Chapter 116—The Necropolis of the Sunless Sand.
Chapter 116—The Necropolis of the Sunless Sand.
The crushing ocean depths, glowing blue crystal pillars, and boiling hydro-thermal currents of Floor 21 evaporated into shimmering azure particles as the spatial rift behind Leviathan’s erased throne collapsed into complete non-existence.
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[WORLD SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT!]
FACTION ’SOVEREIGN’ HAS ASCENDED TO FLOOR 22!
ZONE ENTERED: The Celestial Necropolis of Anubis—The Valley of Phantom Tombs
HAZARD RATING: TIER-SS+ (Soul-Siphon Sandstorm & Spectral Wither Curse)
SPECIAL RULE: Necrotic Erosion—Non-Sovereign Entities Suffer 12% Physical Defense & Soul-Mana Loss Every 30 Seconds!
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When Kaelen stepped out of the spatial gateway, the environment shifted into an vast, eerie desert realm shrouded beneath a perpetual eclipse.
They stood upon an colossal highway carved from polished black obsidian and white limestone, stretching across endless dunes of dark violet sand. Towering obsidian pyramids the size of mountain ranges jutted into a blood-red sky, decorated with glowing gold hieroglyphs that hummed with ancient necrotic mana.
Monstrous sphinx statues carved from cosmic stone lined the path, their eyes glowing with eerie purple soul-fire.
A howling sandstorm swept across the desert, carrying razor-sharp spectral dust capable of stripping the flesh and soul-energy from unshielded mortals in a single heartbeat.
"From boiling deep-sea trenches straight into a creepy desert filled with giant tombs," Ignis grunted with a dark laugh, resting his heavy claymore on his shoulder.
His fiery hair billowed in the wind as black dragon flames flared along the dark steel, instantly burning the howling spectral sand into fine white ash around his boots. "I have to admit, the dry heat feels nice, but these tomb vibes are itching for a good incineration!"
"The spectral energy concentration in this atmosphere is extraordinarily high," Ren reported calmly through her comms link, her gauntlet projecting purple holographic diagnostics while specialized soul insulators hummed around her suit joints.
"My tactical sensors indicate Floor 22 is an ancient celestial necropolis governed by mummified divine guardians and soul-bound mages."
She recalibrated her scanning arrays, evaluating the environmental conditions. "Standard necrotic and dark magic deal 60% reduced damage due to the surrounding spectral saturation. However, Divine Light, High-Tier Fire, and Spatial Void attributes maintain 100% operational efficiency."
"A realm built upon dead souls," Tsubaki whispered, emerging silently from the dark shadow cast by a giant sphinx statue. His crimson eyes scanned the howling purple dunes. "My shadow scouts report that Floor 22 is under the absolute command of the Necro-Sovereign Anubis, who rules from the central Sunless Citadel."Lyra stood beside Kaelen, her soft, slender hand held warmly in his dark-gloved grip.
The completed Key of the Holy Grail within Kaelen’s chest core emitted a soft, pristine golden aura, expanding a golden protective dome around their entire squad. The dome completely repelled the howling spectral sandstorm, created a pristine sanctuary, and rendered the [Necrotic Erosion] curse entirely useless.
"Death itself holds no dominion over where you tread, Kaelen," Lyra whispered softly, her bright blue eyes shining with quiet, absolute devotion as she leaned gently against his arm. "The dead souls and ancient mummies of this realm will kneel before your presence."
"Death is merely a state of matter waiting for final deletion, my light," Kaelen purred smoothly, his low velvet voice breaking effortlessly through the howling desert wind. He gently caressed her hand, his dark violet eyes gleaming with cold, golden-ringed authority.
"Anubis can pretend to rule the dead... until he learns the Void erases life, death, and the soul alike."
GLING !
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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION!]
The key to the holy grail is activated!
EFFECT: Sovereign Spectral Shield Active! All Squad Members Gain 100% Immunity to Soul-Siphon Sandstorms & Necrotic Erosion!
RESONANCE: Floor 22 Waystone Location Identified!
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Suddenly, the dark violet dunes surrounding the obsidian highway churned violently!
ROAAAAAAAR!
The desert floor shuddered as thousands of giant mummified warriors clad in dark gold armor, wielding curved khopesh blades dripping with purple necrotic fire and riding massive skeletal war-chariots, erupted directly from the dunes!
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[AMBUSH INITIATED!]
HOSTILE ENTITIES: 2,600x Spectral Anubis Vanguard (Level 187 Elite)
COMMANDER: General Tomb-Breaker — The Mummy Pharaoh (Level 188 Tier-EX)
OBJECTIVE: Strip the Intruders’ Souls for the Citadel!
