **20% of Slyveria Phoenixheart's total power** - **Skill: Phoenix Flame Manipulation (Intermediate)** - **Skill: Spear Mastery (Advanced)** - **Talent: Phoenix Heritage (Diluted)** - **Current Cultivation Level: Rank 3 Evolver** The transformation was immediately apparent to Slyveria as well. She felt strength flowing back into her exhausted body, her phoenix flames burning brighter than they had in years, and a strange connection forming in her mind—not intrusive, but definitely present. **[Using 1,000 Sex Points to enhance bonded partner…]** **[Slyveria Phoenixheart elevated from Rank 9 Super-soldier to Rank 1 Fiendgod]** The change in Slyveria was dramatic. Her aura erupted like a solar flare, phoenix flames wreathing her entire body as her cultivation base expanded exponentially. The combat suit that had been barely maintaining its protective barriers suddenly blazed with renewed power, and the Phoenix Heartspear sang with joy as it recognized its wielder's enhanced strength. For the first time since the battle began, Slyveria was able to not just survive the stray attacks but actually defend herself effectively. She could dodge the slower demon strikes and deflect the weaker angelic blasts, transforming from helpless victim to capable survivor in seconds. Seeing this miraculous transformation, both Aria Thornweave and Vera Dragonheart made their own desperate choices. Aria had been using her plant magic to create barriers and shelters for other survivors, but her efforts were barely delaying the inevitable. When the same emergency assistance offer appeared in her interface, she didn't hesitate. **[Accept: YES]** Vera, meanwhile, had been trying to use her berserker talents to fight back against the divine warriors, but even her incredible strength was woefully inadequate against enemies of this caliber. Her dragon heritage gave her enhanced durability, but she was still taking damage faster than she could deal it. **[Accept: YES]** Both acceptances sent new surges of power through Dravin's rapidly reconstructing form. Aria's nature magic and healing abilities merged with his growing power base, while Vera's berserker strength and dragon heritage added raw physical capability that his previous mortal form had never possessed. **[Multiple Bonding Successful! Host has gained:]** - **20% of Aria Thornweave's total power** - **20% of Vera Dragonheart's total power** - **Skills: Plant Manipulation (Master), Healing Magic (Advanced), Dragon Berserker Rage (Intermediate), Hammer Mastery (Advanced)** - **Talents: Life Dominion (Diluted), Ancient Dragon Heritage (Diluted)** - **Current Cultivation Level: Rank 9 Evolver** The combined power of three S-rank talents, even in diluted form, elevated Dravin from a mortal who couldn't scratch crystal ground to someone who could stand among the elite Super-soldiers of the continent. But more importantly, it gave him enough power to enhance his bonded partners to levels where they could actually survive the divine battlefield around them. **[Using 2,000 Sex Points each to enhance bonded partners…]** **[Aria Thornweave elevated from Rank 6 Super-soldier to Rank 1 Fiendgod]** **[Vera Dragonheart elevated from Rank 8 Super-soldier to Rank 1 Fiendgod]** The changes in both women were immediately apparent. Aria's plant magic exploded outward, creating barriers of living wood that could actually withstand glancing blows from divine weapons. Vera's dragon heritage fully awakened for the first time, scales appearing along her arms and face as her strength multiplied beyond anything she had previously achieved. But Dravin wasn't finished. The battle was still raging, and Fiendgod-level power was still barely adequate for survival in their current situation. **[Using 4,000 additional Sex Points for emergency upgrades…]** **[All bonded partners elevated to Rank 3 Fiendgod]** The final enhancement pushed all three women into a realm of power that few individuals on the continent had ever achieved. Slyveria's phoenix flames now burned with intensity that could melt steel, while Aria's control over plant life allowed her to create defensive barriers that rivaled military fortifications. Vera's berserker rage, enhanced by her dragon heritage and elevated cultivation, made her a force of destruction that could actually contribute meaningfully to the divine battle raging around them. More importantly, they could now survive long enough to attempt an escape. "Everyone who can move, head for the exit!" Dravin shouted, his voice carrying clearly despite the chaos. His reconstructed body was still weak, but his enhanced cultivation level gave him enough presence to command attention. The surviving expedition members—now reduced to barely twenty individuals—began fighting their way toward the golden gate through which they had entered. It was a running battle, with divine warriors on both sides treating the humans as minor obstacles to be swept aside rather than primary targets. Elena Frostborn created ice barriers to deflect stray attacks, while Prince Aldric's protective light magic