The air around the Ember Veins had turned thick with killing intent. Jim and Tory's escape was a temporary victory. The news of the Divine Ascension Pill's disappearance echoed across the entire World Space like a war drum.
And now, predators were closing in.
After hours of battle and evasion, Tory and Jim entered a region hidden behind unstable space—a shattered rift that led to the inner domain of the World Space. Few dared to venture here, for the land was ruled by King-realm beasts, monstrous creatures that had devoured countless explorers.
---
Into the Inner Region
Jagged cliffs loomed overhead, obsidian-black and carved by unknown forces. The air shimmered with spiritual distortion, and pressure weighed down on them like a falling mountain.
Tory's system pulsed in warning:
> [Alert: Inner Domain Reached. Minimum Survival Requirement: Overlord Realm. Estimated Beast Density: High. Escape Probability: 11%]
Jim grunted. "Feels like the pressure's alive."
Tory looked ahead. "It is. These beasts aren't mindless."
They pressed deeper. Behind them, faint footsteps echoed—their pursuers were close.
---
The Beast Tide
A roar split the valley. From the shadows of a cracked temple emerged a pack of mutated flame wolves—each larger than a carriage, their eyes burning with intent.
"King realm," Tory muttered. "And we've got more coming."
Jim clenched his fists.
"They're forcing my hand."
He took out the Divine Ascension Pill.
Tory blinked. "Are you sure? You haven't recovered fully."
"I can't protect us without breaking through," Jim said. "I'll take it now."
He swallowed the pill.
---
The Burden of Elements
As the pill dissolved, an explosion of elemental energy surged within Jim's core. Fire, lightning, water, earth, wind—all five elements battled for dominance.
Golden flames erupted from his pores, his blood vessels glowing with radiant heat. His body convulsed as each element fought for supremacy inside him.
> [System Alert: Energy Fragmentation Detected. Pill Efficacy Reduced — Distribution Across Multiple Elements: Flame (28%), Lightning (21%), Earth (18%), Wind (17%), Water (16%).]
Tory watched as the sky dimmed. Jim's energy was rising… but not explosively. The pill's immense power was being divided, each element taking a portion and leaving behind only a fraction of its original potential.
> [Breakthrough Achieved: Lord Realm → Overlord Realm. Current Stability: 73%. Core Tempering in Progress.]
Tory's eyes narrowed. "So even a Saint-grade pill isn't enough... because his body shares too many elemental affinities."
Jim roared, and five elemental storms burst outward, reducing the wolves to ash.
---
No Time to Rest
But their pursuers weren't far behind. Several powerful auras appeared—top 30 contenders. Some had formed temporary alliances to take down Jim and Tory.
"You saw that light," one said. "He advanced to Overlord realm. But the pill's inside him now. Kill him, and we extract it!"
They charged.
Tory activated space bends, launching enemies into blind zones. He struck with his time-coated blade, slowing one attacker's perception just long enough to remove his head cleanly.
But the real threat approached from the east—a giant scorpion beast, its shell like ironstone and its tail radiating King realm pressure.
---
Reality Flickers
Tory felt the system stir.
> [Emergency Override Option: Unlock 1.5% Reality Access to Escape Death.]
He hesitated.
"No," he muttered.
Instead, he tapped his spatial dagger and dove behind Jim.
"Hold them!"
Jim roared again, flames coating his arms, and struck forward with a condensed elemental spear.
The scorpion's tail slammed down.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the nearby rock wall—but Jim held the line. His Overlord aura clashed evenly with the beast. He wasn't winning, but he wasn't dying.
Tory joined him, weaving time and gravity into the battlefield, creating zones of slowed time and crushing weight that weakened the surrounding enemies.
Together, they forced the beast back. Not slain—but injured.
---
Aftermath
They retreated behind a waterfall cavern, hidden by Tory's illusions.
Jim fell to one knee, breathing hard.
"I thought it would push me higher," he admitted.
Tory shook his head. "The pill was too powerful—but its energy was split among your five elements. That's why you only reached Overlord."
Jim nodded. "Then that's enough... for now."
> [Reality Access Stable: 1.1%. Next Synchronization Point: Legacy Vault Detected Nearby. Estimated Owner: Elemental Saint of Wind.]
Tory looked outward through the cascade.
"The deeper we go... the more dangerous it gets."
Jim looked up. "Then let's dive deeper."
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