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"LIVING MORTALS!" General Tomb-Breaker roared from the front of the skeletal chariot formation. He stood thirty-five feet tall, forged from petrified dark wood and glowing gold bandages, holding a colossal twin-bladed staff surging with soul-burning flames. "YOU DARE SET FOOT UPON THE SACRED NECROPOLIS OF HIS MAJESTY ANUBIS?! BE STRIPPED OF YOUR FLESH AND BOUND TO THE ETERNAL TOMBS!"
Two thousand six hundred Spectral Vanguard warriors raised their khopesh blades in unison, unleashing a colossal wave of purple necrotic flame waves and spectral sandstorms surging directly toward Kaelen’s position!
BOOOOOOM!
"Let me burn these dry ancient mummies into a pile of ash!" Ignis roared with a wild laugh, leaping fifty feet into the air as his claymore flared into a colossal pillar of superheated black dragon fire!
"Dragon Fire Art: Solar Tomb-Burner!"
Ignis swung his blade in a massive sweeping arc! A three-hundred-meter wave of black dragon fire swept across the desert, flash-incinerating one thousand three hundred Spectral Vanguard warriors and their skeletal chariots instantly, turning their golden armor and bandages into glowing cinders mid-air!
"Shadow Style: Soul-Severing Flash!"
Tsubaki flickered between the skeletal horses like a phantom, his dark katana leaving behind black spatial cuts that severed the soul cores of nine hundred mummified warriors before they could even swing their blades!
"System Hack: Spectral Disruptor Wave!" Ren deployed twenty high-frequency acoustic pylons into the obsidian highway.
The resulting pulse shattered the internal necrotic bonds of the remaining four hundred warriors, causing their golden bandages to collapse into harmless sand!
General Tomb-Breaker watched his army eradicated in under two minutes, his glowing purple eyes flaring with absolute rage and shock.
"IMPOSSIBLE! LIVING FLESH CANNOT RESIST THE SOUL-WITHER OF ANUBIS!" Tomb-Breaker shouted, raising his giant twin-bladed staff and diving from his war-chariot like a dark purple meteor, aiming straight for Kaelen’s head!
"Necrotic Secret Art: Grand Pharaoh Shatter!"
Kaelen didn’t even shift his footing.
He took one calm step forward, his dark coat billowing gracefully in the intense spectral wind generated by the falling pharaoh.
His slender dark-gloved fingers wrapped around the hilt of the Void Blade.
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[PASSIVE EFFECT: Void Sovereign’s Eye]
TARGET WEAKNESS DETECTED: Soul Core at Central Chest Scarab Node!
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Kaelen purred softly, a cold, dark smile touching his lips as he drew his dark blade by half an inch.
SHING!
A razor-thin line of pitch-black spatial deletion flared through the dark desert air.
"Void Art: Spatial Deletion—Mummy Sever!"
SKRRRRRRRAASH!
The half-inch draw of dark steel made no sound through the howling wind, but the spatial line expanded seven hundred meters across the obsidian highway!
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[CRITICAL HIT!]
TARGET: General Tomb-Breaker & 400x Spectral Anubis Vanguard
DAMAGE DEALT: 260,000,000 (Pure Spatial Eradication)
DEFENSE NEGATED: 100%!
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[FORCE OBLITERATED!]
CASUALTIES: General Tomb-Breaker & Spectral Vanguard (Eradicated!)
EXP RECEIVED: 52,000,000 Points!
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"AAAAAAARGH!" General Tomb-Breaker let out an agonizing spectral shriek as his thirty-five-foot mummified body, his staff, and his remaining troops were sliced horizontally in half mid-air!
The pitch-black spatial cut erased their necrotic forms and soul cores instantly into glowing purple experience particles!
Kaelen smoothly clicked the Void Blade back into its sheath.
CLICK!
The howling sandstorm pressure that had filled the highway vanished instantly, replaced once again by the quiet, golden warmth of the squad’s domain.
"Flawless execution, My Lord," Tsubaki said, landing softly behind Kaelen with a deep bow.
"These dry mummies thought ancient tombs could protect them," Ignis chuckled, resting his heavy claymore on his shoulder while black dragon fire continued to hum along the steel. "They forgot our sovereign commands space itself."
Ren checked her holographic displays, scanning the colossal black pyramid standing at the center of the desert—The Sunless Citadel.
"My Lord, the elimination of General Tomb-Breaker has alerted the necro-sovereign," Ren reported. "The Necro-Sovereign Anubis is powering up his soul core inside the Sunless Citadel."
"Let him power up every dead soul he possesses," Kaelen purred smoothly, turning back to Lyra and taking her soft hand into his once more. Her bright blue eyes shone with warmth as she held his hand tight. "It simply ensures his eventual erasure will be absolute."
Lyra smiled sweetly, leaning close against his side as they began walking across the highway toward the Sunless Citadel. "Lead the way, Kaelen. The eternal tombs bow to you."
Kaelen purred softly, his dark violet eyes gleaming with absolute, god-like authority as he led the Sovereign Faction deeper into the sands of Floor 22.