shielded the weaker survivors. Luna Starweaver used her stellar magic to create brief moments of blinding radiance that confused the battling angels and demons, giving the humans precious seconds to advance. Lydia Bloodthorn's magic proved surprisingly useful in the chaotic environment—her ability to manipulate blood allowed her to guide stray attacks away from the group, redirecting deadly strikes to hit empty air instead of fleeing humans. But it was the three enhanced women who made the real difference. Slyveria carved a path through the battlefield with phoenix flames that could actually harm the divine warriors, while Aria's plant barriers provided mobile cover that could withstand significant punishment. Vera served as their anchor, her berserker rage and dragon strength allowing her to physically move or destroy obstacles that would have blocked their escape route. The retreat was a nightmare of close calls and miraculous escapes, but eventually, the survivors reached the golden gate. One by one, they threw themselves through the portal, desperate to escape the divine war that showed no signs of ending. Dravin was among the last to exit, his enhanced senses allowing him to confirm that no other survivors remained in the throne room. As he crossed the threshold, he looked back one final time at the battle that had transformed him from a mortal scout into something unprecedented. The angels and demons continued their war, oblivious to the humans who had briefly shared their battlefield. Whatever ancient conflict had been frozen in stasis was now playing out to its conclusion, and the outcome would reshape the very foundations of divine power. But that was a concern for beings far above Dravin's current level. For now, he was simply grateful to be alive—and amazed by the power that flowed through his transformed body. As the golden gate sealed itself behind them, the surviving members of the expedition found themselves back in the crystalline landscape where their journey had begun. But they were no longer the same people who had entered the Ancient God's inheritance. They had been tested by forces beyond mortal comprehension, and those who survived had been fundamentally changed by the experience. Most immediately changed of all was Dravin himself. The XXX Beauty Bonding System had given him not just power, but responsibility. Three of the most talented young women on the continent were now bound to him in ways that went far beyond simple alliance, and the full implications of those bonds were only beginning to become clear. **[Current Sex Points: 3,000]** **[Emergency Situation Resolved]** **[System Status: Fully Operational]** **[Next Objectives: Consolidate power base, explore additional system functions, survive political complications of current situation]** As they made their way back toward the dimensional rift's exit, Dravin found himself at the center of a group of survivors who looked at him with mixtures of awe, confusion, and in some cases, jealousy. The three women bound to him stayed close, their enhanced power evident in every movement, while the other survivors maintained respectful distances. Prince Kael's expression was particularly complex—a mixture of envy, curiosity, and calculation that suggested he was already trying to figure out how Dravin had achieved such a dramatic transformation. The political implications of a former mortal suddenly wielding Fiendgod-level power were staggering, and everyone present understood that the world outside would never be the same once word of these events spread. But those were concerns for the future. For now, they were simply survivors of an encounter with divine power, forever changed by their brush with forces that predated civilization itself. And at the center of it all was a man who had died a mortal and been reborn as something entirely new—the first host of the XXX Beauty Bonding System, with powers and responsibilities that he was only beginning to understand. ----- ## Chapter 2: Aftermath and Revelations The journey back through the crystalline landscape felt surreal after everything they had endured. Where once over one hundred and fifty elite warriors had marched confidently toward glory, now barely twenty survivors limped their way back toward the dimensional exit. The contrast was stark and sobering. Aria Thornweave moved beside Dravin with fluid grace that hadn't been present before her enhancement. Her long green hair, still adorned with living flowers, now seemed to pulse with its own inner vitality. The plants that grew from her locks had changed as well—where before they had been simple decorative blooms, now they resembled exotic specimens that seemed almost sentient, their petals tracking the movements of those around them like tiny eyes. "I can feel the connection," she said softly, her voice carrying a musical quality that resonated with the enhanced life force flowing through her. "It's… strange. Not intrusive, but definitely present. Like having someone standing just behind your shoulder, but in a comforting way." Vera Dragonheart, walking on Dravin's other side, was even more dramatically changed. The draconic features that had only barely been visible before her enhancement were now prominent and undeniable. Silver scales traced elegant patterns along her arms and the sides of her neck, catching the strange light of the dimensional space and reflecting it in prismatic displays. Her amber eyes now held unmistakable vertical pupils that could track movement with predatory precision. "The dragon blood in my lineage has fully awakened," she said, her voice carrying a slight growl that hadn't been there before. "I can feel ancestral memories stirring—knowledge of battle techniques and power manipulation that my family hasn't been able to access for generations." She hefted her war hammer experimentally, and the massive weapon that had once required both hands and significant effort now moved as easily as a feather in her grip. The dragon bone from which it was crafted seemed to recognize the awakened heritage in its wielder, pulsing with a warm golden light. Lady Slyveria walked slightly ahead of them, her phoenix flames creating a gentle aura of warmth that kept the group comfortable despite the dimensional space's unnatural chill. Her transformation was perhaps the most dramatic of all—where her phoenix heritage had once been a subtle enhancement to her natural abilities, it now burned within her like a living star. Her blue hair had gained streaks of gold and crimson that shifted like flames, and her deep blue eyes occasionally flickered with inner fire. "The bond goes both ways," she observed, glancing back at Dravin with an expression that mixed gratitude with something more complex. "I can sense your emotional state, your general physical condition. It's… intimate in a way I wasn't expecting." The other survivors maintained respectful distances from the enhanced group, but their attention was constant and unmistakable. Prince Kael Stormwind walked with Elena Frostborn and Prince Aldric Goldmane, their conversation conducted in low whispers that occasionally rose just enough to be audible. "—unprecedented power gain—" "—never seen enhancement work that rapidly—" "—political implications could destabilize—" Luna Starweaver had produced a journal from somewhere and was frantically scribbling notes as they walked, her scholarly instincts overriding concerns about propriety. Her stellar magic allowed her to create small points of light that illuminated her writing, and she seemed to be documenting every detail of what she had witnessed. Lydia Bloodthorn, meanwhile, kept casting calculating glances at Dravin and his bonded partners. Her blood magic gave her unusual sensitivity to life force and emotional states, and whatever she was sensing clearly fascinated her. She had approached twice as if to speak, then thought better of it and retreated. As they walked, Dravin found himself grappling with the system interface that had become a constant presence in his perception. Unlike the video games from his previous life on Earth, this system was far more sophisticated and intuitive, responding to his thoughts and intentions rather than requiring specific commands. **[System Status Update]** **[Host: Dravin Ashfall (James Chen)]** **[Current Cultivation: Rank 9 Evolver]** **[Bonded Partners: 3/3 (Upgrade available)]** **[Available Sex Points: 3,000]** **[Bonded Partner Status:]** - **Slyveria Phoenixheart: Rank 3 Fiendgod - Bond Strength: 94% (Excellent)** - **Aria Thornweave: Rank 3 Fiendgod - Bond Strength: 87% (Very Good)** - **Vera Dragonheart: Rank 3 Fiendgod - Bond Strength: 91% (Excellent)** **[Available Functions:]** - **Enhancement Shop** - Purchase upgrades using Sex Points - **Lottery System** - Random rewards (100-1000 Sex Points per draw) - **Bond Expansion** - Increase maximum bonded partners (Cost: 5,000 Sex Points) - **Skill Development** - Enhance existing abilities - **Item Creation** - Manifest equipment and consumables The most intriguing option was the Enhancement Shop, which seemed to offer improvements that went far beyond simple cultivation advancement. Dravin mentally selected it and was presented with a dizzying array of options: **[Personal Enhancements]** - **Cultivation Breakthrough** (Rank 1 Fiendgod) - 2,000 Sex Points - **Enhanced Learning** (Triple skill acquisition speed) - 1,500 Sex Points - **Perfect Memory** (Photographic recall + processing) - 1,000 Sex Points - **Emotional Regulation** (Control over bonding emotions) - 800 Sex Points - **Enhanced Charisma** (Natural leadership presence) - 600 Sex Points **[Partner Enhancements]** - **Individual Breakthrough** (Rank 4 Fiendgod) - 3,000 Sex Points each - **Talent Evolution** (Upgrade partner's awakened ability) - 4,000 Sex Points each - **Bond Deepening** (Increase connection strength) - 500 Sex Points each - **Skill Transfer** (Share abilities between partners) - 1,000 Sex Points each **[Utility Items]** - **Communication Crystals** (Long-range contact) - 200 Sex Points each - **Healing Elixirs** (Restore health and energy) - 300 Sex Points each - **Concealment Artifacts** (Hide cultivation level) - 1,000 Sex Points each - **Emergency Teleportation Talismans** - 2,000 Sex Points each The variety was overwhelming, and Dravin realized he would need to be strategic about how he spent his points. For now, he decided to focus on immediate practical needs. **[Purchase: Perfect Memory - 1,000 Sex Points]** **[Purchase: Enhanced Charisma - 600 Sex Points]** **[Purchase: 3x Concealment Artifacts - 3,000 Sex Points]** **[Remaining Sex Points: 400]** The enhancements took effect immediately. Perfect Memory flooded his consciousness with crystal-clear recollections of everything he had experienced since awakening the system, while also organizing his Earth memories with supernatural clarity. He could now recall every detail of the web novels he had read, every cultivation technique described, every system mechanic explained. Enhanced Charisma was more subtle but perhaps more important. He could feel his natural presence expanding, gaining an indefinable quality that made others more inclined to listen to him and trust his judgment. It wasn't mind control—more like the difference between a flickering candle and a steady torch. The Concealment Artifacts materialized as simple silver rings that looked unremarkable but radiated subtle power. He slipped one onto his own finger and offered the others to Slyveria and Vera. "What are these?" Slyveria asked, accepting the ring with curiosity. "They'll hide our true cultivation levels," Dravin explained, grateful that his Enhanced Charisma made the explanation sound more authoritative. "When we exit this dimensional space, we're going to face a lot of questions about how three women suddenly jumped from Super-soldier to Fiendgod level. These should buy us some time to figure out how to handle the political situation." Vera nodded approvingly as she slipped the ring onto her finger. "Smart thinking. If the academies realize how powerful we've become, they'll either try to dissect us to learn our secrets or lock us away to prevent destabilization." Aria looked troubled by the implications. "But we can't hide this forever. Eventually, someone will discover the truth." "Eventually, yes," Dravin agreed. "But hopefully by then we'll be strong enough to handle whatever consequences arise." As they continued their journey, Prince Kael finally worked up the courage to approach them directly. His storm-blue hair crackled with nervous energy, and his usual confident demeanor was notably absent. "Dravin," he began formally, "I believe I owe you an apology. Earlier, I dismissed your warnings about the danger level, and that decision cost us many lives." The admission was clearly difficult for someone of Kael's proud nature, but his military background valued honesty about tactical mistakes. Several other survivors nodded in agreement—they too had learned to respect Dravin's expertise the hard way. "Apology accepted," Dravin replied, his Enhanced Charisma helping him find the right tone between gracious and authoritative. "We all made decisions based on the information we had available. The important thing is that we learned from the experience." "Indeed," Kael continued, "but I'm curious about what happened in there. Your… transformation… was unlike anything I've ever witnessed. One moment you were dead, and the next you were somehow enhancing others to power levels that shouldn't be achievable without decades of cultivation." The question everyone wanted to ask but hadn't dared voice hung in the air like a physical presence. All conversation among the other survivors stopped as they strained to hear Dravin's response. Dravin had anticipated this moment and, with his Perfect Memory enhancement, could recall every relevant detail from the cultivation novels he had read. The key was providing enough information to satisfy curiosity without revealing the system's true nature. "I experienced what the ancient texts call a 'Dao Epiphany,'" he said, drawing on terminology from the most respected cultivation manuals. "When death approached, my understanding of power and connection suddenly deepened beyond normal limits. The trauma of the near-death experience awakened abilities I didn't know I possessed." It wasn't entirely a lie—the system awakening had indeed been triggered by his death, and his new understanding of power cultivation was genuinely profound. The explanation was vague enough to be believable while specific enough to sound knowledgeable. Luna looked up from her note-taking with obvious fascination. "Dao Epiphanies are mentioned in the oldest texts, but most scholars consider them theoretical. To experience one during actual combat, especially while witnessing divine-level conflicts… the circumstances were certainly unprecedented." "The power-sharing aspect is particularly interesting," Prince Aldric added thoughtfully. "Ancient partnership techniques are described in military manuals, but nothing on the scale of what we witnessed." Elena Frostborn, who had been largely silent since escaping the throne room, finally spoke up. "What matters is that it worked. Without those enhancements, none of us would have survived to reach the exit." Her pragmatic assessment seemed to resonate with the other survivors. Whatever questions they might have about Dravin's transformation, they couldn't argue with the results. As they walked, Lydia Bloodthorn finally worked up the courage to approach. Her blood magic had been giving her increasingly detailed readings of the group's enhanced life force, and her curiosity had reached unbearable levels. "Your life signatures have changed," she said without preamble, her direct nature making small talk impossible. "Not just stronger—fundamentally different. The resonance patterns suggest… permanent alterations at the spiritual level." Vera turned to regard her with those now-draconic eyes. "Is that a problem?" "Not a problem, just… unprecedented," Lydia replied carefully. "Blood magic allows me to read life force patterns, and what I'm seeing suggests that you three are no longer entirely human. The alterations run deeper than simple cultivation enhancement." The observation sent a chill through the group. If Lydia could detect such changes, other specialists with different talents might notice similar anomalies. The Concealment Artifacts would hide cultivation levels, but apparently they couldn't completely mask the fundamental nature of the bonding process. "What exactly are you seeing?" Slyveria asked, her phoenix flames flickering with concern. Lydia hesitated, clearly uncertain about how much detail to provide. "Your life forces are… intertwined. Not just with each other, but with something else. Something that doesn't quite match any classification I'm familiar with. It's beautiful, actually—like three streams flowing into a river that then flows back to nourish the streams." The poetic description was surprisingly accurate, Dravin realized. The system bonds didn't just share power—they created a fundamentally new type of existence that combined the strengths of all participants while maintaining individual identities. "Could others detect these changes?" Aria asked practically. "Blood mages, certainly. Probably soul readers and life force specialists as well. Anyone whose talents involve deep analysis of spiritual signatures would notice that you're… different." The information was troubling but not unexpected. Dravin's Perfect Memory provided him with numerous examples from cultivation novels where system users had faced similar challenges. The key was building enough power and influence to survive the inevitable scrutiny. "We'll deal with that challenge when we reach it," he said with more confidence than he felt. "For now, let's focus on getting home safely." As they approached the dimensional rift's exit point, the survivors could see the encampments of the twelve academies spread across the landscape outside. Hundreds of tents housed the support staff, advanced students, and faculty members who had been waiting anxiously for news from the inheritance expedition. The sight of barely twenty survivors emerging from a rift that had swallowed over one hundred and fifty elite warriors would cause immediate alarm. Questions would be asked, reports would be demanded, and the enhanced individuals would face intense scrutiny from some of the most powerful people on the continent. "Remember," Dravin said quietly to his bonded partners, "we're still recovering from severe injuries sustained in the throne room battle. We need time to rest and process what happened before we can provide detailed reports." The strategy was sound—appearing weakened and traumatized would buy them time while also explaining any unusual behavior that might result from their ongoing adjustment to the bonding process. As they stepped through the dimensional barrier and back into normal reality, the waiting crowds immediately noticed their arrival. Shouts of alarm and concern rose from multiple camps as people recognized the pitifully small number of returnees. Master Chen Thunderstrike, the Celestial Phoenix Academy's expedition leader, was the first to reach them. His weathered face showed relief at seeing Slyveria alive, but his expression quickly shifted to concern as he took in the group's obviously traumatized state. "Lady Slyveria! Thank the heavens you're safe. What happened in there? Where are the others?" Similar scenes were playing out as representatives from the other academies rushed to check on their own students. The few Legacy Students who had survived were immediately surrounded by protective faculty members, while the surviving protectors and scouts found themselves facing intense questioning about the fate of their companions. "The inheritance was trapped," Slyveria said, her voice carrying just the right note of exhaustion and trauma. "Ancient guardians… hundreds of them. Most of our people didn't make it past the first chamber." The explanation was technically accurate while avoiding details that might raise uncomfortable questions. Master Chen's expression darkened as he processed the implications. "Guardians? What type? How powerful?" "Divine level," Prince Kael interjected, his own faculty advisors having arrived. "Angels and demons locked in eternal combat. We were caught in the crossfire." The mention of divine-level threats sent ripples of shock through the gathered crowd. Such entities were considered theoretical by most modern cultivators—remnants of the mythical Age of Gods that had ended millennia ago. As the survivors were escorted toward medical tents for evaluation and treatment, Dravin found himself walking beside Master Chen. The elderly cultivator's penetrating gaze suggested that he was already formulating questions that would be difficult to answer. "Scout Dravin," Master Chen said formally, "Lady Slyveria's survival speaks well of your abilities. I look forward to your detailed report on the inheritance's internal structure and defensive mechanisms." "Of course, Master Chen," Dravin replied, his Enhanced Charisma helping him project appropriate respect and professionalism. "Though I'll need some time to recover from my injuries before I can provide a comprehensive account." "Naturally. Rest assured that the academy will ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your services, especially given the… extraordinary circumstances." The promise of payment was welcome, but Dravin suspected that the "extraordinary circumstances" Master Chen mentioned would involve far more scrutiny than he was prepared for. The next few days would be crucial in determining whether his transformation would be seen as a valuable asset or a dangerous threat. As they entered the medical compound, Dravin caught sight of his reflection in a polished metal surface and was startled by what he saw. The enhancement process had changed more than just his internal capabilities—his features had sharpened and refined, his posture had improved, and there was an undeniable presence about him that hadn't existed before. He was no longer the overlooked mortal scout who had entered the dimensional rift. Whether that transformation would prove to be salvation or catastrophe remained to be seen, but one thing was certain: his new life was going to be far more complicated than anything he had experienced in either of his previous existences. **[System Notification: Exit from Ancient God Inheritance detected]** **[Political complexity level: Extreme]** **[Recommendation: Consolidate power base before revealing full capabilities]** **[New objectives available in System Shop]** **[Current status: Vulnerable but ascending]** The system's assessment matched his own conclusions perfectly. He had gained incredible power, but using it wisely would require even greater skill than acquiring it had. The real challenge was just beginning.
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My SSS-Rank Wives Are Obsessed & Insane!
My SSS-Rank Wives Are Obsessed & Insane!
7
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 7 chs / week.
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Views
Synopsis
In a post-apocalyptic world where Interdimensional beasts, titans, demons and gods roam, humanity awaken various genetic talents know as the Z-gene.
Dravin, an ordinary mortal with no talent and no chance of awakening planned on living an ordinary life.
Get married, have kids and live old enough to see his grandkids. However, a job of scouting an Hell-grade dimensional rift masked as an E-grade dimensional rift turned his plans to ash.
On the verge of death, he manage to awaken, not a Z-gene but a system instead.
[Ding! Symbiotic Bonding System has been activated]
[Select which bodily fluid to use for cure (____)]
________________________
[Ding! You’ve bonded with Slveria Hellborne]
[You’ve gained Z-gene Phoenix Flames(S-Rank)]
[20% of their strength acquired. You’ve leveled up!] (Level system up to gain more)
[You’ve gained three random flames skills from target (S-Rank)] (Level system up to gain more)
[Date: 24 hours (Detoxify as soon as possible)
________________________
[Ding! You’ve bonded with Aria Bloodwin]
[You’ve gained Z-gene Crimson Berserk Dragon (S-Rank)]
[20% of their strength acquired. You’ve leveled up!]
[You’ve gained three random berserk skills from target (S-Rank)]
[ Date: 24 hours (Detoxify as soon as possible) ________________________
[Ding! Your Symbiote, Aria Bloodwin has Awakened Berserk Dragon Bloodline…]
[You’ve awakened Berserk Dragon Bloodline]
________________________
[Ding! You have detoxified Symbiote ‘Slyveria Hellborne’]
[1000 sex points gained]
[4 weeks countdown before next detoxification period]
__________________________
Within a span of a day, Dravin went from mortal to a being with numerous Z-talents!
Enter dimensional rift to battle monsters just to level up?
Dravin could level up by just sitting down!
Using ten years to comprehend a technique, he could do it in under a minute!
His women actually broke through? His strength would also increase!
Armed with such an heaven-defying and perverted system, who knew how far Dravin would go or how living thrill he reaches the peak!